Part 13 (1/2)

Even if the motivations of ancient saluters were to signal friendly intentions, the gesture over the years has been transformed into a ritual signifying respect, even demanding subjection, and a tool to enforce discipline. The United States Marine Corps, though, has maintained a long tradition of shunning any symbols of servility. In 1804, Marine Commandant William Ward Burrows knowingly discarded the European tradition of inferiors uncovering before superiors and issued this order: No Marine in the future is to take his hat off to any person. When the officer to be saluted approaches, he will halt, face the officer and bring his right hand with a quick motion as high as the hat, the palm in front.

As a Marine publication notes, Burrows' order did much for the esprit de corps: We can be certain of one fact-the newly initiated salute was popular with enlisted personnel, for an English traveler of that period (Beachey) reported that ”the Marines, although civil and well disciplined, boast that they take their hats off to no one.”

Submitted by Wally DeVasier of Fairfield, Iowa. Thanks also to George Flower of Alexandria, Virginia.

Why Do Recipes Warn Us Not to Use Fresh Pineapple or Kiwifruit in Gelatin? Why Can We Use Canned Pineapple in Gelatin?

Both pineapple and kiwifruit contain enzymes that literally break down gelatin into a pool of glop. The enzyme in pineapple, papain, is also found in papaya and many other tropical fruits. According to the president of the California Kiwifruit Commission, Mark Houston, kiwifruit contains a related enzyme, actinidin, that similarly breaks down gelatin, preventing jelling.

Papain is a particularly important enzyme that has more functions than turning your Jell-O mold into a Jell-O pool. Papain is the active ingredient in meat tenderizers. Just as papain splits the protein in gelatin, it also attacks proteins in meat. Ever experience a stinging sensation in your mouth while eating a fresh pineapple? Papain is attacking your throat.

How can we contain this rapacious enzyme? Just as Kryptonite incapacitates Superman or garlic renders Dracula useless, so heat is the enemy of protein-splitting enzymes such as papain or actinidin. Canned pineapple can be used effectively in gelatin because the heat necessary to the process of canning fruit inactivates the enzymes. Canned pineapple might not taste as good as fresh, but it is much easier on the throat.

Submitted by Marsha Beilsmith of St. Charles, Missouri. Thanks also to David Freling of Hayward, California; and Susan Stock of Marlboro, Ma.s.sachusetts.

Where Is Donald Duck's Brother?

”We see Donald Duck's nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, but we never see their Dad, Donald's brother. Why not?” wails our concerned correspondent.

The main reason we never see Donald's brother is that he doesn't have one. He does have a sister with the infelicitous name of Dumbella. In a 1938 animated short, Donald's Nephews, Donald receives a postcard from his sister informing him that she is sending her ”three angel children” for a visit.

Poor Donald, excitedly antic.i.p.ating the arrival of Masters Huey, Dewey, and Louie, had no idea either that the little visit would turn into a permanent arrangement or, since his sister really thought they were little angels, that she had really earned her name. The three ducklings, indistinguishable in their personalities and equally adept in their propensity for mischief, continued to torture Donald and Scrooge McDuck in many cartoon shorts.

In a 1942 short, The New Spirit, Donald lists the three dependents in a tax form as adopted, indicating that Donald was a most generous brother, a certified m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t, and just as dumb as Dumbella.

Submitted by Karen S. Harris of Seattle, Was.h.i.+ngton.

What causes Bags Under the Eyes?

Let us count the ways, in descending order of frequency: Heredity. That's right. It wasn't that night on the town that makes you look like a racc.o.o.n in the morning. It's all your parents and grandparents' fault. Some people are born with excess fatty tissue and liquid around the eyes.

Fluid retention. The eyelids are the thinnest and softest skin in the entire body, four times as thin as ”average” skin. Fluid tends to pool in thin portions of the skin.

What causes the fluid retention? Among the culprits are drugs, kidney or liver problems, salt intake, and very commonly, allergies. Cosmetics drum up more business for dermatologists and allergists than just about anything else. Allergic reactions to mascara and eyeliner are the usual culprits.

Aging. The skin of the face, particularly around the eyes, loosens with age. Age is more likely to cause bags than mere sleepiness or fatigue.

Too many smiles and frowns. These expressions not only can build crow's feet but bags. We can safely disregard this answer to explain Bob Newhart's bags, however.

Another less fascinating explanation for many sightings of bags under the eyes was noted by Dr. Tom Meek, of the American Academy of Dermatology, in the New York Times: ”The circles are probably caused by shadows cast from overhead lighting....”

Submitted by Stephen T. Kelly of New York, New York.

How Do Blind People Discriminate Between Different Denominations of Paper Money?

Sandra Abrams, supervisor of Independent Living Services for a.s.sociated Services of the Blind, points out that the government defines ”legally blind” as possessing 10% or less of normal vision. Legally blind people with partial vision usually have few problems handling paper money: Individuals who are partially sighted may be able to see the numbers on bills, especially in certain lighting conditions. Some people with low vision must hold the money up to their noses in order to see the numbers; some people have been asked by members of the public if they are smelling their money. Other persons with low vision might use different types of magnification. Some people with partial sight have pointed out that the numbers on the top corners of bills are larger than those on the bottoms.

The U.S. government certainly doesn't make it easy for blind people to identify currency. Virtually every other nation varies the size and color of denominations. One reader asked whether a five-dollar bill feels different from a twenty-dollar bill. Although suggestions have been made to introduce slight differences in texture, a blind person can't now discriminate between bills by touching them.

Initially blind people must rely on bank tellers or friends to identify the denomination of each bill, and then they develop a system to keep track of which bill is which. Gwynn Luxton, of the American Foundation for the Blind, uses a popular system with her clients: One-dollar bills are kept flat in the wallet.

Five-dollar bills are folded in half crosswise, so that they are approximately three inches long.

Ten-dollar bills are folded in thirds crosswise, so that they are approximately two inches long.

Twenty-dollar bills are folded in half lengthwise, so that they are half the height of the other bills and sit down much farther in the wallet or purse than the other bills.

Machines have been created to solve this problem as well. The relatively inexpensive Talking Wallet reads out the denomination of bills it receives. The more expensive Talking Money Identifier can be hooked up to cash registers and be used for commercial use. Many newspaper vendors are blind, and the Money Identifier can save them from being shortchanged.

Blind people have so many pressing problems imposed on them by a seeing culture that identifying paper money is a minor irritant. As Sandra Abrams puts it, ”Frankly, of all the things I do daily, identifying money is one of the easiest.”