I
like to give you the "whole nine yards" when you
visit this Trivia Page. "The whole nine
yards" means; Without cutting corners, a complete
job, quality. But how can you fully appreciate the
"whole nine yards" unless you know the origin of
that phrase? Nine yards, of what? And why nine?
The Trivia Zone is the place for investigating the
out-of-the-ordinary, and it is fitting to look at the
"whole nine yards", as it seems to have one of
the most disputed phrase origins. I present you with
three explanations of the origin of the "whole nine
yards", in no particular order:
Explanation
#1:
The
best suits are made from nine yards of fabric (some tailor
made this statement somewhere along the line). This is
because a good suit has all the fabric cut in the same
direction, with the long strands of thread, parallel with the
vertical line of the suit. This method of cutting fabric
causes a great amount of waste in suit-making, but if you want
to go "the whole nine yards", you must pay for such
waste. Things Learned Along The Way: It is from
this explanation that the related phrase "dressed to
the nines" evolved. Well, this sounds like a
believable explanation, unless, perhaps, you actually sew, and
can envision the large pile of cloth generated by nine yards.
This phrase can be traced back to the 17th and 18th century,
at which time a "full set of clothing" consisted of
a waistcoat, breeches, and a great coat. The coat,
alone, required 5.5 yards, extending down to the back of the
knee in length, the lower portion of which was full and
pleated.
Explanation
#2:
Many
old ships had three masts, each of which held three square
sails. The horizontal stays that held the square sails
are called yards. Therefore, the ships had nine yards.
More or less sail would be raised depending upon the sailing
conditions. Peak speed could be achieved by
raising all nine main sails, or "the whole nine
yards"!
Explanation
#3:
This
phrase can also be traced back to WWII fighter planes.
Nine yards was the exact length of a belt of 50-caliber
ammunition for the Corsair fighter. If you were unlucky
enough to be shot at with the entire band, you were said to
have been given "the whole nine yards".
And
so, as we conclude this journey into the Trivia Zone,
although we are not able to precisely determine
the origin of the phrase "the whole nine yards", we
have at least some basis of origin to ponder.
Friends
In Thought,
Roberta
L. Beauchamp
P.S.:
Quick (and bizarre) Trivia Fact: The Pentagon
ground breaking ceremony was held in 1941 . . .on September
11.
______________________________________
Happy Holidays and a joyous New Year to all! The
chances are great that you found yourself surrounded by more
than the usual bounty of food these past few months. As you
focused on that tender, golden, just baked turkey, and your eyes
glazed over and just before your sanity left you, didn’t you
wonder " . . .gee . . .why is dark meat dark, and light
meat light??. . ." You DIDN’T?? Well, it’s time to snap
out of your banquet-induced stupor and explore the Meat Mystery
in the Trivia Zone!
We’re really talking about two types of muscle, here: Red
muscle, and white muscle. Red muscle is used for sustained
activity. Its dark color comes from a chemical compound called
myoglobin, which is required for greater oxygen transport. White
muscle is suitable for short, low levels of activity. This
explains why a chicken wing and breast is composed of white
meat, as chickens fly only in short bursts (if at all).
Conversely, a chicken’s leg is composed of dark meat, due to
its primary method of locomotion. Ducks and geese are capable
flyers, and have red muscle (dark meat) throughout.
f you keep chickens, and prefer dark meat, just remember that
muscle type is genetically determined . . .so don’t get any
wild notions about strapping your chickens to your Bowflex to
increase your dark meat take. AND, before you seize the
"futility of exercise vs. genetic predetermination"
argument, and blow off your New Years exercise resolutions,
genetic determination of muscle type does NOT apply to humans.
There now, you may slide back into your stupor, with at least
some measure of contentment that you have once again, increase
your knowledge base in The Trivia Zone . . .
Friends In Thought,
Roberta L. Beauchamp
______________________________________
The Dymaxion House, Richard Buckminster Fuller's dream, is alive and well at the Henry Ford Museum.
And while that dream is reason enough to investigate the multi-dimensional inventor, the fact that he
maintained that he was a comprehensivist who was interested in just about everything, gives even
greater reason for the investigation of his interests and legacy.
It was Fuller's quest for nature's coordinate system that led to his development of the "geodesic dome";
a term derived from the Greek word meaning "earth-dividing". Henry Ford's beloved round corporate
headquarters building, the Rotunda, was the recipient of Buckminster's first commercial geodesic dome -
right over the interior courtyard. While Fuller's life and work were dominated by his interest in shelter and
housing, an example of his varying interests can be seen in his Dymaxion Car: An aerodynamic, 90
horsepower, lightweight vehicle that could reach 120 mph. Bucky, as he preferred to be called, was an
engineer, inventor, poet, philosopher, and visionary. He was a kindred Traveler of the Sphere, and it is
fitting that he should be here in the Trivia Zone.
R. Buckminster Fuller's work and interests occupy a new dimension, and will have greater consequences
than even he could have imagined.
I could continue with a study of Fuller's development of the geodesic dome and his departure from
conventional building techniques, and his dedication to the hundreds of hand calculations required to
develop the round, symmetrical structures; but we are in the Trivia Zone, and are compelled to depart
from such predictable investigations. Step, now, through The Door. Follow the paths marked
"Buckminsterfullerenes" or "Fullerenes" or "Buckyballs" or "C60" or even, "Molecule of the Year". Pick
any path . . .it doesn't matter which one, they all lead to the same discovery: The roundest, most
symmetrical large molecule known to man. A discovery that Buckminster Fuller would have loved to have
explored. This molecule was discovered in 1985, only shortly after Fuller's death. This third major form
of pure carbon (diamond and graphite are the other two) was named after Buckminster Fuller, as his
beloved geodesic dome held the same fundamental symmetry of C60. In C60 the hexagons and pentagons
of carbon link together to form a hollow, geodesic dome, and it was this unique structure that was
recognized by its discoverers, leading them to name the exceedingly rugged and stable molecule after
Buckminster Fuller.
Although Fuller had nothing to do with the discovery of Fullerenes, he and the molecule are closely linked,
as the very structure and potential of C60 embody all that Mr. Fuller encompassed during his lifetime:
Simplicity and stability through natural order and structure, efficiency, durability, and usability. And, just
as Fuller was a genius for incorporating nature's order into manmade projects, so, too, is the carbon "key
player" of the Buckeyball; for its talent for stability in the fullerene structure and its genius in forming them,
all by itself.
Nice, neat little hollow carbon balls are interesting to consider, but of what real value are they to you or I?
As it turns out, these unusual molecules have extraordinary chemical and physical properties.
Possible applications lead to a scientific candy land of sorts; batteries and other electrochemical applications,
including hydrogen storage media; chemical sensors and chemical separation devices; optical devices;
production of diamonds as cutting tools; medical applications, including drug delivery systems; polymers;
superconductors and catalysts. The Commercial promise of buckyballs is great, and their potential will surely
touch your life.
It is not difficult to imagine Bucky elbow to elbow with scientists, bent in fascination as vaporized carbon is
mixed with an inert gas and condensed slowly, causing graphene sheets to curl around and form into his
beloved geodesic domes. Surely, he would have immersed himself into the study, and it is fitting that you
have traveled the sphere, here in the Trivia Zone, completing the circle, and linking Buckminster Fuller and the
Buckyball, together forever.
You are encouraged to travel to Henry Ford Museum and visit the Dymaxion House and view the various
bulletin boards that chronicle much of Fullers work. And now, the Trivia Zone has compelled you to link your
thoughts to yet another dimension of Buckminster Fuller's visions for the future.
Friends In Thought,
Roberta L. Beauchamp
______________________________________
A very good friend of mine, recently posed a question regarding Harry Truman's tendency to omit the
use of a period with the middle initial of his name. Perhaps some of you have mulled over this subject
and others of you have never considered this piece of trivia. Indeed, the door to the Trivia Zone has
swung wide open, and you are invited to travel the Sphere to investigate a long-time controversy:
What does the "S" in Harry S Truman's name stand for, and is it Harry "S" or Harry "S."?
If this topic interests you, then good for you . . .and if your eyelids are growing heavy, consider this:
Why not take The Journey? I'm not charging a penny, and you need only to step through the door and
onto the Sphere . . .I'll lead the way, and return you safely back at the conclusion of the tour! So begins
our journey . . .
Apparently it was Truman, himself, that initiated the "period controversy" back in 1962 when he casually
mentioned to newspapermen that the period should be omitted, as the "S" did not stand for any name at
all, and was a compromise between the names of his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and
Solomon Young. To further complicate things, he was not consistent with the use or omission of the
period before or after his revelation. Further, still, he was occasionally known to run his signature together
in a single stroke, thus eliminating any evidence or need of a period after the "S".
Before this gets too tangled, let's look at the facts: Harry was named after his mother's brother, Harry
Young. For his middle name, his parents could not agree whether to name him Shipp, after his paternal
grandfather, or Solomon, after his maternal grandfather. Hence, he was given the middle initial "S" but
no name, as a compromise between his grandfathers names.
Before we continue on, let's step aside, for a moment, for Things Gathered Along The Way: Truman's
great-grandmother, Nancy Tyler Holmes, was a first cousin of John Tyler, the tenth president of the
United States. Tyler was the first vice president to become president by succession, and Truman
was the seventh.
Anyway, back to the "S" controversy. The U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual states that the
period should be used after the "S" in Truman's name, and most published works using the name
Harry S. Truman, use the period. One may argue that even though Harry's middle name was not
specified on his birth certificate, the middle initial did stand for a name (albeit, unspecified), and would
thereby qualify for the use of a period. However, one may also argue that if 'ol "Give 'Em Hell Harry"
preferred to omit the period in something as personal as his own name, then he should be humored and
allowed to have his own way. . .even if he couldn't make up his mind, and vacillated between tendencies.
This confusing and unresolved bit of trivia offers an interesting glimpse into the life of the 33rd President. . .
or was he the 32nd President?? Uh, oh, . . .official records designate Mr. Truman as the 33rd President,
but he insisted he was the 32nd, since Grover Cleveland was elected President for nonconcurring terms!
As Truman put it, "If you count the administrations of Grover Cleveland twice because another President
held office between Cleveland's first and second term, you might try to justify the designation of me as
33rd President. But then why don't you number all the second terms of other Presidents and the third
and fourth terms of President Roosevelt, and where will you be? I am the 32nd President."
Hmmm . . .do you see a pattern here?
Friends In Thought,
Roberta L. Beauchamp
______________________________________
The canning season
is upon us, and I would be remiss if I neglected to journey The
Sphere without investigating the importance of the impact of the
canned good. Besides, a very good friend of mine has been
itching to know why all canned goods are referred to as
"canned", and not "glassed", or
"jarred", as a great portion of preserved foods are
stored in vessels other than metal. So,
to spare that poor fellow from losing sleep over the mystery of
the "canned terminology", we will journey the sphere,
seek, and locate the answer.
Anyway, I do feel a
bit guilty about his trivia induced insomnia, as his question is
evidence that he has been spending entirely too much time in my
T-R-I-V-I-A Zone, and that consequently he has become
"trivia-lized". But before we look at the etymology of
the word "canned", lets step to the side for a moment,
and investigate the history of the canning process, itself.
As if by some great
proof that even the crummiest of situations can result in a
positive outcome, the canning process was borne of the
Napoleonic wars. And if the unpleasantries of war didn't provide
Napoleon with enough trouble, malnutrition plagued the
eighteenth century French armed forces. Napoleon offered a prize
of twelve-thousand francs to anyone who could come up with a way
of preserving food for his troops. In 1809 the Frenchman Nicolas
Appert conceived the idea that food could be preserved in
bottles.
He realized that if
food were sufficiently heated and sealed in an airtight
container, it would not spoil. Although Appert's method clearly
worked, nobody knew exactly why, and it wasn't until the end of
the nineteenth century that bacteria was determined to be the
cause of food spoilage, and, that the bacteria was destroyed by
heating. As important
as all of these facts are, the reference
to the preserved foods as being "canned" had still not
entered into the language, so let's continue our journey.
An Englishman, Peter Durand,
employed Appert's process and developed a method of sealing food
into tin containers, and in 1811, John Hall, founder of the
famous Dartford Iron Works, set up the first commercial canning
factory in England. Each of the early cans were handmade
individually. A skilled person could make about six cans per
hour (today's can-making lines produce more than twelve hundred
cans a minute). In addition, the
cans were quite heavy, and a hammer and chisel or knife was
needed to open them. Needless to
say, smashed fingers and sliced hands were common injuries, and
the call for the invention of the can opener rang out loudly. .
. but let's not travel down that avenue during this adventure.
Just look back through this paragraph. We're here! . . .
We've finally arrived at the
"canned" terminology in relation to food preservation:
Yes! Food was finally referred to as "canned". But
WHY, in these modern times, do we say that food is canned when
it is preserved in JARS?! Because . . .foods packaged in
materials other than metal cans are considered
"canned" by food processing specialists if the food
undergoes the canning preservation PROCESS. You see, the word
"canned" is synonymous with the food preservation
process.
Thus, foods may be packaged in
containers such as glass jars, paperboard cans, and various
plastics, and they are still considered to be canned! And
that, my friend, concludes this brief but fruitful journey
across one small section of the infinite Sphere of Knowledge.
Friends In Thought,
Roberta L.
Beauchamp
______________________________________
SOS:
Have you heard the term
SOS? Do you know what it stands for? Do you
really? If so, please read on...
There I was, seeking
only to make some headway in my daily routine, when I caught a
glimpse of a
familiar, annoying message in the corner of my monitor
"Mail Delivery Error - Server Could Not Be
Found". Not to worry, I tell myself, this sort of
thing happens all the time. I should regain internet
service within a couple of hours. Well this time I was
without service for four days straight!
AT&T mumbled
something about a possible severed cable, or perhaps a failed
circuit, or a faulty node:
All very nonspecific, but specifically meaning that all of my
internet interactions were brought to a
screeching halt. So, there I sat, waving my little white
"SOS" flag. And then, it hit me! . . .what light
through yonder dark e-tunnel breaks?; well, of course, the
T-R-I-V-I-A light! Just what DOES SOS
stand for?
Oh yipes, did I hear
you say "What planet are you from, anyway?? Everybody
knows that SOS
stand for 'Save Our Souls', or 'Save Our Ship'!" But
are you really sure? Perhaps you thought you were
sure, but now you're a little shaky because of my questioning;
and rightly so. Just what is SOS an
acronym for?
Pssst . . .get very
close to your monitor, and I'll let you in on a bit of my secret
treasure-trove of
information: SOS is NOT an acronym, and doesn't stand for
anything at all! Well don't worry, I won't
leave you dangling at this point on the sphere, I have an
explanation for all of this, so let's travel on.
Way back in 1835,
Samuel Morse created his telegraph code, which consisted of dots
and dashes.
He devised a distress signal, CQD, with the "CQ"
representing a flag, of sorts, that a message would
follow, and a "D" for "distress". That
all seemed fine and dandy, but using the dots and dashes
of Morse Code, the CQD combination was just too darned
cumbersome: -.-. --.- -.. Remember, we're
talking about using a code in an emergency. Who wants to
mess with a bunch of dots and dashes
when time is of the essence? CQD was dropped, and in 1908
an international committee worked to
find a distress signal that was easy to remember, and could be
used by an amateur with only a basic
knowledge of Morse Code. A simple combination of three
letters was sought, each to be represented by
three marks. As it happens, the only letters of the Morse Code
represented by three identical marks,
are S (three dots), and O (three dashes). OSO was first
considered, but dashes are longer electrical
signals to transmit than dots, so SOS became the international
standard for distress.
There! Now you
can be proud of yourself, as you have increased your knowledge
data base. But wait a
minute, before you plop yourself down into that easy-chair,
let's take this opportunity to move out in a
different direction across the sphere, and indulge in a Things
Gathered Along The Way moment:
In 1917, a fellow by the name of Edwin Cox dipped a square of
steel-wool pad into a soap solution, and
let it dry. His pre-soaped pads sold well to
housewives. But now, what to name his soapy pads?
Mr.
Edwin Cox Soapy Steel-Wood Pads? Naaah . . .too
stuffy. Eddy's Fuzzy Soap Pads? No, no.
That didn't sound right, either. In pops Mrs. Cox with
just the right solution: "S.O.S." Pads, for
"Save
Our Saucepans". And what did she base the name
upon? Her incorrect belief that the universal
distress signal SOS meant "Save Our Ships"! So
don't feel too bad if you were wrong in your thoughts
about SOS, people have been messing this one up for years.
Anyway, Mr. Cox
gleefully embraced the name,(and hopefully, his wife)
proclaiming his new product to
be S.O.S. Pads (with the periods). The SOS distress signal
has no periods for telegraphic reasons.
O.k., NOW you can
plop yourself down in that easy chair, and rest up, until we
meet again, for our next
T-R-I-V-I-A Adventure!
Friends In Thought,
Roberta L. Beauchamp
______________________________________
Dream
Cruise: Would
you like to see pictures of the 2001 Woodward Dream Cruise that
occurred on Saturday, August 18? Even though you may have
attended the 2001 Dream Cruise, you won't want to miss out on
these fantastic graphics. Thanks to Roberta, this event
has been recapped.
Dream Cruise 2001
has come and gone, and we've all taken the ultimate,
customized souvenir; our own personal memories. You were dazzled
by glossy paint and chrome, and reflected upon the magic of
Woodward Avenue itself. You reveled in the roar of the V8 and
were steeped in the smell of rubber and fuel. The vehicles
came in all shades, and a distant view transformed them into
festive colored dots of confetti. All of the vehicles, despite
their distinct color, had one common denominator: Black tires.
Why BLACK?
http://beauchamp.20m.com/index.html
______________________________________
Haven't
you ever wondered why tires are always (ho-hum) black? The
idea for colored tires never seemed to catch on. Is it because
black doesn't show scuff marks, dirt, etc., or is there
something more? YES, there is much more!! Aside from the
obvious rubber, tires contain waxes and a generous helping of a
very significant ingredient called carbon BLACK, and hence, the
black contributor.
Why do tire
manufacturers use carbon black, you say? You'll be glad to
know that carbon black increases the life of your tires, by
acting as a sacrificing agent. The sun's destructive
ultra-violet rays are absorbed by the carbon black (sacrificing)
component, and converted into harmless heat, which is dissipated
by the tire. Not only does carbon black do a crackerjack job of
diverting damaging UV rays, it's . . .well, er, . . .CHEAP, and
therefore a favorite with the tire companies! We should be kind
to our tires, and if it is not possible to shield them from the
sun during the day, we should apply a liberal dose of a
non-silicone based rubber protectant. I mentioned earlier that
tires are composed (among other things) of waxes.
Let's back up a minute, to determine why we must avoid
silicone based "protectants". As the tires roll down
the road, the waxes work their way to the surface (which is why
tires don't fare well on a vehicle that is often idle), keeping
the tires soft and pliable. Silicone, while it provides an
immediate, impressive shine, actually breaks the waxes down,
leaving the tire worse off than when you began your preservation
quest. The tires soon take on a grayish appearance, and then
what? Well, you're probably inclined to apply more of that same
silicone based product, which means the manufacturer will sell
more of its product, increase its sales, and you are caught in a
rather vicious cycle. This is the reason you must use a
non-silicone based product.
So now, instead of looking at your black tires, and thinking
about how "zippy" your vehicle would look on a set of
hot red, or cool blue tires, be glad and rejoice over their
state of blackness! Oh, and if you're wondering how we've moved
from the Dream Cruise, to "Why are tires black?", to
tire preservation, just remember that we are traversing the
sphere.
We may begin at any point and travel anywhere. We can and may
move in infinite directions: It's all perfectly legal here, in
the Trivia Zone of the GCCCA.
Friends In Thought,
Roberta L. Beauchamp
________________________________________
The Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise is just around the corner. August 18 is the official cruise date.
I'll be there and perhaps you will too. I'm sure you're aware that participants and onlookers alike will
be treated to a spectacular display of motor vehicles, so I won't drive you down that road.
There is something else to consider as you stroll along, preoccupied with the dazzling display of
glistening chrome and polished paint. Consider that element of the Dream Cruise which is trod upon,
mercilessly warn, abused and abraded in every possible way: Woodward Avenue.
What about Woodward Avenue? Why focus on the street?! Well . . .you might be interested to know
that Woodward Avenue carries the M-1 designation because it was the first paved road ANYWHERE.
Bicyclists and early auto owners call for smoother roads resulted in the first mile of concrete pavement
on M-1 in 1909, between Six and Seven Mile Rd.
Woodward Avenue replaced Saginaw Trail (the old Indian Road), as the connection between Detroit,
Pontiac, Flint and Saginaw. The 28 miles of Woodward from Pontiac to Detroit have been designated a
Michigan Heritage Route, because of the historical and cultural significance of some 350 sites along
Woodward Avenue, including 42 historical churches.
So, whether you're cruising Woodward Avenue, or strolling along and admiring the automobiles during
Dream Cruise weekend, have a wonderful time, and take a moment to reflect upon the historical
significance of M-1. Realize that there's no other stretch of concrete that is worthier to host such an
event.
Friends In Thought,
Roberta L. Beauchamp
________________________________________
