In a Nutshell

Hot Dog Shrouded in Controversy

Hot Dog 2.wmf We find the first mention of the sausage in Homer’s Odyssey written in the 9^th century BC. The cities of Frankfurt and Coburg in Germany both claim to be the birthplace of dachshund or "little-dog" sausages. The name frankfurter was taken from Frankfurt. According to that city’s history, the frankfurter evolved five years before Columbus set sail for the New World in 1487. In Coburg, the story goes that a butcher named Johann Georgheher created the hot dog in the late 1600s, then traveled to Frankfurt to market it. Even the Austrians try to get in on the action stating that Vienna (Wien) must be the birthplace of the wiener.

The evidence is pretty clear that immigrants brought the sausage to the United States. By the 1860s, German immigrants were selling dogs served on rolls with sauerkraut from pushcarts in New York City. In 1871, Coney Island added its first hot dog stand. According to hot dog historian Bruce Kraig, Ph.D., Germans always ate dachshund sausages with bread. It’s quite probable that the Germans were the ones who introduced this tradition to the U.S. St. Louis bar owner, Chris Von de Ahe brought hot dogs to the baseball park. He owned the St. Louis Browns and was also a German immigrant.

The origin of the term hot dog is also unclear. However, it had become a part of the popular culture by the 1890s. It’s possible the name was a joke about the dachshunds the Germans brought with them to this country.

Wherever they came from, enjoy your hot dogs this summer grilled and smothered with your favorite toppings.

Save Water, Improve Your Bottomline

Water conservation is critical to help meet the future needs of communities and to lessen the strain on our fragile ecosystems. A little water conservation at home can also save you some cash. Here are 12 ways you can reduce water consumption in your life, as recommended by SmartIrrigation.org:

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• Don’t let the water run when rinsing your dishes. Fill one sink with wash water and one sink with rinse water.
• Adjust your sprinklers so they’re watering your lawn and not the sidewalks, fences or street.
• Run your washing machine only when it’s full. This can save up to 1,000 gallons of water per month.
• Use your garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead.
• Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when it’s cooler to minimize evaporation.
• Wash fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of under running tap water.
• Use organic mulch around plants to retain moisture.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway.
• Shorten your shower time by just one or two minutes to save up to 150 gallons of water per month.
• Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If you see it seep into the bowl without flushing, you’ve got a leak. Fix it and you can save up to 1,000 gallons of water per month.
• Turn faucets off tightly after each use.
• Designate one glass for drinking water all day to reduce the number of glasses that need to be washed.