TIDBITS Issue 50 CDA Idaho

TIDBITS®ISASTONISHED BYANIMAL ARCHITECTURE

byJanetSpencer

ComealongwithTidbitsaswelookathow creaturesconstructarchitecture!

WORLD’SSMALLESTHOUSE

•Anamoebaisasingle-celledplantwhich movesaroundonthefloorofapond, engulfingfoodandconsumingit.Some speciesofamoebabuildthemselvestiny housesoutofsandgrains,carryingthem aroundlikeasnailinitsshell.Whenthe amoebadividesitselfinhalftopropagate,its DNAiscutinhalf;itscytoplasm(which composesthemainbody)isdividedinhalf; andthehousegoeswithonehalfofthe amoebawhileacollectionofunusedsand particlescontainedwithinthecytoplasm goeswiththeotherhalf.Thisisthesmallest typeofanimalarchitectureeverdiscovered.

INSECTARCHITECTURE

•OnespeciesofCentralAmericanmothis denselycoveredwithlongstiffhairswhen it’sinthecaterpillarstage.Whenit’sready topupate,itpullsoutitshairsonebyone withitsjawsandthenattachesthehairsto thestemofaplantusingsilkextrudedfrom itsmouth.Thenitbuildsitscocoonin betweenrowsofthesespikeybarriers, incorporatingthelastfewhairstostrengthen thewallofthecocoon.Inthiswayit’s protectedfrompredatorswhileitturnsintoa moth.(cont)

INSECTARCHITECTURE

•TheSouthAmericanleafcutterantsbuild undergroundneststhatgoasdeepas18feet (6m)andhouseupto8millionants,not including2or3millionlarvaandeggs.This isequivalenttothepopulationofsomeof thebiggesthumancities,alllivingina singlestructure.Theantsearntheirlivingby chewingtheleavesofcertaingrassestoa pulp,andthencultivatinganediblefungus fromthepulpinchambersfarunderground. Thefungusneedsventilation,andtheants buildentranceholesinshallowmounds toppedbytinyturretsmadeofdriedmud. Thewindiscaughtbytheturretsand funneledintothedepthsoftheantcolony.

•Inthedeciduousforestsofthenorthern hemisphere,treesandotherplantsdroptheir leaveseveryautumn,thusridding themselvesofinsectinvasions.Theinsects needtostartalloverfromscratchthe followingspring.Butinthetropics,leaves areneverdroppedsimultaneously,and thereforethetreesandshrubshave developedotherstrategiesofprotection. Oneofthemainmethodsistousetoxinsin thefoliage,makingtheleavesunpalatableor poisonous.Theleafcutterantshavegotten aroundthisbyusingthefungus,whichis unaffectedbythetoxins,anddoesnotpass themontotheantswhichthrivebyeating thefungus.

•InSouthAfrica,termitecoloniesbuild towerswhichaverage6feettall.Onewas carbondatedandwasabout5,000yearsold, withthecolonystillthrivingwithin.

•Long-abandonednestsofthemuddauber waspfoundincavesinWesternAustralia. werecarbondatedandfoundtobeover 17,000yearsold–remarkableforadelicatelookingnestmadeofmud.Muddaubers alsobuildnestsunderbridgesintheU.S. whicharesosturdythatswallowsusethem asafoundationtobuildtheirownbirdnests madeofmud.

(cont)

•Burnedrice?Noproblem.Whileit'sstill hot,carefullyremovetoanewpotanyrice notbrownedorblackened.Thentopitwith asinglesliceofwhitebread.Allowittosit forseveralminutesunderatightlyfittedlid. Theburnedsmellisabsorbedbythebread, andthericeisfittoeat.--M.U.inMichigan

•Plasticholidaytableclothscanbeafestive additiontoanyfamilycelebration.Butwhat todoifyouunpackyoursandit'swrinkled? Getthosewrinklesoutinahurrywithahair dryer.Setthehairdryertoalowsetting,and gentlyrunthewarmairoverthewrinkles. Smoothandsetthetable.

•Freshenrugswithouttheheavyperfume smellofstore-boughtbrands;Simply sprinklealittlebakingsodaonyourcarpet andletitsitforabout10minutesbefore vacuuming.

•Wrapthelintfromyourdryerin6-inch stripsofwaxpaper.Rollitup,twistboth endsandyouhaveaperfectfirestarter.

*Forlightandunbelievablyfluffypancakes, trysubbingthewaterinyourrecipewith clubsoda.Yummo.--E.S.inFlorida

•Addafewdropsofwatertovotivecups beforeaddingacandle.Thewaxwillfloat onthewater,andwhenthecandleburns down,itwon'tgetstuckinthevotiveglass. --O.J.inWyoming

SendyourtipstoNowHere'saTip,628Virginia Drive,Orlando,FL32803.

(c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.

INSECTARCHITECTURE

•Manypeoplehavespenttheircareers studyinghowaverylargeworkforceof small-brainedcreaturescanbuilda complexstructureusingverysimple principlesoforganization.Forinstance,a nestofwaspswascarefullystudiedby researcherswhoputcoloreddotsonthe backsofwaspsinordertoidentifywhere theywentandwhattheydid.Theyfound thattherearefourmaintasksdivided amongthewaspcolony:Firstwastoforage forwoodpulp;secondwastobringwaterto thenest;thirdwastocombinethepulpand thewaterandmixittotherightconsistency tobuildthewaspnest;fourthwastoforage forpollenandnectarforfood.

•Insmallwaspcolonies,task-switchingwas common,butinlargecolonies,verylittle task-switchingoccurred.Inlargecolonies, whenthenestwasdamagedsothatmore nest-buildingmaterialswererequired, squadronsofformerlyinactivewasps wouldcomeforthtogettheworkdone,but thosewaspsdevotedtothegatheringof foodneverjoinedintheranks.

•Somespeciesofmothandbutterflyevolved tohavedetachablescales,soifthey encounteraspiderweb,scalespeeloffand areleftbehindinthewebwhilethebugfalls free.Thenspidersevolvedtobuildlonger webssothatastheinsectfalls,itrunsoutof detachablescalesandbecomesfirmly stuck.

IT’SAFACT

•There’salengthofspiderweb0.15inches(4 mm)longcaughtandpreservedinamber fromLebanon,whichdatesbacktoaround 125millionyearsago.It’sestimatedthat spidershavebeenonEarthfor400million years,butthisistheoldestpieceof fossilizedspiderwebfoundsofar.

•Awebwillhold4,000timesthespider's weight.

RODENTARCHITECTURE

•OnespeciesofrodentcalledtheBrant’s whistlingratgetstheblueribbonforits tunnelingability.Mostrodentswholive undergroundwilldigaburrowwithoneor twoentrances.ButthisAfricanrodentbuilds asystemofbranchingtunnelswithan averageof41entrances,withsomeofthem havingover500placestoexit.Youmight expectthatsuchacomplicatedsystemof burrowswouldhousedozens,ifnot hundreds,ofrats.Butthetruthisthatusually onlyoneortwo,sometimesthree,ratslive here.Whygothroughallthetrouble? BecausetheBrant’srateatsvegetationbut livesinadesertwherevegetationissparse, andwherecoverfrompredatorsishardto find.Thisway,theratisnevermorethana shortdashawayfromsafety.

BIRDNESTS

•Manyspeciesofspidersandcaterpillarsuse silkfortheirownpurposes,butit’salso scavengedandusedsecond-handbymany birds.Thetailorbirdcombinessilkwithsoft andfuzzyplantdowntomakeshortlengths ofyarnwhichisusedtostitchtogether livingleavestomakeapouch.Thepouchis filledwithgrassestoformanest.

•In2020,alightningboltextendingatotalof 477.2milesspreadacrossMississippi, LouisianaandTexas,settinganewworld recordforthelongestflash.

•Rubberbandslastlongerifyourefrigerate them.

•RoomsattheNullStern("zerostar")Hotel aresituatedinrepurposednuclearbunkers andincludeopen-airmountainroomswith equallyzerowalls.Thedesignersobviously weren'tkiddingaboutthatrating.

•In2002,NASAinternThadRobertsstolea safefullofmoonrockssoheandhis girlfriendcouldhave"sexonthemoon." Theirotherworldlyromanticencounter backfiredwhentheylatertriedtosellthe$21 millionworthofrocks.Robertswascaught andsentencedtoeightyearsinprison.

•Andspeakingofromance:Tinder'snotjust forhumans!Well,notattheDutchzoothat createda"Tinderfororangutans"tohelpa femalenamedSambojafindabreeding partner.Theprimatewasshownphotosof potentialmatesfromaninternational breedingprogramonatablet,but unfortunatelyhermothergotholdofit...and smashedittopieces.

•PoetW.B.YeatsandmagicianAleister Crowleyweresuchbitterrivalsintheworld oftheoccultthatYeatsoncekickedCrowley downaflightofstairsforbeingaproponent of"blackmagic."

•In2012,thepolicechiefofVaughn,New Mexico,steppeddownbecausehisown criminalrecordpreventedhimfromcarrying agun.Thatleftjustadrug-sniffingdog namedNikitaastheonlycertifiedmemberof thetown'spolicedepartment.

•

ThoughtfortheDay:

1.Whatdoesthesongtitle"Livin'laVidaLoca" mean?Whosangit?

2.WhoisRobertThomasVellineandhowdidheget hisstart?

3.Whichgroupwroteandreleased"DanceWith Me"?

4.Whowasthefirsttorelease"SomeGuysHaveAll theLuck"?

5.Namethesongthatcontainstheselyrics: "Everybodysing,everybodydance.Loseyourselfin wildromance.We'regoingtoparty."

Answers

1.ThetitleofRickyMartin's1999songmeans"Livin'the CrazyLife."Thesongtooknumerousnoms,including BestMalePopVocalandSongoftheYear,atthe2000 Grammys.

2.BobbyVee.He(andsomehighschoolfriends)filledin atthelastminuteonFeb.3,1959,whenRitchieValens, BuddyHollyandTheBigBopperwerekilledinaplane crashonthewaytotheIowagig.

3.Orleans,in1975.

4.ThePersuaders,in1973.RodStewartfollowedwitha coverin1984.

5."AllNightLong(AllNight)"byLionelRichiein1983. Thealleged"African"lyricsinthesong(suchas"Tombo lidesaydemoiya")arefake,madeupbyRichie,ashe didn'thaveanyonetowriterealones.

(c)2022KingFeaturesSyndicate

1.BlackPanther:WakandaForever (PG-13)LetitiaWright,LupitaNyong'o

2.StrangeWorld

(PG)JakeGyllenhaal,GabrielleUnion

3.GlassOnion:AKnivesOutMystery (PG-13)DanielCraig,EdwardNorton

4.Devotion

(PG-13)JonathanMajors,GlenPowell

5.TheMenu

(R)RalphFiennes,AnyaTaylor-Joy

6.BlackAdam

(PG-13)DwayneJohnson,AldisHodge

7.TheFabelmans

(PG-13)MichelleWilliams,GabrielLaBelle

8.BonesandAll

(R)TimotheeChalamet,TaylorRussell

9.TickettoParadise

(PG-13)GeorgeClooney,JuliaRoberts

10.Homecoming

(NR)ShaharIsaac,JonathanRoumie (c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.

ARIES (March21toApril19)RestlessRamsand Ewesmightwanttoletothersfinishacurrent projectwhiletheystartsomethingnew.Butifyou do,youcouldrisklosingoutonafuture opportunity.

TAURUS (April20toMay20)TheBovine's creativeforcesstartrevvingupasyouplanforthe upcomingholidays.Somepracticalaspectsalso emerge,especiallywheremoneyisinvolved.

GEMINI (May21toJune20)Momentsofdoubt disruptyourotherwiseclearsenseofpurpose.Don't ignorethem.Theycouldbetellingyounottorush intoanythinguntilyouknowmoreaboutit.

CANCER (June21toJuly22)Aplannedtrip mighthavetobedelayed.Plantousethisnewfree timetoupdateyourskillsandyourresumeso you'llbereadywhenanewjobopportunityopens.

LEO(July23toAugust22)Afloodofholiday partybidsfrombusinesscontactsallowsyouto mixworkandpleasure.Yourknowledge,plusyour Leoninecharm,winsyouanewslewofadmirers.

VIRGO(August23toSeptember22)An unexpectedactbyacolleaguecomplicatesan agreement,causingdelaysinimplementingit. Checkoutthemotiveforthismove:It'snotwhat youmightsuspect.

LIBRA (September23toOctober22)Youmight wanttocuttieswithaningratewhoseemstohave forgottenyourpastgenerosity.Buttheremightbea reasonforthisbehaviorthatyoushouldbeinthe knowabout.Ask.

SCORPIO (October23toNovember21)Be carefulnottosetthingsinstone.Muchcould happenoverthenextseveraldaysthatwillmake yourethinksomedecisions,andmaybechange them.

SAGITTARIUS (November22toDecember21) Yourplanstohelpprovideholidaycheerfortheless fortunateinspireotherstofollowyourgenerous example.Expectwelcomenewsbyweek'send.

CAPRICORN (December22toJanuary19) You'reinyourgloryasyoustartplanningforthe holidayseasonahead.Butleavetimetodealwitha problemthatneedsaquickandfairresolution.

AQUARIUS (January20toFebruary18)The upcomingholidayseasonprovidesaperfectsetting forstrengtheningrelationshipswithkinandothers. Anewcontacthasimportantinformation.

PISCES (February19toMarch20)Insteadof frettingoveracuttingremarkbyaco-worker,chalk ituptoanoutburstofenvyofyourwell-respected statusamongbothyourcolleaguesandsuperiors.

BORNTHISWEEK: Youinstinctivelyknowwhentobeseriousand whentobehumorous--attributeseveryone findsendearing. (c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.

Pet'sSafetyIsParamountat HolidayDinners

DEARPAW'SCORNER:Lastyear,Icaught myuncleandauntfeedingourKingCharles Spaniel,Doogie,foodfromtheirplatesafter Thanksgivingdinnerandpouringwineintoa dishforhim.Asyouknow,holidayfeastshave rich,fattyfoodswithingredientsthatarebadfor dogs,likeonion,garlic,avocadoandchocolate. Fortunately,Doogieonlysufferedabitof indigestion.Thisyear,Iaddedalistofrulesto theThanksgivinginvitation,including:Donot feedthedog;donotleaveplateswhereDoogie canreachthem;donotgivealcoholtothedog; donotletDoogieoutofhiskennel.

MyuncleandauntpostedthelistonFacebook andsaidtherulesarethereasontheywillnot comethisyear.They'retryingtoshamemefor protectingmydog.Someofourotherrelatives commentedonthepostandsaidtheymightnot comebecauseoftherules,either.Whatwould youdo?--Carole&ChuckinMarietta,Georgia

DEARCAROLE&CHUCK:I'mnomasterof etiquette,butIcanspeakonthisissue:The welfareofyourpetcomesfirst.

Dogswillnotturndownyummyfood, especiallyifit'sbadforthem.Dogsdon'tknow alcoholisbadforthem.Manydogsdon'tknow howtohandlethestressofasuddencrowdof strangersinthehouse.Dogswillreactbadlyto inconsideratehandling.Dogswilltake advantageofyourdistractiontoreach abandonedplatesandcountertopsladenwith deliciousness.

YourrulesaboutDoogiearereasonable.You canrespondtothepostcalmlywithyoursideof thestory,andlettheotherrelativesdecidefor themselveswhattodo.Bestofluck.

Doyouhaveastoryaboutpetsandtheholidays? Tellusatask@pawscorner.com.

(c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.

ByDr.HollyCarling

WHENTHEDARKAND DREARYDAYS

EMPHASIZE“DREARY”

ThetimeisuponuswhenIstarthearing“Ifeel downwhentheskieslooksodarkanddreary”. SeasonalAffectiveDisorder(S.A.D.)iscommon astheskiesaredarkdayafterdaylikethistimeof year.Symptomsincludealackofenergyor motivation(especiallytowakeupinthemorning), increasedfeelingsofdespair,feelingmelancholy, anxiety,excesscravingsfor“comfortfoods”or “energystimulatingfoods”suchassugar,carbs, energydrinks,alcoholorcoffee,lossofinterestin foods(otherthanthosementionedabove), diminisheddesireforrelationships,and headaches.

Commonly,inthoseaffectedbythedarkand drearyisareductionofthebrainhormonesand neurotransmitterssuchasdopamine,oxytocin, estrogen,progesterone,melatoninandserotonin. Thesebrainchemicalsarealsoknownas“happy hormones”becausethemorewehavethehappier weseemtobe,andthemoredepressedtheselevels are,themoredepressedtheindividualtendstobe. Sowhatmakesour“HappyHormones”happy? Well,theylovesun.InNorthIdaho,that’sthe probleminthewinter.Sowe’vefoundasubstitute: naturallightinginyourhome.Fullspectrumlight bulbsareavailableatmosthardwarestores.They costmore,butreplacingyourstandardor fluorescentbulbswithfullspectrumbulbsis cheaperthanbuyingthelampsthatyouhavetosit nextto.Theyareagreat“sunlight”substitute.

HappyHormonesloveVitaminD.Infact,theyare findingthereisarelationshipbetweenVitaminD andearlymentaldecline.Somorethanjusta seasonalboost,VitaminDcouldgiveyoua lifetimeboost!CodLiverOilisamustinthe winter–notonlydoesitcontainVitaminD,but alsoOmega3fatswhicharecriticalforbrain hormonalhealth.Fish,eggyolksandlivercontain lotsofthesegoodnutrientsaswell.

AcupunctureisausefultherapyforS.A.D.aswell asmanyotherconditions.Itishelpfulintreating severalneurological,immunological,and hormonaldisordersandseveralstudies demonstrateitseffectivenessinthetreatmentof depression.Studiesshowthatacupuncture releasesseveralhormoneswhicharecommonly outofbalanceinavarietyofdepressivedisorders.

Hydrationisalsoimportant.Evenmild dehydrationeffectscognitivefunctioningand researchersaretheorizingthattheneuronsthat detectdehydrationalsoregulatemood.Itwas foundthatthosewhostayedhydratedwereableto resistdepressionbetterthanthosewhowere dehydrated.Thosedehydratedweremoreproneto depression.

InastudydoneinIceland(theyhavethelowest depressionratesintheworld),theyfoundthattheir dietwasremarkablyhighinsulfur.Cabbage, broccoli,cauliflower,kaleandeggyolksarehigh insulfur.

Thereareseveralwaystolightenupthe“Darkand Dreary”daysofwinter.Lightenupyourlifeand findjoythisseason!

Dr.HollyCarlingisaDoctorofOrientalMedicine,LicensedAcupuncturist,DoctorofNaturopathy,Clinical NutritionistandMasterHerbologistwithoverfourdecadesofexperience.Dr.Carlingisa“HealthDetective,”she looksbeyondyoursymptompictureandinvestigatesWHYyouareexperiencingyoursymptomsinthefirstplace. Dr.Carlingiscurrentlyacceptingnewpatientsandoffersnaturalhealthcareservicesandwholefoodnutritional supplementsinherCoeurd’Aleneclinic.VisitDr.Carling’swebsiteatwww.vitalhealthcda.comtolearnmore aboutDr.Carling,viewalistofupcominghealthclassesandreadotherinformativearticles.Dr.Carlingcanbe reachedat208-765-1994andwouldbehappytoansweranyquestionsregardingthistopic.

WereYouStationedatFort Ord?

IrememberFortOrdasabeautifulplacetolive, withperfectweatherandtheoceanrightoverthe sanddunes.Itwasidyllic.

Butnowoverathousandveteranshave developedcancerafterhavingservedatFortOrd. Thelikelyculprit:chemicalsinthedrinking water,40ofthem,withtrichloroethylene,or TCE,beingmostnotableforcausingdifferent typesofcancer.Andonceagain,leakingtanks allowedchemicalstoleachintothewatersupply. Itwasn'tuntilananonymouscallin1984thatthe EPAandotheragencieslearnedaboutillegal dumpingofdrumsofchemicalsthatwereleaking intothesoil.ItwastwoyearsbeforetheArmy decidedtocleanitup.Buttherewasconcernin 1985aboutthelevelofchemicals,andstudies weredone.Theconclusionofmanyofthetests: Chemicalsexceededsafelimits.Anorderwent outthatthosedoingcleanupwerenottotellthe community,thepressorothergovernment agencies.

TheEPAlabeledFortOrdasaSuperFundsitein 1990becauseofleakingundergroundpetroleum tanks,alandfill,amotorpool,atargetrange,a burnpitfordrumsofchemicalsandother culprits.

Thebaseclosedin1994,butthehousingwasstill useduntil1997.

Ringanybells?ThinkbacktoCampLejeuneand alltheyearsittooktogettheillnesseslistedas presumptiveafterexposuretoallthechemicals. Andatthiswriting,Lejeuneistheonlybase wheretheDepartmentofVeteransAffairs assumesthatservicetherecausedsomanyofthe healthproblems...notonlyinveteransbuttheir spousesandchildren.

Veteranswhohavebecomeillafterservingat FortOrdhavegonetotheVAforcareandhave beentoldthere'snoserviceconnectionbetween theirillnessesandFortOrd.

ToreadmoreaboutFortOrd,see www.fortordcleanup.comandclickon"Cleanup Programs."Toseewhatwasknownwhen,click on"Documents."Orcallthemat800-852-9699. (c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.

1.Whatactorplayedcrazedformerfootball refereeStanleyCraverinaseriesofNike commercialsinthe1990s?

2.Whatfirst-roundNFLDraftpickforthe KansasCityChiefsin1990missedtheentire 1991seasonduetoinjuriessustainedina scooteraccident?

3.NametheBritishdriverwhowonsixofthe firstsevenracesandwentontowintheFormula OneWorldDrivers'Championshipinthe2009 season?

4.Namethelawyer,collegebasketballanalyst andformerDukebasketballstandoutwho successfullydefendedacostumecompany againstalawsuitbythecreatorsofBarneythe purpledinosaurin1999?

5.Whatcompanyintroducedthepressurized canpackagefortennisballsinthe1920s?

6.Whatcollegefootballteam'sdominantsevenmanoffensivelineearnedthenickname"The SevenBlocksofGranite"inthe1930s?

7.NametheBaseballHallofFamerwhowas namedNLManageroftheYearandledtheSt. LouisCardinalstoaWorldSerieschampionship in1967.

1.MOVIES:WhatdoesSusanWalkerwantas agiftfromSantainthemovie"Miracleon34th Street"?

2.MUSIC:Whichfamousrockbandonce calleditselfTheNewYardbirds?

3.GEOGRAPHY:WhereistheTharDesert located?

4.TELEVISION:WhichTVsitcom'stheme songwas"ThankYouforBeingaFriend"?

5.FOOD&DRINK:Whenwasfrozenfood invented?

6.MOVIES:WhichDisneyprincessis modeledafterarealperson?

7.ANATOMY:Whatistheonlyhumanorgan capableofnaturalregeneration?

8.ANIMALKINGDOM:Whataremaleand femaleswanscalled?

9.U.S.STATES:Whichstate'smottois "Excelsior!"?

10.HISTORY:Howmanypeoplesignedthe U.S.DeclarationofIndependence?

Answers

1.Ahouse.

2.LedZeppelin.

3.IndiaandPakistan.

4."TheGoldenGirls."

5.1924.ClarenceBirdseyeinventedthequick freezingprocess.

6.Pocahontas.

7.Theliver.

8.Cobsandpens.

9.NewYork("Everupward!").

10.56.

(c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.

•OnDec.24,1945,afiredestroyedthehome ofGeorgeandJennieSodderandtheirnine childreninFayetteville,WestVirginia. Whiletheirparentsandfourothersiblings escaped,nosignoftheremainingfive childrenhaseverbeenfound,despite decades-longpublicityandnumerous investigationsbybothlawenforcementand amateursleuths.

•OnDec.22,1956,ababywesterngorilla namedColodebutedontheworldstageat theColumbusZooandAquariuminOhio, whereshewouldspendherentirelife, becomingthefirst-evergorillabornin captivity.Uponherdeathin2017,shewas alsotheoldestknowngorillaintheworld.

•OnDec.20,1957,ElvisPresleyreceivedhis Armydraftnoticewhilespendingthe holidayseasonathisnewlypurchased mansion,Graceland.Distraughtfanssent thousandsofletterstotheArmyaskingfor himtobespared,butElvishimselfhadno hesitationaboutentering,thoughhedid receiveadefermentthatallowedhimto finishworkonthemovie"KingCreole."

•OnDec.21,2006,rebelmonksatthe centuries-oldEsphigmenouMonasteryin Thessaloniki,Greece,tookupcrowbarsand fireextinguisherstorepelchurch-appointed monkswithsledgehammersattemptingto breakin.Therebelsvehementlyopposed effortsbytheOrthodoxchurchtoimprove relationswiththeVatican.

•OnDec.25,2013,militarydefenseforces discoveredaprofessionallydesignedbut incomplete40-metertunnelconnecting HongKingtoChinathatincludedrail tracks,hanginglamps,ventilatorsanda smalltransportcart.Authoritiesbelievedthe tunnel,whichcostanestimated$494,000, wascreatedwiththeintentionofsmuggling goodsintoHongKongtoavoidtariffs.

(c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.

ByMatildaCharles DoYouFeelIsolated?

Researchersmustbeworriedaboutus.Thereare hundredsofstudiesdonearoundtheworldonthe topicofisolatedseniorsandhowit'sbadforour brainandphysicalhealth.Whilewecan appreciatetheirconcern,itwouldbeniceifthey couldallagreeonthefactstheyreport.

ANorwegianuniversityhasreleasedtheresults ofareportonmaintainingbrainhealthand preventingcognitivedecline.They've concluded,afterreviewing101otherstudies, thatsocialactivityisimportant,alongwith physicalexerciseandinterestinghobbies.

OnestudypraisedusforfollowingtheCovid rulesandstayinghomeandnothavingface-tofacesocialactivity,sayingwementally weatheredourisolationbetterthananyotherage group.Anotherstudysaidthatwedidn'tdowell, thatwesufferedfromsleepdisturbances, depressionandanxiety.

Anotherstudyanalyzinginformationfrom beforeandduringthepandemicconcludedthat yes,therewasphysicalandsocialisolation,but notdigitalisolation.Inotherwords,we'vebeen onlinecommunicatingwithothers.

Oneseriousstudylookedat12possible relationships(friends,neighbors,familyandso on)andconcludedthatbeingsociallyisolated madeonemoresusceptibletothecommoncold.

YetanotherstudysaidthatitwaswhentheCovid ruleswerelifted,whenwecouldgotostoresand backtoourmeetings,thatourrealstressstarted.

IntheU.S.,27%ofseniorsovertheageof60 livealone,asopposedtoseveralothercountries wheremultiplegenerationslivetogether.One thingresearchersneedtoconsider:Someseniors mightlikethepeaceandquietoflivingalone, mightlikehavingcontrolaboutwhocomesover andwhen,andmightprefertheindependence. Still,ifyousenseyoudon'tgetoutenough,go. Takeawalk.Volunteertowalkadogatthe shelter.Strolltheaislesatthelibrary. Ordon't.Itreallyisuptoyou. (c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.

HOWCANYOUHELPTHE ELDERLYSTUCKIN CAREFACILITIESFEEL LESSLONELY

“Theglobalpandemichastakenatollon virtuallyeveryone,butthere’sonegroupthat’s beenhitparticularlyhard:elderlyadultsin nursinghomesandcarefacilities.Although socialdistancingprecautionshavehelpedlessen thespreadofthevirus,currentrestrictionshave hadsomeunintendedconsequences.Long beforethepandemic,onestudypublishedinthe InternationalJournalofNursingStudiesfound that56%ofnursinghomeresidentsreported feelinglonely—butthatnumberismuchhigher today.Nowmorethanever,theelderly populationneedsyourhelp—whetherornotyou haveafamilymemberorfriendinalong-term carefacility.Hereareafewsimplewaysyoucan (safely)reachouttohelpthemfeellesslonely.

WRITELETTERSORCARDS

Elderlypeoplelovegettinglettersandcards. Handwrittenlettersorpicturesfromgrandkids oftenbecomeprizedpossessionsfordisplayand serveasaconstantreminderthatsomeonewas thinkingaboutthem.Youcanevenpulloutold lettersfromthepastandtreatthemtoatrip downmemorylane!...

MAKEAWINDOWVISIT

Cardsandlettersarewonderful,butthere’s nothinglikeaface-to-facevisit.Ofcourse,in thetimeofCOVID,you’llhavetopivotalittle. You’veprobablyseenthetouchingimagesof familiesmakingwindowvisitstolovedonesin carefacilitiesoverthepastyear.Untilthe pandemicsubsides,thisisstillthesafestwayto makeanin-personvisit.Coordinateawindow visitwithyourlocalcarefacilityandyou’llmost likelymakealonelyperson’sday.

DONATESUPPLIES

Mostnursinghomesacceptdonationsforitems thatareinhighdemand.Diabeticsocks,jigsaw puzzles,boardgames,andpersonalcareitems arealwaysgoodoptions,butconsiderthinking outsideofthebox.Bookswithlargeprint, stationery,artsandcraftssupplies…(Justmake sureyoucheckwiththefacilityfirstbefore makingyourpurchases.)

BUYTHEMA(REALISTICTOY)PET

AccordingtoastudypublishedintheJournalof

LindaDavis

theAmericanMedicalDirectorsAssociation, somelong-termcareresidentswithdementia findcomfortfromrealistictoydogsorcats. (Menseemtolikedogsbest.)Somestudieseven foundthatroboticanimals(robopets)canhelp olderadultsinresidentialcarefacilitiesfeelless lonely.Whiletherearecheaperoptions available,GoodHousekeepingroundedupalist ofthetop-ratedrobopetsonAmazon,incase youneedideas.

SENDASINGINGTELEGRAM

Anothereffectivewayofreachingouttolonely seniorsisthroughthehealingpowerofmusic. Nursinghomesandcarefacilitiesalways welcomesingersandperformerstoentertainand liftthespiritsoftheirresidents,butcurrent visitingrestrictionscallforalittlecreativityin thisarea.Ifyouareatallmusically-inclined, youcanshareyourtalentsviavideocallsor recordings…

RECORDYOURVOICE

Youdon’thavetobeaperformer,anartist,or particularlycreativetoreachouttolonely elders.Justthesoundofyourvoicecanoffer peace,comfort,andasenseofcompanionshipto anursinghomeresident.Recordyourself readingfromabook,tellingsomejokes,or sharingafamiliarstorysothattheresidentcan listentoitwhenevertheywant.Onestudy publishedbytheJournalofAmericanGeriatrics Societysuggeststhiscanbehelpfulforresidents sufferingfromdementia.

SAYGOODMORNINGANDGOOD NIGHT

Everyoneneedssomethingtolookforwardto, andforpeopleinnursinghomesandcare facilities,asimplephonecallonceortwicea daycouldmeantheworld.Makingagood morningandgoodnightphonecalleachday helpsyourlovedonefeelremembered.And residentswhodoesnothaveactivefamily memberscheckinginwillappreciatethesecalls evenmore.

CALLYOURLOCALNURSINGHOME

Formoreideas,youcanalwayscontactyour localnursinghomesorassistedlivingfacilities directly.They’llbeabletotellyouspecifically whatitemsorservicestheyneed.”

Pleasecallforatourofour“HOMES,”fortruly theyare…

Directorofbuildingrelationships. 208.457.3403 www.LodgeLiving.net