TIDBITS Issue 19 CDA idaho 2019 by TIDBITS Kootenai County, Idaho

Kootenai County, Idaho IssueIssue #46 Nov. ofofKootenai County, Idaho #1913th May2017 6th 2019

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TIDBITS® Gets A BLOOD TRANSFUSION

by Janet Spencer The average human has about 5 quarts of blood, and 60,000 miles of blood vessels. A single blood cell completes a circuit of the circulatory system in about 30 seconds. Come along with Tidbits as we get a blood transfusion! TO THE RESCUE • For centuries, doctors tried to heal illnesses through blood-letting, feeling that sickness was caused by imbalance of the body’s fluids and that draining blood would help. Blood-letting didn’t fall out of favor until Louis Pasteur, Joseph Lister, and Robert Koch proved that disease comes from microbes. Now physicians began studying what happened when you added blood to a sick or injured person instead of subtracting it. • In the early 1800s, London obstetrician James Bundell worried about the number of women who died of blood loss after giving birth. He experimented with blood transfusions and made several discoveries: First, that only human blood should be transfused into other humans, and not animal blood; second, that blood transfusions did not cure any illness aside from blood loss; third, that transfusing blood into someone who was dead would not revive them. However, Blundell never understood why some transfusions were successful and others a failure, often ending in death. (continued)

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #19 May 6th 2019 BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS (cont’d) • Austrian pathologist Karl Landsteiner researched why blood transfusions would sometimes kill the recipient, and other times would save them. In 1901 he took blood samples from various people and added them to blood samples drawn from other people. Sometimes the red cells clumped up, sometimes they burst, and sometimes nothing happened. Landsteiner first thought that some blood was “sick” and other blood was “healthy” but further research showed that there were different types of blood, which he labeled type A, type B, and type C. He then studied the different blood types, laying the groundwork for much that was to come. • A red blood cell is shaped like a flattened donut without the hole. A protein inside the red blood cell called hemoglobin collects oxygen in the lungs, delivers it to the body’s cells, and then carries carbon dioxide away, to be exhaled through the lungs. But there are different types of red blood cells, determined by different types of proteins that adhere to the outer surface of the flattened donut, like different types of sprinkles: Type A blood has a certain kind of proteins that stick to the outside of the red blood cells, and Type B blood has a different kind of proteins sticking to the cells. If a person with Type A blood receives Type B blood in a transfusion, or vice-versa, it triggers an immune response. • Landsteiner thought Type C blood had a third kind of protein sticking to the red blood cells, but later found it has no proteins sticking to it at all—it’s a flattened donut without any sprinkles. Then he found a fourth kind of blood, which had both Type A protein and Type B protein adhering to it. He called this Type AB blood. Landsteiner realized he needed to re-name his Type C blood in order to indicate that this type of blood has no proteins sticking to it at all. He re-named it Type O. (cont’d)

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CONTACT INFO FOR TIDBITS of Kootenai County

Evelyn Bevacqua Howe 212. W. Ironwood Dr., Suite D,# 224 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 Cell: 208.755.9120 Email: Tidbitscda@gmail.com www.tidbitscda.com Facebook tidbitscda

• “Large dogs can benefit from a raised water and food bowl. Why not make it pretty at the same time by putting a stainless-steel bowl into a decorative planter? Find a planter and bowl that have the same size opening. Your pup will thank you.” -- I.B.B. in Georgia • “Here’s a novel way to store your skewers that’s both handy and safe: Once they are clean and dry, wrap in plastic wrap. They will stay together, and the plastic can save you from being poked by the ends when they’re loose in the drawer.” -- T.H. in Arkansas • The secret to avoiding stains on your carpet is to get to spills right away. If you have a liquid spill, remove as much of the liquid as you can, then spray the stain with a solution of half vinegar and half water. Let it sit for two minutes, then blot with a towel. If it’s solid food, try using a plastic card to scrape it up from underneath so it doesn’t get ground in. Then follow the same steps as for a liquid stain. •“It’s better to use a dry, lint-free cloth to clean your DVD player and other electronics. Moisture will damage your electrical circuits, so no spray cleaners. But there is one thing you can spray into those cracks to help you clean: canned air! It’s is a great alternative for dislodging dust from vents without risking your tech. While you have it out, you might try ‘dusting’ the headphone and charging ports on your cellphone, too.” -- M.F. in Oregon • “Need sliced mushrooms for your salad or recipe? They are hard to cut, but you might have the perfect tool for doing the job already in your kitchen. If you have an egg slicer, get it out. It works very well for mushrooms, and it’s easier to use than trying to cut those slices yourself.” -- J.R. in Utah Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #19 May 6th 2019

EVENT CALENDAR May 10 The 19th Annual ARTIST SHOWCASE, Fine Art Show and Sale is scheduled for Friday,May 10, 10 am-8 pm with a Reception from 5-8 pm (stop by for wine and small bites prior to the downtown ArtWalk that evening) and Saturday, May 11, 10 am -5 pm at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4060 N. Gov’t Way, Bldg. #3 The talent and diversity of Coeur d’Alene’s visual arts community will be on display, showcasing artist members of the Coeur d’Alene Art Association. Find a perfect piece of art for your home or a gift for someone special (hint: Mother’s Day, May 12).This free event is open to the public in Bldg. #3 with free parking in Lot B. Visit with the artists and engage in our Raffle for Art, benefiting scholarships for NIC students. Info: Janet, 208-818-9614 or coeurd’aleneartassoc.org Cupcakes & Cocktails May 11 Join us in the Resort Plaza Shops for a complimentary mimosa bar (21+) and free delicious treats scattered throughout the shops. Grab your friends to sip and shop all Saturday! 11:00 AM 3:00 PM. June 14 - 16 Car d’Alene Downtown Coeur d’Alene comes to life with classic cars from throughout the Northwest. Friday evening - watch as the classics roll by, shoot flames and sound their horns in the Car d’Alene parade of classics. Get a closer look on Saturday, meet the owners at the Show & Shine and grab a bite to eat from select street food vendors. Questions regarding the events call Evelyn at 208.755.9120 or email evelyn2318@gmail.com

BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS (cont’d) • Since Type O blood has no proteins, it can be given to people of all blood types without triggering an immune response, since it’s the proteins that act as the allergen. Type O blood is called the “universal donor.” People with Type AB blood do not suffer ill effects when they receive Type A blood, or Type B blood, or Type O blood, and they are known as “universal receivers.” • Landsteiner was studying the blood of rhesus monkeys when he found that some of them had another type of protein adhering to their red blood cells, while others did not. He then found that humans also either did, or did not, have that identical protein. He called this new protein “the Rh factor” after “rhesus.” • People who are Rh positive cannot receive blood from donors who have Rh negative blood, and the other way around as well. In fact, women who were Rh negative often had trouble when they were pregnant with Rh positive babies until it was discovered that an injection of a blood product called Rh immune globulin would prevent problems. The discovery of the Rh factor brought the number of blood types to eight. • The most common blood type in humans is Opositive (37.4%) and the rarest blood type is ABnegative (0.6%). • Landsteiner also discovered that he could find out a person’s blood type from a single drop of dried blood, laying the groundwork for forensic science. Later it was found that blood types are inherited from parents in predictable patterns, leading to the ability to find out who the father of a child was likely to be. Landsteiner won the Nobel Prize for his work.

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® of Idaho TIDBITS of Kootenai Issue #19 May 6th 2019 TidbitsCounty, Dallas County BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS (cont’d) • Why are there four different blood types? It’s because of genetic mutation and evolution. Type A blood is the most ancient, and all humanoids had Type A blood as the species began to evolve. Around 3.5 million years ago, Type B blood was a genetic mutation, followed a million years later by Type O. The reason these mutations flourished and were passed down through successive generations has to do with disease resistance. • Cells infected with malaria don’t stick well to Type O red blood cells, so people who have Type O blood are less affected by malaria and have better odds of surviving in order to pass on their blood type to their children. Similarly, people with Type AB blood are more resistant to cholera. Gradually entire populations where cholera was common began to have largely Type AB blood, while people who lived in malariaprone areas had mainly Type O blood. FURTHER ADVANCES • The advent of World War II prompted the invention of blood banks. Doctors in Russia pioneered the practice of shipping stored blood to the battle front so that blood would be taken to the wounded soldier instead of the wounded soldier being taken to the hospital in order to receive blood. • Plasma is the amber liquid component of blood that transports red blood cells. Plasma can be easily freeze-dried, shipped long distances, stored for long periods at room temperature, and reconstituted with sterile water. Plasma can be transfused into any human regardless of their blood type. Red blood cells must be handled gently and kept either refrigerated or frozen. Therefore plasma is commonly used for transfusions involving cases of trauma, hemophilia, and burns, while whole blood is transfused only in cases of excessive blood loss.

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by Samantha Weaver • It was industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who was born into a poor Scottish family and emigrated to the United States as a teen, who made the following sage observation: “There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.” • You might be surprised to learn that the United States Department of Commerce has designated approximately 30 houses across the country as authentic haunted houses. • Despite the fact that 95 percent of the world uses the metric system of measurement, we in the United States still stubbornly cling to the archaic units of measurement derived from the old British Imperial system. This hodgepodge ranges from the mile (originally the distance a Roman soldier could march in 1,000 double steps) to the foot (originally the length of Emperor Charlemagne’s foot, later “standardized” to the length of 35 barleycorns laid end to end) to a yard (the distance between King Henry I’s nose to his extended fingertips) to an inch (the length from the tip to the first joint of a man’s thumb). • You probably didn’t realize there’s a word for it, but a pregnant goldfish is called a twit. • A man named Robert Boyd entered a lingerie shop and attempted to hold up the store using a Japanese sword. A fan of video games, Boyd claimed in his defense that at the time of the holdup, he believed he was an elf. • In Switzerland, it is considered to be bad luck to tell anyone your baby’s name before it is born.

Thought for the Day:

TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho #19505-0674 May 6th 2019 For Advertising Call Issue (334)

COUCH THEATER -- DVD PREVIEWS By Amy Anderson

PHOTO: Katie Douglas in “Level 16” Photo Credit: Dark Sky Films “Dragged Across Concrete” (R) -- Officers Ridgeman (Mel Gibson) and Lurasetti (Vince Vaughn) are suspended for excessive tactics that are caught on camera, but both have compelling reasons to stay in the game: Ridgeman’s wife is sick, and Lurasetti is on the cusp of proposing to his longtime girlfriend. They need money. The pair dig deep in their dirty contacts to find an enterprising little side job -- robbing a group of bank robbers. Standing in their way is a pair of moralist criminals (Tory Kittles, Michael Jai White) with their own compelling reasons for cash. Much like the title says, it’s a violent, slow lurch toward a grisly end that leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. “Miss Bala” (PG-13) -- Gina Rodriguez stars as Gloria, a young, pretty LA makeup artist in Mexico to visit her best friend. At a nightclub, the women are witness to some cartel violence. Her friend is kidnapped, but instead of being helped by the police, Gloria is handed over to the cartel. To find her friend, she must embrace her inner baddie and journey through a world of double-dealing drug lords, police, government agents and more. It’s an English-language remake of the 2011 version by Mexican director Gerardo Naranjo, and it’s a little lighter and a little less gritty. “Level 16” (NR) -- Canadian director Danishka Esterhazy offers a dystopian and very gray look into a secluded (read that windowless, colordrained, possibly underground) boarding school for girls, who are taught the “virtues” of femininity: cleanliness, obedience, silence, etc. They practice in hopes that being a “clean girl” will lead to adoption by a loving family. The whole thing is headed by a serious bottle blonde with neither a speck of lint on her sharp black suit nor trace of a soul. Suspicious yet? So is Vivian (Katie Douglas), who has just leveled up and joins previous classmate Sophia (Celina Martin) on Level 16, the presumably final level, where new and dangerous rules apply. “Serenity” (R) -- Baker Dill (Matthew McConaughey) is a fishing boat captain in search of a great big fish. His ex-wife Karen (Anne Hathaway, strangely blonde) tracks him down for help: take her new, abusive husband (Jason Clarke) fishing, and drop him in the ocean for the sharks to eat, thereby saving her and their son from any more abuse. There are big, impressive twists -- at least that is how the producers would like you to see them, and I’m not going to ruin them for you. It’s a hard combo to pull off, but this movie managed to be both overly complicated and as transparent as a shallow lagoon. NEW TV RELEASES “Adventure Time” The Complete Series “Wedding March 3: Here Comes the Bride” “WWE: Andre the Giant” “The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection” Vol. 5 (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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TIDBITS ofTidbits Kootenai® County, Idaho Issue #19 May 6th 2019 of Dallas County

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By Dr. Holly Carling

WORMING INTO LIFE – PART II

YOUR

In Part I of Worming into Your Life, we explored how parasites can be a part of your life by vectors we weren’t even aware of. These include our dogs or cats, bed bugs, ticks, mosquitos, flies and fleas. That sweet “kiss” from our dog or cat may not be all that sweet! But there are also other ways of getting parasites. One source is from inhaling contaminated air or dust, another way is through our water. Giardia and cryptosporidium are common parasites found in unclean water. Typically, this is caused by animal or human waste contaminating the water from upstream. But even in a less rural environment, they can be found. These parasites are becoming increasingly resistant to chlorinated water. The only option I’ve found (other than the standard boiling of water), is to get a reverse osmosis unit. In our foods, we have to be careful. Wild animals and pigs are common carriers of cryptosporidium or trichinella. Tapeworm can be transmitted via raw fish or meat incompletely cooked. Eat out at restaurants that are clean and use good cleanliness practices. Red Snapper and Pacific salmon are often infested with roundworms and cyclospora has been found in some produce. So many of these parasites are in our soils.

Al though most have a needful role in soil, some are pathogenic if we stick our dirty hands in our mouth after touching infected soil (usually soil that has had animal waste on it – some you can’t even see, like rodents’), we can get sick. If produce has been contaminated and we eat it, we could get sick. That may happen if an infected bird loses its bodily functions as it is flying overhead. Many of these parasitic infections can be avoided by good hygiene. Wearing a mask and/ or cleaning our hands after handling any kind of animal waste, working in the soil, or with plants that may have been infected. With our foods, washing them well, cooking them well, buying locally grown foods that come from clean farms can help, but there is no guarantee we won’t get sick. But why do some get sick, and others, eating the same foods, don’t. There are several reasons. One is because we have poor digestion. One of the roles of Hydrochloric Acid (HCL), the primary digestive enzyme in the stomach is to digest any parasite, bacteria, virus, mold, yeast or fungus that gets ingested. If our HCL levels are too low, either due to lifestyle factors or acidstopping medications, these critters get by our first line of defense, and merrily stroll down the digestive system and take up residence. Another reason is if your immune system is too low. While millions of Americans are housing pathogenic parasites, there are many options available to get rid of them.

Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with over three decades of experience. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’ Alene clinic. Visit Dr. Carling’s website at www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about Dr. Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Dr. Carling can be reached at 208-765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.

TIDBITSFor of Kootenai County, Idaho #19 May 6th 2019 Advertising CallIssue (334) 505-0674

HOLLYWOOD By Tony Rizzo

PHOTO: James Corden Photo credit: CBS

HOLLYWOOD -- Elton John’s love life is causing problems for Paramount Pictures and the producers of the Elton John bio picture “Rocket Man.” Allegedly, Paramount wants a bedroom love scene between Elton (Taron Egerton) and his lover John Reid (Richard Madden) cut so they can get a PG-13 rating. Taron Egerton objects, proclaiming, “I think it’s a really beautiful bit of male intimacy.” We’ll have to wait until May 31 to see who won. *** Dwayne Johnson has completed filming “Fast & Furious” spin-off “Hobbs & Shaw,” opposite Jason Statham (paying homage to the value systems that made “The Fast and the Furious” a global sensation), for an Aug. 2 release. He is currently filming the third “Jumanji,” with Jack Black, Karen Gillan and Nick Jonas returning, with Danny DeVito and Danny Glover joining them (out Dec. 13), and “Jungle Cruise,” with

Emily Blunt, Jack Whitehall and Paul Giamatti, due July 2020. “The Rock,” who is co-producing all three films, also is a solid executive producer. Among his latest efforts is “Shazam,” which is breaking records at the box office. Late night talk-show host James Corden has come up with what he says is an original idea for a new musically oriented take on the Cinderella tale, which would star singer/songwriter Camila Cabello, who hit it big with the song “Havana” and her album “Camila,” which debuted at No. 1 on 110 different iTunes around the globe. No word yet if Corden also will act in the film. Kumail Nanjiani, Oscar nominated for “The Big Sick” for best original screenplay, will co-star with Angelina Jolie in Marvel’s “The Eternals,” which takes place millions of years ago. First up for Nanjiani though is the release of the action comedy “Stuber,” with Dave Bautista and Karen Gillan (in theaters July 12), “The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle,” with Robert Downey, Jr., Antonio Banderas and Michael Sheen (out January 2020) and the comedy “The Love Birds” (March 2020). *** Now that people have filed their income taxes, we’ve learned what some of them are earning. House speaker Nancy Pelosi makes less money with her $223,500 pay than new Supreme Court judge Brett Kavanaugh, who’s earning $255,300. Their paychecks pale compared to Mindy Grossman, who made a fat $1.2 million as CEO of Weight Watchers. “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay took home $13 million, which is a lot less than Blake Shelton’s $28 million. Movie star Will Smith’s $42 million was topped by TV, movie and nightclub star Jennifer Lopez, who pocketed $47 million. But the top earner on this list is Lady Gaga, who amassed a whopping $50 million, which only proves that nothing beats it when “A Star Is (re) Born”! (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Â® ofIdaho TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Issue County #14 April 25th 2019 Tidbits Dallas

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® of Idaho TIDBITS of Kootenai IssueCounty #19 May 6th 2019 TidbitsCounty, Dallas

Q&A with Susan Ashley, MD

High Blood Pressure

Have you gone to your doctor and ended up with a diagnosis of high blood pressure? Or, the blood pressure is creeping up, let’s monitor it. So what does the doctor do? Put you on a bland, low salt diet, perhaps one called the DASH diet. These diets are always doomed for failure and any reductions in blood pressure are so small they are inconsequential. Instead, it is estimated that therapeutic salts would help stabilize blood pressure and lower deaths from heart attacks and strokes by 60%! What do I mean by therapeutic salts? Not table salt, such as Morton’s. This salt is too high in sodium and too low in potassium and other minerals. Instead, use real sea salts, the best being Celtic Sea Salt. Use as much as you wish in your cooking and at the table. With the sea salt add 2 products, called Organically Bound Minerals - OBM (3 daily) or MinTran (4-6 daily) and Cataplex G (4-6 daily). OBM contains organic potassium as well as all the other alkaline minerals, which is missing in most American diets and in all table salts.

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Min Tran is OBM with calcium lactate and magnesium. Either one will help to alleviate the mineral imbalance in your body caused by the SAD diet - Standard American Diet, of too much-processed foods, and table salt. Cataplex G is also important, for this is the relaxing portion of the vitamin B complex, which is deficient in almost all people who consume an American diet. It is riboflavin-rich and helps to normalize blood fats. It’s also a mild vasodilator, providing a relaxing effect on the nerves that control your blood vessels. Cataplex G is especially good for high strung type A personalities and works synergistically with OBM or Min-Tran. Celtic Sea Salt is a therapeutic salt, a mineral supplement in itself. Use liberally. The medical low-salt diets fail to produce any real, measurable results, and just make food taste bland. Rather, the treatment for high blood pressure is to balance your minerals, and use the Cataplex G to help relax your blood vessels. Eating celery also helps lower blood pressure, eat 4 stalks of organic celery a day. I have had patients follow this protocol and be able to come off their blood pressure medications over 3-6 months. The products mentioned are made by Standard Process. If you decide to try this approach, please do it under medical supervision with close monitoring of your blood pressure, and find a doctor who understands regenerative medicine

Dr Ashley is board certified in Family Medicine and in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. She provides a mix of traditional with alternative medicine and specializes in bio-identical hormones for both men and women.

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1. ASTRONOMY: How many moons does the planet Mercury have? 2. GEOGRAPHY: What is the deepest lake in the United States? 3. FOOD & DRINK: What are the four main ingredients of beer? 4. HISTORY: In which World War I battle did more than 19,000 British troops die on the first day? 5. MUSIC: Which R&B/soul singer was shot to death by his father in 1984? 6. TELEVISION: What was the name of the brewery that was the setting for the “Laverne & Shirley” show? 7. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: When did Canada gain its independence from Britain? 8. MOVIES: What was the name of the first silent movie shot in Hollywood? 9. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of goats called? 10. ACRONYMS: What does “http” stand for in website addresses? Answers 1. None 2. Crater Lake, at 1,949 feet 3. Water, yeast, hops and grain 4. The Battle of the Somme 5. Marvin Gaye 6. Shotz Brewery 7. 1867 8. “In Old California” 9. A tribe or a trip 10. HyperText Transfer Protocol (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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® ofIdaho TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Issue County #19 May 6th 2019 Tidbits Dallas

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REMARKABLE PEOPLE CHARLES PONZI

• In 1906, the Universal Postal Union invented the International Reply Coupon, or IRC. This allowed someone in one country to pay for return postage from a different country, regardless of the difference in prices in postage. If it cost 3 cents to send a first class letter in Italy, but the U.S. charged 5 cents to return an identical letter to Italy, the IRC covered the cost. • In 1919, Charles Ponzi decided this would be a good way to turn a profit: buy IRCs low, sell high. Explaining this to friends, he received small investments, and doubled those investments in 90 days. Word spread. • In 1920, Ponzi set up his own company and sold stock. Within the first months, 18 people invested $1800 and he paid them their dividends the following month, without mentioning that they were being paid from the monies of the next group of investors. A frenzy began. In March of 1920, his investments had risen to $25,000. By the end of July, he was taking in over a million dollars a day, worth over $12.5 million in today’s dollars. He deposited the money in Hanover Trust Bank of Boston, and then bought controlling interest in the bank. People mortgaged their homes in order to invest in his company. • During all of this, Charles Ponzi still had not figured out a way to actually monetize the International Reply Coupons in order to turn a profit. He continued to pay the old investors out of the funds coming in from the new investors. Meanwhile he bought himself mansions, cars, and other luxuries of the high life. Then he bought a pasta company and a wine company, hoping to turn enough of a profit to get him out of the hole he was digging for himself. (continued)

TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Call Idaho Issue #19505-0674 May 6th 2019 For Advertising (334)

Do Dogs Really Know What We’re Saying?

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Settle a bet for me. Can dogs really understand human speech? Or are they reacting to other signals when we give them commands (like a hand signal that’s repeated at the same time as the sound we make)? -- Jerry in Seattle DEAR JERRY: You may have lost that bet. A study in 2016 found that dogs do indeed understand human speech, and that their brains process language in very much the same way that human brains do. The left side of a dog’s brain processes the meaning of the words being spoken, while the right side of the brain processes the emotional intent. Of course, this understanding worked mainly when words were used that the dogs were familiar with, like “good boy” and “well done.” And dogs responded most strongly when a familiar word was matched with equal intent: for example, saying “good boy” in a way that clearly praises the dog. They also responded much better to praise than to criticism (and honestly, who wouldn’t)? If they didn’t understand the word being used, but the intent was clear, they responded -- though not as enthusiastically. So yes, as any dog owner who has ever had to spell out the word W-A-L-K to keep their pet from dashing toward the leash will tell you, dogs do understand us. How can pet owners use this information to better relate to their dogs? It certainly can help when training a pet. Using positive praise, consistent words and keeping that training fun and happy will ensure that dogs learn faster and respond positively to commands. Try it out. Send your comments, tips and questions to ask@ pawscorner.com. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

CHARLES PONZI (cont) • When a Boston financial writer wrote an article stating that Ponzi’s scheme was impossible, Ponzi sued for libel and won a $500,000 settlement, squashing further attempts to expose him. When another newspaper wrote a favorable article about Ponzi’s ability to guarantee a 50% return on investment after only 45 days, the article appeared next to a local bank’s ad promising a 5% return annually. Crowds of people thronged to Ponzi’s office to invest. • Still, suspicious investigative reporters and state officials started looking into the matter. One of those investigators revealed that Ponzi was not investing his own money in his own company. Somebody else calculated that in order to pay off all of his investors, Ponzi would have to monetize approximately 160 million IRCs, when there were only 27,000 in circulation. The District Attorney ordered an audit. A newspaper article revealed that whereas Ponzi claimed he was $7 in the black, he was actually $7 million in the red. • There was a run on Ponzi’s company. The Bank Commissioner immediately seized the Hanover Trust Bank, squashing Ponzi’s last-ditch efforts to cover all his debt using bank funds. Ponzi was ruined. He surrendered to federal authorities. • Five other banks were ruined because of Ponzi’s scheme. Investors received about 30 cents on the dollar. All in all, about $20 million was lost, worth over $225 million today. Charles Ponzi spent less than four years in prison on federal charges, after which he was re-tried on state charges and spent another 7 years behind bars. He was deported upon his release in 1934, and died in poverty in Brazil in 1949 at the age of 66. Today any such impossible financial scheme is called a Ponzi scheme.

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® of Idaho TIDBITS of Kootenai County, IssueCounty #19 May 6th 2019 Tidbits Dallas

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AMBER

• When certain species of trees are damaged, they extrude a sticky yellow sap called resin to protect and seal the wound. When exposed to wind and rain, most resin breaks down over time, flaking off the tree and turning to dust. But if that resin is subjected to the right conditions such as being covered by water and buried by sediments in a bog or lagoon, it becomes fossilized over time. Fossilized resin is called amber. • Amber is a gem material, but it is not a gemstone. Gemstones are minerals; other items such as coral and pearls are gem materials. • Although amber is found all over the world, the largest concentrations of amber are found in the Baltic regions, formed by the ancient Palaeogene and Cretaceous forests that stood in what is now Northern Europe 40 to 90 million years ago. However, amber has been found dating back to 320 million years. • Around 500 B.C. a Greek philosopher found that when amber is rubbed vigorously with a cloth, it will cause a spark of static electricity, and the static electricity would also attract small items such as feathers, hairs, and dust. The Greek word for amber is “elektron,” possibly from a Phoenician word meaning “shining light,” and this yielded the words electron, electric, and electricity. • The words “amber” and “ambergris” have the same root. “Ambergris” means “grey amber” and is the waxy whale secretion used in the manufacture of perfumes. Amber and ambergris are both typically found washed up on the shore of the sea. • Ancient Egyptians tombs dating back to 3200 B.C. have contained amber jewelry, showing that trade routes existed to the Baltic regions some 1500 miles away. (continued)

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #19 May 6th 2019

Vets Left to Suffer When Nurses Steal Painkillers

A registered nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center took vials of liquid morphine and other opioids from locked medical carts, painkillers that were intended for patients. He left behind in the vials a saline solution, basically saltwater. He was sentenced to two years in federal prison for tampering with a consumer product and acquiring a controlled substance by deception and subterfuge. That’s it? Two years? He could have gotten 10 years in a federal prison and a fine of a quarter million dollars on the first count alone, with four years and another quarter million on the second, and they let him off with two years? That’s not the only case of short prison sentences for stealing painkillers from veterans. A nurse at another VA hospital stole opioids, specifically hydromorphone, morphine and fentanyl. The vials were refilled with saline and put back in the automated medication management machine. She was sentenced to 14 months in prison. Sometimes the thieves don’t even get prison time. An ICU nurse stole drugs and didn’t bother to show on her application that she been fired from another hospital. The nurse was caught after she tampered with the override feature on the medication dispenser and took drugs such as morphine and oxycodone. In a single month she had overridden the machine 19 times. She was sentenced to two years probation for two felonies. In one of the more gut-wrenching cases, in a VA medical hospice in New York, a nurse stole painkillers from dying patients and replaced them with Haloperidol, an anti-psychotic, which did nothing to relieve their suffering. He admitted to doctoring at least 25 syringes of oxycodone hydrochloride, used to treat moderate to severe pain. The patients were World War II and Koreaera veterans. He was sentenced to only 82 months in prison. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

AMBER (cont’d) • Amber is famous for the insects, small creatures, and tiny plants that are found fossilized inside it. More than half of the inclusions found trapped inside pieces of amber are different species of long-extinct flies. Other things discovered in amber include frogs, lizards, geckos, as well as snake skins, bird feathers, and hairs from various creatures that brushed against the sticky sap. Over a thousand extinct species of insects have been identified as a result of amber. One discovery was a fossilized feather from a theropod dinosaur. • Although the book and film “Jurassic Park” depicted the reconstruction of dinosaurs from fossilized dinosaur DNA, it would be impossible to accomplish because DNA breaks down over time, with a normal half-life of 521 years. Sometimes DNA can last longer than that under certain conditions depending on temperatures, oxygenation rate, and other environmental factors. • Although most amber comes in a variety of yellowish hues, it can also be found in all colors of the rainbow depending on what materials have been fossilized along with the resin. • The largest piece of amber ever found was discovered in Indonesia in 2017. Weighing in at 111 lbs (50 kg) it’s estimated to be about 20 million years old. • It’s easy to make fake amber out of plastics. To tell real amber from imitation amber, examine the material. Real amber will be loaded with blemishes and occlusions. Add about 7 teaspoons of salt to a cup of water; real amber floats while most fakes will sink. R

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #18 April 30th 2018

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #18 April 30th 2018

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #14 April 1st 2019

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #19 May 6th 2019

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Elders often say they want to stay in their own homes.

By Matilda Charles

Medicare Scammed Out of $1.7 Billion

Scammers have billed Medicare $1.7 billion in phony invoices for selling hundreds of thousands of us pieces of medical equipment we don’t need. Federal agencies have brought charges for peddling unnecessary braces for knee, wrist, shoulder and back. How did this happen? We answered TV and radio ads aimed at Medicare beneficiaries. By calling them for more information, we were offered “free” devices we didn’t need. Per the Department of Justice news release, medical doctors were bribed into prescribing the devices to patients they had never even met or those they’d only talked to via brief phone conversations. Once we gave them our Medicare numbers and personal information, our calls would be switched to a foreign call center, and they were then able to bill Medicare. It was a complicated scam, involving doctors, company executives, call centers, 130 companies, bribery, kickbacks and more. Scary, isn’t it? If you see an ad on TV about free medical equipment you can get because you’re on Medicare, write down the information and give it to your doctor. Ask whether that device or service is something you really need. If it is, and if it’s something approved by Medicare, you can still get it for free. In fact, whether it’s for free medical equipment, or insurance coverage, or for any reason, if it’s related to Medicare, all the scammers really want is your Medicare number. In other Medicare scams, they’ll call you and say they need to update your information, including your bank account number where your Social Security is deposited. Whether they use sympathy, offers of help or aggressive tactics ... don’t let it fool you. Hang up. Remember, once the scammers have your Medicare card number, they can use it again and again.

They've lived there for decades and see no reason to move. However, many times their neighborhoods have changed so much that they are no longer safe. Even if the neighborhoods are safe, many of the old neighbors have died or moved away, and the elders become isolated. Many times a move to assisted living can give elders a new lease on life. Older homes that seniors hang onto often have bathrooms and bedrooms on a second floor. I've seen seniors sleep on the living room couch because they don't want to make the trip up the stairs to go to bed. This is often unhealthy for their bodies, and if the only bathroom is up a long flight of stairs, they still must climb. Stairs are not only an obstacle because of the energy it takes to climb them, they present a real hazard when it comes to falls. Change can be hard for anyone and elders are often reluctant to change the way things have always been. Decades of their lives may be tied to the home they live in, and the idea of moving away is terrifying, so they insist what they have is what they want. But the old home isn't necessarily the best place for them. Family members or caregivers need to move slowly and with compassion when they try to convince an elder to move from the family home. However, once the adjustment is made, many elders are thrilled with the change. Why? Here are five reasons. Safety. Assisted living centers are set up to provide a safe, comfortable environment for elders… Meals. Appetites can diminish as we age, plus many people don't enjoy eating alone… In assisted living, meals are provided and they often offer many choices of food. But the biggest plus may be that people have company for their meals… Transportation. …they can generally arrange transportation for seniors who need to get to clinic appointments… Less worry. …In assisted living, they don't have to worry about repair responsibilities. If something doesn't work properly, they or a loved one can alert the administration and the problem should be fixed… Socialization. Socialization is perhaps the most important reason why many people who insist that they will hate assisted living end up thriving… In assisted living, even those who swore they'd hate it often find, once they adjust, that they again enjoy the company of peers. They play cards, listen to music, exercise, have snacks, go to community events and have people come in to entertain them… (by Carol Bradley Bursack, Editor-in-Chief, “Elder Care Link”.)

Linda Davis Director of building relationships. 208.457.3403 www.LodgeLiving.net

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #19 May 6th 2019

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COMFORT FOODS MADE FAST AND HEALTHY! By Healthy Exchange

Chicken Casserole Chicken is an almost universal favorite -- and especially when served in tasty, easy dishes like this Chicken a la King Casserole. 1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken breast 1 (2.5-ounce) jar sliced mushrooms, drained 1/2 cup frozen peas 1 1/2 cups cooked noodles, rinsed and drained 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup 1/4 cup fat-free milk 1 (2-ounce) jar diced pimiento, undrained 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 1. Heat oven to 350 F. Spray an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with butter-flavored cooking spray. 2. In a large bowl, combine chicken, mushrooms, peas and noodles. Add mushroom soup, milk, undrained pimiento and parsley flakes. Mix well to combine. Spread mixture into prepared baking dish. 4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Place baking dish on a wire rack and let set for 5 minutes. Divide into 4 servings. * Each serving equals: 241 calories, 5g fat, 23g protein, 26g carb., 440mg sodium, 3g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Meat, 1 1/2 Starch. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #19 May 6th 2019

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #19 May 6th 2019

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #19 May 6th 2019

By Mick Harper 1. Who released “Train in Vain”? 2. What American new wave band wrote and released “Give Me Back My Man” in 1980? 3. Name the group that started with musicians from America (one a G.I. stationed in Germany), Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Jamaica and Britain. 4. Who released “Can the Can” in 1973? 5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “Lay a whisper on my pillow, Leave the winter on the ground, I wake up lonely, there’s an air of silence.” Answers 1. The Clash, in 1979 on their “London Calling” album. It wasn’t mentioned on the track listing for the album’s first edition because the song was added at the last minute and the album cover was already being printed. 2. The B-52s. The extended remix of the song on their “Party Mix!” album clocked in at 7 minutes 40 seconds. 3. Heatwave, known for “Boogie Nights.” The group started in 1975 and is still playing in 2019, although it’s gone through multiple changes in members. 4. Suzi Quatro. 5. “It Must Have Been Love,” by Roxette in 1987. The song climbed to No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart and was slightly rewritten for the soundtrack to the 1990 film “Pretty Woman,” starring Julia Roberts. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

1. The Curse of La Llorona (R) Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz 2. Shazam! (PG-13) Zachary Levi, Mark Strong 3. Breakthrough (PG) Chrissy Metz, Topher Grace 4. Captain Marvel (PG-13) Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson 5. Little (PG-13) Regina Hall, Issa Rae 6. Dumbo (PG) Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton 7. Pet Sematary (R) Jason Clarke, Amy Steimetz 8. Us (R) Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke 9. Missing Link (PG) animated 10. Hellboy (R) David Harbour, Milla Jovovich (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

Top 10 Video On Demand 1. The Mule (R) Clint Eastwood 2. Aquaman (PG-13) Jason Momoa 3. A Dog’s Way Home (PG) Ashley Judd 4. Bumblebee (PG-13) Hailee Steinfeld 5. Holmes & Watson (PG-13) Will Ferrell 6. Vice (R) Christian Bale 7. On the Basis of Sex (PG-13) Felicity Jones 8. The Green Book (PG-13) Mahershala Ali 9. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG) Shameik Moore 10. Second Act (PG-13) Jennifer Lopez Top 10 DVD, Blu-ray Sales 1. Bumblebee (PG-13) Paramount 2. Aquaman (PG-13) Warner Bros. 3. The Mule (R) Warner Bros. 4. A Dog’s Way Home (PG) Sony 5. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG) Sony Pictures 6. Mary Poppins Returns (PG) Disney 7. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (PG-13) Warner Bros. 8. Holmes & Watson (PG-13) Sony 9. Ralph Breaks the Internet (PG) Disney 10. A Star Is Born (R) Warner Bros. Source: comScore

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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) This is a good week to look at healing bruised feelings and reestablishing weakened relationships. It’s also a good week to start new projects and make new job-linked contacts. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Music and art dominate the week, giving the sensual Bovine a lot to appreciate. On the practical side, deal firmly, but fairly, with those who might try to undermine your work efforts. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Good feelings continue to flow from your recent efforts to reconnect with family and friends. But be ready to defuse a dispute before it can disrupt all that peace and harmony. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A practical view of a romanticized situation could help to clarify some of its more confusing aspects before you make a decision that could be tough to undo later on. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Pay more attention to what a recent spate of workplace criticism might say about your performance and not what you think it implies about you personally. Some flexibility might be called for. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) With new information, and new promises of support (not to mention growing self-confidence), this could be a good time to restart a project you couldn’t quite handle before. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Before you decide to close down a problem-loaded project and make a fresh start with someone else, try once more to reach a compromise with your balky partner. He or she might surprise you. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) While you continue earning points for your sharp negotiating skills, be alert for an attempt to undercut your efforts. You’ll need to provide solid facts and figures to stay in the game. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A minor health problem might cause you to ease up on your usually busy schedule. But you’ll soon be back in the saddle and ready to pick up the reins and charge ahead. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) The adventurous Sea Goat might be eager to take on a new challenge. But before you do, you might want to take some time to check out previously overlooked factors. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A feeling of being overwhelmed by all that you have to do can be eased by setting priorities. Deal with the most urgent and time-sensitive situations first, and then work down the line. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Creating a calm, peaceful place for yourself in the middle of a roiling emotional whirlpool this week starts when you, and no one else, decide how to make decisions about your life.

BORN THIS WEEK:

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #11 March 18th 2019