GO BUCKS! President Obama Gets the Buckeye Spirit

President Barack Obama helps spell out "O-H-I-O" with the Weithman family: Rachel, 9, Josh, 11, and mom Rhonda, in their home in Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 18, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Ohio State 2010 Football Schedule

Thu, Sep 02 Marshall Columbus, Ohio 7:30 p.m. Alumni Band Day

Sat, Sep 11 Miami(FL) Columbus, Ohio 3:40 p.m.

Sat, Sep 18 Ohio Univ. Columbus, Ohio 12:00 p.m.

Sat, Sep 25 Eastern Michigan Columbus, Ohio TBA Hall of Fame

Sat, Oct 02 Illinois * at Champaign, Ill. TBA

Sat, Oct 09 Indiana * Columbus, Ohio TBA

Sat, Oct 16 Wisconsin * at Madison, Wis. 7:15 p.m.

Sat, Oct 23 Purdue * Columbus, Ohio 12:00 p.m. Homecoming

Sat, Oct 30 Minnesota * at Minneapolis, Minn. 8:00 p.m.

Sat, Nov 13 Penn State * Columbus, Ohio TBA

Sat, Nov 20 Iowa * at Iowa City, Iowa TBA

Sat, Nov 27 Michigan * Columbus, Ohio TBA

* Conference Games


The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.

First Peeps & Company Store Opens New DC

Are you a fan of the multi-colored marshmallow Peeps? Well, if you are, you'll love the latest store to hit DC's National Harbor -- the first ever brick and mortar Peeps and Company store. There are more than 850 incarnations of the sticky candy in the new venture, from the standard yellow to chocolate covered, as well as novelties based on the Peeps such as spun glass Peeps. My favorite, though, is the company car: a yellow VW Bug with a huge yellow Peep on top. Watch this video for the full scope.



For more info, read this article: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-12-09-peeps-store_N.htm


Copyright 2009 (text only). The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.

From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen

The Boss is 60. Can you believe it? And to celebrate there is a fab new exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. That's cool. More jarring is the AARP cover featuring Springsteen, but hey -- he's a baby boomer too.

Anyway, Happy Birthday, Mr. Springsteen. Long may you rock.


Copyright 2009 (text only). The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.

Barack O'Lanterns: Yes We Carve!

With Halloween just days before Election Day, pumpkin fever has struck the Obama Faithful -- momentarily creating orange states out of red, blue and purple. In fact, Yes We Carve is holding a contest for the best Obamakin -- win an iPod! Also, there are photos galore of the lengths Obama supporters are going to via squashes around the nation. If you are feeling the need to join the fun, stencils you can believe in have been provided so you, too, can Change Your Pumpkin and Change the World, Be the Change We Seed, um, well, you get it. Remember, Every Pumpkin Counts!



Copyright 2008 (text only. The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.

Happy Birthday Ohio Art: Makers of the Etch A Sketch Turn 100

One of my favorite toys from childhood was a the Etch A Sketch -- and it's not just cuz I'm a born and bred Buckeye. More than 150 million Etch A Sketches have been sold by the Bryan, Ohio-based Ohio Art Co. since the toy was introduced in 1960. Ohio Art, founded in Archbold, Ohio in 1908, will mark its 100th anniversary this month (October).

The toy was first developed by a French electrician and then perfected by Ohio Art's engineers. Since the toy's introduction in 1960, some enterprising folks have developed an amazing level of skill and creativity with the device, using Etch A Sketches to create remarkably detailed drawings.

Ohio Art was founded by a dentist who decided to put his plaster casting skills to different use. The company moved to Bryan in 1912 and installed metal lithography equipment to begin stamping picture frames from wood-grained metal. From there, it was an easy step in 1917 to begin stamping metal toys -- Ohio Art's first toy line debuted with windmills and moved on to climbing monkeys, miniature tea sets and -- to the horror of parents everywhere -- drums. Many of the company's earliest toys have become collectibles -- some with very cult-like followings.

Etch A Sketch is probably Ohio Art’s best known creation, but its current lineup of toys also includes the Betty Spaghetty dolls, Magna Doodle, Doodle Doug and K’s Kids infant and toddler toys. Sixty percent of the company’s products go to just five big retailers, including Wal-Mart and Toys R Us. In fact, it was Wal-Mart's persistent pressure on the bottom line that eventually forced Ohio Art to move its toy production to China. The company held out until the 1990s, when they were one of the last toy manufacturers to capitulate. K’s Kids is the company’s way of offering toys created especially for small, independently owned mom-and-pop stores -- more power to Ohio Art there.

A little over 100 people work at Ohio Art’s Bryan site, which also sports a busy metal lithography operation that accounts for almost a third of their business. The company makes specialty metal containers for everything from perfume to liquor, DVDs to chewing tobacco

Ohio Art has recently developed a very special package of its own — the tin box that will contain the anniversary Etch A Sketch it has unveiled in conjunction with its centennial. The Etch A Sketch will be featured on QVC -- and the holidays are just around the corner!

Happy Birthday, Ohio Art -- and many happy returns. Keep doing your best to keep those home-grown Buckeye jobs on American soil, and keep making children happy all over the world. Me, I'll continue to keep my mini Etch A Sketch on my desk at work -- for stress relief and lighter moments. :)

Draw your own Etch A Sketch creation!

Copyright 2008. The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.