An eclectic blend of a conversational Coffee Klatch with a sense of wonder, discovery, and intellectual playfulness, much like the historical Cabinets of Curiosities that housed rare artifacts, oddities, and treasures.
In this weekly miscellany, each issue opens a drawer to reveal something fascinating, funny, or thought-provoking. It’s part archive, part adventure!
Cabinet Drawer of the Week
The sport of Bowling normally refers to ten-pin. Ten-pin bowling has 10 pins in a triangle and a large ball with finger holes. It is commonly played in the United States. Here are some other variations.
Ten pins that are almost cylindrical
Tallest pins and smallest ball (no finger holes)
Three balls per frame
The fallen pins are not removed until the frame is complete.
Ten pins in a triangle like standard bowling, but shorter and lighter
Smaller ball (no finger holes)
Three balls per frame
Also called Kegel or Kegeln
Nine pins in a diamond
Extra points if the center pin, the kingpin, is the only one left standing
The lanes are irregularly shaped and a full game is 30 throws on each of four different lanes
Played mainly in Europe
In between Duckpin and Standard for pin and ball sizes
Five pins arranged in a V
Heavy rubber band around the pins
Pins have different point values
Mostly played in Canada
Word to the Wise
Tickety-boo – (,tick-eh-tee-‘boo) adj. used in the UK, informal for “correct”, “satisfactory”, or “okay”
Thoughts from the Nook
The National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) is the official network of federally designated wilderness areas in the United States, established by the Wilderness Act of 1964. As of 2023, the system comprised 806 wilderness areas totaling approximately 111.9 million acres across 44 states and Puerto Rico, representing about 4.5% of the nation’s land area.
The official definition of a wilderness area in the United States, established by that Wilderness Act of 1964, is an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. These areas must be undeveloped federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, and must be protected and managed to preserve their natural conditions.
These areas are managed by four federal agencies:
National Park Service: Manages the largest acreage (approx. 43.9 million acres).
U.S. Forest Service: Manages 448 wilderness units totaling about 36 million acres.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Manages over 20 million acres, primarily within the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Bureau of Land Management: Manages 263 wilderness areas and over 10 million acres in western states and Alaska.
Map of Wilderness Areas in the US
Trivia Espresso Shot
Fireworks that use gunpowder were invented between 600 and 900 CE in China, and were originally made from bamboo or from paper tubes. It wasn’t until the 13th century that Italian artisans brought them to Europe.
In the 19th century, they began adding magnesium and aluminum to make the colors brighter and adding other chemicals to customize the colors.
The first notable light show using drones was in 2012 by a French art collective called Marshmallow Laser Feast.
Reference Desk
Strombolis and calzones are very similar, but there are some definite differences. (and “strombolis” is the proper plural)
Calzones generally have ricotta cheese, sometimes meat, and no sauce. The dough is generally a circle folded in half.
Strombolis are more like a pizza inside, including tomato sauce. The dough is generally a rectangle rolled into a log.
Calzones originated in Naples, Italy, as a handheld street food. Strombolis are an Italian-American creation that originated in South Philadelphia in the mid-20th century. A stromboli is also generally larger and sliced to share, while a calzone is handheld.
Dad Joke Cupboard
COO is an abbreviation for Chief Operating Officer. Operation of what, PIGEONS??
Composer Corner
Niels Gade was probably the most famous Danish composer of his day. He was active during the Danish Golden Age, roughly 1800-1850.
Born in Copenhagen in 1817, he was mostly self-taught, learning composition while serving as a violinist with the Royal Danish Orchestra and then teaching and conducting at the Leipzig Conservatory. His friendship with Felix Mendelssohn also shaped his musical compositions.
Among Gade’s works are eight symphonies, a violin concerto, chamber music, organ and piano pieces, and a few large-scale cantatas, including Comala (1846) and Elverskud (1853), which he called “concert pieces” (koncertstykker). These pieces, embraced post-1848 as works of Romantic nationalism, are sometimes based on Danish folklore.
Symphony #1 | Elverskud | Violin Concerto in D Minor | Akvareller | Echoes of Ossian
Food Holidays This Week
Sun, Jul 5 – National Apple Turnover Day, National Graham Cracker Day
Mon, Jul 6 – National Fried Chicken Day
Tue, Jul 7 – World Chocolate Day, National Strawberry Sundae Day, National Macaroni Day
Wed, Jul 8 – National Milk Chocolate With Almonds Day, National Freezer Pop Day
Thu, Jul 9 – National Chicken Day, National Sugar Cookie Day
Fri, Jul 10 – National Piña Colada Day, Pick Blueberries Day
Sat, Jul 11 – World Rum Day, National Mojito Day, National Rainier Cherries Day, National Blueberry Muffin Day, Slurpee Day
Sun, Jul 12 – National Pecan Pie Day, Eat Your Jello Day, Michelada Day
Puzzle Pause
I always have a jigsaw puzzle going at home. Here’s a photo of the current state of my current puzzle.
Recipe Card
Fried Battered Cheese Curds
You can make cheese curds from scratch, but this recipe uses fresh premade cheese. You can also make breaded cheese curds by rolling them in flour, then an egg & milk bath, then seasoned breadcrumbs or more flour.
Ingredients
2 lbs fresh cheddar or white cheddar cheese curds (check the deli section of your grocery store)
1 ½ cups buttermilk (or beer)
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp garlic salt
1 large egg, room temperature
1 ½ cups vegetable oil
Directions
You can freeze the cheese curds for 20-30 minutes before frying to help them keep their shape.
Heat oil to 375 °F. Use a thermometer to continually monitor the heat of the oil.
Whisk together buttermilk, flour, baking soda, garlic salt, and egg until smooth.
Coat 8-10 cheese curds with batter.
One at a time, add the batter covered cheese curds into the oil. Cook for several seconds, until golden brown and then remove and drain on a paper towel. Repeat with remaining cheese curds.
Voting Brackets
Our current voting topic is Favorite Iconic Chicago Foods! We’re in Round Two and the third round starts on Monday. The four divisions are:
Classic Chicago
Sandwiches & Street Foods
Pizza & Italian-Influenced Foods
Sweets, Snacks, & Misc.
Our Voting Brackets are open to anyone in the world, and we have a website for it: https://votingbrackets.com/. New rounds begin every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
We have completed more than 160 brackets over the last 7.5 years. Here is a full list of all the results back to the beginning.
The Pfunny Page
Librarians frequently go to conferences. This comic is a reference to that, with an invite to visit their booth. 😁
Marginalia
“That rug really tied the room together.”
– Jeff Bridges as The Dude in The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Index
Today’s curated list: The Top 10 Edgar Allen Poe Writings
My list of the Top 100 Favorite Edgar Allen Poe Writings
What are your favorite Poe writings? Feel free to leave a comment.
Next Time in the Klatch
Cheesecake Variations
Until next time, stay curious!