Bread and butter. They go together like, well, bread and butter. 

In my childhood home, they were a staple with every noon and evening meal. At most sit-down restaurants today, they are an expectation. But why? What makes bread and butter an integral part of so many meals?

It all started with the invention of bread, which is up for debate. Even so, most historians agree that bread is an ancient food that dates back at least 22,000 years when scientists found evidence of humans processing wild cereal grains in a grinding stone in what is now modern-day Israel.

And butter? Well, according to butterjournal.com, it is as old as Western civilization. The site states: “In ancient Rome, it was medicinal — swallowed for coughs or spread on aching joints. In India, Hindus have been offering Lord Krishna tins full of ghee  — luscious, clarified butter — for at least 3,000 years. And in the Bible, butter is a food for celebration, first mentioned when Abraham and Sarah offer three visiting angels a feast of meat, milk and the creamy yellow spread.”

The site admits that butter’s origins are likely humbler and that a nomad probably made the first batch by accident when tying a sheepskin bag of milk to his horse and, after a day of jostling, discovered that churned milk fat solidifies into something amazing. 

But who was the first to spread butter on bread? Now it gets interesting. One largely discredited theory is that it was the work of Copernicus, the 16th-century astronomer who first stated that the earth travels around the sun.

According to thedailybeast.com, Copernicus had soldiers who were subjected to a bout of the plague. Copernicus, who had also been trained in medicine, noticed that only the soldiers who ate bread were getting sick. Realizing that the bread was carried up several flights of steps from the kitchen and was often dropped on the way, his solution was to coat the loaves in a thin layer of churned cream, making it possible to see which loaves had been dropped. The plague was curbed, and the bread-and-butter combination was born.

Maybe. Maybe not. But who really cares? Just keep passing the bread… and butter.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

“Start me up.” Those three words were the title of a hit song and an awkward video for the Rolling Stones from their 1981 album “Tattoo You,” one of 25 studio albums from the band. The band currently consists of original members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, along with late-joiner Ronnie Wood. Charlie Watts was a founding member and the drummer of the band through August 2021 when he passed away at age 80. The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and continue to write, tour and produce today. Needless to say, they are kind of popular.

Admittedly, I am not a huge Rolling Stones fan, but I certainly know of the band and their songs. The 20-somethings of today? Apparently, not so much.

First, a little background. Mick Jagger turned 79 on July 26. This was noted in the celebrity birthdays section of The Daily Umbrella. During our staff meeting, I asked one of our younger employees if she knows who Mick Jagger is. Silence. I then asked another of our younger employees the same question. Crickets. I tried one last time with yet another younger employee.  Her answer? “I think there is a song about moves like Jagger.” Yes, there is, by Maroon 5 from 2011, but Mick Jagger is famous for some other stuff, too.  

How soon we forget. Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther penned this well in 1976 with the song “New Kid In Town” from the Eagles’ “Hotel California” album. “They will never forget you till somebody new comes around.” How true. But to not know who Mick Jagger is? Come on. 

My mother was born in 1935 and grew up with the music of the 1950s. Sometime in the 1980s, I came across a series of cassettes with music from that era. I listened to them in our home while Mom sang along and smiled. Bill Haley and the Comets. The Big Bopper. Little Richard. The Platters. Fats Domino. Buddy Holly. Jerry Lee Lewis. Chuck Berry. The Everly Brothers. The list goes on and on. I may not have known all the words, but I did know the song titles, the melodies and, yes, the artists. In fact, those cassettes might still be collecting dust in a box somewhere. If I had a cassette player, I could listen to them again.  

Styles come and go. Trends come and go. Music comes and goes. I may not like it, but I get it. Meanwhile, some artists transcend generations. Mick Jagger, apparently, is no longer one of them. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

I recently read an article about things we once used that are now obsolete. I shared it with some friends, and we added several more. See how many of these you can recall.

When I attended my daughter’s graduation ceremony a few years ago, the speaker asked the graduates to write a hand-written letter to 10 people who made a positive difference in their lives. He jokingly explained how to address an envelope and place a stamp, but there was truth in his message. When was the last time you sent or received a postcard? Or a love letter? 

More than a decade ago, I bought my mother a GPS device for her car so she could avoid getting lost. When she realized she needed to give up driving, she gave it back to me. I tried it out, and the 4-inch screen and the clunky application made me yearn for a printed map. Then I realized how many people never had the pleasure of unfolding and refolding a map. 

The landline telephone was helpful, or at least the people on the other end of the line were. Remember dialing directory assistance for phone numbers? Or calling theaters for movie times? Or reaching out to an operator for the time? Who remembers long distance charges? I could make calls to out-of-town friends, but Mom said to keep it under a minute to minimize the fees. 

Do you remember when you had to memorize phone numbers, or at least have them written down? Did you have a list taped inside your cupboard? Or did you dial *69 when you missed a call? When was the last time you heard a busy signal rather than being sent directly to voicemail? And when did you last use a public pay phone? 

I remember being in awe the first time I used a fax machine. In time, I bought one for our home that was incredibly annoying to callers who were greeted with the screeching sound. We still have a fax machine at work, but I don’t think anyone knows how to use it — including me. 

Radio and TV have changed a lot, too. I recall being a kid in my bunk bed at night with my transistor radio tuned in to WOW 590 out of Omaha, listening to Wolf Man Jack. On the TV, the goal of kids my age was to stay up so late that the TV stations would sign off and the static would appear. Do you remember thinking how high-tech you were when you programmed the recording of TV shows on your VCR? 

The list goes on. Which ones have I missed? Or what other items of today will soon be obsolete? Shoot me a note and let me know. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

I was talking with a friend the other day about implementing change to create growth, and I was reminded of a five-step process that has been cemented in my mind as a result of my experiences. Each of us has our own way of doing things, but there are a few common, underlying principles that seem to work in the various aspects of our lives, whether those be at work, with various organizations, in our family lives, or with our hobbies. Whether you are the leader or a team member, you can help by seeing that these five steps happen. See if you agree.

1. Create a vision. If you are leading the charge, you better have a plan you can clearly communicate to everyone involved. If you are not leading the charge, you have every right to ask what the vision is. Plans do change, but we all need to know the overall mission in a way we can understand — and the simpler that vision is, the better.

2. Clearly define expectations. Each of us plays a role, and each role is equally important. A football team may have a linebacker who dominates every defensive play, but that doesn’t mean the team is going to win. Every player must do his or her part to be victorious. If you are the leader, clearly define everyone’s role and the expectations you have — in writing. If you are another part of the team, ask what is expected of you, and then make sure you do it.

3. Hold everyone accountable. The first two steps are useless unless this step is implemented. Criticizing those in charge is easy, and most all of us have done it. This criticism is often a result of us responding to being called out when we don’t do what we were supposed to do. But if what is expected of us is clearly defined and agreed upon, then we have no right to criticize — and we don’t need to make excuses. We simply need to face up to our shortfalls and regroup so we succeed on the next step.

4. Celebrate the victories. Taking time to enjoy our successes and applaud each other’s work are vital. Studies show that most all of us appreciate bonuses and perks, but the No. 1 thing we want is a thank you. As a boss, an employee, a co-worker, a parent, a child, a sibling or a friend, we want to know we are appreciated. That’s why we need to make time to celebrate the victories and thank each other publicly and in meaningful ways.

5. Rinse and repeat. A guy I used to work with on our company outings would often tell me, “You are only as good as your last event.” His point was that nobody cares about your prior successes; they only care about what you are doing right now. So we celebrate our successes, and then we get back to work and figure out how to do it again… and again… and again.

Does all this ring a bell? Do you do something similar in your work or personal lives? Drop me a note and share your experiences.

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

People clearly want to know who and what local residents feel are the “best.” It is why they search on the internet and read customer reviews. But, unfortunately, those results are often skewed by scammers and firms that assist with “reputation management.” 

So, how does one truly know who or what is the best locally? We created a way to uncover those answers last year with our Best of Guthrie County poll, and we are pleased to bring it to you again.

Yes, it is round 2 of this fun competition, and, as I stated last year, it is important to note that the winners are not based on our opinions but are the results of the votes of our readers. That is an important distinction the naysayers often miss. 

The poll and its categories will certainly change in years to come, but our second effort is much like our first. You will once again have 82 categories to vote in. Best pizza. Best pastor. Best park. You get the idea. Simply fill in the blanks in one category or all 82.

The poll will be promoted in our publications, emails, social media and mailers to encourage widespread participation throughout the county. Please take the time to vote and share the link with your family, neighbors, co-workers and anyone in Guthrie County and encourage them to do the same. Last year, a total of 471 votes were cast in this poll, and we hope to exceed that this year. 

We make voting incredibly easy. You can choose to vote in just one category, or you can vote in all 82. But, just like the political elections, once you submit your choices, you can’t go back. In case you are wondering, we catch the cheaters who try to vote more than once and throw those votes out, so don’t even try. Click here for the poll rules and the link to vote. 

I thank you in advance for voting and for helping us to recognize the people, places, businesses and events that make Guthrie County so great. 

Thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

I am not a cowboy, but I do have the boots — or at least I used to. 

Here’s the story. For one reason or another, I was late to the game in learning how to tie my shoes. In fact, I was the only kid in my kindergarten class who failed to figure it out. It wasn’t due to a lack of effort on my part. I tried and tried to learn how to tie my shoes. All I ended up doing was tying strings around my fingers. It was frustrating, even for a 5-year-old. I have a similar struggle today with an iron, as I just seem to iron one wrinkle into another. Someday I will figure it out, but back to the shoe-tying dilemma of my youth.

No worries. I had a solution — cowboy boots. Yes, cowboy boots. Simple to put on. Simple to take off. And none of those annoying shoelaces. They weren’t fashion friendly with shorts, but I mostly went barefoot in the summer months anyway. When the school year rolled around, this kid looked like Roy Rogers, sans Trigger, of course. 

In case you are wondering, I wasn’t a farm kid. I grew up in town, so I was urban cowboy before urban cowboy was cool. But a trendsetter, I was not. No other kid in my class wore cowboy boots, not even the farm kids. They all knew how to tie their shoes. 

I did eventually learn this life skill, sometime in the first grade. I may not remember the exact date, but I know it was a glorious moment. After a few years of others showing me how easy this was, I finally figured it out. Something just clicked, and I then proudly showed everyone how I could tie my shoes. Most didn’t understand my moment of pride, but that’s OK. They also didn’t wear cowboy boots to kindergarten class. 

Now if I could just figure out the iron. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707