All American Hot Dog?

Here's something I have learned this week about the wiener.  Did you know a hot dog is not just a hot dog in other parts of the United States?  The All American Hot Dog, just like all other pedigrees, has many different names.

Let's start in the midwest and work east.... Chicago, of course, is the "Red Hot".  Vienna Beef loaded with a dill spear, peppers, neon green relish, and celery salt.  In Detroit, Land of the Coney Island, "Detroit Style" is messy.  More chili than dog that has to be eaten with a fork and napkins, plenty of them.  Cincinnati has the "German Wienerwurst" smothered in tomatoes, pickles, onions, and hot peppers.  Options include chili and cheddar.  Cleveland, just ask for a "burnt dog"... no thank you.

Moving further east, The "Pittsburgh Dog" is a humongous, 18" tube of something wrapped in a hoagie bun with lettuce, tomato, coleslaw, and smoked provolone.  Washington, DC calls their top dogs "Half-smokes".  These are made from spiced, coursely ground beef and pork.  And lastly, and one quite frankly (no pun intended) I don't understand.... is Maine calling their pups "Red Snappers".  This screams lobsters to me, but then again.... I am from Illinois and the land of the "Red Hots"!  Apparently the red casings on these "Red Snappers" sputter on the grill and crunch in the mouth enough to be given this name.  Then they are covered with mayo/sweet onion relish and celery salt.

Everyone claims their dog to be the best, but for me..... I like golden retreivers!  LOL gotcha!

Have you completed your census today?

Did you complete the census? Most of us did, but do we really know any specifics? If we even care, my son asked me the other day how often it is sent out. When I didn’t know, I looked it up (Wikipedia) and found a few interesting facts that I thought were “blog worthy”.

The US Constitution requires the Federal Government to conduct a census every ten years. The last one being in 2001.

The results are used to allocate congressional seats (congressional apportionment), electoral votes, and government program funding.

The census is performed by the United States Census Bureau. The first census after the American Revolution was taken in 1790 under then Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. There have been 21 federal censuses since then.

Only the names of the heads of household and a general demographic accounting of the remaining members of the household were recorded for the first 6 censuses (1790-1840). Beginning in 1850 all members of the household were named. The first slave schedules were also completed in 1850 with the second, and last, in 1860. Censuses of the late 19th century included agricultural and industrial schedules to gauge the productivity of the nation’s economy. Mortality schedules were taken between 1850 and 1880 to capture a snapshot of life spans and causes of death throughout the country.

The first 9 censuses (1790-1870) were not managed by the Executive branch, but by the Judicial branch. The US federal court districts assigned US marshals, who hired assistant marshals to conduct the actual enumeration. Sounds familiar huh?

For more mumbo jumbo on the census go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Census

You never know when there’s going to be a quiz!!