KootenaiCounty, County,Idaho IdahoIssue Issue#8#46 Nov. 13th ofofKootenai February 25th2017 2019
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TIDBITS® MARVELS AT TWINS
by Janet Spencer The old proto-Germanic word “twin” means “two together” or “doubled” and also gives us the word “twine” and “entwined.” Come along with Tidbits as we marvel over twins! WOMB MATES • Identical twins result when a single fertilized egg splits in half, resulting in two babies that are the same in appearance. Fraternal twins result when two different eggs are fertilized, and the babies are different in appearance. • In 1980, one in every 53 babies born in the United States was a twin. By 2009, that number had risen to one out of every 30 births, which means that over three decades, the number of twins per 1,000 births rose by 76%. Researchers think this is due to the use of fertility drugs, in vitro fertilization, and other reproductive assistance. About one-third of women who undergo fertility treatments become pregnant with twins. • Although about one in every 30 pregnancies results in fraternal twins in the U.S., only about 1 in 285 pregnancies results in identical twins. • Nigeria has the highest percentage of twin births, averaging 1 in every 22 births. China has the lowest rate for multiple births averaging 1 in 300. (continued next page)
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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #7 February 18th 2019 TWINS (cont’d) • At nearly 4.5 for every 100 live births, Massachusetts has the highest rate of twin births, followed by Connecticut and New Jersey. Researchers theorize that the high rate of multiple births in this region is due to the fact that these areas have a higher concentration of wealthier women who have pursued careers, postponed childbearing until later, and subsequently sought reproductive assistance. The state with the lowest rate of twin births is New Mexico, with only 2.4 twins born out of every 100 births. New Mexico is followed by Arizona and Arkansas. • Research shows that conceiving twins is more common among older women (62% of twins are born to mothers over the age of 30), taller women, women who are overweight, and women who are breastfeeding at the time they get pregnant. • Twins are most commonly born to mothers between the age of 30 and 39, likely due to the fact that older women tend to release more than one egg per cycle. • According to a study published in “The Journal of Reproductive Medicine”, women who consume dairy products may increase their chances of conceiving twins. When researchers looked at the twin birth rates of vegans compared to non-vegans, they found that non-vegans were five times more likely to have twins. It may be due to the fact that the level of a certain protein called IGF (for “insulin-like growth factor”) is 13 times higher in women who consume dairy than in vegans. This protein increases the ovaries’ sensitivity to the follicle stimulating hormone which triggers ovulation. • Mothers of twins tend to live longer lives than moms of non-twins. (Continued)
CONTACT INFO FOR TIDBITS of Kootenai County
Evelyn Bevacqua Howe 212. W. Ironwood Dr., Suite D,# 224 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 Cell: 208.755.9120 Email: Tidbitscda@gmail.com www.tidbitscda.com Facebook tidbitscda
NOW HERE’S A TIP By JoAnn Derson * “I store my extra sheets under the bed they go with in a storage box. On the lid of the box, I write the date when the mattress needs to be flipped. This way I never forget how long it has been.” -- W.F in Arkansas * One way to de-pill a sweater is using a new scrubbie from kitchen. Just hold the sweater taut, and use the rough side of a kitchen sponge to lightly brush the fabric, letting it catch the pills and sweep them away. * “To get rid of brassy undertones in your hair, mix 10 drops of blue food coloring and 5 drops of red food coloring in 2.5 cups of vinegar, and apply as a rinse to hair. The purple cools the red tones, and banishes the brass. The vinegar smell does dissipate, and it leaves hair with a softened shine, too.” -- I.W. in Louisiana * Did you squeeze out too much eye cream? Use it on your cuticles.” -- A.S. in Florida * Here’s the secret to dealing with muddy shoe prints: Let them dry. Loosen dirt clumps and vacuum up as much as possible. Then come in with an appropriate carpet cleaner. Never add water to mud. * Set a standing appointment to check in with your budget and checkbook. If you don’t already have a budget set, now’s the time. Remember to factor in quarterly or yearly payments. You can divide them by the number of months they cover (say, six for car insurance) and pay that amount into your savings account each month. When the time comes to pay the bill, you’ll have the money ready. 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 #8 February 25th 2019
EVENT CALENDAR
February 26
Libery Lake Wine Cellars Book Club @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Liberty Lake Wine Cellars, 23110 E. Knox Ave. Liberty Lake, ID 99019 ill do what icade
March 1
11th Annual Guns N Hoses Charity Bike Ride March 1 @ 12:00 pm March 2 @ 12:00 am Peak Health and Wellness – Coeur d’Alene, 940 W Ironwood Dr Coeur D Alene, ID 83814 United States. The 11th Annual Guns & Hoses Charity Bike Ride to benefit the Kootenai County Police & Fire Memorial Foundation will be held at Peak Health and Wellness Center in Coeur d’Alene this year! Questions regarding the events call Evelyn at 208.755.9120 or email evelyn2318@gmail.com
TWINS (cont’d) • The word “gemini” is the Latin word for twins. The constellation Gemini was named for mythological twins, Pollux and Castor, whose mother was Leda. Leda was seduced by Zeus (who took the form of a swan) and later that evening also shared a bed with her husband, Tyndareus, king of Sparta. As a result, she gave birth to fraternal twins with different fathers. Although this is all according to mythology, it is actually possible for this to happen in real life, since sperm can survive for up to five days. As the son of a god, Pollux was immortal, but as the son of a human, Castor was mortal. According to the myth, when Castor was mortally wounded in a fight, Pollux donated half of his immortality to his twin brother so they could both continue living. • The small Brazilian village of São Pedro consists of about 350 citizens, most of whom are immigrants of German descent. Doctors were perplexed to find that the birth rate of twins in the village was far higher than normal, reaching 10% of births, whereas throughout the rest of Brazil, only 1% of births are twins. Studies revealed that the women in the village shared a single “hyperovulation” gene making it far more likely that they would conceive twins. The issue was compounded by inbreeding among them. • Elvis Presley had an identical twin brother, Jessie Garon Presley, who was stillborn 35 minutes before Elvis was born on January 8, 1935. Elvis’s mother Gladys had such a difficult time with the home birth that she was taken to the hospital. She never had any more children. • William Shakespeare had fraternal twin children, born in 1585. His son Hamnet died at the age of 11, but his daughter Judith lived to the age of 77. (continued next page)
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® of Idaho TIDBITS of Kootenai Issue #8 February 25th 2019 TidbitsCounty, Dallas County TWINS (cont’d) • Scarlett Johansson’s twin brother Hunter Johansson is nearly a foot taller than she is. • Kiefer Sutherland has a twin sister, Rachel, who lives in Toronto. • Ashton Kutcher’s fraternal twin brother, Michael, has cerebral palsy and is a spokesperson for the Reaching for the Stars Foundation. • Canadian songstress Alanis Morissette has a twin brother, Wade, who is 12 minutes older. • Jon Heder, who played the lead role in the film “Napoleon Dynamite” has an identical twin brother, Dan. • Jenna Bush and her fraternal twin sister Barbara Bush were 18 years old when their father, George W. Bush, was elected president of the United States. • Billy Leon McCrary and his identical twin brother Benny Loyd McCrary (born December 7, 1946) made their living as professional wrestlers. They worked under the stage name of The McGuire Twins which they adopted after finding that announcers had difficulty pronouncing the name “McCrary.” They are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Heaviest Twins. They had a normal weight until a childhood bout with measles affected their pituitary glands. As adults, Billy weighed 723 lbs (328 kg) and Benny weighed 745 lbs (338 kg). Billy died in 1979 following a motorcycle accident and Benny died in 2001 of heart failure. • The oldest male twins ever authenticated were Glen and Dale Moyer of Ohio, both of whom reached the age of 105. Born June 20, 1895, Dale was 20 minutes older than Glen. Glen Moyer passed away in April of 2001 at the age of 105 years. Dale died in 2004 at the age of 109.
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by Samantha Weaver * It was French-German physician, philosopher and humanitarian Albert Schweitzer who made the following sage observation: “In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” * You might be surprised to learn that famed lover and heartbreaker Casanova eventually became a librarian. * In parts of Illinois, it was once illegal to put a cake in a cookie jar. * If you’ve ever yelled out a warning in panic -- “Stop!,” “Run!,” “Don’t!” -- you’ve used a monepic sentence; that is, one that is complete with just a single word. Of course, at the time you probably weren’t concerned about the grammatical nature of your utterance. * If you’re like the hypothetical average person, your mouth will create 10,000 gallons of saliva over the course of your lifetime. * It’s been reported that the country’s first pizza parlor was in New York City -- naturally. It opened in 1885, but barely got by. In 1895, it was sold for a mere $200 -- small change even in those times. * The bearded vulture is the only known animal whose diet is made up almost exclusively of bone. * It’s a well-worn trope that men refuse to stop and ask for directions when they’re lost. That point of view might seem to be supported by the results of a survey conducted by the American Automobile Association, which found that just 34 percent of male drivers admit to stopping to ask for directions. However, the same survey found that only 37 percent of women did the same. Thought for the Day: “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” -- Jiddu Krishnamurti (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho #8 505-0674 February 25th 2019 For Advertising Call Issue (334)
COUCH THEATER -- DVD PREVIEWS By Amy Anderson
PHOTO: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga in “A Star Is Born” Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
“A Star Is Born” (R) -- A successful musician in a downward spiral collides with a disheartened but not defeated raw talent. The love is real, but is it enough? Jack (Bradley Cooper) meets Aly (Lady Gaga) at a dive bar where she waits tables and sometimes performs, and after some conversation, he coaxes her onto his own stage, the big stage, where her stardom is ignited. As Aly rises, Jack descends into his addictions and dysfunctions. The love story between these two -- and the emotional performance from both actors -- will touch your heart. If it never won any of the many awards for which it’s nominated, it would still stand as the timelessly crafted love story that it is. “Robin Hood” (PG-13) -- Robin of Loxley (Taron Egerton) returns disillusioned from the Crusades with an Arab named John (Jamie Foxx) who trains him to elude capture while stealing the wealth of the Sheriff of Nottingham (Ben Mendelsohn), who is funding both sides of the Crusades in a power grab. You’ll have to forgive me if I’m still mad about this one -- it had such great potential, but the arrow really missed the mark. It’s indecisive about its tone (is this the Robin Hood legend or some weird updated reimagining?) and the powerhouse cast is underused, ill-used or abusive (Foxx confuses volume for an exotic accent). “Overlord” (R) -- A team of paratroopers is sent in ahead of the D-Day invasion to take out a German radio tower that is located within a garrisoned church. With the help of local resident Chloe (Mathilde Ollivier) they discover that inside hides a Nazi lab, where the experiments are off the deep end. The soldiers, including fresh meat trooper Boyce (Jovan Adepo) and veteran leader Ford (Wyatt Russell), must fight for their lives against the hypernatural and decide which target to go after: the radio tower or the rabid science experiments. Director Julius Avery does a commendable job, seamlessly blending war story and outright horror -- it’s G.I. Joe meets B-movie bloodfest, with plenty of action for both genres scattered consistently throughout. “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” (R) -- Melissa McCarthy plays biographer Lee Israel in a biographical dramedy based on Israel’s own accounts. When her latest book flops, Israel begins to liquidate her personal possessions -- including a personal letter from Katharine Hepburn -- to make a buck. She finds out that personal effects with more revealing scripts drive up the price, and decides she’s not above zhuzhing up a letter or two (or many) from deceased personalities in order to get paid. Her escapades, escalating to include her dealer friend Jack (Richard E. Grant), and eventual unmasking are as entertaining and interesting as the tidbits Israel added to her wares.
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TIDBITS ofTidbits Kootenai® County, Idaho Issue #8 February 25th 2019 of Dallas County
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By Dr. Holly Carling
THE COMPUTER CALLED “LIVER”
The liver is one of the most incredible organs in our body. When you look at it, it just looks like a boring slab of meat. No special characteristics, but it has an astonishing array of functions. Then you look at a heart with its 4 chambers, different types of valves, arteries and veins, an intriguing array of chordae, muscles and the way it moves. Yet with all that, its functions are limited – to pump blood from the body to the heart, then back to the body again, in an endless cycle. The liver is much like a computer processor, and as such, when everything goes right, we are happy, when not, we are frustrated. With both, the adage “garbage in, garbage out” is very applicable. The liver processes just about anything that goes into the body. That means anything applied to the skin, placed in the mouth or injected by any means. The more we put into it, the more work it has to do to clear it out. Both liver and computer have to be taken care of, or one day we wake up to find our computer failed. Liver disease, like many other health issues today, continues to increase as the insults to our bodies increase. Keep in mind, that just as a computer rarely fails overnight, but rather slows down, doesn’t turn on properly, shows odd screens or in other ways shows us there is impending failure, so does our liver.
There is no true black and white – rarely is there 100% failure or 100% healthy. It lives in the grey area – sometimes closer to the white, other times closer to the black. Some people like to refer to the area of grey as “liver stress”. Symptoms of liver stress could include fatigue, low platelets, nausea, edema, digestive problems (such as constipation, bloating, reflux, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel and indigestion), loss of appetite, swollen spleen, gallbladder problems (such as stones, abnormal metabolism of fats, intolerance to fatty foods or alcohol), pain over the liver (right upper quadrant of the abdomen), jaundice (yellowing coloration of whites of eyes or skin), skin changes (itchiness, dry or dark patches, yellow hue), stool changes (black, green or pale), weight gain or inability to lose weight, cholesterol problems, mood changes (depression, anxiousness, anger, irritability, intolerance), blood sugar instability and hormonal imbalances. Quite the list. To liken this to the computer, one day you turn it on, and it’s sluggish, or turns on, then right back off again. Sound like anyone you know? Just as we clean up, defragment, our computer, the liver needs to be cleaned up as well. Overloading either the liver or our computer will eventually come back to haunt us. If your liver is stressed, it may be time to see a Health Detective to see what went wrong in the first place and fix it, so you’re back to a calm reliable hummmmmmmmm.
Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with over three decades of experience. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’ Alene clinic. Visit Dr. Carling’s website at www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about Dr. Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Dr. Carling can be reached at 208-765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.
TIDBITSFor of Kootenai County, Idaho #7 February 18th 2019 Advertising CallIssue (334) 505-0674
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® ofIdaho TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Issue County #8 February 25th 2019 Tidbits Dallas
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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Your efforts in behalf of a colleague do not go unnoticed, let alone unappreciated. Meanwhile, arrange to spend more time investigating that troubling fact you recently uncovered. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Devoting a lot of time to a current career move means having less time for those in your private life. But once you explain the circumstances, they should understand and be supportive. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Organizing your many duties in order of importance should help you get through them pretty quickly. Additional information puts that still-to-be-made decision in a new light. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Lingering bad feelings over a recent misunderstanding should fade as reconciliation efforts continue. Meanwhile, vacation plans might need to be revised because of new developments. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Love dominates the Lion’s heart this week, with Cupid shooting arrows at single Leos and Leonas looking for romance. Partnered pairs also enjoy strengthened relationships. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) “Getting to Know You” should be the single Virgo’s theme song as you and that special person discover more about one another. That workplace situation needs looking into. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You might be upset at having your objectivity questioned in the handling of a dispute. But it would be wise to re-examine your feelings to make sure you’re being fair with both sides. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A family dispute creates mixed feelings about how you hope it will be ultimately resolved. Best advice: Stay out of it and let the involved parties work it through by themselves. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Making an effort to smooth over even the smallest obstacles now will go a long way to assuring that things run smoothly once you’re set to move on with your plans. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A challenge to your authority can be upsetting, but your longtime supporters want you to defend your position so you can win over even your most adamant detractors. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Being unable to get involved in a friend’s problem calls for an honest approach. Provide explanations, not excuses. Another friend might be able to offer support for your decision. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You find yourself swimming in circles, looking for some way to get back on a straight course. But things get easier once you’re able to refocus your energies.
BORN THIS WEEK:
You’re known for your charm and your wisdom, and there’s no one who wouldn’t want you to be part of his or her life. (c) 2019 King Features Syndicate
ForofAdvertising TIDBITS Kootenai County,Call Idaho(334) Issue #8505-0674 February 25th 2019 DONNA’S DAY: CREATIVE FAMILY FUN By Donna Erickson
Photo caption: Eva Holmlund, 5, adds details to a sunshine greeting featuring her “sunray” handprints.
A Boost of Sunny Fun for a Wintry Day
The length of daylight is starting to feel a wee bit longer, kites are flying here and there, but cloudy and cold, stormy day weather forecasts are a reminder that spring isn’t quite in our grasp. Here are some sunshine-themed ideas to boost your mood during remaining wintry, and sometimes gloomy days. Breakfast Sunny-side Up On a large sheet of white paper, draw suns and happy faces all over the surface with a yellow marker or crayon. Use it for a place mat at breakfast. Fry eggs sunny-side up and serve in the middle of slices of toast. On a separate plate, enjoy the sunny taste of cut-out sections of a juicy grapefruit. Or, make tasty tropical smoothies in seconds with a combination of frozen mango and pineapple chunks, and fresh banana. Make a Sunshine Greeting Your preschooler’s handprints are the rays of the sun in this poster greeting to share with a grandparent, aunt or uncle. In the center of a large sheet of heavy white construction paper, glue a round, 6-inch diameter piece of yellow paper for the sun (a small salad plate makes a handy pattern). Squeeze some bright yellow acrylic paint on a paper plate and dilute with a few drops of water. Stir. Place your child’s hand (palm down) in the paint and guide the painted hand to the white paper. With the palm near the center circle and fingers and thumb going outward to represent the rays of the sun, press lightly to create a handprint. Continue making six more handprints equidistant from each other around the “sun.” Let dry. Add details for a face on the sun with a dark marker, if you wish. For a kind greeting, print “You Are My Sunshine!” or “I hope you have a Sunny Day!” on the bottom, along with your child’s name. Happy Flowers Use acrylic paints or paint pens to draw a sun on the outside of an empty, clear jar with the label removed. Let dry. Fill it with fresh, yellow daffodils, daisies or tulips from your market and tie a ribbon around the rim. Give it to your neighbors to make their day sunny, too. Follow the Sun At bedtime, check the weather online or in the newspaper to find out what time the sun will rise tomorrow. 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.
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ÂŽ of Idaho TIDBITS of Kootenai IssueCounty #8 February 25th 2019 TidbitsCounty, Dallas
Q&A with Susan Ashley, MD
Hot Flashes
As women approach 50, many metabolic changes begin to occur, including declining estrogen and progestererone levels. The average age of menopause, where periods completely stop for a year, is 50-55, with most occurring by age 52. When we lose our female hormones our whole metabolism changes, and weight gain is almost universal. The average weight gain is 20 lbs after menopause. Another familiar occurrence with menopause is hot flashes, and this is related to declining hormone levels. Not every woman has hot flashes, however, a lucky 25% never experience them. If you’ve never had a hot flash it can be difficult to understand why they are so terribly uncomfortable.
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A feeling of heat that overcomes the entire body or sometimes just the face, making a woman want to turn the fan on or throw herself into a snow bank. It usually recedes quickly, but can occur multiple times thruout the day and night, disrupting sleep. Multiple studies have shown that the more hot flashes you have, the higher your heart disease risk. Now a new study shows again that those who endure regular hot flashes between the ages of 40 and 53 might be more prone to insufficient vascular function. This was independent of other cardiac risk factors. This study was published in the journal Menopause. One of the reasons could be that more hot flashes indicates vascular inflammation, and inflammation leads to heart disease and stroke. Bio-identical hormones can be a safe option for relieving hot flashes. A recent study by the American Academy of Cardiology compared women on hormones vs women not on hormones, and found that women on hormones had a 30% reduction in heart disease and a 20 % reduction from dying from all causes. Other natural products for hot flashes are a number of herbs, such as: black cohash, dong quai, wild yam, dandelion root, licorice, motherwort, chasteberry, and ashwagandha. We use a product called MenoFem by Xymogen which has worked well for many patients.
Dr Ashley is board certified in Family Medicine and in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. She provides a mix of traditional with alternative medicine and specializes in bio-identical hormones for both men and women.
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1. MEDICAL: What is the condition that carries the official name “diaphoresis”? 2. MOVIES: Who played the president in the film “The American President” (1995)? 3. HISTORY: What was the nickname of the Haitian president Francois Duvalier, who died in 1971? 4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: How many future presidents of the United States signed the Declaration of Independence? 5. TELEVISION: Who was the nemesis of Detective Steve McGarrett in the original “Hawaii 5-O” TV drama? 6. SCIENCE: What is the name of the ocean current that warms the eastern seaboard of North America? 7. LITERATURE: What was the name of the bank in the “Harry Potter” book series? 8. ANATOMY: Where is the pinna in the human body? 9. U.S. STATES: Which state is nicknamed the “Cornhusker State”? 10. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the common commercial name of the drug called diazepam? Answers 1. Sweating 2. Michael Douglas 3. Papa Doc 4. Two: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams 5. Wo Fat 6. The Gulf Stream 7. Gringotts Wizarding Bank 8. The outer ear, which is made of cartilage 9. Nebraska 10. Valium
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® ofIdaho TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Issue County #8 February 25th 2019 Tidbits Dallas
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Remarkable People CHANG & ENG
• Chang and Eng were conjoined twins born in Siam (now called Thailand) in 1811. They were joined at the chest by a strip of skin and cartilage that measured about 5 inches long by 3 inches tall and 2 inches deep. Both Chang and Eng had otherwise normal bodies, but that strip kept them in a perpetual embrace for their entire lives. Early in their lives, they faced each other as if hugging, but as they grew, the bridge became more elastic, allowing each of them to face forward. • Their father died in an epidemic, and their mother kept them busy running a business raising and selling ducks. But all that changed when they were spotted by a Scottish boat captain, who paid their mother $500 for the privilege of bringing the boys to the U.S. in 1829. They were just 17 years old and spoke no English when they were put on display for the first time, touring the U.S., England and Europe. They astonished audiences with their physical feats of athleticism. • After three years on the road, by which time they had learned English, they got tired of being exploited by managers. At the time it typically cost 25 cents for a ticket to see them, or about $6 in today’s money. They raised about $1,000 per month ($26,000) in gate receipts, yet were paid only $10 per month ($260) in salary. The final straw was a month-long ocean voyage where their managers booked first class berths for themselves, but put Chang and Eng into steerage. • As young men, they struck out on their own. They amassed a sizable fortune and became extremely famous before retiring from the road. The term “Siamese twin” was coined to describe them, and remains in the common vernacular today, denoting conjoined twins who are connected together. (continued)
TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Call Idaho Issue #8 505-0674 February 25th 2019 For Advertising (334) CHANG & ENG (cont’d) • Chang and Eng bought property in North Carolina and built homes one mile apart, agreeing to a schedule where they spent three days at one house, and three days at the other. Whichever one owned the house where they were staying got to choose what to do. They adopted the American last name of Bunker after one of their friends. They raised crops, bought slaves, and became the first Asians to be declared naturalized American citizens. • In 1843 Chang and Eng married fraternal twin sisters in a double wedding. Their firstborn children were born just six days apart, and they went on to father 21 children. They began touring again to earn money to raise their families, and were even employed by P.T. Barnum for a while. The end of the Civil War brought them financial troubles, not only because their fortune was largely tied up in now-worthless Confederate currency, but also because their slaves were set free. So they took to the road once again. • Chang was a heavy drinker whereas Eng was not. In 1870, Change suffered a stroke which left him paralyzed on the side he shared with his brother. Eng nursed his brother back to health, though he was never again robust. In 1874 Chang contracted bronchitis, and died in his sleep. When Eng saw that his brother was dead, he cried out, “Then I am going too!” and died two hours later, likely due to blood loss because his heart was pumping blood into both bodies, and receiving none in return. • An autopsy showed that the brothers shared a single fused liver. Today, it would have been simple to separate them. Chang and Eng Bunker lived the longest lifespan (62 years) of any conjoined twins in history. Their wives outlived them. Even today, many of Chang and Eng Bunker’s descendants continue to live in the area.
Overweight Cat Needs Portion Control DEAR PAW’S CORNER: The veterinarian said my cat “Frederick” is 15 pounds overweight. He’s always been a big cat; is the vet right? -David J., via email DEAR DAVID: Vets are pretty good at figuring this stuff out, so yes, Frederick probably needs to lose the weight. Believe me, you’ll be doing a good thing for your cat -- not only extending his life, but improving the overall quality of his life. Obesity in pets has increased steadily over the past decade or so. In 2018, pet insurer Nationwide said nearly 20 percent of the claims filed were for obesity-related diseases in dogs and cats. Things like arthritis, diabetes, liver disease and heart failure. And those claims have risen 24 percent over the past eight years. The best way to help Frederick lose weight is to control his eating. You’ll need to know how many calories per day he should eat, based on his current weight. Indoor cats need about 20 calories per day for each pound that they weigh. So, if Frederick weighs, say, 25 pounds, he needs about 500 calories per day to stay the same weight. To LOSE weight, he needs to eat less -- about 50 calories less to start, so about 450 calories per day. (That way he won’t be absolutely starving.) Check the calories per serving on the back of the cat food you feed him and adjust the amount accordingly. You can find more tips on helping cats lose weight from All Feline Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska (www.allfelinehospital.com/gettingyour-cat-to-lose-weight). You’ll be giving Frederick the best gift he could receive: a healthier life. Send your questions or pet care tips to ask@ pawscorner.com. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
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® of Idaho TIDBITS of Kootenai County, IssueCounty #8 February 25th 2019 Tidbits Dallas
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SECOND CHANCE CLONE •Ralph and Sandra Fisher of LaGrange, Texas, run a business that revolves around tame animals, ranging from armadillos and buzzards to longhorn cattle, burros, ponies, and more. The animals appear at parties and barbeques, fundraising events, county fairs, parades, movies, and ads. But the star of their show was a Brahman bull named Chance. • Ralph purchased Chance at a livestock auction in 1984 when the bull was 7 years old. He was impressed because the bull was tame and affectionate. Chance soon became the star attraction of their show. He was so easy-going that he allowed even the smallest children to clamber atop his back for photos. Chance put in appearances at weddings, birthday parties, and corporate events. He was so trustworthy that he even appeared on TV talk shows including “Late Night with David Letterman.” He was photographed with innumerable celebrities, appeared in a Super Bowl half-time show, and even starred in a movie with Vince Vaughn. • When not on the road, Chance hung out in the Fisher’s front yard, looking for any opportunity to get a little affection. “He was like a big dog,” said Sandra of the oversize bull. Chance raised a lot of money for the Fishers, and they claimed he was “the most photographed bull in the world.” • In 1998, Ralph took Chance to the veterinary school at Texas A & M to have a mole removed. The school had been experimenting with cloning animals. Realizing that Chance was reaching the end of his lifespan, Ralph pestered the vets to try cloning the big friendly bull. They agreed. Many cloning experiments had been done by drawing DNA from young healthy animals, but they wanted to see if there were limits on cloning old animals. Chance was 19 years old, quite old for a bull.
TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #8 February 25th 2019
Fake Blood Pressure Readings, Again
A Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Virginia has been recording fake, incorrect blood pressure readings of veterans who came in for care. A 139/89 reading was routinely entered during blood pressure rechecks. Why that number? Because a higher number would have triggered follow-up care. Once again, it was the VA’s Office of the Inspector General that caught the pattern. Eight weeks later, the OIG discovered that nothing had been done to correct the problem. They stepped in again and wrote five recommendations for improved care, and more than 800 veterans have been notified to return for blood pressure screenings. It’s not the first time this has happened. Last fall it was a VA clinic in Kentucky, and the blood pressure reading was 128/78. In that case the OIG discovered that by entering that particular reading, it would turn off the automatic note to physicians about whether or not the patient needed lab work, referrals or medication. It was a ploy to save work on the part of the medical staff. The OIG discovered, by calling veterans, that often no blood pressure reading had even been taken. What made it worse was that the fake readings triggered staff performance bonuses. We need to step up and manage our health care. Take a pad and pen with you to appointments and take notes: your weight, any medications you’re to take, the results of any lab work ... and your blood pressure reading. Keep these notes in a file. Compare them to previous appointment notes. If you see a pattern -- in this case, if your blood pressure is the same from visit to visit -ask questions. Get a message to your doctor and let him know. High blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and more. Take care of yourself. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
SECOND CHANCE CLONE (cont’d) • A team of veterinarians took some of Chance’s skin cells to preserve them for future use. In the meantime, however, Chance died peacefully in his pasture at home. The Fishers were heartbroken at the loss of such a gentle friend, but hopeful that by cloning him, they could resurrect his spirit. • Vets injected Chance’s skin cells into donor eggs that had been stripped of DNA. It took 189 tries before a viable embryo began to grow. It was implanted into a surrogate mother, and in 1999, Chance’s clone was born, and named Second Chance. The entire operation was funded by the Texas Coordinating Board of Higher Education’s Advanced Research Program. • The Fishers were delighted to bring the young Brahman bull home with them when he was weaned. Things went well at first. But then came a fateful day. When Second Chance turned 4, Ralph was leading him back to the barn, when the bull suddenly became belligerent and difficult, knocking Ralph to the ground and stomping him. Ralph was rushed to the hospital. It took six weeks for his broken arm and dislocated shoulder to heal. • Still, he held out hope. “Chance was seven years old when I adopted him, and Second Chance was only four, so I wanted to give Second Chance a second chance.” But just 18 months later, Second Chance gored Ralph so badly in the leg that he required 80 stitches. Second Chance was turned out to pasture, and died a year later, at the age of 8, of an ailment unrelated to cloning. • Ralph continues to make appearances with his large menagerie of animals, but has never again found an animal with the personality or temperament of Chance, the Ferdinand of bulls. “You can clone an animal, but you can’t clone a personality.”
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FIND YOUR ROOTS AND
family tree. Family research, family trees, pedigree charts, living relative look-ups, family history books and posters. Digital documentation included. Samples available upon request. 20% off any research service. John Donovan, Genealogist MBA, 509-251-0921, Post Falls,
johndonovan1@aol.com DonovantheGenealogist.com
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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #18 April 30th 2018
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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #18 April 30th 2018
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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #8 February 25th 2019
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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #8 February 25th 2019
KOREAN WAR…PURE GOLD
By Matilda Charles
Finding the Right Nursing Home
When it’s time to find a nursing home for an elderly parent or your spouse, the decision can be the hardest part of the process. But it’s not the only tough part. Gathering information can make the task even more difficult. One source is Medicare’s nursing home comparisons (www.medicare.gov, then put nursing homes in the search box). Enter your ZIP code and you’ll get an list of places within 25 miles. They’ll each be rated with stars for health inspections, fire safety, staffing, quality of resident care and penalties. Make special note of this last category; it can reveal a lot. Penalties can include the past three years of fines and denial of payments if the nursing home failed to correct a citation for health or fire safety. In a serious situation, a manager or state monitor might be called in to oversee the facility. Staffing is another big issue, especially if the nursing home doesn’t have enough employees. Medicare keeps track of how many registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing aides and physical therapists are on staff, and how many hours per day are devoted to working with patients. RNs, for example, are in charge of the patient’s overall care plan and supervise the other staff. Even having the right number of nursing aides per patient is critical to ensure that bathing, grooming, eating and more are managed for each patient. What might be most crucial, however, is how you feel when you first walk through the door. Do you hear any staff members speaking in a rude tone to any of the patients? Would you be able to visit all day? Is it noisy? Use the free online Medicare booklet about choosing a nursing home to understand your rights, learn who pays for what and how to get help, or call them at 1-800-633-4227.
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(By Barbara Powell, Resident, The Lodge Assisted Living) There are many war stories. There are stories about great battles, great bravery and great sacrifice. A large part of the time our heroes don’t want to talk about their encounters with the enemy. They don’t want to recall or relive the horror of war. By 2018 a large number of the Korean War Veterans have died and their stories are dying with them. This was the year that I entered an assisted living facility. I noticed that one of the men living there kept very busy. He watered and maintained our vegetable and flower gardens. This man was a very thin and fragile looking person. His name was Warren. During the Korean War, Warren was a paratrooper. He was assigned to the 101 Airborne Screaming Eagles. As we became friends, Warren began to share his story. He had the most fascinating and the scariest job of any one that I have ever known. Some of Warren’s missions were to parachute behind enemy lines into North Korea. The purpose of this action was to rescue our American soldiers from the prisoner of war camps. He was trained to do just this. All total, Warren completed three of these missions. These rescues were a joint effort. Other paratroopers went before the 101 st . They drew the maps and gathered all the information that they could. The U.S. also found that a number of vehicles were stored at these POW camps. Through the barb wire fence the POW’s were told, “Get ready. We’re coming to get you.” Our armed forces knew that the North Koreans had another battle emerging at another site in a nearby country. Their attention was not on our POWs. With perfect timing, Warren’s platoon of 150 men jumped into North Korea. What a site. Paratroopers falling from the sky, jumping into the dark. Our POWs were ready and waiting. Their captors were surprised and over-powered. The POWs then jumped into their enemy’s trucks and drove the prisoners out of the camps. It was a race to safety. All of these near miraculous events came together perfectly. Warren said that he was very afraid when they made the first jump. The second jump made him a little afraid. When making the third jump, he was not at all afraid. All three jumps were successful. Our POWs were rescued. If we are listening, we will discover that God reveals himself to us a little at a time. One of the things that God revealed to me was that He is not impressed by religious people. He is impressed by the love that we have for others and that, “No greater love does one have but that he lay down his life for his friends.” I read a story about a woman who was killed. She was surprised when she found herself in heaven because she was not particularly religious. Jesus revealed to her that everything she had done in her life had benefitted or helped someone else. Recently the 6 th grade class from a Catholic school around the corner from our assisted living facility asked to visit with us and to share our lives with them. I asked Warren if he would tell his story. Warren said that he could not because of reliving the trauma of war. I respect his wishes. At the same time, these kids as well as most of the people in our country will never know the sacrifices and suffering that was gone through so that we might live in a free country. At the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C., is a wall. On the wall is a message which reads, “Freedom is not free.” Most acts of bravery or kindness are not seen. Heroes to not draw a crowd. They simply act out of what is needed. Even the ones who do them do not always realize the magnitude of what they did. God’s word says, “What we do for the least of His, we do it for Him.” Some bought our freedom with traumatic hurts to emotions or minds. Some bought it with their injured bodies. Some bought it with them lives. Jesus takes all of this very personal. Again……… He said…….. What we do to the least of His, we do for Him. Open our eyes, Lord. Help us to see Jesus. 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 #8 February 25th 2019
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MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel * On March 6, 1475, Michelangelo Buonarroti, the greatest of the Italian Renaissance artists, is born in Caprese. His most important early work was the Pieta (1498), a traditional type of devo* Corral kids' books in a traveling library by re- tional sculpture that showed the body of Christ in purposing an old wagon. All you need to do is the lap of the Virgin Mary. store the books spine side up for easy selection. This also makes it a snap to move it to just the * On March 5, 1815, Franz Anton Mesmer, a right place to encourage reading, whether it's the German physician who pioneered the medical garden path or a blanket fort. If you don't have field of hypnotic therapy, dies in obscurity in a wagon to repurpose, installing some caster Meersburg, Swabia (now Germany). His process wheels on the bottom of a crate works, too. of mesmerism, as it came to be known, produced hypnotic states that had an extraordinary influ* Replace mascara frequently. But if you need ence on his patients' physical illnesses. to freshen a tube of dry mascara, just add a few drops of contact solution to the brush and bottle. * On March 4, 1888, Knute Rockne is born in Voss, Norway. He would go on to become one * "Use mismatched socks as wiper blade cov- of the most successful coaches in the history of ers when you are expecting inclement weather. college football, coaching Notre Dame during It will keep your wipers from freezing to your their golden era in the 1920s. Rockne won three windshield, and if they get all yucky, you can just national championships with the Fighting Irish. pitch them." -- N.G. in Ohio * On March 10, 1945, 300 American bombers * Make doctor's appointments on or near a major continue to drop almost 2,000 tons of incendiarholiday every year. That way you don't end up ies on Tokyo for a second day. The attack deforgetting when your last annual exam or dental stroyed large portions of the Japanese capital and cleaning was. killed 100,000 civilians. NOW HERE'S A TIP By JoAnn Derson
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* If you seriously need to remove a color polish from your nails, but ran out of remover, try this trick: Paint the nail generously with clear polish, then use a dry cotton ball to swipe it off. Repeat as needed. * "This tip is for gardeners who live in areas that don't often freeze. I'm safe most of the year, but when temperatures do dip, I cover my vulnerable plants. In addition to the freeze cloth, I also add a string of twinkle lights, which can add a surprisingly margin of heat. And they look pretty as well." -- M.M. in Georgia
* On March 8, 1950, Volkswagen, maker of the Beetle automobile, expands its product offerings to include a microbus. The bus was a favorite mode of transportation for hippies in the U.S. during the 1960s and became an icon of the American counterculture movement. * On March 7, 1972, in the biggest air battle in Southeast Asia in three years, U.S. jets battle five North Vietnamese MiGs and shoot one down 170 miles north of the Demilitarized Zone.
* On March 9, 1985, the first-ever Adopt-aHighway sign is erected in Texas. Highway 69 Send your tips to Now Here's a Tip, 628 Virginia was adopted by the Tyler Civitan Club, which Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. committed to picking up trash along a 2-mile (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc. stretch of the road. The program eventually spread across the U.S. (c) 2019 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #8 February 25th 2019
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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #8 February 25th 2019
www.tidbitscda.com
TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #8 February 25th 2019
1. Who wrote and released the No. 1 hit “Fallin’ in Love”? 2. Who originally released “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely”? 3. Which Beatle wrote and recorded “Teardrops”? 4. Who released the rock song “Pretending” in 1989? 5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “Jeremiah was a bullfrog.” Answers 1. Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, in 1975. In 2010 rapper Drake was sued for copyright infringement for sampling the song without permission in his “Best I Ever Had.” Apparently, Drake has been sued a number of times for borrowing lyrics or, in one case, an artist’s voice. 2. Ronnie Dyson, in 1973. His recording peaked at No. 60. The Main Ingredient followed with a cover version in 1974 that charted in the top 10. 3. George Harrison in 1981 on his “Somewhere in England” album. The record company initially rejected the album, insisting that four songs be rewritten due to lack of commercial potential. 4. Eric Clapton. 5. “Joy to the World,” by Three Dog Night in 1971. Composer Hoyt Axton had his melody first and needed lyrics, any lyrics, to let his producer hear the music. He sang the first line as “Jeremiah was a prophet.” That was ditched because no one liked it. With “bullfrog,” the song went to No. 1. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
1. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (PG) animated 2. What Men Want (R) Taraji P. Henson, Kristen Ledlow 3. Cold Pursuit (R) Liam Neeson, Laura Dern 4. The Upside (PG-13) Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston 5. Glass (PG-13) James McAvoy, Bruce Willis 6. The Prodigy (R) Taylor Schilling, Brittany Allen 7. Green Book (PG-13) Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali 8. Aquaman (PG-13) Jason Momoa, Amber Heard 9. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG) animated 10. Miss Bala (PG-13) Gina Rodriguez, Thomas Dekker (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
SPORTS QUIZ
By Chris Richcreek 1. Which major-league team was the first to win championships in three different divisions? 2. In 1955, a rookie pitcher led each league in strikeouts for the season. Name either pitcher. 3. Name the last non-SEC team before Troy in 2017 to beat the Tigers in LSU’s Tiger Stadium. 4. In 2018, Philadelphia’s Markelle Fultz became the youngest player (19 years, 317 days) in NBA history to record a triple-double. Who had been the youngest? 5. Who was the first player in NHL history to have at least 50 assists in 10 consecutive seasons? 6. What was the last NASCAR race won by Dale Earnhardt? 7. How many times has tennis great Roger Federer finished a season in the top three of the ATP rankings?
Answers 1. Houston won division titles in the N.L. West, N.L. Central and A.L. West. 2. Cleveland’s Herb Score (245 strikeouts) and Sam Jones of the Chicago Cubs (198). 3. UAB, in 2000. 4. Lonzo Ball (20 years, 15 days) of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017. 5. St. Louis’ Bernie Federko (1978-79 through 1987-88 seasons). 6. He won the Winston 500 at Talladega in 2000. 7. Fourteen. (c) 2019 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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Top 10 Video On Demand 1. Hunter Killer (R) Gerard Butler 2. The Wife (R) Glenn Close 3. First Man (PG-13) Ryan Gosling 4. Boy Erased (R) Lucas Hedges 5. The Hate U Give (PG-13) Amandla Stenberg 6. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (PG) Mackenzie Foy 7. Night School (PG-13) Kevin Hart 8. The Old Man and the Gun (PG-13) Robert Redford 9. Halloween (R) Jamie Lee Curtis 10. Crazy Rich Asians (PG-13) Constance Wu Top 10 DVD, Blu-ray Sales 1. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (PG) Disney 2. Hunter Killer (R) Lionsgate 3. Halloween (R) Universal 4. First Man (PG-13) Universal 5. Reign of Superman (PG-13) Warner Bros. 6. Venom (PG-13) Sony 7. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (PG) Sony 8. The Hate U Give (PG-13) FOX 9. Indivisible (PG-13) Universal 10. Doctor Who: The Complete Eleventh Series (TV-PG) BBC Home Video Source: comScore (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
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TIDBITS of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #8 February 25th 2019
www.tidbitscda.com