The LuLac Edition #3765, April 24th, 2108

MAYBE I’M AMAZED

Our Maybe I’m Amazed” logo.

MAYBE I'M AMAZED .....that more than half of the world’s geysers are found in Yellowstone National Park.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…that New York City appears to be one of the most religious ones in the world. Also in terms of language, it leads the way too. The 8.4 million inhabitants communicate in some 800 different languages across the five boroughs – the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. 83% of New Yorkers are affiliated to some organized religion.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that in those iconic James Bond movies, Bond has 23 vodka martinis, 6 of which he orders himself but two of those he never receives. The rest are prepared and brought to him. Most surprisingly, in his 7 appearances as Bond, Sean Connery utters the phrase “shaken, not stirred” only once, in Goldfinger. In Fleming’s novels, Bond drinks gin martinis instead of vodka martinis.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……..that the all time selling duo of country music is not Johnny and June Carter Cash, is not Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers but Brooks and Dunn. They retired a few years ago but because of popular demand have come back more than a few times.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..but really not that the late First Lady Barbara Bush corresponded with a youngster who named her heffer after her. She wrote back and forth on the updates provided by the child. That’s was being real and very, very classy.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that Pope Benedict XVIth turned 91 and is still around five years after retiring. Benedict in my estimation had a very tough act to follow. Keep in mind he succeeded Pope John Paul II after a 27 year reign by the Polish Pontiff. 

Benedict served the Papacy well by knowing enough to step aside when he knew his age might be a detriment to church leadership. Many even question why he was picked. Well in my view he was a transition Pope. The thought was by picking a 78 year old Cardinal, the conclave hoped to have him serve as a bridge from John Paul II to Benedict’s successor. History will show that Benedict’s brief reign served as that bridge that was intended all along.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that there are 656 morsels in that 12 ounce bag of Nestle Morsels. And no I didn’t count them.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…continuing on the chocolate vein here, is that the original recipe for chocolate called for chili powder instead of granulated sugar.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that as I enjoy those new flavored Diet Cokes, Orange, Cherry, Lime Ginger and Mango, I’m getting concerned because I see them on sale in cans at the price of 4 for a buck. As I told the checkout guy at Price Chopper, the last time I got a Coke for a quarter was when I was in high school. Anyway, here’s one of my favorite ads for this product.

Love that woman!
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that the key thing many people are ignoring in the North Korean Dictator’s statement about nuclear weapons is Kim saying that he will stop extending his program. But what about the ones he still has? While this is a step in the right direction, let’s hope the President doesn’t give away the store for a quick win in the face of the overwhelming odds that our American President may not serve out this term.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that the first popsicle cane about in 1905 because of an 11 year old boy. Young Frank Epperson didn’t set out to create a treat that would keep kids happy and cool on summer days for generations to come. He mixed some soda powder and water in a glass with a small wooden stirrer, then adventure called and he wandered off and forgot about his drink. It remained outside overnight. It was cold in the San Francisco Bay area that night.
When Epperson went outside the next morning, he discovered the first-ever Popsicle waiting for him, trapped frozen inside its glass. He ran the glass under hot water and was able to pull the icy treat out using the stirrer. He licked the frozen treat off the stirrer and decided it was pretty good. History was made and an entrepreneur was born. Epperson named the treat an Epsicle, taking credit where it was due, and began selling them around the neighborhood.
Beyond the Neighborhood
Fast-forward 18 years to 1923. Epperson saw a bigger and better future for his Epsicle and he applied for a patent for his "frozen ice on a stick.” He described the treat as a “frozen confection of attractive appearance, which can be conveniently consumed without contamination by contact with the hand and without the need for a plate, spoon, fork or other implement.” Epperson recommended birch, poplar or wood-bass for the stick.
Now a grown man with children of his own, Epperson deferred to their judgment and renamed the treat Popsicle, as in “Pop’s Sickle.” He moved beyond the neighborhood and began selling his Popsicles at a California amusement park. He was later bought out by Lowe's who put the popsicles together and there you go. 
As a kid growing up, my favorite popsicle came from Charlie's, a place out of Erie Avenue in West Pittston that had these incredible raspberry creamsicles with vanilla ice cream.  It was owned by the Simalchick Family. That was long ago but now my go to is Outshine. Grape and Lime.
(Thought.com, Lulac)