XMAS: WHAT THE HECK? by Janet Spencer Most Christmas customs germinated from traditions connected to or borrowed from other festivals and celebrations, while others were made up on the spot. Here are the stories behind several somewhat perplexing Christmas habits. CHRISTMAS CONFUSION Why the heck is it abbreviated as “Xmas”? • The symbol ‘X’ comes […]
by Millie Jones A business newsletter can help people keep updated on your products or services. By creating a newsletter, you develop credibility. It's also a cost-efficient way to reach many people at once, whether you're offering services or products online or only providing them to the Cedar Rapids area. However, before you create a newsletter, […]
• The 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe is thought to be the first novel written in the English language. Author Daniels Defoe’s name did not appear on the title page of the book’s first edition, leading readers to believe that Crusoe was a real person who was a castaway on a remote island for 28 years. […]
It’s no use searching the skies for Halley’s Comet – it won’t appear for another 39 years! But you CAN search out these facts about this famous astronomical mystery -- Tidbits has done the work for you!• Comets are made up of water, ice, dust, and carbon dioxide. They have long luminous tails that are […]
by Millie Jones Are you thinking about taking advantage of all those years of experience fixing up your home to start a flipping business? As a retired senior, you can build a successful company renovating houses, but be cautious and understand what you are getting into before making any investment. Today, Tidbits offers some tips […]
by Millie Jones As your family members age, there may come a time when you start to wonder if you need to be closer to them, so you can ensure they can get the help they need. It’s sometimes a difficult call about who needs to move where when the time comes. Many times, senior […]
Few people are aware that on the same day as the Chicago Fire, a far more devastating fire occurred only a few hundred miles north of Chicago. The Peshtigo Fire killed some 1,200 people in Wisconsin— five times as many as the Chicago Fire— and became North America’s worst forest fire in history. The town […]
BARNUM BITS Before he was the owner of his own successful circus, Phineas Taylor Barnum worked the ticket booth and performed as a clown in a small circus. In 1871, he started his “Grand and Traveling Circus, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus.” P.T. Barnum grossed $400,000 his first year. He wasn’t afraid to use a little […]
The term “brand name” originated with whiskey producers who “branded” their names on the barrels. MARKETING MAGIC • The 1930s were host to a barrage of “sandwich signs”---walking billboards worn on the front and back of the human body---announcing the Blue Plate Special at Joe’s or praising the benefits of mustard plasters • Ferrari launched […]
FIRST FACT The letter “H” is about the ninth most-frequently used letter of the alphabet in printed material. As an abbreviation, H might stand for His or Her in H.M. (His or Her Majesty). H can mean hydrogen, harbor, Hawaii, or Hindustan. In the world of electricity, inductance (induced voltage) is measured in units of […]
