So I thought it might be interesting to start a series on random, weird, interesting, fun things to do or places to go before you die. For our first installment, I’ll review one of Delaware’s freak-show; I mean side-show attractions called the Punkin Chunkin. When I first heard about it, I said, “huh?” Then I thought…awesome, I want to see that. But alas, I missed the 2009 event. There’s always next year—I hope.
I realize that some of you are still wondering what a Punkin Chunkin festival is, so I won’t delay any longer. And if you’re the game-show type I bet you already have it figured out. People build trebuchets (that’s a real fancy 50-cent word for catapult) and cannons and toss pumpkins in the air to see how far they can go.
This Thanksgiving at 8 p.m. the science channel is actually hosting a show that will honor the “engineers” that participate in the festival. Here is a blurb from the Web site.
“Punkin Chunkin covers every angle of the intense competition from growing special, aerodynamic pumpkins and determining the perfect pumpkin’s mass to the mechanics of the air cannon and the physics of catapults.”
Now that is serious stuff folks. Visit the site to get the low-down on next year’s festival, shop for chunk gear, and order the DVD of the official World Championship Punkin Chunkin. And finally, if you’re planning on going next year, practice the anthem so you can sing along at the opening ceremonies.
The Punkin Chunkin Anthem, written in 1989 by William and Dawn Thompson
It was the end of October, the beginning of November.
The air was cold and clear and I said, boys listen here,
I think I can make a punkin fly.
John said, cannot. I said, can too.
So we put that punkin in a bucket, swung around, away it flew.
John said, no fair. We said, hell, it’s in the air.
So the challenge was made and the gauntlet was laid
To build a machine to power a punkin through the air.
John said, springs are the way to go. Bill said, I don’t believe so.
It’s Punkin Chunkin time again.
Come on, all you neighbors and friends.
I’ll show you how to make a punkin fly … rain, snow, or blow.
Them punkins are gonna go!
Here are a couple of photos from the World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association. Yup, there’s an association for this.
The headline of today’s post is one of my favorite lines from a movie I love called Elf. Will Ferrell is hilarious as Buddy, an adopted Elf who leaves the North Pole and travels to Manhattan to meet his dad. While visiting his dad at work, he answers the phone, “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?” One day, I would like to work in a place where I can answer the phone that way.
Things have been busy for me lately and so less time for “observing” potential topics for this blog. But what I have noticed lately—which is kind of hard to miss—are the beautiful colors of the leaves. The trees have been building up their food reserves for the winter and the little leaves are shriveling up and dying. But boy do they go out in a blaze of glory.
And after reading an article about colors in Marketing News, a magazine published by the American Marketing Association, I thought it would be fun to talk about how we can use colors to influence people’s perceptions of brands, buying behavior, and moods. How you decorate your living room is your own business. Various cultures have different views on colors and what they mean, but below are some general color associations that I got from a Web site called Buzzle.com.
I believe that blue is the color most often used in business. And it makes sense considering how the color is perceived. Orange and red are often used in fast food—cheap and quick. Can you think of brands you like and the colors they use? Based on the descriptions above, do those colors accurately reflect how you feel about the brand? Something to think about.
And in answer to Buddy’s question, my favorite color is green. But I sure do like seeing all of the colors in nature. And while this has nothing to do with colors, I feel compelled to note that Office Max created some great buzz about their brand by developing the Elf Yourself video application through JibJab. Creativity and innovation can cause something to spread as virally as the swine flu. Try it, it’s fun.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the veterans on this very special day—Veterans Day. November 11 is a U.S. holiday that was originally established to honor the end of World War 1, when the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. Later, it was changed to honor all veterans.
In times of war we tend to be more aware of the sacrifices that our military men and women and their families make. And since I’m right in the middle of watching the series Army Wives (through Netflix), I’ve been even more attuned to the hardships and sacrifices they make so that we and others can live free.
My friend Amy just mentioned on Facebook that she visited Pearl Harbor today. I think it’s a good idea for everyone to visit some of our national monuments and remember and honor those who have served and are still serving. Places like the Vietnam, Korean, and World War II memorials in D.C.; the World War II museum in New Orleans; Arlington Cemetery; and many local museums and memorials in states around the country are awaiting you.
From the Observation Deck 