Noshing With Betsy Rohaly Smoot – June 16, 2022

Author, Parker Hitt: The Father of American Military Cryptology

This week, Ira spoke with Betsy Rohaly Smoot, author of Parker Hitt: The Father of American Military Cryptology (published by the University Press of Kentucky). In this deciphered episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Betsy talks about Hitt’s contributions to the development of American military cryptology; his writing of The Manual for the Solution of Military Ciphers prior to World War I; why he was relatively unknown for his contributions to the military; how he was able to contribute his talents in World War II, despite having retired from the service ; why he promoted the idea of women in the workplace; and the possible reasons for his lack of advancement in the ranks.

Betsy Rohaly Smoot is an intelligence historian interested in early twentieth-century cryptology and communications who has published articles in both Cryptologia and Intelligence and National Security. She retired from the Center for Cryptologic History of the National Security Agency in 2017.

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Bagels have been to space! “It’s safe to say that the treats from Fairmount Bagels in Montreal are out of this world. In 2008, Astronaut Greg Chamitoff boarded Discovery for a 14-day flight into space. Accompanying him? Eighteen bagels from Fairmount, a shop owned by his aunt.”

“The word Bagel comes from the German word “bougel,” meaning “bracelet,” and by way of the Yiddish “beygl” which means “ring.” So, if it is not in the shape of a ring or bracelet, it is NOT a bagel.”

“What sets bagels apart from other types of bread is the fact that they are boiled. Some imitations are steamed, but they do not have the same chewy and crunchy crust and are not true bagels.”

“The first beugel bakeries were founded in New York City in the 1920s. Later the name was changed and called a bagel.”

“The hole in the middle of your bagel is no mistake. In fact, this bread was baked with a hole so vendors could slide them on to dowel rods, making it easy to transport them to wherever they would be selling their bagel that day.”

“Bagels are the only bread that are boiled before they are baked.”

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