TIDBITS Issue 51 CDA Idaho 2019 by TIDBITS Kootenai County, Idaho

of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #46 Nov. 13th 2017Issue 51 Dec. 16th 2019 of Kootenai County, Idaho

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TIDBITS® WONDERS AT SYMBIOTIC MICROBES

by Janet Spencer Come along with Tidbits as we learn about symbiotic partnerships with microbes! UNUSUAL PARTNERSHIPS • A submersible named Alvin descended to the bottom of the ocean off the Galapagos Islands in 1977. It landed on the ocean floor, 7,900 ft (2,400 m) beneath the surface, where tectonic plates pull away from each other and thermal vents spew super-heated water. • Three geologists inside Alvin were there to study the geology, but were shocked to see the area teeming with life, despite the water being heated to 750 F (400 C) and being subjected to the pressure of the deep water. • One of the specimens they collected was a giant tube worm as long as a human. When it was examined at the surface, biologists at the Smithsonian were surprised to find that it had no mouth, no digestive system, and no way of eating or excreting food. What it did have, however, was an organ that was covered with sulfur crystals gleaned from the chemical-laden water of the hot vents. The crystals were covered with a dense layer of microbes, to the tune of one million per gram of sulfur. • Microbes were oxidizing sulfur and liberating energy that was feeding the tube worm in a case of creatures using chemosynthesis instead of photosynthesis. (cont)

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #51 Dec. 16th SYMBIOSIS (cont) • One type of bacteria called Wolbachia is present in caterpillars who feed on apple leaves. When secreted by the caterpillar, it prevents the apple leaf from turning yellow in the fall, giving the caterpillar more food to eat as autumn progresses. The same microbe, when present in bees, ants, and wasps, prevents the development of males. • A type of squid that lives in the waters off the coast of Hawaii uses bioluminescent bacteria to light up the underside of its body, mimicking moonlight hitting the surface of the sea, and causing the creature to be camouflaged to the point of invisibility when seen from below. • In South America, ants live in the hollow thorns of acacia trees, where they repel other insects that would damage the tree. They eat the leaves of the acacia, and the acacia tree imparts to the ants a specific microbe that prevents the ants from being able to digest anything other than acacia leaves. If the ants go elsewhere to feed, they starve. Therefore they are basically enslaved to the acacia tree. • The hoopoe is a colorful bird found in Africa and parts of Asia. When it lays an egg, it covers the shell with a bacteria-laden fluid secreted from a gland under its tail. The bacteria release antibiotics which stop other more dangerous microbes from infiltrating the eggshell and hurting the chicks inside. • Leafcutter ants carry microbes around on their bodies and use them to sterilize fungus gardens that they cultivate in underground gardens. • The Colorado potato beetle uses bacteria in its saliva to suppress the defense mechanisms of the plants that it feeds from. • The zebra-striped cardinalfish harbors a colony of luminous bacteria which it uses to attract potential prey. (cont)

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* Be sure to eat a hearty breakfast before heading out to the airport. Pack a piece or two of whole fruit or a portion of nuts for snacking, and bring an empty water bottle so that you can make it through airport security and fill the bottle when you are at the gate. Being hydrated and having healthy snacks will make your travel experience more pleasant. * “Print a physical copy of your travel itinerary, including flight numbers. Stow a copy inside a secure spot in your luggage so that if it gets lost, you’ll be easy to find. I like to put mine inside the zippered net bag that’s attached to my suitcase.” -- E.L. in Ohio * Pack a hanging luggage scale. This is especially helpful at the holidays, when you may be both taking gifts to give and returning with gifts given to you. * When planning a vacation or even a visit home for the holidays, it’s important to manage everyone’s expectations. Imagine Mom expects her grown kids to spend most of their time seeing extended family, while they are making plans to see childhood friends while in town. Have a chat with parents, siblings and extended family so that everyone has a good idea of what the plan is. * “For large gatherings, borrow what you need from local friends and family. That includes chairs, servingware, place settings, silverware and linens! Most people are happy to help.” -R.R. in Alabama * “We have a large family, and when we all get together at the holidays -- or anytime -- we share a screenshot of our itinerary in a group text as we make plans. This way, we can try to group up for pickups from the airport or car rentals.” -- C.A. in Oregon 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 #51 Dec. 16th 2019 SYMBIOSIS (cont) • The ant lion paralyses prey using toxins produced by the bacteria in its saliva. • Most corals are covered in a layer of microbes. Every square inch of their surface is covered with over 100 million microbes, more than ten times as many as on a similar size patch of human skin or forest soil. • One study started with a control group of mice that lived in sterile environments and had no gut bacteria at all. When these mice were infused by bacteria from skinny mice, they gained a little weight. But when they were infused with bacteria from fat mice, they gained a lot of weight. After this, the newspaper headlines proclaimed that a person’s weight is determined by the type of microflora in the intestines, which isn’t quite true. When the same researchers infused the “fat” biotics into mice that were eating healthy highfiber foods, the mice would not gain weight; but when they were infused with the same biotics when eating an unhealthy diet, they gained a lot of weight. • The beewolf is a wasp that preys on bees. It captures a bee, paralyzes it with a sting, and buries it alive in an underground burrow along with a wasp egg. When the egg hatches, it eats the bee, and then forms a cocoon and hibernates over winter, emerging as an adult beewolf in the spring. The mother wasp, prior to sealing up the burrow with the egg inside, will daub the entire area with a secretion excreted from the tips of her antennae. This white liquid is packed with a microbe called Streptomyces, the same microbe that provides about two-thirds of human antibiotics. In this way, the mother wasp is preventing her progeny from being over-run by fungi and other pathogens as it incubates for nine months. When the adult beewolf climbs out of the chamber, it’s coated with the microbe, which it then passes on to the next generation. (cont)

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® of Idaho TIDBITS of Kootenai Issue #51 Dec. 16th 2019 TidbitsCounty, Dallas County SYMBIOSIS (cont) • There are two species of wasp that look identical, but are unable to mate. When they do breed, the hybrid offspring die quickly and never reach maturity. Researchers theorized that the gut biome might be responsible, and fed wasps of both species antibiotics. After this, the two species were able to mate successfully and the offspring survived to adulthood, proving that the deaths of the offspring were being caused by warring factions of different microbes. • Creosote bushes live in the desert and have a very pungent odor and a very toxic resin. When most rodents eat creosote, they get sick, and if they eat enough of it, the toxins shut down the liver and kidneys, killing the animal. But the desert woodrat can eat all the creosote leaves it wants without any ill effect. That’s because microbes in the animal’s digestive system detoxify the resin before it can do any harm. If those microbes are transplanted into other rat species who don’t have them, those rats also develop the ability to digest creosote. • The species of flatworm called Paracatenula lives in warm ocean sediments and is about a half-inch long. About 90% of that half-inch long body is made up of symbiotic microbes and their living quarters. It’s essentially a flatworm brain and a collection of microbes. Microbes provide the flatworm with its energy; microbes store the fats; and microbes provide the worm’s white coloration. If you cut the flatworm in two, each of the two ends can regenerate the missing parts and become fully functional worms. The rear half will even regrow a new head and brain. But if one end of the worm doesn’t come away with a big enough complement of microbes, it will not survive. It’s easier for the tail end of the worm to re-grow a new head and brain than it is for a brain to re-grow the tail if it comes away from the split without enough bacteria.

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* It was Polish chess grandmaster Savielly Tartakower who made the following sage observation: “Victory goes to the player who makes the next-to-last mistake.” * Worldwide, herbivores kill more people than carnivores. * Bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers all were invented by women. * Japanese scientists have discovered that the human body emits a very slight, yet perceptible, glow. After using a special camera to study a sample of men in their 20s, they found that intensity of the glow varies, with the lowest point at around 10 a.m. and the brightest at 4 a.m. * In 1743, a hand-operated elevator was installed in the palace of Versailles. Louis XV used it to visit Madame de Chateauroux, his mistress. * Due to a quirk in the transition from one kind of calendar system to another, nobody was born between Oct. 4 and Oct. 15 in continental Europe in the year 1582. * If you’re like me, social situations can be a nightmare of trying -- and usually failing -- to remember the names of all your new acquaintances. The next time you find yourself struggling to name the person you’re conversing with, you can always segue into this interesting tidbit: The inability to remember names is technically known as anomia. * In ancient Japan, towns would have public contests to see who could break wind the loudest and the longest. Prizes were awarded. * It is possible for a fetus in the womb to get hiccups.

Thought for the Day:

TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue 505-0674 #51 Dec. 16th 2019 For Advertising Call (334)

COUCH THEATER -- DVD

PHOTO: Ansel Elgort in “The Goldfinch”Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

“Ready or Not” (R) -- Wedding traditions are nothing new; people have been observing them for years. But the Le Domas family, rich and eccentric as they are, have taken the ritual far beyond “something borrowed, something blue” to something dark and dangerous. Blushing bride Grace (Samara Weaving) is feted by new husband Adam (Mark O’Brian) at his family’s estate, where each new addition is initiated with a game. Grace’s is hide and seek, and she quickly finds out that it’s kill or be killed before sunup. Andie MacDowell, Adam Brody and Henry Czerny co-star in a terrifically unapologetic black comedy. “The Goldfinch” (R) -- Ansel Elgort (and Oakes Fegley, playing the younger years) stars as Theodore Decker, a young man whose mother dies in an explosion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Theo survives, and retains as a palpable reminder of this event, a painting called “The Goldfinch.” His resulting journey -- his homes and relationships collected along the way -- are always colored by the loss of his mother and the retention of the painting. It’s based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, but boiled down, it lacks the depth of Donna Tartt’s 800 pages. “Killerman” (R) -- Moe Diamond (Liam Hemsworth) has a couple of problems. First, he’s a sleazy money launderer who got caught up with some dirty cops in a deal gone wrong. Second, he has amnesia and doesn’t know he’s a sleazy money launderer who got caught up with some dirty cops in a deal gone wrong. All he does know is that he’s got a pile of cash and drugs and a whole lot of trouble. It is shot in a 1970s haze that feels authentically gritty, but the whole business could have been handled in less than 70 minutes, while director Malik Bader stretches it out to nearly 120.

“The Parts You Lose” (NR) -- A young deaf boy (Danny Murphy) finds an injured stranger (Aaron Paul) in the snow. Despite his rough exterior, the boy helps him hide, brings him food and allows him to heal. The criminal -- how could he be anything but -- warms to the youngster, and teaches him some life lessons about triumph, loss and how to handle a bully, be it a classmate or a parent. When the law comes to call, the boy must make choices that put him on the road to becoming a man. Also stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as the boy’s compassionate mother. NEW TV RELEASES “Game of Thrones” Season 8 “The Simpsons” Season 19 “City on a Hill” Season 1 “How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming” TV movie (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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TIDBITS ofTidbits Kootenai® County, Idaho Issue #51 Dec. 16th 2019 of Dallas County

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By Dr. Holly Carling

THOSE CRAZY CRAVINGS

The holidays always bring with it an abundance of sugar and cravings that can be out of control. Stress during this time of year worsens all cravings – cravings for sugar, tobacco, drugs, alcohol and others. So, what can we do to reduce our cravings for sugar and other addictive substances, especially this time of year? Try to get a handle on WHY you grab for sugar or other addictive substances in the first place. One reason many eat sugar is because they are dehydrated. Sugar is moistening and so we tend to confuse the need for moisture for the craving for sugar. Drinking a large glass of water instead will curb many cravings. Eating good, wholesome foods leads to satiation. The brain is satisfied that it has enough nutrients that it no longer craves other things. A nutrientrich diet can turn off the hunger signals because the brain is happy. If you have to have something, choose a healthier version. Most desires for sugar are satisfied with a piece of fruit or a date or a healthier version of a cookie. Be careful with the latter. It’s still sugar and still has health damaging effects. Avoid artificial sweeteners. Most people believe because they are low on a glycemic scale that you can eat whatever you want. Not so. Some artificial sweeteners are 200 times the sweetness of sugar. When that message is relayed to the brain from the tongue, the brain thinks so much more sugar is coming than actually does, and the response is generally the opposite of what we were

hoping for. They tend to make blood sugar more unstable and do nothing to cut sugar cravings. Educate yourself. Understanding what sugar or other addictive substances do to the body sometimes helps. For every one time you decide to choose health over satisfying a small piece of meat in your mouth (your tongue), it counts. When you understand that sugar suppresses the immune system, that it has been linked to mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, OCD, bi-polar, and others, that it erodes the enamel on your teeth, that it contributes to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and other devastating diseases, it helps. One of the best ways to control cravings is through acupuncture. Acupuncturists use specific points on the body and on the ear that help suppress cravings. Much research has been done on acupuncture’s effectiveness in treating alcohol, drug, tobacco and other substance abuse (including sugar and over-eating in general). What’s great about acupuncture and its effectiveness in controlling cravings is that it also helps to control the withdrawal symptoms. These include agitation, anger outbursts, irritability, cravings for other substances, loss of energy, emotional instability, anxiety, depression, restlessness, headaches, etc. When a person comes in for treatments, the known withdrawal symptoms are immediately treated and other symptoms get treated as they pop up. It is such a fantastic way of subduing addictions that it is one of the most widely used reasons for seeking acupuncture treatments.

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.

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Getting That Perfect Holiday Photo Expanded Access to Exchange, Pet DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Every holiday, I try to Commissary take a nice photo of our two dogs that we can If you have an Exchange or commissary near you that you haven’t been able to use, that might change soon. Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, the Department of Defense is expanding the list of those eligible to use all the services: Exchanges, commissary, and morale, welfare and recreation locations on bases. The new list includes Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, veterans with serviceconnected disabilities and those who are the primary family caregivers of eligible veterans. While you’ve been able to shop the Exchange online since 2017, now you can go to the brick and mortar locations. To use the facilities, you’ll need to present your Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC). It will need to specify your eligibility status. (This is not the same as your Veterans Identification card.) Caregivers will need to show their eligibility letter, which was mailed from the Office of Community Care. Note that you’ll be dinged a small amount if you use a credit or debit card. If you prefer to shop online or if you don’t have a VHIC (but are otherwise eligible), go to www. shopmyexchange.com. You’ll pay no taxes on purchases, get special deals and free shipping if you use your Military Star Card. If you don’t have an Exchange account, click Take the First Step in the upper right corner and check your eligibility. (You need to use your Star Card at least once every 12 months to protect your accumulated points.) To get all the details, go online to read the factsheet at www.militaryonesource.mil/expandingaccess. Click Download File to get the full FAQ. Read carefully the fine print on eligibility, especially about the VHIC. You don’t want to drive a long way to the commissary and then discover you can’t get on the base or aren’t eligible. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

frame. And every holiday, I get a series of terrible, blurry pictures. The dogs move constantly. How do the pros do it? -- Jim H., via email DEAR JIM: Pet photography really is a skill. I have the same problem myself -- often I’ve seen my pets sitting in just the right pose, framed by the window with the setting sun in the background. But before I can grab my smartphone to snap a photo, they’ve moved, the light has changed, and the magic is gone. Here are a few tips on getting great, natural-looking photos of your pets, even with a smartphone camera: -- Be patient: Getting the best shot takes practice. You may need to wait for your pet to sit or lie down in the right spot. -- Go to their level: Get down on the floor with your pets and bring the camera lens even with their eyes and nose. You will get some intriguing shots. -- Wait for pets to settle down, then surprise them: This works best with dogs who respond well to commands. Have them sit or lie down, and once they’re in place and relaxed, call their name just as you take the photo. -- Use natural light: Camera flashes reflect off the back of the eye to create the dreaded red-eye effect. Open the window shades to let in as much light as possible. -- Be prepared for more than one session: Take photos over the span of a few days -- you’ll get more practice, and your dogs may get more comfortable with the process. Send your comments, questions or tips to ask@ pawscorner.com. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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* On Dec. 28, 1793, British-born American revolutionary Thomas Paine, author of “Common Sense,” is arrested in France for treason, having been tried in absentia and convicted. Paine was imprisoned in a former palace, where he had a large room with windows and catered meals. * On Dec. 24, 1851, a fire sweeps through the Library of Congress and destroys two-thirds of Thomas Jefferson’s personal literary collection. Jefferson had sold his personal library of 6,487 books to Congress after the British burned the Congressional library in 1814. * On Dec. 23, 1888, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cuts off the lower part of his left ear with a razor. He later documented the event in a painting titled “SelfPortrait with Bandaged Ear.” * On Dec. 27, 1900, prohibitionist Carry Nation smashes up a bar in Wichita, Kansas, causing extensive damage and landing in jail. Nation became famous for carrying a hatchet and wrecking saloons, and sold souvenir hatchets to help fund her anti-alcohol activities. * On Dec. 29, 1915, the French National Assembly passes a law formally ceding the land that holds the British war cemeteries to Great Britain, ensuring that its saddest and most sacred monuments would be forever protected. * On Dec. 26, 1946, infamous gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel opens his Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. The grand opening was a flop, however, and the casino lost $300,000 in the first week. The hotel was named after Siegel’s girlfriend, whose nickname was “The Flamingo” because of her red hair and long legs. * On Dec. 25, 1962, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” a film based on the novel by Harper Lee, opens in theaters. The Great Depression-era story of racial injustice and the loss of childhood innocence is told from the perspective of a young Alabama girl named Scout Finch. (c) 2019 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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® of Idaho TIDBITS of Kootenai IssueCounty #51 Dec. 16th 2019 TidbitsCounty, Dallas

1. Name the song written about an actual murder that happened in a bar in 1895 in St. Louis. 2. Which 1964 hit includes the sound of a motorcycle? 3. Who released “Blueberry Hill” in 1956? 4. Which artist had a No. 1 hit with “Make Love Stay”? 5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “Now with passion in our eyes, There’s no way we could disguise it.” Answers 1. “Stagger Lee,” best known for the version by Lloyd Price in 1959. Billy Lyons was killed by Stag Lee Shelton when Lyons grabbed Shelton’s hat during what was likely a business or political discussion. 2. “Leader of the Pack,” by the girl group The Shangri-Las. The legend that the sound came from a motorcycle ridden into the studio is false. 3. Fats Domino. It was first heard, sung by Gene Autry, in the 1940 Western “The Singing Hill.” 4. Dan Fogelberg, in 1983. It’s thought Fogelberg was inspired by Tom Robbins’ novel “Still Life With Woodpecker.” 5. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” was used in the soundtrack of “Dirty Dancing” in 1987, by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. It was originally meant for Donna Summer, but she rejected the song because of the film title. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Connecting Kids to Coverage Thousands of children in Idaho may be eligible for health insurance. Thousands of Idaho children could be going without critical prescriptions or life-saving surgeries simply because their parents don’t have health insurance. Many of those children were removed from federal health insurance coverage over the last few years due to eligibility reporting requirements for the state of Idaho. Those issues between the state and the United States government have been resolved. Low to moderate-income families without health insurance may be eligible for federal programs once again. “Insurance coverage for kids is critical,” said Yvonne Ketchum-Ward, CEO, Idaho Primary Care Association. “Without it, children in Idaho will suffer unnecessarily and be unable to get the care they need to become healthy adults.” The Idaho Primary Care Association received a $1 million grant to help enroll thousands of children in health insurance plans. The money will be distributed to 15 community health centers across the state to bolster their enrollment efforts over the next three years. Enrolling those families and children is part of a new Connecting Kids to Coverage project. The federal grant is intended to help an estimated 29,000 children in Idaho gain coverage and keep eligible families in coverage. The state currently ranks 40th in the nation for the percentage of children without health insurance. Federal policy changes caused Idaho to have the steepest decline (11%) in the nation for children enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid, according to a recent study released by Georgetown University Center for Children and Families and Idaho Voices for Children. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hope to increase enrollment in CHIP/Medicaid. Started in 1997, CHIP provides comprehensive healthcare coverage to children under age 19 from low to moderate-income families. “The Children’s Health Insurance Program is a critical source of healthcare coverage for working families,” said Heritage Health CEO Mike Baker. “Kids who have access to doctor visits, dental care, immunizations, well-child visits, and prescriptions are more likely to have good health and do better in school, forming a strong foundation for future success. If your children are without insurance, please call us to see if we can help get them enrolled in health coverage.” “Heritage Health is one of the participating community health centers involved in Connecting Kids to Coverage.” The Connecting Kids to Coverage project will engage more than 70 outreach and enrollment counselors at health centers to assist families with application assistance for healthcare coverage. Health Centers won’t be doing it alone. The Idaho Foodbank, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and Your Health Idaho will provide support for the project to engage and assist parents in urban and rural areas. “CHIP has consistently had bipartisan support from lawmakers,” said Baker. “Since 1997, the program has provided affordable health insurance for kids in modest-income families. It’s an effective federal-state partnership that provides essential health coverage for kids that is a critical part of the state’s healthcare system and an investment in families and our state’s future.”

For ofAdvertising Call (334) 505-0674 TIDBITS Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #51 Dec. 16th 2019 What is Acupuncture all about?

Acupuncture is an ancient technique that has been proven highly effective for: reducing stress, healing back and neck pain, headaches and eye strain. Acupuncture helps with allergy relief, improve digestive disorders boost the immune system and benefit woman’s health issues such as painful periods and improves fertility. Acupuncture helps to regulate the endocrine system (hormones) and calm the nervous system. The stimulation of acupuncture points triggers a release of our body’s natural pain- relieving chemicals and reduces inflammation. Acupuncture is used in combination with High Intensity PEMF therapy at the CDA Health Center for exceptional results for pain relief and improved range of motion without medication or invasive procedures. My Neck pain was gone after the acupuncture treatment and I stayed pain free for a whole week. James P. Conroe, Texas Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture is a natural non-surgical, non-filler method of reducing the signs of aging on the face and can seem to erase years when used in combination with High Intensity PEMF therapy while benefiting the entire body. Acupuncture needles are used to stimulate the facial muscles and bring more blood supply to the face. Cold laser is also used on the acupuncture points with the needles. Facial tone is improved with improved circulation and collagen production with a series of treatments.

Dr. Margo Parker, OMD, a licensed acupuncturist with over 30 years in practice and higher education. CDA Health Center located at 1044 Northwest Boulevard in the Sky Professional Center Building. Phone/Text (208) 660-7363 to schedule High Intensity PEMF, Ozone Therapy, or other traditional therapies. We offer HU=GO™ HI-PEMF for mobility and pain relief and Ozone therapies for sinus issues, allergies, skin, scalp conditions and more. www.cdahealthcenter.com

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® ofIdaho TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Issue County #51 Dec. 16th 2019 Tidbits Dallas

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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Make your holiday preparations one step at a time in order to avoid being overwhelmed and leaving things undone. That confusing family situation continues to work itself out. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Ease this year’s holiday money pressures by letting your thrifty side guide you as you look for those perfect gifts that typically reflect your good taste and love of beauty. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’ll have a good handle on potential holiday problems if you delegate tasks to family members, friends or co-workers -- most of whom will be more than happy to help out. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Right now you are especially vulnerable to holiday scams that seek to take advantage of your generosity. Best advice: Check them out before you send out your checks. LEO (July 23 to August 22) The upcoming holiday season gives the Big Cat much to purr about. Relationships grow stronger, and new opportunities loom on the horizon, just waiting to be pounced on. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A changing situation brings conflicting advice about how to go forward with your holiday plans. Your best bet: Make the decision you feel most comfortable with. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Holiday plans get back on track after some confusion about the direction you expected to take. A potentially troublesome money matter needs your immediate attention. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your holiday preparations are on track. But you need to confront a personal situation while you can still keep it from overwhelming everything else. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Tight financial matters ease a bit during this holiday season. But the sagacious Sagittarian is well-advised to keep a tight hold on the reins while shopping for gifts. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Don’t put off making decisions about this year’s holiday celebrations, despite the negative comments you’ve been getting from several quarters. Do it NOW! AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) The holidays will bring new friends and new opportunities. Meanwhile, be careful to use your energy wisely as you go about making holiday preparations. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) There’s good news coming from a most unlikely source. And it could turn out to be one of the best holiday gifts you have had in years. Remember to stay positive.

BORN THIS WEEK:

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #51 Dec. 16th 2019

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REMARKABLE PEOPLE CLARK STANLEY

1. Who was the first major-league player to hit a pair of home runs in an All-Star Game? 2. Name the last of the six major-league teams that longtime skipper (1967-88) Dick Williams managed. 3. Can you name two of the first three quarterbacks in SEC history to have at least 35 passing and 35 rushing touchdowns during their career? 4. LeBron James played in eight consecutive NBA Finals (2011-18). Name two of the three players who played in more. 5. An American has been drafted No. 1 overall eight times in the history of the NHL Entry Draft. How many of them were selected between 2000 and 2019? 6. Who was the last Cup driver before Chase Elliott in 2018-19 to win back-to-back races at Watkins Glen? 7. Who was the last female tennis player younger than Coco Gauff in 2019 (15 years old) to win her first WTA tournament?

1. THEATER: “West Side Story” was inspired by which earlier play? 2. MUSIC: What is the real name of songwriter/ rapper Lizzo? 3. SCIENCE: How many people total have walked on the moon? 4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Under whose administration did Spiro T. Agnew serve as vice president? 5. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of Chile? 6. ARCHITECTURE: In what decade was the Empire State Building completed? 7. ADVERTISING: What was the name of Honey Nut Cheerios’ mascot? 8. U.S. STATES: What is the least populous state in America? 9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the name of Dick and Jane’s dog in reading books used in schools in the mid-20th century? 10. INVENTIONS: Who is credited for inventing the modern lockstitch sewing machine? Answers 1. “Romeo and Juliet” 2. Melissa Viviane Jefferson 3. 12 4. Richard Nixon 5. Santiago 6. 1930s 7. BuzzBee 8. Wyoming 9. Spot 10. Elias Howe (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

Answers 1. Pittsburgh’s Arky Vaughn, in 1941. 2. The Seattle Mariners, in 1988. 3. Tim Tebow, Dak Prescott and Nick Fitzgerald. 4. Bill Russell (10 consecutive), Sam Jones (nine) and Tom Heinsohn (nine). 5. Five. 6. Marcos Ambrose, in 2011-12. 7. The Czech Republic’s Nicole Vaidisova, who was a younger 15 when she won in 2004. (c) 2019 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

• The Chinese water snake is a mildly venomous aquatic snake native to Asia commonly found in shallow freshwater ponds and rice paddies. The snake is often eaten, and its skin is processed into leather. The fat of the Chinese water snake has been used as a folk remedy for centuries, prescribed by Chinese healers as a topical ointment to relieve pain. The popularity of this snake-oil liniment spread worldwide as Chinese laborers immigrated to other countries. • Born in Texas in 1854, Clark Stanley spent 11 years of his life as a cowboy before deciding there had to be an easier way of making a living. According to his account, he then spent two years studying under a Hopi medicine man in Arizona. Here he learned the secrets of making healing salves from the fat of rattlesnakes endemic to the area. • He teamed up with a druggist from Boston and began to market his balms at western medicine shows. In 1893 he gained much attention when he exhibited his wares at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. This resulted in enough money so that he was able to set up production facilities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which both suffer a remarkable lack of rattlesnakes. • However, Stanley always travelled with a crate full of rattlesnakes which he raised on his farm in Texas. On the road, he would attract large crowds in the small towns where he appeared. He would demonstrate how to kill a rattlesnake by beheading it. He would then skin the snake, plunging its body into a vat of boiling water. The snake’s fat would float to the top, where Stanley would skim it and pour it into a bottle in front of onlookers. For only 50 cents a bottle you too could own this miraculous healing substance which was guaranteed to cure all ills. (cont)

TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #51 Dec. 16th 2019 CLARK STANLEY (cont) • Clark Stanley began calling himself “The Rattlesnake King” and even wrote his autobiography in 1897, titling it “The Life and Adventures of the American Cow-Boy: Life in the Far West by Clark Stanley, Better Known as the RattleSnake King.” He sold his book along with his snake oil where ever he went. • But trouble began brewing for Stanley with the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. Prior to that, there were no regulations prohibiting false advertising of medicinal products, so some quacks made money selling worthless or dangerous substances to unwitting people. “Medicine shows” were also popular: they were usually gatherings of hoaxers and hucksters who showcased a variety of patented medicines and then left town before citizens could discover they had been duped. • Clark Stanley ranked among the best of them. He advertised that his tincture would relieve joint pain due to arthritis, bursitis, rheumatism, or lumbago. It would cure everything from headaches to hemorrhoids. • Stanley managed to stay one step ahead of the authorities until 1916, when officials at the Bureau of Chemistry (the precursor to the Food & Drug Administration) tested his product. They found it was actually composed of mineral oil, tallow, capsaicin extracted from chili peppers, turpentine, and camphor. There was no snake fat in the medicine, and the ointment had no discernable value. • Clark Stanley was fined $20 (equal to about $450 today) for the deception and ordered to cease and desist from marketing his product. Stanley may have faded into obscurity afterwards, but his notoriety lives on, as he was the original “snake oil salesman.” • Ironically enough, however, today many pain relief patches are based on capsaicin, and many chest rubs use camphor to relieve cold symptoms

Q: What happened to the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”? Will it ever return? -- J.A. A: “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” debuted 20 years ago with huge ratings in prime time with host Regis Philbin. It then went on to become a weekday syndicated show in 2002 with various hosts over the years, beginning with a long run by Meredith Viera followed by Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews and Chris Harrison. Alas, it was canceled in May 2019 and at this time there are no plans to revive it. According to Slate.com, “At its peak, ‘Millionaire’ was more popular than ‘Monday Night Football.’” This was, of course, the original prime time version. I think the show just needed a break and could be a big hit again. Perhaps a network will bring it back for occasional special events or for a full season in the summer months instead of a daily syndicated program. In the meantime, keep an eye out for reruns on cable or one of the streaming services, as old episodes also might be available in the future. Q: Is Al Pacino still acting? I see Robert De Niro all over the place, almost too many movies, but I hardly see Pacino in anything anymore. -- K.Y. A: Al Pacino does seem to be more selective in the films he accepts roles in, but I have a feeling you’re going to like his most recent one. He’s currently playing Jimmy Hoffa in the Martin Scorsese film “The Irishman,” which recently was made available on Netflix after a brief run in theaters. Coincidentally, De Niro also is in

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PHOTO: Chrishell Stause Hartley Photo credit: Depositphotos

the movie as a World War II veteran turned hitman. Now we’ll just have to see if the Academy takes notice and rewards them with more Oscars for their mantles. Q: I saw the actress who used to play Amanda on “All My Children” on the Netflix show “Selling Sunset” as a real estate agent. Does she really work in that field, or is she just playing a character? -- T.M. A: Chrishell Stause, who changed her name to Chrishell Hartley after marrying “This Is Us” star Justin Hartley two years ago, has worked as a real estate agent in the Los Angeles area for a while now. When she’s not acting on soaps (most recently as Jordan on “Days of Our Lives”), she’s selling homes in the Valley. “Selling Sunset” is produced by Adam Divello, who created the fiction-meets-reality hit series “The Hills.” So if you’ve watched “The Hills” or its predecessor, “Laguna Beach,” you know that it’s not exactly a straight documentary. Only Chrishell knows how much of herself she’s bringing to her character and how much is scripted. If there’s another season, it will be interesting to see if Chrishell mentions her recent split with Justin Hartley, who has filed for divorce. Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@ gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #51 Dec. 16th 2019

Top 10 Video On Demand 1. The Art of Racing in the Rain (PG) Milo Ventimiglia 2. Frozen (PG) animated 3. The Lion King (PG) animated 4. The Peanut Butter Falcon (PG-13) Shia LaBeouf 5. 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (PG-13) Sophie Nelisse 6. Dora and the Lost City of Gold (PG) Isabela Merced 7. The Angry Birds 2 (PG) animated 8. Good Boys (R) Jacob Tremblay 9. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (PG-13) Dwayne Johnson 10. The Kitchen (R) Melissa McCarthy Top 10 DVD, Blu-ray Sales 1. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (PG-13) Universal 2. Dora and the Lost City of Gold (PG) Paramount 3. The Lion King (PG) Disney 4. Toy Story 4 (PG) Disney 5. Good Boys (R) Universal 6. Elf (PG) Warner Bros. 7. The Angry Birds 2 (PG) Sony Pictures 8. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG-13) Warner Bros. 9. The Polar Express (G) Warner Bros. 10. Home Alone (PG) FOX Sources: comScore/Media Play News

TOP TEN MOVIES 1. Frozen II (PG) animated 2. Knives Out (PG-13) Daniel Craig, Chris Evans 3. Ford v Ferrari (PG-13) Matt Damon, Christian Bale 4. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (PG) Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys 5. Queen & Slim (R) Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith 6. 21 Bridges (R) Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller 7. Playing With Fire (PG) John Cena, KeeganMichael Key 8. Midway (PG-13) Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson 9. Joker (R) Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro 10. Last Christmas (PG-13) Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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THE POISON SQUAD • In the late 1800s and early 1900s, food began to be more and more mass-produced and shipped long distances, rather than being grown locally and sold fresh. Prior to the passage of the Pure Food & Drug Act of 1906, there was no regulation whatsoever governing food processing and production. • If it was labelled chicken and contained only turkey, there was nothing to prevent that. If morphine was added to children’s cough syrup; if formaldehyde was used as a preservative; if flour was cut with chalk dust; if charcoal was added to coffee grounds; or if milk was diluted with river water – there was no law against that. One irate consumer returned a ten-pound bag of sugar to his local grocer with a note saying, “Not enough sand for building, and not enough sugar for cooking!” One study found that of 10 kinds of maple syrup tested, nine did not contain even a trace of maple syrup. •Dr. Harvey Wiley, chief chemist at the Department of Agriculture, became concerned about the state of the situation, and was especially worried about the substances being used as preservatives. • In 1902 Dr. Wiley received a grant of $5,000 ($143,000 today) to set up a series of trials to test the safety of food additives. He then recruited a team of 12 men to eat various things and report back. Women were not allowed to participate in what was ultimately dubbed “The Poison Squad Trials.” • Participants were paid a small stipend, given free living quarters for the six-month duration of the trials, and had all their meals prepared for them. Wiley was flooded with volunteers, but chose the 12 healthiest men he could find. All were required to sign waivers in case they suffered complications. (cont)

TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #51 Dec. 16th 2019 THE POISON SQUAD (cont) • No one was allowed to eat anything outside the experiment. Their health was rigorously monitored. Their “output” was examined. And so they were fed various preservatives, starting with low doses and gradually ramping up over time until adverse effects began to manifest. Every six months, the twelve men would be dismissed and 12 new men would come on board, in order to minimize the dangers for any single group. Volunteers dressed in formal attire for their meals to boost morale and to provide better publicity photos. The media ate it up. The food industry was not so pleased. • Borax was commonly used to preserve meat. It caused headaches and depression. Formaldehyde was used to preserve dairy products but caused severe illness at any dose. The experiments continued for five years. Data was collected and reports were written. • The food industry was outraged at any suggestion that using poisonous substances to preserve or enhance food was unacceptable, and they lobbied hard to ensure that Wiley’s report was buried. Wiley himself leaked his reports to the media to be sure that the word got out. Food industry lobbyists claimed Wiley was out to destroy American business. But when women got wind of the news, women’s clubs from coast to coast organized to apply pressure to politicians, to great effect. • In 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act, also called the Wiley Act, required accurate labels and outlawed a number of poisonous substances. It banned mislabeled or adulterated substances. It established penalties and set up the precursor to the Food and Drug Administration. It was the first in a series of consumer protection laws. The Poison Squad had done their work. .

By Healthy Exchanges

Holiday Bars

If ever there was a time of the year when plates of cookies are a “must,” it’s during the holiday season! 1 (8-ounce) can reduced-fat crescent rolls 1 (8-ounce) package fat-free cream cheese 1 egg or equivalent in egg substitute Sugar substitute to equal 1/3 cup sugar, suitable for baking 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 cup chopped walnuts 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips 1. Heat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9-by-9-inch cake pan with butter-flavored cooking spray. Unroll and pat half of the crescent rolls into prepared cake pan. 2. In a medium bowl, stir cream cheese with a spoon until soft. Add egg, sugar substitute and vanilla extract. Mix well to combine. Stir in walnuts. Pour mixture evenly into cake pan. Pat remaining crescent rolls flat, being sure to seal perforations and carefully arrange over top of filling. 3. Bake for 25 minutes. Evenly sprinkle chocolate chips over top and continue baking for 5 minutes. Place cake pan on a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Cut into 16 bars. Makes 8 (2 bars each) servings. * Each serving equals: 160 calories, 8g fat, 7g protein, 15g carb., 41lmg sodium, 0g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Meat, 1 Fat. (c) 2019 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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WE BUY

HOUSES We are investors that buy houses in North Idaho and the Spokane area. Some people run into challenges when trying to sell a home and there may be a number of reasons why you require a fast house sale. Whatever your reason for seeking a quick property sale, We Buy Northwest Housesis here to pro vide assistance. We are an investment company that can buy your house in a timescale to suit you, regardless of condition or location, meaning you can spend your time on other things. Meanwhile, if you are facing financial difficulties, you may find it useful to know that during the sales process there are no fees or hidden charges for you to pay at any stage. Our team is flexible, very easy to work with, and has a proven track record of making win- win deals together.

How We Help You

We can buy your property or help you stop foreclosure FAST, with absolutely NO COST to you! Do you need to sell your property fast? We buy any type of property in any condition: • Houses, Condos, Townhomes • Ugly, beautiful, brand new, we buy it all!

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• Agent unable to sell your property? • Need a short sale? • Purchased another property and still stuck with your old one? • Behind on payments (or about to be)? • Simply want out from underneath the payment? • Facing Foreclosure? • Divorce or separation? • Moving or relocating? • Bankruptcy? • Inherited a property and want to turn it into cash? • Too many landlord headaches? • No situation at all, just want to sell

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For your free, no cost, stop foreclo sure consultation, call or email us at HelpMeOut@WeBuyNorthwestHouses.com

TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #51 Dec. 16th 2019

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UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCHERS: ALZHEIMER’S PATIENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM FAMILIAR MUSIC Gift Ideas for Seniors

Most of us don’t need a single thing. We certainly don’t want more cute knickknacks to add to whatever clutter we already have on the shelves. Yet this is the time of year when others think they need to give us presents. Sometimes they’ll ask in advance what we’d like to have, and we can breathe a sigh of relief when they do. So, what do we say when they ask? Here are some thoughts: * Pay for our cable for a couple months. Or pay for our Netflix or newspaper for a whole year. Add a year to a subscription to our favorite magazine or maybe a new one for us to try out. Consider a subscription to a fruit of the month club, or one for coffee or tea. * Spend the afternoon with us sorting a box of photos and scan them for us. Or make us a special photo album of family and grandchildren. Create a 2020 calendar or load a digital photo frame with family photos. Give us a copy of “The Book of Me,” 2nd edition (Peter Pauper Press), an autobiographical journal we can fill out. * Some things aren’t fancy but can be very useful: a bathtub grab bar, a pill organizer, gift certificates to the places we go (such as movies and dinners out). Install some SnapPower Guidelights, which are wall outlets that double as nightlights -- very handy -- as well as a few of those closet lights. * Load up our freezer with homemade singlemeal dinners. Pay for a trip that the senior center will take, and if extra people are allowed, go with us. The best gifts for seniors are those things that give us pleasure but are hard for us to afford, and those things that make our lives easier. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

SALT LAKE CITY — MRI scans of patients who have Alzheimer’s disease show that playing songs with personal meaning to them activates parts of their brain that still have a semblance of memory retention, researchers at University of Utah Health say. “No one says playing music will be a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but it might make the symptoms more manageable, decrease the cost of care and improve a patient’s quality of life,” said Dr. Jeff Anderson, a professor of radiology and imaging sciences at the U., in a prepared statement. U. researchers recently carried out a study on the topic of music therapy for such patients, beginning by spending three weeks to help “participants select meaningful songs and trained the patient and caregiver on how to use a portable media player loaded with the self-selected collection of music,” explained Stacy Kish, science writer for University of Utah Health. Kish said in a release that researchers “scanned the patients to image the regions of the brain that lit up” each time they listened to one of eight 20-second clips from their music collection, comparing them to brain activity shown during eight different clips of the same music played backward and eight 20-second “blocks of silence.” “The researchers found that music activates the brain, causing whole regions to communicate. By listening to the personal soundtrack, the (brain’s) visual network, the salience network, the executive network and the cerebellar and cortico-cerebellar network pairs all showed significantly higher functional connectivity,” Kish wrote. Dr. Norman Foster, senior author of the study and director of the Center for Alzheimer’s Care at University of Utah Health, said the resultant findings are “objective evidence from brain imaging” showing that “personally meaningful music is an alternative route for communicating with patients who have Alzheimer’s disease.” “Language and visual memory pathways are damaged early as the disease progresses, but personalized music programs can activate the brain, especially for patients who are losing contact with their environment,” Foster said in a prepared statement. Of particular interest in music’s effect on an Alzheimer’s patient’s brain, Kish said, is how it interacts specifically with the region called the salience network, which she said “remains an island of remembrance that is spared from the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease.” Additionally, “activation of neighboring regions of the brain may also offer opportunities to delay the continued decline caused by the disease,” according to Kish. Prior studies have explored how a personalized music program affects patients’ moods, and the results have been encouraging, but generally “people don’t really know why,” Anderson, contributing author on the study, told the Deseret News. He said that is why it is helpful to explore specifically the ways activity increases in the brain as a result of the music. Dr. Jeff Anderson, a professor of radiology and imaging sciences at the University of Utah, preps an MRI scanner at the Imaging and Neurosciences Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. U. researchers found MRI scans of patients who have Alzheimer’s disease show that playing songs with personal meaning to them activates parts of their brain that still have a semblance of memory retention. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, KSL) Kish said the findings could have implications for how medical professionals “approach anxiety, depression and agitation in patients with dementia” — a broader term for conditions affecting a person’s memory. Anderson agreed, adding, “when you have somebody that’s really impaired, small gains can be really meaningful.” While the new study focused on examining Alzheimer’s patients specifically, Anderson said, he doesn’t “necessarily have a lot of reasons to believe that most other dementia syndromes … (would) not behave similarly” in response to music. “When you put headphones … and play familiar music, they come alive,” said Jace King, a graduate student researcher and first author of the study. “Music is like an anchor, grounding the patient back in reality.” The study has limitations, among them a small sample size of 17 patients and the fact that each of them were subjected to just one imaging session, Kish said. Anderson added that more research is needed to help answer the questions of “how long does the effect last” and “exactly what type of symptoms it is most helpful for.” The study, first published in The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease in April, was carried out with the help of researchers from Jewish Family Services of Utah, University of Colorado, and Massachusetts General Hospital. It was funded with financial support from A. Scott Anderson, Zions Banks president/CEO and philanthropist, as well as the American Otological Society. (By Ben Lockhart, KSL|Posted - Dec 29th, 2018 @ 12:05pm) Contact Linda Davis, 208-755-3637 for a tour when the time is right for your loved one and for your family.

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

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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #51 Dec. 16th 2019

Make and Give Beeswax Candles

Rolling sheets of beeswax into beautiful candles is a safe and easy way to make unique, attractive and appreciated holiday gifts with your children. The steps for making these candles are simple: Cut, press with fingers and roll! Even 4- and 5-year-olds will be thrilled when they touch the honeycomb texture and discover that they can make their own candle in a snap, once the beeswax is cut to size. The steps require no melting other than that provided by your warm breath! Here’s what you need to make four 4-inch-tall candles: -- One sheet of beeswax (available in natural shades and colors at candle and craft stores or online, typically in 8-inch-by-16-inch sheets) -- Ruler -- Scissors or a pizza cutter -- Candlewicks (available at craft stores) -- Ribbon, gift tags for gift-giving Here’s the fun: To make four 4-inch-tall candles, use scissors or a pizza cutter to cut the sheet of beeswax into four rectangles measuring 4 inches by 8 inches. (Assist young children.) Place one beeswax rectangle on the working table. Lay a 5-inch wick on the short edge of the beeswax with 1 inch hanging over one edge. Using the tips of your fingers, gently but firmly roll the beeswax forward over the wick.

Be sure it is tight. Here’s where you might add a little warm breath on the wax. It will soften so that the first roll is snug. Now, roll the wax over and over down to the end until it forms a candle. Done! Hold the candle upright, and push the end opposite the wick lightly down on the table to flatten the base. Trim wick. Make several candles for gift-giving. Simply tie them together with ribbon and tuck in a gift bag with a personalized tag. You may wish to save one or two for your own family, and light at your holiday dinner to make the occasion extra festive. Don’t forget to let your children blow them out when the meal is over; it’s one of those little things they will always remember. Extra decorative tip: Cut out small shapes from beeswax sheets in contrasting colors and press them onto the outside of the candles. NOTE: When burning candles, an adult should always be present to supervise. Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” (c) 2019 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

TIDBITS PUZZLE ANSWERS

Q: Why did the bacteria cross the microscope? A: To get to the other slide!

1. Do microbes have DNA? 2. How many species of microbes have been officially named?

Why did the paramecium cross the road? He was stuck to the chicken’s foot.

3. How quickly does E. coli reproduce? 4. Are microbes the same as bacteria? 5. What percent of the human biome is located in the gut? 1. How much of the weight of a termite is composed of bacteria that help it digest cellulose? 2. On average, how many microbes are swallowed with every bite of food?

“If you don’t like bacteria, you’re on the wrong planet.” -Stewart Brand

PERISHFFFU This type of expandable fish uses bacteria to manufacture its poison.

One study raised fruit flies on either an allstarch diet or an all-sugar diet. After two generations of this, the fruit flies preferred to mate with other fruit flies who had been raised on the identical diet. However, when the flies were fed antibiotics which killed their gut biome, they lost their mating preferences.

12/15

International Tea Day

12/16

Stupid Toy Day

12/17

National Maple Syrup Day

12/18

Migrants Day

12/19

National Necktie Month

12/20

Mudd Day

12/21

Humbug Day

PUFFERFISH

Don Johnson

12/15/1949

Margaret Mead

12/16/1901

Pope Francis

12/17/1936

Brad Pitt

12/18/1964

Jennifer Beals

12/19/1963

Uri Geller

12/20/1946

Jane Fonda

12/21/1937

The campaign “Don’t be a litter bug” launched in the 1950s was a play on words, since the jitterbug craze had recently been in full swing. The crying Indian featured in an anti-littering TV commercial in the 1970s was actually the son of Italian parents from Sicily.

1. Yes 2. About 9,000 3. Every 20 minutes. 4. All bacteria are microbes, but not all microbes are bacteria. 5. 99%

4th Quarter 2019 Week 51

1. About half. 2. 1 million.