DAILY DIRT: When it comes to rock siblings, we start with the Bee Gees and work down

If Michael had remained with the Jackson 5, would they have eventually been No. 1? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 928 of The Daily Dirt.

1. It’s no secret that we love music at the world headquarters of The Daily Dirt.

But we love rankings tied to music even more.

Today’s topic deals with groups of the rock era with siblings included in their creative mix. Here’s our top five, plus a few honorable mentions to talk about

• 1. Bee Gees: The overall volume of this group’s work, plus how Barry, Robin and Maurice evolved as musicians over the years, made them an easy pick for No. 1
• 2. Jackson 5: I’ve often wondered if Michael had remained with the Jackson brothers how music history might have been altered? I would guess Tito, Jermaine, Randy and Jackie have thought about that, too.
• 3. Creedence Clearwater Revival: It’s a shame John and Tom Fogerty could not get along. I don’t know whose fault it ever was for all the trouble within this talented band, but rock fans were the overall losers.
• 4. Heart: No combination of siblings have put on a better show than Ann and Nancy Wilson. Or sounded better.
• 5. Everly Brothers: Have there EVER been sweeter harmonies than those provided by Phil and Don Everly?

Honorable mention: Beach Boys, Van Halen, Kinks, AC/DC.

2. Every so often we like to share some of the weird laws we find that are still on the books in different parts of the country.

Here’s a few more for your enjoyment:

• 1. Using obscenity within earshot of someone else is not permitted in Rockville, Md. (What if you jus lip-sync the words?)
• 2. No person shall honk their horn on a vehicle anywhere near a place where cold drinks and/or sandwiches are served after 9 p.m. in Little Rock, Ark. (So … get in all of that horn honking and other rowdiness before 9 o’clock, right?)
• 3. Horse racing is not permitted on Rhode Island highways. (How about just horse riding?)
• 4. It’s illegal to allow your chickens to cross the road in Quitman, Ga. (Well, there go all the jokes … )
• 5. Camels are not allowed on public highways in Nevada. (The people who came up with that Rhode Island law must have relatives in Nevada.)

3. Some fun food facts you may not have been aware of:

Pop-Tarts originally had a different name: The first toaster pastries — called “Country Squares” — hit grocery store shelves in 1963, created by Post Cereals. The Kellogg Company released its own version six months later, called “Fruit Scones”. After further workshopping, Kellogg changed the name to Pop-Tarts (a play on the Pop Art movement of the 1950s and ’60s), and produced the treats in four flavors: strawberry, blueberry, apple and brown sugar cinnamon. However, the iconic hard icing didn’t top the toaster treats until 1967 — four years after the snacks debuted.

When we almost were without potato chips: In the midst of World War II, the U.S. War Production Board was tasked with making the most of limited materials for the war effort, pausing manufacturing of noncritical foods and items. One of the items on the chopping block: potato chips. The snack was initially considered “nonessential,” a move that would stop factories from producing potato chips until the war ended. However, chip manufacturers lobbied to rescind the ruling and even secured contracts to produce chips for troops overseas and workers in manufacturing plants. 

Ever wondered why doughnuts have holes?: Historians aren’t certain why (or when) the doughy centers disappeared, but one theory suggests it may have been to help the pastries cook more evenly. According to food lore, American sailor Hansen Gregory created the doughnut’s modern shape around 1847 while at sea. By Gregory’s account, doughnuts of the time were twisted or diamond-shaped and often cooked faster on the outsides than in the centers. Removing the dense middles helped create uniformly cooked treats that fried quickly and didn’t absorb as much oil. Sounds believable.

So, how did “Twinkies” get their iconic name?: The spongy, cream-filled cakes we call “Twinkies” were first created in 1930 in an attempt to put unused bakery pans back into production. Creator James Dewar was a manager at the Continental Baking Company outside Chicago, where he noticed the factory’s strawberry shortcake-making equipment sat idle once strawberry season ended. Dewar used the pans to bake small cakes injected with cream fillings, naming his invention Twinkies after seeing a billboard for Twinkle Toe Shoes.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Reading the above made me think of National Junk Food Day, which is celebrated every July 21. It’s always a big deal in the Eighinger household.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Jerry Seinfield has a movie about Pop Tarts coming out next month.