HAPPY FRIDAY!

5 For Friday July 12

Friday frolic greetings!

Whoop!  Whoop!  The weekend has arrived (well, almost).

COULD I HAVE PASSED THE 8TH GRADE IN 1895
Absolutely not!  Holy cow!
I couldn’t even pass it as I typed it out to share today at my age of 39 and holding for x amount of years in a row.  Ha
No wonder those who have gone before us — as in way before us — figured out how to do what they did and build a country and foundations of  …
Just WOW!  Humbling.
And these 8th graders passed without GOOGLE at their fingertips!
Impressive, inspiring and I also realize I’m not all that sassy smart as I’d like to think I am.

QUICK QUESTION
What never fails to make me laugh?
Memories from back in the day and revisiting them on my own or with family and friends.
Side splitting laughter!  Always!
You?

FILM CREW
OUCH THAT HAD TO HURT!
Column by Peter is an intriguing read.  Who knew?
Well Peter did because of the number of big shows and the pros he worked with for so many years.
Yes, I remember Terry Leonard — legendary stuntman — who directed 2nd unit on American Outlaws because I, too, was there.
117 degrees every day in Palestine, Texas.  Regardless of the heat and the ratings the show received — it was super cool to work on.
Terry is a class act and well revered by all stunt professionals and crew.

And the stunt men and women are larger than life for sure – they know it and so do we.

CARNITAS RECIPE
Is outstanding!
I could eat these carnitas for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Pepsi?  Yep.

STACY’S WORLD
Will be back next Friday!
Excited!
I happen to be privy to some of the ideas she’s thinking about for her upcoming columns.
Not sure which one she’s gonna write a week from today but —
Guarantee you won’t wanna miss it.  Always greatness.

THANKS EVERYONE
For popping in today + sharing + caring.
We feel the love and we love ya back!

COULD YOU HAVE PASSED THE
8TH GRADE — IN 1895?

And the story goes …
In 1895 the 8th grade was considered upper level education.  This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 from Salina, KS.  It was taken from the original document of file at the Smoky Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, KS and reprinted by the Salina Journal.

8th Grade Final Exam:  Salina, KS – 1895

Grammar (Time, one hour)

  1. Give nine rules for the use of Capital Letters.
  2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no modifications.
  3. Define Verse, Stanza and Paragraph.
  4. What are the Principal Parts of a verb?  Give Principal Parts of do, lie, lay and run.
  5. Define Case, Illustrate each Case.
  6. What is Punctuation?  Give rules for principal marks of Punctuation.7
  7.  – 10.  Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time 1.25 hours)

  1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
  2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide.  How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
  3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs., what is it worth at 50 cents per bushel, deducting 1050 lbs for tare?
  4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000.  What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
  5. Find cost of 6,270 lbs coal at $6.00 per ton.
  6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
  7. What is the cost of 40 boards – 12 inches wide and 16 feet long at $20 per m (1,000 units)?
  8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
  9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance around which is 640 rods?
  10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.  U.S.

History (Time, 45 minutes)

  1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided.
  2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
  3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
  4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
  5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
  6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
  7. Who were the following:  Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
  8. Name events connected with the following dates:  1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, and 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour)

  1. What is meant by the following:  Alphabet, phonetic orthography, etymology, syllabication?
  2. What are elementary sounds?  How are they classified?
  3. What are the following, and give examples of each:  Trigraph, subvocals, dipthong, cognate letters, linguals?
  4. Give four substitutes for caret ‘u’.
  5. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling.  Illustrate each.
  6. Give two rules for spelling words with the final ‘e’.  Name two exception under each rule.
  7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word:  Bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, super.
  8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound:  Card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell rise, blood, fare, last.
  9. Use the following correctly in sentences:  Cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
  10. Name 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)

  1. What is climate?  Upon what does climate depend?
  2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
  3. Of what use are rivers?  Of what use is the ocean?
  4. Describe the mountains of N.A.
  5. Name and describe the following:  Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fermandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.
  6. Name and locate the principle trade centers of the U.S.
  7. Name all the republics of Europe and give capital of each.
  8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude.
  9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
  10. Describe the movement of the earth.  Give inclination of the earth.

~ from my wonderful collection of emails
this one from 2001

5 For Friday July 12
FILM CREW
5 For Friday July 12
5 For Friday July 12

QUICK QUESTION

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEVER
FAILS TO MAKE YOU LAUGH?

OUCH THAT HAD TO HURT!
FILM CREW 101
BY PETER CLARSON

This week’s fascinating FILM CREW topic is – Stuntmen.  The men and women who captivate audiences with heart-pounding scenes on the Big Screen and Television.

If you’re like most people I’ve met, we are exceedingly entertained by action-packed movies.  And action-packed means lots of stunts.

These electrifying challenges are executed rather than performed.  Performance better describes Actors who dance, debate or cry on cue.  Or television wrestlers.

Stuntemen are the guys/gals we grew up with who had just one speed — wide open.

They dove into the ocean from that place known as “Dead Man’s Drop,” launched dirt bikes to great altitudes (forgetting for the moment – What goes up, must come down) and never walked away from a double dare.  They were loud, colorful and full excitement.  They were also the ones we voted, Most Likely to Never Reach Age 25.

This rough and tumble breed spring into action by crashing, racing, falling, jumping and allowing themselves to be set on fire — over and over again.  Their stamina is amazing.

Stuntmen do not dance, debate or cry.  They’d die before they’d cry.

But how many times can a body fall from a racing horse, survive a high speed car crash, jump from a screaming locomotive or free fall from a ten story building?

“Until it’s right,” a stuntman offers matter-of-factly, limping back for another TAKE.

Lots of Stuntmen specialize:  fast driving, high falls, fire gags, trick horse riding and fighting scenes.  Many are multi-talented.

Motion Picture stunts are carefully choreographed and safety is the prime consideration.

Safe Stunt?  An Oxymoron.  But huge precautions are implemented to minimize the risks.

Curiously, these daredevils are neither categorized as Actors or Film Crew.  Their work is seen in front of the camera and so they are paid according to the Screen Actor’s Guild scale.  Some of the more complex stunts are awarded adjustments.  Meaning – a multiple amount of the SAG allowance, maybe a triple scale, or a lump payment.  One famous Pro told me he was paid $80,000 for barrel rolling a stock car in DAYS OF THUNDER.

In general, Stuntmen collect an annual six-figure income.  Membership into the Stuntman’s Association or Stunts Unlimited requires a prospective applicant to show a history of earning $100,000+ a year.

Like the guys/gals we remember from High School, Stuntmen are a tight fellowship tending to hang-out with their “own.”

They are thrill seekers, fueled with full-throttle adrenaline and have egos the size of Rhode Island.

Unlike other non-comformists, Stuntmen generally are not fond of body art or skin piercing.  I remember only ONCE seeing a simple tattoo on a Stuntman’s forearm.  It read:  Blood Type – O Pos.

Glorifying the Star of the show is often their mission.  On 2nd Unit of AMERICAN OUTLAWS, Colin Farrel’s Stunt-double accomplished just that.
With reins clenched between his teeth and a pistol in each hand, he fearlessly rode a horse into a charging Infantry.

On, “CUT,” our Director, legendary Stuntman, Terry Leonard, enthusiastically complimented, “Way to make the actor look like a hero, kid!”

Bear in mind that Stuntmen don’t just turn up and Set and say, “Let’s Get it on.”

They spend countless hours practicing their craft.  On their own time without cameras.

They are top notch perfectionists.  They are their own harshest critics and tirelessly drive themselves to become better and bolder.  Always pushing the envelope.

They have zero tolerance for wimps and sport t-shirts proclaiming such bravado as –– GO BIG OR GO HOME.

What goes through a guy’s head as he’s strapped into a 70s muscle car scripted to race up a pipe ramp and hurtle sideways through a forty-foot trailer, ultimately bursting into flames?

Fear?

Nope.

I had a front row seat and witnessed this almost unbelievable stunt while working in Los Angeles.  It was perfectly executed and thrilling to watch.  I later asked the stunt driver, “How was the ride?”

He grinned, “Awesome!”

No fear.

Are these elite characters who thrive on action to the maximum heroes or maniacs?  Courageous or foolish?  Whatever it is, stunt people do the things you and I would never attempt anywhere, anytime.

If we did, we just might cry.

CARNITAS RECIPE
serves 4-6

Traditional, taco stand-style fork tender pork, slowly simmered in a sweet and spicy marinade.  Our top-secret (well, it was until now, anyway) :  Pepsi!  Trust us, it’s phenomenal.  You can pile carnitas into warm flour tortillas with guacamole and salsa and serve with beans and rice.  Or serve it just like BBQ pork — it’s even great at a picnic with soft rolls, potato salad and corn on the cob.

HERE’S HOW TO MAKE IT:
INGREDIENTS –

  • 3 pounds pork butt or shoulder
  • 1 TBSP Fuego Spice Mix (recipe follows)
  • 1 orange, quartered
  • 1 1/2 tsp chopped garlic
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 cup Pepsi Cola, plus additional, as needed
  • 3/4 cup shortening
  • 1 cup Agua Negra Marinade (recipe follows)

TO MAKE THE CARNITAS:

  1. Trim away the excess fat from the pork.  (Remember to buy more meat in weight than you need, since you will trim some weight off in fat)
  2. Cut the meat into 3-inch cubes.
  3. Dust the pork with the Fuego Spice Mix and press to adhere well.
  4. Squeeze juice from the orange quarters into a large airtight container.  Add the peels.
  5. Add the garlic, cumin, pepper, Pepsi and mix to combine well.
  6. Add the seasoned meat cubes and marinate in the refrigerator overnight.

WHEN READY TO COOK THE MEAT THE NEXT DAY:

  1. Remove meat from marinade and reserve the marinade.
  2. Meanwhile, place the shortening in a large, heavy skillet and melt over high heat.  Watch closely.
  3. When the fat (shortening) is smoking, add the pork pieces and brown for about 15 minutes, turning occasionally.
  4. Add the reserved marinade and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the pork is tender and dark brown.
  5. As the meat cooks, add additional Pepsi to cover, as needed.

FUEGO SPICE MIX
Makes 1 cup

Here’s the rub:  this fiery spice blend is perfect for seasoning grilled steaks, chops, chicken and fish.  Just rub it on the meat right before cooking.  You can add a pinch to sauteed vegetables, too.  Or use it to season, french fries and popcorn.

  • 1/4 cup paprika
  • 2 tsps cayenne
  • 2 TBSP salt
  • 1 TBSP ground black pepper
  • 2 TBSP granulated garlic
  • 2 TBSP chile powder
  • 2 TBSP oregano

Combine all ingredients, mixing well.  Store in an airtight container out of direct sunlight for up to 6 months.

AGUA NEGRA MARINADE
Makes about 3 1/4 cups

Admit it.  You’re wondering what soy sauce is doing in a Mexican recipe.  Well, sometimes “Fresh Mex” means looking at familiar things in a fresh new way.  Besides being great on an egg roll, soy sauce is one of those secret ingredients that chefs use to wake up the flavor of all kinds of food.  Agua Negra is great for basic backyard barbecued steaks and chicken, too.  Just marinate 1 hour to overnight.

  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 2 cups pineapple juice
  • 2 TBSP ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

Combine all ingredients with a whisk in a mixing bowl, making sure to break up any lumps of spices.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

~ Carnitas + Fuego Spice Mix + Aua Negra Marinade courtesy Chevy’s and Rio Bravo’s Fresh Mex Restaurants

PEOPLE CAN’T DRIVE YOU CRAZY
IF YOU DON’T GIVE THEM THE KEYS.

WISHING ALL A GRAND WEEKEND!
CATCH YA MONDAY.
SAME TIME.
SAME PLACE.

11 replies
  1. Trent Garrison says:

    Love Peter’s story about stuntmen! Taps into the thrill seeker in me, for sure. Thanks for making my day!

    • Cheryl Clarson says:

      Hi Trent –

      Does not surprise me that it “taps into the thrill seeker” in you! Ha!

      Peter was a great observer and friend to all on Set.
      So, yes sir, this a one-of-a-kind column.

      We thank you for your support and joining in the conversation.

      MATTERS!

  2. Carol says:

    Other than admiring the actions of stuntmen – and sometimes gasping or WOWing or wondering how in the heck did he do that – I hadn’t really thought about the personality types that would be drawn to action packed, thrilling scenes. I am impressed. At their dedication. At their perfectionism. At their talent. At their willingness to take the chance. At their execution. At their delight upon completion. Yes, film making is a complicated art. I look at movies in an entirely different light since being exposed to Film 101. Thanks DayMaker!

    • Cheryl Clarson says:

      Hi Carol –

      You are absolutely correct in wondering the WOWing and wondering how in the heck do they (stuntpeople) do that?

      Working on Set – as Crew – we all wonder the same!
      These professionals are definitely one-of-a-kind men and women.

      Delights me that you are enjoying the Film Crew episodes!
      Up close and personal stories from working on shows.

      Your love and support for Daymaker absolutely gives me “juice” to create the next post.

      Thank you!

  3. Marty says:

    Dear Daymaker, I love reading about STUNTMEN.

    I assume 95% percent are men? And yes I assume men are often dressed as women as they ride their horse off cliffs to the river below, ride their horses through fire or cough their way through the Dirty 30’s film making.

    PS I have an adult grandson who is and has been an adrenaline junky since babyland.

    He has broken more bones than I knew were in the body! It’s going to be interesting when the aching body says no more, yet my darling grandson most likely will nod his head YES, this one more time!

    • Cheryl Clarson says:

      Hey Marty –

      Yep, regarding the larger percentage of stuntmen are men.
      Of course, there are women. But not so many. Based on my experience working on Set.

      We appreciate ya, Marty for reading + sharing + caring.

      MEANINGFUL.

Comments are closed.