The Yarn Spinner

  Train of Life                                                                                                  In the late stages of World War II, as the battle fronts were constantly shifting, the army   faced a dire situation with a high number of casualties and limited resources. Using a European   railway system became a crucial element in the evacuation and treatment of wounded soldiers. One particularly dramatic episode occurred in Europe during the winter of 1942. Army personnel   were operating a special hospital train that became known as the "Train of Life." This train was tasked with treating and transporting wounded soldiers from the front lines. The winter was harsh, and snow covered tracks hampered progress. Staff aboard the "Train of Life" worked tirelessly to stabilize the wounded and treat severely injured soldiers in sometimes slow-moving   jostling railroad carriages. Then matters became worse. During one particularly critical evacuation

  Goodbye Mister Potato Head                                                            Twentieth century toys were analogue, using mechanical or simple physical methods to operate.   Toys like wind-up dolls, tops, Lincoln Logs , wooden trains, and simple board games, all functioned without the sophisticated digital display common today. None were more classic than Mister Potato Head. The original version of the toy consisted of various plastic facial features and accessories that kids   could attach to an actual potato allowing them to create their own whimsical characters. It was a very simple toy. Too simple perhaps. In 2020, toy maker Hasbro, Inc., located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island,   “ Made a significant change to the brand's name for a more inclusive and modern approach. The company introduced a new line called "Potato Head" as part of a broader effort to move away from gender-specific branding and to be more inclusive. The rebranding allowed for greater f

  Bottles and his brother Al                                                                                      Al rushed his wife Mae to St. Bernard hospital; he suspected food poisoning because of the   milk she poured into her   breakfast cereal. It was spoiled; she didn’t know.   He   was angry and Al was the one guy in Chicago you didn’t want mad at you. But he realized it was nobody’s fault. Milk at the time was not marked with an expiration date and there were no controls on milk production or distribution. When milk expires, bacteria begin to multiply making consumption unsafe, but it is not readily apparent. Souring, curdling or color change come later. Al decided he was going to do something about the situation and he and his brother Ralph championed the “cause”   ultimately becoming responsible for the expiration date on the half gallon of Skim, 2%, Whole, Chocolate, Filtered or White milk in your ‘fridge” today and more.   Al was Alphonse Capone, and the expired

                                                      The Barber of Seville                                                                The Barber of Seville is a comic opera by Gioachino Rossini, based on the play by Pierre Beaumarchais. Premiered in 1816, it is one of the most famous and frequently performed operas in the world. The story is set in Seville, Spain, and follows the clever barber Figaro as he helps Count Almaviva win the heart of the beautiful Rosina, who is kept under tight watch by her guardian, Dr. Bartolo, who also has his   eyes on her. The opera is known for its lively overture, memorable arias, and engaging plot full of disguises, schemes, and humorous twists. You might wonder why the playwright and Rossini chose the clever Figaro to be characterized as a barber. The inspiration came from a barber shop in France. French Barbershops were popular social hubs where people not only went for haircuts and shaves but also gathered to interact, talk   and excha

  Whale of a Tale   “Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads. A whale of a tale or two 'Bout the flappin' fish and the girls I've loved. On nights like this with the moon above A whale of a tale and it's all true I swear by my tattoo.” *   *Ned Land, a.k.a. Kirk Douglas   Ned Land is a sailor and master harpooner and one of the main characters in Disney 's 1954 hit film, “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas.” He is also notable for singing "A Whale of a Tale", the only song in the film. There is no record of Rowland’s ability to belt out a tune, but in other ways he could have easily surpassed Land’s character in Disney's 1954 adaptation of Jules Verne’s novel. Ned Land is portrayed as a rugged and charismatic harpooner-   strong, adventurous, and somewhat rebellious..   Rowland   was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts. At age 15, he started working on   whaling ships. During the early 19th century whale hunting was   very d

  Bluetooth and Gorm the Old   The primary goal of Bluetooth technology was to create a standard for wireless communication that would allow devices to connect and exchange data over short distances without the need for cables. Innovation: Bluetooth was designed to facilitate seamless communication between a wide range of devices, including computers, phones, headsets, and other peripherals, creating a universal wireless communication standard   But why the name "Bluetooth"?   To answer that question, we have to go back, far back in history to the 10 th Century and meet Gorm the Old. Old maybe, but Gorm was a significant figure, known for his own Viking exploits. Gorm ruled over Denmark during this century and helped lay a foundation for the Danish kingdom. His reign is significant for setting the stage for the unification efforts conducted by his son, Harald who (what do you know) became the became King Harald Gormsson. No doubt the name Harald Gormsson was not