TIDBITS®CRACKSOPEN THEFACTSONNUTS
byKathyWolfe
Sometimesyoufeellikeanut,andsometimes youjustwantthefactsaboutthem!Follow alongforsomenuttyinfo.
•What’stheoldesttreefoodknowntoman?
It’sthewalnut,tracedbackto7000B.C.In ancientPersia,walnutswerereservedfor royalty,andtheearlyRomansreferredto themas“Jupiter’sroyalacorn.”Theancient Greekscalledthem“karyon,”meaning head,becausetheshellresemblesahuman head,andthemeatofthewalnutlooksalot likethebrain.Theygrowontreesthatcan reach60feet(18.3m)tall,increasinginsize by24inches(61cm)ayear.Awalnuttree canproduceformorethan100years.So manygoodthingscanbesaidaboutthis littlenut!Walnutsarerichinessential nutrients,includingmagnesiumand phosphorus,andaboundinvitalOmega-3 fattyacids.Studiesindicatethatwalnuts reducetheriskofheartdisease,aswellas reducingtotalcholesterolanddecreasing bloodpressure.Evidencesuggeststhatthey cancontributetobrainhealth,possiblyeven reversingcognitivedecline.
•ThestateofCaliforniaproducesabouta billionpoundsofwalnutsannually,99%of theU.S.supplyandisthesourceoftwothirdsofthewalnutsintheworld. turnthepageformore!
NUTS(continued):
•Apparentlytherearecompetitions associatedwithcrackingopenwalnuts.In 2017,agentlemaninIndiacrushed212 walnutsbyhandinoneminute.In2016,a residentofPakistancrackedopen181 walnutsagainsthisheadinaminute’stime.
•Likewalnuts,almondsareanancientfood, oneoftheearliestcultivatedfoods.Theyare mentionedintheBibletentimesandwere aningredientinbreadsservedtoEgyptian pharaohs.TheancientRomansconsidered themafertilitycharmandgiftednewlyweds withasupplyofalmonds.
•Ifthereweren’tbees,wewouldn’thave almonds.Almondtreesarenoteasily pollinatedbythewind,soCalifornia growersrentbeestoaccomplishpollination, contractingwithmigratorybeekeepersfrom 49statestobringinnearlyamillion beehiveseveryFebruary.Almond productionisa$6billionindustryevery year,withCaliforniaprovidingmorethan 80%oftheworld’ssupply.Franciscan monksfromSpainbroughtalmondtreesto thestateinthemid-1700s,plantingthemat theirmissionsalongCaliforniacoastfrom SanDiegotoSonoma.
•Almondtreesrangeinheightfrom13ft.to 33ft.(4-10m),withatrunkdiameterof about12in.(30cm).Treeslivebetween20 and25years,andwon’tbearfruituntiltheir thirdorfourthyearafterplanting.Wecall almondsnuts,butbotanicallytheyarea stonefruitrelatedtothepeach,plum,cherry, andapricot.
•Whenharvesttimearrives,thealmondsare pickedbyamachinethatactuallyshakesthe nutsoffthetrees.Thealmondsareleftonthe groundtodryoutfor5to10days.Asweeper thenpicksthemupandcartsthemofftothe processor.Heretheyaresorted,hulled,and packaged.Eventhehullsareuseful,soldto dairyfarmsforanimalbeddingorburnedfor biofuel.About40%ofthetotalalmondcrop isusedbychocolatemanufacturers.
•B.G.inMinnesotawrites:"Ifyouwantto freshenupdrawerswithsheets,pillowcases orinyourluggage,justplaceadryersheet inside.Theyreallydoleaveanicescent,and theyarealsogreatfordustingjobs!"
•Tocontrolthelevelofgarlicinarecipe,add itatthebeginningforalightertasteandat theendforastrongertaste.Togetgarlicout oftheclovequicklyinsteadoftedious peeling,justsmashitandsqueezeitout.
•Thebestcureforafoggywindshieldisa chalkboarderaser.Youcanpurchasethemat officesupplystores.Theycanbestored easilyinyourglovebox.Nowindowcleaner requiredforaquickclearwindshield,and youcanseewellafter.Acleanwindshieldis asafetyissue!--M.T.inSouthCarolina
•Fillmeasuringcupswithhotwaterand emptyquicklybeforemeasuringsticky substanceslikehoneyorpeanutbutter.It willslideoutmucheasier.
•Bananatrick:Forfasterripening,leave bunchestogetherandstoreinabag.For slowerripening,separatethebananas.They willripenfasterifstorednearapplesor citrusfruit.Also,rememberthatjustbecause theoutsideisgettingbrownspots,theinside isn'tnecessarilygoingsoft.
•Warmuprefrigeratedbakedgoodsinthe microwave,butaddamugofwater.Itwill keepthemoistureinthebread.Ifyourbread loafisgoingstale,wrapitinfoilandpopit intheovenforabout10minutesat300F.It willfreshenthebread!
SendyourtipstoNowHere'saTip,628Virginia Drive,Orlando,FL32803.
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NUTS(continued):
•Thehealthbenefitsofalmondsabound!Just oneounceofthesenutscontainshalfofthe recommendeddailyamountofVitaminE, requiredfortheproperfunctionofmanyof thebody’sorgans.Almondsarehighin magnesium,importantformuscularand nervoussystemfunctions,alongwith regulatingbloodpressure.Studiesindicate thatalmondscontributetohearthealthand brainhealth,evenaidingintherepairof braincells.AddinseveralBvitamins, calcium,phosphorus,iron,zinc,selenium, andcopperandyouhaveoneofnature’s perfectfoods.
•ThetropicalrainforestsofAfricaabound withkolatrees,thosewhichbearseeds containingcaffeine,usedasflavoring agentsincarbonatedsoftdrinks.When GeorgiapharmacistJohnPembertonsetout toconcoctanewbeverageinthe1880s,he combinedthecaffeinefromkolanutsand cocaine-containingextractsfromcoca leaves,mixingthemwithsugar,flavorings, andcarbonatedwatertoinventCoca-Cola. Thekolanutsareabout2-3%caffeine,and 1-2%theobromine,anotherstimulant substance.Kolanutsaren’tjustastimulant –theWestAfricansalsousethemtotreat wounds,topreventdysentery,totreatfever, andasapainkillerforheadaches.Tothe Nigerians,thenutsareusedinceremonies, includingweddingsandfunerals.Thetaste isbitteratfirst,butbecomessweeterasitis chewed.AlthoughmadefamousbyCocaCola,since2016,thecompanyhasnotused kolanutsintheirsoftdrinkrecipe.
NUTS(continued):
•Seleniumisamineralthatisessentialfor properperformanceofthebody’sthyroid andimmunesystems.Thebestsourceofthis mineralisBrazilnuts,withjustonesingle kernelprovidingtheentire100%ofthedaily requirement.Theyalsocontainmore magnesiumthananyothernut.Likethe almond,Brazilnutsarenottechnicallynuts, butratherseedsfromoneoftheworld’s largesttrees,reachingheightsof200feet(61 m)intheAmazonrainforest.Thetrunk’s diametercanreachwellover6feet(1.8m). Atypicaltreewilllivefor500years,butit’s notunusualforthemtoreach1,000yearsof age.
•MacadamianutsarenativetoAustralia, havingbeendiscoveredthereinthe1850s. Theywerestudiedandcataloguedby FerdinandvonMuellerofMelbourne’s RoyalBotanicGardens.Muellernamedthe nutsinhonorofhisgoodfriend,Dr.John Macadam,ascientist,chemist,philosopher, medicalteacher,politician,andAustralian cabinetminister.Notonlyaremacadamia nutsoneoftheworld’smostexpensivenuts, theyalsohaveoneofthehardest-shelled nuts,andrequire300lbs.ofpressureto open.Onceatreeisplanteditcantake5to 8yearstoproducenuts.However,thetree canproduceforupto100years!Thetrees werebroughttothebigislandofHawaiiin 1921.Ittook13yearsforthetreestomature andbearnuts,withthefruitofthetreefirst offeredforsaletherein1934.Dogowners needtobecarefulwiththenutsaroundtheir pets,astheyarehighlytoxictothem.Dogs canexperiencevomiting,lethargy, weakness,andevendeathafteringesting macadamianuts.
•Afightbetweenchameleonsismorelikelyto bebothinitiatedandwonbythelizardwith thebrighterstripes.Butthen,suchconflicts arerare,sincethatflashiercolordisplayis typicallyenoughtowintheduel.
•Everyyear,11,000injuriesarereportedin Americaasaresultofsexual experimentation.
•Doyouliketobowl?Sodidalotoffolksin 14th-centuryEngland,totheextentthatKing EdwardIIIactuallytriedtooutlawthegame inanefforttoredirectthefocusofhistroops toarchery!
•ThePopigaicraterinnorthernSiberia containsanestimatedtrillionsofkaratsof industrial-gradediamonds.Unfortunately, they'retooexpensivetomine.
•Manyifnotmostpeoplehatethoseannoying pop-upadsthatplagueourcomputers...and youcanincludetheircreator,Ethan Zuckerman,inthatgroup.In2014,he confessedinanarticle:"Iwrotethecodeto launchthewindowandrunanadinit.I'm sorry.Ourintentionsweregood."
•Bulgariansnodwhentheywanttosaynoand shaketheirheadswhentheywanttosayyes.
•Acowwillallowitselftobeledupthestairs, butitwillbeimpossibleforyoutoleadit backdownthestairsagain.
•Here'salittleextrajustificationforthoseof uswhodislikedaylightsavingtime:The practicehasbeenlinkedtoincreasedheart attacks,strokes,caraccidents,workplace injuries,headaches,depressiveepisodesand evenlowerSATscores.
•Forcenturies,theword"topaz"wasusedto refertoanyyellowgemstone,despitethefact thatnaturaltopaziscolorless.
ThoughtfortheDay:
"Lightingafireundersomethingmaygetit burning,butlightingthefirefromwithin somethingtendstokeepitburning."--Brenda StrohbehnHenderson
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1.Whatdid"WheretheActionIs"and"American Bandstand"haveincommon?
2.DidGaryPuckett&TheUnionGapeverhavea No.1hitsingle?
3.Whohadthemostsuccesswith"TheTideIs High"?
4.WhichartistwentontheWho'sThatGirlWorld Tour?
5.Namethesongthatcontainstheselyrics:"Ikeep aclosewatchonthisheartofmine,Ikeepmyeyes wideopenallthetime."
Answers
1.Thetelevisionmusicalprogramswerebothcreatedby DickClark,withClarkhosting"Bandstand"from1956 to1989.Heneverappearedon"Action,"onlydoing remoteannouncingofthebands.
2.Once,butitwasintheU.K.,when"YoungGirl"topped thechartsin1968.
3.Blondie,in1980.Theoriginalwasreleasedbythe Paragons,in1967.
4.Madonna,in1987.HerfirstwastheVirginTourin 1985.
5."IWalktheLine,"byJohnnyCash.Hepennedthe song,aboutmaritalfidelityandavoidingtemptation,in underanhour.Itstayedonthechartsfor43weeksand, in2014,endedupasNo.1onthelistofthe100greatest countrysongsofalltime.
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1.BlackPanther:WakandaForever (PG-13)LetitiaWright,LupitaNyong'o
2.ViolentNight
(R)DavidHarbour,JohnLeguizamo
3.StrangeWorld
(PG)JakeGyllenhaal,GabrielleUnion
4.TheMenu
(R)RalphFiennes,AnyaTaylor-Joy
5.Devotion
(PG-13)JonathanMajors,GlenPowell 6.IHeardtheBells
(NR)StephenAtherholt,JonathanBlair
7.BlackAdam
(PG-13)DwayneJohnson,AldisHodge
8.TheFabelmans
(PG-13)MichelleWilliams,GabrielLaBelle
9.BonesandAll
(R)TimotheeChalamet,TaylorRussell
10.TickettoParadise
(PG-13)GeorgeClooney,JuliaRoberts (c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.
ARIES (March21toApril19)Yourworkona recentjobassignmentisimpressiveandsureto benoticed.Meanwhile,expecttoreceivenews aboutanupcomingholidayeventyouwon't wanttomiss.
TAURUS (April20toMay20)Savingthe worldonepersonatatimeiswhatyouwere borntodo.Soacceptitwhenpeopleaskyoufor help,especiallyduringtheholidayseason.
GEMINI (May21toJune20)Nowthatyou've resolvedalldoubtsaboutanimportantdecision, youcansurprisealotofpeoplebydefending yourstandwithstrongandwell-reasoned arguments.
CANCER (June21toJuly22)Theholiday moodstirsyourneedtonurtureeveryone,from thefamilycattogreat-grandma.Butdon't overdoit,especiallywithteens,wholiketofeel grownup.
LEO (July23toAugust22)Enjoybaskingin thewarmloveoffamilyandclosefriendsthis holidayseason.Butdon'tfallintoaprolonged catnapyet.There'sstillmuchtodobeforeyou canfullyputupyourpawsandrelax.
VIRGO (August23toSeptember22)Avoid pushingotherstoworkashardasyoudoona commonproject.Instead,encouragethemtodo theirbest,andtheymightwellrewardyouwith apleasantsurprise.
LIBRA (September23toOctober22)Likethe sensibleLibrayouare,younodoubtalready startedyourholidayshopping.Butbecarefulto keepwithinyourbudget.Shoparoundforthe bestbuys.
SCORPIO (October23toNovember21)Love andfriendshipremainstronginyouraspectover thenextseveraldays.Thisisagoodtimeto developnewrelationshipsandstrengthenold ones.
SAGITTARIUS (November22toDecember 21)Abelovedfamilymemberhasnewsthatwill brightenyourholidays.Alsoexpecttohearfrom friendswhohadlongsincemovedoutofyour life.
CAPRICORN (December22toJanuary19) Familyandfriendsareinforasurprisewhen youaccepttheneedtomakeachangewithout beingtalkedintoit.(Betitsurprisedyou,too, didn'tit?)
AQUARIUS (January20toFebruary18) Restoringanoldfriendshipmightnotbeaseasy asyouhadhoped.Youmightwanttoexplorethe reasonsforyourformerbuddy'sreluctanceto cooperate.
PISCES (February19toMarch20)Yourpartygoingactivitiespickupastheholidayseason takesoff.Enjoyyourplungeintothesocial swimasyoumakenewfriendsandrenewold friendships.
AfterNeutering,Followthe Veterinarian'sAdvice
DEARPAW'SCORNER: Ibelievestronglyin naturalcuresandtreatmentsforpeopleandpets. Recently,mytomcat,Jessup,wenttothevetto getfixed,tostopmyneighborsfrom complainingabouthisaggressiveness.Iused herbaltincturesandsupplementstoprevent infectionandreduceJessup'spainsothathe wouldn'thavetotakeantibioticsandother medicationsthatmightharmhishealthlongterm.WhenItoldthistothevetatJessup's follow-up,shegotreallyupsetandsaidthatifI didthatagain,shewouldnolongeraccept Jessupfortreatment.Idon'tunderstandwhy. Who'sintherighthere?--SherryL.,Los Angeles
DEARSHERRY: Whileherbalsupplements canbehelpfulforpets,it'sveryimportantthat yousharewiththeveterinariananycurrentor intendeduseofthesesupplements.
Forexample,someprescribeddrugscaninteract withsupplementsandpreventapet'sliverfrom properlymetabolizingthosesupplements, causingadangerousbuildupoftoxicity.
Vetstodaywillworkwithpetownerstomake surethatprescribedmedicationsdon'tinterfere with,orinteractwith,herbalorvitamin supplements.Butyouhavetobeupfrontandlist anyandallremediesthatyou'regivingtoyour pet.Thisisespeciallyimportantwithhigher-risk proceduresandsurgeriesofanykind,including neuteringandspaying.Asmallpet'sbodyis especiallyreactivetopainandinfection,andit's importanttokeepthemcomfortableandavoid hamperingtheirbody'sabilitytoheal.
Workwiththevet.Followtheiradvice.Ask questionsbeforeaprocedureanddisclosethe supplementaltreatmentthatyou'dliketogive yourpet.Veterinarianswillworkwithyouonan effectivetreatmentplanbecause,justlikeyou, theywantyourcattobehealthyandhappy.
Readers,howwelldoyougetalongwithyour pet'sveterinarian?Letusknowat ask@pawscorner.com.
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DON’TLETTHISBEHEALTHCRISISWEEK
Ofeveryweekoftheyear,thisweek,Christmas week,tendstohaveelevatedhealthcrises. Existinghealthchallengescoupledwithstressand anxiety,andexacerbatedbypooreating,lackof exerciseandalltheotherhealth-supportive activitiesthatareneeded,combinetosometimes catapultanotherwiseunknown,orsemicontrolledhealthconditionovertheedge.Ahealth crisis.
Ourcardiovascularsystemgetsaffectedbystress, alcoholconsumption,lackofexercise,smoking, druguse,waterintake,andbadfoods.Infact,the heartisoneofthemostsensitiveorgansto nutritionalchangesinthebody.Eachandevery decisionwemakethisweek,andeveryotherweek forthatmatter,willeitherimprove,ordegrade yourcardiovascularhealth.Loveyourheart, especiallythisweek.
Ourimmunesystemalsotakesabeatingthistime ofyear–thisweekespecially.Asweindulgein sweets,alcohol,latenights,lesssleep,andfoodin abundance,webeatdowntheimmunesystem.An immunesystemnotfunctioninguptoparcould meanyoucomedownwithsomebadbugor maybeanexistingmaladyflaresaboutnow. Coddleyourimmunesystemthisweek.Beniceto it!
Let’snotforgetourdigestivesystem.Thatpoor thing!Wecramfoodinabundanceintoit–rich, sweet,heavyfoodsandinlargequantitiesand wonderwhyittalksback!Heartburn,reflux,gas, belching,foodthatjustsitsinyourstomach–poor
thingwasn’tdesignedtoputupwithallweputit through.Canweblameitforgettinggrouchy?Our liver,aspartofthedigestivesystemespeciallygets triedifalcoholisconsumed.Digestthis–ifyour digestivesystemisn’tworking,nothingelsewill workwell!Itistheseatofmanythingsthatgoes oninyourbody’shealth.Begoodtoit!
Idon’twanttoneglectanotherimportantplayer–theadrenals.Theyhelpmanagestress.Itispartof yourfightorflightmechanism,yourabilityto respondfavorablytostress.Sugar,coffee,alcohol, inadequatesleep,toxins,traumaandstress,all negativelyimpactyouradrenals.Sincetheygive youtheenergy,sleepquality,bloodpressure control,anti-inflammatoryhormones,somesex hormonesandmore,wereallywanttohelpour adrenalsout!
Theemotionalimpactsofoverwhelm,fear, anxiety,disappointment,fearofinadequacywith familyorgiftexpectations,aswellasstress,can leadtoatippingpointthisweek.Takeadeep breathandrelax.Evenifyoudisappointsomeone, orcan’tdosomethingyouwantto,duetohealthor financialconcerns,knowthatthistoowillpass. Avertahealthcrisis.Takecareofyourself.Eat well.Leavesomefoodontheplate,orjustdon’t takeasmuch.Considerskippingthesweetsand alcohol.Don’tforgettoexerciseandgettobed early.Timehasawayofworkingthingsout.Let thisbeaweekofpeace,joy,hopeandlove–allthe thingsexemplifiedbyChrist–thereasonforthis season.
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.
TwoTaskstoStarttheYear
Inamatterofweeks,we'llhaveanewyear when,ideally,we'llhavemorecontroloverour lives.Herearetwothingswecanalldotostart withacleanslate.
Cleanoutyourmedicinecabinet.Pullout expireddrugs(bothprescriptionandoverthe counter)andgoonahuntforalocationtodrop themoff.Sometownshaveonlyonedrug disposaldayperyear,butothertownskeepa machineintheirpolicedepartmenttodropoff drugsanytime.AskifyourlocalDepartmentof VeteransAffairsmedicalfacilityhasdisposal. Oryoucangoto https:// apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch to searchforacontrolledsubstancepublicdisposal locationnearyou.Whateveryoudo,don'tput themdownthesinkortoilet.
Organizeyourmilitaryfilesandinformation.If theworstshouldsuddenlyhappentoyou,don't addtoyourrelatives'griefbymakingthemdig foryourinformationorwonderwhatyourfinal wisheswouldbe.
Herearesomeofthethingsyou'llneedtogather up:
•YourDD214orserviceequivalent.Ifyou don'thaveoneonhand,sendforit.
•Yourbirthcertificate.
•Yourfinalwill.Ifyoudon'thaveone,nowis thetimetomakeanappointmentforJanuary withanattorney.Callthenearestmilitary baseandaskforLegalAidtoseeifyou qualifyforafreewill.
•Anylifeinsurancepolicies,copiesof marriagecertificatesanddivorcedecrees, andalistofalltheplacesyouservedwhile onactivedutyalongwiththedates.
•Downloadorsendawayforthefollowing:
•ApplicationforUnitedStatesFlagforBurial Purposes(VAForm27-2008)
•ClaimforOneSumPaymentGovernment LifeInsurance(VAForm29-4125e)
•ApplicationforStandardGovernment HeadstoneorMarker(VAForm40-1330)
PrintouttheFederalBenefitsforVeterans DependentsandSurvivorsbookorsendaway foritbycallingtheVA(800-827-1000)andadd thattoyourstack.
Onceyou'vegatheredallthisinformation(abox onaclosetshelfwillbeenough),makesure someoneknowswhereitis.Remember:Once it'sdone,it'sdone.
(c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.
1.AsinglepointinCanadianfootballisalso knownbywhatname?
2.BaseballHallofFamerWhiteyFordwas knockedunconsciousbypretzelshurledontothe fieldbyangryfansina1997episodeofwhat animatedcomedy?
3.In2003,whatPhoenixSunsplayerbecame thefirstNBARookieoftheYearwhowas draftedoutofhighschool?
4.BeforetheWisconsinBadgersandMinnesota GoldenGophersfootballteamsplayedforthe PaulBunyan'sAxetrophy,thewinneroftheir rivalrygamewasawardedwhat?
5.Whatnow-defunctgolfequipmentretailer, foundedin1967,filedforbankruptcyandwas purchasedbyDick'sSportingGoodsin2016?
6.Whatfemaletennisplayerwasassaultedon thecourtbyaknife-wieldingspectatoratthe 1993CitizenCupinHamburg,Germany?
7.ALRookieoftheYearhonorswentto OaklandA'splayersthreestraighttimesfrom 1986to1988.Whowerethey?.
1.MOVIES:Whatwasthenameofthe fictionalkingdomin"Frozen"?
2.HISTORY:Howmanypeoplediedasaresult oftheBostonMassacreof1770?
3.GENERALKNOWLEDGE:Whatwasthe nameofScrooge'sbusinesspartnerin"A ChristmasCarol"?
4.TELEVISION:Inwhatcityisthelongrunningdrama"Grey'sAnatomy"set?
5.GEOGRAPHY:Whichtwocitieswerethe originalendpointsoftheOrientExpress?
6.ANIMALKINGDOM:Howmanylegsdoes ananthave?
7.LITERATURE:WhatisthetitleofToni Morrison'sfirstnovel?
8.MATH:Howmanyminutesareinaweek?
9.BUSINESSSLOGANS:Whichcompany's sloganis,"Expectmore.Payless"?
10.EXPLORERS:Whatisthehomecountryof RoaldAmundsen,thefirsttoreachtheSouth Pole?
Answers
1.Arendelle.
2.Five.
3.JacobMarley.
4.Seattle,Washington.
5.ParisandIstanbul(Constantinople).
6.Six.
7."TheBluestEye."
8.10,080.
9.Target.
10.Norway.
(c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.
•OnDec.28,1900,Mrs.LuluJenkins,of Chicago,waspaid$4,000incompensation forthelynchingofherhusbandinRipley County,Indiana.Mr.Jenkinsallegedlywas involvedinthetheftofahorseandendedup thevictimofafuriousmob.Twoothermen werekilledaswell.
•OnJan.1,1962,theU.S.NavySEALsunit wascreated.Theirelitemembers(only about20%actuallymakeitthatfar)are trainedtooperateinurban,desertandjungle locationsandtowithstandtorture.
•OnDec.26,1966,thefirstKwanzaa celebrationsbeganinAmerica,withthe holidaycontinuinguntilJan.1.Createdby activist,authorandprofessorofAfricana studiesDr.MaulanaKarenga,theannual event,whichaffirmsAfricanfamilyand socialvalues,wasoriginallyintendedto replaceChristmasforAfricans.
•OnDec.30,1984,speleologists(cave studiers/explorers)intheMexicanstateof Oaxacalandeduponwhatwasthenthought topossiblybetheworld'sdeepestcaveafter goingthroughamazeofunderground tunnelsinthejungle.
•OnDec.27,1994,Rwanda'spresidentdied inaplanecrashandtheAfricancountrywas plungedintoagenocidalbloodbathin whichtheHutumajorityslaughteredthe Tutsis,leavinghalfamilliondead.A distraughtmissionaryexclaimedofthe carnage:"Therearenodevilsleftinhell. TheyareallinRwanda."
•OnDec.29,2011,Russianauthorities discoveredalargeamountofararecaviar storedin,ofallplaces,amorgueinSt. Petersburg.Abusinessmanandmorgue attendantwerearrestedbutclaimedthatthe caviarwasbeingkeptforapersonalNew Year'scelebration.
(c)2022KingFeaturesSynd.,Inc.
TheJoysoftheFoodBank
AfewmonthsagoIescortedthreeverynervous elderlyladiestothefoodbank.By"escorted,"I meanIhadtoscoutoutthesituationinadvance, comebackwithareport(no,thefoodbankstaff wouldn'taskembarrassingquestionsabout finances)andthenactuallytaketheladiestothe foodbankinmycartopickuptheirgroceries. Fast-forwardafewmonths,andI'vejustlearned thatsaidladiesactuallywenttothefoodbankby themselvestoday...andhadawonderfultime. Youwouldn'tthinkthat"wonderfultime"would beanaptdescriptionofatriptoafoodbank,but theyweredelightedbythewholeexperience.For thispick-up,thefoodbankdidthingsadifferent way:Havingreceivedanabundanceofdonations fromvariousplaces,thistimetheyinvitedtheir "guests"intothestorageareaandallowedthem topickoutexactlywhattheywantedfortheir holidaymeals.
Oneoftheladieschoseasmallturkey,anothera turkeybreasttobemadeintosandwichesandpot pies,andthethirdahamforfuturecasseroles, knowingthattheyweregoingtosplitthebounty whentheyhadholidaymealstogether.They negotiatedtheirwayupanddownthestorage areaaisles,accompaniedbyafriendlystaffer, chattingaboutpotentialrecipesandcollectinga widervarietyoffoodsthaneachwouldget individuallyduringatypicalfoodpick-up.
I'mtoldIwillbearecipientaswell:Iaminvited tosharetheirmealswhentheycarvetheturkey, makethesandwichesandturnthehaminto deliciouscasserolesasmyrewardforhaving introducedthemtothejoysofthefoodbank. Thefoodbankistobelaudedfortheirlargess thisholidayseason.Theymightneverknowjust howhappytheymadethosethreeladies.
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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
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…
LindaDavis Directorofbuildingrelationships. 208.457.3403 www.LodgeLiving.net
