20 Years of Anti-Depression - December 28, 2007

It's hard to believe there was ever a time when Americans were incapable of overcoming depression without the aid of chemistry. Such a time there was, though, and it was only as recently as 1951 that it became medically possible to relieve the otherwise-crippling effects of depression. Drug companies weren't as savvy then as they are now (it was estimated that fewer than 100 Americans in a million would benefit from anti-depressants), so such drugs as Isoniazid, iproniazid, and Imipramine were more or less ignored. In 1987, however, the good people at Eli Lilly finally saw the benefits (and marketing potential) of Fluoxetine hydrochloride, and on December 29 of that year, began selling it under the trade name of Prozac. While Prozac had some minor side effects -- headaches, fever, insomnia, and homicidal rages among them -- millions of people (over 20 million in 2006) have been able to lead productive lives over the last two decades thanks to a little green and white capsule filled with C17 H18 F3 NO. Suggested Sites... Prozac.com - official site of Fluoxetine, with news and information on Prozac and other anti-depressants. Yahoo! Health: Fluoxetine - pharmaceutical information about Prozac. Eli Lilly and Company - Prozac's parent company. Mayo Clinic: Prozac - precautions, proper use, and side effects. Wikipedia: Antidepressant - a history of treatments for depression.

Plant a Tree -- Save the World - December 28, 2009

 

Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai made her mark with a simple but effective idea: Plant trees to stop erosion and restore the ecology in Kenya. In 1977, she started the Green Belt Movement, which is credited with planting 30 million trees.

The movement brought poverty-stricken Kenyans together to replenish natural resources as a means to boost the local economy. But Professor Maathai, aka "The Tree Woman," hasn't topped there. Now, she's tackling global warming. How? Yup, you guessed it: Plant more trees! Why? Carbon dioxide, the major culprit of global warming, is readily consumed by trees.

Because of rapid worldwide deforestation, we can no longer depend on natural forests to take care of our global surplus of CO2. Replacing dwindling forests not only helps to prevent climate change, but also beautifies our expanding cityscapes. So, join Maathai in her venture, the United Nation's Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, and go plant your tree of choice -- for Earth's sake.

Suggested Sites...

• United Nations Environmental Program: The Billion Tree Campaign - hoping to plant at least seven billion trees. Can you help?
• The Green Belt Movement - much more than just planting trees.
• National Geographic News: Global Warming Fast Facts - pictures presenting the consequences of climate change.
• Union of Concerned Scientists: Global Warming FAQ - direct answers to common global warming questions.
• The Global Warning Hoax - of course, not everyone believes we're in trouble.

Haven't We Seen This Fruitcake Before? - December 25, 2009

 

Poor fruitcakes! Once considered decadent winter delicacies, they have become the butt of cruel jokes about doorstops and paperweights. Critics mock their famous longevity and density. Each year, countless unappreciated loaves are even re-gifted or viciously tossed away.

Some speculate that the endless ridicule of comedians is to blame for the fruitcake's brick-like fall from grace, but many suspect a decline in the quality of the cakes themselves. For hundreds of years, fruitcakes were tasty concoctions packed full of rich dried fruits, nuts, and spices -- and an important (and liberal) dose of brandy or whisky. Mass-produced commercial versions left out the booze and the spices and replaced the dried fruit with a candied variety -- super-sweetened bits of garish and artificial goo. Sadly, most fruitcakes that modern consumers encounter are sad, dry, teetotal bricks containing nothing that still resembles actual fruit.

Luckily for lovers of holiday desserts, brave chefs are reinventing fruitcake for the 21st century with innovative (and more natural) ingredients and presentation. That's right: Fruitcake is making a comeback -- and this time, it's edible!

This year, if you're offered a slice and it looks dark and moist and rich -- not pale and dry and artificial -- overcome your fruitcake fears and try a bite! You might be pleasantly surprised... and if you still hate it, at least you'll have new fodder for fruitcake jokes.

Suggested Sites...

• Christmas Recipe Index: Fruitcakes - a variety of fruity, tantalizing treats.
• Fruitcakes - recipes and tips for making fruitcakes that are not just palatable, but delicious.
• cdkitchen: Fruitcake Recipes - features both traditional and unusual recipes, including beer fruitcake and sourdough fruitcake.
• Recipes for Christmas Cakes - with or without fruit, these confections will put some cheer into the holiday season.
• Society for the Protection and Preservation of Fruitcake - learn to love the fruitcake.

Is It Festivus Already? - December 23, 2008 and 2009

 

In the "Seinfeld" episode "The Strike," a new holiday was introduced to Grinches around the globe: Festivus.

On the show, which originally aired on December 18, 1997, George Costanza's ever-so-angry father Frank devised the holiday for his own family, after being let down by the commercial madness of Christmas. "A Festivus for the rest of us!," he proclaimed. In real life, the bizarre celebration was actually invented by Daniel O'Keefe, Sr., the father of Dan O'Keefe, who wrote this "Seinfeld" episode.

According to Frank Costanza, Festivus is held annually on December 23. To decorate for Festivus, you need nothing more than a plain aluminum pole. Yup. A pole. For dinner, your favorite comfort food is welcome -- except ham or any cooked bird. During the meal, guests can express their deepest disappointments towards one another in The Airing of Grievances. (And, seriously, how many times have you wanted to tell that uncle of yours to eat with his mouth closed?) Rounding out the festivities are The Feats of Strength. Once the head of the family has been pinned by a challenger of his or her choice, Festivus is officially over.

Happy Festivus, everyone!

Suggested Sites...

• FestivusWeb.com - proof that people besides the characters on "Seinfeld" celebrate the holiday.
• YouTube: The Story of Festivus - watch the Festivus clips from the "Seinfeld" episode.
• Wikipedia: Festivus - details about Frank Costanza's holiday, including Festivus miracles.
• Seinfeld - The Strike - full recap of the episode in which Festivus was introduced, including quotes and trivia.
• Festivus: A Web Site for the Rest of Us - official site of Allen Salkin's book on Festivus.

To Egg or Not to Nog - December 23, 2008

For some, the holidays wouldn't be complete without its frothy smoothness. For others, it ranks right up there with fruitcake as Christmas' most unappetizing treat. I'm speaking of egg nog and, today, appropriately enough, in addition to being Christmas Eve, is also National Egg Nog Day.

What is egg nog exactly? Varieties are myriad but the basic recipe remains the same. Eggs beaten with sugar, milk or cream, and usually some kind of spirit make up the base, while creative chefs think "outside of the blender" to transform the classic nog with additions like coconut, chocolate, or banana. There are even vegan varieties for those with an aversion to eggs. Considering the ingredients, it's pretty obvious that egg nog is not a diet-friendly beverage. In fact, studies suggest that nog contains around 230 calories per ½ cup - and that's before the addition of rum or brandy.

Now, I don't claim to have a terribly sophisticated palette, but I'm of the camp who believes egg nog to be a fairly disgusting brew. I find the consistency about as pleasant as chilled phlegm and not even the most liberal shot of bourbon can mask that cloying clot that clogs the throat. It's about as appetizing as a hot buttered rum, another completely confounding holiday cocktail. Christmas or not, I say you can keep your egg nog. Still I suppose it's Scrooge-like of me to trash egg nog on this, the day "nogheads" everywhere rejoice in its supposed splendor. As for me, I know just what I'll do with my serving.

Suggested Sites...

• Egg Nog World - features egg nog recipes from around the world.
• The History of Egg Nog - trace egg nog back to the seventeenth century as a beverage used to toast one's health.
• MDA: Egg Nog Preparation Tips - find tips and tricks from the Midwest Dairy Association.
• EggNogRecipe.net - collection of egg nog recipes handed down from family and friends.
• YouTube.com:
  Traditional Eggnog Recipe - Expert Village provides a video tutorial to make traditional egg nog from scratch.

Doomsday -- Minus Three/Four Years - December 22, 2008 and 2009

Long ago, the Maya began carving what is now known as the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar onto stone monuments. Unlike our repeating calendar, this Mayan calendar covered more than 5,000 years, with a beginning, August 11, 3114 BC, and an end: December 21, 2012.

So, what happens then? Because 12-21-12 may coincide with a possible alignment of the earth and the Milky Way's center, some predict a catastrophic reversal of the earth's polarity. Maya researcher John Major Jenkins argues that this pole reversal will actually result in a shifting of the collective psyche, or "a moment in which the human spirit can emerge from unconscious patterns and blossom." In "The Bible Code," Michael Drosnin predicts an apocalypse in 2012 -- but Drosnin's calamitous predictions for 2000 and 2006 didn't exactly go according to plan.

One thing that is certain is humanity's tendency toward mass paranoia and hysteria -- and we're not saying that's always a bad thing. We listened to Art Bell back in the day, we love Graham Hancock, and we can't wait for Michael Bay to CG our brains out in "2012: The War for Souls." A good dose of the-end-is-nigh paranoia can inspire great drama and creativity. And if 2012 doesn't work out as planned, we can still get excited about Asteroid Aphosis in 2036.

Suggested Sites...

• The Maya Calendar - information on the Maya Calendar from the Maya World Studies Center in Yucatan, Mexico.
• Meta-Religion: Popol Vuh - translation of Popol Vuh, the Mayan creation myth.
• 13-Moon Natural Time Calendar - a new take on the Mayan calendar from major new-age player, Dr. Jose Arguelles.
• December 21, 2012 - the "official" 2012 website. Includes news, merchandise for sale, and a 2012 Believers list.
• Survive 2012 Forum - discussion board with survival tips, 2012 news, various theories, gatherings, events, new age transformations, and more.

These Are a Few of Our Favorite Sparks - December 21, 2010

 

Since February of 2005, The Spark has (mostly) been here five days a week, bringing you, our thousands of loyal readers, the odd, the unusual, and the just plain interesting.

Over fifty Yahoo!s, past and present, have offered their expertise to entertain and enlighten you.

We asked some of those writers to stroll down memory lane and mention some of their favorite Sparks of years past.

Mitzi: I'm partial to "Smile! You're on Candid Camera," because I used to love the show as a kid and it's kind of a forerunner of reality shows. "Burns Night" was my first crack at writing a poem for The Spark, and "The Cottingley Fairies" -- just because I love fairies.

Amy: I enjoyed the hunt: Digging about on the Internet looking for quirky, engaging content about something of interest to me. There was always something new to be learned -- and usually a moment (moments) of incredulity. I got to write about things I legitimately cared about ("Wheelin' to Work") as well as things I just found flat-out amusing (and which allowed for a bit of childish humor), like "Happy __________ Month." What can I say? The Spark was fun, attracted a special (cool, radicular) group of people, and gave me a chance to get published by a major Internet company. Not too shabby, eh?

Liz G.: I've enjoyed writing about odd and obscure stuff. I never would have guessed I'd have an excuse to write about balloon animals, nudity, shaving, or even fertility in Russia -- for work! The Spark has also allowed me to champion causes, and to learn a thing or two. It's been a blast.

Mike: As an original member of the On the Web/The Spark team, and the first and longtime image editor, I have seen this little engine grow and change in every way. But the best thing about working on The Spark is that I developed some halfway decent writing skills. I produced a few pieces that I'm fairly fond of (and also had a blast researching and writing) such as: my "TV Themes" piece (not to mention its two sequels), Superhero Fashion, a "Big Lebowski" piece (as The Dude), My Favorite Christmas Things, even the Olsen Twins (which a fellow Spark writer never let me live down), and one of my early pieces, the wonderful Wilhelm Scream -- the sound that I will never forget or miss in a movie, as it now stands out like Keanu Reeves' bad acting. I have also enjoyed several of my colleagues' pieces as well, but I'd rather just talk about me. ;-)

Heather S.: It's been a fun year and a half writing for The Spark. Although I've written about some rather unusual topics, my favorite article has to be the one about food porn. It might have been all those highly enticing photos of gourmet meals, or the fact that I was really hungry while I was writing it, but it was a great deal of fun to write. All hail The Spark!

Michelle: The Spark let me (get paid to) research micronations, chest hair fashion, sleeveface, buzzards, and lolcats. I got to write about things near and dear to me, like procrastination, board games, accordions, roller skating, treasure hunts, swearing, and hating clowns. I spent a surprising amount of time writing about fruitcakes, pirates, Halloween, and crafts, and I got to stir up arguments about caffeine, waiting tables, and vegetarian Thanksgiving meals. I wrote and punctuated badly, using fake words, and sometimes in verse. Everyone should have this much fun at work! Goodbye, Spark, old buddy.

Adrienne: Though it has been many years since I contributed to The Spark, there are still some stories that I love to follow: the search for extraterrestrial life, science catching up to our imaginations, and finding new ways to explore our solar system.

Dave: There are probably too many pieces to mention. I was particularly fond of the Tarzan piece and the Spark written entirely in limerick form, and I was more than happy to recap my appearance on Jeopardy. I was always good for snark, and was really proud when I was accused of being un-American for slamming the odious Miley Cyrus, but I also took potshots at the "Batman" TV show, toy safety, and the whole town of Branson, Missouri. I could also mention the Tunguska Event, the 1918 Flu Epidemic, failed assassins, the peccadilloes of Supreme Court justices, and the history of bananas, but I think I'll go with Godzilla and my salute to Vin Scully as my legacy pieces.

Speaking personally, I'd like to thank everyone who contributed over the last half-decade, the writers and editors (particularly Lisa, Heather, and Michelle), and also all the folks who (unknowingly) lent us links and images. We couldn't have done it without them.

Most of all, I'd like to thank you, our loyal readers, for sticking with us and giving us the chance to share a few minutes of cool stuff with you every day.

Suggested Sites...

• The Spark of Yahoo! - five years of bringing you things you didn't know you wanted to know about.
• The Spark Writers - the people who brought you The Spark.
• The Spark: "Clip Show" - the day we changed our name from "On the Web" to "The Spark."
• You Tube: "So Long, Farewell" - the Von Trapps say it all for us.