Parade by The Southern Illinoisan

S U N D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 0

Oprah’s

Biggest Dream Everrrr!

With her new cable network, she wants to change how you watch TV

Walter Scott’s

Q How would Reese

Q Where does Andrea Bocelli live? Who’s yourr

Witherspoon describe working with Robert Pattinson?—Kim Berg, Spokane, Wash.

favorite tenor?—Arlene Mazone, Lone Tree, Colo.

A The actress, 34, says

N Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Rya Ryan Seacrest this year. How do does she usually celebrate?— ? brate?—Marc Allen, Miami, Fla.

Parade.com/celebrity

“Ther so much pressure A “There’s

A We can’t pick a favorite—but Bocelli (who lives in Tuscany) can. “[The late] Franco Corelli,”” ver the 52-year-old Italian tenor declares. “If I’d never r.” heard his voice, I couldn’t have become a singer.”

her 10-years-younger Water for Elephants co-star is “a wonderfully sweet boy—I mean, man. And off-the-charts handsome.” Witherspoon is attracting lots of attention herself: In both How Do You Know and 2011’s This Means War, she has not one but two suitors. “It’s my love-triangle period,” she jokes. “I guess this is just what women in their 30s go through.” Witherspoon: Table for three, please

McCarthy: All about Eve

Q How is last season’s American Idol runnerup, Crystal Bowersox, doing these days?—M. Oshiro, Honolulu, Hawaii

A She’s great—almost

Q Jon Tenney is hot! Is he anything like his charac-

ter on The Closer?—D. Campbell, Alexandria, Va.

A “We’re both patient,” says Tenney, 49. “Our

Tenney: Art imitates life—and vice versa

writers play to our strengths. Sometimes things you say in passing even appear on the page. A character once got a ticket because he threw a banana peel out the window. That happened to me! I got a fine and eight hours of community service. I learned my lesson.”

Q Why does Johnny Depp keep returning to the Pirates ﬁlms? Isn’t he tired of playing the same character?—Debbie Adler, Seattle, Wash.

A Are you kidding? “Captain Jack is always going to be a part of me,” says Depp, 47. “I like going back to him and seeing what we can cook up. It’s tougher to play someone like my character in The Tourist. I have the most fun when I can hide behind wigs or hats or makeup.” Depp digs disguises 2 • December 26, 2010

on New Year’s, and you’re always disappointed,” says McCarth 38. “So four minutes McCarthy, mi before midnight, I sit down with a friend and talk about how great thin things are and what we’re looking forward to. It’s much more meaningful to me.”

Walter Scott asks…

Steven Curtis Chapman

too great, in fact. “Artists feed on their misfortunes, and I don’t have many now,” says the re- Bowersox: Reversal cently married 25-year- of fortune old, whose debut album, Farmer’s Daughter, is just out. “My writing isn’t as angsty as it once was. The songs are happier. But I think I like it that way.”

The Grammy-nominated Christian singer, 48, talks about his new song, his faith, and how his family is coping after the loss of 5-year-old Maria Chapman two years ago.

Q I loved Paul Newman’s Doc Hudson character in

WS Why did you write “Meant to Be”? SCC I think we all want to know that if

A Owen Wilson, who voices race car Lightning

our lives don’t turn out the way we imagine, there’s still a purpose. It’s a song that I believe is true of all of us. WS How are you and your family doing since your daughter’s death? SCC It’s not the defining thing in our lives, but it has redefined us. My wife would call it a “wrestling match with God.” WS Are holidays especially difficult? SCC I think we realize now more than ever the brokenness of our world, and this loss we’ll carry for the rest of our lives. But it’s also when we celebrate the coming of hope. We’re weary, but I think 2011 will be a new beginning. Full interview at Parade.com/chapman

the animated movie Cars. How can they do a sequel without him?—Aly McKenzie, Los Angeles, Calif.

McQueen, remembers Newman fondly from the ﬁrst ﬁlm: “Paul loved fast cars. He said, ‘If you have to worry about the risk, you’re dead already.’ I couldn’t relate to that. I’m happy in my Prius.” As for the sequel, Wilson says, “There’s a nice homage to Paul in it.” Newman’s beloved Doc

Have a question for Walter Scott? Visit Parade.com /celebrity y or write Walter Scott at P.O. PO Box 5001, 5001 Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163-5001.

PHOTOS BY ALVAREZ/GETTY (WITHERSPOON), WINTROW/GETTY (TENNEY), SAYLES/AP (DEPP), MARK DELONG (CHAPMAN), MERRITT/FILMMAGIC (MCCARTHY), BUSH/UPI/LANDOV (BOWERSOX), AND DISNEY/EVERETT COLLECTION (CARS)

PersonalityParade

Q Jenny McCarthy is doing Dick

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12 she took of her columned house on a mountain in Hawaii, framed by double rainbows. Wearing a navy jogging suit, white T-shirt, and ballet flats— comfort clothes after hours of taping—she’s more girlfriend than chairwoman, quick to giggle and totally focused. She sinks into her couch to discuss her new venture, which she’ll oversee from California after The Oprah Winfrey Show goes off the air in September. But there will still be plenty of Oprah on OWN. She has creative control, which means ultimate responsibility for 1200 hours of original and acquired programming in the first year, plus the burden of delivering her audience—and the entire, magical Oprah brand. An immense challenge, even for a superstar.

Oprah

Wants You—24/7 As she launches her new cable network, she opens up about her biggest fears, favorite shows, and how much she actually does in one day

BY LYNN SHERR

PARADE As you’re counting down

prah Winfrey perfectly understands the power—and potential pain—of her name. As a child in Milwaukee she watched Romper Room, whose host, Miss Nancy, peered into her “magic mirror” and greeted her young viewers. “I can see Susie and Jimmy and Bobby,” Miss Nancy might say, eliciting yelps of delight from children at home. Not little Oprah. “I used to stand there in front of the black-andwhite Magnavox thinking, Maybe today?” she tells me. She would move from one side of the TV set to the other, “thinking Miss Nancy would see me. Waiting for her to say hello to Oprah. Of course that never happened. She was handed a list of 4 • December 26, 2010

names and saw nobody!” Oprah reminisces slowly, hands tucked protectively under her legs. “I would have to say that my deepest feeling about myself growing up, the word that would best describe how I felt, would be lonely. And alone. It added to that feeling that there’s nobody like me.” She shifts into the present, grinning. “Now,” she adds playfully, “that’s a pretty good feeling!” Half a century later, isolation is unthinkable. Oprah’s days are nonstop, her success unprecedented: The Oprah Winfrey Show has been the top daytime talk show since its debut in 1986. Starting Jan. 1, she goes 24/7 with the launch of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) on cable,

reaching nearly 80 million homes on what is now the Discovery Health channel. The programs include familiar faces, new series, and emotional excursions into miracles and family roots. OWN is a 50/50 partnership with Discovery—their idea, their money, her genius, her…well, name. A name that everyone knows today. Oprah greets me in her livingroom-size ofﬁce at Harpo Studios in Chicago. Dog toys clutter one corner; twin shelves hold 15 shiny Emmys; an elegant curved desk dominates. “I spend more time here than I do at home, so it’s important that it be comfortable,” she says, touching signed books, presidential photos. Most cherished: the snap

to the launch of OWN, how do you feel? First it was, “Wowee, omigosh, a network!” And then it was, “What in the world have I done?” and, “Can I really do this?” So I had a lot of anxiety about it. After you made the deal? Yes. I was questioning, Why don’t I build a boat and sail around the world? Why don’t I learn French and find a nice little house in Provence? I could see myself bicycling with my baguettes and the whole thing. But I talked it over with my friends, and they all said, “You’re not going to be happy doing nothing.” What’s OWN about? It is mindful television. I think so much of television is a minefield that just zaps your energy, wastes your time. What I want to do is build a channel that is a respite for your mind, an oasis of stimulation, that you come away from with little pieces of light. I’m continued

COVER AND INSIDE PORTRAITS BY RUVEN AFANADOR

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“The way I’ve operated my entire life is, Do your best. I learned you run your own race, do your best, and people will notice.”

aiming for a moment where somebody could say, “I never thought of it that way before.” I just love that. How many of the shows are your idea? Master Class [see sidebar]. Finding Sarah [a six-part documentary with Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, premiering in spring]. That came from an interview I did this summer with her. We had a moment of real connection, watching the tape of her trying to get £500,000 [for access to Prince Andrew]. She said she didn’t want to go into bankruptcy. I said, “But when you look at that tape, don’t you see a morally bankrupted person? The one thing you were trying to avoid, you already are.” She said, “I never thought of it that way before.” Ah, there you go again! I remember the last thing I said to her when I left that interview:

“Don’t let me see you on Dancing with the Stars.” She started e-mailing me and at one point asked what did I think of her doing a celebrity chef show. And I said, “That’s not going to help you. How are you going to rehabilitate yourself on a celebrity chef show? You should be working on yourself.” You’re tough. I said, “I’ve never mentioned it because I don’t want you to think I’m trying to use you, but if you’re going to do TV, this is what you should do.” And she said? “Let me think about it. I’d have to expose myself, and what does that really mean?” I said, “All the things in your e-mails are so fascinating.” Like, she sent me an e-mail about how it’s so difﬁcult to give up going to Spain this year. And I said, “You have no money. People who don’t have money don’t go to Spain

on holiday. Hello! ” And now you’ve got her doing a show. The great benefit of having your own channel is that you can be walking down the street. . . The other day I was in a restaurant, [and there was] the most handsome waiter. I was like, “Well, what are you interested in doing? You have a very good TV face.” [laughs] I look at everything. If I have an idea, it feels like a huge paint box. So I have moved from “Omigod, what am I going to do?” to “I can do anything.” You’ve said, “I know that as I start out on this next chapter there will be some mistakes and what others perceive as failures.” What will you perceive as a failure? What will be a failure is if nobody comes and watches this network. What others will perceive as failure is if some shows don’t succeed. I’m concerned about the bigger overall

Premiering Soon on OWN Oprah’s goal? ‘To present information, insight, and inspiration in an entertaining form.’ IN THE BEDROOM WITH DR. LAURA BERMAN (JAN. 3, 10 P.M. ET/PT) Sex and relationship therapy for couples. “Every time I do Laura Berman on the show I feel like, Ugh, I really don’t want to be discussing this on daytime television,” says Oprah. “Finally she has a space to do that kind of talk.” ENOUGH ALREADY! WITH PETER WALSH (JAN. 3, 8 P.M. ET/PT) A professional organizer helps families get a grip on their stuff. “Everybody has a mess going on somewhere,” Oprah says. YOUR OWN SHOW: OPRAH’S SEARCH FOR THE NEXT TV STAR (JAN. 7, 9 P.M. ET/PT) Ten contestants compete to headline a show; Nancy

O’Dell and Carson Kressley co-host. “We’re looking for someone who has talent and wants to do some good in the world,” says Oprah. CRISTINA FERRARE’S BIG BOWL OF LOVE (JAN. 3, 3:30 P.M. ET/PT) OPRAH PRESENTS MASTER CLASS (SNEAK PEEK JAN. 1, 7 P.M. ET/PT)

Famous folks (like Jay-Z, above) share personal insights. “This was my brainstorm, my baby,” Oprah says. “Every life has a story; every experience is a lesson.” “I love the way Cristina loves food,” Oprah says. KIDNAPPED BY THE KIDS (SNEAK PEEK JAN. 1, 1 P.M. ET/PT) On this reality series, kids force their parents to ditch work for family time. “One of my favorite shows on this

channel,” Oprah says. MIRACLE DETECTIVES (JAN. 5, 10 P.M. ET/PT) Mysterious phenomena are investigated from both a spiritual and a scientiﬁc perspective. Says Oprah: “I’m intrigued by mysticism, how God operates.”

picture: my belief that people are basically good and want to see the Watch the good in them reTop 10 moments of flected through The Oprah Winfrey Show their experiences at Parade .com/oprah and the shows that they watch. This is a gamble I’m taking. I believe that the banal state of television, the kind of insipid space that we’re in—that you can have as many channels as we have and not ﬁnd anything that really interests you—means that to a great extent we’ve lost our way. As a nation? No. I think that television programmers program to the lowest common denominator. I happened to be on the treadmill one night and passed one of the Housewives shows—I don’t know which city— and literally my mouth was open ’cause I thought, “This is on television?” I recognize that there’s a whole group of people who find that very entertaining. I wonder for how long. I think that there are people who want to be fed just a little more. In all the years that you’ve been doing such successful television, what have you learned about people? Everybody just wants to be heard. Toni Morrison said that what every child wants to know is, Do your eyes light up when I enter the room? Did you hear me and did what I say mean anything to you? That’s all they’re looking for. That’s what everybody is looking for. And the reason I think my ability to communicate with people around the world has been so rewarded is because I actually understand that. Could you have done something like be an ambassador? Nobody’s offered [that] to me in this continued on page 8

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK (IN THE BEDROOM, CRISTINA FERRARE’S BIG BOWL OF LOVE) AND SCOTT GRIES FOR OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK (MASTER CLASS)

Oprah | continued

6 • December 26, 2010

A Day in Oprah’s Life

I wanted to stop my bone loss. But I did more. I reversed it with BONIVA.*

What she makes Stedman for dinner—and much more 6:00 a.m. “Yesterday I got up at

6. I was going to get up at 5:30, but at 1 a.m. I sent an e-mail to security saying, ‘Give me an extra half hour.’ I got to the office about 6:30 and got on the treadmill downstairs in the gym. [While on the treadmill] I play Scrabble on my iPad, against the computer.” 7:30 a.m. “I got in the makeup chair, then did two shows.” 11:30 a.m. “I drank a green drink—spinach, parsley, a little bit of apple juice, celery, and cucumbers in a blender—and made some phone calls. I had to call Africa, and you have to do that before everybody goes to bed over there.” 12:35 p.m. “I got back in the makeup chair—I was running late—and then did a show with Barbra Streisand.” 2:00 p.m. “I came back upstairs, called the bank with any transfers that needed to be made, money issues. Then we had meetings about the next week’s shows, what we have coming up.” 7:50 p.m. “Yesterday was an early day, since I was on the treadmill [again] by 10 of 8. I’d already done 45 minutes in the morning, so I did 30 minutes. Actually, it took 34 minutes to finish my Scrabble game, and I stayed on to 35 to round it off. The guy next to me was at a level-50 incline, and I was at 10. I was embarrassed to stay at 10, so I moved to 20. I was like [panting]— but I was going to keep it there.” 8:50 p.m. “This almost never happens, but I came home at the same time as Stedman [Graham, Oprah’s longtime love]. I made him something for dinner— leftover shrimp and rice, a little salad with lettuce, olive oil. I shaved some truffles, chopped up rosemary. I made it for him; I had a rice cake with almond butter. I’m trying not to eat past 7:30. I sat at the kitchen table and we talked for maybe 30 minutes, then I went to bed. 10:00 p.m. “I took my little stack of books to bed. I was trying to figure out what the next book club [selection] was going to be.” [She chose Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities.] 11:10 p.m. “Lights out.”

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Did you know osteoporosis runs in families? My mother and I both have it. I tried to keep my bones strong, but it wasn’t enough. Now, once-monthly BONIVA is helping me do more. Studies show, after a year † on BONIVA, 9 out of 10 women stopped and reversed their bone loss. BONIVA is a prescription medication to treat and prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis. Ask your doctor if BONIVA is right for you. Important Safety Information: You should not take BONIVA if you have certain problems with your esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth and stomach), low blood calcium, cannot sit or stand for at least 60 minutes, have severe kidney disease, or are allergic to BONIVA. Stop taking BONIVA and tell your doctor right away if you experience difficult or painful swallowing, chest pain, or severe or continuing heartburn, as these may be signs of serious upper digestive problems. Follow the dosing instructions for once-monthly BONIVA carefully to lower the chance of these events occurring. Side effects may include diarrhea, pain in the arms or legs, or upset stomach. Tell your doctor and dentist about all the medicines you take. Tell them if you develop jaw problems (especially following a dental procedure) or severe bone, joint, and/or muscle pain. Your doctor may also recommend a calcium and vitamin D supplement. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

*Bone density measured at the lumbar spine after 1 year of treatment. Individual results may vary. †Bone

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Oprah | continued

(bon-EE-va) ibandronate sodium 150-mg tablet What is BONIVA?

administration. But I will tell you a funny story. When I was at the Kennedy Center Honors for Tina Turner [in 2005], I was sitting at Colin Powell’s table, and he said that we were in the ambassadors room [a room at the State Department with portraits of ambassadors and secretaries of state]. And I said, “Gee, this is really—this is lovely. An ambassador, I think that would be really great.” He goes, “Name your country, baby, name your country.” [laughs] So I can say reliably,“She turned down an ambassadorship!” I just laughed. He goes, “No, seriously, do you want to be an ambassador?” I go: “No, really, I was just—it’s just a thought. I was just saying it’s a nice room!” Can I ask about President Obama? Are you concerned, disappointed? No. I think that no one understands until you’ve been in that seat the enormous pressure to please and satisfy everybody. And I think instead of being grateful for where we are and what he has done, we’ve forgotten that we were on the brink of a depression when he took over this office. And as everybody celebrates the holiday season and sits around with their families, regardless of your circumstance, we could’ve had breadlines. How soon we forget that. And you would support him again? Absolutely. Would you ever run for ofﬁce? No. Because? Because I know my lane and I can drive very well in it. I don’t want to get in that lane.

BONIVA, a bisphosphonate, is a prescription medicine used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, characterized by weakening of the bone. Taken once a month in tablet form, BONIVA may stop and reverse bone loss in most women. It has been clinically proven to help build and maintain bone density, which can help reduce fractures.

What is the most important information about BONIVA? BONIVA may cause serious problems in the stomach and the esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth and stomach) such as trouble swallowing, heartburn, and ulcers. Who should not take BONIVA?

Before you start BONIVA.

Do not take BONIVA if you:

Tell your health care provider if you:

• have abnormalities with your esophagus, such as restriction or difficulty swallowing • have low blood calcium (hypocalcemia) • cannot sit or stand for at least 60 minutes • have kidneys that work very poorly • are allergic to BONIVA or any of its ingredients See Patient Information for complete list.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant • are breast-feeding • have trouble swallowing or other problems with your esophagus • have kidney problems • are planning a dental procedure such as tooth extraction Tell your health care provider and dentist about all medications you’re taking, including vitamins, antacids, and supplements.

How should you take BONIVA?

You must take BONIVA exactly as instructed by your health care provider. • Take first thing in the morning, on the same day each month. • If you miss a monthly dose and your next scheduled BONIVA day is more than 7 days away, take one BONIVA 150 mg tablet in the morning following • Swallow whole (do not chew or suck) with a full glass (6 to 8 oz) of the day that you remember. Do not take two 150 mg tablets within the same plain water (not sparkling or mineral). Do not take with tea, coffee, week. If your scheduled BONIVA day is only 1 to 7 days away, wait until your juice, or milk. next scheduled BONIVA day to take your tablet. Then return to taking one • After you take BONIVA, remain standing or sitting for at least BONIVA 150 mg tablet every month in the morning of your chosen day, 60 minutes before you eat, drink, lie down, or take any other oral according to your original schedule. If you are not sure what to do if you medications, including calcium, vitamins, and antacids. Some miss a dose, contact your health care provider, who will be able to advise you. medicines can stop BONIVA from getting to your bones. • If you take too much BONIVA, drink a full glass of milk and call your local poison control center or emergency room right away. Do not make yourself vomit. Do not lie down. What are the possible side effects of BONIVA?

Stop taking BONIVA and call your health care provider right away if you have pain or trouble swallowing, chest pain, or very bad heartburn or heartburn that does not get better. Follow dosing instructions carefully to decrease the risk of these effects. BONIVA may cause:

Common side effects are:

Less common side effects are:

• Pain or trouble swallowing • Heartburn • Ulcers in stomach or esophagus

• Diarrhea • Pain in extremities (arms or legs) • Upset stomach

• Short-term, mild flu-like symptoms, which usually improve after the first dose

Rarely, patients have reported allergic and skin reactions. Contact your health care provider if you develop any symptoms of an allergic reaction including skin rash (with or without blisters), hives, wheezing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing, swallowing, or feel light-headed. Rarely, patients have reported severe bone, joint, and/or muscle pain starting within one day to several months after beginning to take oral bisphosphonate drugs. Contact your health care provider if you develop these symptoms after starting BONIVA. Rarely, patients have reported serious jaw problems associated with delayed healing and infection, often following dental procedures such as tooth extraction. If you experience jaw problems, contact your health care provider and dentist. This summary is not a complete list of side effects. For a complete list, consult your health care provider or pharmacist. Want to know more? This summary is not everything you need to know about BONIVA. It does not take the place of talking with your health care provider about your condition or treatment. For more complete information, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist. Visit myboniva.com or call 1-888-MyBONIVA for the complete Prescribing Information, which includes the Patient Information.

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Swell on Wheels

tate: A float’s entire surface must be covered with only undyed natural materials glued onto the styrofoam figures and foam-and-wire frames. Each year, Fiesta floral director and vice president Jim Hynd orders over 20 million flowers in up to 500 varieties. He’s also pioneered some of the event’s craftiest uses of material. Previously, float builders made human faces from flower petals, but since the petals would decay, the results were splotchy. Hynd’s breakthrough: walnut shells. Ground, they create a nonperishable skin base— and now they’re a parade staple.

A 2008 Rose Parade ﬂoat celebrating Mexico’s Day of the Dead, built by Tim Estes for Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

URFBOARD-RIDING

dogs! A 49-foot-tall robot that can tip its top hat! A volcano that oozes lava made of ﬂowers! When the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., started in 1890, it consisted of a quaint procession of horse-drawn buggies bedecked with blooms. But since then, it’s turned into a headspinning extravaganza of marching bands and movie-worthy special effects (catch the parade on Jan. 1 at 8 a.m. PST on ABC and NBC). And we love it—roughly one out of six Americans, or about 50 million people, tune in to marvel and ultimately to wonder: How the heck do they do that? To find out, we 10 • December 26, 2010

asked Tim Estes, 54, president of Fiesta Parade Floats and the winningest builder in the parade’s history (he’s captured the coveted Sweepstakes Award for the past 17 years). Here, he shares some of the secrets to his success:

Be as ingenious an engineer as Eiffel—and as tough a general as MacArthur.

Under every ﬂoat’s delicate façade is a custom-welded steel chassis that supports up to 25 tons. Features that can pile on the poundage include a stadium-quality sound system, computer-driven hydraulics to make the ﬁgurines move, and engines and generators to operate it

all. Estes’ success comes in part from his engineering background: He and his aeronautics-engineer dad were perpetual tinkerers, and he studied the subject in college. But a float builder must also be part field marshal. Fiesta has a full-time staff of 30—and more than 6000 volunteers who help decorate in the final month-long push.

Pray for good weather.

Floats are finicky. When the mercury hits the mid-70s, the flowers wilt like suspects on Law & Order. The most delicate—roses, tulips, orchids—are placed only in the last 48 hours, with each stem in a vial of sterilized water. Fiesta’s 2004 FTD float held a staggering 100,000 roses—in 100,000 microvases. If it’s too cold (below 42 degrees), glue congeals. Then it’s byebye, flowers. The worst weather horror? Rain. “The glue turns to liquid, and things slide off like melting ice cream,” Hynd says. Luckily, it’s poured just 10 times in 121 parades.

No loitering!

Like sharks, floats must keep moving. Even a tiny pause can cause an ugly gap on TV or, worse, a pileup. With over 40 ﬂoats, two dozen

Know your botany.

All ﬂoats need to adhere to a thick binder-full of rules. (One example: Floats may not exceed 16'6" in height, because of the 17'4" Foothill Freeway overpass. Anything taller must be able to retract to regulation height in 60 seconds or less.) The most challenging dic-

Float maestro Tim Estes

What are the top five flowers used on floats? Take our quiz, and see a slideshow of other awe-inspiring floats at Parade.com/rose

PHOTOS BY BRENT FULTZ (FIESTA FLOAT) AND COURTESY OF TIM ESTES (ESTES)

How do you create a 22-foot-high waterfall—and put it on a ﬂoat? Just ask Rose Parade whiz Tim Estes m BY CHRISTINE WICKER

Visit us at PARADE.COM

marching bands, and hundreds of performers on horseback navigating the 5.5-mile-long route, that can spell disaster. In 1999, Fiesta built a ﬂoat for the Kingdom of Thailand; when the hundreds of dancers escorting it passed the grandstand where the Princess of Thailand sat, they unexpectedly stopped to bow. A lovely gesture, to be sure, but it caused a 20-second delay—and parade bosses slapped Estes with a $3000 ﬁne.

Upgrade your accident insurance—stat!

Estes’ medical chart is an orthopedist’s nightmare: Once, a chassis fell on his foot, breaking seven bones. Another time, he slipped off a truck ramp, shattering both elbows and one wrist. In total, he says he’s broken 40-plus bones on the job.

Push the envelope.

Every year, Estes seeks bigger thrills, which is what sponsors expect for spending up to $400,000 per float. In 2009, Fiesta’s entry for Natural Balance Pet Foods featured two skateboarding bulldogs (real ones) on a 52-foot track. In 2010, five bulldogs snowboarded down a 60-foot ramp on the float (which, at a length of over 113 feet, set a Guinness record). This year, Fiesta and Natural Balance are trying for the world’s heaviest float. Weighing over 35 tons—more than 11 SUVs—the barge will showcase five dogs jumping into a pool filled with 4000 gallons of water. But the bulldogs won’t be among them. “Do you know what happens when a bulldog dives?” asks Fiesta project manager Beverly Stansbury. “He sinks like a frozen turkey.” Instead, they’ll be riding mini-surfboards.

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(By Frank K. Wood) If you want to discover inexpensive alternatives to hundreds of costly products, you need The Kitchen Table Book: 1,427 Kitchen Cures and Pantry Potions for Just About Every Health and Household Problem, an informative new book just released to the public by FC&A Medical Publishing® in Peachtree City, Georgia. Your refrigerator alone could be holding more healers than the drug companies’ billion-dollar labs! You won’t believe what you can do with baking soda, bananas, and so much more! The authors provide many health tips with full explanations. 䉴 6 ways to dodge cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more! Anyone can do it. 䉴 Lower high blood pressure, relieve anxiety, and bring on restful sleep — all with one kitchen herb! 䉴 The one fruit that lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, protects against diabetes and cancer, and can even cut your risk of dementia by over 75% — it’s cheap, too! 䉴 Common spice is a life-saver: It inhibits cancer growth, prevents blood clots, even lowers cholesterol. 䉴 Kill disease-causing bacteria and viruses, get rid of mildew, and wipe

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SundayDinner

Lucky Beans

Katie Lee of The Early Show on CBS starts her new year with an old Southern tradition

cle

Growing up in West Virginia, none of us were big party animals on New Year’s Eve. My mom, grandparents, extended family, and a friend or two would just try our best to stay up and watch the ball drop on TV. The next day we’d have a New Year’s Day supper, and that’s when Mom would make Hoppin’ John with greens and cornbread. Hoppin’ John is comfort food for me, but it’s also symbolic. Black-eyed peas are meant to bring you good luck in the new year, and greens like kale or collards are supposed to bring money and fortune. In fact, my grandpa liked to hide a quarter in them, and whoever got it with their portion had extra good luck. Making a recipe I grew up with is a way to look back on the past before moving into the future. I’m a big believer in New Year’s resolutions. On January 1, I make a list. But I don’t do anything too outlandish. Last year my resolution was to take a multivitamin every day—and I did it! Kind of dorky, but that was my goal!

“Don’t overcook the beans; I use canned blackeyed peas, which don’t require a lot of cooking time. You can also add spices: Curry or Italian blends work well.”

“My mother the and I always took walks together on New Year’s Day. Now that I live at the beach, I’m going to pick up one special shell and write the year on the back for a new collection.”

Hoppin’ John Some people put bacon in their Hoppin’ John, but we never did when I was a child. This recipe really lets the beans shine. Servings: 6

1 Tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 1 red bell pepper, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 15-oz. cans black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained 1/4 cup vegetable broth or water

1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 2 green onions, thinly sliced 1/4 cup ﬂat-leaf parsley, minced Cooked rice Shredded white cheddar Hot sauce (optional)

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add onion, red bell pepper, and garlic. Sauté until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. 2. Stir in black-eyed peas, broth, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to low; cook 10 more minutes. Stir in green onions and parsley. 3. Serve on top of cooked rice and garnish with cheese. Add hot sauce, if desired. Per serving (before cheese, rice, and hot sauce): 170 calories, 3g fat, no cholesterol, 420mg sodium, 31g carbs, 5g protein.

Katie Lee’s latest cookbook, The Comfort Table: Recipes for Everyday Occasions, is in stores now.

For a chance to win one of Katie Lee’s cookbooks, visit dashrecipes.com

PHOTO OF LEE BY QUENTIN BACON FOR PARADE AND OF HOPPIN’JOHN BY JIM FRANCO FOR PARADE. FOOD STYLING BY JOYCE SANGIRARDI AND PROP STYLING BY PAIGE HICKS. OTHER PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES (PEAS) AND SHUTTERSTOCK (SEASHELL). NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS/CONSULTING BY JEANINE SHERRY, M.S., R.D.

Cooking Tips

14 • December 26, 2010

AskMarilyn

Numbrix

Parade.com/marilyn by Marilyn vos Savant

My three sisters and I need to divide up our late mother’s jewelry. Her instructions to me, the eldest, were: You (sister No. 1) pick ﬁrst, then sister No. 2, sister No. 3, and sister No. 4. On the next round, sister No. 2 picks ﬁrst, then No. 3, No. 4, and No. 1. And so on. My youngest sister doesn’t like this idea very much, which is one reason we haven’t gotten the job done yet! Can you suggest a fair way to accomplish this important task? —Laurie Fong, Santa Rosa, Calif.

Actually, your mother’s method is very good. To illustrate why, let’s say she had 16 pieces of jewelry, valued from 1 to 16 points, with 16 being the most desirable (in dollars, sentiment, etc.) to all four sisters, and so on down the line. Following her instructions, you (sister No. 1) would wind up with a 16-point piece of jewelry, a 9-point piece, a 6-point piece, and a 3-point

Complete 1–81 so the numbers follow a horizontal or vertical path. (No diagonals.)

piece, for a total of 34 points. 65 63 17 13 7 So would your sisters, but More with a different combination of pieces. (Sister No. 2 would 69 5 Ways to get 15, 12, 5, and 2; sister No. Play! 3 would get 14, 11, 8, and 1; Print and play 73 29 sister No. 4 would get 13, 10, a new puzzle 7, and 4.) every day at But one tweak to the in77 31 structions would reduce the Parade.com advantage of the sister who /numbrix gets to pick first and, at the 81 55 43 37 35 same time, benefit the sister who picks last. The first round would stay the same. But on still get the top-rated piece, but you would also the next round, sister No. 4 would pick first, then get the bottom-rated piece. (The other sisterly No. 3, No. 2, and No. 1. The third round would combinations would shift likewise.) Sister No. be just like the first round, and so on. Each sister 4, though last in the first round, would get to would still receive 34 points. choose two pieces in a row before the others had The difference is that sister No. 1 (you) would a second chance.

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†HOME SERVICES LICENSING INFORMATION The following licenses are held by or on behalf of Sears Home Improvement: Products, Inc.: AL (Res. Bldr. #7654; HVAC #8186); AZ (Res. Remodeler #ROC117628 B-03; HVAC #ROC206649 C-39R; Dual Res. & Small Comm. #ROC260459 KB-02); AR (Gen. Bldg. Contr. #203740610-B, HVACR #1004181-B); CA (Gen. Bldg. Contr. #721379-B, Insulation & Acoustical #721379-C2, Cabinet, Millwork & Finish Carpentry #721379-C6, Flooring #721379-C15, Glazing #721379-C17, HVAC #721379-C20, Roofing #721379-C39, Ceramic & Mosaic Tile Cont. #721379-C54; Weatherization & Energy Conservation #721379-D65); CT (HTG, Piping & Cooling Un-Ltd. Cont. #HTG.0400133-S1; HIC #0607669); FL (Gen. Contr. #CGC012538; HVAC #CMC1249510, Certified Roofing Cont. #CCC1329316); GA (HVAC #CR109873); ID (HVAC #C-6134, Contracting Bus. #RCE-25219); IL (City of Chicago Home Repair 1248977); IN (Evansville Res. Remodeling Cont. #RRC0185); IA (Master HVAC #677); KY (Master HVAC #HM04667); LA (Res. Bldr. #84194; HVAC#45862); MD (HIC #87854; HVAC #6528; Contractor/Salesman #46542; HVACR #75581); MA (HIC #148607, All plumbing and electrical services performed by licensed subcontractors); MI (Res. Bldr. #2102131369; HVAC #7110944); MN (Res. Remodeler #20090017); MS (Res. Bldr. #RO5222); NV (Carpentry #43242-C3; Gen. Contr. #60609-B; Plumb. & Htg. Contr. #60610-C1; Refrig. & AC Contr. #60608-C21; Gen. Serviceman #S1469; HVAC #A0072; Roofing & Siding #43240- C15); NY (NYC HIC #1225166, Nassau County HIC #H1809170000, Rockland County HIC #9990, Suffolk County #41506-H, Westchester County WC #18371-H06, Putnam County #3189-A, City of Yonkers #4213); NM (Gen. Bldg. Contr. #GB 98 58598; HVAC #MM98 52598; Elec. #EE-98 58598, MHD HVAC #MM98 C58598, MHD Elec. #EE98 C-58598); NC (Bldg. Limited. #47330; HVAC #15343 H-2, H-3-1, HVAC #30249 H-3-II); OH (HVAC #44752); OK (HVAC #106841); OR (Gen. Contr. #113202); PA (HI Contractor #PA005499); RI (Res. Contr. #27281, HVAC #6260); SC (Gen. Contr. #105836-BD5; HVAC Res. #RBH-919; Mechanical Contractor #110634); TN (HIC #2319; HVAC-Unlimited Contr. #54995; Res. & Small Comm-Unlimited BC-A #54995); TX (Res. Bldr. Remodeler #9566; HVAC Dallas #TACLB00020401E, Houston TACLB00028404E, Lubbock #TACLB00027780E; San Antonio #TACLB00029020); UT (Gen. Bldg. Contr. #B-100318604-5501; HVAC #S-350 318604-5501); VA (Class A Contr. #27-084717; HVAC #2710046587); WA (Gen. Contr. #SEARSHI011LA); Washington, DC (HIC #50006423); WV (Res. Bldr., #WV025882, HVAC WV025882); WI (Dwelling Contr. Cert. #15151; Dwelling Contr. Qualifier #982570; HVAC Contractor #15151). Some services performed by Sears associates. Other services and installation performed by Sears-Authorized licensed contractors; additional Sears license information available upon request.

𰁎𰀀FREE MIRACLE HEATERS ARE ON THE WAY: Everyone wants to stay warm and save money on their heat bills this winter. These trucks are being loaded full of new Heat

Surge Roll-n-Glow® Convecta-red Heat™ fireplaces and will soon be ready to go. The oak mantle is a real steal at just $298 and shipping because the first 17,247 readers who beat the order deadline by calling 1-866-779-6706 to order the fireplace mantles are actually getting the Heat Surge miracle heaters with new Convecta-red Heat technology absolutely free.

Public has just 48 hours to get free heaters New Miracle Convecta-red heaters are being given away free to the first 17,247 readers who beat the order deadline for real Amish fireplace mantles handmade for the breakthrough invention that drastically slashes heat bills

Save money: uses about the same electric as a coffee maker, so turn your thermostat way down and never be cold again UMS – Have you heard about the free heater giveaway that’s sweeping across the nation? Well listen up because here it is and we’ll even give you the number to call. Starting at precisely 8:30am this morning, brand new Convecta-red miracle heaters are actually being given away free to the general public for the next

48 hours. The only thing today’s readers need to do is call the Toll Free Hotline before the 48-hour deadline with their order for the handmade Amish Fireplace Mantle. The first 17,247 readers who do will instantly be awarded the Heat Surge miracle heater with new Convecta-red Heat technology absolutely free. This is all happening to announce

the new Heat Surge Roll-n-Glow Convecta-red fireplace which actually rolls from room-to-room so you can turn your thermostat way down and never be cold again. That way, everyone who gets them first can immediately start saving on their heat bills. Just in time for the bitter cold winter weather, portable Amish encased fireplaces are being deliv-

ered directly to the doors of all those who beat the deadline. These remarkable new Convectared heaters are being called a miracle because they have the patent-pending Fireless Flame® technology that gives you the peaceful flicker of a real fire but without any flames, fumes, ashes or mess. Everyone is getting them because all you do is plug them in. And here’s the best part. Readers

ADVERTISEMENT who beat the 48-hour order deadline are getting their new Convectared miracle heaters free when encased in the Amish built real wood fireplace mantles. The mantles are being handmade in Ohio, right in the heart of Amish country where they are beautifully hand-rubbed, stained and varnished. You just can’t find custom made Amish mantles like this in the national chain stores. That makes the oak mantle a real steal for just $ 298 since the entire cost of the new Convecta-red miracle heater is free. The Amish handmade mantle actually lets the new Convecta-red miracle heater roll from room-toroom. These fireplaces are so compact they go anywhere, yet they throw off an instant heat wave in any room. And they only use about the same electric as a coffee maker, so it’s easy to stay warm in any room

of the house for just pennies a day. “You see, with your furnace you are paying to heat areas of your home that you’re not using. And since the new Convecta-red miracle heater only uses about 9¢ an hour of electricity on the standard setting, the potential energy savings are absolutely incredible,” said Laura Rich, Operations Director. “We’re trying to make sure no one gets left out, but you better hurry because we only have 17,247 new Convecta-red miracle heaters to hand out to today’s readers for free. For now, readers can have two free per household just as long as they call before the deadline,” confirms Rich. Getting the Heat Surge Roll-nGlow fireplace is the smart way to slash winter heat bills and still stay warm all winter long. And getting the new Convecta-red miracle heater free is like putting three hundred

bucks in your pocket and you can save even more on your monthly heat bills. “We’re bracing ourselves for all the calls because everyone wants to save on their heat bills and stay warm this winter. But those that really want to save a ton will be telling our operators they want two Amish fireplace mantles and they’ll get two miracle heaters free,” said Rich. “So when the lines are busy keep

trying. We promise to get every call. Then we’ll have a delivery truck out to you in no time at all so you can stay warm and start saving on your heat bills right away,” Rich said. “You’ll instantly feel the bone soothing heat in any room. You will never have to be cold and miserable again,” she said. 𰁎

On the worldwide web: www.amishfireplaces.com

How to get your free heater Readers need to call the Toll Free Hotlines beginning at 8:30am this morning. If lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered. However, if you miss the deadline you will be turned away from this free offer and forced to wait for future announcements in this or other U.S. publications, if any. The first 17,247 readers who beat the 48-hour deadline to order the Amish made fireplace mantle and shipping get the new Heat Surge Convecta-red miracle heater absolutely free. They have imposed a strict limit of 2 free new Convecta-red heaters per household. So, readers need to hurry and call now because there are only 17,247 Heat Surge miracle heaters to be given away free, when they’re gone, they’re gone. Use the map below to find the weather zone you live in and call the number for your zone.

If you live in one of these Zones

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NEW CONVECTA-RED HEAT™: bringing home the warmth of the sun

Frigid Zone: 1 Cold Zone: 2

𰁎𰀀AMISH QUALITY: Amish crafts- 𰁎𰀀SAVES ON BILLS: Everyone gets men take great pride in their workmanship. Each Amish fireplace mantle is hand crafted to the highest standards and is built to last a lifetime. With four finishes to choose from they are sure to make any room look like a million bucks.

lower heat bills and still stays warm. The new Heat Surge Convecta-red heater only uses 9¢ an hour of electricity on the standard setting, yet blasts out an instant heat wave in any room to keep you warm all day long for just pennies.

𰁎𰀀SAFE: The new Heat Surge Convecta-red 𰁎𰀀DELIVERED FULLY ASSEMBLED: heater looks so real it fools everyone but there is no real fire. So you don’t have to worry because the flame window is safe to the touch. It’s where the kids will play and the cat and dog will sleep.

Every Heat Surge Roll-n-Glow fireplace comes fully assembled by Amish craftsmen and is delivered right to your door. All you do is roll it out of the box, plug it in and relax in front of the Fireless Flame.

Frost Zone: 3 Heats quickly and evenly while staying cool to the touch How New Convecta-red Heat™ Technology Works: Heat Surge technology safely heats a room faster and more effectively than typical space heaters. That’s because it uses new proprietary Convectared Heat™ Technology, which combines the hottest rays of the light spectrum with a convection wave that when working together produce ultra-efficient heat. Though invisible, this heat energy can be felt every day when standing in the sunshine. This new advanced heating system warms more than just the air, it heats objects like furniture, walls and people for a warm and comfortable home. It even comes with a full year limited replacement or money back warranty. And the new Heat Surge Convectared heater has received certification of Underwriters Laboratories coveted UL listing. OH and FL resident transactions require the remittance of applicable sales tax. Sorry no shipments to MA and CA residents.

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Frigid Zone: 1 Start Calling at 8:30 am

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FOR HEAT SURGE, LLC. 8000 FREEDOM AVE. N CANTON, OH 44720

Parade.com/views

Now Hear This!

OR 51 YEARS OR SO,

I’ve been listening to conversations that are none of my business. And may I just say: You people are fascinating. My habit started when I was about 2. We lived in a house with a party line, a shared phone connection with several neighbors, not a reference to our nightly conga dances. We never had those. My parents jitterbugged. As for the party line, I’m told my mother would regularly gasp as if she’d just swallowed a wasp and then dive for the phone whenever she spotted wide-eyed me cradling the receiver. My goodness, the things people say when they think little ears aren’t listening. Made me quite the star at the coffee klatch. I’d interrupt my mother’s gossip extravaganza with a well-timed insight gleaned from my burgeoning career as Early adopter: The author, at 17 months, toeing the party line a CIA mole, and she’d yank me into the kitchen for a lecture that started with “Young lady” and segued into, “Now, tell idea why so many women shout to each What a relief me exactly what she said.” By the time other from their porcelain perches, but it is to know I was 6, I couldn’t help wondering why I do hope never to be one of them. Mom didn’t just invite me to grab a cup Thanks to cellphones, most of us now I’m not the of Maxwell House and pull up a chair. listen in on conversations even if we don’t only one Clearly, I was in the loop. want to. People shouting, all day long. Up to adolescence, I spent a lot Everything sounds like an emerpretending of time hovering in doorways and gency, too, whether they’re breakmy family is perfecting an air of oblivion ing up with a lover or standing in whenever my mother caught me. the toilet-paper aisle yelling, normal. your Eventually I upgraded to conver- Share “Which! Brand!” thoughts Connie sations in public places, particu- with My favorite eavesdrop of 2010: Schultz at Parade.com larly in airports, coffeehouses, Woman standing at gas pump in /schultz and bathroom stalls. I have no suburban Cleveland, waving the 18 • December 26, 2010

by Connie Schultz

nozzle with one hand as she screamed into the phone, “Did I not tell you that a wood turtle will run if you don’t latch the gate? You have to go get him! No, don’t call him! He’s not a dog—he’s a turtle! ” Sometimes people who are wired with those hands-free devices trick me into thinking they’re talking to me. Then they get annoyed when I answer. Boy, that’s embarrassing. Let me offer this blanket apology: I’m sorry I smiled and thought you were talking to me. But you were looking straight at me. And could we work on our delivery? I’m a little tired of strangers rolling their eyes and snapping, “I’m not talking to you.” Back to eavesdropping: I think overhearing the minutiae of other people’s lives fuels a sense of camaraderie. We really are in this together. And what a relief to know I’m not the only one pretending my family is normal. At the grocery store recently, I stood for 15 minutes in front of two pretty, middle-aged sisters arguing over who had the pointier nose. We were in the checkout line, where the week before my husband and I had a rather spirited discussion over why he would not be picking out the toiletries again anytime soon. As for the women behind me, they only stopped ﬁghting once they agreed that neither nose compared to the beak on the sister not in attendance. Being the only daughter who wasn’t a homecoming queen, I felt an immediate solidarity with the missing sister, who was probably the smart one anyway. I’m only guessing, and that is not a statement about my own sisters’ intelligence. Nor is it a reﬂection on my mother, who also was a homecoming queen. Please, hold the sympathy. I’m over it. Really. Which is why I’m going to stop writing now.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR

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