The Political Season Is Upon Us: Time to Laugh (or Nod Wisely)

As the year goes by, politics, politicians, and politicking non-politicians are more and more visible in the news and in our lives. Following are a few quips by a few wits from our own society — and abroad.

Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel. — John Quinton, American actor/writer

Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.

— Oscar Ameringer, "the Mark Twain of American Socialism."

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.— Nikita Khrushchev

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Government. But then I repeat myself. — Mark Twain

I don't make jokes. I just watch the Government and report the facts! — Will Rogers

I contend that for a nation to try and tax itself into prosperity, is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.

— Winston Churchill

A Government which robs Peter to pay Paul, can always depend on the support of Paul! — Will Rogers

The problem we face today is because the people that work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living. — George Bernard Shaw

Contributed by Jane Hart

WHERE HAVE ALL THE PILLOWS GONE?

A few years ago a resident who is an avid needlepointer came to me with a pile of finished needlepoint covers and asked what he could do with them since he had run out of family to give them to as gifts. He agreed with my suggestion to have pillows made from them which would be used to brighten up the décor on Main Street and the Residents’ Lounge. So 11 beautiful pillows were made and distributed among the chairs in that area much to the delight of residents.

NOW ONLY 7 ARE LEFT

This is an area much used by residents, staff, visitors, delivery people, etc. So, what is happening to those missing pillows? If you see any in another area of Kendal, please return them to Main Street. If you have “borrowed” one, please return it.

Marilyn Bottjer, Chair CAFA

English Is Crazy

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.

One goose, 2 geese. So, one moose, 2 meese?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend?

If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?

Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?

Have noses that run and feet that smell? 

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

And why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick'?

Contributed by Barbara Bruno

Spotting the Spotted — and Getting Rid of It: Part 2

Last week, we bemoaned the arrival and proliferation of the spotted lanternfly which decimates foliage of all kinds. We included a picture of one the dastardly pest. Turns out, the picture was of a spotted lanternfly in its youth. Below are updated pictures of Spotted Lanternflies in their later years. Upon meeting one of these wretched creatures, you are encouraged to respond in one of two ways:

 1) Step forcefully on the damnable thing

2) If it is above your “range of stepping,” take off your shoe and slap it down forcefully on the damnable thing. You can also use a book or magazine, but then you’ll have squashed spotted lanternfly on your book or magazine. Ick!

Spread out version

Folded up version

A really, really folded up version

Ode to Howard, Art and Poetry by Sheila Benedis

Ode to Howard

I breathe you in

my husband

I hear your tender voice

see your tall quiet body

I gather up your strength

remember your never ending support

 

and become high

 

I remember you driving me to an art workshop

when I began creating baskets

thank you for placing our sleeping young son

on the backseat of the car

waiting patiently for me

 

never complaining

 

thank you for endlessly packing up my baskets

to send to galleries all over the country

 

thank you for climbing on ladders

when my work changed to installation pieces

hanging them on walls and from the ceiling

 

disregarding warnings of danger

 

when I went on many artist residencies

gone for a month at a time

thank you for your patience

you never complained about my meager income

 

even though you were comfortable with

the medieval art at the Frick

 thank you for appreciating my contemporary creations

my beauty my intellect

 

you understood my value

Special Observances, August 28 – September 3, 2023

AUGUST 28: WORLD DREAM DAY

There are dreams and then there are dreams. World Dream Day is not about sleepy time fantasies, but rather about the ideas, aspirations, hopes, and desires we have when wide awake, viewing the world, and wanting to make it better. Many of today’s inventions started as simple ideas. Tenacious hard work is what turned a concept into a reality.

World Dream Day encourages individuals, families, and communities to make dreams into realities. Walt Disney said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Sometimes the dream is more an idea or wish or desire for something to come true. Martin Luther King’s famous Dream speech radiated his desire for civil rights and an end to racism. Even if not fully realized, his dream has had an enormous impact—and still does. World Dream Day is a day of inspiration, reflection, and celebration—and planning. If you have a dream, take the first step to make it happen. Maybe you aspire to write a book. World Dream Day is a great day to start the first chapter — and finish it!

World Dream Day was started at Columbia University in 2012, by educator and “transformational strategist” (look it up) Ozioma Egwuonwu, with the aim to “heal and inspire humanity.” Her goal was to create a day that would help inspire and heal humanity. Through the years, a variety of organizations and businesses have become strategic partners with World Dream Day. In 2013, World Dream Day partnered with the United Nations’ My World 2013 initiative.

Keeping dreams alive is why we have what we do today. Without dreamers like Martin Luther King or Bayard Rustin, we wouldn’t have achieved change and progress. From civil rights to video games, nothing would have been possible without dreams and the people who helped bring them to life.Today is a day where we can rekindle the powerful dreams we have embedded in us and stimulate ways to make them a reality.

AUGUST 30: SLINKY DAY

The Slinky is known and loved the world over. This pre-compressed helical spring toy was immediately popular when it was introduced in the 1940s. But it was not until the 1950s that it became a national sensation. And Slinky has never lost its appeal, continuing to be popular — in many different forms — for successive generations of children and adults alike, even to this day. Slinky Day is the perfect day to have some fun with Slinkies: do Slinky stunts, race with Slinkies, or simply untangle Slinkies as they knot, twist, and spiral.

In 1943, Richard James, a naval engineer, was in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard working on a project using springs to hold items up on moving ships. He accidentally knocked down a spring and watched it “walk” and then coil itself up neatly on the floor. It was an idea-inspiring moment, and, along with his wife, Betty, a plan was hatched for a new toy. Betty came up with the name “Slinky.” In 1945, with a 500-dollar loan, they started James Industries. At first, Slinkys sales were flat. But when a demo table was set up in Philadelphia's Gimbels Department Store during the 1945 holiday shopping season, 400 Slinkies — at a dollar each — sold in 90 minutes. And people wanted more.

The Slinky was introduced at the American Toy Fair the following year, In 1947, the Slinky was granted a patent. Soon it was being marketed world-wide. However, in 1960 the James were divorced and the company was close to bankruptcy. Richard left Betty and their 6 children and joined a religious cult in Bolivia. Betty soldiered on, brought the company back from the brink of ruin, and made it flourish.

Betty James died in 2008 at the age of 90. By then, hundreds of millions of Slinkys had been sold. However, the Slinky has not simply been a toy. It’s also been used by NASA for experiments (such as, to show the effects of gravity on Space Shuttle missions); or as mobile radio antennas by amateur radio operators, after first being used as such during the Vietnam War; or by teachers to simulate oscillation in waves; or by physical therapists to improve hand-eye coordination. The Slinky postage stamp was issued in 1999. In 2000, the little pre-compressed-helical-spring-that-could was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. In 2019, a historical marker was put up near the spot where the first Slinky factory was located in Clifton Heights. Today the Slinky is celebrated all around the world with Slinky Day!

AUGUST 31: WE LOVE MEMOIRS DAY

A “memoir” is a non-fiction account based on the author’s memories and experiences. Memoir focus on how these events and experiences affected the writer, ranging from emotional responses to personal opinions of events at the time. Memoirs can be written about anything. From war and politics to business and travel, memoirs offer us a rare peek into a person’s life and beliefs. A memoir is different from an autobiography in that an autobiography may be a whole life, but a memoir has a narrower focus and covers a significant moment in that life. Memoirs with great historical importance include Thoreau’s Walden, and Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl.

There have been memoirs for as long as humans have written. In the past, documenting one’s life in scrolls, journals, and letters was a part of everyday life. Scholars, politicians, and military officers were the most common memoirists, along with a few royals and their associates. Some memoirs existed in the form of oral literature — passed down from generation to generation as part of a family’s heritage. One example is Libanius, a teacher who lived between 314 and 394 AD. He chose to have his memoir spread in the literary orations popular at the time. During the 13th and 14th centuries, some European diplomats, such as Philippe de Commines, and historians, such as Geoffrey of Villehardouin, wrote about great political upheavals, narrated from their perspective. In the 17th and 18th centuries, also known as the Age of Enlightenment, many intellectuals began writing memoirs: accounts of their exploits, such as in political movements and intellectual schools of thought. Most were written by esteemed members of certain professions, such as law and politics. It wasn’t until the 20th century that ordinary men and women began publishing memoirs for others to read.

After the First and Second World Wars, veterans of those conflicts began writing about the horrors experienced on the frontlines. These accounts showed the harsh reality and brutality of war when countries engaged in sustained conflict. Memoirs like Her Privates We and Storm of Steel stripped away outdated notions of war as a noble pursuit. Today, memoirs are still written by career politicians, businesspeople, and military officers. A large chunk of the market is dominated by celebrities, too.

We Love Memoirs Day was created in 2013 by two memoir authors — Victoria Twead and Alan Parks — along with a Facebook group to connect admirers, readers, and authors of memoirs. Their main aim was to create a friendly environment to discuss the memoirs and exchange opinions about them.

SEPTEMBER 1: WORLD LETTER WRITING DAY

World Letter Writing Day encourages people all around the globe to pick up a pen, grab a piece of paper, and write a letter. The letter can be a love letter, one filled with anger, news of events, to keep connections alive and well, or even one simply written to create memories. World Letter Writing Day is also a day to learn about the art of letter writing. In this digital age of text and e-mail, it’s almost unheard of to sit down and compose a letter.

There are some great reasons to write a letter:

  • It’s a thoughtful way to communicate with those you love.

  • The receiver may treasure your letter for years to come.

  • People who write letters of gratitude feel happier and more satisfied with life.

  • It’s a great way to strengthen a friendship, marriage, or other meaningful relationship.

  • It can help someone better understand your perspective or position on a certain topic.

  • Your older friends and relatives will cherish this traditional form of communication.

  • If you have beautiful handwriting, it’s a way to show off your penmanship skills.

One more reason to write a letter instead of a text or e-mail is that it forces you to really think about what you’re writing. Far too often, we send texts and e-mails without really thinking about the impact our words have. With a handwritten letter, you are forced to be more careful with the words you choose.

The day was founded by Australian author, artist, and photographer Richard Simpkin, who adores writing handwritten letters. It started when he began writing to individuals he considered Australian legends. Some wrote back! In 2005, he published Australian Legends, paying tribute to the art of writing letters and looking back on how it changed everything for him. To further honor handwritten letters, he created the World Letter Writing Day in 2014.

Letter writing itself has existed for centuries. It was present in ancient Egypt and Greece. At that point, letters were written on metal, lead, wax-coated wooden tablets, pottery fragments, animal skin, and papyrus. In the 17th and 18th centuries, letters were often used to send information, specific news, information, or greetings. Others used letters to exchange ideas and formulate critical thinking regarding particular subjects. This is why several letters gathered from the past serve historians as an archive of personal and diplomatic interactions and how many events in history actually played out.

From thereon, letters became an art form and stood out as a genre of literature. Things changed a great deal when postal services were created and people started using letters for personal interaction. In fact, during times of war, letters were the only way families and lovers could stay in touch.

SEPTEMBER 2: NATIONAL HUMMINGBIRD DAY

Today we celebrate the hummingbird! National Hummingbird Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in September. This year it falls on September 2. Hummingbirds are small colorful birds distinguished by their ability to hover mid-air rapidly flapping their wings – which produces the humming sound they are characteristically known for. They are attracted to flowering plants, especially deep-throated flowers, and feed on the nectar for survival. Their reliance on nectar has helped the development of new hummingbird species influenced by the changes in the flowers. The number of species is still growing, but about 360 species of Hummingbirds currently exist. Most species of hummingbirds can be found in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, and there are no hummingbirds outside of the Western Hemisphere. Only 8 species regularly breed in the US, although, up to 24 species can be found there at various times. The historical evolution of Hummingbirds has not been traced to any verifiable or scientifically researched source. Their first public sighting was published in a journal by a French explorer on his travels to Brazil.

Even with their aggressive nature, as many as 25 different species of Hummingbirds can survive and co-exist in the same place. The hummingbird’s size makes them susceptible to being preyed upon or caught in dangerous situations that could be man-made or natural. Hummingbirds are very small — many weigh less than the weight of a nickel. The calliope hummingbird is 3 inches long, and the bee hummingbird, native to Cuba, is the smallest bird species in the world, at 2.25 inches in length. Hummingbirds have such small feet that they can't walk or hop properly. They can shuffle a bit, though, but their feet are mainly used for preening. The small size of their feet also allows them to fly quicker. They can fly up to 30 miles per hour when going forward, and up to 60 miles per hour when diving. Among other threats to the hummingbird are pesticides, bad weather, big insects or predators, loss of habitat, and bad feeders.

Each species of hummingbird makes a different humming sound because the wings of each species beat at a different rate. Generally, a hummingbird's wings beat somewhere between 50 and 200 times a second. Wings aren't the only things that beat quickly when it comes to hummingbirds: their hearts beat more than 1,200 times a minute. They also take a breath about 250 times a minute, and that number is even higher when they are flying.

Hummingbirds may fly hundreds or even thousands of miles to migrate. They mainly eat nectar, but also eat small insects, spiders, tree sap, and juice from fruit. Their lifespan ranges from 3 to 12 years and is contingent on factors such as their species, habitat, and vulnerability due to predators and other threats. Hummingbirds share the raising of the chicks. Males hummingbirds live a lot shorter time because they use so much energy in defending their nests. They use a lot of energy in flying and need to rest every 15 minutes.

Even though these creatures have survived a long time without the direct and active intervention or help of man, this is currently changing as more information is being gathered on their vulnerability and threats to their survival. National Hummingbird Day exists to celebrate these beautiful flying creatures. It recognizes their importance in pollinating our flowers and identifies threats and situations that are harmful to them. It also encourages safer practices that will ensure their survival.

SEPTEMBER 3: NATIONAL PET ROCK DAY

The first Sunday in September marks National Pet Rock Day. This year, that day is September 3. Pet rocks are — or were — extraordinary pets adopted by hundreds across the country. They really had their advantages: rocks don’t need grooming, don’t require visits to the vet, nor do they eat, get sick, and — best of all — never die!

The pet rock was created by advertising executive Gary Dahl in April 1975. Each rock was a smooth stone picked from Mexico’s Rosarito beach. It was sold in a custom-made cardboard box complete with breathing holes and straw (pet-rock bedding). Die-cutting and manufacturing cardboard boxes represented the biggest production expense for Dahl. The stones were regarded as live pets and were marketed as such.

The inspiration behind this strange creation came from complaints from Dahl’s friends about the stress of caring for their pets. During a discussion in a bar — where else? — Dahl joked about keeping a rock as a pet. He did not, however, stop at just wisecracking. He did them one better: he created the Pet Rock. Then he went on to write a pet-rock instruction manual, which included jokes and gags about how to “care” for your new pet and listed several commands that could be taught to the new pet. While “sit” and “stay” were effortless to accomplish, “roll over” usually required a little extra help from the trainer. “Come,” “stand,” and “shake hands” were found to be near-impossible to teach; however, “attack” was fairly simple (with some help from the owner’s force). The instruction manual was a popular addition to the pet rock itself, showcasing Dahl’s sense of humor. They sold like pet hotcakes.

The pet rock fad came to an end after a slight boom in sales during the festive season of 1975. Gary Dahl made a tidy profit, selling over a million pet rocks before their eventual discontinuation in February 1976. At the time, each rock sold for $4, making it one of the most fascinating marketing schemes ever. In today’s money, each pet rock would sell for $18.

Dahl had become a millionaire, and he went from a cabin to a home with a big swimming pool and a Mercedes in the garage. He opened a bar in Las Gatos and continued dabbling with inventions. His subsequent inventions — such as the Sand Breeding Kit — were far less successful than the Pet Rock. Dahl also was sued by some of his investors, and forced to pay them an amount in the six figures. Dahl died in March 2015 in Jacksonville, Oregon, at the age of 78. But Dahl's Pet Rocks are still alive, enduring in the cultural lexicon long after their scintillating six-month ascent and rapid descent. On Pet Rock Day, we celebrate them even today.

In and Around Kendal

A Green Cathedral in Rockwood Park

Photo by Linda Mahoney Herring

Sparrow, Checks Things Out: Looks Left & Right

Photo by Art Brady

UFO Sighting in Rockwood

Photo by Edward Kasinec

A Bench for Contemplation

The Founders Bench in Rockwood Park, just restored by the preserve administrator— very special for contemplation

Photos by Edward Kasinec

Summer Blooms on the Brady Patio

Photo by Art Brady

Spotting the Spotted — and Getting Rid of It

 This you may already know, but, if not, knowing it makes a difference. There’s an enemy a-foot—and a-wing! Pictured below, it's the dreaded spotted lantern fly (or SLF). He’s a handsome fellow, but destructive as hell.

And clearly when he’s not sucking trees and other vegetation dry, he’s partying, because the spotted lantern fly proliferates like crazy. Sleepy Hollow has declared war on these (literal) suckers in an effort to save their victims which include but are not limited to the tree-of-heaven, red and silver maple, walnut, wild grape vine, sycamore, rose bush, oak, birch, fruit tree, Virginia creeper, and porcelain berry. A recent article in the Hudson Independent explains it all. Click below to read.

Click Here for Spotted Lanturn Fly article

And the next time you see a spotted lantern fly, squash him (or her)! You can find out the best method (personally, we find the shoe-to-bug method best) in the Hudson Independent. If you love our trees and plants, join the fight!

Article contributed by Jane Hart

Put a Little English On It

Let's face it: English is a crazy language.

There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in a pineapple. 

English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France.  

Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.  

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce, and hammers don't ham?

If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? 

 If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Contributed by Barbara Bruno

Is Your Computer Secure?

Here’s an interesting article contributed by Joe Bruno, Chair of the Computer Committee. It is written for the generation behind us who might be concerned about their parents’ computer security. Well, we are their parents’ generation, and we should all be concerned about computer security. It’s where so much information about our lives lives.

Click here for article

Joe noted in particular that the article is from Malwarebytes “which pushes their program.” He added that he likes Malwarebytes. Many of us use it and like it, as well. However, even if you don’t go the Malwarebytes route, there are plenty of good other suggestions there.

If you have further questions, either call Joe or staff member Anthony Bradford, both supreme experts on the wild and sometimes wonderful world of computers.

Special Observances, August 21 – 27

 AUGUST 21: POETS DAY

This day is dedicated to the crafters of poetry: Poets. Poetry “uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language.” Its meanings go beyond prose. And its forms are many (including sonnets, limericks, and haikus), as are its types (such as narrative, epic, and lyric). Over the course of literary history, poets have used different styles, resulting in a history of poets as diverse as the literature they have written.

“What is Poetry?” has been a question vexing philosophers forever. Aristotle wrote a book — aptly named Poetics — trying to define it. The history of poetry is lengthy, traceable in written form as far back as the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, written in Akkadian, during the late 2nd millennium BC, to celebrate and memorialize the great deeds and attributes of a king and a culture. In ancient Rome, professional poets were sponsored by wealthy patrons in Ancient Rome. Patrons of poetry continued on through the Renaissance period. At the same time, troubadours were travelling poets.

Poets have written in all languages. Even in the long-ago, poets did other things besides write poetry. William Shakespeare also “worked in theater,” both as writer and actor. Shakespeare, of course, is one of the best-known poets. Worldwide, his work serves as the foundation for academic study of poetry in colleges and secondary education, alike. The Victorians loved him so much, they coined a word for their admiration: Bardolotry. But it took a while for his rise to poetry fame. It took hundreds of years after his death in 1616, for Shakespeare to become the legend known today. Such is the plight of a poet.

The poem by a poet is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language. It includes sound symbolism, phonaesthetics (look it up), and meter. For the poet, a poem is a form of communication that expresses ideas in the literal sense, bringing out the meanings deeper rather than giving the mere definition of the words. Poet’s Day is a form of tribute or honor to the world’s most creative personalities who write poems.

AUGUST 22: NATIONAL TOOTH FAIRY DAY

National Tooth Fairy Day is a reminder for kids, young and old, to relive the fun of visits from the Tooth Fairy when a newly lost tooth was exchanged for a fun surprise under their pillow in the morning! The origin of fairies dates back to 13th-century England when they were described for the first time by Gervase of Tilbury. The tradition of a child receiving a gift for a lost tooth can be traced back to medieval Europe. In a collection of writings called The Eddas about the Norse and Northern European traditions, there is a reference to a “tand fe,” which directly translates to “tooth fee.” As part of this tradition, children would receive a small fee from their parents when they lost their first tooth. This is because teeth were a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Some Viking warriors would even wear a string of teeth as a necklace during battle to protect them.

In many cultures around the world, various traditions around the tooth fairy are celebrated! The tooth fairy herself (or himself — the verdict is still out) has been around since at least the Middle Ages. Europe, Russia, some parts of Asia (especially China), and North America have certain traditions that revolve around the concept of a tooth fairy: a child loses a tooth, leaves it under his or her pillow that night, then a special creature stealthily exchanges it for a coin or a treat during the night. That creature is sometimes a small animal such as a mouse, rabbit, cat or dog; sometimes a mythical creature akin to a fairy.

The closest counterpart of the modern Tooth Fairy came in the form of an 18th-century French fairytale “La Bonne Petite Souris” (“The Little Good Mouse”). The first written American record only reaches back to a 1908 Chicago Tribune article. Author Lillian Brown provided parents with a magical suggestion for getting their children to have their loose milk teeth pulled: Tell them the Tooth Fairy would leave 5 cents under their pillows for every tooth lost. In 1927, an eight-page script for a children’s play titled “The Tooth Fairy” was written by Esther Watkins Arnold. The play became widely popular; schools enactments spread it far and wide. Since then, the Tooth Fairy has become a global phenomenon, reportedly paying visits to children in the UK, Canada, and Australia.

In the US, over the years, the tooth fairy’s largesse has varied. In 1942, columnist Bob Balfe wrote in the Palm Beach Post that the fairy gave his children War Stamps to put in their books, popular during a time when the war effort was a motivating factor. Today, the average payout ranges from $3 to $4. However, if a tooth falls out during the night, with no time to break a large bill, the amount could climb higher.

AUGUST 23: HUG YOUR SWEETHEART DAY

Hug Your Sweetheart Day is for wrapping your arms around that special person in your life — your sweetheart — and showing your love for them with a hug. Hugging has been around for millennia and is practiced by almost every culture as a way to connect with others without using language. The word “hug” seems to have come from “hugga,” an Old Norse word meaning “to comfort.” “Hug” was first used around 1610 to describe a wrestling hold. It began being used for its current meaning in the 1650s.

Hugs may actually have a scientific basis for happy feelings. They release a hormone called oxytocin, produced in the pituitary gland, into the bloodstream. This hormone helps lower blood pressure, heart rate, and the stress hormone cortisol. It also reduces anxiety, improves mood and memory, and increases bonding and closeness. Those who hug often tend to have increased empathy for others. In order for hugs to be beneficial, however, both the huggee and the hugger must trust each other and both want to hug. Otherwise, the opposite effect happens, and cortisol levels rise, causing stress. Bottom line: think before you hug. Even your sweetheart. After that, it’s pretty much up to the two of you . . .

AUGUST 24: PLUTO DEMOTED DAY

For many years, kids in science class used a cute little mnemonic device to remember the names of the solar system’s 9 planets: “My Very Eager Mother Just Served Up Nutty Peanutbutter.” But that mother no longer serves peanutbutter. Why? Because Pluto has been demoted! What’s a mnemonic to do?!

Pluto was the Solar System's 9th planet for 76 years. Discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ, it was given the name of the ancient Greek ruler of the underworld, Pluto, by an 11-year-old girl named Venetia Burney (Google her, if you like).

In 1992, questions arose around Pluto’s legitimacy as a planet after the discovery of large objects in its region, including one that actually had a larger mass than Pluto itself. Eventually, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) settled on a definition for “planet,” which ultimately excluded Pluto. From that point forward, it has been known as a “dwarf planet.” A dwarf planet is defined as is a celestial body that orbits the sun and has enough mass to assume a nearly round shape but that has not cleared the area around its orbit and is not a moon.

Because Pluto is very far from us — on average about 6 billion kilometers (4 billion miles) —little is known about it. In size, Pluto has a diameter of about 2250 kilometers (1400 miles), or about two-thirds the size of Earth's moon. Pluto's orbit is highly eccentric. Its orbit around the Sun is not perfectly circular. This means that the distance between it and the Sun varies over time. It takes Pluto about 250 Earth years to orbit once around the Sun, and about 6.5 Earth days to make a full rotation around its axis.

Closer to home, Neil deGrasse Tyson, the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC, entered the fray early on in the 1990s. He — and the Hayden Planetarium — have been in the forefront of the discussion ever since. During a 2009 NPR interview, Tyson stated that other celestial bodies of ice discovered in the outer solar system acted similarly to Pluto because they crossed orbits with other planets. According to Tyson, that's simply nothow a large celestial body considered a planet should behave. The astrophysicist went on to say that Pluto’s demotion as a planet shouldn't be looked at negatively. Instead, Pluto should be considered the first object discovered in an area of the outer solar system known as the Kuiper belt. Interested in hearing more of what deGrasse Tyson has to say about Pluto? Below are three Youtubes featuring short clips of him explaining:

2017 C-Span 2: Book TV (Click here)

2017 Neil DeGrasse Tyson on Stephen Colbert (Click here)

2014 Neil DeGrasse Tyson, “Pluto Is My Favorite Comet” (Click here)

AUGUST 25: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOUNDERS DAY

National Park Service Founders Day recognizes the conservation and preservation efforts of the National Parks System. Whether enjoying scenic trails, open spaces, watersheds, or recreational areas, the National Parks Service provides a natural outdoor resource accessible to every American. Hiking and biking trails entice visitors to explore and offer an outdoor experience like no other.

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act, establishing the National Park Service. As part of the Department of Interior, the National Park Service protects 84 million acres in 400 areas across the 50 American states and territories and the District of Columbia. It’s mission today? “The National Park Service preserves the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.” The service is led by a director who is nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

The first national park, Yellowstone, was established in 1872. Congress passed legislation to preserve the land as a public park that would benefit the Americans. This made America the first country in the world to create a public park solely for the benefit of its citizens. This was only the first of many steps the government would take to create and preserve national land, forests, coastal regions, wildlife refuges, and historic sites for posterity.

The National Park Service has 22,000 workers involved in permanent, temporary, and seasonal employment. An additional 340,000 volunteers are also enrolled with the service. These parks welcome almost 300 million visitors every year. When the National Park Service was created, it managed 35 parks and monuments. In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt brought 56 national monuments and military sites into the National Park Service, bringing areas of historical, scenic, and scientific importance together. For a new park to be created, there must be an act of Congress. But, with the Antiquities Act of 1906, the president can proclaim national monuments on lands under federal jurisdiction.

With such an expanse of land in its jurisdiction and so many people involved in the land's preservation, the National Park Service's original goal of conservation for future generations is still being met. This is celebrated today with National Park Service Founders Day!

AUGUST 26: NATIONAL TOILET PAPER DAY

National Toilet Paper Day recognizes (nay, celebrates!) this essential item. We often overlook this essential item until entering a public restroom and realizing: no toilet paper. Who created National Toilet Paper Day? No one knows, but whoever it was surely deserve a shout-out for dedicating a day to honoring this humble yet important invention.

Over thousands of years of history, there have been many ways to “clean up.” In the early days, people just used their hands. Over time, a wide variety of items came to be used: rocks, leaves, and corn cobs among them. Squatting over a creek was common, with waste washed downstream by the current. From at least 79 AD until the fall of the Roman empire, the Romans cleaned themselves with a tersorium: a sea sponge on a stick, it was simply rinsed off, then left for the next person. Very egalitarian.

Fortunately, progress and invention intervened. Toilet paper was invented in China in 580 AD. It came in sheets and was coarse and expensive. While most of the population couldn’t afford it, in 1391, the emperor’s toilet paper was made in sheets, each specially perfumed. It wasn’t until the 15th century that toilet paper began to be manufactured in China.

During the 18th century, when newspapers and magazines arrived on the scene in the West, they were often read, then re-purposed for the outhouse or Water Closet. The Sears catalog and the Farmer’s Almanac were legendary for ending up for that use.

It wasn’t until 1857 that toilet paper began being sold in the United States of America, at first in loose flat sheets of paper. On December 22, 1871, Seth Wheeler from Albany, NY, received patent #465,588 for the toilet paper roll. By the end of the 19th century, toilet paper began appearing in perforated rolls that made use more convenient, and companies began advertising toilet paper as “splinter free.” Then, in 1930, the Germans invented the perforated rolls we know today. Americans love their toilet paper and use more of it than any other country; the reason might be that some countries prefer a bidet over toilet paper.

For many decades a debate has raged over whether the roll of toilet paper should unfold over the top of the roll or under it. There are many arguments for each direction. Seth Wheeler’s 1871 patent for the toilet paper roll clearly shows diagrams of toilet paper coming off the top of the roll.

 But, wait! There are other pictures of Wheeler’s invention where the toilet paper unrolls from underneath.

So, which way is the winner of this debate? You decide.

One final note: When a roll of toilet paper is used up, most people toss the cardboard core out. But that cardboard roll is recyclable! Placing it in the paper recycling bin, or composting it, saves space in landfill.

AUGUST 27: NATIONAL JUST BECAUSE DAY

Today you don’t need a special reason to celebrate. It’s National Just Because Day. Why? Simple: just because. If you want to make spaghetti for breakfast wearing last year’s Halloween costume, more power to you. It’s a day to stop worrying about the whys.

Just Because Day has also become a great way to spread random acts of kindness. Send a thoughtful card to a friend, just because. Give your grandchildren a call, just because. Pick up your neighbor’s cubby-mail and deliver it, just because.

The original version of Just Because Day may be a movable holiday called Because Day, first celebrated on the third Wednesday in May. It was invented in the late fifties or early sixties, by Joseph J. Goodwin of Los Gatos, California. He turned the gift of a transistor radio for his wife into their own family holiday. For the Goodwin’s, it wasn’t so much about a radio as it was about celebrating life, free afternoons, and family. And so, what began as a wholesome family holiday celebrating the beauty of spontaneity, grew into an annual celebration across the US.

As we grow up and assimilate into the world, we tend to fall in line with always doing what is expected of us. And for many people, that might get a little boring. On this very special day, these unspoken rules society has paved before us no longer apply. This day is your golden opportunity to do whatever it is your heart desires. This day is to encourage you to march at the beat of your own drum. Your chance to do something with no rhyme or reason. It’s also a golden opportunity to spread some positivity to others! Pay a tab for the table next to you. Leave a nice note in someone’s cubbie. The possibilities are endless and the only thing holding you back? You!

Who Am I, Poetry and Art by Sheila Benedis

Who I Am   

a wrinkled orange peel

a soft smooth aromatic pear

 

I’m sinuous

a delicate fragile dandelion

carried by the wind

carried by the spirit

 

a gentle breath

planting seeds of life

planting seeds of hope

 

tough as nails

tenaciously forcing through rock

growing roots in crevices

surviving

 

going round and round

inside becoming outside

turning twisting on the road of life

wanting to find love

wanting to belong

 

being a creative person

seeing challenges as opportunities

as gifts

 

needing a solitary quiet space

for an aesthetic impulse

to become an intuition

to make art

to write poetry

 

showing the world and myself

who I am

I am wabi sabi

healing repairing

transforming

In and Around Kendal

The Ukrainian National Colors—Blue and Yellow—in Our Own Back Yard

Contributed by Edward Kasinec

A Doting Great Grandmother Realizes Her Great Grandson’s August Potential

Barbara Bettigole sent proof positive that her recently born great grandson — young Benjamin Jacob — is particularly gifted. Not only is he deeply into books at this young age, but he is so even when the material is upside-down. This lad needs careful watching . . .

Just Hummin’ Along

Contributed by Carolyn Reiss with assistance from Art Brady

Down by the Riverside

The Coast Card Passes By

Contributed by Joe Bruno

The Working River

Contributed by Joe Bruno

The Final View of the Day

Contribut4ed by Rita Benzer

© Kendal on Hudson Residents Association 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 all rights reserved.  Please do not reproduce without permission.

Photographs of life at Kendal on Hudson are by residents.