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14

Dec

Aha Moment Maker: Word Magic

by Your friends at OIC on December 14, 2013

Abracadabra

ANCIENT ROME—Today, “abracadabra” is a word we instantly recognize and associate with magicians and magic tricks. However, the history of this unique word is as much medical, as it is magical.

Abracadambra TriangleThe first recorded use of he word “abracadabra” was in a Latin medical poem by the Roman physician Quintus Serenus Sammonicus in the 2nd Century AD. His prescription for those with malaria or fever was to wear an amulet around their neck with “abracadabra” written in the form of a triangle. The contention was that this “formula” would funnel the sickness out of the body.

It is widely believed that the word existed prior to Sammonicus putting his “cure” in writing, and there are multiple theories on its true origin. What can be said for sure is that well into the 17th Century, the word “abracadabra” continued to belong to the medical community, and presumably rabbits had to find their own way out of hats.

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07

Dec

Aha Moment Maker: Where’d You Get Those Jeans?

by Your friends at OIC on December 7, 2013

Jeans2

EUROPE, 1650—It’s hard to think of something more “American” than a good old pair of blue jeans. As it happens, historians have long argued the origin of the iconic trousers, and America might not even have a leg to stand on in the debate!

The French make their case with a sturdy fabric that originated in the 17th century in Nimes, France. Pants made from the fabric “serge de Nimes” were favored by plantation workers for their durability. Since fabrics at that time were commonly named for their place of origin, it became known as “de Nimes,” which is widely considered the source of the word “denim.”

Around the same time in Genoa, Italy, they developed a thick, durable twill cloth popular with sailors for its toughness. Named for Genoa, or “Genes” in French, we know it today as “jeans” in English.

The Italians’ claim was boosted early this century by art historians, who believe they discovered the first depiction of blue jeans in 17th Century Italian paintings. The unknown artist’s blue tint of the fabric was even painted with the exact same indigo used to dye today’s denim.

Of course, none of this stops Levi Strauss & Co. from claiming that it is the true creator of the world’s first blue jeans. The company patented blue jeans in 1873 and contends that the lack of clear written historical records render the other claims a matter of opinion.

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30

Nov

Aha Moment Maker: Who’s in Charge?

by Your friends at OIC on November 30, 2013

Politician

WASHINGTON D.C., 1849—America was preparing to inaugurate its 12th President, Zachary Taylor, who had been elected to take over for James K. Polk. At that time, Presidential terms began and expired at noon on March 4. However, this particular March 4 happened to be a Sunday, and the religious Taylor insisted that he instead be sworn in on Monday.

The resulting 24-hour gap has led many to wonder, who was the President of the United States from noon on March 4, 1849, until noon on March 5, 1849?

If you happen by his statue outside of the Clinton County Courthouse in Plattsburg, Missouri, or by his gravestone just a mile away, you might be inclined to think the answer is David Rice Atchison. Both monuments identify Atchison, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1843 to 1855, as “President of the United States for one day.”

Atchison was president pro tempore of the Senate, the position next in the line of succession after the President and Vice President. It stood to reason that with the terms of Polk and his VP having expired, and Taylor and his VP not having yet taken the oath, that Atchison indeed had his day!

The official view is that Taylor’s decision to delay the public inauguration didn’t actually delay his presidency. Atchison, however, enjoyed making his claim and recounting the story for the remainder of his life. He was known to admit that he slept through the majority of his “presidency,” and state that his was “the honestest administration this country ever had.”

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