NCAA Quiz: Name the only two college kickers since 1967 to be
chosen in the first round of the NFL draft? Answer below.
Kwanzaa (Swahili for “first fruits”)
In our ongoing effort to keep you up to date on all holidays, we
bring you Kwanzaa, Dec. 26-Jan. 1. This festival is based on
African harvests and is traditionally held in December. It was
established in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, head of the Black
Studies Dept. of Cal State University – Long Beach. There are 7
principles, Nguzo Saba, for the celebration: Umoja (unity),
Kuhichajulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and
responsibility), Ujama (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose),
Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). As far as I can ascertain,
there is nothing about Internet IPOs.
McDonalds
Richard and Maurice McDonald opened a barbecue and
hamburger joint in 1940 in San Bernardino, CA which they called
McDonalds…duhh. Carhops toted trays to as many as 125 cars
at a time. But families were turned off by loitering teenagers so in
1948 they removed the barbecue pit and cut their menu from 25
to 9 items. Every 15-cent hamburger (down from 30 cents) was
prepared the same, with mustard, ketchup, onions, and two pickle
slices. Tableware went out. Orders were taken by window, as
well as inside. In 1954 Ray Kroc arrived. He saw the long lines
at the brothers restaurant and decided to cut a deal with them to
become their franchising agent. He would sell franchises for only
$950 apiece and require holders to pay only a tiny portion of
sales – 1.4% to Kroc and 0.5% to the McDonald brothers. By
1961, 228 outlets were in operation and Kroc bought out the
McDonald brothers for $2.7 million. He needed their name
because no one would ever want a Kroc burger. When he died in
1984 at the age of 81, there were 7,500 outlets worldwide.
Today there are over 25,000.
Bill Bowerman, Nike co-founder
Bowerman died early Christmas morning at the age of 88. From
1917, when Keds were first introduced, sports footwear was little
changed until the 1960s. Then the team of Bowerman and Phil
Knight came along. Bowerman was a legendary track coach at
the University of Oregon where his teams won 4 NCAA track and
field championships and he coached 19 Olympians, including
Steve Prefontaine. In 1964 he went into business with Knight,
each putting $500 into a company called Blue Ribbon Sports.
That year they sold 1,300 pairs of Tiger running shoes imported
from Japan. In 1971 they began to design their own shoes,
renaming the company Nike and they adopted the swoosh. The
following year Bowerman developed the waffle outsole which
brought a springiness to the athletic shoe and the rest is history.
American Century Tidbits
Voter Turnout:
1900 – 73.7%
2000 – 48.9%
Beer Consumption:
1900 – 58.8 gallons per adult
2000 – 31.6 gallons…time to play catch up. Geez, I”m doing my
part!!
Number of Bison:
1900 – 400
2000 – 200,000
Virtual Sex
In a recent article by Newsweek”s Yahlin Chang, he writes of all
the technologies that will be available within two decades wherein
you not only will be able to “uncorset a virtual Gwyneth Paltrow
as she murmurs sweet British nothings in your ear.you could
change genders – you could feel what it”s like to BE Gwyneth
Paltrow. You could turn your lover into someone else, without
his or her even knowing it. Of course, she or he could be doing
the same to you.”
Your husband could be on a business trip 3,000 miles away, but
your virtual bodies could still embrace in a virtual bed, or you
could rendezvous on a virtual Mediterranean beach. Or you
could change species! “You could both become dinosaurs or
octopi.” Egads!!
Of course virtual sex is risk free, with no chance of AIDS or
pregnancy. Fidelity and monogamy will have to be redefined. “Is
it cheating if you have virtual sex with another person? What if
you have sex with your partner but you”ve adjusted her virtual
image so that she looks like your ex-girlfriend, or that woman in
the office?” Of course, StocksandNews.com will be there to help
you answer these questions in the future.
Top 3 songs for the week of 12/25/71: #1 “Brand New Key”
(Melanie) #2 “Family Affair” (Sly & The Family Stone)
#3 “American Pie” (Don McLean).
Quiz Answer: Steve Little (Arkansas), 1978 and Russell
Erxleben (Texas), 1979. Both of them sucked in their NFL
careers. Little played 3 years for the St. Louis Cardinals and was
a horrible punter plus he made just 13 of 27 field goals. Erlexben
played a few years for New Orleans where he averaged 40.6 punting
and was just 4 of 8 kicking field goals. Sebastian Janikowski of
Florida State will probably be the first kicker chosen in the first
round since these two.
Next Bar Chat, Wednesday…famous parties. Friday,
remembering the war dead of the century.
