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Mountain passes around the world can be high, steep, rocky and just plain challenging to traverse. But they’re worth exploring, so join Tidbits as we look into, over, through and around some famous mountain passes. • So what is a mountain pass? It is the most easily accessible point between mountains where you can “pass” through. The pass is considered the highest point or summit at which you traverse the area. Passes have always been very important finds for pioneers moving across the country, as well as road and rail builders. The definition of a mountain pass is actually: “The location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks.” • Other terms used in North America for a pass are saddle, notch and gap. Pass and saddle are most commonly used in the West, while the East Coast tends to use the terms notch and gap. • Semo La, a pass in central Tibet, at 18,258 feet (5,565 m), is considered to be the highest pass accessible by vehicles. It is a high, isolated place in the Chang Tang region of Tibet. Also in Tibet is the highest mountain pass accessible by train. The Tanggula Pass in the mountains of the same name has a rail station at 16,640 feet (5,072 m). By the way, “La” in Tibetan means pass. turn the page for more!
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Q: It was so cold on top of the pass that the clouds froze. What did the mountaineers do? A: They got out ice axes and crampons and went cloud climbing!
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Tidbits® of Michigan MOUNTAIN PASSES (continued):
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in 1975, made the pass of the same name in southern Colorado somewhat famous. The country song describes a wild ride in an 18-wheel truck carrying a load of chickens. From the top of the pass at 10,857 feet (3,309 m) to the town of Pagosa Springs, there is a 5,000-foot (1,524-m) drop in elevation. The driver is going much too fast down the pass, and as the singer explains, “I’m not the type to complain, but the time has come for me to explain, that if you don’t apply some brake real soon, they’re gonna have to pick us up with a stick an’ a spoon.” • When the song was written, Wolf Creek Pass was an intimidating two-lane road. A tunnel was completed in 2005, and an expansion to a multilane, widened highway was finished in 2006 to make the road a bit easier to navigate. • Another Colorado road worth mentioning is Train Ridge, U.S. 34, which goes through Rocky Mountain National Park. The highest continuous auto road in the country, the road is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It meanders for 48 miles (77 km) through glacier-carved valleys with views of majestic peaks and crystalline lakes and crosses the Continental Divide. While it doesn’t have sheer cliffs to scare drivers and passengers, it definitely has memorable scenery. • South of the equator in South America, there are 42 mountain passes between Chile and Argentina, whose border runs from north to south through the Andes Mountains. It is the third longest international border, 3,300 miles (5,300 km) long. An interesting statue at what was once a main route between the two countries is the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). At the top of the pass, at 13,780 feet (4,200 m) above sea level, the statue stands tall at 26 ft. (8 m) and weighs 12,000 pounds (5.4 metric tons). • The Cristo Redentor was taken by train to Uspallata, Argentina, and then the rest of the way by mule in 1904. It commemorated the peaceful conclusion to a territorial dispute between the two countries. Today, the dirt road is only accessed by tour busses and adventure seekers, with the main route between the countries being the Cristo Redentor tunnel that opened in 1980. This Cristo Redentor is not as well known as the famous statue of the same name on top of the mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. • Whether you are exploring the mountains of North America, South America, Asia or elsewhere, you are sure to find some terrific mountain passes and outstanding views. Just don’t forget your camera! ■ ATTENTION:
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• At 7,239 feet (2,206 m), the highest pass with a paved road in Canada is Highwood Pass in Kananaskis Country, a multi-use park area in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, west of Calgary. You can’t get there during the winter as the road is closed from mid-December to mid-June due to heavy snowfall. It is a spectacular drive and a great place to take photographs during the summer. • The Beartooth Pass on U.S. Highway 212, also known as the Beartooth Highway, is the highest point on the 68-mile (109-km) road that begins at the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park near Silver Gate, Montana. The road goes in a northeastern direction mostly through Wyoming, ending in Red Lodge, Montana. The highway was built in the 1930s and is still considered a great engineering feat. It hugs mountains along curvy switchbacks up, across and back down through the alpine plateau. The pass is 10,947 feet (3,337 m) above sea level, and the road is one of the highest elevation roads in the United States. The highway was named for a distinct peak that looks like a bear tooth. • Known as one of the most scenic drives in North America, the Beartooth Highway is designated as a “National Scenic Byways AllAmerican Road.” The high elevation of the road and the high snowfall amounts in the region make it accessible only in the warmer months; it is usually open from May through October. This highway is considered an “orphan” road because no federal or state agency claims actual ownership. • South of Yellowstone in the Teton Range of the Rockies, Teton Pass Road runs between Jackson, Wyoming, and Teton Valley, Idaho. The highway has a steep 10 percent grade with lots of twists and turns and can be a real test of driving skills in the winter. It tops out at 8,431 feet (2,591 m), and the Wyoming Department of Transportation uses blasting to control avalanches and keep the road open most winter days. • Colorado, with its many “fourteeners” (peaks that are more than 14,000 feet (4,267 m) above sea level), has many amazing mountain passes. Independence Pass that connects Twin Lakes and Aspen during the summer (closed in winter) has expansive views where three of the five tallest mountains in the state can be seen: La Plata Peak, Mount Massive and the tallest peak in the Rocky Mountains, Mount Elbert. The summit for the pass is 12,095 feet (3,687 m). • The song “Wolf Creek Pass,” written by Bill Fries and Chip Davis and sung by C.W. McCall
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Resolve to Eat These 14 Foods in New Year With the start of a new year, many of us resolve to improve our eating habits by trying to include more nutritious foods in our diets -- but which foods? Food Technology magazine lists 14 foods that deliver research-documented benefits to health. WHOLE GRAINS 1. Barley: 11 clinical trials spanning almost 20 years found that increased consumption of barley products can lower total and LDL cholesterol. 2. Quinoa and Buckwheat: Research suggests that seeds and sprouts from both quinoa and buckwheat represent rich sources of polyphenol compounds, which enhance the nutritional value of foods, such as gluten-free breads. 3. Brown Rice: Substituting brown rice for white rice may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. 4. Rye: Rye can improve glycemic profiles and rye bread can be used to decrease hunger both before and after lunch when consumed at breakfast. NUTS 5. Almonds: A 2007 study showed that 300
calories of almonds (enough to produce beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors) per day can be included in the diet with limited risk of weight gain. The study found that the fiber in the almonds blocked some of the fat calories from being absorbed. 6. Hazelnuts: Research shows that it is best to consume hazelnuts whole because many of its antioxidants are located in the hazelnut skin. 7. Pecans: A recent 2010 study suggested that the vitamin E in pecans may provide neurological protection by delaying progression of motor neuron degeneration. 8. Pistachios: Pistachios are suggested to have anti-inflammatory properties, according to a recent study. 9. Walnuts: A walnut-enriched diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with type 2 diabetes. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 10. Black Raspberries: A 2010 study found black raspberries were highly effective in preventing intestinal tumor development in mice. 11. Blueberries: Whole blueberry smoothies consumed daily improved insulin-sensitivity in obese, non-diabetic and insulin resistant patients in a six-week study. 12. Broccoli and Cauliflower: A high intake of these vegetables may be associated with reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer. 13. Pomegranates: A preliminary study suggests pomegranate juice can help prevent a number of complications in kidney disease patients on dialysis. 14. Tomatoes: A six-week study found that people with high-blood pressure who consumed two servings of canned tomato products daily experienced a significant decrease in blood pressure. ■ (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
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HomeBits Home Maintenance in the New Year by Samantha Mazzotta Ready for the new year? Me neither. It’s too soon after what’s been a really long and frenetic holiday season, starting with a pre-Halloween snowstorm that had me and my neighbors juggling snow shovels and carved pumpkins, and then moving straight into Thanksgiving and Christmas almost too fast to blink. I’m looking forward
to catching my breath this week, however, and putting together my home maintenance plans for next year. January will be pretty quiet, except for the monthly furnace filter change and making sure ice dams and snow aren’t building up on the roof and gutters. Melting or removing them quickly will prevent much more expensive repairs. February is more of the same, but I’m also laying out what I’ll be planting in the deck garden this year. If there’s no snow on the ground, I’ll be scattering grass seed over bare or thin patches in the lawn and protecting it from the birds with a light layer of straw. In March I’ll be inspecting the exterior and yard for damage from
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Keep a home maintenance calendar in your workshop with important projects highlighted so that you can plan home for them well in tip advance. April is still iffy for some garden plants, but once there’s no danger of a hard frost, soil can be turned
over and, in the meantime, the lawn can be treated and prepared for the growing season. It’s also time to start repairing any exterior damage to the roof, eaves, gutters and downspouts, as well as remove and repair storm windows and put up screens in their place. That’s the first four months of the year: gradually getting busier, hopefully with no major storms or unplanned home repairs like busted furnaces or hot water heaters. May will bring much warmer temperatures and more maintenance work, but that’s a thought for another quiet day. Send your questions or tips to ask@ thisisahammer.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
Page 4
Tidbits® of Michigan Making the Most of That Champagne Toast of Michigan
A long-standing disagreement about the best way to pour a glass of champagne for that New Year’s toast finally has been settled. Scientists in France are reporting that pouring bubbly in an angled, downthe-side way is best for preserving champagne’s taste and fizz. The study, which appears in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, also reports the first scientific evidence confirming the importance of chilling champagne before serving to enhance its taste. Gerard Liger-Belair and colleagues note that tiny bubbles are the essence of fine champagnes and sparkling wines. Past studies indicate that the bubbles -- formed during the release of large amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide gas -- help transfer the taste, aroma and mouth-feel of champagne. Scientists long have suspected that the act of pouring a glass of bubbly could have a big impact on gas levels in champagne and its quality. Until now, however, no scientific study had been done. The scientists studied carbon dioxide loss in champagne using two different pouring methods. One involved pouring champagne straight down the middle of a glass. The other involved pouring champagne down the side of an angled glass. They found that pouring champagne down the side preserved up to twice as much carbon dioxide in champagne than pouring down the middle -- probably because the angled method was gentler. They also showed that cooler champagne temperatures (ideally, 39 degrees Fahrenheit) help reduce carbon dioxide loss. ■
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If 2012 has a theme, it might well be the Year of Increased Internet Fraud. The problems don’t occur as much with what we block out with our virus protection as they do with the parts we do let in: email we open and websites we visit. One source pegs the increase in “phishing” (getting your information) at 1,200 percent in just the past six months. It’s only going to get worse. During the recent holidays, right in the middle of online shopping season, customers received fake messages supposedly from a major online store. The email looked genuine: the content looked right, the subject line was one that many people would open -- but the sender’s address was forged, and it asked for personal information. That’s the key right there: When an email or a site wants your data, beware. The collection form might be a duplicate of the info-gathering method of the legitimate site and
MoneyBits Internet Fraud Soars, Are You Prepared by David Uffington look very authentic. What do they want? They want your personal information any way they can get it. It might be a direct steal when you help by typing in your name and information. It might be that you’re tricked into downloading a keystroke logger program that will capture everything you type in. Here are some initial steps you can take to protect yourself: 1. Err on the side of caution. Be skeptical. Don’t click any links, even out of curiosity. (Even clicking might start a download of spyware.) Don’t provide any personal information that’s asked for. If in doubt, close the
email, close your email client completely, delete your browsing history and close all your browser windows. Then navigate to that company’s website in your normal way by typing in the URL. Be sure your browser’s phishing filter is turned on. 2. Better yet, pick up the phone. Call the company and tell them about the email you’ve received. (They’ll want to know.) Ask if the mail was legitimate and if something is wrong with your account. To learn more about online fraud, go online to Fraud Watch International www.fraudwatchinternational.com. Explore the tabs for Fraud Education and Consumer, but especially the Phishing Alerts. Click one event in the very long list, especially if you recognize the company, and explore how the fraud was accomplished. There are graphics and text to describe each step.
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Dear Dr. Donohue: My husband is 73. I am sure he’s going to die this winter. He insists on shoveling our snow, and we have lots of it. He says it’s good for him; it gives him exercise. This from a man whose other exercise consists of popping open a beer can. He comes in after he’s cleared the walk, puffing and exhausted. Please talk some sense into him. -- M.L. Answer: After every snowstorm, city emergency rooms fill with older men who have had a heart attack after cleaning their snow-covered walks. Snow shoveling is strenuous exercise. It burns 420 calories an hour. The heart rate of a shoveler rises to 170 beats a minute, and the systolic blood pressure (the first number of a reading) exceeds 200. Of course, the demand depends on the depth and weight of the snow. Older hearts cannot support such stress. In addition to the work of shoveling, cold weather adds more demands on the heart. Unless a man your husband’s age has had medical clearance for such exhausting exercise, he is tempting fate. Dear Dr. Donohue: A friend has a case of constant hiccups. Can you suggest any possible cures? -- P.W. Answer: Hiccups come from involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, the horizontal muscle sheet that lies between the chest and the abdomen. It is the principal breathing muscle. Sometimes persistent contractions can be traced to gallbladder problems, diseases of the pancreas, reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus (heartburn) or an abscess on the abdominal side of the diaphragm. However, most of the time, no cause is found. For temporary hiccups, gulping food and simultaneously swallowing air sometimes brings them on. So can carbonated beverages.
Through the years readers have provided me with hundreds of home remedies for dealing with hiccups, and I welcome new additions. Swallowing a teaspoon of sugar irritates the throat, which sets in motion a reflex that can end hiccups. Breathing into a paper bag raises the blood carbon-dioxide level, which, in turn, raises blood acidity, and that triggers a release of calcium. Calcium can spark nerve signals to stop hiccups. Putting angostura bitters on the back of the tongue is another sometimes-successful trick. Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours aren’t likely to respond to home remedies. Medicines have to be turned to. Chlorpromazine, omeprazole, metoclopramide and baclofen are often successfully used. In cases that are resistant to medicine treatment and that are disrupting a person’s life, doctors can interrupt, in a number of ways, the transmission of nerve signals conducted to the diaphragm by the phrenic nerve. Dear Dr. Donohue: I am 34 and have been jogging for 10 years. I do it year-round. I’ve noticed this winter that my knees feel stiff before I run. They don’t hurt during the run or after. Could this be a sign that I’m getting arthritis? -- B.C. Answer: It’s not likely that at age 34 you’re coming down with arthritis. It’s more likely a weather thing. Cold weather thickens joint fluid. That makes joints stiff. Warming the fluid by exercise relieves the stiffness. Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2011 North America Synd., Inc., All Rights Reserved
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SeniorBits by Matilda Charles
The “Free” Lunch Could Cost Plenty Those free-lunch seminar scams are still going on. That’s because it’s lucrative for scammers. They want to separate you from your money, and too often they succeed. The American Association of Retired Persons has released a study on victims of scam seminars and other financial risks to seniors.
The study showed that people who are more likely than the general population to fall for investment scams have the following behaviors: They will listen to sales pitches on the phone, attend promotions where a free night’s stay or a meal is given, provide personal information to salespeople, allow people to come into their home for a sales pitch, read junk mail, not hang up on telemarketers, and call 1-800 numbers to send for free information. In other words, they’re opening themselves up to being scammed. Even if one of these financial seminars is hosted by your local senior center or another trusted local organization, do your homework in advance. Call the center to ask who checked it out, and how. Go online and do a search for the company’s name.
What are their true qualifications? Are they local? See if there are any complaints at the Better Business Bureau. And if you go to a free lunch seminar (don’t go, but if you do): Don’t fill out any forms that give your personal information. Even giving your telephone number could be a step toward being harassed. They’ll want to visit you at your home, where you’re more vulnerable and have all your financial information handy so they can determine how much you’re worth and decide how to fine tune their approach. And leave your checkbook at home. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Tidbits® of Michigan
Chicken breast meat is a healthy but rather bland source of protein. Pairing lean chicken with apples and spinach in this flavorful lemon balsamic sauce showcases each ingredient and provides you with a lean protein, fruit and a vegetable in one dish. • 4 chicken breast halves with the skin but no bone (about 1 1/4 pounds) • 1 1/2 tablespoons poultry seasoning • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • Cooking-oil spray • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice • 1 teaspoon lemon zest • 2 cloves garlic, minced
stock.xchg photo
1. Season chicken on both sides with 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning, salt and pepper. 2. Spray a large skillet with the cooking-oil spray and heat on high until hot; reduce heat to medium-high and add the chicken breasts, skin side down. Saute for 6 minutes or until the skin is nicely browned. Transfer with tongs or a slotted spoon to a plate and cover loosely with
aluminum foil. 3. Turn the heat to high. Mix the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of poultry seasoning, vinegar, lemon juice and zest, garlic, broth and syrup in skillet until well-blended. Bring sauce to a boil. 4. Turn heat to low and add butter, stirring until it melts. Add apples and half the bag of spinach and stir. Simmer for 6 minutes and add remaining spinach. Simmer another 3 minutes, until the apples soften and the sauce reduces slightly. 5. Add chicken, skin side up, to the pan, along with any juices from the chicken plate. Cook 12 to 14 minutes over medium heat, or until chicken is just cooked through. Transfer chicken to each of 4 plates and top each serving with some of the sauce. Serve with wholewheat pasta, couscous or brown rice. Serves 4. Angela Shelf Medearis is an awardwinning children’s author, a culinary historian and the author of seven cookbooks. She’s known as The Kitchen Diva and is the executive producer and host of “The Kitchen Diva!” cooking show on HULU.com. Her new cookbook is “The Kitchen Diva Cooks!” Visit her website at www.divapro.com. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Answer on page 5
Answer on page 5
Send your questions or tips to ask@pawscorner.com, or write to Paw’s Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. For more pet care-related advice and information, visit www.pawscorner.com. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
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For Advertising Call (248) 423-1765 news is that “Cougar Town” will be back this season; the bad news is its return has been pushed back until March. More bad news: Instead of its planned 22-episode season, the order has been cut to 15 episodes. This news makes me superbummed too, as I have been going through some serious withdrawals, and have been forced to drink wine out of Big Joe while reading Laurie Keller’s hilarious Twitter feed (twitter.com/TheLarmy) and throwing pennies in my Bobby Cobb Official Q: Like you, I am an avid fan of “New Girl” on Competition Penny Can as I wait with bated breath Fox. I was wondering what happened to Coach, for new episodes from my favorite Pinot-swilling the character played by Damon Wayans Jr., gals and their awesome sidekick fellas. who was in the first episode and then suddenly Q: A while back you mentioned that Fox left? -- Giselle F., via e-mail was going to make an animated version of A: When “New Girl” filmed its pilot episode in “Napoleon Dynamite.” Are those plans still going forward? -- Jeremy G., via e-mail spring 2011, the original roommates were Coach (played by Damon), A: It’s full-steam ahead on the Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Nick weekly cartoon adaption of (Jake Johnson), with Jess (Zooey “Napoleon Dynamite,” which Deschanel) taking Winston’s room, will be voiced by the movie’s since he was off playing basketball stars, including John Heder, Efren in Latvia. However, Damon also Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Aaron was co-starring on the ABC show Ruell, John Gries and the gang. “Happy Endings,” which at the The 13-episode series premieres time “New Girl” began production on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 8:30 ET, was looking like it wasn’t going to right in the middle of Fox’s superget renewed for another season. So, successful “animation block.” when “Happy Endings” did indeed Q: I was watching “Robocop” get renewed, the producers at “New over the weekend and wondered Girl” had to find a new fourth what its star, Peter Weller, can be roommate and opted for Winston seen in now? He was so good in Zooey Deschanel (Lamorne Morris) to return from that movie! -- George T., Omaha, Neb. Latvia to reclaim his old room. A: Peter Weller, who very recently was a regular Q: I was super-bummed when I found out that on “Dexter” playing Stan Liddy, is the latest big“Cougar Town” wasn’t going to air on ABC name star to be cast in the newest “Star Trek” until January as a midseason replacement, movie, which is yet untitled. The film’s details and now I am hearing that that might not even are being kept under wraps, but I can tell you that happen! Please tell me it hasn’t been canceled. Peter is playing a principal character in the May -- Bridget D. in North Carolina 2013 sequel to the 2009 megablockbuster. A: I have good news and bad news: The good (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc. • It was American journalist and • For reasons that aren’t quite clear, satirist Ambrose Bierce who made in 1960 Macy’s department store the following sage observation: introduced a vending machine that “There is nothing new under the dispensed men’s underwear. After an sun but there are lots of old things initial flurry of shoppers coming to we don’t know.” see the new contraption, the machine By Samantha Weaver was doomed to obscurity due to lack • Those who study such things say of interest. that when a ladybug is frightened, it squirts a foul• Here’s a question for the ladies: Are you a smelling goo from its knees. philematophobe? If you’re a woman who hates to • You might be surprised to learn that approximately be kissed, you are. 40 percent of the oxygen in the world’s atmosphere is provided by the verdant plant growth of South • Only about 37 percent of the newspapers published in the Unites States are recycled. America’s Amazon River basin. • Mayan artwork dating back to 700 A.D. shows • Researchers at Yale University have determined that people think more efficiently in the winter people preparing chocolate beverages. Chocolate than in the summer. was so valued by the natives of the Americas, the Maya even used cacao beans as currency. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19) The New Year brings challenges that can change many things in your life. You need to be prepared not only to confront them, but also to deal with what happens afterward. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) You have what it takes to set your goals quite a bit higher this year. Learn what you need to know and put what you learn into your efforts. A partner offers loving support. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20) In true Gemini Twin fashion, you’re conflicted about a decision you know you’ll have to make in this New Year. Best advice: Get the facts before you make any commitment. CANCER (June 21 - July 22) A friend offers you an exciting opportunity for the New Year. Although your positive aspects are strong in most respects, caution is advised. Investigate before you invest. LEO (July 23 - August 22) You can make this New Year a roaring success. Start by readjusting your goals to reflect the changes in the economy. Your den-mate offers both wise and loving support. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22) The New Year brings new opportunities for change. But you need to be ready to move from the comfortable status quo to the challenging unknown. It’s up to you. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22) Your most important New Year’s resolution should be to work out problems with a family member in order to avoid continued misunderstandings. Do it soon, for both of your sakes. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21) The New Year has much to offer the intensely determined Scorpian, who isn’t afraid to take on challenges and stay with them until they surrender their rewards. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21) You’ll have many fine opportunities in this New Year. But be warned: Reject offers of “help.” You work best when you’re free to be your own creative self. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19) The New Year offers changes that you might feel you’re not quite ready for. Best advice: Deal with them one step at a time, until you’ve built up your selfconfidence. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18) Travel is a dominant aspect of the New Year. This could mean relocating to another city (or even another country) in connection with your education or your career. PISCES (February 19 - March 20) This New Year brings news about a change you’ve been anticipating. You might have a problem persuading a loved one about your new plans, but he or she will soon go along with them. BORN THIS WEEK: You have a gift for making people feel safe and protected. You would make an excellent youth counselor. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
Jimmie Johnson Still Chomping at the Bit Tony Stewart won his third championship in 2011, and no one has ever been more spectacular down the stretch. He won five of the final 10 races, the most ever since the Chase was implemented in 2004, and yet still won only by tie-breaker over Carl Edwards, who had the same number (2,403) of points. Edwards has finished second or third three times now and has the best average finish, 4.9, of any driver in Chase history. So who is the favorite for 2012? It’s obvious, even though it’s neither Stewart nor Edwards. The favorite is the driver who won championships in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010: Jimmie Johnson. Johnson finished sixth, 99 points behind Stewart and Edwards. It wasn’t a championship season, but it wasn’t bad, at least not by any standards other than those established by Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports crew chief, Chad Knaus. “Highly motivated” was the way Johnson referred to himself at the Sprint Cup Awards Ceremonies in Las Vegas. “Motivation comes easy for all of us,” he said. “I know that question is asked a lot, but we just want to race, and if we’re going to spend all the time to do all this, we want to be racing for the championship.” Johnson won five straight championships. Only
After his streak of Sprint Cup championships was broken this year by Tony Stewart, Hendrick Motorsports stalwart Jimmie Johnson is “highly motivated” to get back to his usual winning ways.
(John Clark/NASCAR This Week photo)
Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt have ever won more than five total. Can Johnson win eight and break the record? “I want to believe in it,” he said. “How long I can race into my career? I think there is a chance, I don’t know how realistic that chance is, but I want to believe in it and think that I can.” Johnson paid tribute to Stewart, who became the first driver-owner to win a championship since Alan
Kulwicki in 1992. “I didn’t think it was possible,” Johnson said. “I don’t think any of us felt that we would see it take place again or even get close to it. ... It’s a huge feat that I think everybody wrote off and said would never happen again.” Monte Dutton covers motorsports for The Gaston (N.C.) Gazette. E-mail Monte at nascarthisweek@yahoo.com. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Tidbits® of Michigan
KidBits
“Cool” Candles Add Warm Glow Let’s make fire with ice! Impossible, you say? Well, it just depends on how you look at it. Follow my easy process for creating these super “cool” candles that add a warm glow to any evening.
To make several medium-size candles, you’ll need: • 1-pound box of paraffin wax (available in the canning section at most markets) • 1 saucepan and a tin can, such as a coffee can • Candle coloring (optional) • Ice cubes crushed into medium-size chunks. Your kids may fill a gallon plastic bag about threequarters full with ice. Secure the top. Let them use a hammer to break the ice into small chunks. • Empty and clean pint- or quart-size cardboard milk cartons with the tops cut off • A white or colored taper candle for each ice candle, 1 inch shorter than the cut carton. Trim the candle from the bottom, if necessary. An adult should fill the bottom of the saucepan with a few inches of water and place the tin can in the center. Put a chunk of paraffin inside the can along with extra candle stubs you might have around the house. Add coloring if you wish. Stir occasionally as the wax melts, keeping a constant eye on it since it is flammable. For a wick, your school-age child can place a taper candle in the middle of a milk carton and pack the ice around it. When the wax is melted, an adult should use a potholder to lift the can out of the saucepan and pour the melted wax directly into the milk carton over the ice and around the taper candle. As the wax melts the ice, you’ll hear cracking and popping! Once the wax is hard, drain off the water a time or two. Peel the carton away from the candle and enjoy the surprise of your work of art! The ice will have formed interesting pockets, like a chunk of Swiss cheese. To use, set it on a plate and surround it with marbles. When you light the candle, give your preschooler the job of saying “Ta-da!” as you stand around proudly watching the creation flicker on a winter’s night. Note: An adult should always be present when burning candles. (c) 2011 Donna Erickson, Distributed by King Features Synd.
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