Notebook Of The Century

Many Happy Returns

In case you didn't get one, here are the holiday greetings the presidential types are mailing their many best friends. Counterclockwise from bottom, you'll find Hatch's card (with a Christmas song sheet inside), George W.'s (with a biblical message) and family portraits galore (McCain, Bauer, Gore, Keyes, Forbes, Buchanan); Bradley claims he didn't send cards. The most tastefully sedate one--can you believe it?--features a wreath from The Donald. But only the Clintons have the White House on theirs. That's why this mail is about keeping those letters and dollars coming.

Lest We Forget

If you did anything of note in the 20th century, you've been celebrated this year. But we've found a few who managed to go unheralded. These are folks whose inventions are used every day but whose names, unfairly, are not. Herewith, the last unsung heroes of the 1900s:

Satori Kato Instant coffee, 1901 Mary Anderson Windshield wipers, 1903 Hugh Moore Paper cup, 1908 Jacques Brandenberger Cellophane, 1908 Arthur Wynne Crossword puzzle, 1913 Joseph Block Whistling kettle, 1921 Andrew Olsen Pop-up tissue box, 1921 George Squier Muzak, 1922 Garrett A. Morgan Traffic light, 1923 Francis W. Davis Power steering, 1926 R. Stanton Avery Self-adhesive label, 1935 Edwin L. Peterson Answering machine, 1945 Earl John Hilton Credit card, 1950 Clinton Riggs Yield sign, 1950 Chavannes & Fielding Bubble wrap, 1957 Luther Simjian ATM, 1960 Herb Peterson Egg McMuffin, 1973