BY JOURNAL TIMES STAFF | Posted: Saturday, May 10, 2008 12:00 am
Here are some questions with which we want your help. Contact us if you have information to share.
Do you know where I can buy plain canvas grocery bags in Racine? I have found them online, but would rather purchase them from a local retailer.
How can you soften licorice after it gets hard - the little bite-sized bits and the ropes or strings?
Do you know where I can get a Hein-Warner floor jack fixed? I broke the handle and want it to work better than it does.
Where can I get a hole in a tweed sport coat fixed? I put my pipe in the pocket and burned a small hole in the jacket.
How do you keep squirrels from chewing on plastic garbage cans? I don't want to go to metal because they tend to get bent.
Does a vegetable or group of vegetables about to be boiled need to be washed?
What can you do with old greeting cards? Does anyone want them for any craft projects?
Where can I get a rock checked to see if it's a meteor, and where can I find out how much it is worth?
Is anyone in Racine holding a cell phone drive right now? I have several I need to get rid of.
What other states besides Wisconsin have a Racine and Kenosha?
We originally answered this question in the April 26 edition of GYA.
In addition to Wisconsin, Racine's are found in Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and West Virginia.
We've since heard from readers who claim there's a Racine in both Georgia and Arizona.
What does the term "flea market" mean? Why is it called a "flea market?"
Well, the origin is French.
The term might descend from March Aux Puces, a large, outdoor bazaar in Paris. This original market might have earned its name from critter-infested goods it was rumored to sell.
Another theory alleges the term came to be at a time when Paris' slums and alleys were replaced by new construction. Second-hand goods dealers who lived and worked in these neighborhoods were forced to flee and the merchants' new meeting place was known as the flea market.
Another idea believes the term derives from the Fly Market, common in 18th century New York City. Apparently, the Dutch name for the market was vlie, which means valley but is pronounced "flea."
What is the origin of animal crackers?
Jennifer Frey of the Washington Post wrote a story about the history of animal crackers in 2002 when the delightful confection celebrated its 100th birthday.
Surprisingly, P.T. Barnum was not directly involved in the crackers that bear his famous name. Stauffer's and Barnum's, made by Nabisco, are the two most purchased brands of animal crackers.
In 1889, Barnum decided to tour England with his famous circus. The English already enjoyed a snack called animal biscuits. In an inspired bit of marketing, several companies manufactured animal biscuits with circus packaging and called them Barnum's.
The product migrated across the Atlantic by the turn of the century. The National Biscuit Co., Nabisco's forerunner, put them on store shelves nationwide in 1902.
Originally known as "Barnum's Animals," they became Barnum's "Animal Crackers" in 1948.
The box that looks like a circus wagon is the real draw. National Biscuit execs devised the box as part of a Christmas promotion. The box's design featured a string so it could hang from a Christmas tree.
In total, there have been 37 different animals featured as animal crackers since 1902. The current crackers are tiger, cougar, camel, rhinoceros, kangaroo, hippopotamus, bison, lion, hyena, zebra, elephant, sheep, bear, gorilla, monkey, seal and giraffe.
What is Glad You Asked?
GYA seeks answers to your questions. Have a question? Call us at (262) 631-1758 or send us an e-mail at: ask@journaltimes.com