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Time For Comfort – Soup

Whether the candidates you hoped would win yesterday were victorious or not, whether you are licking your wounds or celebrating a victory, we think we can all use a little comfort food.

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Vote!

It seems like campaigning has been going on forever, but it has all come down to today…election day.
Millions have already cast their votes in early voting polling places, or mailed in their votes, or cast absentee ballots. But millions more will have the chance today to walk into that voting booth and cast their votes, to make their voices heard.

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The Rest of The Story – The Elephant and The Donkey

Tomorrow is election day. Two parties, the Republicans and the Democrats have put forth their candidates for local, state government positions and of course that of President of the United States. Elephants and Donkeys can be seen everywhere. But why you may well ask, are the donkey and the elephant the symbols of their respective parties? We wondered that too.

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Ruff Collars?

Continuing along on the “costume” theme, the ruff collar is one of the most recognizable symbols of Elizabethan fashion. Picture Queen Elizabeth I, her head surrounded by a crisp, fanlike collar, or William Shakespeare, the most famous author of the time, whose own likeness and theatrical productions depict the prominent garment. Though the collar began as a modest ruffle on a shirt, it went on to become an elaborate piece of its own. In 16th-century England, it would have been hard to miss the sight of these towering, fluted sculptures circling the faces of the English elite. But why did people wear these stiff, awkward garments?Like many sartorial choices of the time, ruff collars signified more than just taste; they were statements of status, wealth, and power. In the first half of the 1500s, English men exposed just a hint of a collar of their shirt, ruffled up from underneath their doublets. By the mid-1500s, however, Spanish fashion began to infiltrate England, and the exaggerated collar worn by Spain’s aristocracy was adopted by the English as well.

Elizabethan society was highly hierarchical, and fashion was a way for people to visibly demonstrate their rank. The larger and more elaborate the ruff, the more important and wealthy the wearer. One of the ruff’s most famous proponents was Queen Elizabeth I, who, after taking the throne in 1558, used her striking appearance to symbolize her authority. Her ornate, structured gowns and imposing ruff collars influenced the looks not only of her courtiers, but of the whole country: all classes and ages adopted versions of the ruff collar. The queen wanted to ensure that one’s look didn’t outrank their status, however, so she enforced the sumptuary laws previously put in place by her father, Henry VIII. These laws restricted the most luxurious clothing to the upper classes, making the truly showy ruffs the domain of the rich. 

Ruffs grew in size and complexity as the century progressed, aided by the use of starch starting around the mid-1560s. By about 1570, the ruff was its own accessory, an entirely separate and detachable collar that was secured to the wearer’s clothing primarily with pins. Though early collars were made of linen, by then, they were also made with lace and could feature embroidered or bejeweled detailing. The collars were often starched in a variety of colors, with blue, green, and yellow being favorites. (Queen Elizabeth did, however, ban blue ruffs in 1595.) 

An average ruff, if there was such a thing, required anywhere from 15 feet to 20 feet of fabric to make. By the 1580s, the collars had become wide, sculptural pieces; some of the more extravagant pieces, such as cartwheel ruffs, extended dramatically horizontally from the neck and were so cumbersome that they needed wire frameworks to keep them in place — and in one piece. Despite their starched rigidity, ruffs were ultimately quite delicate and difficult to maintain. While working-class citizens also wore ruffs, they couldn’t always comfortably accommodate them in their day-to-day life, nor could they afford the time and materials needed to take proper care of them, further relegating the accessory to the upper class. By the early 1600s, women had started wearing open ruffs, displaying their décolletage. Their collars stood upright more than out, a face-framing take on the trend influenced by French Queen Marie de’ Medici — and one that came up against the growing Puritan movement in England. Prominent figures in the movement, such as Philip Stubbes, condemned ruffs as symbols of vanity and excess. Nonetheless, ruff collars persisted throughout the early 17th century, until the falling band collar — another French style — took its place. By the mid-1600s, the falling band collar, with its relaxed drape over the shoulders, marked the shift away from the excessive formality of the Elizabethan era. 

We love sharing the modes of yesteryear!

Jackie and Robin

The Number “13” – True or False?

The number 13 has long been considered unlucky in many Western cultures. Even today — in a world far less superstitious than it was in the past — a surprising amount of people have a genuine, deep-rooted fear of the number 13, known as triskaidekaphobia. For this reason, many hotels don’t list the presence of a 13th floor (Otis Elevators reports85% of its elevator panels omit the number), and many airlines skip row 13.

And the more specific yet directly connected fear of Friday the 13th, known as paraskevidekatriaphobia, results in financial losses in excess of $800 million annually in the United States as significant numbers of people avoid traveling, getting married, or even working on the unlucky day.  But why is 13 considered such a harbinger of misfortune? What has led to this particular number being associated with bad luck? While historians and academics aren’t entirely sure of the exact origins of the superstition, there are a handful of historical, religious, and mythological matters that may have combined to create the very real fear surrounding the number 13. 

The Code of Hammurabi

The Code of Hammurabi was one of the earliest and most comprehensive legal codes to be proclaimed and written down. It dates back to the Babylonian King Hammurabi, who reigned from 1792 to 1750 BCE. Carved onto a massive stone pillar, the code set out some 282 rules, including fines and punishments for various misdeeds, but the 13th rule was notably missing. The artifact is often cited as one of the earliest recorded instances of 13 being perceived as unlucky and therefore omitted. Some scholars argue, however, that it was simply a clerical error. Either way, it may well have contributed to the long-standing negative associations surrounding the number 13. 

The Trickster God Loki

The idea of 13 being unlucky may have originated with, or at least have been bolstered by, a story in Norse mythology involving the trickster god Loki. In this particular myth, 12 gods are having a dinner party at Valhalla when a 13th — and uninvited — guest arrives. It is the mischievous Loki, who sets about contriving a situation in which Hoder, the blind god of darkness, fatally shoots Balder the Beautiful, the god of joy and gladness, with an arrow. It’s possible that this ill-fated myth helped cement the number’s connection to chaos and misfortune in Nordic cultures, and in Western civilization more widely. 

The Last Supper

Christianity has also helped fuel the superstition surrounding the number 13. In the New Testament — as in Norse mythology — there is a fateful gathering centered around a meal, in this case the Last Supper. At the dinner, Jesus Christ gathers with his Twelve Apostles — making 13 attendees in total. Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, is often considered to have been the 13th guest to sit down at the Last Supper, which might have contributed to the number’s negative connotation. This, in turn, may have led to the notion of Friday the 13th being a day of misfortune or malevolence, as the Last Supper (with its 13 attendees) was on a Thursday, and the next day was Friday, the day of the crucifixion.

A Notorious Neighbor

It’s also possible that 13 gained a bad reputation because of the squeaky-clean nature of the number 12. In Christian numerology, 12 symbolizes God’s power and authority and carries a notion of completeness (a concept also found in pre-Christian societies). Its neighboring numeral may have suffered as a result, being seen as conflicting with this sense of goodness and perfection, further adding to the potent and enduring idea that the number 13 is unlucky. 

So, dear Chums, you make your own minds up! True or false?

Jackie and Robin

A Bit Of “Blue” History – Well Done

World Series and Dodger “Blue” history was made last Friday night in game 1 of this year’s World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. First baseman Freddie Freeman, came up to bat in the 10th inning with the Dodgers down with a score of 2-3, and with 2 outs and the bases loaded, he made history by hitting the first ever walk off grand slam home run to beat the Yankees with a final score of 6-3! For those who may not know, a “walk off home run” is a home run hit in the final inning of a game that scores enough runs to beat the opponent.

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Three Meals A Day?

Food has always been central to human life, but our eating habits have evolved considerably over time.

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Yummy AND Gluten Free!

Usually the words “yummy” and “gluten free” aren’t necessary in the same description. While gluten free foods have made great strides in recent years, many gluten free breads in particular have tasted a lot like cardboard. If you’ve had any like that, you know what we mean.

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Why Are Bell Bottoms Sysnonomous With Sailors?

Bell-bottoms have long been synonymous with sailors in the U.S. Navy: just picture Sailor Jack, the patriotic mascot who first appeared on boxes of Cracker Jack in 1918, or Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly dancing and singing in the 1945 musical Anchors Aweigh. During World War II, songwriter Moe Jaffe even reworked the lyrics of a bawdy 19th-century English sea shanty into “Bell Bottom Trousers,” a song about a woman’s love for her sailor, who wore “bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue.”

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Well Done, Judy The Pointer

And to end our week, we want to share another wonderful dog story!

Judy, a purebred pointer, began her service as a ship’s mascot on board the gunboat HMS Gnat in 1936.

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Well Done, Cher Ami!

Being a military homing pigeon during World War I was incredibly dangerous.

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Well Done, Warrior

When General Jack Seely left his home in 1914 to take command of the Canadian Cavalry Corps, his beloved thoroughbred stallion, Warrior, went with him to the Western Front. So began one of the most amazing animal stories of World War I.

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Well Done . . . Doggies!

Humans and animals have fought side by side since prehistoric times.

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Need Gas?

When the automobile was first taking off, gas pumps as we know them today didn’t exist.

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Cornflakes!

Well before the name Kellogg became synonymous with milk-infused breakfast fare and animated tigers, it was associated with health.

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Love Tokens of Old

People have always used trinkets to show their love, whether in the form of jewelry, locks of hair, or even fancy spoons. In the Victorian era, love tokens — ordinary coins that were engraved for a loved one — were a popular choice.

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Crayons, Really?

James Joyce didn’t just write some of the most acclaimed novels of the 20th century — he did so using crayon.

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Words of Wisdom – Make My Day

“Make my day” is a line synonymous with legendary actor Clint Eastwood in his iconic film role as Dirty Harry. It means something different to us here. He offers up some very profound “words of wisdom”.

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Presidents’ Food Likes and Dislikes

From hearty steaks to sugary snacks, the culinary preferences of U.S. presidents have always fascinated the American public. That’s perhaps no surprise, as the quirks of presidential palates offer a unique glimpse into the personalities behind the Oval Office. Here are the favorite foods of 14 U.S. presidents.

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Candy – Invented By A Dentist?!

Cotton candy consists of just two simple ingredients: air and sugar. The supersweet indulgence seems like the last thing a dental health professional would promote, but it was invented by a dentist from Tennessee in 1897.

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The Way Of Happiness

Does it sometimes feel like happiness is eluding you?

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A Sweet Taste Of Mexico

Today just happens to be National Horchata Day! What is horchata you ask? If you happen to be Mexican or live in a city where Mexican culture is prominent you likely already know the answer. If not, we are happy to tell you.

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An Ancient Pet

Ferrets, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I have come to tell you about one of ancient Rome’s most surprising pets: ferrets, whose small size and playful nature belie their fierce hunting abilities. These wily weasels were primarily kept to hunt rabbits and keep pest populations under control, including by soldiers.

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A Beauty Secret

Today we want to share the best beauty secret we know about, with you, our chums.

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Clouds – Being Still

What do you think of when you see puffy white clouds like these?

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Savvy Secrets – Avocados

If you like avocados then you’ve no doubt had the frustrating experience of getting ready to cook or make a meal and the only avocados you have on hand, or can find at the market, are unripe and rock hard. Conversely you’ve no doubt bought a bunch of avocados on sale and had them all become perfectly ripe at the same time when you only need one or two. Do we have some Avocado Savvy Secrets for you?!!!!

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Worth A Thought

A Lady asked an old street vendor: “How much do you sell your eggs for?” The old man replied “0.50¢ an egg, madam.” The Lady responded, “I’ll take 6 eggs for $2.00 or I’m leaving.” The old salesman replied, “Buy them at the price you want, Madam. This is a good start for me because I haven’t sold a single egg today and I need this to live.”

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Happy Birthday Song

Its power is in its simplicity. With only six notes, six words, and four lines — three of them the same — “Happy Birthday” is one of the most universal songs on the planet. Yet for something so straightforward, the celebratory tune has a surprisingly complicated history.

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Royal Good News

It can seem as though everywhere we turn there is bad or difficult news both in our own families and communities, and across the world. With news of wars, earthquakes, fires, shootings, and tragic accidents or illness, we all can use some good news.

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How Large Is The Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef Is So Large You Can See It From Space

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef ecosystem on the planet, covering an area of approximately 135,000 square miles.

It’s not just the immense scale of the reef that makes it visible to astronauts in space, though.

The contrast between the dark blue of the deeper parts of the ocean and the light turquoise of the lagoons on the other side of the reef makes it relatively straightforward to identify with the naked eye.

But the pictures taken from space are valued for more than their aesthetic appeal. The MERIS sensor used on the Envisat satellite mission was a useful tool in mapping the extent of coral bleaching, the term for when stressed coral has rid itself of algae.

What a diver’s paradise it is! Stunningly beautiful!

Jackie and Robin

Wisdom From A Squirrel

What animal in our world exhibits activity more than the common squirrel? When children wiggle incessantly or move around frenetically we sometimes refer to them as being “squirrely”.

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Always Times Square?

For the most-visited tourist site in the U.S., New York City’s Times Square had humble beginnings.

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Who Said That?

Everybody loves a quiz. It is the basis of many popular games, Trivial Pursuit for example. Today we have a fun quiz involving some quotes that are commonly repeated. You may well have used many of these yourself. But do you know who said them?

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Diamonds Are Forever!

There’s something about diamonds that catches our eyes and won’t let go.

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Wise Words From The Past

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Happy Labor Day!

Today we celebrate the American worker…those who work for others, and those who have come along and created industries and opportunities that have created countless jobs for the working man and woman. We came across a quote from Albert Einstein that we thought exemplifies what thousands of men and women have done over the years to create those industries and job opportunities that allow the common man and woman to raise their families and enjoy their lives. We salute the workers, the grocery clerk, the postal worker, the man who works in the plumbing aisle at Home Depot who helps you find the “thingamajig” you needed, the server at the local diner, and the school crossing guard who sees to it that our kiddos get to school safely everyday, and countless others seen and unseen who play their parts in making the world go ’round. And we thank those who have taken a leap of faith to create the business that employed someone or many someones. We are oh so very grateful for each of them today!

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Duck Duck Jeep!

If you saw a Jeep with a rubber duck on its dashboard, you probably wouldn’t think anything of it — until you saw several other Jeeps with ducks on their dashboards, too.

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Keep Some Room . . .

Ah yes!

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Well Done – The One Millionth Hen

King Charles III has some new feathered friends joining him on royal grounds!

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Gone With The Wind

I saw this article and could not help but copy it to you, our chums. My darling mother loved this film and watched it all the time. She loved everything about it ~ the love, the historical value, the beautiful scenes….and so, it could be seen and heard all of the time at our home in Pasadena.

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Getting Older, You Say?

As people age, we also gain a certain calm.

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Cheese, Please!

Cheese, glorious cheese. One of humanity’s oldest culinary creations, cheese has been around for nearly 4,000 years and comes in more than 1,800 varieties.  Here’s a sampler platter of facts about everybody’s favorite dairy product.

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Words Of Wisdom – Listen

We came across a quote that was so profound we needed to share it with you our chums.

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To Love?

“What is love?” we may ask. Well, to us, it is a very powerful word and as we are told, “Love never fails”.

Here are some ideas about what love is:

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“Cheese” . . . or “Prunes”?

It is so interesting how everything changes ~ including what we are asked to say when taking a photo!

Photographers have relied on the magic of “cheese” for decades –

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Nope Just As I Thought …

Every now and then, someone is truly inspired when called on to give a response to a tough question. Today we want to share just such a response in the hopes that someone will be inspired or take comfort from it.

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Coffee Beans, You Say?

Coffee beans aren’t actually beans!

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Savvy Secrets- It’s Better With Butter

If you’ve been around Two Chums for even a little while, you know how much we LOVE butter! So today we have some fun Savvy Secrets to help you use and enjoy butter as much as we do 🙂

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The Real GOAT

You may not recognize this man but by many respected accounts, he truly is the GOAT!

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Just A Little More About Paris!

Art Nouveau entrance to Abbesses Metro station, Montmartre, Paris, France, Europe

1. The Paris Metro has several “ghost stations” that are no longer in use. One of the most famous is Arsenal, which was closed in 1939.

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Did You Know?

Important info here! The value of hugging.

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Henry VIII – The Lover

As we all know, Henry VIII had many wives, six to be precise. He desperately wanted a son to take over the throne.

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You Did It…Well Done!

We have seen some truly amazing performances in sports this past week in Paris. Anyone who has been watching can’t help but be impressed by the determination and diligence of the athletes at the Olympic games. Just qualifying to be there at all, let alone competing and winning a medal is quite an amazing feat of excellence. But we think there is something even more impressive than winning a medal.

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Marianne?

Who is Marianne?

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And While we are on the Subject . . .

The French medals are, as one would imagine, unique to France! Each medalist will take home a small part of the Eiffel Tower!

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Dance?

We may have posted this before but it bears repeating, to be sure.

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A few Facts About The City of Love

For most people who have visited Paris, it is a city like no other filled with deliciousness, both to eat and to look at!

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How ‘Bout That Opening Ceremony?!

PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: A view of the Olympic Cauldron in the sky after being lit by Torch bearers French Athlete Marie-Jose Perec and French Judoka Teddy Riner (not pictured) as the Eiffel Tower is seen lit in the background during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Well, we will suffice it to say that we imagine that most of you have been watching the Olympics, starting with the amazing Opening!

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Amazing Art!

May be an image of 2 people, sculpture, bust, statue and text

Amazing Sculpture! David by Michelangelo which stands in Florence. We found some facts to add to those we already have posted.

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Highly ABOVE Normal!

We talked about acting “normal” yesterday and today we are going to talk about “going way above” normal!

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Wednesday Laughter

It’s always a good time to laugh 🙂

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Updates For An Old Friend

We think if is safe to say that most everyone has a jar of some type of mayo in their refrigerator. Today we want to share an update of some simple ways to enhance this old friend to liven up your sandwiches or meals.

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“I get to…”

Gratitude

The single thing that can change everything, is that one thing that is always within our control to exercise…GRATITUDE.

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Interesting!

Every year millions of people get braces or have their wisdom teeth pulled. That’s because there isn’t enough dental real estate in the average human mouth. Although a boon for the dental profession, humanity’s mass malocclusion (or misalignment of teeth) wasn’t always this way.

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Thursday Giggle

We can all use a good chuckle from time to time. In that spirit we offer this to you today 🙂

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Did You Know?

We all use toothpaste every day and don’t think much about it but it has been around a very long time!The ancient Egyptians are known for many firsts.  Hieroglyphics, papyrus, the calendar, and even bowling all come from the minds of the ancient people along the Nile. Egyptians were also some of the first to pay particular attention to oral care. They invented the first breath mint, toothpicks have been found alongside mummies, and they created the oldest known formula for toothpaste.  Holy smokes!

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A Particularly Wonderful Sound!

Sandwiched along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, literally! Many of our readers, we feel sure, will have visited Niagara Falls, either on the Canadian or the American side, but this is way larger than that!

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A new Monday!

The Mondays seem to roll around so very quickly and here we are at a new one! Remember to treat it as “new”!

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Food Adventure To Greece

You can take a culinary trip to Greece this weekend without ever leaving home. It is a very tasty trip too!

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Words Of Kindness

The “words to live by” we would offer to you today really have to do with kindness and empathy.

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Today

Today we have only two words for you. . .

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Sharks

Thanks to the 1975 blockbuster Jaws, a generation of people have grown up with the mistaken belief that sharks are man-eating monsters, intent on attacking anything that moves. Scientists have worked hard to dispel such myths about the ancient creatures which roam every ocean and vary widely in size, shape, diet, habitat, and attitude. Here are a few facts about these fascinating fish.

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Did You Know?

We are often surprised by the things we learn about the foods we eat. Today we have some surprises and happy ones at that!

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Happy Birthday America!

In all her beauty we salute Old Glory today as we celebrate Independence Day. Long may she wave!

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Sweet 4th Finish

This is a favorite dessert of ours and one of Jackie’s specialties as a whole strawberry meringue pie. But we can change it up and make individual pavlovas filled with sweet whipped cream and fresh strawberries and blue berries and you’ve got the perfect red, white and blue dessert for your 4th of july party! Here’s how….

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Table Etiquette

Beautiful table setting with white plates.
Credit: Africa Studio/ Shutterstock

When we’re eating casually at home, most of us don’t have a large formally set dining table complete with multiple pieces of silverware and glassware. We can stick to a few basic rules that we learned as children, like not speaking with our mouths full of food. And we do know that the Fourth of July usually tends to be a more picnic-like setting. But at a fancy event, or when we’re trying to impress someone important, the rules may seem a little more complex and overwhelming. Here are six table etiquette guidelines that you might not know.

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Red, White and Blue!

FILE – Fireworks burst on the National Mall above the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol building during Independence Day celebrations in Washington, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/J. David Ake, File)

This is the week! Let’s celebrate! The Fourth of July is a big day for fireworks, cookouts and parades. Need some help with that BBQ banter? Here are some Independence Day-themed facts to share.

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The Rest Of The Story – You Never Know

Do you recognize this gentleman? We would guess probably not. He likely doesn’t mean anything to you. But he did to two young Stanford students many years ago. And his story may touch and inspire you too.

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The “Boys” Who Would Be King

If you have been around Two Chums for long you must certainly know that we have great affection for the British royal family. So when we came across a wonderful photo that was published last week in honor of Prince William’s birthday, we wanted to share it immediately with you our chums.

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A Mid-Week Giggle

We’ve all done it. Made ourselves a promise that by this time next year something would be different. And then before you know it, this year rolls around and…

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Palm Trees?

Palm trees are not native to Los Angeles.

There are an estimated 75,000 palm trees in Los Angeles, all of which have one thing in common:  they are not native there. Despite being an L.A. icon on par with the Hollywood sign and Dodger Stadium, the tropical tree is no more a native Angeleno than, well, the Dodgers. Not unlike the Hollywood sign, palms were originally a marketing technique for developers hoping to attract newcomers to the area in the late 19th century.

They got the idea from the French Riviera — another area palms aren’t actually native to — where like-minded developers had successfully used them just a few decades before to cultivate an image of glitz and glamour.

In addition to being beautiful, palms are surprisingly easy to uproot and transport from their native tropical and subtropical environments in the Middle East, Mexico, and elsewhere, so tens of thousands of them were planted all across the California city that had once been desert scrubland.

It seems fitting that one of Los Angeles’ most enduring symbols was essentially a branding strategy chosen for its aesthetic appeal, doubly so because palm trees’ association with the city was (and is) further cemented by their ubiquity in the many films shot there. After all, most of the directors, actors, and studio executives who made Hollywood what it is today weren’t originally from the City of Angels either.

So, there you have it. Much like the movie industry whose main home is Los Angeles, California, palm trees were brought in to create an illusion.


 

Jackie and Robin

Easy Peasy One Pot Spaghetti

Everyone loves spaghetti. Now we’ve come across a method that has you making homemade spaghetti in a jiffy! And with only one pot, clean up is easy peasy too.

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A Chuckle For Thursday

Laughter Laughing

You know your Two Chums believe in laughter as being the best medicine…so today here’s a chance to at least chuckle and make everything look brighter.

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It’s Juneteenth! – The Rest Of The Story

If you should see this flag flying today (or this week) on government or city buildings it is in celebration of Juneteenth. What is Juneteenth you might ask?

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A Napoleon Complex

You’ve probably heard the phrase “Napoleon complex” which refers to the idea that small creatures — whether people or Pomeranians — often act as if they’re much bigger than they really are, supposedly in an attempt to overcompensate for their lack of stature.

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Well Done, Gabrielle Rose!

For those of you who have not heard, this is a great story!

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APPLES, APPLES AND MORE APPLES!

Johnny Appleseed

On a family farm in Nova, Ohio, grows a very special apple tree; by some claims, the 175 year old tree is the last physical evidence of John Chapman, a prolific nurseryman who, throughout the early 1800s, planted acres upon acres of apple orchards along America’s western frontier, which at the time was anything on the other side of Pennsylvania. Today, Chapman is known by another name—Johnny Appleseed—and his story has been imbued with the saccharine tint of a fairytale. 

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Apples -Part 2

Yesterday we gave you some interesting info on apples. So today we will remind you some of our favorite ways to eat that popular fruit.

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An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away!

Apples serve all sorts of useful purposes: They’re great for a snack, fun to pick, perfect for giving to a teacher, and ideal as a subject for a still life. They also offer an entire smorgasbord of interesting facts for those who enjoy nourishing their minds along with their bodies. Here are eight bite-sized tidbits to chew on regarding this wondrous fruit.

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A Wednesday Chuckle

It’s the middle of the week and most of us could use a good laugh right about now. Cartoonist Gary Larson always comes through…

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Microwaves!

Woman putting plate of rice with vegetables into a microwave oven.
Credit: Pixel-Shot/ Shutterstock

You might think the science behind microwaves is relatively simple — the machine produces microwaves (as its name suggests), which in turn warm up your food. However, that’s only partially correct.

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Time Changes Things!

The woody, warming spice we sprinkle with abandon on top of holiday cookies, baked goods, and seasonal coffees is native to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and India. But very few people knew where cinnamon came from when merchants first began selling spices throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa as far back as 3,000 years ago — and spice traders capitalized on that lack of knowledge to charge high prices. Harvested from the inner bark o Cinnamomum trees, cinnamon has been used for thousands of years as medicine, for religious practices and funerals, and in cuisine, but with a big price tag: It was once considered more precious than gold. 

In an effort to conceal cinnamon’s origins from competitors and explain the extravagant markup to customers, spice traders of the past provided elaborate backstories.

By some fifth-century accounts, cinnamon traders asserted that collecting the spice was a dangerous task thanks to angry “winged creatures” that lived in the trees; cinnamon harvesters supposedly donned protective outerwear made of thick hides and risked their personal safety to collect a few measly pieces of cinnamon bark. Other vendors claimed cinnamon was transported from far-off lands by birds who used it as nesting material. (In this tale, harvesting cinnamon sticks from nests required a cow sacrifice to provide the birds with a meaty distraction.) Yet another story declared that cinnamon grew in dangerous, snake-infested valleys. Cinnamon’s origins remained an enigma for centuries, but luckily for chefs and bakers today, the secret eventually got out thanks to global exploration brought on by a surging interest in spices.  Now, the flavoring is a low-cost mainstay in modern pantries.

Savor your cinnamon! Enjoy!

Happy weekend!

Jackie and Robin

D-Day – 80 Years Ago

Image “Courtesy of The National WWII Museum.

It was on a beach across the sea, in Normandy, France, that thousands of brave young soldiers mustered up the courage to do what they believed would end WWII and secure the freedom and liberty of those back home for good.

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Only One Word!

We have only one word to share with you today!

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The Rest Of The Story … A Star Story

We all know Clark Gable in his signature roll as Captain Rhett Butler in the classic film of 1939, Gone With The Wind. But that was certainly not Gables first film. Did you know? Clark gave his Oscar for It Happened One Night (1934) to a child who admired it, telling him it was the winning of the statue that had mattered, not owning it. The child returned the Oscar to the Gable family after Clark’s death.

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Why Grey?

Is there a rule that says we have to turn grey as we progress?

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Quite an Inheritance!

National Gallery of Art in Washington DC USA

Born in France and raised in England, chemist James Smithson (1765–1829) was well traveled, spending significant chapters of his life in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy.

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Airport Info

What’s the world’s biggest airport? What about the busiest? Why is there an “X” in PDX? Is there a way to get a nap between flights? And what happens to all the change you leave in airport security bins?

Airports are big, crowded, and full of questions. The following 15 facts might change the way you catch your next flight — or at least end some mysteries.

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Memorial Day

We set aside this day each year as a country to remember those who have, as Abraham Lincoln so eloquently put it at Gettysburg, “gave their lives that this nation might live…they gave the last full measure of devotion”.

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Brownies – A Twist

Well really a double twist…these brownies are both gluten free and flavored with Nutella!

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