I am currently reading “Drinking in America: Our Secret History,” a book my friend Paula lent to me. It is a historical read, albeit with some conjecture, about the impact of alcohol on our earliest settlers. I don’t recall these stories being shared in school, but they seem to be a somewhat honest depiction of the heavy reliance on beer and liquor.

The names in the book are ones we most all know: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, John Adams, Benedict Arnold and more. While reading this, I was instantly taken back to elementary school. I was also taken back to the living room floor of the home I grew up in, right in front of our console TV watching “Looney Tunes” cartoons. Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepe Le Pew and more.

No, Bugs Bunny was not doing rum shots, at least not that I know of. He was sharing tidbits of American history to many youth like me, though.

Some of you may remember “Yankee Doodle Bugs,” a 1954 cartoon with Bugs Bunny and his nephew, Clyde, who is struggling to remember dates and events in American history while preparing for a school exam. Bugs offers to help, explaining the impact rabbits had on history. The cartoon consists of eight segments, but three stuck with me.

In one segment, Bugs is with Benjamin Franklin and asks, “What’s up, Benny?” Mr. Franklin replies that he is trying to discover electricity and has Bugs tend to his kite. A storm cloud approaches, and lightning hits the kite, traveling down the string and electrocuting Bugs. Mr. Franklin runs back, picks up Bugs — who is flashing off and on like a lightbulb — and exclaims, “I discovered electricity!”

In another segment, Bugs tells Clyde about the Boston Tea Party. In Bugs’ story, the King approaches the Royal Tea Warehouse in Boston with a box of hardware tacks in his hand. He orders a warehouse worker to “spread these tacks on the colonists’ tea.” The worker tells the King, “But, your Majesty, these are carpet tacks.” The King dumps the tacks all over in an insane manner and yells, “Well, they’re tea tacks now!”

My favorite segment, though, is when Bugs visits the home of Betsy Ross and sees her sewing an American flag with 13 red and white stripes and a blank blue field. Bugs comments to Ms. Ross that something is missing. He paces back and forth, thinking about what could go in the blue section. Bugs then steps on a rake, and the handle pops up and hits him in the head. The circle of stars that forms around his head gives him an idea that he shares with Ms. Ross.

Those of you who are familiar with all this may recall how this cartoon ends. Clyde goes to school with his newfound lessons and returns home to have Bugs ask him how the test went. Clyde puts a dunce cap on his head and says, “Does THIS answer your question?”

It certainly does. Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

See Shane Goodman's other columns here.

JOE'S NEIGHBORHOOD
Lost in a big box store

By Joe Weeg

Well, here I am in a big box store, and it’s happened again.

The start is simple enough. My wife goes one direction to get granddaughter clothes, and I go to the men’s department to buy my own clothes. And, yes, this is a relatively new experience for me — I’m 70 years old, and I’m now purchasing my own pants like a big boy. I’m pretty proud of that.

And I’ve even developed a fashion sense. My style is baggy pants, baggy shirts, baggy shorts, baggy jackets, and hats for a really fat head. Oddly enough, my wife is not keen on this Paris-driven, high-end fashion look. I’m all right with that. Not all of us can be cutting edge.

3700 PRAIRIE FIRE N.W., ALTOONA
SALE DATE: 2024-06-27
SALE PRICE: $5,250,000
SELLER: CWP WEST CORP
BUYER: HURD MCW ALTOONA LLC
ACRES: 1.501
SQUARE FEET: 6,488

Two generations of hosting.            Foreign exchange students in Johnston span generations

By Ashley Rullestad

As a child, Kayla Bousum’s family hosted foreign exchange students. Little did she know that they would keep in touch and that she would be hosting their nephew decades later.
“I don’t really remember exactly how it happened,” Kayla says. “But my mom, Diane Fine, was the school guidance counselor, so I think she brought home some papers about hosting foreign exchange students. My sisters and I chose a student from São Paulo, Brazil, named Mary. We chose her because she had two sisters, and we felt she would adjust well to living with me and my three sisters in Iowa.”

Mary stayed with the family for three months in 1990. The next winter, Mary’s family hosted Kayla’s family in Brazil for Christmas break. One year later, Mary’s little sister, Maysa, stayed with the family in Iowa for three months as a foreign exchange student. Mary and Maysa’s parents also traveled to Iowa for a visit. Diane stayed in touch with the family and even attended Mary’s wedding in Brazil.

Happy Birthday Steve Price!

These celebrities were born on this date: Aidan Gallagher, Jackson Robert Scott, Jada Pinkett Smith, Isabel LaRosa, Nina Lu, James Marsden, Christian Pulisic, Jason Sudeikis, Ronaldo, Luke Mullen, Lukas Forchhammer, Towanda Braxton, Jinkx Monsoon, Aisha Tyler

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to yesterday's riddle:

Why was the CEO brought in by the fashion police? HE HAD CRIMINAL TIES! - Gail Tomlinson. Also sending answers: William Snyder.

Today's riddle:

Why did Darth Vader go to the music store?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Indianola, Urbandale or Clive Living magazines, contact:

Gina Chandler
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 323
Mobile: 641-750-6485
gina@iowalivingmagazines.com

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