Chim Chim Tanner, beloved feline detective of Crime Busters, Inc., wrote her own blog during the pandemic! She featured detective tips for young readers, Crime Busters news, and (witty) feline advice about life.
Santa Cat and Holiday Blessings (December 2020)
Welcome back, Junior Detectives! We are now in December, the month with the most exciting holiday of all . . . Christmas! Although there are many religious holidays in December, my owner (Audrey) celebrates Christmas, so my housemates and I tend to celebrate it, too. Cats don’t actually have any holidays of our own. In fact, many of us don’t even know the exact day we were born. So if we do celebrate our birthday, we just have to give the date our best “educated” guess.
There isn’t a lot I can tell you about Christmas that you don’t already know. It is a Christian holiday that originated almost 1600 years ago, celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus. Although Jesus of Nazareth was born a little over two thousand years ago, the Roman Church didn’t officially declare his birth a holiday until the fourth century. By the end of the 800s, this new holiday tradition had spread throughout Europe. But Christmas wasn’t recognized by the early Puritans in colonial America. In fact, it didn’t become an official holiday in the United States until the year 1870!
By the 1900s, Christmas had officially “caught on” in America, and it soon became the huge commercial event it is today. People of many nationalities and religions celebrate December 25th in our country—some as a religious holiday, and some as simply a reason to spread peace, love, and joy. Families each have their own set of unique customs and traditions. But “peace on earth” and “goodwill towards men” remain a common theme.
And then, of course, there is Santa Claus. . . There are many legends in Europe—and beyond—that might have led to our tradition of Santa Claus in America. Some say the legend began with St. Nicholas, a monk (or bishop, depending on the history source) who lived close to two thousand years ago. He was the patron saint of children, and he traveled the countryside, helping the poor. England’s Father Christmas, who fills children’s stockings with gifts, dates back to the sixteenth century. And in other countries, Kris Kringle is believed to deliver presents to boys and girls who have been good all year.
I sometimes like to imagine a great bearded cat flying through the sky, pulled by a team of eight tiny mice. Santa Cat would bring presents to all the good kittens, such as catnip, toys, and tasty treats. My own stocking is always filled to the brim on Christmas morning—I often wonder, though, if this is just Audrey slipping gifts in our stockings while we’re asleep. I guess we’ll never know. . . (Cat wink!)
So, whatever your tradition, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, Junior Detectives! After this blog post, I am going to take a few months’ break from blogging. Kiki, the human who transcribes my Crime Busters stories, is working on finalizing the next book in the Crime Busters series for me. We hope to have it out in print by the fall of next year. I hope you will enjoy it! As time allows, I may try to slip in some fun snow facts or pictures. But until then, have fun and stay curious! Merry Christmas!!
Giving Thanks (November 2020)
Welcome back, Junior Detectives! We are entering a month with an exciting holiday: Thanksgiving. I don’t know about you, but this is another of my favorite holidays. It is a time for togetherness, family & friends, fabulous food, and most of all . . . giving thanks for the many blessings in our lives.
I know that, when you were younger, you learned the story of the Pilgrims sitting down for a feast of thanks with their native American friends almost 400 years ago. And I’m sure you’ve made Pilgrim hats, feathered headbands, and turkeys made from the shape of your hands. (Cats can’t do these things, but I’ve seen humans make them!) But what you may not know is that Thanksgiving was not an official American holiday until the year 1863, almost 250 years later. In this year, President Lincoln proclaimed a national “Thanksgiving Day” on the fourth Thursday in November. Earlier presidents, such as Washington and John Adams, had proclaimed days of “thanksgiving,” but the holiday wasn’t an annual event until President Lincoln made his proclamation. After that, Thanksgiving remained on that same day in November for 76 years. A temporary change was made to the date in 1939, but in 1941 the U.S. Congress passed a law moving it back to the fourth Thursday in November—where Thanksgiving has stayed ever since.
Turkey—a bird that was abundant even in colonial America—was the main source of meat at that first Thanksgiving meal, along with venison (deer), duck, and fish. They also ate all variety of vegetables introduced by the natives, including corn, beans, squash, and pumpkins. Early Thanksgiving meals weren’t so different from the ones that humans (and their beloved pets!) eat today, although cooking methods have greatly changed. Some of the foods eaten vary, according to different regions of the country. People in the northeastern U.S. may serve a yummy oyster casserole; whereas, many southerners enjoy sweet potato casserole with butter and brown sugar. I happen to love mashed potatoes and turkey gravy myself, which may seem an unlikely choice for a cat!
But no matter how you celebrate, it is first and foremost a season of thanks, for humans and animals alike. I am grateful for many things, but I would like to mention the top three things for which I am thankful: my kind-hearted owner Audrey, who saved me from being drowned (as the “runt” of my litter); my crime-fighting partner and best buddy, Simone; and finally, having a safe, comfortable place to sleep at night (and plenty to eat!). Okay, maybe that was four things. . .
I would now like you to take time and think of two (or even three) reasons that you have to be thankful this year, Junior Detectives. You may email these to me at: chimchimtanner@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!
My blog entry this month is short, and I apologize. November and December tend to be quite hectic in the Tanner household—but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Have fun and stay curious!
“Stingy Jack” and Other Tall “Tails” (October 2020)
Welcome back, Junior Detectives! We are entering an exciting season—autumn! With hayrides, pumpkin patches, and trick-or-treating, there is an endless parade of activities during the fall months. This particular month—October—we will take a break from solving mysteries and focus on one of my favorite holidays, Halloween.
Halloween originated from a Celtic holiday that was celebrated around two thousand years ago. The Celtic people lived in what are now the countries of Ireland and Scotland, and they believed that real ghosts walked the earth on the night of October 31st, which was the eve before their new year began. (Their new year started on November 1st, unlike ours, which starts on January 1st.) These Celtic people built bonfires and wore costumes, possibly to scare or confuse these “ghosts.”
With the spread of Christianity, these celebrations were later replaced with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, on November 1st and 2nd, while the night of October 31st came to be known as “All-Hollows Eve.” All-Hollows Eve, later referred to as just Halloween, was not immediately welcomed in the new country of America. But the holiday began to catch on in the 1900’s. We now celebrate Halloween with parades, parties, costumes, trick-or-treating, and all manner of fun games.
Another tradition I find worth mentioning is the carving of jack-o-lanterns. This, too, is believed to have had its start in Ireland, with a myth/legend about a man named “Stingy Jack.” This Jack character was apparently very conniving and untrustworthy. After making a deal in which he tricked the Devil, Stingy Jack was cursed to roam the Earth forever. He was given only a lit coal placed in a carved-out root vegetable to light his way, and this eventually earned him the nickname “Jack of the Lantern.” I believe the root vegetable in the myth was originally a turnip, but Americans have made the tradition their own by using carved-out pumpkins (and a lit candle) instead.
And last, but not least, I want to address the (unfair) superstition associated with black cats on Halloween. Yes, the holiday itself is ripe with superstition—and superstition sells more costumes and greeting cards. But in no way are black cats bad, just because of their appearance. Sure, some cats are bad—but so are some humans. I believe this fear may have stemmed from the Salem witch trials, which were carried out in colonial America in the late 1600’s. (“Witches” were believed to be able to turn into a black cat to roam the streets unrecognized and escape imprisonment.)
So here is my official statement, for the record: (1) Humans cannot change into cats—this can only happen in the movies, with the help of cinema special effects; (2) Having your path crossed by a black cat will not bring you bad luck; and (3) Black cats cannot curse you or change you into other beings. (Although there’ve been times in my life when I’ve wished this were possible!)
Well, this wraps up my blog post for October. I hope you have selected an awesome costume for trick-or-treating, and that you have a safe, healthy Halloween! Have fun, Junior Detectives—and stay curious!
The Evidence Shows. . . Part II (September 2020)
Welcome back, Junior Detectives! I hope you enjoyed your summer vacation. I’m sure most of you are now returning to school for a new term, either in-person or virtually. These times are indeed challenging. So be sure to work hard, be safe, and listen to your teachers!
Last month, I began my segment on evidence. We learned that evidence is anything that provides proof of the facts related to a crime—anything that answers the “how/what/when/where/who/why” questions. I also talked about fingerprint evidence. This month, I will discuss other types of evidence, starting with trace evidence.
Trace evidence is merely a term for tiny particles that can be easily overlooked by an untrained eye. (This is the reason that I suggest a magnifying glass for your detective kit.) Small shreds of material, hairs, fur, and carpet fibers are all examples of this type of evidence. Some kinds of trace evidence—such as hair or fur—can also be classified as DNA evidence, which I will discuss next. (Sometimes evidence can fall into more than one category.)
In my opinion, the most important type of evidence to be discovered in the past century is DNA evidence. Some of you may remember that I talked about DNA, which is a microscopic part of all living beings, in my July blog (“The Evidence Shows…Part I”). To give you a recap: DNA is contained in each cell of a living organism, and it contains the information that decides how that organism will look, act, and function. DNA can be obtained from a human or animal’s blood, saliva, sweat, hair (fur), and skin cells. Every living being’s DNA is unique—different from everyone else’s—which means that DNA can be used for positive identification. This enables the scientists who work with law enforcement to link suspect(s) to a crime. DNA evidence can be obtained from many sources: clothing, furniture, carpet, drinking glasses, even cigarette butts. The process of analyzing DNA is very complicated, but the information it provides is priceless.
Another type of evidence is impression evidence. Impression evidence is formed when two objects come in contact with each other. Their contact must have enough force to create a mark or imprint on one of the objects. Some examples of this are (human) footprints, paw prints, tire tracks, and even bite marks! Light surface marks can be lifted with a process similar to that used on fingerprints; whereas, plaster casts (molds) are made of deeper impressions, and these are then photographed. Impression evidence has been used to solve some very famous human crimes!
Photographic evidence is also an important part of criminal investigation. Photographs are used to bring a crime scene (the location where the crime was committed) to “life.” This means the scene is re-created so fully that the details are vivid and lifelike. This is especially important, as the people entrusted to judge crimes (in court) never actually lay eyes on the crime scenes. All they will see is the evidence—so detailed photography is an important part of that evidence.
In addition to the crime scene, some things an investigator might photograph in closer detail are as follows: the victim of a crime, any weapons or tools found at the scene, and other types of evidence (such as footprints or tire marks). Private detectives can also take pictures of things such as suspicious license plates and suspicious persons. (Suspicious means that they’re probably up to no good!) Crime scene technicians in the past used 35-millimeter film cameras, but the technicians of today use high-quality digital ones. Simone and I often use our owner’s camera, but we’ve also been known to use her cell phone when we’re in a bind.
I will close with some additional types of evidence that should be mentioned: ballistic, which involves guns and the bullets they fire; surveillance, from video cameras or phone wiretaps; and digital, which includes computers, e-mail, texting, and social media. As technology changes, so does the science of forensics—which means that private detectives like me have to keep up!
Well, Junior Detectives . . . That wraps up my blog post for this month. Next month, I will take a break from crime and lighten my tone a bit. There are many fun things to talk about during October, including my favorite holiday—Halloween! But until then . . . stay curious. The world is a big place to explore. Good-bye for now!
The Evidence Shows. . . Part I (August 2020)
Welcome back, Junior Detectives! I apologize for the delay in posting my blog entry this month. Because of the COVID-19 safety rules and travel limits set during May and June, Audrey (my human) decided to cram all of her summer trips into one month. Simone and I were dragged to the beach, off to visit Audrey’s family, and up to the mountains for some quiet time—all within the space of three weeks! I must admit, the fast pace of July left me feeling a bit frazzled. I did enjoy the mountains. . . But the burning sands and hot summer sun at the beach is not pleasant to an animal covered in fur (especially one with sensitive paw pads!). And Audrey’s family, well . . . they’re human. Need I say more?
So, last month I described all of the tools you could put together to make your junior detective kit. This month, I begin my discussion about evidence. What exactly is evidence? you might ask. Well, evidence is anything that provides proof of the facts related to a crime—anything that answers the “how/what/when/where/who/why” questions. There are different types of evidence a law enforcement officer—or detective, such as myself—may gather. I will describe some of these different types, starting with fingerprints.
A fingerprint is an impression, or copy, of the pattern on a human person’s fingertip. Every human has a distinct pattern of swirls and loops on their fingers (and thumbs) that is unique to them. That means that no two humans have the same pattern. When a human touches an object in their environment, the oil on their fingertips leaves an exact copy of that pattern on the object. Law enforcement personnel can then transfer that pattern onto a permanent card by applying a special powder that reacts with the oils, and then “lifting” it with transparent tape. Fingerprints can also be obtained when a human presses his fingers or thumb into a soft surface, such as wet concrete or melted wax, and the impression of the loop-and-swirl pattern is left behind. And some fingerprint patterns are obtained by applying chemicals to an object’s surface. These chemicals react to the proteins in the oil residue left by the fingertip, and they turn the fingerprint pattern a distinct color (such as purple or brown), depending on the type of chemical used. This color soon fades, so investigators must photograph the pattern to preserve the image.
Fingerprint evidence is then scanned and checked against a large computer database of collected prints. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), one of the highest law enforcement agencies in our country, keeps all fingerprint records in the United States. Their current fingerprint database holds over two million records!
Sadly, no paw-printing techniques have been invented for the collection of animal evidence. Animals don’t seem to have a pattern of loops and swirls on their paw pads, so identifying criminals by their paw prints is pretty hard. But since the invention of computers, animals have become more technology-savvy. I predict that in the next fifty years or so, more breakthroughs in the animal branch of forensics (the science used to solve crimes) may be made.
Well, that is all for this month. Next month, I will continue to discuss more types of evidence and how they help in solving crimes. But until then . . . stay curious, Junior Detectives! The world is a big place to explore. Good-bye for now!
Getting Started (July 2020)
Welcome back, Junior Detectives! Like me, I’m sure many of you are struggling to enjoy your summer vacations, due to the strange times we are in. In all of my four cat-years on this planet, I’ve never heard of humans having to practice “social distancing,” but I am a feline—and felines, as you know, are quite independent. We’ve practiced our own version of “distancing” for thousands of years! (Unlike dogs and other animals who prefer to run in packs, cats actually like being alone.)
So, as many of the things you enjoy doing—whether it be playing at a park, going to summer movies, or roller skating—continue to be closed for a while longer, now is the perfect time to put together the detective kits I described in last month’s blog. Then you can start exploring the mysteries of your home and backyard.
Let’s talk about the items I instructed you to gather for your kit, starting with a notepad (or notebook) and pencil. The detective’s notepad, like the policeman’s notepad, is one of the most important items in their possession. On it, detectives can write down the personal information (name and address) of any witnesses, describe the scene of the mystery, and jot down any details that catch their eye. Was the sky blue? Was it raining? Were any pawprints left behind?
In olden days, these notes would be taken back to the detective’s office (or police station) and typed on a typewriter as a full report. But the invention of computers now makes report-writing a hundred times easier—policemen of today even have laptops in their police cars! (They still keep any handwritten notes to attach to their report, though.) Cats, of course, have superior memory and are able to type their reports without any notes. But for humans, I suggest recording all details in a notepad first.
Next in your detective’s kit is a flashlight. This comes in handy when searching for clues indoors or at night, under the cover of darkness. A magnifying glass (available at most hobby or craft stores) helps a detective observe things that are hard to see with the naked eye. Human or animal hair, tiny shreds of material, and even granules of sand are better seen through a magnifying lens.
Next on your kit list would be a camera or smartphone. These would be used to take photos of the mystery (“crime”) scene. Most of you readers probably have your own cell phone by now, and these devices take excellent pictures. Cats aren’t usually given phones, though, so Simone and I always have to “borrow” one from our owner. Her camera works just as well, too, when we are unable to get our paws on her phone. (Cat wink!)
Tweezers, such as humans use to remove splinters, are useful for picking up tiny pieces of evidence. Simone and I sometimes use them ourselves, although we must use two paws (as we don’t have fingers). Clear tape can also be used to pick up evidence that is too small for tweezers, such as teensy-tiny hairs, dirt, or pollen. A measuring tape or ruler would come in handy when measuring footprints, skid marks, and other types of evidence where size or distance is important. And scissors are often used by human detectives to cut an evidence sample away from a larger material or surface.
Finally, a detective should always keep paper bags or envelopes for evidence. Detectives in the old days used plastic bags to store their evidence, but it was soon discovered that plastic sweats (creates moisture inside the bag). This moisture could damage any fingerprints or DNA on the evidence. What is DNA, you might ask? Well, DNA is a microscopic part of all living beings. It is contained in each cell of a living organism, and it contains the information that decides how that organism will look, act, and function. Scientists who work with law enforcement use DNA to identify victims and to link suspects with the scene of a crime.
Your mom probably keeps paper lunch bags on hand, if you attend a public school or have ever gone on school field trips. If not, never fear—brown manila envelopes work just as well. Our owner, Audrey, doesn’t keep paper bags, either. So Simone and I generally use manila envelopes to store evidence. They work just as well.
Well, it looks like I’ve run out of time! I see that I’ve rambled on too long about the items in your detective kit—I apologize. Time definitely “flies” when you’re having fun! Next month, I promise to discuss more about different types of evidence. But until then . . . stay curious, Junior Detectives! The world is a big place to explore. Good-bye for now!
Welcome! (Introduction) (June 2020)
Hello, all my readers out there! Let me introduce myself, for those who don’t already know me from Crime Busters, Inc.: The Alligator Alibi. My name is Chim Chim Tanner. I am a black short-haired feline, and I am four cat years old. I am also co-owner of a detective agency called . . . yeah, you guessed it—Crime Busters, Inc. And now I am starting my own blog.
What could a cat possibly have to write about, you ask? Well, surprisingly, I have a lot of wisdom for my four years on this planet. I have helped solve many important cases, and I have helped catch my share of bad guys. So I’ve learned a thing or two along the way. And I am willing to share a bit of that knowledge with you. Maybe some of you would like to become a detective yourself one day. . . Or maybe you just like reading mysteries—either way, this blog will be the place to learn some little-known (or maybe largely-known) facts about sleuth work, cats, and life in general. So let’s get started, shall we?
One of the most important parts of solving any case—whether it be burglary, petnapping, or litter box tampering—is the ability to search for (and find) clues. There are many mysteries to explore in your very own backyard! But of course, if you stumble upon a human case, involving a real crime, you would need to tell your parents, so they can call local law enforcement. It is extremely important not to enter or touch an actual crime scene (the area where the crime was committed), or it could be “contaminated.” This means that evidence could be damaged or destroyed. Always leave those types of cases to law enforcement personnel!
But let’s get back to those minor mysteries in your home or backyard! As an animal with keen eyesight and an even sharper sense of hearing, I am naturally suited to searching for clues. But you humans may have to work a little harder. The laws governing crimes committed by animals are not as strict as those involving humans, so Simone (my partner) and I have been able to search many crime scenes for clues. In fact, Simone had me trained to look for clues by the time I was old enough to use a litter box!
So, if you’re brave enough to give detective work a try, you will first need to put together a detective’s “kit.” Some items that Simone and I use are pretty simple, and you can probably find them around your house: a flashlight, a notepad and pen for taking notes (unless you have a perfect feline memory like mine), a magnifying glass, paper bags or envelopes for evidence, tweezers, a ruler, and clear tape. Humans could also add scissors to their detective kit, but felines have a hard time using them, due to our lack of fingers and thumbs. Simone and I have also used a camera or smartphone to take photo evidence—when we can sneak them away from our owner. But many of you may own one of these devices yourself.
In my next blog, I will talk about different kinds of evidence, and how you can use your new detective kit to search them out. But until then, stay curious, Junior Detectives! The world is a big place to explore. Good-bye for now!
(Copyright 2020 Kiki Houser / Artwork copyright 2020 Scarlett Houser)