Delivering the Mail

Most post offices don't float.

But if you're a summer resident or attend summer camp on an island on New Hampshire's largest lake, Lake Winnipesaukee, it's the only way to get or send mail.

The tradition of delivering mail by boat to Winnipesaukee’s summer residents and remote islands dates to 1892 when mail was delivered to Camp Idlewood, a summer camp. Mail is still delivered to boys and girls camps by boat. 

M/V Sophie C., the oldest floating U.S. mailboat

Today, it's done by the Sophie C., the oldest floating post office in the U.S. and the only U.S. mailboat on an inland waterway. It also takes up to 120 paying passengers on a 2-hour cruise while mail is being delivered. Last week we went along on one.

Early brochure for mail boat service

The Sophie C. was built in 1945 by the Boston Ship and Engine Works as a supply ship for the U.S. Navy in WW II. It was later converted for use as a mail boat and named for the mother (Sophie Caroline) of the former company owner. 

In 1916, by an Act of Congress, the mailboat was granted the right to cancel mail on Lake Winnipesaukee making it a full post office. It sells stamps and has its own cancellation stamp. Sophie C. became an official U.S. Mailboat in 1969 when the words U.S. Mailboat were added to her prow. 

A post mistress is onboard the Sophie C.

The mailboat seasonally delivers some 25,000 pieces of mail and packages (down from 35,000 years ago) to island homes and summer camps. It also sells postal supplies and stamps and postcards which passengers can fill out and postmark on board for a unique cancellation. 

Top deck seating on the mailboat

Sophie C. delivers mail to the lake's summer residents, Monday through Saturday with two separate, 2 hour cruises each day. As it heads to the islands, the captain points out areas of interest along the way. There are stops at four islands during the morning run and stops at five others in the afternoon. 

When docking isn't possible, inbound and outbound mail is exchanged via a hand-off to someone on the dock as the mail boat continues a slow 15 mph movement.

Island residents waiting for mailboat to dock

At many stops, the mailboat's visit is the social event of the day as island residents wait at the dock for deliveries or just to say hello. The mail deliverer knows most summer residents by name.

We also enjoyed ice cream onboard the Sophie C.

Children look forward to the boat’s daily arrival as a chance to buy one of the ice cream treats or other snacks for sale onboard. The frozen treats have become a summer tradition for adults as well.

At some stops, swimmers climb dock posts then jump into the lake as the mailboat leaves and blows its horn. There was a lone jumper on the day of our cruise.

Traveling on the mail boat was definitely a unique experience. And, while NH may boast the oldest mailboat, it isn't the only state to have one. Mail boats still serve isolated island and lakeside communities in other U.S. states: Alabama, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Virginia and Wisconsin. The difference is that these boats only deliver mailbags and freight. They don't have an onboard postal clerk and can't sell stamps or post stamp mail onboard, unlike the Sophie C.

And now you know — the rest of the story.

Friday Funnies

This is a lengthy Friday Funnies, but what's not-so-funny is that the story is absolutely true. Not only did it fool various media 85 years ago, but it's connected to my NJ hometown.

A newspaper story about the college and its star halfback

That's because, in 1941, one of the oddest sports hoaxes of all time was about a football team based in Plainfield, NJ. I learned of this notoriety several weeks ago through a small book, The Book of the Bizarre, Freaky Facts & Strange Stories a small 300-page treasure trove of unusual, stranger-than-fiction stories, usually limited to a page or less. 

One of these titled Don't Believe Everything You Read told the story of Plainfield teachers College football tea, that in 1941, had both a winning season and a star quarterback with its wins published in major newspapers. The problem was that the college and its team were the creation on a prankster NY stockbroker.

The story remains a legendary example of early 20th-century sports journalism, highlighting how easily made-up info could be accepted as truth. Somehow, it seems not dissimilar to current day AI.

While the book provided highlights, I wanted to learn more about how a NYC stockbroker fooled well-established newspapers and other media into printing the winning scores of a bogus football team. The school's star player, a fictional Chinese-American halfback, was described as a touchdown-scoring machine.

For 3 weeks, New York and regional Philadelphia newspapers published fabricated, winning game reports about this non-existent NJ team and its star player reporting the college's dominance in football games. Surprisingly, the reports were widely believed.

Who Started the Fantasy Football Team?

Morris Newburger, circa 1926

That distinction belongs to Morris Newburger and his business friends and co-conspirators, Lew Krupnick and Alexander Dannenbaum Jr.

Newburger was a senior partner at the family's Wall Street investment firm of Newburger, Loeb & Company and a 1926 graduate of Harvard University. The company dated to the 1860s when his grandfather (Morris Newburger) started a wholesale clothing business which transitioned into the securities business and continued until its 1974 bankruptcy.

Two of his passions were sports and pranks. Krupnick ran the mail room at the company. Dannenbaum, a friend of Newburger’s, was in the broadcast business in Philadelphia.

On Sundays, Newburger, read college football scores in NYC papers including those for small colleges like Slippery Rock State Teachers College in PA. He wondered if such colleges really existed or if a sports editor had invented them and printed game scores to fill up space. (Slippery Rock is an actual college founded as the Slippery Rock State Normal School in 1889, renamed Slippery Rock State Teachers College in 1926, and is now Slippery Rock University located in western  PA.)

Newburger soon realized that there was no way that reporters from any of the major NYC papers could attend any of these obscure games and that they depended on a school representative calling in game results every Saturday night.

That fact gave him an idea to phone in a score for a fictional school. He wanted to find out if it would get printed. So, on an Saturday in the fall of 1941, he called the sports desks of The New York Herald Tribune and told the reporter who answered that he was reporting a small-college football score: Plainfield Teachers College, 27 vs. Winona College, 3.

The call didn't arouse undue suspicion as it wasn't uncommon for smaller schools to phone in scores because of the lack of telegraph facilities. (Back then, New Jersey had actual teacher colleges in Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, Montclair, Glassboro and Trenton; none had a football team.) 

To Newburger's amusement, the score for Plainfield vs. Winona appeared in major papers the next day. The New York Times had the Plainfield-Winona score, on the first page of the sports section, near accounts of wins by Fordham, Army, Notre Dame and Dartmouth listed in alphabetical order. Plainfield-Winona was listed below Penn State.

Newburger set the teacher's college in Plainfield as it was hometown to his secretary. Another part of the prank was that teachers colleges back then were predominantly female, which made it unusual for one to have a powerhouse football team. 

The easy success of the hoax made Newburger believe that Plainfield Teachers College should continue its football season against nine also fictional teams. For the next few weeks, he called the sports desks of the papers every Saturday and, sure enough, scores for "Plainfield T." would appear in papers the next day. Plainfield was always victorious, crushing opponents in lopsided wins.

Based on these positive responses, Newburger soon recruited the help of Dannenbaum, who lived in Philadelphia, to phone scores in to the Philadelphia Record. At first, the they didn't coordinate about what team Plainfield had played. Sometimes, it had played a different opponent in Philadelphia than in New York so early reports in Philadelphia and New York papers had conflicting scores. Soon, they coordinated their reports and the reports matched.

The Team Gathered Strength

Newburger's ambitions for the Plainfield Teachers grew bigger as it now had a PR spokesperson, Jerry Croyden, actually Newburger. who installed a special phone line in his office to communicate with the papers about the team. The fictional Croyden was named after the Croyden Hotel in Manhattan.

As Croyden, Newburger sent news releases on newly-created Plainfield Teachers College stationery thanks to help from his mail room friend, Lew Krupnick. The team was named the Lions. Its coach was Ralph “Hurry Up” Hoblitzel who had once been a star player for another seemingly fictitious school, Spearfish Normal. This was actually a real school. Located in Spearfish, SD, it was renamed Black Hills Teachers College in 1941, became Black Hills State College in 1964, and was renamed Black Hills State University in 1989.

In the releases, Croyden went into detail about the team, noting its team colors (mauve and puce) and adding biographical information. He wrote that coach Hoblitzel had a unique offensive strategy, the "W" formation, in which when Plainfield players lined up with the ball in their possession, the two ends would face their own backfield so that they could "see immediately who has the ball." (I know zero about football and have no idea how this could work, but suspect it's a made-up play.)

Croyden/Newburger detailed games that Plainfield Teachers College had played earlier in the season, revealing that the team was unbeaten and untied. He created a made-up schedule of games for the 1941 playing season, including those before the first called-in win.

Sep 27: Plainfield vs. Benson Institute, 20-0

Oct 4: Plainfield vs. Scott, 12-0

Oct 11: Plainfield vs. Chesterton, 24-0

Oct 18: Plainfield vs. Fox (no known score)

Oct 25. Plainfield vs. Winona, 27-3

Nov 1: Plainfield vs. Randolph Tech (Away), 35-0

Nov 8: Plainfield vs. Ingersoll, 13-0

Nov 15: Plainfield vs. Appalachian Normal (no known score)

Nov 20: Plainfield vs. Harmony Teachers (Homecoming)

After decided to share his prank, Newburger asked fellow stockbrokers to come up with names for the players. The tall pass receiver was named "Boarding House Smithers" and the right tackle was  "Morris Newburger" who would prove critical to the team’s incredible success and ultimate downfall.

Johnny Chung cartoon

But, the most interestingly named player was sophomore star halfback, Johnny Chung, a 6-foot-3, 212-pound full-blooded half-Chinese, half-Hawaiian halfback called The Celestial Comet, who averaged an astounding (and record-breaking) 9.3 yards per carry. Chung reportedly ate rice at halftime to boost his strength and seemed destined for a future as an All-American. By today's standards this would be considered a racial stereotype. It was the last name of someone Newburger knew, a dry cleaner.

One of Croyden's fake press releases was passed to New York Post reporter Herbert Allan, who wrote glowing lines about Chung in aNovember 8, 1941 Saturday College Grapevine column: John Chung, Plainfield Teachers' Chinese sophomore halfback, has accounted for 57 of the 98 points scored by his unbeaten and untied team in four starts.

Press interest was growing steadily about this small town college football team with speculation that Plainfield might secure a bid to a small-college bowl game. This wasn’t a problem.Newburger was ready and planned for the team to play in the non-existent Blackboard Bowl in Atlantic City, NJ, at the end of the season.

Newburger managed to get Plainfield's scores into papers for several consecutive weeks. After defeating Winona, it continued its undefeated season on November 1 by crushing Randolph Tech 35-0 and followed this up with a November 8 win against Ingersoll 13-0.

The Whistle Was Blown — Who Did It?

Newspapers published the fabricated scores without fail for weeks as the team's popularity grew. By now, Newburger had started believing his own fantasy, and was talking freely with friends as though the college was a reality. Others also heard about what was going on.

But that popularity brought doubt as well and that started investigations into the school's legitimacy. It’s unclear exactly how the hoax was exposed or who was responsible.

One story is that a disgruntled Wall Street broker called The Herald Tribune and said: I'll give you a tip. There ain't no such college as Plainfield Teachers. Bunch of fellows down on Wall Street are kidding you.

Another is that Time magazine learned of the hoax, but as a weekly publication, its Sports Page Error story didn't appear until Monday, November 17, 1941, three days after it broke in the newspapers.

Meanwhile, Irving Marsh, assistant sports editor at The Herald Tribune, had called the Board of Education in Plainfield, NJ, and learned it had no such college. Reporter Caswell Adams, wrote about the hoax on Friday, November 14. His article, Brokers Find Phantom School Easy to Sell in Football, included the words: Perfect record made on paper. Hail to thee, our ghostly college, product of a dream!

That same week United Press sent the following cryptic message to client newspapers: Plainfield (NJ) Teachers College has abandoned football. They not only are unbeaten and untied. They are unreal.

After its unveiling, the hoax was surprisingly well received and several papers that had reported on the fictional school published tributes. After the hoax was traced to Newburger, he reportedly asked The New York Times to allow Plainfield Teachers to finish the season and play in the Blackboard Bowl. He said that Plainfield was set to face Appalachian Tech that week followed by Harmony Teachers for the Homecoming game on Thanksgiving Day after its undefeated season.

However the paper refused to play along and its November 17 issue had a statement: For three weeks running, the sports page of the New York Times has dutifully recorded the football victories of Plainfield (NJ) Teachers College. The Philadelphia Record and other papers also took notice of unbeaten Plainfield Teachers. The only error in all the reports was that Plainfield and its opponents were nonexistent.

In response, Newburger, as Croyden, wrote a final press release describing how the team had to forfeit its remaining games since so many players had failed their midterm exams, including Johnny Chung, adding that the team would not appear in the Blackboard Bowl.

That release was never printed, but The Philadelphia Record, which also had bought into the hoax, took a seemingly disappointed attitude that Plainfield Teachers College was gone. In an unsigned item titled Football Casualty was the wording that the newspaper regretted the passing (of Plainfield Teachers). We don’t see why exposure of the gag should have to end the team’s career. It should keep playing the rest of the season. We want to know how it made out with the now-cancelled games and if the Celestial Comet could have made All-American.

Perhaps, the hoax had provided some needed levity as it ended a few weeks before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Newburger and Dannenbaum both served in WW II as officers with the Army Air Corps and Signal Corps. No information was available on Lew Krupnick.

And now myself and all of you know the rest of the story. Plainfield Teachers College will always be remembered as having been unbeaten, untied and definitely unreal.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

It's a rainy start in Nashua, NH, with summer heat returning next week

Slam the Spam

Spammers are everywhere as anyone on social media can attest. But, it's not just social media that attracts these unscrupulous predators. Spammers use phone calls, email and text messages to entice folks to part with their money and/or personal information.

So, after receiving received email information about Slam the Spam, decided to share in a post. Thankfully, we haven't fallen victim to any of these schemes; however, countless others have and unfortunately, in recent years that included a family member.

One thing is certain, you can never be too careful. Although agencies referred to in this post are specific to the U.S., there may be similar agencies in other countries as well.

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is an annual campaign to give people information to help them stay safe, informed, and connected. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has an online toolkit with information on how to stop unwanted calls (robocalls) texts and emails.

On Thursday, March 5, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Office of the Inspector General (OIG) are supporting National Slam the Scam Day by providing more information on recognizing imposters.

Recognizing the basic signs of a scam gives everyone power to ignore spammers and report the activity based on some of the following red flags from scammers who: 

• Pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain trust.
• Tell you there is a problem or that you’ve won a prize.
• Pressure you for immediate action.
• Tell you to pay in a specific way (gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency) — often with the promise of keeping your money safe.

All of these are glaring red flags since authentic government agencies will never:

• Threaten with arrest or legal action if you don't agree to pay money right away.
• Suspend a Social Security number.
• Claim to need personal info or payment to activate a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) or other benefit increase. These are automatic.
• Pressure you to take immediate action and to share personal information.
• Threaten to seize your bank account.
• Offer to move your money to a “protected” bank account.
• Demand secrecy.
• Direct message you on social media.
• Ask for payment using certainspecific methods

Unfortunately, scammers are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an additional tactic to trick people. Actions that everyone can take:

• Hang up on suspicious calls from “government officials” claiming there is a problem with a Social Security number or account.
• Never engage if a call feels "off."
• Don't make any requested as many of the requested methods are untraceable.

What You Can Do

Report Social Security-related scams at oig.ssa.gov and report other government imposter scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Spread the word by using #SlamTheScam on social media to raise awareness and repost #SlamtheScam content on social media to help protect family and friends.

In the past year, a fellow blogger posted about falling victim to a scam; other bloggers may recall the post. Not only was the incident unfortunate to read about, but showed that scammers are always willing to take advantage of others. 

While it's not possible to eliminate spams and scams entirely, there are ways to stop them from happening to yourself and others. 

Got Stamps?

If you need to buy some and live in the U.S., you still have a few days before they will cost more.

That's because on Saturday, July 13, new postage increases from the U.S. Postal System (USPS) take effect. 

These rate increases impact for First-Class, marketing,  non-profit mail, and more. The cost of a First Class postage stamp will rise 5 cents from 73 to 78 cents.

There's still time to stock up on First Class Forever stamps which by their very name are good forever, whether you bought them years ago or today. 

Nothing lasts forever, except death and taxes is a popular idiom most famously attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who wrote it in a 1789 letter. Some historians suggest the saying was used before Franklin, but his letter is the earliest known written instance. 

Apparently, Franklin did know about the rise in postal rates.

Postage rates have been on the rise since July 1863. Anyone interested in how First Class postage has gone up can check out the USPS Postal History changes.

Why the increases?

The multiple increases are part of a broader set of adjustments that will raise mailing services prices an average of 7.4%. 

The USPS is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. The USPS generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

According to USPS officials, the price adjustments are needed to achieve financial stability and support the 10-year "Delivering for America" plan to modernize the USPS, achieve financial sustainability and improve service performance. The goals are to reverse projected losses of $160 billion, improve on-time delivery to 95%, and invest $40 billion in infrastructure and technology. The plan includes network modernization, investments in people and technology, and enhanced customer experience. 

That may be the plan's goal, but most times I've been to the Nashua Post Office, there's been only a single clerk handling a steady line of customers. Thankfully, everyone seems to remain patient. On good days, there has been up to a couple of clerks.

Here's a breakdown of some of the increases:

These costs are going up: 

• Metered letters (1 oz): 69 cents to 74 cents
• Flats (1 ounce):$1.50 to $1.65
• Certified Mail: $5.30 per piece, additional fees for return receipts
• Additional-ounce price for single-piece letters goes from 28 cents to 29 cents

When were these increases proposed?

Not that long ago — in April 2025, the USPS submitted a proposal to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). That's because it's part of the process. 

The PRC is an independent agency that provides regulatory oversight of the USPS and ensures that the USPS complies with laws and regulations, manages postal rates and services and promotes transparency and accountability in postal operations. It reviews all changes before the effective date. 

As long as the USPS meets the statutory requirements, the PRC doesn't have the authority to deny or amend the price proposals.

How long did it take?

Only about a month since on May 30, 2025, the PRC approved the USPS July rate increases. 

Does the PRC always approves a rate hike?

No, the PRC doesn't automatically approve every USPS increase request. It's not a rubber-stamp process, and the PRC can deny or influence rate proposals if they do not meet the legal requirements. 

In 2010, the PRC formally denied a USPS request for a 2-cent increase on First-Class stamps. The USPS appealed the decision with the result that the price of first-class postage did go from 44 to 46 cents, but not until January 2011.

And, in a 2019 case, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the PRC violated the Administrative Procedures Act by failing to provide a satisfactory explanation for a rate increase and address public comments. But, in January 2019, the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp went up 5 cents — 50 to 55 cents. The largest jump in the history of the Forever stamp, until now. 

As for myself, I'm a frequent snail-mail sender with a supply of Forever stamps. But, I'm buying more of these and international stamps, today. Why? you never know when the next increase will happen. Yes, I've searched online and nothing has been proposed, yet.

It's 603 Day in NH

It's the third day of the sixth month and, in NH, that means it's 603 Day.

In 2018, former Governor Chris Sununu declared June 3 as 603 Day, also called New Hampshire Day. Since then, it's become a tradition for Granite state residents to celebrate all things New Hampshire to show their 603 pride. 

It's not a state holiday; however, Governor Kelly Ayotte supports the tradition by encouraging residents to visit the state's tourist attractions and small businesses.

Why 603?

It's the telephone area code that represents the state of New Hampshire in the Eastern time zone, also known as America/New York.

Area code 603 is one of the longest area codes to cover the entire state without being split or overlaid in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). In October 1947, this area code was created as one of the original 86 numbering plan areas. 

Area code 603 vanity plate seen recently

That said, NH isn't the only state that can claim this distinction; however, it's one of four out of the total six New England states with a single area code.

Currently, 12 U.S. states have a single area code: Alaska (907), Delaware (302), Hawaii (808), Idaho (208), Maine (207), Montana (406), New Hampshire (603), North Dakota (701), Rhode Island (401), South Dakota (605), Vermont (802) and Wyoming (307). 

The two other New England States have multiple area codes, Massachusetts with 9 and Connecticut with 4 area codes.

Interestingly, the largest U.S. state, Alaska only has a single area code because of its sparse population and large geographical area. That made me curious as to which U.S. state(s) have the most area codes as of 2025.

Not surprisingly, those honors went to the second and third largest states: California (third largest) with 38; Texas (second largest) with 28 area codes 

What really surprised me was that the next two states with the most area codes are not even in the top 10 largest U.S. states.

Florida, the 22nd largest state has 23, followed by Ohio, the 34th largest state, with 15 area codes.

Ironically, the 2nd largest U.S. city, New York, has 5 area codes and the state of New York has 22 area codes overall.

In the 1990s, the number 1 was added before U.S. area codes and telephone numbers as the country code. This lets the telephone system correctly route calls whether within the same area code in the U.S. or internationally when the U.S. country code of +1 is used.

So now you know, all about 603 day, but there's more (of course).

How did area codes start?

Lily Tomlin as Ernestine

Before 1947, most telephone calls were made with the assistance of a central office operator. Callers would pick up their phone, wait for an operator to ask, number please, then give the desired number. The operator would manually connect the call through a switchboard by plugging cords into the appropriate outlets to establish a connection between the caller and the recipient. The central operator also acted as an emergency dispatcher. 

The role of a switchboard operator was famously re-enacted by actress Lily Tomlin in the 1970s Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In sequences as Ernestine. Who can forget herl her opening lines — one ringy dingy, two ringy dingys and A gracious good afternoon, is this the party to whom I am speaking?

In October 1947, Bell Labs (now AT&T, Inc. formerly American Telephone and Telegraph Company) developed the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) to simplify long-distance calling by allowing direct distance dialing (DDD) without operator assistance. The plan divided most of North America into 86 numbering plan areas (NPAs) and each was assigned a unique three-digit NPA code or area code. The new numbering plan included 152 area codes, each could serve up to 540 central offices. Originally, only 86 area codes were assigned. 

There's always a New Jersey connection

My home state of NJ received the first NPA code in the new system, which was area code 201. The fact that Bell Labs was headquartered in Murray Hill, NJ, might just have been a factor. The second area code of 202 was assigned to the District of Columbia. The allocation of area codes was readjusted as early as 1948 before implementation of the plan started. 

The first customer-dialed direct call using an area code was made November 10, 1951, from Englewood, NJ, to Alameda, CA. Soon afterwards, Direct distance dialing (DDD) was introduced countrywide. By the early 1960s, DDD had become commonplace in cities and most towns in the U.S. and Canada. By 1967, the number of assigned area codes had grown to 129. As of 2025, there are 335 assigned area codes nationwide.

Rotary dial phone

Rotary dial phones were introduced to the public in the early 1900s. The first commercial installation of a rotary dial system was in La Porte, IN, in 1892. The first standardized mass-produced dial telephone, the Western Electric model 50, appeared in 1919. From the 1920s to 1960s, rotary dial phones were used widely replaced in the 1960s to 1970s, by push-button or touch-tone phones, discontinued in the  1980s. The rotary phone shown here was identical to the one in my parents' home which came in a basic color, black.

Today, NJ, the 4th smallest U.S. state, now has 10 area codes, the same as the lrger states of GA, NC and VA.

And, now you know MORE about area codes, maybe not all, but some more. Also, Grenville, aka Patrick, is to “blame” for this post as he informed me that June 3 was 603 day in NH. 

Although I didn't include a video link to Ernestine, you can check many of her fun calls online (YouTube). It was a fun trip for me down memory lane and may be for you too.

Friday Funnies

May has gone by quickly and before it's gone, here's the final Friday Funnies of the month.

It's all about boots or at least some connections with the word. 

These shown below were made for walking, they were definitely not on the ground. I can't recall exactly where the photo was taken, but it was while we were stuck in traffic and this truck was next to our car.

Boots outside a truck window (never saw the person)

While, I could have just have included the photo, instead, I did some online sleuthing about how the word, boots, has been used in some common phrases, a song and film.

Boot refers to a military recruit originating in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, where recruits were trained in "boot camps" during the Spanish-American War and wore leggings or boots. (The U.S. Army uses the term Basic Combat Training (BCT) to train recruits called privates.)

Boots on the ground usually refers to the presence of military personnel in a combat zone. But, its most common usage is for individuals or teams physically present in a location and involved in a specific project. 

In the music world, These Boots Are Made for Walking is a 1966 hit song recorded by singer Nancy Sinatra and written by country singer and composer Lee Hazlewood. In it, a woman lets her boyfriend that she won't be pushed around. It reached No. 1 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK Singles Chart. Ironically, the title came from a line spoken by Nancy's father, Frank, in the 1963 comedy-western, 4 for Texas, which went: They tell me them boots ain't built for walkin'. Ironic, even if not exactly in the same context.

To die with your boots on often evokes images of soldiers dying in battle or cowboys killed in gun battles or hanged, which originated from 19th century frontier towns in the American West. It's also been used in various forms such as the 1941 film, They Died With Their Boots On, a fictionalized biography of General George Custer with the improbable choice of Australian-American actor Errol Flynn as Custer. 

Boot Hill is associated with cemeteries, especially in the American West as those who died violent deaths often buried with their boots on. 

To give someone the boot (UK informal) as in to remove someone or to be dismissed (fired) usually from a job. This could be the phrase most folks have used at one time or another. 

Here's a few more associations with the word — boot up (start a PC), car boot (trunk), boot sales (selling events), boot-cut (trousers type), boot tree (holds boots), Denver boot (wheel clamp), walking boot (medical device).

Please feel free to add some you know, as some folks already have done, thank you.

And, you are most welcome for my not including a link to Ms Sinatra's tune (not a favorite).

And, now, it's time to boot off (is that even a term?)

Four sculptors working in Nashua this week

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Closing ceremonies for Nashua International Sculpture Symposium on Saturday

Gâteau 🍋 de Mamie

This post title refers to a wonderful lemon cake, which translates to Granny Cake. The reason for the name will be explained in this post.

It's been a while since a recipe has been posted. It's not for lack of home cooking, which we do most days, rather for not taking photos during meal prep and then posting. Years ago, we posted recipes far more often.

Last week, I needed to find a quick recipe to bring a treat to our Friday dominoes game meet-up. Then, remembered seeing a lemon cake recipe in one of the Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten) cookbooks in my collection, The Barefoot Contessa at Home.

Ina Garten Lemon Yogurt Cake, Barefoot Contessa at Home (recipe below)

The cookbook didn't provide any history, however, I learned that the recipe is the same as a popular French recipe — Gâteau de Mamie, which translates to Granny Cake or French Grandmother's Lemon Cake. According to online sources, French grandmothers (and others) added yogurt to cakes for added moisture. Ingredients were measured using a glass yogurt jar (unlike in the U.S., yogurt in France comes in small glass jars). The cake ingredients were measured using the glass yogurt jar, which was about a half cup.

Thanks to David G for noting my previous grammatical error, explaining that Gâteau de Mamie (singular) means Grannie Cake, Gâteaux de Mamie means Grannie Cakes (plural). He also added, maybe it’s good to have more than one. I agree which is why this recipe will be made again, this time in a bundt cake pan.

Not only was this recipe very easy, but the result was a delicious lemon loaf which contains no butter, doesn't require use of a mixer, and was made using ingredients already in our pantry and refrigerator. The only change was that the recipe included two lemons, I only had one, yet the cake turned out very lemony. So, if a single large lemon is used, it could be enough. Also, don't be tempted to substitute butter for the oil, which keeps the cake light yet moist.

Lemon Yogurt Cake (Gâteaux de Mamie)

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
• 1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
• 3 extra-large eggs
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (olive oil also works)
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Glaze Topping

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 8½ x 4¼ x 2½-inch loaf pan. Line bottom with parchment paper. Grease and flour pan. (Alternately, you can use a 3-cup bundt pan or 6-8 inch round cake pan, cooking times will differ.)
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into one bowl.  In another bowl, whisk together yogurt, 1 cup sugar, eggs, lemon zest and vanilla.  Slowly whisk dry ingredients into wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold vegetable oil into batter, making sure it’s all incorporated, but do not overmix. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until cake tester placed in center of loaf comes out clean.
3. Meanwhile, cook 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in small pan until sugar dissolves. Set aside.
4. When cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan.  
5. Pour prepared glaze over cake while it's still warm allowing it to soak in.
6. Cool (if you can) before slicing and enjoying.

The glaze is optional, depending on personal preference. The cake is moist enough not to need anything else and traditionally is left unglazed. It can also be enjoyed with fresh berries and whipped cream.

Lemon Yogurt Cake from Barefoot Contessa at Home (Ina Garten)

This recipe is one that I will be making again very soon. That's because this one made last Friday morning was all gone by Saturday evening. There were no complaints from our Friday dominoes group or neighbors who enjoyed it. Grenville declared this recipe a keeper which you might well do too if you give it a try.

This past weekend, I attended a performance of Legally Blonde. by members of Actorsingers (not a typo), a community theater group started in 1955 in Nashua, NH. 

The performance was at the Keefe Auditorium (named for Edmund Keefe, longtime Nashua high school teacher, principal and superintendent of schools) is the largest auditorium in Nashua, NH, with double the seating capacity (1,500) than the downtown Nashua Center for the Arts. Built in 1936, it was part of Nashua High School. Later, when two new high schools opened, it became Elm Street Middle School, which closed in 2024. Maintaining and renovating this auditorium are central to any proposed redevelopment of the former school.

Edmund Keefe Auditorium Building, Nashua, NH

We are fortunate to be able to enjoy community theater and within walking distance. In addition to Actorsingers, there are two other community theater groups: The Nashua Theatre Guild and the Peacock Players, a youth theater group, both perform at the smaller Court Street Theater, a 150-seat venue, which originally housed a 1870 firehouse. 

If you ever have the opportunity to attend community theater performances, by all means, do go. While the performers are unpaid, it doesn't make them any less professional, which they certainly all were in last weekend's performance.

Going Slowly This Week

Internet source

That's what I've been doing this week, usually sitting down with my left leg elevated as much as possible.

What happened? Thanks for asking, but of course, I would have shared anyway.

The truth is that I'm not exactly sure but hoping that it is a possible muscle issue in that leg. This is the first time that I've experienced anything like this, so I have no thoughts on how. While there's no pain, an area to the side of my left knee is sensitive (tender) when pressed in one area.

The cause? Yet to be determined and, later today, I have an appointment with our medical professional, a nurse practitioner. After phoning for an appointment this week, the triage nurse recommended using an ice pack for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off and also to take ibuprofen.

Like myself, maybe you have been curious about this 20 on and 20 off regimen. If you are already knowledgeable, than read no further.

Why 20 minutes?

Applying ice for 20 minutes can reduce inflammation and pain by constricting blood vessels. It's important to allow at least 20-30 minutes between icings as longer is not necessarily better but can be detrimental. 

Too Much of a Good Thing ?

When it comes to icing an injury thinking that longer icing could be better is counterproductive and even harmful as it can lead to what's called reactive vasodilation. If you're not familiar with those words, me too. It refers to the widening of blood vessels, which can reverse the benefits of icing causing possible tissue damage or ice burns. Also, too much cold can restrict blood flow, potentially slowing down the healing process. 

What caused my discomfort?

Treadmills at Clocktower Place

I've used that term because I really am not sure what caused this knee issue.  It's possible that my over-attention fanaticism in making a daily step count was the cause, however unlikely that seems to me. 

Most days, it wasn't about completing 10,000 steps, more like 12-13,000 steps. More than half the steps were usually done using the treadmill or elliptical in the mill building's health club when the weather has been nasty. The in-house gym here is convenient on days when driving to a gym would be an excuse not to go; it takes under 4 minutes to walk there. And, as we live downtown, excursions to the library, post office and other places are always walked.

It's also possible to walk the apt hallways in the apartment building, the third or main floor is  an estimated 1/4 mile, end-to-end. Some residents walk it several times rather than using the gym facilities, which require a monthly $25 fee. 

Equipment in the Health Club facility at Clocktower Place

There are actually three equipment rooms/gyms in the health club here, as well as a pool, whirlpool, showers, changing rooms and sauna. It's unusual for a former mill building, not many area apartments offer have similar facilities.

Where did the 10,000 step-a-day standard originate ?

Couldn't locate an English version

I mentioned a 10,000 step routine, which most likely many of you know about. It's become the default for many walkers, myself included.

Did you know that its creation was partly due to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics? These games brought renewed focus on physical activity and healthy living. A Japanese research team led by Dr Yoshiro Hatano, professor at the Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, began to worry about the rise in obesity in Japan.

Enter the Yamasa company in Tokyo, Japan (internationally known as Yamax) which in 1965 created a pedometer called Manpo-kei which translates to the 10,000 steps meter believed to be the amount of physical activity sufficient to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease. 

The company used the slogan Let's walk 10,000 steps a day! as part of a marketing campaign. It soon became the mantra of Japanese walking clubs and Manpo-kei was the minimum they were expected to walk. In time, this concept spread to health conscious walkers worldwide. Essentially, the 10,000-step goal was based on marketing. Despite its start, the 10,000-step goal was adopted globally as people around the world adopted it as a fitness target. 

Is walking 10,000 steps a day helpful ?

The Manpo-kei concept is not a set requirement. Many recent studies including by Harvard Health have shown that even fewer steps can provide health benefits. Some studies have suggested that regularly walking just  4,000 to 6,000 steps a day can result in improved health. It's more important to set a target which meets individual needs for a person to commit to staying motivated for the long run. 

Currently, activity trackers, also known as fitness trackers on wearable technology and cell phones are the modern equivalent of pedometers. Most do far more than count steps. Activity trackers can determine how far you've traveled and the type of movement such as jogging or swimming.

Pedometers go way back

Early pedometer sketch by da Vinci

Surprisingly (to me) Leonardo da Vinci who has been credited with so many things is also credited with inventing the first mechanical step counter in the 15th century. It was worn at the waist, with a long lever arm tied to the thigh. When the thigh moved back and forth in walking, the gears rotated, activating gears to count the distance. 

Da Vinci envisioned this device as a tool for military purposes, specifically to track the distance covered by soldiers and aid in laying out encampments. While this pedometer design was never realized in his time, it represented an early conceptualization of a device that later evolved into the modern pedometer which still serve the same purpose of tracking steps and distance

In the 1700s, Thomas Jefferson commissioned a step counter made by one of the top Parisian watch-makers. Worn in a vest pocket, it had a lever arm which was tied to a string that passed through a hole in the bottom of the vest pocket. The other end of the string was tied to a strap below the knee, walking caused it to pull on a lever arm attached to gears. Back then, there were big issues than closing activity rings, so Jefferson wasn't posting his daily activity anywhere. Proof is difficult to obtain as Jefferson didn't apply for patents on any of his inventions and I couldn't locate an online image.

Abraham-Louis Perrelet

In 1777, Abraham-Louis Perrelet, a Swiss-born horologist (watchmaker) invented a self- winding mechanism for pocket watches that used an oscillating weight inside the watch that moved up-and-down during walking. 

Then, in 1780, he invented a self-contained pedometer that also used a spring-suspended lever arm to measure steps and distance while walking. His invention it was based on the mechanism he created to power a self-winding watch.

The Japanese model came many years later, Perrelet is widely credited with inventing the first working pedometer.

While 10,000 steps a day originated as an arbitrary number for marketing purposes, there's significant evidence that walking affects both physical and mental well being. 

Of course, the number of steps walked daily can vary depending on age, fitness level and overall health. A research review found that the risk of death was lowest in people who walked 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day if they were over the age of 60 and 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day if they were under age 60. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicated that women who averaged 4,400 steps per day had a 41% lower mortality rate than sedentary women. 

Certainly, everyone is different in their goals. The important thing is that people can get better at walking and even faster and just starting is what really matters.

Just don't overdue it, like me. Until my medical evaluation and diagnosis is completed, my walking is on pause, hopefully not for too long, update to follow.