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TIDBITS® PLAYS SOME FAVORITE
VIDEO GAMES by Kathy Wolfe
Approximately 1.23 billion people around the world spend an average of an hour a day playing video games. This week, Tidbits studies up on the history of this industry. • Video games were being developed as far back as the 1950s, when New Mexico’s Los Alamos Laboratories developed the first blackjack program on an IBM 701 computer in 1954. A checkers game came along two years later on the same type of IBM computer. (This game defeated a checkers master in 1964!) • William Higinbotham was an American physicist who was a member of the team that developed the first nuclear bomb. In 1958, he created “Tennis for Two,” played on an oscilloscope. Although Higinbotham obtained twenty-plus patents during his life, he never patented his video game.
• In 1962, Steve Russell, a computer scientist from MIT, led a team that developed a game on one of the first PDP-1 computers, which were the first to use a screen and a typewriter keyboard. “Spacewar!” is considered the first recognized widely available computer game. This two-player game required each player to take control of a starship while firing photon torpedoes in an attempt to destroy the other. A star in the center of the screen pulled on both ships as they maneuvered to keep from falling into the gravitational pull.
Q: What does Donkey Kong do when he sees a boat? A: He goes ape ship
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VIDEO GAMES (continued): • In 1971, engineers Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney created “Computer Space,” the first arcade game. The following year they founded Atari, and released the legendary arcade game “Pong.” Bushnell sold Atari to Warner Communications in 1976 for $28 million and remained employed as president of the company. By 1982, the company was experiencing $1.3 billion in annual sales and was the fastestgrowing company in the history of American business. The Atari 2000 was introduced in 1977, a game system that incorporated joysticks, interchangeable cartridges, color graphics, and different settings for difficulty. • Before long, Atari wasn’t the only game in town. In 1979, Mattel debuted their game system Intellivision, an improvement over the Atari 2000, and experienced sales of three million units. • In July of 1980, a Japanese company, Namco, released the arcade game Pac-Man. It was designed by Toru Iwatani, supposedly while eating pizza. The player guides Pac-Man through a maze as he eats dots while pursued by four
HOLLYWOOD -Despite a lot of negative reviews and comments, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” still has managed to gross more than $800 million since its opening. Warner Brothers is apparently disappointed in the way attendance fell off in the second week and fears it won’t reach the $1 billion mark. We’ll cry for them. It didn’t stop Warners from announcing that Ben Affleck will stand alone in the next Batman flick. Five recent films have broken the top 100 grossing films, and they are No. 66 “Deadpool,” No. 58 “Batman v Superman,” No. 46 “Zootopia,” No. 40 “Spectre” and No. 3 “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Seems the only way to make movie moneymakers is with special effects, animation and James Bond. *** Looks like Barbra Streisand finally will have her swansong musical now that STX Entertainment has signed on to produce the reboot of the musical “Gypsy,” with
Call Today (250) 832-3361 “Rain Man” Oscar-winner Barry Levinson directing. Though he hasn’t directed musicals before, “Gypsy” is story-driven with great music by Stephen Sondheim and lyrics by Jule Styne. The original Mama Rose was Ethel Merman (1960), who lost her Tony Award bid to Mary Martin, who won for “The Sound of Music.” Rosalind Russell played Mama Rose in the 1962 film version, but didn’t do her own singing. In 1975, Angela Lansbury won a Tony for her Mama Rose, as did Tyne Daly in 1989. Bette Midler won a Golden Globe Award in 1993 for her TV version. Bernadette Peters was a hit in 2003, while Patti LaPone won a Tony for her revival in 2008. STX Chairman Adam Fogelson said, “Its Barbra Streisand doing one more, if not the last, movie musical of her career.” *** I talked with Frances Davis, who was married to jazz great Miles Davis. The recently released film “Miles Ahead” follows their marriage from 1958 to 1968, with Don Cheadle playing Miles and Emayatzy Corinealdi playing Frances. “Before we were married in 1957,” Frances revealed, “I was cast as a singer and dancer in the original production of ‘West Side Story.’ I went to Actor’s Equity to join and found there was already a Frances Taylor in the union, so I used my middle name and became Elizabeth Taylor. That’s why on the program and cast album it lists Elizabeth Taylor as a member of the cast.” In 1965 she happened to meet Richard Burton, and he insisted she visit the set of “The Sandpiper.” Who would turn down Richard Burton? When she got to the set she was introduced to his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, by Burton, who said, “I want you to meet the chocolate Elizabeth Taylor!” As we all know, Elizabeth had a penchant for chocolate! (c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
VIDEO GAMES (continued): enemy “ghosts,” Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. One of the highest-grossing video games of all time, it was followed by Ms. Pac-Man in 1982. • Nintendo acquired the rights to distribute the Magnavox Odyssey in 1974, the first home video game console, a system with 12 games. In 1981, the company released the first of its many successful games, “Donkey Kong,” featuring a carpenter named Jumpman. It was the world’s first look at the character who would later be called Mario, with a new occupation, that of plumber. “Donkey Kong” was the first game to have four levels. • In 1983, Atari suffered losses of $533 million, and the company was sectioned off and sold to three different buyers. • A 29-year-old Russian mathematician named Alexey Pajitnov released the puzzle game “Tetris” in 1984, featuring “Tetriminos,” geometric game pieces made up of four square blocks each. As the puzzle pieces fit together, lines are cleared, and when four lines are cleared, the player
Nolan Bushnell, the engineer who founded Atari, is also the founder of the Chuck E. Cheese Pizza chain. Bushnell was looking to expand his distribution of arcade games to a kid-friendly venue. The first location opened in 1977 in San Jose, California.
O S YN T L I ATA P A product released by Sony in 1995
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1. What 1982 Disney movie kicked off a video game of the same name? 2. Introduced in 2006, what Nintendo system got players up and moving? 3. What is the country of origin for the “Angry Birds” game? 4. Name the game released in 1997 that was almost called “Race ‘n’ Chase”? 5. What 2003 game featured World War II soldiers?
in 2005. With its guitar-shaped controller, resembling a miniature Gibson SG, the player presses buttons on the controller keeping in time with the music notes on the screen. VIDEO GAMES (continued): • Although Guitar Hero was enormously successful, (with sales of $1 billion in its first achieves a “Tetris.” The name comes from the week), it had trouble keeping producers and ancient Greek word tetra, meaning “four.” developers, and the franchise shut down in 2011. • Nintendo released its game system in 1985, as well as the wildly successful “Super Mario • There are several negative aspects of playing Brothers” game. Another huge success, “The video games, including tendonitis in the hands Legend of Zelda” came along in 1987. In 1989, and wrists, backaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, the company introduced the hand-held video the promotion of sedentary behavior, and social game device, the Game Boy. isolation. Violent games have been linked to aggressive behavior and desensitization • Sega took a chunk out of Nintendo’s profits when to violence. Gaming marathons have even they introduced their system, Sega Genesis, in resulted in deaths, including recently when a 1989, with sales of nearly 31 million units, and 38-year-old man died after playing non-stop their famous character Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991. Another competitor entered the scene in 1995 when Sony debuted their first PlayStation. Nintendo rebounded the following year with the Nintendo 64 system, and Sega followed up in 1999 with their Dreamcast console.
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• Microsoft unveiled their X-Box system in 2001, launching it with the new game “Halo.” Sony quickly answered with the PlayStation 2 the next year, the first game console to use DVD technology. PlayStation 2 is the best-selling home game console to date, with over 155 million units sold, while their latest upgrade, PlayStation 4, released in 2013, is the fastestselling in history, with sales of one million consoles in the first 24 hours. • Anyone could become a musician like Jimi Hendrix with the introduction of “Guitar Hero”
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1. Name Mario the plumber’s brother. 2. What 1971 game simulated the westward trek of pioneers?
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million Americans play on a regular basis, about two-thirds of American households. Four out of five U.S. households own a device that is used to play video games, with at least two gamers per household. Fiftyone percent of U.S. homes have a dedicated game console. The average age is 35, with 60% males and 40% female, with 42% of Americans playng three hours or more per week. Thirty-five percent of players use their Smartphone to play. UNUSUAL ANIMALS:
RED PANDA Most of us think of pandas as the giant blackVIDEO GAMES (continued): for five days, and another 32-year-old who suffered a heart attack and died after playing for three days straight without stopping. • Video games also have some positive benefits. Studies indicate that they improve handeye coordination, motor skills, and spatial reasoning skills. Playing also contributes to the ability to multi-task and make quick decisions, since most games require fast reactions. Brain scans have shown improved concentration and pattern recognition. Favorable results have been achieved in helping people with autism and with improving memory in those with dementia. • Who plays video games in America? More than 150
and-white bear weighing close to 350 lbs. (160 kg.) Did you know there is also a red panda that doesn’t even resemble that big bear? Read along and learn. • The red panda, found in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and part of China, isn’t really a panda at all, or even a bear. It shares the habitat of the giant panda of the foothills of Nepal’s Himalayan Mountain range and in the cool bamboo forests of central China, and eats the same diet, but there the similarities end. The red panda more closely resembles a raccoon, complete with a ringstriped tail, and in fact belongs to the same genetic superfamily as the raccoon, skunk, weasel, and badger. • It’s just slightly larger than a household cat, about 25 inches (63 cm) long, with a long bushy tail of an additional 19 inches (47 cm), which it uses as a wraparound blanket on cold nights. A red panda will weigh from 7 to 14 pounds (3.2 to 6.4 kg) when fully grown. Its entire body, even the bottom of its feet, is covered with soft dense fur. • For the most part, red pandas are herbivores, a plant-eating animal. However, they do supplement their diet with fish, bird eggs, and insects when available, as well as fruit during the warmer seasons. They also like mushrooms and acorns but two-thirds of their diet consists of bamboo. Unfortunately, bamboo is not a very good source of energy as well as being hard to digest. The panda must spend 13 hours a day eating and looking for food in order to sustain its body, and must eat 20% to 30% of its body weight each day – between 2 and 4 lbs. (1 to 2 kg) of bamboo shoots and leaves. A panda might eat up to 20,000 bamboo leaves in one day! • The pandas spend most of their lives in trees, feeding and sleeping. They aren’t social animals, and keep pretty much to themselves, leading a solitary life. A typical panda’s life span is about eight years. • The name “panda” translates from the Nepali language “ponya,” which means “bamboo or
plant-eating animal.” In the Chinese, the name is “hun-ho,” translating “firefox,” which is used by Mozilla as the name of their browser. (Mozilla had originally considered “Firebird” as the name, but discovered it was already been used.) • Because it’s estimated that there are fewer than 10,000 adult red pandas remaining, it’s classified an endangered species. While hunting is illegal in most places, in southwest China, they are hunted for their fur, particularly the bushy tails, from which hats are created. The tails and hides are frequently part of weddings, as bridegrooms traditionally carry the hide, and panda tail hats are considered good-luck charms for newlyweds. Images of the panda have been discovered in 13th-century Chinese artwork as part of a hunting scene. • Fans of the animated Kung Fu Panda films will recognize the character of Shifu as an elderly red panda. Voiced by Dustin Hoffman, Shifu serves as the strict kung fu master.
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES May 1 – 7 has been designated as Goodwill Industries Week, and what finer time for Tidbits to bring you the particulars on this worldwide charitable organization. • It was the dream of Edgar Helms’ parents that he live his life on the Iowa family farm, but Edgar had a dream for a greater cause. Feeling a call to devote his life to the church and helping others, he enrolled in Cornell College, and later Boston University, earning a Bachelors Degree of Sacred Theology. His excellent academic achievements earned him a fellowship to London to study the poverty-stricken neighborhoods there, with
info@TidbitsVernon.com The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read® Call Today (250) 832-3361 an institution established in 2007 to provide education in the culinary arts, medical and health vocations, automotive technology, and the construction industry.
the dream of doing missionary work in India afterward. • Helms was disappointed to learn that he was not being sent to India after all, but instead to a Methodist church in one of Boston’s poorest immigrant areas. Morgan Hill Chapel, situated in one of America’s worst slums, was surrounded by drug addicts, thieves, gamblers, prostitutes, and every type of criminal. Helms and his wife established a settlement house, a haven for immigrants which provided a nursery, a gymnasium, recreational activities, English classes, and other education helping the immigrants settle into their new life. • Helms was soon inundated with requests for food and clothing. In 1902, he began combing Boston’s wealthier neighborhoods carrying a burlap bag, collecting discarded and damaged goods. He then offered wages to the poor of Morgan Hill to mend and repair items, which were in turn sold to the poor. The proceeds were used to develop job training programs. It was Helms’ motto that the poor “needed a chance, not a charity,” believing that their greatest need and want was employment.
Q: What do you call the Nintendo Wii in France? A: A Nintendo Yes Q: Where did Mario buy his lunch? A: Mario Mart. Q: Why is Toad invited to every party? A: Because he’s a Fun-gi!
• By 1905, Helms’ endeavor was known as Morgan Memorial Cooperative Industries and Stores. With money from his church, Helms began a trek across the United States, spreading the word of his undertaking. He also became a pioneer in the fight for equal pay and fair treatment of immigrant workers. When approached by the disabled, he became an advocate for their equal employment opportunities as well. • The organization was soon incorporated as Goodwill Industries, and by 1934, Goodwill was a strong force in providing aid to those in need. They approached one of the advisors to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt with an innovative idea. Goodwill’s executives proposed that the federal government make a $5 million grant to the organization, and Goodwill would put every unemployed American to work. There is no evidence that FDR considered the proposition. • Following Edgar’s death in 1942, his son Reverend Henry Helms became executive director, and devoted his life to fulfilling his father’s mission. • Today, Goodwill generates nearly $5.5 billion in revenue every year, with over 80% of that amount spent directly on the organization’s employment and community services. Last year, close to 27 million people were served and nearly 320,000 people placed into employment after receiving Goodwill’s job training. More than 2,600 thrift stores fund Goodwill’s calling. • Macon, Georgia, is home to Helms College,
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* “Dust from the top down, and clean walls from the bottom up. Dust falls, so by the time you get to the bottom, you’ve got it all, but drips are easier to clean off when the wall is already clean.” -- I.M. in Ohio * Here’s how to ballpark the temperature of your camping fire for cooking. Arrange a cooking pot over the fire. A Dutch oven works best. Hold your hand about even with the side. Beginning at 550, count backward by 50 -- i.e., 550, 500, 450. When you have to remove your hand, you’ll have an approximate temperature of the coals. * “Got a great pair of jeans with a zipper that just won’t stay up? Try this fantastic fix. Take a metal ring (like the one on a keychain) and feed it through the zipper pull. Then zip up. When you get to the top, loop the metal ring around the button, then button up the jeans. That barn door is staying closed!” -- S. in Oregon * You can thread a needle better if you spray the thread end with hairspray. It stiffens the fiber, which will then stay straight. * “After hand-washing an item, rather than wringing it out, place it between two towels and just run a rolling pin over the top towel.” -- A.D. in New York * Use an old lip brush to take care of stray nail polish mistakes when you’re painting your nails. It’s MUCH better than trying to use a cotton swab, since no strands of cotton get left behind. A lip brush is small and tight, so it can get into precision spots. You can use a cotton pad with a little nail polish remover on it to clean it up after you’re done. Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Overcoming Boy’s Fear of Dogs DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I read your recent column about a young boy who was afraid of dogs, and I would like to suggest some help to him, or anyone who is fearful of an animal. My dog Hannah and I have worked with many children to help them get over their fears. Hannah is a therapy dog. She is awesome! The children (and some adults) she has worked with are now petting other dogs. We work through our local H.S.S. Lollypop Farm in New York. I’m sure this young man can find a great therapy dog in his area to help him. Good luck! -- D. Oswald, Palmyra, New York DEAR D.: Fantastic idea! Therapy dogs are increasingly becoming an important part of our society and play an indispensable role in many people’s lives. Typically, therapy dogs visit with people for a short time each day or week to help relieve stress, provide emotional support, ease loneliness or grief ... or help people overcome their fear of dogs. A great place to start learning more about therapy dogs is at the Pet Partners website, which gives information about the services that therapy dogs can provide, and can help match patients with dogs in their area. If you’re a pet owner whose dog has a great disposition and is well-socialized, volunteering your pet to be a therapy dog could be very rewarding for both of you. Pet therapy organizations like the one above can help determine if volunteering is for you.
Cheesy Hash Browns and Chicken A dinner for two that has an uptown taste with down-home ingredients. 1/3 cup Land O Lakes nonfat sour cream 2 tablespoons Land O Lakes fat-free half and half 1 teaspoon Wyler’s Chicken Granules instant bouillon 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 2 1/2 cups frozen loose-packed shredded hash brown potatoes 1 cup diced, cooked chicken breast 1/2 cup shredded Kraft reduced-fat Cheddar cheese 1. Heat oven to 350 F. Spray 2 (12-ounce) ovenproof custard cups with butter-flavored cooking spray. 2. In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, half and half, and dry chicken bouillon. Stir in onion flakes, parsley flakes and black pepper. Add potatoes and chicken. Mix well to combine. 3. Evenly spoon mixture into prepared custard cups. Sprinkle 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese over top of each. Cover each custard cup with aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet. 4. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for 5 minutes. Place custard cups on a wire rack and let set for 5 minutes. Serves 2. TIPS: 1) Raw shredded potatoes, rinsed and patted dry, may be used in place of frozen potatoes. 2) If you don’t have leftovers, purchase a chunk of cooked chicken breast from your local deli. * Each serving equals: 317 calories, 9g fat, 34g protein, 25g carb., 352mg sodium, 309mg calcium, 1g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 3 1/2 Meat, 1 1/2 Starch/Carb.; Carb Choices: 1 1/2. (c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
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“The worst thing a kid can say about homework is that it is too hard. The worst thing a kid can say about a game is it’s too easy.” • Henry Jenkins
The V.J.H Auxiliary is putting on a “HUGE GARAGE SALE” on Saturday, May 28th from 9:00am till 1:00pm at the People Place Parking Lot 3402 27th Ave., “DON’T MISS IT” Lots of neat stuff, something for everyone. All money raised goes to the hospital for needed equipment and patient comfort items.
Scooter for Seniors. In new condition. Asking $1000. Ergonomic Excercise Bike. Barely used. Excelllent condition. $300. Call for more details. (250) 832-2855 (Salmon Arm)
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LOST BRACELET – Downtown Vernon April 13, 2016 – has ¾” Diameter round discs which have gold on the back and enamel on the front. Design on enamel is a bullfight etched motif – part of a set – Reward Offered. Please call (250) 549-1932 (Vernon)
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Wanted: Purchasing old Canadian & American coin collections & accumulations. Old gold & sterling! Private, Prompt & confidential. 250-548-3670 (Shuswap) Senior Hobbiest Buying Guns (250) 832-2982
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1. Luigi 2. Oregon Trail
PLAYSTATION
1. MOVIES: What was the first name of the main character in the movie
“Rambo”? 2. GEOGRAPHY: On which continent is the nation of Eritrea located? 3. MUSIC: What was the full name of the late singer Prince? 4. ANATOMY: What part of the body is examined with an ophthalmoscope? 5. MEASUREMENTS: How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon? 6. COMPUTERS: The term “bit” is an abbreviation for what words? 7. GAMES: What is the only king without a moustache in a standard deck of playing cards?
8. TELEVISION: Which one of the Teletubbies is green in the children’s show? 9. THEATER: Who wrote the play “A Moon for the Misbegotten”? 10. LANGUAGE: What is the adjective that is used to describe bulls or oxen? Answers 1. John 2. Africa 3. Prince Rogers Nelson 4. The eye 5. Three 6. Binary digit 7. The King of Hearts 8. Dipsy 9. Eugene O’Neill 10. Taurine (c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.