I’m now #1 on Google for “schmutz.” Thanks, Grandpa! This is a major driver of traffic to my site, with an average of 1 visit a week, and nearly double that over the Jewish holidays.

Let me take this opportunity to clear something up. After I posted that story, I had some people come up to me and say “I loved the smuts!”, to which I generally responded, “That’s wonderful, but shouldn’t you keep that to yourself?” Only later did I realize that they’re mispronouncing schmutz, which is like “pudding” in the sense that the “u” makes the same sound. (It is like pudding in no other way.)

Be sure to come back next week; we’ll be discuss schlepping latkes.