of Blackhawk County July 21, 2008
J&J Publishing, LLC
Vol. 1, Issue 4
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A LONG HAUL OF TIDBITS FACTS ABOUT
THE BIG RIGS
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by Jefferson Woodward
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This week, Tidbits offers a hearty 10-4 to those big rigs (and the folks who drive them). Thanks for hauling everything from livestock to office supplies across miles of highway to keep this great country of ours up and running! • According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 72 percent of all freight in the United States is transported by trucks. Between the Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, the Federal Excise Fuel Tax, and the Federal Excise Tax on Tractors & Trailers (to name just a few), truck owners pay an average of $10,000 per year in taxes alone. The monies collected are put back into the system to help improve our federal highways. • If it seems to you that the larger trucks on the freeway drive a bit slower than they did only a few years ago, you’re not imagining it. For each mile-per-hour of speed below 65 mph, a truck saves about 1.5 percent in fuel consumption. With diesel fuel currently priced at more than $4 per gallon, the savings has proven to be enough of an incentive that some fleet owners have installed electronic regulators to monitor their drivers’ speed. • When we refer to an 18-wheeler as a “semi,” what we’re actually describing is the trailer that the truck is pulling. A semitrailer only has wheels at the rear; the front end is supported by the towing vehicle. turn the page for more!
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Tidbits® of Blackhawk County
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THE BIG RIGS (continued): • Truck drivers often identify themselves by the vehicle they drive and/or the type of cargo they carry. For example, auto haulers are those very specialized two-deck trailers that transport new cars and trucks. Flatbed trucks pull unenclosed trailers that haul large bulky items such as steel coils, lumber, and machinery. “Reefer” drivers drive refrigerated trucks that transport perishable goods. • Taxes and fuel costs aside, how much does it cost just to buy a big rig? Just like automobiles, the cab or “tractor” portion of an 18-wheeler is available in the showroom with a number of different options. Expect to pay at least $80,000 for even a basic vehicle. • The trailer portion of a big rig is less expensive than the cab; it might set you back only $30 grand. If you’ve ever taken the time to read the various stickers on the 18-wheeler in front of you on the freeway, you might have noticed that some advertise jobs for drivers, while others indicate that the truck belongs to an owner/operator. An owner/ operator is independent and owns the vehicle he is driving. It means he laid out a lot of cash for his rig, but he is his own boss. • A truck driver is limited to 11 hours of driving over a 14-hour period, after which 10 consecutive hours of rest is mandated by federal law. It’s intended to reduce driver fatigue, which in turn reduces the number of traffic accidents. If you pull into a truck stop or rest area and see several drivers sitting around seemingly doing nothing, they are most likely waiting out the remainder of the required 10 hour rest period. • To idle or not? The air conditioning, music system, and other accoutrements in today’s big rigs require ample electricity. Until recently, many drivers left their engine running, even while at a rest stop. But with diesel prices skyrocketing, more drivers are investing in an APU, or Alternate Power Unit. An APU is a small onboard diesel generator. Even at a sticker price of about $10,000, the unit quickly pays for itself in terms of fuel savings alone.
Red Pepper Spray Can Deter Cats By Samantha Mazzotta
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: In a recent column, you described a cat that became extremely ill after ingesting a lily plant. You suggested distracting a cat from poisonous plants with a nearby tray of catnip, or a favorite toy. I have a really great tip for discouraging cats -- and most other critters -from chewing on plants, furniture or whatever you don’t want them to chew on. Try mixing a few teaspoons of ground red pepper in a spray bottle full of water, then spray the item you want the cat to leave alone. Saturate the item and leave it to dry. This also works for outdoor plants and flowers to keep wild critters away from them. The smell alone repels most animals. Just make sure not to touch your eyes after applying! Also, thank you for the Cat Fanciers’ Association Web site, where you can find the list of plants dangerous to cats. -- Stephanie L., Lawrenceburg, Ky.
DEAR STEPHANIE: You’re welcome, and thanks for the tip! I would also recommend that cat owners who have plants in their homes that are dangerous to cats make sure they are lifted well out of the reach of their pet. I’ll even go so far as to say that no plants from the lily family should be in the home, period. No repellent is 100 percent effective, especially from a determined cat. For those who missed the link to the Cat Fanciers’ Association Web site, here it is again so that you can review the list of poisonous plants: www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html. Send your tips, questions and comments to Paws Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or e-mail them to pawscorner@hotmail.com.
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Page 3
THE BIG RIGS (continued):
GRECIAN PASTA SALAD HINT: Usually 2 1/2 cups uncooked A delicious summer salad that’s sure to rotini pasta cooks to about 3 cups. draw attention not only for how colorful it looks, but for its great taste. • Each serving equals: 154 calories, 6g fat, 7g protein, 17g carbs, 636mg 3 cups cooked garden variety rotini sodium, 147mg calcium, 6g fiber; pasta, rinsed and drained 1 cup chopped fresh tomato 1/3 cup sliced ripe olives Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Meat; 1 cup (full) crumbled feta cheese Carb Choices: 1. 1/2 cup Kraft Fat Free Italian Dressing In a large bowl, combine rotini pasta, tomato, olives and feta cheese. Add Italian dressing. Toss gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 6 (full 3/4 cup) servings.
Visit Healthy Exchanges at www.healthyexcha nges.com, or call toll-free at 1-800-766-8961 for more information about the only national food newsletter for diabetics, heart/cholesterol concerns and healthy weight loss.
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PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT
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• You’ve probably seen signs at the weigh stations on some interstates advising truck drivers to “follow in-cab signals.” These instructions are for drivers who use PrePass, which is a transponder installed inside their cab that electronically transmits all their pertinent data to the computer at the weigh station. PrePass also allows the truck to use the WIM (weigh in motion) scale, meaning they can pass over a sensor in the pavement to measure their load, rather than having to pull off at the weigh station and stop. • In the United States, the federal legal maximum weight for a standard 18-wheeler (without any special permits for an oversized load) is 40 tons, or 80,000 pounds. Laws also specify how the weight of a truck’s load must be carefully distributed over each axle. • Most modern truckers no longer use the CB slang made famous in Smokey and the Bandit and “Convoy.” So much personnel turnover has occurred in the trucking industry in recent years that many drivers aren’t on the job long enough to learn a whole dictionary’s worth of clever catch phrases. Some of the terms have stuck around, however; a state trooper is still a “smokey,” a weigh station is known as a “chicken coop,” a mile marker is a “yardstick,” and drivers in a hurry are still said to be “putting the hammer down.” • Another curious road sign you might see along America’s highways reads “No Jake Braking Allowed.” You don’t have to worry about this particular regulation, though, unless you happen to be behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler. Most semis are equipped with compression release engine brakes, generically referred to by truckers as “Jake brakes.” (Jacobs Vehicles Systems, Inc., is a major manufacturer of this equipment.) The use of compression brakes causes less wear on the truck’s components, but it does make a very loud and distinctive staccato noise, which is why some areas prohibit them. • Does a career in heavy hauling appeal to you? Currently, the United States is experiencing a shortage of qualified truck drivers, so there are plenty of jobs to be had once you earn your Commercial Driver’s License. New drivers usually start out earning a rate of about 25 cents per mile, driving an average of 3,000 miles per week. Once you get some experience under your belt, the rate per mile (and the miles per week) will increase. • However, there is more to hauling than just driving. You’ll work with inexperienced dispatchers who might give the wrong directions and send you to an urban area. You’ll be expected to deliver on time, no matter the weather or traffic conditions. You’ll usually have to tarp and chain your loads yourself, which means climbing, crawling and lifting. • All of us who grouse and gripe at those big trucks holding up traffic should take a moment and remember that these behemoths are bringing fuel to our gas stations, pharmaceuticals to our local drugstores, mail to our post offices, and fresh produce to our grocery stores. It’s easy to complain that they’re taking up space on our roads, but we’d sure complain a lot more if they weren’t!
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Tidbits® of Blackhawk County Nursing Home Ratings Get a Gold Star
• If you’re thinking of redecorating your child’s room, you might want to keep this in mind: Studies show that the color pink has a soothing effect on children; blue lowers their blood pressure and increases attentiveness; and yellow excites and cheers kids. Avoid red if at all possible; it has been shown to raise children’s blood pressure, respiration and heart rate as well as brain and muscle activity. • The brand name Nike isn’t just a made-up moniker. It comes from Greek mythology, in which Nike was the winged goddess of victory. • It’s been reported that the last words of 19th-century American author, essayist, biographer and historian Washington Irving were, “Well, I must arrange my pillows for another night. When will this end?” • If you’re planning a trip to New York City this September, you should consider stopping by Wigstock, the
country’s largest festival celebrating the fake ‘do. If you can’t make the road trip, don’t worry; you can check out the festivities from the comfort of your own home. Just rent “Wigstock: The Movie,” a documentary of the event that was made in the mid-1990s. • Golfers beware: Don’t chew on the tees. One golfer who was in the habit of gnawing while he played overdosed on pesticides after playing 36 holes in one day. • All species of dog have a pink tongue -- except one. Chows’ tongues are black. • The longest word in the English language that can be typed using only one hand is “stewardesses.” •
Here’s something that could come in handy, even though most of us hope we’ll never need it: A star rating of nursing homes across the county. By the end of the year, Nursing Home Compare will provide a rating system for Medicare-eligible nursing homes. With this handy visual chart, you’ll be able to scroll down the page and quickly identify the best facilities. Nursing Home Compare already has an excellent system where inspection reports can be viewed at the Medicare site [www.medicare.gov], and the star system will add to it. Another way to check a nursing home is CareScout [carescout.com]. For a fee, it will do a comparative analysis of nursing homes in your area. One facility report costs $95, however, so it’s not cheap. Don’t wait until the last minute to begin selecting a nursing home. Do a little homework now, in case it’s ever needed.
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Some important things to consider are: • Location, so family can visit easily • Get references: Friends or relatives who’ve been in nursing homes are great sources of information. • Take a tour yourself: Keep your eyes open, but don’t focus on fancy decorating -- that doesn’t mean anything. Listen for the way staff talks to patients. Consult with management about any possible waiting list, and what would be required to enter the facility. • Consult someone in the know, such as a social worker or a geriatric care manager. See www.caremanager.org as a place to start. Non-Medicare nursing homes won’t be listed by Nursing Home Compare, so you’ll need to contact your state’s survey agency. The Medicare Web site has a list of contacts by state and category.
Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com.
Studies conducted in office environments show that women’s desks have, on average, four times more germs than men’s desks do.
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“There is wisdom in turning as often as possible from the familiar to the unfamiliar: it keeps the mind nimble, it kills prejudice, and it fosters humor.”
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FROM START TO FITNESS By Andrea Renee Wyatt, M.S.S., C.S.C.S.
Long Plane Ride Can Challenge Body Q: This summer I’ll be taking my dream vacation to New Zealand. I have never flown on a plane for more than four hours, and even then my back and knees begin to bother me. A friend suggested I do exercises on the plane to keep from sitting down for so long. What type of exercises can I do in a cramped airplane?
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A: Air travel can be a challenge, especially if you’re sitting for long periods of time. The secret is to plan before your trip to avoid any discomfort while flying. First, if you have any medical conditions or concerns, speak with your physician before you leave. Be sure to include the length of the airplane ride, stopovers, etc., so he or she will have the information needed to suggest a plan to help you have a smooth trip. Next, begin by getting in shape as much as you can in the weeks leading up to your trip. The fitter you are, the more your body will be able to tolerate the long plane ride to New Zealand. Your muscles, bones and joints are not accustomed to sitting for extended periods of time, especially in the small confines of an airplane seat. The stronger your body, the better you’ll feel upon arrival. Cardiovascular, strength and flexibility exercises should all be part of your pretrip exercise routine. Walking or jogging, a total-body strength training routine and flexibility exercises or classes such as Pilates or yoga can be a great combination.
If you already have an exercise program, continue with your routine and add any needed exercises. Remember to practice good posture in the weeks leading up to your trip. Try to develop a strong core -- which includes your whole trunk region -- and avoid slumping forwarding or leaning to the side while driving or sitting at home. Practicing these habits can help you develop the technique and strength to do this while on a plane. Poor posture while sitting can cause problems with your lower back, neck and shoulders. Sitting for hours on an airplane with this poor posture can begin to cause discomfort. Once on the plane, remember to practice these good posture techniques and continue to move your legs, arms and neck throughout the flight. Many airlines offer exercise suggestions on in-flight screens to remind passengers to move around and move their limbs every hour. Sleeping may seem like the best way to get through a long trip; however, if you plan to sleep, ask someone you are flying with or a flight attendant to wake you occasionally so you can get up and walk, stretch and get the blood flowing throughout your body. While sitting, you can move your legs, roll your ankles, stretch your wrist, shoulders and neck -- and just keep moving. Although the space is limited on an airplane, you can still move enough to keep your body strong and happy on your way to your dream vacation.
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BICYCLES (continued): • In the 1890s, the first “modern” bicycles appeared: chain-driven vehicles with similarly-sized tires. These were safer than the high-wheel models (and were even called “safety bicycles” as a result), but proved a step backwards in comfort. While the long spokes of high-wheel bikes absorbed bumps and ruts, the smaller wheels on these new bikes, particularly when coupled with the hard-rubber tires of the era, made for jarring, unpleasant rides.
1. Against which team in 1995 did Cal Ripken Jr. break the consecutive-games-played record of 2,130 held by Lou Gehrig? 2. Three players have hit 40 or more home runs in a season for the Seattle Mariners. Name them. 3. NFL head coaches Bill Parcells, Dan Reeves, Don Shula and Dick Vermeil all reached the Super Bowl with two different teams. Which of them won Super Bowls with both teams? 4. Between 1997 and 2008, name the only school other than North Carolina and Duke to win the ACC men’s basketball tournament. 5. Name the last team to win the Stanley Cup after leading the league in goals during the regular season. 6. Who are the only two countries to have won backto-back World Cups in men’s soccer? 7. Since 1969, four horses have had undefeated career records through the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Name them. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
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• More than a million bicycles were sold in the United States by the time 1895 rolled around, but one last improvement would propel the bicycle into the must-own category: the pneumatic tire. Under the guidance of the Pope Manufacturing Company (which made bicycles), the Hartford Rubber Works produced America’s first pneumatic tires in 1895. Providing a much softer ride, they soon became a standard feature on all bicycle models. • Dozens of smaller-scale improvements boosted the speed, comfort, longevity and performance of bicycles during the 20th century. As women began to find them as necessary as men, two varieties of bicycle were made. Men’s bikes were built with an extra stabilizer bar across the top of the bike. Women’s bikes omitted the bar, providing for easier mounting and dismounting of the vehicle when wearing skirts. • The 1970s saw the development of two bicycle extremes. First came bicycles that took you nowhere. Otherwise known as exercise bikes, these training aids first hit the home market at the beginning of the decade. Then, as time went on and the energy crisis sent fuel prices skyrocketing, mopeds appeared. These bicycle/motorcycle hybrids, most popular with city-centered business workers, could either be pedaled like a regular bike or powered using a small, low-powered gasoline engine.
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Tidbits® of Blackhawk County
ALL THE PRESIDENTS’ TIDBITS
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON
Most presidents are elected to office. A few are former vice presidents who take office upon the passing of their bosses. William Henry Harrison won the vote, but he had little time to assert himself in the job. Read this week’s All the Presidents’ Tidbits to find out why. • William Henry Harrison was born on February 9, 1773, in Berkeley, Virginia. His father, Benjamin Harrison, signed the Declaration of Independence as a Virginia representative and later served as the state’s governor. (Many years after William’s death, his grandson, named after Benjamin, would also enter the presidency.) • After college, William chose to join the Army and take part in expeditions into the interior of North America. His efforts helped the U.S. gain additional land throughout the Midwest. After serving for eight years in the Northwest Territory, he won an appointment as its delegate to Congress. He cleared the Indiana Territory for settlement, and then cemented his place in folklore by defeating an Indian alliance during the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. There, he earned the nickname “Old Tippecanoe.” • When the War of 1812 broke out, Harrison was tasked with keeping the Midwest safe from both Native American and British forces, who hoped to sandwich the U.S. on the eastern seaboard and attack from both sides. He succeeded not only in standing ground but also taking it. Detroit had been captured by the British, and he was able to wrest it from their hands, giving the U.S. an advantageous point from which to defend itself. When the War ended, he settled down with wife Anna in North Bend, Ohio. • Harrison moved up the political ladder to Ohio representative and senator, and soon found his name being discussed as the Whig candidate for president. He lost to Martin Van Buren in 1836, but the financial panic that ensued the following year ensured that the Whigs would take the White House in 1840. They did, with John Tyler as Harrison’s running mate, using the catchy slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too.”
• “I use a baster (basting syringe) to water small potted plants. It’s just enough water, and I can get it right where I need it.” -- S.D. in Virginia
• Recipe Substitutions: If you need 1 cup of tomato juice, use 1/2 cup of tomato sauce plus 1/2 cup of water. • “Cleaning the miniblinds is a real chore, but what makes it easier for me is putting a pair of socks over my hands, and then spraying them with cleaner.” -- R.D. in Iowa • “Tacos are a favorite meal in our house, but very messy -- until we discovered a great use for coffee filters. We use a filter to hold the taco. We peel back the paper as we eat, and nothing drips out or falls out, even if the shell cracks!” -- E.B. in Oregon
• “When we go to the beach -- which is pretty often, it seems -- we always bring a drawstring mesh bag. After playing on the beach, we load all the toys into the bag, then drag it through the water a little. The sand washes off into the ocean, and the toys are pretty clean. We then stick it inside a plastic bag for the ride home.” -- I.L. in Florida • Grease muffin pans with an old, clean paintbrush dipped in oil. You’ll use less oil, and it’s much less messy. Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or e-mail JoAnn at heresatip@yahoo.com.
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WILLIAM H. HARRISON (continued): • The new commander-in-chief was inaugurated on March 4, 1841. He marked the ceremony by giving the longest inauguration speech ever, an hour and 45 minutes in length. During the speech, he made it clear that he hoped to serve only four years, and even proposed a Constitutional amendment to restrict presidents to one term in office. As it turned out, his stay in Washington was much shorter than that. The combination of inclement weather at the inauguration and the stress of a long campaign weakened Harrison’s health. He contracted pneumonia and spent much of the next four weeks in bed. • The illness took the life of the 68-year-old president on April 4, just one month after he took the oath of office. It was the first time a sitting president had passed away, and both Congress and Harrison’s cabinet were uncertain about the proper procedure for succession. When Tyler was sworn in as president, the press mocked him by referring to him as “His Accidency.” Harrison’s 31 days in office is still the record for the shortest time in office by a U.S. president. His death also led to the demise of the Whig party, which collapsed shortly after Tyler took over.
Want to increase your advertising exposure? Ask us about sponsoring this section. Grocery Packaging, Portions Shrinking Grocery manufacturers have figured out that consumers are less disturbed by smaller packages than they are by higher prices. So they’re counting on consumers not to notice the smaller packages now on store shelves in increasing numbers for everything from ice cream to sandwich spread. In some cases, the packaging isn’t shrinking, but the contents are. Peanut butter is an example: What used to be an 18-ounce jar of a major brand of peanut butter is now 16.3 ounces -- a full serving gone -- in the same size jar. It’s the same with margarine: same package with less in it. It’s more important than ever to read the unit cost and per-serving price of each item you buy. In many cases, what you’re getting now isn’t what you were getting only a few months ago. (Double check to be sure that the unit pricing sticker has been changed to reflect the now-smaller item. Some stores are slow to make those changes.) Those who are dieting or who have special dietary requirements, such as diabetics, need to be extra vigilant about calories and carbs, as the contents of a package could be different, even if it looks the same. Cooks, too, are finding that recipes are suffering if the ingredients suddenly change. If your recipe calls for a certain amount of tomato
paste, check the can to see if it’s still the size you expect. The same goes for cake and cookie mixes: If you expect to make cupcakes for three dozen children at school as you always have, check the box to see how many cupcakes the mix will actually make now. If ever there was a time to investigate store brands, it’s now. Let the unit pricing be your guide about whether an individual product is a good buy. Start clipping and using coupons, even if you haven’t done that in the past. Suggestion: If you have a favorite food that hasn’t shrunk yet, and if you can combine a purchase with coupons to make it truly worth your while, load up. Check the expiration dates to make sure you’ll use it in time. It’s a feel-good step, but one with benefits. David Uffington regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Write to him in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Tidbits® of Blackhawk County heartlandvineyard.org 319.266.HOPE
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QUIZ BITS 1. What musical instrument did Amy Irving Patching a Vinyl Floor play in the Mazzotta 1980 film By Samantha TheaCompetition? Q: There’s scorch mark on my kitchen
floor caused my son dropped a 2. Whatwhen legendary lighted match (don’tband ask, got it was a teenage Swedish thing, I guess) on it. I tried scrubbing it out, itstostart by winning but it seems be melted into the vinyl. How 1974 Eurovision can I fix it?the -- Jeri in San Antonio
Song Contest?
ULY 27 JULY CEDAR FALLS
ENJOYING THIS ISSUE OF TIDBITS®? Soften the old adhesive with mineral spirits (beingTHANK careful not THOSE to contact the surrounding tiles) and scrape away. Spread new flooring WHO ADVERTISE adhesive and press a new tile into place, BY GIVING THEM wiping away any excess adhesive that YOUR BUSINESS! oozes out of the edges.
A floor that has sheet vinyl (the vinyl flooring was rolled out in one big piece and trimmed to fit the room) can also be patched. First, get a patch of matching vinyl -- if youWORD don’t havePOWER any extra, “steal” a piece from underneath an appliance or from the Unscramble thispantry word... inside of the kitchen if the flooring extends there -- by AH AN M cutting O R Tout a square using__ a sharp knife. __ __utility __ __ __ __ __ Place the patch square over the This word damaged area andmeans: trace around it to mark an endurance contestthe patch. Using your cutting area. Remove the utility knife (change the blade if possible), cut along the lines. Use a putty knife to pry up the damaged section. As above, clean away old adhesive, apply new adhesive and press the patch into place. To make NEXT WEEK: sure it holds, cover the patch with wax paper TIDBITS WITH and stack someSHINES books on top for at least a day. JEWELS & GEMSTONES Finish the patch by applying liquid seam sealer around the patch edges.
1. PIANO 2. ABBA 1. The California Angels. 2. Ken Griffey Jr. (six times), Jay Buhner (three times) and Alex Rodriguez (three times). 3. None. 4. Maryland in 2004. 5. The Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. 6. Italy in 1934 and ‘38, and Brazil in ‘58 and ‘62. 7. Majestic Prince in 1969, Seattle Slew in 1977, Smarty Jones in 2004 and Big Brown in 2008.
ANSWERS
A: Extreme heat and solvents are enemies of the vinyl floor -- they can eat right into the surface and are difficult to repair or cover up. It may be better to replace the damaged section, and it’s one of the easier home repairs. If the floorQUIZ is vinyl BITS tile, then loosen the damaged tileANSWERS (a heat gun will soften the adhesive) and pry it up with a putty knife.
Tidbits® Maze
FILLER PAGE 1 3Q06 WEEK 33 AUG 13 – AUG 19
WORD POWER ANSWER
A man entered a local newspaper’s pun contest. He sent in ten different puns, hoping that at least one of the puns would win. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did.
The type of big rig that we call a “semi-truck” in the United States is referred to as an “articulated lorry” over in the United Kingdom.
Liquid seam Nuggets of sealer is great KNOWLEDGE for quick repairs to vinyl InflCanada, a game itofover small cuts oors. Apply chance is considered scratches to hide damage a and lottery. In Canada, toand run aprotect lottery, you the floor.
need a special license. That’s why all sweepstakes and random Send questions or home-repair tips to hom eguru2000@hotmail.com, drawing contests have a or write This Is a Hammer, King Features Weekly Service, provision c/o stating that if P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. a Canadian citizen is the winner, he has to answer (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc. a skill-testing question in order to claim his or her prize.
MARATHON
Famous Birthdays THIS WEEK
Danny Bonaduce – 08-13-59 Steve Martin – 08-14-45 Ben Affleck – 08-15-72 Madonna – 08-16-58 Sean Penn – 08-17-60 Rosalynn Carter – 08-18-27 Tipper Gore – 08-19-48