Kowalski Heat Treating Blog - Kowalski Heat Treating

Dog Days

July 19, 2024/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

There’s no doubt that some days this summer get really hot. Without much warning, the mercury rises, the clouds disappear and the summer sun and heat become oppressive. I have to admit, we’re very lucky to be in Cleveland Ohio, next to Lake Erie and far from the real heat belt of the US (go visit Florida, Georgia, Texas or Arizona now that’s real heat!). I got to wondering where the expression “dog days” comes from. It’s true it refers to a period of hot days, but it also has its roots in ancient culture and astronomy. So, here’s a bit of history and trivia on these “dog days” – thanks to historychannel.com, YouTube and allrecipes.com for the info. Enjoy!

Symbolic

July 12, 2024/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon, Peace, Symbols /by Steve Kowalski

Symbols. They are all around us. Without really thinking, we respond to six sided STOP signs, traffic lights, hazardous chemical marks, UL branding, the recycling arrow symbol, text alerts, street crossing ways, handicap signs, and of course the yellow smile face (thanks Forest Gump). I’m sure you can think of many more. One symbol, that still resonates with people around the world is the simple “peace” sign. Its initial design set out to represent a statement regarding nuclear disarmament but has grown to envelope so many movements with a simple message: PEACE. I did a bit of searching and found some interesting info to share about its construction and other peace signs, some of which you may not know about. Thanks to Wikipedia and Google and YouTube for the info. Enjoy – and as always, Peace to you and your families from your friends at KHT!

Junky

July 5, 2024/0 Comments/in Candy, Food, Friday Afternoon, Junk Food /by Steve Kowalski

The other day I was driving back from a very good customer visit and noticed the line of cars at a national chain hamburger restaurant. Then I passed another chain, and sure enough, long line. Then I saw a wrap-around line for drive through coffee. It got me to wondering about this type of food, and other “junk food” as we all call it. I look at the salad option when I stop, but those fries!!! YUM. What’s the story behind this fascination, especially the “center aisles” in grocery stores – rows of chips and dips and crackers, and then the cookies and dessert aisles. I’ll admit, the right bag of chips, with the right brand of dip, and I’m “all in”. With a little checking I found out junk food has a fascinating and often controversial history, filled with intriguing facts and trivia. So, enjoy the info. And thanks to Google, You Tube and Wikipedia for the info.