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January 7-13, 2012
Issue #26
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A truly honest weatherman says, “Today’s forecast is bright and sunny with an 80-percent chance that I’m wrong.”
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“Nice weather we’re having” isn’t always a true statement! This week, Tidbits looks at rain, snow, wind and storms, bringing you the best & worst of several weather conditions from around the world. • “Rain, rain, go away” might be something the residents of Mawsynram, India, want to say. It’s the wettest place on earth, receiving over 36 feet (11 m) of rainfall every year. Antofagasta, Chile, on the other hand, receives less than a tenth of a millimeter of rain per year, and many years, receives none at all. • The community of Bagdad, California, had no rain for 767 days between October of 1912 and November of 1914. That’s 2 years and 37 days! • You may have heard of Chicago referred to as the “Windy City,” but it’s not the windiest city in America. That distinction belongs to Blue Hill Observatory, MA, with an average annual wind speed of 15.4 mph. Second place belongs to Dodge City, Kansas, with Amarillo, Texas, at No. 3. Chicago isn’t even in the top 10! About 27% of weather-reporting stations average higher annual wind speeds than Chicago. • Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, experienced America’s strongest wind ever recorded, 231 mph (372 km/hr). But, based on averages, Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica, is the windiest place in the world. turn the page for more!
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Tidbits® of Michigan HOW’S THE WEATHER? (continued):
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• Mt. Washington also has the second-highest average snowfall, about 260 inches a year (660 cm). Only Valdez, Alaska, ranks higher with 324 inches (823 cm). Back in 1911, Tamarack, California, received 390 inches — 32.5 feet (9.9 m) — of snow in one month! Over the course of that winter, 767 inches (19.5 m) of the white stuff fell on the community. • Lightning strikes the earth about 100 times every second, with each flash carrying over one billion volts. That’s enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for three months! In one short instant, the air surrounding the lightning flash is heated to a temperature five times hotter than the surface of the sun. Lightning will strike the United States about 25 million times this year. Five hundred of those flashes will strike the Empire State Building. • Scientists maintain that there are about 760 thunderstorms occurring on our planet every hour. Trying to figure out how far away a thunderstorm is? Count the number of seconds between a lightning flash and the following clap of thunder. Divide that number by five to compute the distance to the lightning in miles. • You’re more likely to be killed by a lightning strike in Florida than in any other state. Over a 10-year period, 74 people in that state died after being struck, with Texas a distant second with 28 deaths. You’ll be pretty safe in Washington, Oregon and North Dakota, where no deaths occurred during those 10 years. • When strong currents of air carry water droplets up to a height where freezing occurs, ice particles form and grow. They become too heavy to be supported by the air current and fall to the ground as hail. Large hailstones can fall at speeds exceeding 100 mph (160.9 km/ hr). Compare that with the speed of a typical raindrop at 17 mph (27.4 km/hr). Cheyenne, Wyoming, averages the most hailstorms in the United State each year, but those in Tulsa, Oklahoma, are the most severe. • In 1986, a storm in Bangladesh produced the largest hailstones ever recorded; they weighed well over 2 lbs. (1 kg) each. Ninety-two people were killed by the stones. Bangladesh was also home to history’s deadliest cyclone in 1970, with a death toll of 300,000. • Tornado Alley refers to an area stretching from central Texas to northern Iowa, and across Colorado, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Oklahoma. About 90 percent of U.S. tornadoes hit this region. There are more tornadoes in the United States than any other ATTENTION:
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place in the world, with about 1,000 reported per year. Canada is a distant second, with about 100. • If you’re a sun worshipper, then Yuma, Arizona, is the place for you! This Southwestern community receives more than 4,000 hours of sunshine a year, making it the sunniest place on earth. Yuma also has the lowest precipitation average in the United States, receiving just under 3 inches (7.6 cm) a year, and its record high temperature is 124˚ F (51˚ C). • The hottest temperature ever recorded on earth was back in September of 1922 in El Azizia, Libya, when the mercury soared to 136˚ F (58˚ C). The North American record belongs to Death Valley, California, at 134˚ F (57˚ C) in July of 1913. • Baby, it’s cold outside! How about 129˚ below zero (-89.6˚ C) reached in Vostok, Antarctica, in 1983? Russia gets plenty cold, too, with low temps recorded at -90˚ F (-68˚ C) on more than one occasion. • Alaska is the coldest U.S. state overall — at least five cities have had low temps dip under -60˚ F (-51˚ C), with Barrow ranking as the coldest city. Down on the mainland, the honor of coldest city goes to International Falls, Minnesota. Neighboring Duluth, Baudette and Hibbing aren’t far behind. Two North Dakota communities, Grand Forks and Fargo, offer some stiff competition with average temps from December through March in the single digits. • The world’s least sunny place is, not surprisingly, the South Pole, where the sun shines just 182 days a year. • The combination of heat and humidity can be stifling on a summer day. Phoenix, Arizona, is ranked as No. 1 on the list of “Most Uncomfortable Cities.” One of the nation’s hottest summertime cities, its average July temperature is 104˚ F (40˚ C). Several Texas cities are close behind — Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Dallas, Waco and Houston are all within the Top Ten. • If you don’t mind consistency and predictability, then San Francisco and San Diego are the places for you. They are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the category of “least weather variety” based on temperatures, precipitation and wind. In fact, California holds eight out of the Top Ten spots in this group. • Over a 24-hour period back in 1916, the temperature in Browning, Montana, dropped from 44˚ F to -54˚ F (7˚ C to -48˚ C). ■
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For Advertising Call (248) 423-1765 Old Wives’ Tales Lots of “wisdom” has been passed down from generation to generation that isn’t necessarily the truth. Check to see how many of these old wives’ tales you take as gospel! • E v e r y o n e ’ s mother said that going outside with wet hair will bring on a cold. Actually, viruses cause colds, and viruses tend to spread more easily indoors where people tend to congregate a bit more during cold weather. And will your eyes really stay that way if you cross them? Not at all! The eye disorder Strabismus, something that occurs in 4 percent of U.S. children, is responsible for that. • Did your mom also tell you that swallowed gum takes seven years to digest? While there are ingredients in gum that the body can’t digest, the wad moves through your digestive system and is eliminated within hours, or at the most, days. Large amounts of swallowed gum can, on rare occasions, cause an intestinal blockage. • In the old days when you burned your hand, most likely your mother smeared butter on it. Greasy substances actually hold in the heat, making the situation worse. Running your hand under cold water or using a cool cloth reduces the heat and can reduce the damage to the skin. Applying juice from an aloe vera plant is also a wise choice. • Can coffee stunt a child’s growth? No, not really, but that doesn’t make it a healthy
choice. Too much caffeine in a child’s diet can hinder the absorption of calcium and other nutrients. • If you’re worried that allowing your children to play with toads will give them warts, remember that warts are caused by a virus that toads neither carry nor pass on. • Many old wives’ tales are related to women and their babies. For example, if a pregnant woman has frequent heartburn throughout the nine months, her baby will be born with a full head of hair. If that baby has light brown birthmarks, the mother drank too much coffee during her pregnancy. And who needs expensive ultrasounds to determine a baby’s gender? Folklore has other ways of figuring it out, such as suspending a wedding band from a thread. If the ring moves in a circular motion, the baby is a girl, whereas if it moves in a straight line or side to side, a boy is forthcoming. If the mother-to-be craves salty foods, it’s a boy, while cravings for sweets and fruit indicate a girl. Moving gracefully throughout pregnancy is a sign of a girl, while becoming clumsy means a boy is on the way. • Got an itch? Old wives’ wisdom says itchy feet indicate you’ll soon be traveling, while an itchy nose means you’re about to kiss a fool. If the palm of your right hand itches, you’ll receive money soon, while an itchy left hand means you’ll lose some. • Don’t worry about spicy foods giving you an ulcer. While they may irritate an existing one, they don’t bring them on. Sixty percent of peptic ulcers are the result of a bacterial infection. Still others are caused by overuse of pain medications. • Here’s wisdom that really is true! Chicken soup can make you feel better. That’s because the amino acid cysteine present in the soup seems to help the congestion of the common cold. ■
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HomeBits Why Drain a HotWater Heater? by Samantha Mazzotta
Q: A neighbor of mine said that he drains his hot water heater twice a year to keep it clear. Won’t draining the heater damage it? -- Sal P., Tallahassee, Fla.
A: Actually, draining the water heater can help it heat water more efficiently and even extend its
service life. The trick is to turn it off and let the water cool for a few hours. Then, shut off the water supply to the heater so it won’t refill as you drain it. Note: If you need to turn off the water supply to the entire house or part of the house in order to turn off the heater’s supply, open the taps on the other sinks in your house. Attach a length of garden hose to the water-heater drain spigot, just long enough to comfortably hang over the edge of the bucket you’ll use to catch the drained water. (If a utility sink is nearby, that’s an even better option; run the hose to the sink.) Turn the
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spigot on slowly, until it’s fully open. Drain the tank as far as possible – this could mean detaching the hose and catching the last of the water in a bucket. Then, close the spigot and turn the water supply back on to fill the tank, and turn on the heater. home tip
in the pipes.) Draining the water heater once or twice a year will remove sediment that can build up due to a number of factors. It’s not always done in the wintertime, but if you have a day or two that is above freezing and you can
Setting the water heater’s temperature to “low” or “warm” - just below 120F - will save on the cost of heating and prevent accidental scalding from water that’s too hot.
If you had to turn on the other taps in the house, once the water supply is back on, turn the taps off. (You want water to run through them after a shutoff to prevent air from getting trapped
let the heater cool overnight, go for it. 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.
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Tidbits® of Michigan
Famous Landmarks of the World:
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Grand Central Terminal Nestled in the middle of downtown Manhattan is the impressive fortress Grand Central Terminal. Read along and learn more about this historical train station, a transportation hub for 750,000 people every day. • Although we usually call it Grand Central Station, its actual name is Grand Central Terminal. Grand Central Station is technically the name of the subway station located under the terminal. In terms of number of platforms, Grand Central is the largest train station in the world. There are 67 sets of tracks along its 44 platforms. About 7,500 people pass by the Terminal’s 42nd Street and Vanderbilt intersection every hour. • The current Terminal building is not the first to sit on the site. The first depot was the brainchild of railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt and was built on property he owned between 42nd and 48th Streets at a cost of $6.4 million, opening in 1871. A tragic train collision occurred in 1902 in a smoke-filled tunnel, killing 17 and injuring 38. Steam locomotives were immediately banned, and plans were made to tear down the station and construct a new terminal for electric trains. • Over the next 10 years, the old station was torn down and replaced in phases, and in 1913, the new Terminal officially opened, with more than 150,000 visitors on opening day. Boasting 75-foot (22.9-m) windows and a massive marble staircase, it was an architectural masterpiece. The 125-foothigh (38-m) vaulted, domed ceiling featured a brilliant blue and gold mural of a constellationfilled sky. • The station’s famous four-sided clock has faces of opal and is valued today between $10 million and $20 million. The clock sits on a brass and marble pagoda, inside of which is a hidden spiral staircase that connects to the Terminal’s lower level. • Also hidden below the Terminal is a train platform with a secret entrance and an elevator up to the
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Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. It was used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to enable him to avoid reporters, moving him from his train directly to his hotel. Don’t expect to traverse his route, however, on your New York City vacation. The door to FDR’s secret elevator has been welded shut. • Perched atop the façade on the 42nd Street side of the Terminal is a 50-foot-high (15.2-m), 60-footwide (18.3-m) sculpture of Mercury, patron god of travelers. He is flanked by Hercules and Minerva. This was to symbolize the wisdom (Mercury), speed (Minerva) and strength (Hercules) of Grand Central. About 1,500 tons of Indiana limestone went into the creation of the sculpture, which was unveiled 18 months after the Terminal’s formal opening. It also features a clock at its center with a 13-foot (4-m) circumference. • In 1947, Grand Central hosted more than 65 million travelers, a number equivalent to 40% of the nation’s population. However, when traveling by rail declined in the 1950s, there was talk of demolishing the Terminal and replacing it with a 6-million sq. ft. office building. NYC’s Landmarks Preservation Commission was responsible for saving the site by having it designated as a landmark. A complete renovation of the Terminal in 1994 restored it to its opening day grandeur. • Several movies have been filmed at Grand Central over the years, including both the “Men In Black” films, “I Am Legend,” “North by Northwest” and “The Cotton Club.” ■
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You’ll be receiving your W-2 and 1099 income forms in the next few weeks. Your 1099 for bank interest and 1098 for mortgage interest paid in 2011 should show up in the same time frame. When they arrive, check them immediately. Compare to interest reported on your bank statements and your year-to-date income and the deductions from your last paycheck of 2011. If you’re self-employed, check the figures you’ve kept all year. If there are any discrepancies, report them immediately, before you file. The company issuing the forms will be required to send amended forms to you and the IRS. Even before your forms arrive, you can use your same estimate figures from above to run whatif scenarios with tax software on your computer. If the numbers don’t match once the forms arrive,
MoneyBits Get Ready to File Your 2011 Tax Return by David Uffington you’ll be able to make changes in the program. If you’ve never used computer tax software, some of the fairly easy ones are TurboTax by Intuit, TaxCut by H&R Block and TaxACT. Beware any off-brand names that offer to let you do your taxes online. They could be data collecting, and your Social Security number, name and address are valuable to thieves. Enter the data carefully, especially your Social Security number, amounts and employer ID. Save your file often. If you used a software program last year and are happy with it, purchase
the same brand again. Let the two programs talk to each other. (When it asks if you want the program to import the data from the previous year, click yes.) Assuming you haven’t changed jobs or banks, much of the data, such as employer ID and company name, will transfer to your new software. The earlier in the season you buy tax software, the more important it is to do the program updates. Tax changes can (theoretically) happen at any time. Every time you sit down to work on your taxes, ask the program to check for updates. Do the same thing with your state tax software. Most programs will let you do an efile of your tax return. Whether or not you chose this option, print out a copy (forms & all supporting documentation) of your tax return, including the state return. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Dear Dr. Donohue: I recently tested positive for lupus, about which I know nothing. Please furnish me with some information. -- E.L. Answer: Men, children and the elderly can come down with lupus, but the main target group is young women between the ages of 15 and 45. Lupus causes a staggering number of signs and symptoms. No one person develops all, but some have many. Joint swelling and pain; a drop in the number of white and red blood cells; a tendency to form clots in veins; skin rashes; malfunctioning of nerves, the brain and the spinal cord; inflammation of the coverings of the heart and lungs; kidney damage; and an injuring sensitivity to sunlight are the major troubles facing lupus patients. All of this comes about because the immune system declares war on body organs and tissues for reasons not fully understood. Antibodies -products of the immune system -- are signs of the immune attack. They are useful for diagnosing the illness. When you say you tested positive for lupus, do you mean you had a positive blood test? One frequently used is the ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) test. A positive ANA suggests lupus but is not diagnostic of it. Two other antibody tests, anti-dsDNA and anti-SM, are stronger evidence of lupus. Lupus is a formidable illness, but modern treatment has taken away much of its dread. In the past, it shortened life. Now 80 percent to 90 percent of lupus patients live 10 or more years. Lupus is subject to flare-ups and periods when it greatly quiets down. For flares, the cortisone drugs
are put into play. For quiet periods, medicines with fewer side effects are prescribed. The list of medicines available for lupus is large. A new one has just come on the market. The booklet on rheumatoid arthritis & lupus, two similar illnesses, gives a comprehensive view of lupus and its treatment. To order a copy, write: Dr. Donohue -- No. 301W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with recipient’s printed name & address. Please allow 4 wks for delivery. Dear Dr. Donohue: I have seen a specialist for jock itch. I was told there is no cure. Why not? Men in service during the wars must have had this. -- W.K. Answer: Men and women in and out of service get tinea cruris, jock itch, a fungal infection of the skin in the groin. Cure is possible. The infected skin is red to brown and has a raised, scaly margin. It’s often itchy. In another part of your letter, you mentioned an antifungal drug that is effective. Stick with it. It can require a month or more of treatment, and you should keep treating for one full week after all signs of it have gone. Other effective medicines are miconazole (Micatin) and clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF), both available without a prescription. If these medicines don’t make a dent, then you might have to go on prescription oral medicines. In that case, considerations of conditions that look like jock itch should be assessed, things like erythrasma, a bacterial skin infection, and psoriasis.
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SeniorBits by Matilda Charles
Reaching Our Goals Where do you want to be a year from now? Are there goals you’d like to accomplish in 2012 but don’t feel they’re possible? Far too many of us perceive there are limits that hold us back as we get older. Some of those limits are surmountable, however, with a little analyzing and planning. Start by writing down your goals for 2012. Be specific. Then look at what might be
holding you back. Explore the ways you can make it happen. Do you like museums and theater but can’t afford the fees? Call and ask if there are discounts that aren’t advertised, senior discounts or “pay what you can” matinees. Do you want to read more books this year? If your vision is not what it was, make an eye appointment. Look for those page-size magnifying glasses. Can’t get to the library very often? Call to ask if it has a book van or will mail books. Or barter with a friend that drives, and include lunch out. Need to make home repairs or paint your living room but don’t want to be up on a ladder anymore? Hire someone to help with the stipulation that you’ll do part of
the work. Want to volunteer but don’t know how to start? Call the senior center or the humane society and tell them you have a free morning every week. They’ll put you to work! Are your goals more along the lines of health and fitness? Consult your doctor and ask for advice. Perhaps he can recommend a local seniors exercise program. Reaching our goals is possible! Sometimes we only have to ask questions to find the answers. 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 328536475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
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• 1/4 cup sugar • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. Mix goat or Feta cheese, thyme or poultry seasoning, garlic, 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the black pepper until blended. Place 1 rounded tablespoon of the cheese mixture into center of 6 of the pear halves. 3. Puree the remaining 2 pear halves, chicken broth, figs, vinegar and sugar in batches in blender until smooth. Pour into a strainer set over a bowl. Press liquid (sauce) into a bowl and discard solids. Pour half of the pear and fig sauce into a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan. 4. Place chicken breasts over the pear and fig sauce in pan. Sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon
Pears are perfect when paired with sweet or savory dishes. This recipe for Balsamic-Fig and Pear Glazed Chicken Breasts blends sweet, fresh pears with rich aged balsamic vinegar and dried figs for a delightfully savory dinner. • 4 ounces goat cheese or Feta cheese • 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme or poultry seasoning • 1/4 teaspoon fresh minced garlic • 2 teaspoons salt • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper • 4 USA Pears, cored and cut in half • 1 1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth • 1 1/2 cup dried figs • 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
pepper. Place a filled pear half cut-side down over each chicken breast and drizzle with remaining sauce. Cover pan with foil and bake in oven for 20 minutes. 5. Remove foil and continue to bake, basting occasionally with the sauce, 30 to 40 minutes until chicken breasts reach an internal temperature of 160 F. Cut pear and chicken breast in half to display cheese filling. Spoon sauce over pears and serve. Serves 6. Angela Shelf Medearis is known as The Kitchen Diva and is the executive producer and host of “The Kitchen Diva!” cooking show on HULU.com. Her new inspirational book is “Ten Ingredients for a Joyous Life and a Peaceful Home -- A Spiritual Memoir,” co-written with Pastor Salem Robinson, Jr. (www.dunnsmemorial.com). Visit her website at www.divapro.com. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Dear Paw’s Corner: My pet rabbit, a lop-ear named “Jake,” seems pretty active and alert. He flicks his ears when I hold a treat out for him, and I noticed he does the same when I move my hand in a similar way even when there is no treat. Do you think a rabbit could be trained similar to the way a dog is trained? -- Clarissa T., Butte, Mont. Dear Clarissa: According to animal trainer Barbara Heidenreich, it’s entirely possible to do so; in fact, she’s trained two of her rabbits to do agility courses. Heidenreich uses positive-reinforcement training to teach her rabbits to perform on cue. One lop-eared rabbit, Loretta, “runs a 7-pc agility course, retrieves, spins in a circle and digs on cue. Loretta was adopted as an adult and learned most of her tricks in just a few weeks,” according to a promotional release by pet behavior and training-products company Good Bird Inc. Heidenreich says that positive reinforcement training isn’t just for teaching pet tricks; owners also can use this method to address problem behaviors and, overall, get more connected to their pets. As these fluffy animals become more and more popular as pets, she feels that learning to do more than just care for rabbits is necessary but also rewarding. If you’d like to learn more about training Jake to do tricks, visit www.bunnytraining. com, Heidenreich’s site.
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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 © 2011 King Features Synd., Inc. Answer on page 5
(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
© 2011 King Features Synd., Inc. Answer on page 5
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For Advertising Call (248) 423-1765 Paul Telegdy: “Howard Stern’s larger-than-life personality will bring a thrilling new dynamic to ‘America’s Got Talent’ starting this summer. He’s a proven innovator, and his track record in broadcasting is truly remarkable. Howard is very passionate about this show and is fully committed to its future success.” Q: I have been following the career of Sam Neill ever since “Jurassic Park.” I loved him in “The Tudors,” “Happy Town,” “The Horse Q: I really miss Christopher Meloni on “Law Whisperer,” “Wimbledon,” “Daybreakers,” & Order: SVU.” Please tell me I can see him on “Crusoe,” etc. What does he have coming up another series or in a movie soon. -- Randi E., via e-mail next? -- Will O., via e-mail A: You’ll be able to see Christopher A: Sam is rumored to be returning as soon as this summer on the as Dr. Alan Grant for “Jurassic small screen when he makes his Park IV,” which doesn’t have any debut on the sixth season of HBO’s production or release-date details “True Blood.” Details are hushas the movie was too recently hush, as it always is with “True announced. He co-stars in the bigBlood,” but according to executive screen adaption of Arthur Miller’s producer Alan Ball, Chris will play “A View from the Bridge,” to be “an ancient, powerful vampire who released later this year. But you holds the fate of Bill and Eric in his can catch him even sooner. Sam hands.” comes back to the small screen on Monday, Jan. 16, on Fox when he For the big screen, you can see him stars in the new series “Alcatraz.” sometime this year (a release date This show looks creepy, scary and has not yet been announced) in the super exciting, and I plan to tune in comedy “Awful Nice.” And in June to see exactly what all the hubbub 2013, he co-stars as Colonel Hardy Christopher Meloni is about. in the new “Superman” film, “Man of Steel,” which also stars Henry Cavill, Russell Q: It seems like it’s that time of year again ... Crowe, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, when will the next season of “American Idol” and slew of other top-notch stars. be on? I am kind of disappointed by “The Q: With Piers Morgan gone, will they be getting X-Factor,” and I could really use my Steven, and Randy fix right about now. another judge for “America’s Got Talent,” --Jennifer Tina R., Wheeling, W.Va. or just stick with Howie Mandel and Sharon A: You don’t have to wait much longer: America’s Osbourne? -- Callie H., Portland, Ore. most popular talent competition will be back A: In a move that is causing some controversy Wednesday, January 18, on Fox, with the show (when hasn’t controversy followed this man?), airing Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8/7c. shock-jock Howard Stern has been tapped to be the third “Talent” judge. Said NBC exec (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc. • It was American essayist Logan women wearing minis caused a two-hour Pearsall Smith who made the traffic jam in downtown Cairo, and a following sage observation: It is the 63-year-old man in Rio De Janeiro was wretchedness of being rich that you sentenced to three days in jail after biting have to live with rich people. the legs of the miniskirt-clad woman seated next to him on a bus. • The word “avocado” is derived from By Samantha Weaver a South American Indian word that • The first animated color TV commercial means “testicle.” was broadcast in 1949, and it was created by none other than venerable children’s book author • When the miniskirt was introduced to the world in Dr. Seuss. The ad was for the Ford Motor Company. the 1960s, the reaction was swift and often harsh. Women who wore them in the Malagasy Republic • Those who study such things say that Americans’ were sentenced to 10 days in jail. Congolese police favorite T-shirt color is white, followed by blue and arrested 300 women for wearing the new style, and black. Egyptian law branded the garment as indecent. In Caracas, Venezuela, the clergy got involved; churches Thought for the Day: “If you have an important point, admonished women to give up their minis or “be don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the condemned to hell.” Perhaps the seeming overreaction point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a wasn’t entirely unjustified, considering the effect the third time -- a tremendous whack.” -- Winston Churchill miniskirt had in some places. It was reported that two (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19) A hectic period begins to wind down. Take time to draw some deep breaths and relax before getting into your next project. A long-absent family member makes contact. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) You’re eager to move forward with a new challenge that suddenly dropped in your lap. But you’d be wise to take this one step at a time to allow new developments to come through. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20) You’re almost ready to make a commitment. A lingering doubt or two, however, should be resolved before you move ahead. An associate could provide important answers. CANCER (June 21 - July 22) Caution is still the watchword as you move closer toward a decision about a new situation. If you act too fast, you might miss some vital warning signs. Go slowly and stay alert. LEO (July 23 - August 22) Your new goal looks promising, and your golden touch does much to enhance its prospects for success. In your private life, Cupid does his best to make your new relationship special. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22) That impatient side of yours is looking to goad you into moving before you’re ready to take that big step. Stay calm and cool. Let things fall into place before you act. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22) A legal matter you hoped could finally be settled could be a pesky problem for a while, until all the parties agree to stop disagreeing with each other. Be patient. SCORPIO (October 23 - Nov. 21) Partnerships -personal or professional -- which began before the new year take on new importance. They also reveal some previously hidden risks. So be warned. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21) Your associates are firmly on your side, and that persistent problem that has caused you to delay some activities should soon be resolved to your satisfaction. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19) Favorable changes continue to dominate, and you should be responding positively as they emerge. Someone wants to become more involved in what you’re doing. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18) A friend wants to share a secret that could answer some questions you’ve wondered about for a long time. Meanwhile, travel aspects continue to be strong. PISCES (February 19 - March 20) Stay on your new course despite so-called well-meaning efforts to discourage you. Rely on your deep sense of selfawareness to guide you to do what’s right for you. BORN THIS WEEK: You have the capacity to meet challenges that others might find overwhelming, and turn them into successful ventures. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
Letting Fans Call The Shots Technically speaking, I’m really not a fan. It’s impossible to write about something and be a fan. To be a fan, I’d have to have outrageous expectations and jaded analyses. I have often been advised to “think like a reader,” which, given my small corner of the world, is similar to “think like a fan.” I try to do so. I mingle. I return emails. More than ever before, this task is made easier by the social networking of Facebook and Twitter. I hear from a lot of fans. I feel their pain and, quite commonly, their anger. So here’s my thinking...about what fans are thinking. The racing of 2011 seems much better now than it actually was. The expectations for the next season are higher than they have any right to be. But it’s good and easy to have positive thoughts when no racing is actually going on. Naturally, the fans miss it. There are so many references to how many days remain between now and the Daytona 500, you’d think they were shopping days until Christmas. This is the very best time of the year to be a fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Maybe things will be better. As long as things don’t actually get appreciably better, this sentiment will be the same every winter. Come to think of it, it probably doesn’t matter. If he wins the championship, they’ll want him to win 10 races and the championship. Then every race and the
From the fan’s seat, now is a good time to be a fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr. (left). Jimmie Johnson (center) will get more popular the longer it takes to win his next championship, and Kurt Busch’s fortunes will continue to sink every time he opens his mouth. (John Clark/NASCAR This Week photo)
championship. Those who like any current driver named Busch believe the most important issue is their talent. Those who dislike drivers named Busch believe the most important issue is behavior. This, in a nutshell, is why behavior is so important. The overwhelming majority of fans desperately want something done about tag-team drafting at Daytona and Talladega. A vocal minority likes it just fine. Most of Tony Stewart’s detractors have either gone
or gone silent. Those he hasn’t won over, he’s shut up. Other than an Earnhardt Jr. championship, the most popular item on wish lists is a fifth Jeff Gordon championship. The longer Jimmie Johnson goes without a sixth championship, the more popular he will become. This is unquestionably too high a price to pay. He will be more popular next year because a) for once he didn’t win, and b) his last name isn’t Busch.
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