EXPLOSIVE SWINGS ARE ALLOWED ON THE GOLF COURSE
With the U.S. Open coming up in June (barring any major COVID-19- related developments), the participants are sure to leave audiences in awe of their explosive drives. While “explosive” in this context does not mean anything is actually exploding, there is a precedent for golf balls that literally explode. In fact, that precedent led to the creation of a pretty interesting state law in Massachusetts: No one is allowed to sell exploding golf balls. According to Chapter 148, Section 55 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, “Anyone who sells or knowingly uses … a golf ball containing any acid, fluid, gas, or other substance tending to cause the ball to explode” can be fined $500 for the first offense and up to $1,000 or imprisoned for a year for any offense after that. You would think that the existence of this law means that at some point, people were just smacking exploding golf balls around the Bay State before the lawmen kiboshed it. However, the truth is a little more nuanced. While it is unknown what exactly prompted the legislation, there are a few clues as to what sorts of incidents Massachusetts governments were trying to avoid. The first clue is that prior to the late 1960s and early 1970s, golf balls were actually manufactured with a caustic liquid at the center. This led to the unforeseen injury of a boy named William J. in 1912, who, while “dissecting” a golf ball, ruptured the rubber fluid
sack at the center. Some of the liquid got in his eye and caused permanent damage to his sight, despite multiple visits to the doctor. Even though golf ball manufacturers stopped using caustic liquids in the centers of their golf balls in the 1920s, the liquid centers of golf balls made in the following decades could
still cause harm. If someone dissected a golf ball and ruptured the fluid sack of one of these later balls, the crystalline material within could still cause injuries. Fortunately, solid core golf balls became common during the 1970s, removing liquid core golf balls from the course for good.
However, even though they are gone, their legacy lives on in this strange Massachusetts law.
THE TRUE HISTORY OF CANDY
This month is National Candy Month, and who would not want to celebrate that? So, we thought we would talk about the origin story of candy and how sugary confections became so popular! Honey: The First, Ancient Candy Candy — a rich, sweet confection made with sugar or other sweeteners, often flavored with fruits or nuts — began in ancient times when people would snack on sweet honey straight from beehives. The first candies were created with fruits and nuts rolled in honey. From ancient China, the Middle East, Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire, many people around the world would coat fruits and flowers with honey to preserve them and create forms of candy. Truthfully, honey was the most accessible to the common person. As sugar manufacturing got started, cane sugar was so expensive that only the rich could afford candy made with it. Before the Industrial Revolution, the foods that looked and tasted like “candy” were often considered a form of medicine, beginning as a combination of spices and sugar used to aid digestive problems or cool a sore throat. Even then, you would only see this type of candy in rich homes. The Beginning of Candy (As You Know It Today) When early colonists began settling in the U.S., rock candy — one of the simplest candies created from crystallized sugar — was
still considered a luxury and only attainable by the rich. Then, by the 17th century, manufacturing sugar became much cheaper and hard candies became popular.
This is when candy started becoming a staple for children of the working class, too! Candy stores began popping up nationwide, and penny candy became one of the first goods that kids spent their money on. By the mid-1800s, over 400 factories in the U.S. were producing candy in all kinds of shapes and sizes. In 1851, revolutionary technology (revolving steam pans) made it possible for only one or two people to run a successful candy business, which made it a much more profitable business for innovators to pursue. In many ways, candy became the perfect industry for pursuing your own American Dream. What is your favorite candy? Any peanut butter and chocolate combination is awesome. In Kim’s words, “Reeces Pieces and I have a good thing going.” We would love to hear your favorites! Thanks for reading, and we will catch you next month.
2 HEGWOOD LAW GROUP
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