Healthy, Wealthy, & Wise April 2008 by emcdental

HWW & DEVOUR THESE DELICIOUS CHOCALTE CHUNK COOKIES

PAGE 9

™

H E A LT H Y W E A LT H Y & W I S E

EDUCATION

What you need to know to cash in on savings

start today!

PROTECT

YOUR CHILDREN Doctors Medicinal Advice

home SECURITY Don’t miss this vital project to safeguard your family

FRANCE artistic & elegant

U.S.A. $3.99 CANADA $5.99 FOREIGN $6.99 w w w. h w w m a g a z i n e . c o m

Inside s Travel Tip tee We Guarvaenn’t You Ha ! Heard

Healthy, Wealthy, & Wise

welcome,

This time of year is great for planning trips and we couldn’t help but add France to our own wish list of places to visit after reading Rick Steves’ inside findings on the country. And on the home front, if you’ve considered security cameras but shirked at the endeavor of installing these helpful devices, Tim Carter makes it a feasible project We hope this issue finds you and your families enjoying life...

happy reading,

table of

contents

3 Medicine Cabinet

HENRY BERNSTEIN, M.D.

4 Auto Scene JIM MATEJA

5 This Time Music Failed to Soothe

the Savage Beast DAVE BARRY 6 Retire Smart: Education Savings Accounts HUMBERTO & GEORGINA CRUZ

8 Ask the Builder: Home Security TIM CARTER

HEALTHY, WEALTHY, & WISE

9 Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Volume 15, No. 4 James Erickson, Editor in Chief Ashli Sprinkel, Marketing Director Rachel Honan, Art Director

WOLFGANG PUCK’S KITCHEN

10 Best of France ‘08 RICK STEVES’ EUROPE

12 Games & Puzzles

14 The Savings Game:

14 16

Communication HUMBERTO CRUZ 15 Smart Collector & Pets! DANIELLE ARNET

16 Words of Wisdom 2

STEVE DALE

Healthy, Wealthy, & Wise is published monthly by Erickson Marketing Communications, 1020 Shipping St. NE, Salem, OR 97301 Subscribe for $19.95 per year, $3.99 per issue. Call (800) 311-1390 for subscription information. Statement of Purpose: Healthy, Wealthy, & Wise is designed to inspire and assist readers in taking the best care of their families, their finances and their health. To this end, it includes the best work of the finest writers, packaged in an attractive and enjoyable format. © 2008, Erickson Marketing Communications. May not be reproduced without permission. Healthy, Wealthy, & Wise is meant for informational purposes only. The stories contained within reflect the individual views of the authors and do not represent the opinion of Erickson Marketing Communications, or its affiliates. Consult with a physician before making changes in diet, activity level, or changing lifestyles.

Q. A.

Medicine Cabinet | HW&W

BY HENRY BERNSTEIN, D.O.

Are there any over-the-counter medications for coughs

and colds that are safe for babies?

The short answer is no —

over-the-counter cough and cold medications should not be used for babies. The safety risks of children’s cough and cold medications far outweigh any feelings of health benefit; multiple studies show that these over-the-counter treatments are no more effective than not giving anything at all. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently conducted a safety review on over-the-counter cough and cold medications. The FDA’s expert panel strongly recommends that no child under the age of 6 use them. A formal ban on cold and cough products for younger children will likely follow. Most colds tend to get better on their own in seven to 14 days, without any special treatment. We can’t “cure” the common cold; and since it is an infection of the upper respiratory tract usually caused by viruses, antibiotics won’t help, either. It’s hard to listen to your baby cough all day and all night. But remember, coughing is a reflex that the body uses to keep the airway clear of mucus, which is a good thing and is helpful in otherwise healthy children. In addition to the side effects, over-the-counter medications to suppress a cough may make it more difficult to know when your baby is getting worse.

If your child is under two years of age and develops a cough, you should discuss it with your pediatrician. Young children are at particularly high risk of having more problems with breathing, depending on what’s causing their cough (for example, croup, pneumonia, or pertussis, also known as whooping cough). Treatment of a cold should include drinking lots of liquids to stay well-hydrated. To help loosen mucus secretions, consider using a humidifier that adds moisture (water) to the air. Keep children home from day care when sick. Call your pediatrician if your baby has a high fever, any difficulty breathing, isn’t eating or drinking well (especially if you notice fewer diapers than usual), or has any other symptoms that are causing you to worry. Some things that you can do to help prevent your baby from developing a cold include washing your hands before touching the baby, and insisting that visitors do the same. Wipe down all surfaces, wash toys and pacifiers thoroughly, and of course do your best to keep your baby away from anyone who may be sick. Of course, be sure you and your children have received all recommended vaccines for age, especially the flu vaccine each year. Henry H. Bernstein, D.O., is a Senior Lecturer in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. In addition, he is chief of General Academic Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth and Professor of Pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School. He is the former associate chief of General Pediatrics and director of Primary Care at Children’s Hospital Boston.

HW&W | Auto Scene

auto scene

by Jim Mateja

Regarding your review of the Scion xD, I’m

preparing to purchase one for my daughter, a firsttime driver, and I’d like your opinion on optional stability control/

traction control. I’m willing to spend the $650, but a dealer with many models in stock without the system says I don’t need it because the car has a lower profile than a large SUV. Should I save the $650? M.M., CHICAGO

Buy the xD — from another dealer. Low profile? The dealer says you don’t need life-saving stability and traction control only because he has a bunch of cars in stock without it that he wants to get rid of. By not ordering cars with stability and traction control, the dealer can advertise lower prices to attract buyers. If the dealer had a lot full of cars missing front tires, he’d say you don’t need them, either. But your question was should you save the $650? Look your daughter in the eye and ask that.

N.B., NEW LENOX, ILL.

Send questions about cars and trucks to Jim Mateja, Chicago Tribune, 700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Suite 135, Vernon Hills, Ill. 60061-1523, or send e-mail, including name and hometown, to jmateja@tribune.com.

How do you think a manufacturer would do if, instead of tweaking every model every year, it kept its models the same style for say five years and kept the same price. The advantage would be tremendous cost savings over the life of the vehicle to the manufacturer and higher profitability toward the end of the model life. The advantage to the consumer would be a potentially recall free, dependable car and added value. By holding the price, the manufacturer would attract value-sensitive people rather than style-sensitive people.

Couple problems. One being that buyers would gravitate to cars with new styling and new features and technology that would come out in any five-year span. And for the automaker to hold the same price for five years would mean the suppliers of paint, glass, rubber, steel, leather, yadda, yadda would have to hold prices, too. Often recalls are made on vehicles well after they’ve been in the market for five years because it can take that long for a problem to surface, so that’s not a plus either. By attracting value, rather than style-sensitive buyers you’ll lose a lot of customers, enough so you may not be in business after five years.

Humor | HW&W

me This Ti Failed MustiocSooathgee the Sav

BEAST

by Dave

Barry

t is a chilling question that we have all asked ourselves: What would we do if, God forbid, we had to get a squirrel out of a piano? This very question confronted an animal-control officer in Fairfax County, Va., recently, according to a news report from the Washington Post sent in by roughly two million alert readers. According to this report, the officer was responding to a report of “a squirrel running inside a residence.” When the officer arrived, the squirrel “jumped into an open baby grand piano.” Fortunately, the officer had the training, the courage, and — above all — the musical talent to deal with the situation. To quote from the Post report, which I am not making up: “After the officer started playing the song ‘All I Want’ by the group Toad the Wet Sprocket, the squirrel jumped out of the piano and onto curtains, damaging them.” The report says that the squirrel then jumped onto the officer’s head, and then onto a couch, where the officer was able to apprehend it and release it unharmed. So everything turned out OK, which is

very fortunate. I mean, what if, in the heat of the moment, the officer had played the wrong tune? What if he had played “Copacabana,” by Barry Manilow? The squirrel probably would have ripped his throat out. I know I would have. In an effort to learn more about this incident, I made a tax-deductible longdistance phone call to the Fairfax County Police Department and spoke with spokesperson Sophia Grinnan. I asked her if the officer’s tactics were based on those used by the U.S. Army during its 1990 invasion of Panama, when our troops played loud rap and heavy-metal music in an effort to dislodge outlaw dictator Manuel Noriega, who had taken refuge inside a piano. Officer Grinnan told me that she did not believe there was a connection. She said that the officer, whose name is Andrew Sanderson, had simply made a spur-of-the-moment decision to play “All I Want” on the piano containing the squirrel. “He’s musically inclined,” said Grinnan, adding, “I mean the officer, not the squirrel.” In any event, for now the situation in Fairfax County appears to be under control. But that does not mean that we can afford to be sanguine. For one thing, we have no idea what “sanguine” means. For another thing, there have been several other alarming recent incidents of wildlife running amok: INCIDENT ONE: According to an Associated Press report sent in by alert reader Joel Kupecz, during a rush hour in Syracuse, N.Y., an apparently rabid beaver, foaming at the mouth and “rumored to be twice as large as normal,” was “rearing on its hind legs and running and snapping at cars.” A police officer was forced to shoot

see “Music and the Savage Beast” page 7

education

HW&W | Retire Smart

SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

By Humberto & Georgina Cruz

My wife and I have a new grandson and would like to help save for his education. Our credit

union sent us a form for a “Coverdell Education Savings Account” and our broker’s newsletter mentioned “529” plans. Would you explain similarities and differences?

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts or ESAs, named after the late Sen. Paul Coverdell of Georgia, and state-sponsored 529 college savings plans, named for Section 529 of the U.S. tax code, give tax breaks to parents and grandparents (and legally, any adult) to save for a child’s education. You can’t deduct contributions on your federal return, but all earnings and withdrawals are tax free if the money is used for qualified educational expenses. With a Coverdell account, the most you can contribute is $2,000 a year per child (so if the boy’s parents put in $1,000, for example, you’d be limited to $1,000). With Section 529 plans, federal law requires that contributions don’t exceed what is required to provide for the child’s higher educational expenses, but without a specific limit. As a result, some plans allow contributions of $250,000 or more. People with modified adjusted gross income above a certain amount (currently $220,000 for married couples and $110,000 for singles) can’t contribute to Coverdell accounts. With 529 savings plan, there are no income restrictions. ESAs have the advantage they can be used not just for college but also from kindergarten through 12th grade, whether in private, parochial or public school (for example, for computers and uniforms). If you qualify based on income, you can contribute to both a Coverdell account and a 529 plan. To learn more (we’ve skimmed the surface) we recommend the top-notch Web site www. savingforcollege.com.

I’d like your opinion on 20-year callable certificates of deposit paying 6.5 percent interest. This seems

like a good return for something insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. I’m 68 and considering investing most of my IRA in these CDs.

Broker-sold CDs attract seniors be-

cause they pay higher interest rates and have the same FDIC insurance as CDs bought at a bank. (Legally, broker-sold CDs are obligations of the issuing bank. Brokerage houses buy them in large denominations and divide them into smaller ones for re-sale to their customers.) Callable CDs, however, can be “called” or redeemed by the bank after a “non-callable period,” often a year or two. If interest rates fall enough – say, by a percentage point or so – the bank may call the CD, pay you back your principal and issue a new CD at the lower rate. You, however, are not allowed to redeem the CD until maturity. If interest rates rise to say, 7.5 percent, you’ll be left holding a CD paying 6.5 percent. You could try to sell the CD before maturity through your broker. But assuming you find a buyer, you’ll take a loss because nobody will offer full price for a CD paying below-marker rate. “Understand the difference between call features and maturity,” advises the Securities and Exchange Commission, the federal agency that regulates brokers. “Don’t assume that a ‘federally insured one-year non-callable CD’ matures in one year.” These words mean only that the bank cannot redeem the certificate during the first year. But the CD may not mature for 20 years. “As simple as this sounds,” the SEC warns, “many investors fail to confirm the maturity date for their CDs and are later shocked to learn that they’ve tied up their money for five, 10 or even 20 years.” One last warning: Having too many longmaturity CDs in a traditional IRA can be a problem if there’s not enough liquid money to pay required minimum distributions after age 70 and a half. As the SEC says, a high-yield CD with a maturity date of 20 years may make sense for younger people but might not make sense for elderly investors. Humberto and Georgina Cruz are a husband-andwife writing team who work together in this column and communicate about their retirement plans. Send questions or comments to GVCruz@aol.com.

Music and the Savage Beast

Humor | HW&W

continued from page 5

the beaver. (Apparently there was no piano available.) INCIDENT TWO: According to an Associated Press report from Jarratt, Va., sent in by many alert readers, motorists on Interstate 95 were attacked by fruit-throwing monkeys. A police officer, responding to motorist complaints, observed “three brown monkeys in an oak tree, throwing crab apples.” The monkeys, which police believe may have escaped from a circus, then fled on foot. They apparently are still at large, possibly working in the field of Customer Service. INCIDENT THREE: This is an alarming report from the Al-Riyadh newspaper sent in by alert pension actuary Bob Lebenson, concerning some irate baboons in Saudi Arabia. What happened, according to Al-Riyadh, was this: A motorist driving on a mountain road ran over a baboon and killed it. So the other members of the deceased baboon’s squadron waited in that same spot for THREE DAYS. When the motorist returned, one of the baboons screeched out a command, and all the baboons threw stones at the car, breaking the windshield before the driver escaped. It was clearly a revenge hit. Baboon Sopranos! These last two incidents are particularly disturbing, because they are not random loner attacks by fugitive squirrels or clearly disturbed beavers. Instead, they involve organized hostile wildlife displaying far more intelligence and planning ability than, for example, the U.S. House of Representatives. Should we, as humans, be concerned about this? Should we take action? Can we, at the very least, agree that “Fugitive Squirrel and the Clearly Disturbed Beavers” is a better name for a rock band than “Toad the Wet Sprocket”? Think about it! Personally, I am sanguine. Write to humor colmnist Dave Barry in care of The Miami Herald, One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132. ©2008, T.M.H. distributed by Tribune Media Service, Inc.

HW&W | Ask the Builder

home security By Tim Carter

Dear Tim:

Cameras are More Powerful — and Easier to Install and Use

My wife wants me to install security cameras in and around our home, as I travel on business quite frequently. Are wireless security cameras the way to go, or should I consider wired home security cameras? Do I have to buy separate outdoor security cameras so I can view certain parts of my yard at night? How do you record what the cameras see? GREG H., WOOSTER, OHIO

Dear Greg: Security cameras for home use are



SECURITY CAMERA TIPS

You do not need to be an electronics gaining in popularity. Years ago, you had to have a cergenius to set up and record images with tain skill set to install a home security camera system most home security cameras. In less than successfully. Now, technology has advanced to the point an hour you can have a kit unpacked and that you can buy a home security camera kit with everythe cameras in place and recording. thing you need to install cameras, digitally record what Many kits have all of the parts you need. It only takes a few skills to make the connecthey see, and even watch the images of all the cameras tions and be up and running. With a little at once in real time. If you really want to make sure effort you can have images streaming out on your wife is safe, you can watch what’s going on at your the Internet so that you or a group of friends home while you’re out of town on business! can view what the cameras see. The security cameras I have at my own home are Remember that you must respect the an interesting case in point. They record in full color privacy of others. Do not record images that you have no rights to. When used properly, and produce stunning clarity using any available light. security cameras are powerful tools. Use Their infrared sensors allow them to see at night nearly that power wisely and responsibly. as well as they do in the daytime. To put it mildly, I am amazed at the quality of the images the cameras produce. Many compact home security cameras need a power supply and an additional cable that transmits the video signal back to a monitor or a recording device. Installing the cables so they are hidden can be challenging, so consider using wireless security cameras if you intend to install the camera in a place where it will be hard to run thin video cables. But keep in mind these cameras need to have a power supply, which can be batteries or a low-voltage cable from a nearby transformer. Many kits have security cameras than can be used either indoors or outdoors. Outdoor security cameras are usually clearly marked for outdoor use. To minimize moisture problems, try to mount the cameras under an overhang that will keep them dry from all but the most violent wind-driven rain. Be sure to look at home security cameras equipped with infrared sensors for night-vision capability. My night-vision cameras allow me to see my yard at night even when there is no moon in the sky. I am constantly amazed at all of the things I can see outdoors in the dark. You can buy a small

see “Security Camera” page 11

Wolfgang Puck’s Kitchen | HW&W

White & Dark

I like to make my cookies with chunks of chocolate for the biggest flavor impact. I use a good bittersweet variety from a high quality brand like Valrhona, Caillebaut or Scharffen Berger. I’ll also include some white chocolate, which I like not only for its creaminess and light vanilla flavor but also for its dramatically contrasting color. After all, you eat first with your eyes! Feel free to add nuts if you like, too.

CHOCOLATE

Chunk Cookies

6 ounces good quality bittersweet chocolate 4 ounces white chocolate 1 3/4 cups all-purpose ﬂour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 lb. unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

USING A SERRATED KNIFE, carefully cut the chocolate into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. IN THE BOWL OF A STAND MIXER fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a hand mixer, cream the butter at medium speed until fluffy and pale yellow, about 2 minutes. With a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle or beaters. Add the sugars and continue to beat until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat at low speed just until incorporated. STILL BEATING AT LOW SPEED, gradually add the flour, continuing just until it is incorporated. Add the chocolate chunks and beat them with the paddle or stir with a wooden spoon just until incorporated into the dough. PLACE A SHEET OF PARCHMENT PAPER or waxed paper on a work surface. Using clean hands or a spatula, scoop up the dough and form 2 logs on the paper, each about 2 inches in diameter. Roll them up in the paper, wrap in foil, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or as long as 1 week. TO BAKE, position an oven rack on the lower level and preheat the oven to 350 degrees and then line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a serrated knife, cut the dough logs into slices 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick. Place the cookies on the parchment-covered baking sheets about 1 inch apart. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the baking sheets front to back halfway through to ensure even baking. The cookies are done when their edges and bottoms are nicely browned. REMOVE THE COOKIES from the oven and cool on wire racks; or just slide the parchment paper off onto a heatproof surface for the cookies to cool. Store in an airtight container.

HW&W | Travel Europe

TheBestof

France in 2008 W H A T ’ S NEW FOR

FRANCE IN

From France’s artistic landmarks to the elegant capital of the French Riviera,

discover

the beauty and avoid the headaches during your visit.

byRickSteves

ike all of Europe, France has some changes in store for visitors in 2008 - starting at the top. France’s newly elected president, Nicolas Sarkozy, and recently appointed prime minister, Francois Fillon, appear to be Americafriendly, so we can expect no more cries for Freedom Fries from people who don’t get out much.

Travelers will encounter some construction headaches at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, as it continues major renovations. While getting into Paris may be a little bumpy, getting out is slicker than ever with the opening of new bullet train lines. The big news in northeast France is the TGV Est bullet train, serving Reims, Verdun, Colmar, Strasbourg, and beyond. It has cut travel times in half, bringing Reims within 45 minutes of Paris, and Colmar within 2.5 hours of the capital. And you can now book and print rail tickets and reservations online at www.sncf.com (click on British flag for English) - in some cases, you may even get deals. As for trends in French restaurants, famous chefs are opening cheap signature bistros, where hungry visitors can dine on less elaborate, yet still top-name cuisine at more affordable prices in simple surroundings (in Lyon, look for Paul Bocuse’s Le Nord, Le Sud, L’Est, and L’Ouest restaurants). Another trend is to offer two-course fixed-price menus (at lunch and at dinner) for less money and weight gain than the traditional three- or four-course menus. The cheese course has suffered partly because of this, and partly because of the French desire to eat more healthfully. The healthy trend is hitting smokers, too. The French have followed the Irish and Italians

in making all bars, restaurants, and cafes smoke-free (those sitting outside can still light up). This could be a challenge in a culture so wrapped up in cafe sitting, where people have a decades-old ritual of stopping at the corner cafe for a drink and a smoke. But the movement against second-hand smoke is strong throughout Europe and, as country after country adopts bans, smokers adjust and life goes on. While the new smoke-free law is favored by 78 percent of the French, the devil is in the details. Some hoteliers think it’s sufficient to ban smoking in lobbies, halls, and elevators, but not the rooms. Some hotels proudly advertise themselves as 100 percent smoke-free, while others designate certain floors as non-smoking.

PARIS AND NEARBY: As befitting

France’s artistic capital, Paris has lots of art news. The new Quai Branly Museum (www. quaibranly.fr), a favorite among locals, is loaded with so-called Primitive Art from Africa, Polynesia, Asia, and America. The renovated Petit Palais (and its Musee des Beaux-Arts) has second-tier art from Courbet, Monet, and other 19th-century painters; it’s free and worth a quick visit. At the Louvre, the Venus de Milo, tired of her old digs in the Denon wing, has moved to the Sully wing. The Rodin Museum has opened its new, modern entrance hall with a bookstore and temporary exhibit gallery. At Versailles, the Royal Opera House will likely be closed in 2008. The rest of the palace and grounds should be open throughout the complex’s continued renovation. Le Passeport, the one-day pass, has emerged as the best way to fund a Versailles visit (particularly if you buy it in Paris, as it covers your round-trip train ride). Near Paris, Chartres Cathedral, home of perhaps the greatest Gothic church experience in Europe, is now even more interesting. The venerated 2,000-year-old “veil” of Mary - said to be the gown she wore when she gave birth to Jesus - is once again on display, behind bulletproof glass.

Ask The Builder | HW&W

Security Camera continued from page 8

camera that is rated for outdoor use, transmits in full color, has night vision and is smaller than a soup can. The images the cameras see can be recorded on a powerful digital video recorder (DVR). I have a DVR that will record the images from four cameras at the same time. I can set the DVR to record only if the cameras sense motion; it can be set to take still shots every few seconds or it can record all it sees. If the DVR hard drive is large enough, you can record for weeks without recording over images. Modern home security cameras have many other options and recording features. The best part is that they are affordable, especially when you buy them in a kit. One of the kits I prefer has four indoor/outdoor color cameras with motion sensitivity and night vision. You also get a fancy monitor and a high-powered DVR that allows you to record up to 55 days of images. This kit can be connected to the Internet so you can view the images from a remote location. It can also send e-mail alerts with image shots if you want to know when something happens that the cameras see. You can bet I will be installing this kit to watch over the jobsite of my new home as it is being built. Can you imagine how cool it would be to know when someone pulls up the road to the site or when someone is snooping around in the dark? The cameras would allow me to call the police from 1,000 miles away. All of Tim’s past columns and videos are available at AsktheBuilder.com. Discover answers to thousands of questions. Subscribe to get FREE alerts each time a new video or column is uploaded. © 2008, TMS, Inc.

Crossword Puzzle

see “Travel Europe” page 12

ANSWERS (FROM P. 13)

 HW&W | Games & Puzzles

challenge yourself

SLAPSTIX

Nothing can confound a wise man more than laughter from a dunce.

sudoku 3 4

7 5

8 5 2

8 3

8 4

5 2 4 3 4 Magicword: Spontaneous Jumbles: CRIME BYLAW BIGAMY BABOON Jumbles Answer: What he took when he ran across the street – A “GAMBOL”

Travel Europe continued from page 11

NICE: The center of Nice, the normally elegant capital of the French Riviera, finally gets some relief after being a construction mess for years. The first of three new light-rail lines (Le Tramway) is now fully operational, conveniently connecting Nice’s main train station, place Massena (a five-minute walk to the beach), Old Nice, and the bus station. 12

6 1

HOW TO PLAY SUDOKU (Answers on page 15)

Sudoku is setup on a 9x9 grid, split up into 3x3 grids called “regions”. Some numbers are already given. The object of the game is to ﬁll in the other boxes, each with a single-digit number (1-9), until the entire puzzle is ﬁlled. The only rules are that a number cannot appear more than once in a row, column, or region.

While Nice is a jumping-off point for nearby beach resorts, it’s also a haven for art lovers. And that scene is better than ever. The Chagall Museum’s new entry is complete (and dazzling), and the Matisse Museum’s renovation is finally finished. And down the road in Antibes, the Picasso Museum plans to reopen this summer after a major overhaul. Write to colmnist Rick Steves in care of The Miami Herald, One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132. ©2008, T.M.H. distributed by Tribune Media Service, Inc.



Games & Puzzles | HW&W

Crossword Puzzle

Answers can be found on page 11.

ACROSS

 56 Sloshing 58 Bump off 60 Old cocktail? 63 Saying 66 Peeve 67 Shipping box 68 Brick-lined ovens 69 Mag. revenue 70 Used push-buttons 71 Strides



1 Roadside concavity 6 State of India 11 Freudian topic 14 French river 15 Blusher 16 Atlas page 17 Puzzling problem 18 Old Maryland? 20 Coming attraction 22 More timid 23 Happy 25 Close, in poetry 28 Klensch of CNN 29 Objective 30 Lip-curler 32 Freeze over 34 Indy 500 site 39 Local dialects 42 Word before d’amour or d’honneur 43 One of the U.S. Virgin Islands 45 Giant great Monte 46 1982 Eastwood movie 49 NYC hours 50 Baby’s word 54 Track star 55 On a cruise

DOWN

1 Incline downward 2 Late starter? 3 Old Bible? 4 Nicene, for one 5 Queen of the gods 6 Actress Dahl 7 Evening receptions 8 Bask 9 Grow older 10 Recruit’s dinner 11 Computer messages 12 Airport boarding points 13 Met offering 19 Alphabetically invisible word 21 __ Antonio 23 Devers and Parent

24 Permitted by law 26 Instrument in an Italian orchestra 27 Coral colony 30 Parody 31 Repair again 33 Inarticulate grunt 35 __ es Salaam 36 Old lore? 37 Come up 38 Gossip 40 Kuwaiti leader 41 Actress Gilbert 44 Conceal 47 Perpetuated a state of enmity 48 Sphere 50 Crime group 51 Emmy or Tony 52 False faces 53 __ Wednesday 55 Financial checkup 57 Yokel 59 Acorn producers 61 Mispickel or galena 62 No vote 64 Economic stat 65 Superman’s letter

HW&W | The Savings Game

The Key To Fulﬁlling Your Retirement Dreams

Communication

elebrating our 30th wedding anniversary six years ago, I listed 30 of the many ways my wife, Georgina, has contributed to our family’s happiness and well-being. Today, in tribute to our 36th anniversary Feb. 5, it’s time to list some more. It’s time because, after 17 years of reading your letters and e-mails, I’m still taken aback by the frequent lack of communication I see among couples. Many of you complain that your spouse or partner spends too much (or too little), makes lousy investments or keeps money matters a secret. You tell me but you don’t always tell him or her. You don’t have to agree on everything – Georgina and I don’t – but you need to both speak up and listen with care to each other’s financial dreams and concerns. It doesn’t matter whether you keep joint or separate accounts, set a limit on spending or not or invest conservatively or aggressively. What matters is that you communicate and agree on what works for you. Even long-married couples don’t always communicate. In a Fidelity Investments survey last year of 502 couples married to each other an average of 24 years, spouses were interviewed separately. More than a third didn’t know when their spouse planned to retire and more than a third also envisioned different retirement lifestyles. Georgina and I enjoy a fun-filled semi-retirement because we planned it together. That will be a specific item on my 36-item list this year, along with nine worth repeating from the 2002 column: I am grateful Georgina married me when I had little money, did without things she

wanted so we could save, and had the resolve to start a freelance writing career while caring for our newborn daughter at home. She made savings a fun family project, showed us how to enjoy the simple things such as walk in the park, and planned inexpensive family vacations. She helped me track all expenses, learned about financial matters (not her favorite subject) so we could make decisions together, and helped me invest. Now I’ll add 25 new items. I am grateful to Georgina for: Not being angry with me when a speculative investment I made went bad. Steering me clear of subsequent questionable investments. Reviewing our finances periodically. Continuing to enjoy and elevate her writing career. Continuing to save in simple ways, including clipping coupons. Speaking up effectively against bad service, often getting refunds or discounts. Being a tough bargainer, often bringing down estimates and prices. Buying good-quality items that last, such as clothes. Making sure house and car are kept in good repair and clean. Being the “handywoman” around the house (I am a klutz). Finding a healthy balance between saving and spending. Spending intelligently on what’s important to us. Making me realize experiences are more valuable than things. Encouraging me to spend for hobbies she does not share. Asserting her desire and right to spend for what’s important to her. Questioning expenditures that may take away from what’s most important to us. Making the holidays a time for sharing, not extravagance. Putting family first. Fostering a loving relationship with our daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren. Making me a better grandfather in the process. Planning memorable family reunions. Planning memorable trips for the two of us. Serving as my role model for healthy living. Encouraging me to volunteer in the community. Making me a more sociable and wellrounded person. The last item, No. 36 this year, is the same as No. 30 in 2002: Always being there, ready to share the rest of my life. Write to Humberto Cruz at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207, or via email at a.askhumberto@aol.com. © 2008, Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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Ask the Experts | HW&W

pets!

STEVE DALE

e adopted a 5-monthold Chihuahua in July.

smart collector

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The vet said she has tapeworms. She’s been taking PraziTabs Canine (Praziquantel tablets). She does not have fleas and our grass has been treated (for fleas). The medication does seem to reduce the worms but not completely eliminate them. Any suggestions? B.M., LARGO, FL

DANIELLE ARNET

Who is the right person to quote values on my 1,500plus baseball cards from 1950 to the 1980s?

TRUPTI, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.

ne option is to haul the cards to a dealer and pay to have them take a look. Know your seller: An unscrupulous dealer may lowball desirable cards in order to buy at advantage. Dealers also make offers on cards they can move, leaving you with the rest. Better you should research on your own to get a ballpark idea of what you have from an unbiased source. Beckett Baseball Cards price guides have been standards for more than 20 years. Key www. beckett.com for a guide that fits your type of cards. The latest issue is $12.99 and gives advice on how to sell, as well as tips on grading and condition. Remember, book value is simply a guide.

9 4 6 7 5 2 1 3 8

1 8 7 4 3 9 5 2 6

Sudoku

5 2 3 1 6 8 7 9 4

6 9 4 8 7 3 2 5 1

2 7 8 5 9 1 4 6 3

3 1 5 6 2 4 8 7 9

4 6 2 9 8 5 3 1 7

8 5 9 3 1 7 6 4 2

7 3 1 2 4 6 9 8 5

ANSWERS (FROM P. 12)

he drug you’re using is very effective at eradicating tapeworms, according to Dr. Michael Paul, of Bel Air, MD, executive director of the Companion Animal Parasite Council. What’s more, typically all it takes is a single dose to, as Paul says, “Kill them dead. And when they’re dead, they’re dead. So I suggest either the dog is being reinfected or there are additional parasites other than tapeworms.” Typically, dogs get tapeworms from fleas, who carry larvae for the worms. Dogs with tapeworm infections usually are not sick and do not lose weight from the worms. Dog owners typically report seeing only segments of the worms, which resemble grains of rice. Aside from treating the current infection (which you’re doing with PraziTabs Canine), flea control is advised to deal with tapeworms. You’ve apparently treated the environment (the grass around your home), however, your dog also needs to be treated with a flea preventative; ask your vet for a recommendation. Since the flea preventatives available through vets work quite well (more consistently than some over-the-counter choices), if you’re using one it seems odd that your dog could be re-infected. So, if your pet is appropriately flea protected, this leads Paul to think that your dog may have another type of parasite. Another tip off could be symptoms, since dogs with tapeworms don’t become ill. If your pup appears sick, is acting lethargic and/or has runny stools, there’s even more of a likelihood of another issue at work. Learn more at www. petsandparasites.org. Write to Steve at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY. 14207. Send e-mail to PETWORLD@AOL.com. Include your name, city and state. © 2008, TMS, Inc.

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