Railsplitter

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Abe Lincoln. What a guy.  Hey, in the bottom image, if you can tell me what the significance of the penny is to KHT, shoot me an email. You could win a nifty KHT prize!   :)))

Each year about this time, we pause to honor and remember our past Presidents. For me, that best falls on George and Abe. Much has been written about these gentlemen – George’s time as a farmer, soldier and commander and his unlikely path to the presidency and Abe’s gradual climb to the top after so many setbacks.  I enjoyed reading about both of them, their ability to overcome obstacles and yep … and you guessed it, solving those PIA (Pain In The @%$) Jobs! Like many people, I’m still amazed by Abe Lincoln – his upbringing, determination, and problem-solving ability.  Stoic. Steadyhanded. Never give up or give in attitude. And still one of the best speechwriters ever.  Here’s some fun info about him, a little history, and a whole lot of respect.  Thanks to Wikipedia, Google, Microsoft and alamy.com for the insights and info.  Enjoy.

Abraham Lincoln earned the nickname “Railsplitter” due to his early career as a rail-splitter. The term refers to the manual labor job of splitting wooden rails from logs, which were then used in the construction of fences.

The narrative of Lincoln as a rail-splitter was intended to highlight him as a hardworking, honest, and rugged individual who understood the challenges faced by ordinary Americans.

While Lincoln’s rail-splitting days were in his youth and represented a small part of his overall life experience, the symbolism became a powerful and enduring aspect of his political persona.
In 1858, Lincoln engaged in a series of famous debates with Stephen A. Douglas during their campaign for the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois. Although Lincoln lost the election, these debates raised his national profile and set the stage for his presidential run in 1860. Read more

On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected sixteenth president of the United States. He won as “The Railsplitter” candidate. He was the tallest President, at 6 feet, 4 inches and he had the largest feet of any President, at a size 14. Consequently, Lincoln’s political opponents frequently took absurd shots at his appearance:

Lincoln took it all with characteristic good humor and was not above the occasional self-deprecating joke. He once recounted a story in which someone called him a “self-made man,” to which he replied, “Well, all I’ve got to say is that it was a damned bad job.” And when Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas called him “two-faced” in a debate, Lincoln famously replied, “If I had another face, do you think I’d wear this one?”

In a letter from a supporter that led to him becoming the first fully bearded President, an 11-year-old named Grace Bedell saw a poster of a clean-shaven Lincoln that her father brought home from a county fair and decided she needed to encourage the candidate to go for a glow-up. Bedell wrote Lincoln, “I have yet got four brothers and part of them will vote for you any way and if you let your whiskers grow, I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you. He ultimately grew out his beard after being elected President in November 1860. Just a few months later, Lincoln met Bedell when his train tour stopped in New York and let her know that she was behind his makeover: “You see,” Lincoln told her, “I let these whiskers grow for you, Grace.”

The stovepipe hat was one of Lincoln’s signature accessories, and the final hat he ever wore is now kept at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The top hat helped the President tower over crowds even more than he naturally did, but the adornment wasn’t just used for looks: The President actually kept documents in the hat while he was wearing it. According to some historians, the phrase “keep it under your hat” — meaning to keep something secret — comes from Lincoln’s habit. (how cool -now you know!!).

In May 1849, right after the end of his term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Lincoln was granted a patent for “adjustable buoyant air chambers,” which were meant to help buoy boats over shoals. He got the idea from his time working as a ferryman, when on two different occasions he was on a riverboat that got stuck after running aground on the Mississippi River., Lincoln remains the only U.S. President ever to receive a patent.

Lincoln is probably best known for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which declared that all slaves in Confederate states “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” This was a significant step towards the abolition of slavery.

Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He died the following day, making him the first U.S. president to be assassinated.

Throughout his political career, Lincoln adhered to a set of principles and beliefs, including a commitment to justice and equality, during his time as a lawyer and beyond. His stance on issues such as slavery reflected his moral convictions, and he maintained his honesty in advocating for these principles.  His legacy as a leader, emancipator, and the preserver of the Union continues to be celebrated in American history.

Enjoy President’s Day.

 

 

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DO YOU LIKE CONTESTS?
Me, too.
As you may know the Kowalski Heat Treating logo finds its way
into the visuals of my Friday posts.
I.  Love.  My.  Logo.
One week there could be three logos.
The next week there could be 15 logos.
And sometimes the logo is very small or just a partial logo showing.
But there are always logos in some of the pictures.
So, I challenge you, my beloved readers, to count them and send me a
quick email with the total number of logos in the Friday post.
On the following Tuesday I’ll pick a winner from the correct answers
and send that lucky person some great KHT swag.
So, start counting and good luck!  
Oh, and the logos at the very top header don’t count.
Got it? Good.  :-))))
Have fun!!

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Stay In

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Just have fun!  :))))))

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about what to do this year. It’s one of my favorite days of the year, as I get to share some extra love for my amazing wife Jackie, my beautiful daughters and their significant others, and of course the grandkids. I thought about the traditional candy and flowers and goodies and a night out – but think what I’ll try this year is to just stay home and make a fun meal together with Jackie. And try to have some of the family over too!  Now I’m not a chef – although I certainly know my way around the kitchen!  It is amazing how many bowls I can use while preparing the sumptuous feast! I went online and typed in “homemade Valentine’s Day dinners” and boom, up came tons of ideas. According to the writers, “whatever Valentine’s dinner ideas you choose, it’ll be fine. The care you put into cooking for someone is much more important than whether you splash out on caviar and lobster or spend half your grocery budget on a bottle of Champagne. None of those things are Jackie and I anyway. Jackie just has fun with me asking her questions on various seasonings and cooking times. Below are links to recipes including creamy pastas, easy risotto, impressive but foolproof soup, yummy steaks, and more. (I have chosen some of my favorites to get you going). Once your main course is settled, it’s time to start thinking about simple appetizers, dessert (something chocolate of course), wine or your favorite beverage of choice. Have fun– and wish me luck in the kitchen!  Special thanks to foodnetwork.com, delish.com and millesimal.com for the ideas and YouTube.com for the tunes.  ENJOY!!

34 Special Recipes
Steve’s Picks: Check out – You Won’t Be Single for Long Vodka Cream Pasta, Beef Wellington, Prosciutto, Brie and Apricot Crostini, Surf and Turf sans the asparagus.

50 Romantic Dinners
Steve’s Picks: Check out – Creamy Steak Fettuccine, French Onion Gnocchi Soup, , Honey Garlic Salmon,  + boyfriend steak! ( Nothing like a good steak!)

Best Wines to Compliment
Steve’s Picks: Check Out – ALL!

YouTube Dinner Music

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DO YOU LIKE CONTESTS?
Me, too.
As you may know the Kowalski Heat Treating logo finds its way
into the visuals of my Friday posts.
I.  Love.  My.  Logo.
One week there could be three logos.
The next week there could be 15 logos.
And sometimes the logo is very small or just a partial logo showing.
But there are always logos in some of the pictures.
So, I challenge you, my beloved readers, to count them and send me a
quick email with the total number of logos in the Friday post.
On the following Tuesday I’ll pick a winner from the correct answers
and send that lucky person some great KHT swag.
So, start counting and good luck!  
Oh, and the logos at the very top header don’t count.
Got it? Good.  :-))))
Have fun!!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Rather Sporting

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Albert Spalding created some serious fun for all of us!!!!!!!

As I prepare my weekly posts, I love to find a topic I know little about, go internet and history digging, and come out way smarter than when I started.  (my lovely wife Jackie reminds me just how many things can make me “way smarter”, but I’ll leave that to another post). Driving around my neighborhood over the holidays. I noticed a bunch of kids playing ball. As a kid, I loved my sports, especially football, basketball and baseball. I found out that on this day, back in 1876, is when Albert Spaulding actually founded the Spalding company.,  I remember having Spaulding gloves and bats!  At the time, Albert was a pitcher and manager of an early professional baseball team in Chicago called the Chicago White Stockings. His company, the A.G. Spalding & Brothers sporting goods company, standardized early baseballs and developed the modern baseball bat, a derivation of the cricket bat, along with all sorts of sports play equipment.  Here’s some history about Spaulding and his companies, and how a small company grew throughout the years, and remains a strong brand still today.  Thanks to Google, YouTube and Wikipedia for the info.  Enjoy!

Albert Spalding (1850–1915) was an American athlete, sports executive, and entrepreneur, best known for his contributions to the world of baseball. As a professional baseball player, primarily a pitcher, he played for the Boston Red Stockings, Chicago White Stockings, and later for the Buffalo Bisons.  In 1876, Spalding founded his sporting goods company, and became one of the leading manufacturers of sports equipment, particularly baseballs and baseball gloves.

The Spalding “League Ball” was adopted by the National League and used by the league beginning in 1880, as well as by the American Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs for the seasons of 1892–1896. It sold for $1.50.  – HOW a baseball is made.

In 1888-1889, Spalding organized a world baseball tour known as the “Spalding World Tour.” The tour featured a team of baseball players from the United States, including Spalding, traveling around the world, and playing exhibition games to promote the sport. The tour helped popularize baseball internationally.

In 1892 Spalding created the Spalding Athletic Library, which sold sports and exercise books through its American Sports Publishing Company, also founded that year. The first book published was Life and Battles of James J. Corbett. See sample book. The Spalding Athletic Library covered a variety of sports, exercises, and organizations. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper stated regarding this collection, “devoted to all athletics pastimes, indoor and outdoor, and is the recognized American cyclopedia of sport”.  (they didn’t miss much…) 1892 – 1941 these are still collectibles today!

Spalding developed its first basketball in 1894 based on the design of a baseball, and is currently a leading producer. How it’s made. As their business grew, A.G. Spalding & Brothers purchased the Lamb Knitting Machine Company of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, and renamed it the Lamb Manufacturing Company.. Spalding chose Chicopee because it was the home of the Overman Wheel Company and acted as their distributor in the Western US.

In 1899 Spalding sold its bicycle division to a massive trust called the American Bicycle Company which controlled 65% of the bicycle business in the US.
In the early 1900’s Spalding was selling dumbbells, Indian clubs, and punching bags and a wide variety of sports-related items, including clothing (athletic shirts, belts, pads, hats, jackets, jerseys, pants, shoes, and swimming suits), barbells, fencing blades and foils, golf clubs, guy robes, measuring tapes, pulleys and weights, rowing machines, and track equipment – discus, hurdles, hammers, javelins, poles for vaulting, shotputs, and stop watches, and whistles. It’s cool how 100 years later, many of these items still carry the Spaulding brand name.

During World War II, the company joined five other firms to form the New England Small Arms Corporation to help support the war effort, manufacturing the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifles.

From the early 1930s through the mid-1940s Spalding produced the official game pucks for the National Hockey League. Spalding also produced the well-known “Spaldeen” high-bounce rubber ball, said to be a re-use of defective tennis ball cores, sold to city children beginning in 1949. You can still buy these Spalding High Bounce balls today!

In baseball, Spalding manufactured the official ball of the Major Leagues through the 1976 season, using the Reach brand on American League balls and the Spalding trademark on the National League’s. Since 1977 the official ball has been made by Rawlings.

In 2003, Spalding became a division of the Russell Corporation, exclusive of its golf operations (which included the Top-Flite, Ben Hogan and Strata brands), which were eventually bought by the Callaway Golf Company later the same year.

Spalding produced a mail-order catalog that provided a description, price, and picture of their sports equipment, sports books, and exercise books. A couple of examples are “How to Play Golf” for 25 cents, “How to Play Basketball” at 10 cents, and “How to Train for Bicycling” at 10 cents. – See one of the original catalogs

Spalding served as the president of the Chicago White Stockings and later became the president of the NL. In 1902, he was appointed as the first chairman of the National Commission, a position similar to the modern role of the Commissioner of Baseball.  Spalding was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 as a pioneer/executive. His contributions to the early development and popularization of baseball played a significant role in the history of the sport.

It’s amazing what this one man could accomplish in his lifetime!

 

 

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DO YOU LIKE CONTESTS?
Me, too.
As you may know the Kowalski Heat Treating logo finds its way
into the visuals of my Friday posts.
I.  Love.  My.  Logo.
One week there could be three logos.
The next week there could be 15 logos.
And sometimes the logo is very small or just a partial logo showing.
But there are always logos in some of the pictures.
So, I challenge you, my beloved readers, to count them and send me a
quick email with the total number of logos in the Friday post.
On the following Tuesday I’ll pick a winner from the correct answers
and send that lucky person some great KHT swag.
So, start counting and good luck!  
Oh, and the logos at the very top header don’t count.
Got it? Good.  :-))))
Have fun!!

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Soak Before Eating

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Breakfast! One of those things that makes waking up worthwhile.  :)))))))

Like you, I have my morning breakfast routines.  Most days I’m up really early, and I treat myself to a fresh smoothie – frozen blueberries, strawberries, bananas, vanilla yogurt, spinach with the occasional dollop of peanut butter!). Somedays I revert back to my childhood and enjoy a bowl of breakfast cereal.  My favorites as a kid were Cap’n Crunch!, or Frosted Flakes, with vanilla pudding and fruit cocktail (what a treat!!)  Quick, easy and convenient, it’s still one of my go to favorites. These days I find myself eating Cheerios – Cinnamon Oat Crunch with bananas … almond milk!  Finishing my bowl the other day I got to thinking about the history of this meal tradition, and the millions of people who open a box, pour it in a bowl, and top it off with milk (or milk substitute). Here’s some fun info, cool videos and fun facts you probably never knew.  Thanks to smithsonianmag.com, amazon.com, purewow.com and youtube.com for the info and insight.  Enjoy! … and only worry about those hidden sugars a little bit!

The first cold cereal was introduced in 1863, when a religious conservative vegetarian and health spa (then called a “sanitarium”) proprietor named James Caleb Jackson created what he called “granula” made out of graham flour. The cereal was so hard it needed to be soaked overnight.

John Harvey Kellogg, another religious vegetarian (specifically, a Seventh Day Adventist) and sanitarium owner, similarly introduced his own version of “granula,” which he named “granola” when Jackson threatened to sue. His first commercially successful breakfast cereal was created in the late 19th century made from baked and ground wheat. Unfortunately for Jackson, who’s been lost to mainstream history, it was granola — and Kellogg — that stuck.

The first cereal prize was (probably) a paper book. Notable examples begin in the 1920s, when Malt-O-Meal began packaging whistles at the bottom of the box PRIZES INCLUDED cheap plastic toys, records on the outside box, baseball cards, stickers and small books, and even a video game on CD-ROM — a Doom mod called Chex Quest… (remember CDROM’s?). Kellogg’s offered a book to customers who checked out at the grocery store with two boxes of Corn Flakes in 1910. The book, The Funny Jungleland Moving Picture Book, featured horizontal flaps that could be moved to create different pictures and stories.  This was fun growing up getting the prize!

Dr. Kellogg and his brother Will Keith Kellogg invented cornflakes by accident in the late 1800s. They were trying to create a healthy, vegetarian diet and accidentally left some boiled wheat to stand. When they returned, the wheat had become stale but they decided to process it through rollers and created the flakes we know today. (about 32 million boxes are sold each year).

This is how flakes are made!!

Snap, Crackle and Pop are the mascots for Rice Krispies. They were introduced in 1933, and their names represent the sound the cereal makes when milk is added. (I shared this phenomenon with my grandkids). The trio have been promoting Rice Krispies in one form or another since the 1930s, starting with Snap as a solo act, before Crackle and Pop joined him in 1941.

Few remember (I don’t) the fourth cereal brother, a nonverbal space-elf named Pow, who appeared for a very brief time in the early 1950s. He appeared in only two commercials, riding a hovercraft and drawing attention to the cereal’s “power from whole grain rice.” According to Kellogg’s, he was never meant to be an “official character”… since it never took off, easy to say in retrospect.

Lucky Charms, known for its colorful marshmallow shapes, was created in 1964. It was the first cereal to include marshmallows in the recipe.  If you haven’t had Lucky Charms since you were a kid, you may be in for a surprise, because General Mills makes adjustments to its lineup every so often. With a whopping eight marshmallow shapes (they’re called “marbits”) in today’s cereal, when a new one comes along, another steps out. Now the moons are blue, the stars are yellow-and-orange shooting stars, and the green clovers are part of a hat. The pink hearts are the only ones that remain close to their original form. (Other shapes have come and gone completely, like the blue diamond, pot of gold, crystal ball, and green tree. The most recent addition is the purple unicorn, which replaced the hourglass)… who tracks these things???

Imagine for a second that the Frosted Flakes slogan isn’t “they’re grrrrrreat,” because the mascot is not a tiger, but a kangaroo, and the kangaroo makes more of a coughing sound. When Kellogg’s launched Frosted Flakes in 1952, it experimented with several mascots — including Katy the Kangaroo, Elmo the Elephant, and Newt the Gnu — to see which one would be more popular with consumers. Tony turned out to be more popular across demographics, and Katy, Elmo, and Newt are now just distant memories.

Cap’n Crunch cereal was created by Pamela Low in 1963. The mascot, Cap’n Horatio Magellan Crunch, is a cartoon sea captain.

There are few, if any, cereals more iconic than Cheerios, but if you thought the name came from their round shape, you’d be mistaken. When the brand originally launched in 1941, they were called Cheerioats. In 1945, Quaker Oats claimed that it had exclusive rights to “oats” for its oatmeal — laughable in today’s oat-heavy market — and General Mills dropped the “at” from the end of the name. As of 2018, Cheerios is the bestselling cereal in the United States (just above Honey Nut Cheerios in second place), so General Mills really came out ahead in the end. Video on manufacturing

It’s incredibly common for cereal to be fortified with extra vitamins and minerals, including iron. Just like any other iron — whether it’s in a skillet or a fence — the iron added to breakfast cereal is magnetic. Cereals with a lot of iron in them (like fortified cornflakes) even react to magnets when they’re floating in liquid. While the iron in some whole cereal is enough to be magnetic on its own, for a more in-depth, science fair-style experiment, you could try crushing up cereal and seeing how much pure iron you can pull out of it. (wonder if I can use some of this magic in my lab?).  Watch this video: Iron for Breakfast – Sick Science! #123!

The Os of Froot Loops come in a variety of fruity colors, as if they each represent a different fruit flavor. However, the color is the only real difference between those Os because the flavor is the same throughout the box. You may still taste a difference between the colors, but it’s probably because your vision tells you to expect something different. It’s always been spelled “Froot Loops” — contrary to a popular belief that the name changed because of a lawsuit over the cereal’s lack of real fruit.

Wheaties, aka the Breakfast of Champions, has existed since 1924 and has featured athletes on its boxes since 1934; Lou Gehrig was the first. Over 90 years of sporty branding, there have been a few repeats, but Michael Jordan has graced the front of the box the most, at 19 times over 30 years. The five-time NBA MVP and Space Jam star most recently appeared on a box design commemorating the cereal’s 100th anniversary. Healthy…yes! 

Revenue in the Breakfast Cereals market amounts to US$76.97bn in 2023. The market is expected to grow annually by 5.90% (CAGR 2023-2028). US consumption is about 23bn.  Learn more here.

 

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DO YOU LIKE CONTESTS?
Me, too.
As you may know the Kowalski Heat Treating logo finds its way
into the visuals of my Friday posts.
I.  Love.  My.  Logo.
One week there could be three logos.
The next week there could be 15 logos.
And sometimes the logo is very small or just a partial logo showing.
But there are always logos in some of the pictures.
So, I challenge you, my beloved readers, to count them and send me a
quick email with the total number of logos in the Friday post.
On the following Tuesday I’ll pick a winner from the correct answers
and send that lucky person some great KHT swag.
So, start counting and good luck!  
Oh, and the logos at the very top header don’t count.
Got it? Good.  :-))))
Have fun!!

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Yum Yum Sid

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So, who doesn’t like a good chocolate chip cookie?  :)))

By now you know I’m a foodie. So many great flavors, dishes and treats are on my list.  Maybe it’s the “kid” in me, but near the top of my list is … cookies.  It’s not that I have to have them after every meal, but a good cookie at the right time does it for me. From my previous posts you all know that I’m actually a savory-salty snacker! Still, I’m guessing you’re wondering which ones are my favorite … (that’s not fair) … as I have many favorites.  Oreos of course which also happen to be among my grandkid’s favorites- they get to take them apart! . Jackie’s home baked chocolate chip ones are amazing, anything “Christmas” or Girl Scout (thin mints rock!) or Italian or how about those rectangular flat wafer thingies (I love when things are flat) in the waxed paper … merci! … and maybe best of all, the yummy ones Mom used to put in my lunch bag as a kid … we all called them chocolate chip chews! I know I should be a bit more cautious with my consumption, but let’s be honest – how easy is it to crush a whole stack with a cup of hot coffee or cold milk. One of my heroes of course is Cookie Monster, as he shares in my love for cookies. So, do me a favor – enjoy the post, cook up some batches and then send me some of your favorites – cookies or recipes – to add to my own enjoyment. Thanks to YouTube and foodnetwork.comfor the info/links. Come on, say it out loud … COOKIEEEES!!

Cookie Monster compilation
Oreo Factory
100 Best Christmas cookie recipes

Cookie Monster remains a beloved and iconic character on Sesame Street, capturing the hearts of both children and adults with his humorous antics and love for cookies. (as a grandpa, I get to enjoy him all over again!!)

Cookie Monster made his first appearance on Sesame Street in 1969, in the very first episode of the show. When he first appeared, he wasn’t called Cookie Monster. He was known as the “Wheel-Stealer” and didn’t have his distinctive blue color. Over time, the character evolved into the Cookie Monster we know today, complete with his iconic blue fur and insatiable love for cookies.

For those of you who skipped childhood, Cookie Monster is a classic muppet on “Sesame Street” – scraggly, blue fellow with bulging eyeballs, who has for decades been singularly obsessed with chaotically chowing down on cookies.

One of Cookie Monster’s popular songs is “C is for Cookie,” where he sings about his love for cookies and the joy of eating them.

Cookie Monster’s real name was revealed to be “Sid” in a book titled “The Sesame Street Dictionary,” although this name is not widely used in the show.

Cookie Monster has made cameo appearances in various television shows and movies, including “Saturday Night Live” and “The Colbert Report” and has interacted with several U.S. Presidents over the years, famously visiting the White House during President Jimmy Carter’s administration.

It turns out the cookies are real — sort of.  They are baked at the home of Lara MacLean, who has been a “puppet wrangler” for the Jim Henson Company for almost three decades. MacLean started as an intern for Sesame Workshop in 1992 and has been working for the team ever since.

To make the cookies, MacClean dips her hand in water and flattens the cookies. They need to be thin enough to explode in a shower of crumbs. The recipe is roughly: Pancake mix, puffed rice, Grape-Nuts and instant coffee, with water in the mixture. The chocolate chips are made using hot glue sticks — essentially colored gobs of glue. (it’s important the cookies do not have oils, fats or sugars, as this would stain Cookie Monster).

For a given episode, depending on the script, MacLean will bake, on average, two dozen cookies. There’s no oven large enough at Sesame’s New York workplace, so MacLean does almost everything at home.

Cookie has been portrayed since 2001 by David Rudman, who took over the role from Frank Oz. Rudman’s right hand moves the mouth, which is eating, and his left hand holds the cookies. Both work in concert to break the cookies, which means the cookies have to be soft enough to fall apart.  Rudman says soft cookies are best, adding, “The more crumbs, the funnier it is.”

“If he eats the cookie, and it only breaks into two pieces if it’s too hard, it’s just not funny,” he said. “It looks almost painful. But if he eats a cookie and it explodes into a hundred crumbs, that’s where the comedy comes from.”

Not everyone realizes that the cookies aren’t meant to be eaten. Adam Sandler appeared on a 2009 episode of “Sesame Street” and decided to share in Cookie’s delight by spontaneously eating a cookie with him on set. As soon as the camera cut, he spit it out.

 

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

DO YOU LIKE CONTESTS?
Me, too.
As you may know the Kowalski Heat Treating logo finds its way
into the visuals of my Friday posts.
I.  Love.  My.  Logo.
One week there could be three logos.
The next week there could be 15 logos.
And sometimes the logo is very small or just a partial logo showing.
But there are always logos in some of the pictures.
So, I challenge you, my beloved readers, to count them and send me a
quick email with the total number of logos in the Friday post.
On the following Tuesday I’ll pick a winner from the correct answers
and send that lucky person some great KHT swag.
So, start counting and good luck!  
Oh, and the logos at the very top header don’t count.
Got it? Good.  :-))))
Have fun!!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

NOG

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Eggnog, Wassail, Hot Toddy, Hot Buttered Rum, Mulled Wine, Coquito, Moscow Mule and Champagne oh, my!

Getting together with friends and family over the holidays was a blast.  I love it when the kids and grandkids come over, filled with excitement and fun. We decorated the house, ate fun food and hung out in front of the fire.  Celebrating the winter season includes good company … and good drinks, many of which, like eggnog, are in high demand as the mercury drops and the snow piles up. I decided to find out more about “wintery” drinks and found out not every Yuletide drink started as a seasonal beverage. Here are eight popular “adult beverages” and some info on how they came to be, so you’ll be ready to serve them up. Thanks to interestingfacts.com for the insights and be sure to send me your favorites. ENJOY!!

Eggnog
Eggnog may be the most popular Yuletide beverage, with a history dating back to the Middle Ages. Many food historians believe modern eggnog is a descendant of posset, a milky, ale-like drink served warmed in medieval Britain. By the 13th century, posset had become popular among monks and was used in celebrations and toasts as a nod to good health and prosperity, since it contained sherry, milk, and eggs (all foods eaten by the wealthy). Sherry was eventually swapped for rum in the American colonies, though some early versions, like George Washington’s personal recipe, included bourbon whiskey instead.

Wassail
Wishing someone “waes hael” is how the spiced and spiked wassail drink got its name. Traditionally celebrated on Twelfth Night (January 5), the Anglo-Saxon tradition of wassailing was meant either to ensure a good harvest in the new year or to share goodwill and blessings. In the case of the latter, members of the ruling class would serve wassail — a hot spiced drink made from cider, ale, or wine — and wish their guests good health and well-being in the year ahead. Over time, wassailing celebrations went mobile, with groups going house to house with a bowl of the beverage, singing songs, and spreading holiday cheer. Recipe

Hot Toddy
National Hot Toddy Day is marked on January 11, though it’s unclear where the warmed drink originated. Some historians believe the beverage was first served in India, where written descriptions from 1786 describe the “taddy” as an alcoholic drink made from liquor, hot water, sugar, and spices. Other lore suggests hot toddies were the invention of a doctor, who blended brandy, sugar, and cinnamon together to help patients battle their colds. From experience, it sure makes you feel better. Recipe

Hot Buttered Rum
Hot buttered rum — a warmed drink made with rum, spices, hot water, and butter — is a cousin to the hot toddy, created in colonial America at a time when alcohol was widely believed to have medicinal benefits. Rum was the preferred drink of the colonists — who, by some estimates, consumed 3.7 gallons per person each year — in part because it was made from molasses, a sweetener that was easier and cheaper to obtain than refined sugar. Colonists believed rum was nutritious and that it could fortify the body, particularly during the coldest months of the year, though historians are unsure how butter became an ingredient in the drink. Recipe

Mulled Wine
Many historians believe the ancient Greeks were the inventors of mulled wine, creating the warmed and spiced drink they called ypocras as a way to use leftover wine. The ancient Romans followed suit, calling their version conditum paradoxum, and blending wine with honey and spices as a way to preserve the alcohol for long journeys. By the Middle Ages, mulled wine had become popular throughout Europe, because people believed the spices made the drink healthier. The libation’s association with the winter holidays was cemented in the 1800s, thanks to Charles Dickinson’s inclusion of a type of mulled wine in A Christmas Carol. Recipe

Coquito
Coquito, a holiday drink served in Puerto Rican communities, translates to “little coconut,” an apt description since it contains coconut milk and cream, along with spices, sweetened condensed milk, and rum. It’s possible that the drink was introduced to the Caribbean nation by Spanish colonists, though many people believe the chilled, creamy beverage is an invention that first appeared around the early 1900s. By the 1950s, coquito recipes made their way into cookbooks, and today the drink is so synonymous with the Christmas season that it has its own day of celebration — December 21. Recipe

Moscow Mule
Compared to other classic holiday drinks, Moscow mules are relatively new; the cocktails containing vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer are less than 100 years old. The recipe has been attributed to multiple people in recent years, but the most widely circulated story claims it originated with John Martin, president of alcohol producer Heublein, which acquired the rights to Smirnoff Vodka in the late 1930s. Martin is said to have co-created the Moscow mule in an attempt to drum up vodka sales, with the help of Jack Morgan, a California bar owner who was trying to market his unpopular ginger beer concoction. The duo released their drink recipe in 1941, not only popularizing the beverage but serving it in copper mugs, which cocktail mythology suggests may have come from a third person looking to popularize their cups. Recipe

Champagne
Celebrating New Year’s Eve with a Champagne toast didn’t become a tradition until the late 19th or early 20th century, and it was mostly thanks to restaurant owners. Prior to the 1800s, it wasn’t common to mark the start of a new year by staying up past midnight, and in France, Champagne was typically reserved for state affairs, used to toast diplomatic meetings, coronations, and treaties. Following the French Revolution, however, Champagne became accessible to all classes, and the wealthy who fled the country helped create a market for the bubbly outside of France. By the mid-1800s, Champagne and sparkling wine sales surged in the U.S., and by the early 1900s, many restaurateurs provided it as the only refreshment option for New Year’s Eve meals, linking the drink to the holiday for a century to come. Recipes

Enjoy.  And remember, safe driving is no accident!

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DO YOU LIKE CONTESTS?
Me, too.
As you may know the Kowalski Heat Treating logo finds its way
into the visuals of my Friday posts.
I.  Love.  My.  Logo.
One week there could be three logos.
The next week there could be 15 logos.
And sometimes the logo is very small or just a partial logo showing.
But there are always logos in some of the pictures.
So, I challenge you, my beloved readers, to count them and send me a
quick email with the total number of logos in the Friday post.
On the following Tuesday I’ll pick a winner from the correct answers
and send that lucky person some great KHT swag.
So, start counting and good luck!  
Oh, and the logos at the very top header don’t count.
Got it? Good.  :-))))
Have fun!!

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Bittersweet

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Any way you slice it, grapefruits are good and good for you!  :))))

As we roll into the early winter season (yep still rolling from my indulgence on Turkey Day), I find there are some foods that are just part of the season.  One of my favorites is grapefruit.  There’s something special about “winter” grapefruit – cold, tangy, sweet, and just the perfect kick-starter to my day. Eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, toast, juice, coffee, pastry, potatoes … and of course a half of grapefruit to complete my “healthy” meal. Of all the flavors, I think pink is my favorite – especially when I sprinkle a little sugar on top. I got to thinking about the “good” and the “bad” about grapefruit (I am amazed by the number of adverse effects that occur when mixing with medicines) and decided to do some digging. Here’s some trivia and info I think you’ll enjoy. Thanks always to Wikipedia, YouTube, Google and liquor.com for the info.  Watching both the harvesting and the packaging videos below is absolutely incredible and mesmerizing!

Mechanical Harvesting
Clean, Pack and Ship

Grapefruit (Citrus × paradisi) is believed to be a crossbreed between a sweet orange and a pomelo. It was first discovered in Barbados in the 18th century. There are different varieties of grapefruit, including white, pink, and red, each with its distinct flavor and color intensity.

Grapefruit is a low-calorie fruit that packs a nutritional punch. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, providing over 70% of the recommended daily intake in just one serving. Additionally, it contains fiber, potassium, and various antioxidants, contributing to overall health.

The flavor of grapefruit is a distinctive combination of sweet and tart notes. The bitterness of grapefruit comes from compounds known as furanocoumarins, which are responsible for its unique taste making grapefruit a versatile ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes.

Grapefruit has gained popularity as a “weight-loss fruit” due to studies suggesting its potential impact on weight management. Some research indicates that incorporating grapefruit into a balanced diet may help reduce overall calorie intake and contribute to weight loss.

Certain compounds in grapefruit, particularly naringin, have been studied for their potential effects on metabolism. Naringin has been associated with increased fat burning and may have implications for metabolic health. However, more research is needed to fully understand these effects.

One of the most well-known trivia about grapefruit involves its interaction with medications. Consuming grapefruit or its juice can interfere with the metabolism of certain drugs by inhibiting a key enzyme in the liver. This can lead to higher-than-intended levels of the medication in the bloodstream, potentially causing adverse effects. Medications such as statins, antiarrhythmics, and immunosuppressants are among those affected, making it essential for individuals on medication to be cautious about their grapefruit intake.

While relatively rare, some people may experience allergic reactions to compounds found in grapefruit. These reactions can range from mild itching and skin rashes to more severe symptoms like difficulty breathing.

Some studies have explored the potential anti-cancer properties of compounds found in grapefruit. Certain antioxidants and phytochemicals present in the fruit have been investigated for their ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. While research is ongoing, these findings highlight the multifaceted nature of grapefruit’s impact on health.

For individuals managing diabetes, grapefruit might be a surprising addition to their dietary considerations.

Major grapefruit-producing countries include the United States (particularly Florida and Texas), China, South Africa, and Mexico. The fruit is typically harvested during the winter months when it reaches peak ripeness.

About 585 million tons is harvested in the US each year – yeeowsa! For those mathematicians out there, this would be about 2,500,000,000,000 grapefruit!! Which is 2 trillion five hundred d billion!

Beyond being enjoyed fresh, grapefruit adds a zesty flavor to a variety of dishes. It is used in salads, cocktails, marinades, and desserts, showcasing its versatility in both sweet and savory culinary creations. It’s a popular beverage, either on its own or as a mixer in cocktails.

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DO YOU LIKE CONTESTS?
Me, too.
As you may know the Kowalski Heat Treating logo finds its way
into the visuals of my Friday posts.
I.  Love.  My.  Logo.
One week there could be three logos.
The next week there could be 15 logos.
And sometimes the logo is very small or just a partial logo showing.
But there are always logos in some of the pictures.
So, I challenge you, my beloved readers, to count them and send me a
quick email with the total number of logos in the Friday post.
On the following Tuesday I’ll pick a winner from the correct answers
and send that lucky person some great KHT swag.
So, start counting and good luck!  
Oh, and the logos at the very top header don’t count.
Got it? Good.  :-))))
Have fun!!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Take time to reflect

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Contemplation. Itrospection. Pondering. This is a really good time to reflect.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of bigger and better things. Society often encourages us to set ambitious goals, reach for the stars, and constantly strive to become better. While these are very important, it’s equally important to appreciate all of the little things that bring joy and contentment to our lives. Counting our blessings and cultivating a positive mindset will enhance our overall well-being and happiness.  Give it a try and keep it going in the New Year – and thanks to a good buddy of mine for helping find these  words of wisdom.

Appreciate: You can appreciate the small, everyday moments that often go unnoticed. Take a moment to savor the aroma of your morning coffee, feel the warmth of the sunlight on your skin, or listen to the soothing sounds of nature. Say a prayer. By immersing yourself in these simple experiences, you can develop a deeper sense of gratitude for the present.

Say Thanks!: Take a few minutes each day to reflect on the positive aspects of your life, no matter how small they may seem. Whether it’s a kind gesture from a friend, a moment of laughter with loved ones or the hug of a child. Shift your focus away from what you lack and towards the abundance of blessings that surround you.

Change  your perspective: Instead of dwelling on setbacks and difficulties, try to find the silver lining in every situation. By approaching challenges with a positive mindset, you can turn them into opportunities for learning and resilience.

Share life with others: Enjoy the little things in life. Share your joys and challenges with friends and family and take the time to celebrate their successes as well. Celebrating life’s achievements, big or small, of those around you can contribute to a positive and uplifting atmosphere.

Sometimes it can be all about you! Begin the New Year maintaining a positive outlook on life. Take time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether it’s reading a book, taking a leisurely walk, playing with kids or grandkids or indulging in a hobby. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being allows you to approach life with a renewed sense of energy and appreciation for the little pleasures that make each day special.

Let’s all count your blessings and appreciate the small joys God has put in our lives.

All the best from your Friends at KHT.

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas

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Two Quintillion

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Doing research has been getting faster and faster and faster. Now, with the push of a button, answers are coming back in a single second, to the people researching daunting topics like the universe, neuroscience, aerospace, cancer, drugs, clean fusion and more. That’s faster than I can type the letter ”K”.   :))))))))

Depending how old you are, you likely remember when you used your first computer, first laptop or mobile device. Clunky in scale, it amazed each of us with the capacity to make “at the time” lightening fast computations.  Type in a search, bang, the info was there.  Crunch a spreadsheet, and the data appeared before your eyes. Call a friend and they answered within seconds.  I can remember here at KHT when we first added connected computers to our campus, the team was thrilled.  Each iteration and improvement made us even more efficient in solving your PIA (Pain in the @%$) Jobs! … something we enjoy doing every day.  I was reading the WSJ the other day and came across an article about a new “exascale” computer named Aurora.  Inside a vast data center on the outskirts of Chicago, the most powerful supercomputer in the world is coming to life. The supercomputer’s high-performance capabilities, matched with the latest advances in artificial intelligence, will help scientists research challenges like cancer, nuclear fusion, vaccines, climate change, encryption, cosmology and other complex sciences and technologies.  Special thanks to WSJ writer Scott Patterson for the article and Google for the history.

Aurora is housed at the Energy Department’s Argonne National Laboratory and is among a new breed of machines known as “exascale” supercomputers. In a single second, an exascale computer can perform one quintillion operations—a billion billion, or a one followed by 18 zeros… (it looks like this 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 – yeeeowsa!).

An exascale computer refers to a computing system capable of performing one exaflop, which is a quintillion (10^18) floating-point operations per second (FLOPS). In simpler terms, it signifies the ability to execute a billion billion calculations per second. This level of computational power is a significant milestone in high-performance computing (HPC) and represents a thousandfold increase in performance compared to the previous generation of supercomputers.

Aurora is the size of two tennis courts, weighs 600 tons. Behind Aurora’s computing muscle are more than 60,000 graphics processing units, or GPUs, technology developed for advanced videogaming systems that has become the powerhouse of supercomputers. (that compares with the nearly 40,000 GPUs in Frontier – Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Frontier, which came online last year and was the first operational exascale computer, retained its title as the world’s No. 1 computer. Aurora will likely “exceed Frontier…when finished.”)

Aurora, built by Intel and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, is slowly being turned on, rack by rack. Unlike regular computers, these high-powered machines take months to bring online as technicians look for flaws like mechanics testing a Formula One car before a race. Aurora is expected to become fully operational in 2024.

Just some of what it can do …

  • increase the accuracy of climate forecasts (the more-accurate estimates will allow planners to better prepare for the potential impacts of floods, wildfires or storms on a facility or neighborhood).
  • screen 22 billion drug molecules to accelerate drug discovery.
  • mapping connections in the brain, a task so complicated it could take Aurora a full day to process a tiny sliver of the brain
  • handle the biggest large language model—a predictive AI system similar to ChatGPT—ever deployed.
  • deploy automated labs that will let the computer conduct real-world experiments using robots. It can analyze the results and modify the experiments, speeding up the research process.
  • help with the design and production of batteries that hold more power and charge faster. Batteries run on chemical reactions. Rather than test new battery chemistries in labs, scientists can use Aurora to model billions of combinations at high speed, providing scientists new insights into potentially breakthrough technologies.
  • leverage Argonne’s massive X-ray machine, the Advanced Photon Source, or APS, to examine materials at the atomic-scale level and feed the data into Aurora. The upgraded APS increases the brightness of the X-rays, that means experiments can be much faster … In fact, they can be so fast that humans can’t control them anymore.

There are more of these powerful machines coming soon. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California is building a $600 million exascale supercomputer called El Capitan, after the famed rock formation in Yosemite National Park. It is expected to be deployed next year and could eventually exceed Aurora’s computational firepower.

According to Elon Musk, Tesla is spending more than $1 billion to build an exascale supercomputer called Dojo. China might have exascale machines, but it doesn’t provide them to outsiders for testing. Computer scientists in the U.K. and elsewhere are trying to produce their own exascale computers.

History of supercomputers, searched using Chat openai (how cool is that!)

1950s-1960s: The concept of supercomputing emerged in the 1950s with the development of the first electronic computers. However, the term “supercomputer” was not widely used until the 1960s. Early supercomputers like the Control Data Corporation (CDC) 6600, introduced in 1964, were characterized by their exceptional processing speed and capability for scientific and engineering applications.

1970s: Seymour Cray, known as the “father of supercomputing,” played a crucial role in the development of supercomputers during this period. Cray founded Cray Research and introduced a series of supercomputers, including the Cray-1 in 1976, which was the first supercomputer to use vector processing.

1980s: Vector processing became a dominant feature in supercomputers during the 1980s. Cray continued to produce successful models like the Cray-2. Other companies, such as IBM with its IBM 3090 and 390, also contributed to the supercomputing landscape.

1990s: Parallel processing, where multiple processors work together on a task, gained prominence. This era saw the development of massively parallel supercomputers. Thinking Machines Corporation introduced the Connection Machine, and Cray Research produced the Cray T3D and T3E.

2000s: The rise of clusters and distributed computing marked this period. Clustered systems, composed of multiple interconnected computers, became a cost-effective way to achieve supercomputer performance, such as IBM’s Blue Gene series and Cray’s XT5.

2010s: GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) acceleration gained popularity for certain types of computations, and heterogeneous computing became more common. China’s Tianhe-1A and later the Sunway TaihuLight were among the world’s fastest supercomputers during this period.

2020s: The race for exascale computing intensified, with countries and organizations aiming to build supercomputers capable of performing one exaflop or more. Frontier and Aurora supercomputers in the United States are part of this exascale push.

The supercomputer’s high-performance capabilities will be matched with the latest advances in artificial intelligence, with hard to imagine outcomes. Together they will be used by scientists researching cancer and other diseases, nuclear fusion, safer vaccines, climate patterns to avoid disasters, financial and data encryption, cosmology and other complex sciences and aid technologies to provide better products and services which in the past would take longer to develop.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

DO YOU LIKE CONTESTS?
Me, too.
As you may know the Kowalski Heat Treating logo finds its way
into the visuals of my Friday posts.
I.  Love.  My.  Logo.
One week there could be three logos.
The next week there could be 15 logos.
And sometimes the logo is very small or just a partial logo showing.
But there are always logos in some of the pictures.
So, I challenge you, my beloved readers, to count them and send me a
quick email with the total number of logos in the Friday post.
On the following Tuesday I’ll pick a winner from the correct answers
and send that lucky person some great KHT swag.
So, start counting and good luck!  
Oh, and the logos at the very top header don’t count.
Got it? Good.  :-))))
Have fun!!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::