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Abraham and Marianna Ramseier Zurflug

Our Swiss connection - part 11
Posted by Fred Steiner on January 28, 2021 - 10:34am

This is the 11th installment in this series. Click here for the previous installment.

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Icon book review: Talking to Strangers

A look at miscommunication
Posted by Fred Steiner on January 24, 2021 - 10:08pm

Review by Robert McCool
“Talking to Strangers” is a look at miscommunication.

Malcom Gladwell's 2019 nonfiction book is a look at how communication fails when there are no common expectations between strangers in the language they use.

“Talking to Strangers” (Hachette Book Group, ISBN978-0-316-47852-6) presents cases where spoken language is subverted by non-verbal cues that can be misconstrued by the observer to mean something other than what they are meant to be.

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Forgotten Bluffton: The oil boom of the 1890s

500 oil wells were pumping oil around Bluffton during this era
Posted by Fred Steiner on January 24, 2021 - 1:00pm

You’ve heard the term “oil boom” as it relates to the history of Bluffton. What exactly does the term mean and what is its significance? (The oil boom here meant both oil wells and natural gas wells.)

Note: Check one of the photos at the bottom of this story. It shows one of seven wells shot on the Rev. Chris Badertscher farm on Bentley Road in 1898. At that time, oil sold for 80 cents a barrel. Rev. Badertscher was offered $20,000 for the oil rights but refused to sell. The well was pumped for 15 years.

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Peter and Anna Aeschlimann Badertscher

Our Swiss connection - part 10
Posted by Fred Steiner on January 21, 2021 - 6:57am

This is the 10th installment in this series. Click here for the previous installment.

Peter Badertscher, a skilled cabinet maker and carpenter, was born Sept. 29, 1805, to Christian (1720-1838) and Barbara Gerber (1784-1855) in Bagischwand Emmenthal, Canton Bern, Switzerland. Peter had another brother, John, who remained in Switzerland with his parents.

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Is my generation “soft”?

I have faith in our decency, and I hope to help people learn about why some things are considered “offensive.”
Posted by Fred Steiner on January 18, 2021 - 2:25pm

By Amelia Alexander
One of the characteristics that other generations use to describe Gen Z is “soft.”  Maybe that’s true.

I do believe that we are more sensitive than other generations. Our generation wants to set boundaries. Many members of Generation Z want to create an environment where people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, and races feel safe.  We live in a free country. As a patriot, I believe that we need to respect people’s individual liberties that do not harm others.

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Icon music review: The four most anticipated albums of early 2021

From Drake, Willie Nelson, Foo Fighters and Evanescence
Posted by Fred Steiner on January 17, 2021 - 8:49pm

Reviewed by Craig Hoffman 
The calendar has flipped to 2021. That means a fresh start for everyone. This includes the music industry. This year should bring with it a ton of great new music from the biggest names in the industry. Here are several albums we are looking forward to in the first part of this year!

What new music releases are you eager to listen to this year? Let the Icon know in the comments!

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