The Ice Cream Man

When I was a child in the 50s, no matter what you were doing, the familiar sound of the "ice cream man" caused pandemonium as we scurried to find money (or beg Mom) to buy a Popsicle or Fudgesicle. You could hear him from two blocks away.

Some of the early ice cream men pedaled bicycle carts and some had trucks. Either way, you knew who it was by their particular ring or sound.

The more fortunate kids could buy two Popsicles and even the prized Creamcycle or Dreamcycle, the difference being that that the Creamcycle had ice cream in the middle and the Dreamcycle had ice milk. My senior readers may have to explain what "Ice Milk" is to the younger readers.

The good thing about Popsicles was that it came on two sticks. If you were lucky and the Popsicle broke apart properly, you could share you flavor with someone with a different flavor. The two stick Popsicle idea was born during the Great Depression era for just that reason.

The History:

In 1905 in Oakland, 11-year-old Frank Epperson was mixing a white powdered flavoring for soda and water out on the porch. He left it there, with a stirring stick still in it.

That night, temperatures reached a record low, and the next morning, the boy discovered the drink had frozen to the stick, inspiring the idea of a fruit-flavored "Popsicle".

In 1922, he introduced the frozen treat at a fireman's ball. It was a sensation. In 1923, Epperson sold the frozen pop on a stick to the public at Neptune Beach, an amusement park in Alameda, California.

Seeing that it was a success, in 1924 Epperson applied for a patent for his "frozen confectionery" which he called "the Epsicle ice pop".

He renamed it to "Pop's Sicle" or Popsicle, allegedly at the insistence of his children. It was originally available in seven flavors and marketed as a "frozen drink on a stick."

The form is unique, with a wooden stick going through the ice to create a handle. The stick became as well known as the treat, commonly used as a craft-stick for craft projects by children and adults.

In 1925, Epperson sold the rights to the Popsicle to the Joe Lowe Company of New York. The Lowe Co. went on to catapult Epperson's invention to national success.

During the Great Depression, the company debuted the two-stick version of the Popsicle to help consumers stretch their dollar — the duo sold for 5 cents.

The giant food corporation Unilever scooped up the Popsicle brand in 1989, expanding the brand beyond its original fruity flavors. It also bought Good Humor, ending the feud between the two icy competitors.

In June 2006, Popsicles with "natural flavors and colors" were introduced, replacing the original versions in some cases.

The News As I See It: The Bernie Sanders campaign is demanding proof that Hillary Clinton beat him in yesterday’s Iowa caucus. Today Hillary said, "Sure, let me check my server." Sanders lost the Iowa Caucus by .03%. In other words, Bernie would have won if six stoners had managed to get off the couch.

Marco Rubio’s inner circle say their boss benefited from the Trump-Cruz fight because, "Marco is everyone’s second choice." That explains Rubio’s new campaign slogan, "I’m the Least Worst." Third is actually pretty good considering the fact that most Iowa voters think that Marco Rubio is a game you play in the swimming pool.

In a recent survey, people from Chicago have proved to be the most likely to have had sex in the shower! The survey, carried out for leading toiletries firm, Brut, show that 76% of Chicago residents say they have enjoyed sex in the shower. The other 24% say they hadn't been to prison.

The Iowa caucuses were an important part of our election process. There are a few key differences between a caucus and a primary election. The first one is, no one knows what a caucus is or how it works. The second one is, no one cares.

New Barbie dolls will now come in different sizes and with more realistic body types. Not only that, the new Ken dolls come with beer googles.

This Date In History: 1468; Johann Gutenberg, German printer and inventor, died. 1870; The 15th Amendment (black suffrage) passed. 1913; The 16th Amendment, establishing federal income tax, was ratified. 1917; The U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Germany. 1959; Rock singers, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and Big Bopper died in a plane crash. 1995; Colonel Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot the space shuttle when the Discovery blasted off. 1998; Texas executed Karla Faye Tucker, the first woman to be executed in the United States since 1984.

Picture Of The Day: One of the best things about Popsicles were the ice cream sticks. Considering the fact that few people had phones or television in the early 50s, the ice cream stick soon became a utile instrument that could be used in various way. Daily "inventions" by neighborhood kids soon taught us the value of saving your sticks, either for barter or creating a toy. 

Printable Things I Never Told You: 1) I typed 18 beers into my calorie counting app and it uninstalled itself. 2) My electric car is getting serviced, so they loaned me an acoustic one. 3) (Me): "What?! You said I could tie you up and do anything I want." (Her): "Well, where the hell have you been?" (Me): "Fishing."

4) Two guys were discussing popular family trends on sex, marriage, and values. Stuart said, "I didn't sleep with my wife before we got married, did you?" Leroy replied, "I'm not sure, what was her maiden name? 

5) I despise protesters who riot and loot stores and I'd like to see them shot on sight. Nowadays, to be politically correct, you can't call them looters. You have to call them undocumented shoppers. I'd still shoot 'em on sight, but in a politically correct manner.....and that's five !

Today's Horoscope: Aquarius - February 3rd: There's a relatively good chance that you will stumble across an opportunity this week and the advantages will be extraordinary. By the same token, don't take stumbling for granted. You remember what happened the last time you got up in the middle of the night and stepped on the cat's tail.

Birthdays: Felix Mendelssohn, composer 1809, Horace Greeley, newspaper editor and founder 1811, Elizabeth Blackwell, American Physician 1821, Gertrude Stein, author 1874, Norman Rockwell, illustrator 1894, Alvar Aalto, architect and furniture designer 1898, James Michener, author 1907, Joey Bishop comedian, actor 1918, Linda Wachner, industry executive 1946, J. Catherine Roberts, science teacher 1953, Isla Fisher, comedian, actor 1976.

The AREA 51 Retirement Home Bar And Grill: An elderly man lived alone in the Irish countryside with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died and he went to the parish priest and asked if he would say a mass for his poor departed pet.

The priest replied, "I'm afraid not. We cannot have services for an animal in the church. But there are some Baptists down the lane." The old man said, "I'll go right away Father. Do ya think $5000 is enough to donate to them for the service?"

The priest exclaimed, "Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus! Why didn't ya tell me the dog was Catholic?"

A terrific explosion occurs in a gunpowder factory and once all the mess has been cleared up, and inquiry begins. One of the few survivors is pulled up to make a statement. The investigator says, "Simpson, you were near the scene, what happened?"

Simpson says, "Well, it's like this. Old Charley Higgins was in the mixing room, and I saw him take a cigarette out of his pocket and light up." The investigator, in stunned horror, exclaims, "He was smoking in the mixing room?" How long had he been with the company?" Simpson replied, "About 20 years, sir."

The investigator says, "20 years in the company, then he goes and strikes a match in the mixing room. I'd have thought it would have been the last thing he'd have done." Simpson replied, "It was, sir."

The Hits Just Keep On Coming: A woman found out that her dog ( a Schnauzer) could hardly hear, so she took it to the veterinarian. The vet found that the problem was hair in the dog's ears.

He cleaned both ears and the dog could then hear fine. The vet then proceeded to tell the lady that, if she wanted to keep this from recurring, she should go to the chemist and get some "Nair" hair remover and rub it in the dog's ears once a month.

The woman went to the pharmacy and bought some "Nair" hair remover. The pharmacist told her, "If you're going to use this under your arms, don't use deodorant for a few days." The woman said, "I'm not using it under my arms."

The pharmacist said, "If you're using it on your legs, don't shave for a couple of days." The woman replied, "I'm not using it on my legs either. If you must know, I'm using it on my Schnauzer." The pharmacist says, "Well, stay off your bicycle for about a week."

There was this small church down in Texas that had a very big-busted organist. Her breasts were so huge that they bounced and jiggled while she played the organ. Unfortunately, she distracted the congregation considerably.

The very proper church ladies were appalled. They said something had to be done about this or they would have to get another organist.

So, one of the ladies approached her very discreetly and told her to mash up some green Persimmons and rub them on the nipples of her breasts and maybe they would shrink in size.

She warned her to not eat any of the green Persimmons, though, because they are so sour they make your mouth pucker up and you won't be able to talk properly for a while. She agreed to try it.

The following Sunday morning the minister got up in the pulpit and said, "Dew to thircumsthanthis bewond my contwol, we will not hath a thermon tewday."

That's it for today, my little eaglets. Remember, the reason that men chase women they have no intention of marrying is the same urge that makes dogs chase cars they have no intention of driving. I'm heading over to AREA 51 for happy hour.

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More on Friday.

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