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February 2026
The Winter Olympics THE ONE COLD-WEATHER THING I ENJOY
I hate the cold. When it gets lower than 50 degrees F, I’m miserable. And while there is something magical about looking at the snow and being in the mountains, I can only handle it for a few days. I’m also not great at any “winter” sports. I’ve been snow skiing several times, yet my biggest skiing accomplishment was avoiding the emergency cart and somehow skiing the rest of the way down the mountain after tearing the ACL in my knee during a spectacular crash (though I do have a good embarrassing story about the chair lift I might share at some point in the future). And we went ice skating as kids (and with our kids). But again, my most memorable ice skating story was falling, only to have someone run over my finger, causing me to bleed all over the ice.
And yet …
I love the Winter Olympics.
I don’t know much about hockey, but the Miracle on Ice during the 1980 Winter Olympics is a seminal memory from my childhood. I know virtually nothing about bobsledding, but the Jamaican bobsled team is another iconic memory. I can’t imagine watching figure skating at any other time, but during the Olympics, I’m sucked in. And I don’t know ANYTHING about curling, but during the Olympics, I’ll watch and criticize the curlers’ technique from my couch like I’m an expert. This February, the Winter Olympics will be back. It will be an unusual Olympics, as the events will be spread out across Italy, with two Olympic Cauldrons: one in Cortina and one in Milan. I’m looking forward to some of the familiar storylines. Like many Americans, I’ll be watching to see whether the United States can compete in the medal count. But beyond that, I especially look forward to certain events. I particularly enjoy the skiing events. My limited skiing experience does allow me to appreciate how insane most of those athletes really are. As an old guy, I’ll be particularly interested in whether Lindsey Vonn can figure out a way to end up on the podium and make her the oldest Alpine skier to win a medal. I also like snowboarding. Again, I’m especially interested in whether American Chloe Kim can win her third straight gold medal (not
bad for someone who went to Princeton). On the men’s side, I’ll learn whether the U.S. has any good men’s snowboarders after the retirement of Shaun White, who has been a dominant snowboarder and, if I’m remembering correctly, designed some of my kids’ favorite pajamas from when they were little. I’m also looking forward to speed skating and short track. I am in awe of how fast they’re going and the small margin of error between a record run and an event-ending crash that kills four years’ worth of training. The other thing I appreciate, as the father of an athlete and a serious dancer, is all the hard work these athletes put in. And not just the athletes we see on the podiums or those at the top of the standings. All of the athletes, from first to last, have put in long hours of demanding work to do their best. I don’t know whether you’re an Olympics fan, but if you are, I hope you’ll join me in cheering on the American athletes who have put in all the work to represent us and our country at the highest level.
- Brooks Schuelke
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SECRETS OF THE SILENT FILM AGE Silver Screen Speed
Contrary to what the surviving films may suggest, people didn’t move faster during the earliest years of cinema. If you watch an old silent film from decades past, it may appear as though someone’s holding down the “fast- forward” button. Movements seem exaggerated and hyper-fast, bombarding our eyes with visuals that are as surreal as they are comical. However, nothing is wrong with your senses. These films were created this way, and the reasons behind their quicker momentum are an intriguing mix of technology, commerce, and the inventive minds of maverick film directors. Fleeting Frames of Fantasy Here’s a fun fact: Whether we watch a film from a century ago or one released last week, we’re not actually seeing real movement on screen. Instead, we’re viewing a succession of images presented rapidly enough to give us the impression that
someone (or something) is in motion. This technique is called frames per second (fps). One of the earliest pioneers in film, the legendary inventor Thomas Edison, determined that movies ideally needed to be shot at 46 fps or more to produce convincing on-screen movement. However, early filmmakers often faced financial restraints with film stock, causing them to shoot many movies at 12 or 16 fps. As technology advanced over the years, the speed of these primitive films increased considerably when played on more modern equipment. The Cinematic Cranking Craze While most view it today as a retired relic of a bygone era, the Bell and Howell 2709 movie camera was all the rage in the 1920s. Considered revolutionary at the time, the hand-cranked machine enabled users to shoot at varying speeds based on the number of cranks per minute. “Ben-Hur:
A Tale of the Christ” (1925) and Charlie Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush” (1925) were among the movies shot with a 2709. The technology allowed directors to order camera operators to either slow down or speed up their cranking for dramatic effect. From there, the movies would hit theaters, where they’d often appear to move even faster . For example, something shot at 16 fps would appear sped up when shown through projectors running at a quicker pace. In fact, theaters loved to project films at very high speeds, as faster films meant quicker showings, enabling them to sell more tickets per day.
KEYS TO RAISING CRITICAL THINKERS PUZZLES AND PATIENCE
In a culture overwhelmed by algorithms and conflicting media sources, critical thinking is more important than ever. This is especially true of young children, many of whom will become our future CEOs, writers, and world leaders. Here are two simple ways parents can help their little ones develop the thinking skills they’ll need to thrive through life’s challenges. Questions kindle thoughtful truths. Whether you’re raising a young child for the first time or are a veteran grandparent who’s
done it all, you can surely recall moments when a little one hit you with a barrage of questions that tested your patience. Few people would fault you for rushing through your answers to satisfy your tiny inquisitor when stressed, but regularly questioning things is a sign of a critical thinker. Whenever possible, take the time to lean into your child’s questions. Instead of simply giving them an answer, ask them their thoughts about the information you’ve provided. Rather than asking them questions that could be answered with a simple yes or no, prompt them with open-ended ones that will strengthen their reasoning skills and prompt them to consider a topic more deeply. Small struggles make stronger minds. As parents, we want to answer our children’s questions and find solutions to all their problems. While some situations
will always require our intervention (such as a medical emergency), it’s sometimes best to allow kids to find their own path to solving dilemmas or discovering answers. Board games, puzzles, building blocks, and even role-playing games with friends can foster stronger thinking skills, so allow your children plenty of time to engage in activities that expand their minds while they’re having fun. When you see your child struggle to figure out how to complete a playtime task, pause before jumping in to help. Giving them room to sort out the issue instead of immediately coming to their aid will help them think and problem-solve more independently. When we practice patience and give children space to explore the world in their own way, we nurture curious, confident thinkers who are ready for whatever life brings.
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TAKE A BREAK
A Sweet Swindle? The Case of the Skimpy Snack
The concept of “shrinkflation” may be gaining ground in light of today’s economy, but it’s nothing new. In fact, nearly a decade ago, the thought of companies reducing the amount of product available in each sale while charging the same price hit one Midwestern man right in his sweet tooth. In 2017, Robert Bratton of Columbus, Missouri, sued the Hershey Co. for $5 million, claiming that the boxes of Reese’s Pieces and Whoppers he regularly purchased were not filled with enough candy. Citing violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, he alleged that 29% of the Reese’s Pieces boxes he purchased were empty, while only 59% of the Whoppers packaging contained actual product. His suit further alleged that the candy company unjustly enriched itself by knowingly selling boxed items containing considerable empty space. Aiming to avoid leaving a sour taste in court, Hershey’s contended that at least some empty space is common in most packaged goods to allow for “efficient manufacturing and distribution.” Additionally, the company claimed that consumers are made aware of this necessary space before purchasing its goods, as the contents of Whoppers and Reese’s Pieces boxes “audibly rattle.” Despite his multimillion-dollar complaint, Bratton continued to purchase Hershey products, a move that ultimately led to the unraveling of his lawsuit. In 2018, Judge Nanette K. Laughrey dismissed the case after it was revealed that the plaintiff had purchased Reese’s Pieces and Whopper boxes by the hundreds over several years, despite knowing the high likelihood that they would not be full. “Mr. Bratton testified that he initially expected the boxes to be full, but at some point … [he] realized that they’re not,” Laughrey said in her ruling. “Although Mr. Bratton claimed to have always clung to his hope that the boxes would be full, he acknowledged that he did not expect the box to be miraculously filled the next time he bought it.” While Bratton’s love for sugary treats is impossible to deny, his efforts to take down a chocolate giant for shortchanging his confectionery conquests were questionable at best.
MOUTHWATERING MINI CHEESECAKES
Ingredients
• 12 oz package vanilla wafers • 16 oz cream cheese, softened • 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 21 oz can cherry pie filling
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In two 24-cup miniature muffin pans, line each space with a paper liner. 3. Using a food processor or resealable plastic bag, crush vanilla wafers into a fine crumb. 4. Press 1/2 teaspoon of crumbs into each paper liner. 5. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. 6. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top. 7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheesecakes are set. 8. Cool completely in the pan. 9. Top each mini cheesecake with about a teaspoon of cherry pie filling before serving. Enjoy!
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1100 B Guadalupe Street Austin, Texas 78701 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
An Unexpected Appreciation for the Winter Olympics
The Fast Motion of Old-Time Movies
2
The Future Belongs to Critical Thinkers
Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
3
A Chocoholic’s Day in Court
A Burglary Blown by Brightness
4
Sunlit Stupidity Foils a Thief BRIGHT DAY, DIM IDEA
Santa Claus isn’t real. The world doesn’t disappear when you close your eyes. You can be arrested for burglary regardless of the time of day you commit the crime. Most reasonable people accept the above facts as undeniable truths long before they reach 22. Unfortunately (or humorously, depending on your point of view), James Blankenship of Willoughby, Ohio, was unaware of that last fact despite being a legal adult for four years. One day during the summer of 2013, he broke into his mother’s house in the neighboring city of Eastlake by removing a window screen. Already on shaky ground with his parent for reasons not specified in media coverage of the incident, he had been banned from the Eastlake premises for at least three months before attempting to enter it without permission. According to statements his mother later gave to the police, her son had no possessions in the home at the time of the incident.
Because Blankenship chose to commit his crime in broad daylight , his mother spotted him and alerted the police. Rather than fleeing the neighborhood when he was discovered, he hid in a crawl space near his mother’s home. A witness reported seeing him run behind a nearby house, which allowed police to locate him easily. According to an official statement on the Eastlake Police’s Facebook page, Blankenship told the arresting officers, “I thought you could only be charged with burglary if you break in during the nighttime.” After pleading guilty to a lesser charge of breaking and entering, Blankenship served 60 days in prison (with 120 days out of his original 180-day sentence suspended) and was fined $100. Perhaps most significantly, he also learned a valuable lesson on how the sun helps people see things during the day.
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