Weird Laws Per State Part 1

I stumbled across this article from Reader’s Digest listing the dumbest laws in each state (alphabetically). I thought I should pass it along…lol

Alabama: No stink bombs or confetti

If you’re a stodgy school principal from a 1980s film, consider moving to Mobile, Alabama: Stink bombs, “funk balls,” and any object “the purpose of which is to create disagreeable odors” are strictly illegal there. Also illegal: “spray string,” confetti, and bathing in public fountains.

Alaska: No getting drunk in a bar

In Alaska it is illegal to be drunk… in a bar. Per state laws, a person who is already drunk may not “knowingly” enter a bar to drink more, or remain in the bar that got them drunk in the first place. Confusing and cruel? Yes. Outdated? Sadly, no—police actually enforce it.

Arizona: No spitting in public

In the town of Goodyear, Arizona, it is unlawful to spit “in or on” any public building, park, sidewalk, or road. Offenders may be charged a fine of up to $2,500 and six months in prison. And in case you need a reminder, it’s also just lousy etiquette.

Arkansas: Must pronounce state name correctly

Visitors beware: it is strictly prohibited to pronounce “Arkansas” incorrectly. Per the state Code, the only acceptable pronunciation is “in three (3) syllables, with the final ‘s’ silent, the ‘a’ in each syllable with the Italian sound, and the accent on the first and last syllables.” So keep your Arkan-sass to yourself—and while you’re at it, make sure you’re pronouncing these common food words correctly.

California: No nuclear weapons, obviously

It is illegal to build, maintain, or use a nuclear weapon within Chico, California city limits. A law that began in the ‘80s as a serious anti-nuke statement has taken on a second life as an Internet joke, mainly due to the purported consequences: In addition to self-annihilation, the infraction also carries a $500 fine.

Colorado: No catapulting

Sure, you may be allowed to own a catapult in Aspen—but you better not try discharging it, buddy. Flaming arrows, alas, are also off limits.

Connecticut: Pickles must bounce

A pickle cannot be sold unless it bounces. According to a 1948 article, this law became a necessity after two scheming pickle packers tried to sell pickles “unfit for human consumption” on the sly. Connecticut’s Food and Drug Commissioner at the time proclaimed that a real pickle “should bounce” when dropped from the height of one foot, leading to a new state regulation.

Delaware: Strict trick-or-treating times enforced

To prevent “mischief of any sort,” children in the City of Rehoboth Beach may only go trick-or-treating between the hours of 6pm and 8pm on Halloween—UNLESS Halloween falls on a Sunday; in that case, “such going door to door and house to house for treats shall take place on the evening of October 30” instead.

Florida: No selling children

We know that kids can be annoying but please remember that in Florida it is a felony to sell your children. You’ve been warned.

Georgia: Can’t eat fried chicken with utensils

For chicken chompers in Gainesville, Georgia, “finger-lickin’” is not a suggestion—it is mandatory. Thanks to a 1961 law added to the city code as a publicity stunt, it is illegal to eat fried chicken in “the poultry capital of the world” with anything other than your fingers. A tourist was “arrested” for such a chicken-forking violation in 2009.

Hawaii: No billboards

Hawaii’s natural beauty is an advertisement unto itself. To keep it that way, the state has officially outlawed billboards (with some exceptions) and aerial advertising, part of an “urban beautification” initiative that dates to 1927. These aren’t so much “dumb laws” as “laws that make us feel dumb for not thinking of them first.”

Idaho: No cannibalism

Idaho is the only state to have an active ban on cannibalism. Technically not a crime in the rest of the nation, cannibalism is defined as the “nonconsensual consumption” of another human—meaning, we guess, if you can get your buddy’s permission to eat his tenderloin, the feds can’t stop you.

Illinois: No “fancy” bike riding

Listen here, city slicker: Galesburg city law strictly prohibits “fancy riding” of any bicycle on city streets, particularly riding with both hands removed from the handlebars, both feet removed from the pedals, or “any acrobatic” shenanigans on your fancy velocipede. According to a Galesburg police officer, “I suspect the trick riding ordinance came during a time or concern about bicyclist safety and perhaps crashes involving bicyclists.” It is seldom enforced.

Indiana: Proper black cat etiquette on Friday the 13th

In the municipality of French Lick Springs, all black cats must wear bells around their necks on Friday the 13th. The rule was introduced on October 13, 1939, “as a war measure to alleviate mental strain on the populace,” and has technically been in effect since.

Iowa: No faking your butter

I Can’t Believe It’s Not A Misdemeanor! Any person who attempts to pass off margarine, oleo, or oleomargarine as real butter is guilty of a simple misdemeanor in the state of Iowa, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $625 fine.

Kansas: No snowballs

It may still be illegal to throw snowballs in Topeka, Kansas. Thanks to a weirdly-worded law in the city Criminal Code, it is unlawful to “throw any stones, snowballs, or any other missiles” at any person or property in Topeka, an ordinance that former mayor Bill Bunten publicly flouted by tossing a whopper at a snowy tree in 2005. “I’m going to have an ordinance drawn up to repeal this Dumb Law lest our already-crowded prisons are filled up with children who, while making a snowman, got carried away and had a snowball fight,” he later claimed.

Kentucky: No dueling

All public officials and attorneys in Kentucky must swear an oath that they “have not fought a duel with deadly weapons” nor acted as a second in another person’s duel. Good to know now; unfortunately, when the oath took effect in 1848, many would-be duelists turned to murderous street brawls instead.

Louisiana: No catfish stealing

In Louisiana it is illegal to steal someone else’s crawfish—like, really illegal. Meriting its own state law, crawfish theft in excess of $1,500 can land the offender with up to ten years prison time or a $3,000 fine. But mostly, they will have to endure the humiliation of being called shellfish for the rest of their life. [Pat’s question: Are catfish and crawfish the same thing?]

Maine: Don’t advertise on tombstones

It is forbidden to post advertisements on another person’s tombstone in the city of Wells. Part of a lengthy list of cemetery regulations, this ordinance is really a favor to would-be marketers; nobody is a worse customer than a corpse.

Maryland: No cursing while driving

Making road rage even rage-ier, it is illegal to swear or curse upon any street or highway in Rockville, Maryland. Anyone caught swearing faces a misdemeanor charge, effectively having to add $100 to the city swear jar.

Massachusetts: No dancing to the national anthem

It is prohibited to dance to the “Star Spangled Banner” in Massachusetts, thanks to an excessively patriotic 1917 law. While you try to ponder what such a dance would even look like, find solace in the fact that this law could never actually be enforced, thanks to a slightly weightier document called the First Amendment.

Michigan: Bounty hunting encouraged (then not)

Until 2006, every citizen of Michigan was encouraged to be a bounty hunter. A 1941 act titled “An act to provide for the payment of bounties for the killing of starlings and crows,” offered any citizen a bounty of three cents per each starling killed and ten cents per crow—so long as they were presented in “a state of good preservation.” The law was repealed in 2006.

Minnesota: No pig greasing

Long winters can be boring, but that’s not a good reason to hold a greased pig contest in your parlor. Since 1971, it has been considered a misdemeanor to operate, run, or participate in any activity where a pig is oiled up and released with the object of being recaptured—and the same goes for “turkey scrambles.”

Mississippi: No limits on Big Gulp size

Mississippi believes in a person’s inalienable right to consume Big Gulps. Following former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s contentious attempt to restrict the size of soft drinks sold throughout the city, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed a law preventing his state’s lawmakers from enacting rules that limit portion sizes. Thanks in part to the “Anti-Bloomberg Bill,” one in three Mississippians remains obese.

Missouri: Tarzans not welcome

Prankish Tarzans, be warned: In University City, Missouri, it is illegal to “swing upon” another person’s motor vehicle and honk their horn for them.

Come back tomorrow for Part 2 and the rest of the states!

That Touch of Mink

The word “mink” is used for the two sole species of these animals still residing on the planet.

These semi-aquatic species are the American mink (Neovison vison) and the European mink (Mustela lutreola).

American mink roam all over both Canada and the United States, although they are nonexistent in a handful of states and regions — think Arizona and Hawaii.

European mink, true to their monikers, live all the way across the pond in nations such as Spain, France and Russia.

Although both types of mink are undeniably similar animals, they have their fair share of individual qualities, too.

The American mink is larger and more adaptable than the European mink but, due to variations in size, an individual mink usually cannot be determined as European or American with certainty without looking at the skeleton.

In the wild, mink are small, discreet, and most often nocturnal, and they live in close proximity to water.

The lifespan of minks is about 3 years in the wild and up to 10 years in captivity.

The male weighs about 2.2 lb and is about 24 in in length. The female weighs about 1.32 lb and reaches a length of about 20 in. The sizes above do not include the tail which can be from 5.0 in to 9.0 in.

The body is long and slender with short legs and a pointy, flat face. The toes are partially webbed, showing the mink’s semi-aquatic nature.

A mink’s rich glossy coat in its wild state is brown and looks silky, but farm-bred mink can vary from white to almost black. Their pelage is deep, rich brown, with or without white spots on the underparts, and consists of a slick, dense underfur overlaid with dark, glossy, almost stiff guard hairs.

Minks have excellent senses of vision, smell, and hearing.

A mink can run at speeds up to 8 mph.

Minks are carnivores. The diet of mink varies with the season. During the summer it consists of crayfish and small frogs, along with small mammals such as shrews, rabbits, mice, and muskrats. Fish, ducks and other water fowl provide additional food choices. In the winter, they primarily prey on mammals.

Mink are very territorial animals. A male mink will not tolerate another male within its territory, but appears to be less aggressive towards females. Generally, the territories of both male and female animals are separate, but a female’s territory may sometimes overlap with that of a male.

Mink communicate using a variety of cues, including chemical, visual, and auditory signals. They are fairly quiet, but rely heavily on chemical signaling for communicating territorial boundaries and reproductive status.

The breeding season lasts April to May. Although the true gestation period is 39 days, the embryo may stop developing for a variable period, so that as long as 76 days may elapse before the litter arrives. Between 45 and 52 days is normal. There is only one litter per year. They may have between six and ten cubs or kittens per litter. Young are weaned at about 10 weeks, and begin tracking and capturing prey. Young begin to disperse at about 2.5 to 4 months.

Mink have few natural enemies. They are occasionally killed by coyotes, bobcats and other carnivores, but their main threat remains humans.

These creatures are related to ermines, ferrets and weasels and look much like their relatives.

The main threat towards mink survival is the continued existence of the fur market.

Mink pelts have for years been considered one of the most luxurious furs on the market. Originally all fur came from natural populations, causing a severe strain on the species.

However, starting in the mid-1900s, mink ranches were established to help bring a more consistent pelt supply to the market. Ranching was very successful, with the number of mink ranches in the United States reaching a high of 7200 during the mid-1960s.

Mink are kept in captivity primarily for the production of their fur.

Source: JustFunFacts

Alternate Uses for Baby Powder

[I found this article on alternate uses for baby powder on a website devoted to frugality.]

Baby powder isn’t just for babies anymore {though, to be fair, I never did use it on my babies}. Turns out, there’s actually lots of way to put baby powder to good use. Here’s my top 10 favorite ways to use it:

Throw a bottle in your beach bag because it helps to get the sand off of your body at the end of the day. Sprinkle it on, it will absorb the moisture and the sand should easily brush right off.

Sprinkle a little in your dish washing/cleaning gloves. It makes it easier to get them on and off.

Sprinkle on the sheets in the summer. It is supposed to give sheets a cool feeling {my guess is that it does more for your sticky summer body than anything else, but it probably still feels soft and luxurious, so I am totally trying it.}

Give your flower bulbs a little baby powder bath before you plant them. The baby powder deters mold in the bulbs and supposedly deters critters from wanting to eat them. Just sprinkle some baby powder in a ziploc bag, add the bulbs and shake.

Get playing cards to stop from sticking. Put the cards and the baby powder in a baggie and shake. Dust the cards off, and they shouldn’t stick anymore.

Give your dog a dry bath. Sprinkle some baby powder on, let it sit a few minutes and then brush your dog. {Hmmm, I know some people I’d like to try this on.}

Use as an aftershave–for men and women. It’s cheaper and leaves skin feeling as soft as, well, a baby’s bottom. Ha.

Untangle knots. Got a necklace that has a knot, or a shoelace that won’t budge. Sprinkle a little baby powder on it, it will help loosen the knot.

Freshen those old books you snagged at a garage sale by sprinkle baby powder in the pages. Let the book sit for a bit, and then shake the baby powder out.

Use to absorb grease stains on clothes. Sprinkle baby powder on the spill and blot the grease out. Repeat until stain is gone, brushing off excess baby powder each time.

By Mavis Butterfield on September 23, 2013 @https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/10-alternative-uses-for-baby-powder/

Maple Syrup

(This post was bumped from it’s more timely spot, but it’s still interesting imo.)

As winter loses its grip on Pennsylvania, warmer days followed by cold nights signal the beginning of maple syrup season.

When spring conditions are right, sap in sugar maple trees begins to flow, and sugars made with last summer’s sun move from their storage sites into the tree’s trunk, according to Bob Hansen, Penn State Cooperative Extension forest resources educator based in Tioga County. Mid-February to early March normally heralds the arrival of the “right” conditions, and the season runs until early April most years.

“Maple sugar products are truly North American — native Americans were the first people to make maple sugar,” he said. “We speculate they used hot stones and bark vessels to ‘boil’ sap to concentrate the sugars. Early Europeans likely appreciated this source of sugar, and, with the advantage of iron pots, they soon developed this seasonal industry and converted sap into sugar cakes or blocks, which were easier to store.”

Before tropical sugar sources were easily accessible, maple sugar was the premier sweetener. As imported sugar became increasingly available, the maple industry switched to syrup production. Today, the maple industry produces a wide-range of quality products, Hansen noted. However, syrup is the most common, best known and considered by many the ultimate natural product.

“Many woodlot owners today look forward to the maple season as an important part of their family heritage,” Hansen said. “For some, it is a major cash crop. Among the state’s diverse farm products, it is one of the few to be produced, processed and often sold entirely on the farm.”

Quebec province leads North America in maple-syrup production, and the state of Vermont has successfully built an association with maple products. However, Pennsylvania is a major producer — ranked seventh in the United States in 2009. Other leading maple states include Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Ohio, Wisconsin, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, West Virginia, Indiana, Iowa and Virginia.

“Sugar maple is the species of choice for tapping to make maple sugar,” Hansen said. “Other maples such as black and red also yield sweet sap, but on average not as sweet as that flowing from sugar maple.”

Tapping done properly generally does little harm to the tree, Hansen pointed out. Trees 10 to 18 inches in diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground receive one tap. Trees larger than 18 inches can have two. Tap holes are made by boring a 5/16 inch diameter hole at a slight upward angle into the tree to a depth of 1.5 to 2 inches. A hollow spout or spile is then gently tapped into the hole to fit snugly.

Commercial maple producers collect sap in stainless steel buckets or weave a web of plastic tubing to connect trees and move sap to a common collection point. Small producers, working with only a few trees, can collect sap in clean plastic jugs (e.g., milk cartons) suspended from the spile.

“Eventually sap is brought to the sugarhouse where an evaporator concentrates the sugar and turns the sap into the amber-colored syrup,” Hansen said. “After filtering to remove ‘sugar sand’ (mineral substances in sap concentrated in the boiling process), producers grade their product. Syrup grades depend on color — light, medium or dark amber — and flavor.”

Syrup by law has at least 66 percent sugar solids. The volume of sap needed to make a gallon of syrup varies with the concentration of sugar in the sap. Sap sugar content varies from tree to tree, from less than 1 percent to rarely 10 percent. Normally, it is about 1.5 to 3 percent. Approximately 43 gallons of sap with a 2 percent sugar content yield one gallon of syrup.

“People who are interested in maple-syrup production should consider visiting one of the state’s many maple festivals to learn more about this sweet industry,” said Hansen. “During these weekends, syrup makers open their operations and are available to answer questions.”

Source: https://www.psu.edu/news/impact/story/pennsylvania-its-time-make-maple-syrup/

Amelia

In honor of her historic flight, here are 10 fun facts you may not know about this courageous aviator!

She was only the second person to fly solo across the Atlantic… ever

Amelia Earhart is best known for being the first woman to complete the feat, but it wasn’t like a whole slew of men had accomplished the task before her. She was only the second person ever to do it! The first was Charles Lindbergh, who made the flight in May 1927. Earhart did it in May 1932. She completed the flight in just shy of 15 hours—quite the accomplishment for our list of inspirational female firsts, dating from ancient Egypt to today.

The first time she saw an airplane, she was unimpressed

After Earhart’s disappearance, several of her diary entries were published as a book called Last Flight. In one, she recalls the first time she ever saw an airplane. She was ten years old, visiting a state fair in Iowa. She remembers seeing “a thing of rusty wire and wood” that “looked not at all interesting.” Even after someone standing nearby told her that the contraption could fly, Earhart still admitted that she was more impressed with the fancy hat she had just purchased. Little did young Amelia know what the future held.

She wasn’t quite as ahead of her time as you might think

While the playing field in the 1920s and ’30s was far from even, Earhart was not actually the only successful female pilot of the time. Several of her contemporaries were also women who were just as good, if not better, fliers than she. Louise Thaden, for instance, set new records for women’s speed, altitude, and solo-endurance flying in 1929 and remains the only pilot to hold all three records at the same time. Another pioneer, Ruth Nicols, set women’s flight records for speed, altitude, and distance two years later. Earhart was, however, the first female pilot to gain such wide notoriety. Her contemporaries definitely count as amazing women in history that you may not have heard of.

She was hand-picked for the feat that would make her famous

After Charles Lindbergh’s trans-Atlantic flight, publisher George Putnam hoped to duplicate the success and massive media attention that Lindbergh had enjoyed. His opportunity came when a socialite named Amy Phipps Guest bought a small passenger plane with the hopes of becoming the first woman to be flown across the Atlantic. (She was not a pilot.) But her parents refused to let her take such a risky journey. So Guest turned to Putnam, requesting that he find “the right sort of girl” to make the trip in Guest’s stead. Putnam chose Amelia Earhart, capitalizing on her existing passion for flying as well as her resemblance to Lindbergh. He fed the press a nickname for her—”Lady Lindy”—that would become widespread.

Before her solo flight, she flew across the Atlantic once before…

…but it wasn’t enough for her. While Earhart’s solo flight across the Atlantic made her go down in history, it was her first trip that made her a household name. In 1928, Earhart made the journey orchestrated by Putnam and Guest, making her the first woman to travel across the Atlantic by air. But she didn’t do any of the flying herself. A man named Wilmer Stultz did. Earhart was far from satisfied with being just a passenger, admitting, “I was just baggage, like a sack of potatoes.” So, four years later, she decided to make the flight herself. That quote sums up her distaste for the journey, but it’s not the quote of hers that made it onto our list of our favorite quotes from inspiring historical women.

She didn’t like coffee or teaAccording to worldhistoryproject.org, Earhart was not a coffee- or tea-drinker. Her answer for keeping herself awake on her hours-long flights? A bottle of smelling salts. There is one hot drink that she did like, though—she revealed that, during her flight across the Atlantic, she enjoyed a mug of hot chocolate.

She encouraged other women to fly

In 1928, Earhart became the first-ever “aviation editor” of Cosmopolitan magazine. She wrote 16 articles for the magazine, several of which discussed the role of women in aviation. She wondered “Why Are Women Afraid to Fly?” and addressed reluctant parents in “Shall You Let Your Daughter Fly?” In 1933, after her famed solo Atlantic flight, she even wrote a letter to a 13-year-old female reader who wanted to become a pilot. Earhart told the young reader about the steps she might have to take to achieve her dream and offered some encouraging words. “As far as women’s opportunities in flying go, I think they will improve as they have in all industries,” she wrote.

She set three impressive records in the same year

In the first five months of 1935, Earhart became the first person—not just woman—to make three impressive flights. That January, she flew 2,408 miles from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Oakland, California, the first person ever to do so alone. In April, she flew from Los Angeles to Mexico City; less than a month later, she flew from Mexico City to Newark. None of those flights had ever been made alone before, by a man or a woman. You go, girl!

She may actually have survived her final flight

Tragically, Amelia Earhart’s fame is bolstered by her mysterious disappearance in 1937. Accompanied by her navigator, Fred Noonan, she set out to fly around the entire world. But on July 2, after the pair set out on the final leg of their trip, which would take them across the southern Pacific Ocean, the plane simply vanished. Though the government conducted a massive search—the most expensive of its kind at the time—no trace of them or their plane was ever found. This, of course, led many people to theorize that she had actually survived. In July 2017, a mysterious photo was discovered, appearing to show Earhart and Noonan on the Japanese-controlled island of Saipan, that seemed to prove those theorists true. However, the photo has no date, and its legitimacy has been seriously questioned, just like these other conspiracy theories still floating around about Amelia Earhart’s disappearance.

There’s a record-setting pilot named Amelia Earhart flying today

How’s this for poetic justice? In 2014, another woman named Amelia Earhart—yes, that’s her real name—became the youngest woman to fly around the world in a single-engine plane. She felt that considering her name and her similar passion for flying, she almost had a duty to do what her namesake couldn’t. “By recreating and symbolically completing her flight around the world, I hope to develop an even deeper connection to my namesake,” this Amelia Earhart claimed. We think her predecessor would be proud for sure—not to mention amazed by such an incredible historical coincidence!

Source: Meghan Jones @Readers Digest

It’s a Bug…a Hummingbird…No, Wait…It’s a Moth!

The hummingbird hawk-moth is a species of hawk moth, which is named due to its striking similarity to hummingbirds. Hawk moths are numerous species in a family of moths, all distinguished by their agile and sustained flying ability.

They are most common across Europe and Asia, with some populations appearing in the northern countries of Africa. Like many other types of hawk moths, the hummingbird hawk moth relies on flowers as their main food source.

Hummingbird hawk-moths can be found in gardens, meadows, parks and woodlands where there are nectar-rich flowers that it diets upon. Their favorite plants are is Galium (bedstraw) and Rubia (wild madder), as well as red valerian, honeysuckle, jasmine, Buddleia, lilac, Escallonia, petunia and phlox.

Interesting Hummingbird Hawk-Moth Facts

Yes, they are a moth.

It’s easy to mistake these incredible animals as birds, but as their name (half) suggests, they are moths. But not like your usual moth that comes out at night.

They are a day-flying moth, with an appearance of tail feathers, and the ability to fly and feed like a hummingbird! They are pretty to look at, which can be unlike other moths!

They are also far more robust than your usual moth or butterfly, capable of feeding from flowers even in the rain.

They’re not the same as hummingbird mothsWhen it comes to common names, things can get tricky. However, it’s important to know that hummingbird moths and hummingbird hawk-moths aren’t the same thing!The hummingbird hawk-moth is known by the scientific name Macroglossum stellatarum. As a result, it is in the genus Macroglossum. This species in particular finds its home in the region known as the Old World, which is made up of Europe, Asia, and Africa.The hummingbird moth, however, is in a completely different genus, Hemaris. They are still a member of the Sphingidae family, though, making them distantly related to hummingbird hawk moths. This species is more common in the New World, which includes North and South America.

They’re a prime example of convergent evolution.

If you watch a hummingbird hawk-moth eat, you may notice that they’re extremely similar to a hummingbird. They use their long straw-like mouthpiece, known as a proboscis, to suck the nectar out of flowers.

This is the ability to move rapidly from side-to-side while hovering.It’s thought this ability evolved to help evade ambush predators that lay awaiting them in flowers. They can in an instant side-step any danger!

Their wings beat at 70-80 times a second. They even emit an audible humming noise as they hover over plants.

They have a routine.

Most of the time, when you see insects like moths, butterflies, and bees flying around, it doesn’t seem like they have a plan. When they land, it seems random, and they don’t appear to have a preference for certain flowers. However, that’s not always true.

Hummingbird hawk-moths do what is known as trap-lining. This means that they are thought to return to the same flower beds around the same time each and every day.

They have also demonstrated a preference for certain types of flowers.

Their favorite flowers are those with longer, tube-like shapes.

Everything is nature faces competition. This is because there are simply not enough resources to support everything. Trees have to compete for sunlight, animals for space and food – this is the circle of life in the wilderness.

As a result, hummingbird hawk-moths tend to favor flowers where they face the least amount of competition. For deeper, narrower plants, it can be difficult for insects like bees to reach the nectar inside. However, the hummingbird hawk-moth is able to utilize its long proboscis to reach the food source within.

Hummingbird hawk-moths see better with less eyes.

Like many other types of insects, the hummingbird hawk-moth has several eyes, more than the two we are used to seeing on animals.

However, as far as multi-eye insects come, the hummingbird hawk-moth is actually on the end of the spectrum with fewer eyes. Their eyes are more complex, though, allowing them to see more.

They’re named for the appearance of their larvae.

The hummingbird hawk-moth is a part of the family Sphingidae, which is made up of all types of hawk moths, also known as Sphinx moths.

This is because of the fact that young hawk-moths, before they become moths at all, look like the ancient Egyptian cat.

We know their entire genome.

Since they were discovered, genetics has also been a topic of intrigue in the science community.

The hummingbird hawk-moth was first described in the 1700s, when nomenclature, or scientific names, emerged. As of 2018, we’ve been able to completely understand their genome. This means that we know all of their genes!

Hummingbird hawk moths are considered a sign of good luck.

These tiny insects have a big message packed in their little body. Around the world, many cultures consider the hummingbird hawk-moth as a symbol of good luck.

This goes along with the usual meaning for moths overall, which can be linked to transformation and change.

Source: FactAnimal.com

What Shall We Bake Today?

Today’s offering is called Wacky Cake! The instructions are a little different from what I’m used to. See what you think!

Wacky Cake

Ingredients

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup granulated sugar

⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon kosher salt

⅓ cup oil

1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup water

Wacky Cake Frosting

¼ cup chopped toasted pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Sift flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt into an ungreased 8- x 8-inch baking pan; spread mixture evenly in pan. Make 1 large well and 2 small wells in mixture in pan. Carefully pour oil into the large well, vinegar into 1 small well, and vanilla into remaining small well. Pour 1 cup water evenly over entire mixture in pan. Stir everything together using a fork until combined.

Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack.

Pour Wacky Cake Frosting over warm cake. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Cool completely, about 2 hours.

Wacky Cake Frosting

Ingredients

⅓ cup butter

¼ cup whole milk

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

2 ¾ cups powdered sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Cook butter, milk, and cocoa in a small saucepan over medium-low, stirring often, until mixture comes to a simmer. Remove from heat; gradually whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until completely smooth. Pour on your favorite cake.

National Taffy Day!

In honor of National Taffy Day, I found an article on the Taffy Town website. Enjoy!

The History of Salt Water Taffy

Do you ever wonder, “Why is it called ‘saltwater taffy’?” Perhaps you’re asking yourself, “Where did salt water taffy originate from?” Like many favorite recipes, salt water taffy’s history isn’t always clear, but one thing is certain: this American-made candy has been around for over a century and enjoyed by millions. So who invented it, and how did salt water taffy get its name? Read on to learn more about the history of salt water taffy!

Where Was Salt Water Taffy Invented?

Though there are a few popular origin stories for where the term “salt water taffy” came from, the most popular salt water taffy history story claims Atlantic City as its birthplace.

When Was Salt Water Taffy Invented?

Most food historians believe salt water taffy was invented in the early 1880s. The story begins with a gentleman named John Ross Edmiston. The owner of a small boardwalk postcard shop in Atlantic City, Edmiston hired a man named David Bradley to sell taffy alongside his wares. While Edmiston eventually fired Bradley, he kept the popular candy in his shop. One night, an ocean swell flooded his boardwalk shop. In the morning, Edmiston discovered all the taffy had been soaked in salty sea foam.

During his cleanup, a young girl came into the store asking if he still had some taffy for sale. Jokingly, Bradley said that he had some “salt water taffy.” The little girl purchased the taffy and took it back to the beach to share with her friends. Her mother heard the name and instantly loved it, and thus the name “salt water taffy” was born.

Is Salt Water Taffy Really Made With Salt Water?

While the origin of salt water taffy tells us the taffy was soaked by the sea, Since then,salt water taffy hasn’t been caught at high tide., Recipes for salt water taffy vary; none contain actual salt water (and especially not ocean water!). Often, however, both water and salt are usually added at some point during the production process, so the name still fits.

Salt Water Taffy: No Longer Just a Beachside Treat

The word “taffy” was first used in the United States in the early 1800s. While much has changed since then, Americans’ love for taffy has only grown.

Now you know where the name “salt water taffy” comes from, let’s take a closer look at where it first was sold: Atlantic City. This beach side resort destination in New Jersey was a popular getaway for Northeasterners in the late 19th century (and still today). Catering to tourists and weekenders, Atlantic City was full of fine dining restaurants, upscale hotels and gambling halls, and boardwalk games and sweets; to stand out from the competition, a candy shop needed to create demand. Once Edmiston coined the curious term “salt water taffy” the sweet treat only grew in popularity.

Joseph Fralinger, a confectioner in Atlantic City, is given credit for being the first successful merchandiser of the candy. Originally, salt water taffy was something only purchased from an Atlantic City boardwalk stand. However, Fralinger came up with the idea of boxing up the taffy for people to take home. This was a smashing success, and his boxes of taffy sold out quickly. Even today, simple boxes stuffed with individually wrapped taffy remain one of the most popular ways to buy this all-American candy.

Salt water taffy history may have begun on boardwalks by the oceans, but it is now commonly enjoyed as a tasty treat all over the country. Thanks to the pioneers of salt water taffy, this wrapped candy comes in tons of flavors and can be enjoyed anywhere! At Taffy Town, we’re far from any coast, yet have become one of the most popular gourmet taffy producers in the country. Taffy is no longer just a beach side treat.

Taffy Town’s Unique Taffy-making Process

We’ve covered salt water taffy history, but what about how it’s being made today? When it comes to salt water taffy, there’s regular taffy, and then there’s Taffy Town taffy. Those who have tried our candy know that we stand out from the others. But what is the difference that sets our taffy apart?

Traditional salt water taffy production starts by boiling a variety of sugars in a large copper kettle to a high temperature. Then, the sugary mass goes through an aeration process to capture tiny bubbles in the candy. This makes it softer and less tacky. Typically, a pulling machine stretches, twists, and kneads the mixture into a chewy treat. After that, the taffy is cut into pieces and packaged for consumption.

Now for the most important part: our unique taffy-making process that makes Taffy Town taffy the best around! Unlike the traditional method, our process starts with whipping a meringue to create the fluffiest structure possible. We use evaporated milk and real salt in our recipe for a creamy, rich base for our flavors. Try our taffy and you’ll quickly realize that we aren’t your average taffy shop.

Our salt water taffy production process takes three days from start to finish, and our factory is always full of fresh treats! We currently have over 90 different flavors, and we’re always on the hunt for new ones. Each year, we take suggestions from our customers and consumer trend reports to develop our flavors. Our taffy flavors are thoroughly tested for tastiness before they hit the shelves. With our wide selection to choose from, you’re sure to find at least a few favorites!

We’re Keeping the History of Salt Water Taffy Alive at Taffy Town

We’re proud to carry on the history of salt water taffy — one of America’s favorite candies. Did you know that you don’t have to be on a boardwalk to enjoy our wide selection of Taffy Town flavors? You can shop from the comfort of your own home and savor the treats that come straight to your door. Take a look at our wide variety of salt water taffy flavors. We have the perfect gourmet candy selection for every palate. Stop by our Utah candy store or place your salt water taffy order today!

Monkey Tail Cactus

This month’s weird plant offering is rather unique to say the least…the monkey tail cactus.

Stem

The stems look greenish when young and greenish-yellow when they get older and covered on the entire surface by white, long & soft hair like spines cascading downward which resembles the appearance of Monkey’s tail. They are branched to three to five stems at the bottom. The stems start drooping and become pendant after reaching a certain height. Each stem can increase in size by nearly a foot every year and reach to 3- or 4-feet length. These long protruding stems on the hanging basket makes the garden look really attractive. Their soft harmless appearance lures people to touch them but it is to be noted that the flesh of this cactus is non-edible.

Flowers

The flowers of Monkey Tail Cactus produce bright red flowers that make the plant look particularly fascinating and eye-catching. After a few days, the flowers turn into fruits and disappear shortly. They are popular for blooming throughout the year with summer and winter being the main season. The contrasting features of these flowers bring peace to our soul. During winter and autumn, they undergo dormancy for some rest. This dormant period prepares the plant to bloom and grows beautiful red buds. The growth rate increases considerably during summer and spring.

Care of Monkey Tail Cactus

This cactus can thrive well in little care and doesn’t need special techniques to grow which make it popular among the people interested in house plants with busy schedules. Some caring tips for monkey tail cactus are discussed below:

Light

They do well in areas that receive plenty of bright, indirect sunlight. Indirect light is ideal, but this desert-native cactus can tolerate direct sunlight too. They must be kept in the area with bright indirect sunlight if grown indoors. This succulent thrives best outdoors in bright indirect sun and is used widely outdoors as a hanging basket. Their blooming frequency depends on the amount of sunlight they receive. They may not bloom as often as they do outdoors if kept indoors.

Temperature

They are popular due to their capacity to withstand a wide range of temperatures. They can even withstand the temperature below freezing point as low as 20 °F during dormancy to above 60 °F.

Soil

A well-draining organic soil mix or the sandy and loamy soils with the characteristics features like proper aeration, lightweight and quick drainage are considered ideal for this cactus. The stem suffers from water rot and many fungal infections in case of poor drainage, water stagnant and water lodging conditions. Salty soil can damage this plant. So, if Cocopeat is being used in potting mixture, they must be pre-washed in order to leach out its salt content. Perlite can be added on the soil mix to increase drainage.

Water

Frequent watering is required only during the fast and vigorous growing phase when water drains quickly exclusively during summer and spring. The intensity of watering depends on the dryness of the ground and air temperature. The frequency is directly proportional to the warmth present in air. The watering process is completely paused during their dormancy period. Watering it during dormancy, mostly during the winter period may result in frosting and can lead the plant to death. Not a single drop of water is given to the plant cuttings after propagation and light misting can be done only after 15 days of planting.

Fertilizers

Low nitrogen fertilizer is incorporated into the potting mixture during its active growing phase. It can be best applied by diluting the fertilizer solution with the water and spreading it as liquid fertilizer which can complete the whole year requirement at once. Since it doesn’t require any special care, application of nitrogen is enough to fulfill its nutrient requirement.

Source: Succulent Path