Information

Americus
Legacy Name: Americus

The

Cherry Warador
Owner:

~~Lillie_Vale~~

Age: 14 years, 4 months, 3 weeks

Born: November 28th, 2009

Adopted: 14 years, 3 days ago

Adopted: April 22nd, 2010

Statistics

Level: 60
Strength: 78
Defense: 25
Speed: 25
Health: 50
HP: 50/50
Intelligence: 313
Books Read: 301
Food Eaten: 0
Job: Consulting Conservator

**NEWS* *SHOPS* *FORUMS* *EXPLORE* *INVENTORY* *GAMES**

NAME: A - mer - i - cus
NICKNAME: Mercus
BORN: November 28, 2009 (Adopted: April 22, 2010)(Morphed: 2/9/2012)
GENDER: Male
ORIENTATION: straight
EMPLOYMENT: Currently works at Fly Away Home, Balloon Corporation
HOBBIES: baseball (Red Sox), baking (pies)
FAVORITE COLOR: red, white, and blue
FAVORITE MOVIE: 'Easy Rider' (1969)
FAVORITE SONG: 'My Country, 'Tis of Thee' - Samuel Francis Smith
FAVORITE QUOTE: "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." - Abraham Lincoln
BIRTHSTONE: Topaz
ZODIAC BIRTH SIGN: Sagittarius
CHINESE ZODIAC BIRTH SIGN: The Year of the Ox
CELTIC ZODIAC SIGN: The Elder Tree
EGYPTIAN ZODIAC SIGN: Osiris
NATIVE AMERICAN ZODIAC SIGN: The Owl
BEST FRIEND : Independence the Freedom Poodle
PERSONALITY: patriotic, outspoken, protective, fiery, good friend
LIKES: the flag, baseball, apple pie, hot dogs, patriotism, USA, freedom, peace, reading, cooking
DISLIKES: war, terrorism, hate, bullying, laziness, illiteracy

HUMAN AVATAR CHARACTERISTICS:
HEIGHT: 6'6"
WEIGHT: 190 pounds
AGE: 26 years oldBUILD : muscular and heavy set but well toned
SPEAKS: English, French, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Russian (fluently)I.Q.: 145PLAYS: piano, violin, saxophone, guitar, trumpet, flute, drums, harmonica, and xylophoneCOMPLEXION: shadowy but healthy
EYE COLOR: light gray-blue
HAIR COLOR: dusky blue
DISTINGUISHING MARKS: none

HOW AMERICUS GOT HIS NAME:

His name is different. Odd really. Atypical. But...unique! How proud he is of the fact that he is named for the greatest country on the planet Earth by parents who emigrated to America when his Mother was eight months pregnant. They knew his name even before he was born; knew he was a boy - just knew.

His name had always been explained to him in the following manner since he was a young child and while in elementary school he often wrote papers about the origin of his name and why his parents wanted this name for him and what it meant and the history and...well you know. Their pride was extremely contagious and their story was an awe-inspiring subject.

"With documentation prepared by Amerigo Vespucci as his guide, he merely used the word Americus, the Latinized version of Amerigo, to indicate the New World."
.......Escape From America Without Leaving America

"Consequently, the entire Western Hemisphere eventually took on the name Americus which later became known as the Americas."
.......Escape From America Without Leaving America

"Vespucci was the Florentine navigator, mapmaker, and explorer who was the first to realize that his friend Christopher Columbus had discovered a brand-new continent, not some unknown shore of India, and who lent his name Amerigo (Americus in Latin) to this New World."
.....The Wall Street Journal, "The Monster of Florence"

Yes, he was teased for having an old, weird, off-beat name, but he didn't care...he felt privileged. He has always been told that his life, likes and loves are so cliche, but again, he just doesn't care! He has friends - good friends who totally get him (and his parents)!

He loves all things American instilled in him by parents who are proud to be American citizens. His Dad took him to all the baseball games - high school, college and pro. His Mother taught him all the beautiful patriotic songs. (He knew them all before he even started school.) His parents vacationed with him all over America all the while teaching him while having fun. He has eaten hot dogs in every city they vacationed in and will unequivocally admit that they are his absolute favorite food! Give him a hotdog and a slice of apple pie topped with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and a cup of coffee and he will be a friend for life!

AMERICUS' FAVORITE SONG (learned when he was just 3 years old):

~You're a Grand Old Flag ~ by George M. Cohan

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

AMERICA'S GAME HAS ITS OWN ANTHEM (baseball of course):

Take Me Out to the Ball Game
1908 Version
Author: Jack Norworth
Composer: Albert Von Tilzer
Published on: 1908, 1927
Published by: York Music Company

Katie Casey was base ball mad.
Had the fever and had it bad;
Just to root for the home town crew,
Ev'ry sou Katie blew.
On a Saturday, her young beau
Called to see if she'd like to go,
To see a show but Miss Kate said,
"No, I'll tell you what you can do."

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."

Katie Casey saw all the games,
Knew the players by their first names;
Told the umpire he was wrong,
All along good and strong.
When the score was just two to two,
Katie Casey knew what to do,
Just to cheer up the boys she knew,
She made the gang sing this song:

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."

Take Me Out to the Ball Game
1927 Version
Author: Jack Norworth Â©
Composer: Albert Von Tilzer
Published on: 1908, 1927
Published by: York Music Company

Nelly Kelly love baseball games,
Knew the players, knew all their names,
You could see her there ev'ry day,
Shout "Hurray," when they'd play.
Her boy friend by the name of Joe
Said, "To Coney Isle, dear, let's go,"
Then Nelly started to fret and pout,
And to him I heard her shout.

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."

Nelly Kelly was sure some fan,
She would root just like any man,
Told the umpire he was wrong,
All along, good and strong.
When the score was just two to two,
Nelly Kelly knew what to do,
Just to cheer up the boys she knew,
She made the gang sing this song.

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."

WHAT SAYS AMERICA MORE THAN (MOM) AND APPLE PIE!:

Apple pie comes in many different shapes, flavors and sizes, and from many countries. The first English recipes for apple pie date back to the late 14th century. Further research into the idiom “As American as apple pie” reveals that this particular one is a shortened version of its original, “As American as motherhood and apple pie,” intended to give that feel-good, wholesome sentiment.

Traditional Apple Pie:
Recipe courtesy Sandi Anderson

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 50 min
Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup shortening (recommended: Crisco)
Ice water

Filling, recipe follows
Serving suggestion: warm with vanilla ice-cream

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a medium-mixing bowl cut the shortening and salt into the flour by hand or with a pastry blender until it's the texture of cornmeal. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of ice water over the mixture and mix just until the dough is moistened. Repeat by adding 6 to 8 tablespoons water (one at a time) until all the dough is just moist. Take care not to over mix.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Divide the dough in half and roll into a ball. Roll 1 ball into a circle to fit a 9 to 10-inch pie plate. To transfer the pastry to the pie plate, wrap it around a rolling pin and ease it into the pie plate. Be careful not to stretch the pastry. Trim it even with the edges of the pie plate. Add the apple filling into the pastry lined pie plate. Make sure they are laying flat. Cut butter into small pieces and put on top of the filling.

Roll the remaining pastry into a 12-inch circle. Place on top of the filling. Trim off 1-inch beyond the edge of the pie plate. Crimp the edges as desired. Cut slits to allow steam to escape when baking. Sprinkle a little sugar and cinnamon over the pie.

Cover the edges with foil to prevent over browning. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until it is golden brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Filling:
1/2 cup to 1 cup all-purpose flour
6 to 7 cups apples cut into thin slices (recommended: Jonagold, Rome Beauty, Granny Smiths, and/or Pink Lady apples)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter

In a medium bowl combine the apples, with the brown and white sugar. Add flour, cinnamon and continue mixing until they are well coated.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

GOTTA HAVE VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH YOUR WARM APPLE PIE!:

The I Scream You Scream Song:
by Johnson, Moll, & King

In the land of ice and snow
Up among the Eskimo
There's a college known as Oogie-wawa.
You should hear those college boys
Gee, they make an awful noise
When they sing their Eskimo tra la la.
They've got a leader, big cheer leader, oh what a guy!
He's got a frozen face just like an Eskimo Pie.
When he says, "Come on, let's go!"
Though it's forty-five below
Listen what those Eskimo all holler:
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
Rah, rah...Oogie de wawa rah rah rah!
Tuesday, Monday, we all scream for Sundae!
Sis, boom, Aurora borealea, bah!
Boola boola
Sasparoola
We've got the chocolate
I'll take vanoola
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
Rah, rah, ice cream soda or gingerale pop!
Father mother
Sister brother
When they've had one at lion
They want another
Colleges may come and go
But the world will never know
Any other place like Oogie-wawa
Oxford, Cambridge, Eaton too
Football teams would all turn blue
When they played a game with Oogie-wawa
Those Esquimos looked mighty tough when they took the field
And people said, Ah, they're the team that never will yield
Then with gore and flying fur
Just to show how tough they were
All those Esquimos began to holler

Iceberg, Lindberg, Sol Berg and Ginzberg,Ice cream Cohen.
I scream, you scream, everybody wants ice cream.
Rah, rah, raaazberry!

~ Ice Cream Consumption Facts: from MakeIceCream.com

Each American consumes a yearly average of 23.2 quarts of ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, ices and other commercially produced frozen dairy products.

The Northern Central states have the highest per capita consumption of ice cream at 41.7 quarts. The top three cities in America that purchase the most ice cream on a per capita basis are: Portland, Oregon; St. Louis, Missouri; and Seattle, Washington.

More ice cream is sold on Sunday than any other day of the week.

Ice cream consumption is highest during July and August. July is National Ice Cream Month.

Children ages two through 12, and adults age 45 plus, eat the most ice cream per person.

The average number of licks to polish off a single scoop ice cream cone is approximately 50.

98 percent of all households purchase ice cream.

BARBEQUE, BASEBALL GAME, PICNIC, STREET VENDOR - HOTDOGS SAY AMERICA:

How Hot Dogs are Made: The Real Story

There are many tall tales about the way in which hot dogs are made, but the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council is eager to tell the real story.

First, specially selected meat trimmings of beef and/or pork -- just like the meat you buy in your grocer's case -- are cut or ground into small pieces and placed in a mixer. When poultry hot dogs are made, poultry trimmings are used.

High speed, stainless steel choppers blend the meat, spices, ice chips and curing ingredients into an emulsion or batter. The mixture is continuously weighed to assure a proper balance of all ingredients.

The mixture is then pumped into an automatic stuffer/linker machine, where it flows into casings. The most popular brands of hot dogs use cellulose casings, which are later removed. Some wieners use natural casings, which remain on the wiener when it is eaten. These wieners are considered more "traditional," are frequently made by smaller manufacturers and tend to cost a little more.

Once the casings are filled, they are linked into long strands of hot dogs and moved to the smokehouse, there they are fully cooked under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. They may be hardwood smoked for added color and flavor.

After passing through the smoke and cook cycle, the hot dogs are showered in cool water. If the hot dogs were made with cellulose casings, they are sent to an automatic peeler, where the cellulose "skin" is stripped away.

The individual links are then conveyed to the packaging equipment. When cellulose casings are used, the hot dogs are of exact size and weight. They are vacuum sealed in plastic films to protect the freshness and flavor of the hot dog. Because the casings on natural casings wieners are made from cleaned and processed animal intestines, they are of similar, but not exact, size.

Each package of hot dogs contains an ingredient statement, which lists everything that goes into the product. These days, it is less common to use variety meats such as hearts in hot dogs. When they are added, the package will clearly state "with variety meats." The particular variety meat used also will be listed in the ingredient statement. Nutrition labels also are included on hot dog packages, showing calories and nutrients per serving.

The entire process, from meat and poultry trimmings to being boxed and placed on the truck for delivery to retailers, can be measured in a matter of hours. The process also is carefully regulated and inspected for wholesomeness by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.