Mickey Mouse and Goofy Explore Energy, part 1

America's biggest mistake to date was not heeding Mickey Mouse and Goofy's dire warning. We first experienced a devastating energy crisis over thirty years ago. Despite clever attempts at energy conservation and political promises to gradually lessen dependence on foreign oil and other finite energy sources, we are in the midst of yet another energy crisis. It's almost as if no lessons were learned from the last energy crisis!

But, to Mickey Mouse and his best pal, Goofy, this all seems like deja vu. Right now, they are probably in their castle in California (or possibly Florida), reminiscing about the 1970s, their shared hallucination about a preachy anthropomorphic atom named Enny, and how all their displays of Yankee ingenuity were wasted on the American public. Did any president after, say, Jimmy Carter even consult this comic? Or, perhaps, T. Boone Pickens was the only person to have taken this tract seriously.

*cue Disco Donald Duck*

Come with me back to 1976, as we look with shame at some of the ways (mule power!) our current energy crisis could have been prevented. I present to you in three parts: Mickey Mouse and Goofy Explore Energy (© 1976, Walt Disney Educational Media Co.).

Note Enny's approval of Mickey and Goofy's creative conservation. Shouldn't we all be driving mules by now?


This comic's thesis is already prominent on the first page. The energy crunch is bad, and it contributes to the unpleasantness of average mice and goofs. Energy crises may contribute to the impoliteness of some citizens as they become less punctual, are more apt to make ludicrous excuses for their behavior, and assuage their guilty consciences with nosy questions and hurtful accusations. Others might seem 'not themselves': weak, wan, and lacking vim and/or vigor. That's the energy crunch, folks!


Mickey explains the energy crunch with a (guilt) trip to the U.S. Energy Bank where Goofy gets a lesson in fy-nite energy.


Mickey sets us straight: We can't wish energy crunches away.


Oblivious as usual, Goofy goofs (as evidenced by the panel where the sky turns an alarming shade of magenta) and his car runs out of gas. Goofy and Mickey trek to Otto's gas station which is deserted and boarded up. Otto's mom and pop business hasn't actually 'moved.' It was bought out by Mobil Oil. (In the fifth panel, doesn't it look like someone in the distance is yelling about the fuel gauge?)


This comic probably terrified many kids with its 'we're all going to die (and it's all your fault for ever being born)' scare tactics. But sometimes it takes a good scare to jolt us out of complacency.


Trekking through the desert heat makes Mickey and Goofy grow weary, and they stop to rest under a tree. They become unnaturally sleepy (a la Dorothy in the poppy field in The Wizard of Oz), and their sleep sounds are oddly Batmanesque (zawp, bzazz, zoop!?). Enny instantly materializes out of thin air to take them on the trip of many lifetimes. Meet Enny, the Spirit of Energies past.

Stay tuned tomorrow for part two of Mickey Mouse and Goofy Explore Energy when Enny will take us on a trip through the history of energy. It'll be better than a day at the Epcot Center!

Jell-O Love Wheel

Valentine's Day is the most romantic day of the year. All those cherubs and roses! Have you decided what delectable delights you will eat by candlelight tonight? As always, Curly Wurly has some entirely serviceable ideas that will undeniably set a distinctive mood. Heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and lobster tails have been done. Why not take a spin on these Jell-O brand menu wheels? Who knew that choosing which Jell-O salad goes with which meat is even more difficult than selecting the wine!

Feeling like Chicken tonight? This little coterie looks dazzling next to the Peaches a l'Orange! If you prefer your chicken fried, you might be interested in the Orange Glow Salad. That special crunch of pineapples and carrots is the perfect complement to the crispy coating!


Making Pork Chops tonight? Once again, if you're opting for fried, you want a crunchy salad accompaniment. Apple Crunch Salad is your best bet; it packs a triple crunch with its trio of apple, celery, and nuts! Apparently, breaded pork chops require something unusual and smooth. How about Saucy Yogurt Salad? I don't think I've ever seen an aspic salad quite like this one, though I have to say that there's nothing too objectionable in it.


There's no group of food that is more romantic than seafood; oysters, lobster, and shrimp have long been linked to love. I'm confident that fish slabs and this Pimiento Circle, that seems to shine as if lit from within, is the most romantic menu option for Valentine's Day. For something a little zestier, you can try the Pickle Salad (aka Cucumber Dill Slice).


It's never too early in the holiday season to make the ham. Give it a nice tropical glaze and pair it with the Pineapple Lime Temptation. Better yet, serve up the Banana Greens salad. It's so great that Jell-O insists it's 'great with any ham dish'!


Or, there is always the Carrot Cheese Ring, which is also great with any ham dish.


As many cookbooks have revealed, the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach. If that is so, hamburger is surely a one-way ticket. Leave off the buns, omit the fries, and feed him the Ranch Relish Salad or the Tangy Tomato Mold. Just wait until he tells the whole neighborhood what a great cook you are!


Another hamburger salad option is the Red Red Salad. Strawberry flavored gelatin, catsup, and green pepper! Best to serve with some Red Red Wine.


The Longhorn Salad is practically an extension of the steak dinner. Or, better yet, make him feel like a king with the Asparagus Castle! For future reference, food should probably not be named after an edifice that is meant to withstand attack from hostile invaders.


Bell Pepper Salad also goes well with steak dinners!


So does the French Bean Basket! Plus, 'basket' sounds less imposing than 'castle.'

For more Jell-O (and don't we all want more Jell-O?), wiggle on over to Months of Edible Celebrations to take a look at Louise's assortment of Jell-O booklets! Now, some of the desserts in her booklets might actually pass for romance!

Squiggles and Scribbles

Sparkleneely, author of one of my favorite blogs, 97 Things To Do Before You Turn 97, gave me an award for achievement in the field of Blog Scribbling! I am thrilled and honored to be recognized by one of my favorite bloggers! I'd like to thank my agent, my personal trainer, and you at home!

According to the rules of the award:

'Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass the Award on to 5 most-deserving Blog Friends. You must link to the author and name of the blog from where he/she has received the award.

You must display the Award on your blog and link to THIS POST, which explains the Award. Each blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit THIS POST and add your name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, they will be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives this prestigious honor. You must post these rules on your blog.'

According to the fine print, not doing all of the above is a serious offense punishable to the full extent of the law, much like removing the tag from a mattress, so I have no choice but to obey! Unfortunately, my first inclination would be to award this to one of my favorite blogs, 97 Things To Do Before I Turn 97, but I don't think that's possible since she already received it! It was a well-deserved win, and if you've been searching for one of the most engaging and endearing, and one of the funniest and most poignantly relatable, blogs on the internet, I'm excited to point you in her direction! Get caught up on Sparkleneely's list of accomplishments before she's checked everything off her list!

Now I'm faced with the most difficult part: I must name five worthy blogs. All of the blogs on my blogroll (and the ones that I follow and read daily) are worthy of receiving this, or any, award; however, I have been directed to name only five favorites. Here they are, in no particular order:

1) Food With Eyes - I don't know what it is, but I almost feel like I know Lushie Peach, author of Food With Eyes, in real life. Besides posting the best graphics on the internet hands-down, she seems to have an uncanny talent for finding images of foods with eyes wherever she goes!

2) Expo Lounge - Jason has an unbelievably fabulous collection of Expo 67 collectibles and other vintage ephemera. His blog has to be one of the must-see stops for anyone interested in reliving the Montreal World's Fair, and his collection is an inspiration!

3) Kitchen Retro - Kitchen Retro is one of my newer favorites. Lidian's blog is one of my daily doses of humor. Of course, once again, she has managed to find some of the most intriguing and inane vintage advertisements and images, and her commentary is beyond superb!

4) Months of Edible Celebrations - Louise's blog is better than Wikipedia! I am always awed at the depth and the deliciousness of her culinary explorations. It's amazingly topical and informative, and, once again, she finds some great pictures!

5) A Sampler of Things - Years ago, I got a fantastic book of vintage packaging called Krazy Kids' Food. It became an instant favorite. I was thrilled to discover its author, Dan Goodsell, shares even more packaging images on his blog and on Flickr. It's like a Krazy Kids' sequel every day!

Once again, thank you Karen for the award! Have fun exploring the blogs of all the new award winners!

Resolution #5: Have Fun With Alcohol And Astrology

Curly Wurly's final New Year's Resolution post promises not only to instruct you in the art of having fun but also how to learn more about yourself. So, if the Coke in the previous post hasn't helped to 'add life' as promised, it may be time to take a gander at Mixology featuring '44 famous mixed drinks' and, most importantly, a primer of Happy Hour astrology! This booklet was published in 1971 by the Southern Comfort Company who offer this disclaimer to all moon-children of legal drinking age: 'Intent of astrology data herein is simply to inform, not to advise. Therefore any personal application is the individual's responsibility.' I guess Southern Comfort can't be held directly responsible for the humiliation an Aquarius might experience when he or she discovers that electric blue, their birth color, is an unappealing shade for their attire. (Remember to click on the pictures for full-size pages with astrological and drink information)

Mixology is about more than having you drink bottles of Southern Comfort every week. It's also about having fun and finding yourself spiritually. While this booklet is mostly an advertisement for Southern Comfort and a guide to the many beverages you can make using Southern Comfort, it is, more importantly, an invaluable 1970s fashion spread. It's impossible to pull your eyes away from the clothing and hair styles and the mesmerizing artificial smiles. I don't think I've ever been so aware of how many teeth people have; you can practically count them here!


Southern Comfort will school you in making your Happy Hour party out of this world! What's Southern Comfort, you ask? Well, it's not like ordinary whiskey: 'It actually tastes good, right out of the bottle!' Basically, it's special, it's delicious, it's remarkable. And, if you want your party to be special and remarkable, it must be the only whiskey you buy. Once you're serving the whiskey that all the pros endorse, your party needs only a few astrological charts to make it truly out of this world!


No, it's not enough to know your sign! What's your ruling planet? What's your element? You can know everything about that person you have your eye on just by finding out their birthday!


Wide lapels? Janet and Chrissy? This must be a 70s cocktail party! Remember, this suave Tom Selleck-like dreamboat will only come to those parties that serve Southern Comfort. Don't expect his RSVP if you plan on serving one of those other brands!


Resolutions are all about improvement. Take, for instance, the drink recipes in Mixology. You could have ordinary cocktails or you could have improved cocktails. All it takes is some Southern Comfort in place of your regular, bad-tasting whiskey, and you're all set!


Today's your lucky day! This crowd posing with their Comfort Old-Fashioneds is smugly considering how all the ritzy celebrities and fashionistas in Beverly Hills and Paris are sipping on the very same drink.


Glen Campbell and Erik Estrada popped in to learn a bit about palmistry (and they heard you were serving a Whiskey Comfort Sour)!

200: Resolution #4: Add excitement!

Was 2008 a humdrum year for you? Perhaps your resolution for '09 is to break through the barrier of monotony and routine and create for yourself a more exciting, lively year. But how do you transform yourself from lifelessness and fatigue to vim and vitality? The Coca Cola Company has long insisted the 'Coke adds life,' so the obvious extension of their claim is to guzzle down as much Coke as you can possibly muster. And none of those second-rate other brands will do; if the can or bottle doesn't specify 'Coke,' then not only will it not 'add life,' but it will probably taketh away!

Once you start drinking more crisp, refreshing Coca-Cola, you'll notice that your diet just can't keep up with this amazing elixir. How could it? The Coca Cola Company divined this problem in 1978 and had a set of recipe cards created to address the issue head on. Feast your eyes on this 'Easy Meals' set from the 'Coke adds life to... your cooking' recipe collection.

Introductory card from Helen Geist, director of the Culinary Arts Institute.


Baked Ham and Sweet Potatoes - This dish requires two beverages: the mandatory Coke accompaniment and the orange juice marinade in which the ham is soaked. The ham does sort of look as if some of the Coke was spilled on it, though.


Beef Polynesian - The contents of this platter are largely unidentifiable. See if you can spot these ingredients: ground beef, mushrooms, golden raisins, green peas, orange slices, and cashews. The fried rice may or may not be seasoned with an ingenious mixture of Coca-Cola, curry powder, and soy sauce, but it must definitely be served with Coca-Cola.


Chicken Hawaiian Turnovers - Don't stray from Polynesia just yet! Chicken Hawaiian Turnovers capitalize on the crepe craze by stuffing chicken, banana slices, and pineapple into a paper-thin crepe. To ensure the authenticity of the dish (not to mention your enjoyment of it), it is best served with Coca-Cola.


The Comfy Buffet Casserole - You weren't thinking of making this delectable casserole and not drinking Coke with it, were you? To be fair, it's only spaghetti with added corn, but the Coke makes it so much more than that!


Lamb Patties on Eggplant Slices - This is a hideous crime against eggplant. Only that cure-all, Coca-Cola, can make this sight better!


Parmesan Macaroni Casserole - Usually one thinks of Coke as the ideal beverage for meats, but it's equally good with pastas or, in this case, macaroni and cheese with ham and green pepper!


Planked Fish Fillet Dinner - Ahoy there! Have a filling banquet on the high seas with this slab of fish and potato.. and a few cans of Coke!


Pork Chops with Onion and Lemon - So simple yet so classy.. made all the more stylish with cans filled with the energizing tonic, Coca-Cola!


Shrimp and Rice Au Gratin - Shrimp nestle near a bed of processed cheese cubes in the fanciest dish yet! Skip the wine and the champagne, and uncork a bottle of domestic Coca-Cola!

Man, is Coca-Cola good!!

Resolution #3: Eat Well On A Budget

The introduction to Grace White's One-dish meals to pamper your pocketbook says it all: 'happy solution[s] to that old bogy meal-fixing--for where can you find a bigger bargain in easy serving, good eating, fast cleanup?' This Family Circle article is appropriate for all your resolutions, including thriftier living, simplification, more wholesome dining, and, most definitely, waist watching!

When you're short on time, just boil it! The New-style Boiled Dinner is ideally paired with lots of red beets. Don't be skimpy on the red beets (my mantra)! You can also make the Double-treat Lamb Stew in just one pot! It's just-right for men, and it practically makes itself! Just add Pep!


Noodles Milanese (aka lasagna) is great with Bananas Jubilee! Try the Creole Pork Chops or the... Polenta. The polenta may be easy-put-together and easier-on-the-budget, but it is anything but easy-on-the-eyes!


Travel to exotic locales in 2009 without leaving your zip code or spending a fortune on plane tickets with these authentic Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Germanic staples! Give the Chow Mein Bowl a whirl for Chinese New Year, or maybe the Near East Casserole is more your speed. All it requires is budget-priced lamb (does that even exist, and is it actually lamb?) and eggplant! And what's the first Middle Eastern dessert you can think of? Why, Apricot Shortcake, of course! For a European touch, indulge with the bargain Chicken Strogonoff and some Cheese 'n' Crackers!


When your dining budget is dwindling at the end of the month, it's time to pull out the comfort food menus, including Winter's Best Soup (aka Marrow Ball Soup), Wiener Salad Bake, and Supper Sandwich!

If you follow these menu suggestions, you'll have more time, more money, less frustration, and another figure altogether by the end of 2009!

Resolution #2: Renovate!

Changing your surroundings and moving into a $7,000 house may not be feasible at this point in the year. Maybe you already have a house, but its uninspired furnishings and odious walls make you want to pull your hair out. It might be time for a renovation! Just call on the trusty Family Circle for a few ideas from their 'Mild Makeovers: Home Edition' section!

First up is the model kitchen. Sue Shumeyko (pictured) had her cabinets, countertops, and appliances outfitted with a stylish combination of birch and copper-finish. Not only does it look a dream, but it also has the latest gadgets: can you believe this state-of-the-art kitchen has an undercounter dishwasher and a two-door refrigerator!? As you can see, these new conveniences allow for a lot more in the way of free time and counterspace. Here Sue is exploring her other love, flower arranging! While Sue is cutting flower stems, Sue's exuberant husband, Ted, tests the temperature of Junior's dinner on his wrist (bottom left). We also catch a glimpse of their shiny new wall oven unit!


In 'The house of many ideas' by Evan Frances (Family Circle, January 1956) we are treated to a smorgasbord of sheer speculation. From the copy: 'Here's what happened to a termite-ridden old house when its owners put their dreams into the hands of a sound architect.' Does the phrase 'termite-ridden old house' describe your current living situation too aptly? If so, you'll want to pay particular attention to this article welcoming us into the (frankly.. a little bohemian) Schrieber's hot new digs.


Some before and after shots. Below, a daybed, a hi-fi, and a Hollywood hunk poster? I think a teen-ager lives in that room!

I'm sure you'll agree that there's a lot of room for improvement in your life, and Curly Wurly is devoted to showing you how to fancify every aspect of your existence! Our resolution series will soon be addressing topics such as eating better than ever in the new year and how to become the life of the party!

It's Never Too Late

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 81% of all Americans over the age of 18 make a New Year's resolution. Single Americans are 63% more likely to make a resolution than their married or divorced counterparts, and homeowners are more resolution-prone than renters.

Since change is ostensibly the theme of the week, now is the time to revisit and reenergize those resolutions that have probably fallen by the wayside in the past two weeks. For the remainder of the month, Curly Wurly will be your one-stop resource for information regarding the most popular resolutions. Remember, it's never too late to make a change, as my recent Dr. Phil-approved fortune cookie fortune can attest.

The first resolution guide is this very topical article on becoming a homeowner, '7 Budget Houses From $6,700 to $9,700'. Yes, your dreams are within reach with this January 1956 article from Family Circle! The original article was written by Joseph B. Mason. Unfortunately, I can't decipher the artist's signature. House designs are all by Robert A. Jorgensen.


Mason suggests that this two-story would be the perfect setting for Romeo and Juliet. I'm sure, in an alternate play, Ma and Pa Montague would have been quite at home in this cozy farmhouse throwback.


If a secluded outdoor paradise is what you're after, this cute one-level (top) with its large terrace (with barbecue) will be a favorite hangout for friends and family! Or, if your dream-come-true is to own a house that includes a 'roomette', look no further than the 'salt-box' house (bottom)! This 728 square foot cutie is all ready for your dolls to move in right now!


Now, here's some style! These two mod designs (with carports!) are smart options for any young couple!


Finally, here we have another cool modern design (top). I can agree with the description: 'There's a zest to this two-bedroom design that holds special appeal for young people.' The smallest house of the bunch looks like one of the biggest (bottom). The roof is made of marble chip!

All of these houses would be quite affordable considering our current economic downturn, but I notice that there's no way to tell the price of each design, how you can buy one of these dwellings, or if any of them were ever actually constructed. But, you must admit, the price was right!

If you already have a home, stay tuned for hints about renovations, and more popular resolutions will be covered throughout January. Change will come not only as you get better but also as it gets better!