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March 2014

Issue #67

Published & Distributed Monthly by Unified Media Marketing Group ■ For Advertising Call 248-423-1765 ■ www.UnifiedMMG.com

Feb 27-Mar 2 -- Outdoorama Feb 27-Mar 2 -- Cottage & Lake Front Living Show March 7-9 ------ Michigan Golf Show March 13-16 --- 22nd Annual Spring Boating Expo March 21-23 --- Novi Backyard, Pool, & Spa Show March 22-23 --- Motor City Hot Rod & Racing Expo Mar 28-30 ------ Novi Spring Home & Garden Show See our complete event lineup at www.SuburbanCollectionShowplace.com

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Q: What is “Baked Alaska” called in Alaska? A: Baked Here! Tidbits® DIRECTS YOU TO SOME

ODD DOTS ON THE MAP!

by Patricia L. Cook When studying maps, whether with an atlas, a fold out map or internet mapping site like Google Maps, some names just kind of jump out at you. Many strange and funny names dot maps around the globe! Tidbits will direct you to a few. • Toponymy is “the study of place names.” Many places were named for historical events, persons or naturally occurring landmarks. Some have strange names that seem to have come from joking comedians or drunken sailors! • To start off with a laugh, a funny dot on maps of Quebec is Baie des Ha! Ha! This is a hamlet near the Ha! Ha! River, which has five dams, all named Ha! Ha! (numbered 1-5). There is also a Pointe des Ha! Ha!, Bridge Lake Ha! Ha!, Park Ha! Ha!, and more! The areas are all interesting and beautiful spots in Quebec. Remember that Canada has both English and French as their national languages. The French meaning of “haha” is “an unexpected obstacle on the path.” Sort of explains where the names must come from. turn the page for more!

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Tidbits® Michigan ODD DOTS ON THE MAP (continued):

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Every month we will hide Tommy Tidbits in one of our ads! Find Tommy Tidbits and win great prizes. 1. Find the AD where Tommy Tidbits is hiding this month. 2. Submit the following by email to: TommyTidbits@TidbitsMI.com a. Tidbits Michigan Issue Number Good Luck! (located on the Front Page, top right corner) b. Name of the AD where you found Tommy Tidbits c. Your Name, Address, Phone, and Email CT UAL SIZ d. Where did you pick up Tidbits Michigan

The winner is drawn at random at the beginning of each month from all the correct contest entries received from the previous month. Must be 18 years or older to enter. One entry per household monthly. Your info will not be shared or sold to anyone. Winner’s name and city will be published in the following issue.

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• Another interesting place in eastern Canada is Blow Me Down Provincial Park near Deer Lake, Newfoundland. The wind does blow across and over the Blow Me Down Mountains but the park actually has lots of trees to shield visitors from the wind. • When the town of Deer Lake was named in the late 1800s, it was named for the many “deer” who often crossed the local lake. Those deer were actually caribou. • A whistle on the roof of the Deer Lake Power Plant was placed there during construction in the early 1920s. An air raid siren that was brought to Newfoundland from England, it is still used today. Local residents listen for the whistle to know whether they are on time for work, ready for lunch, or ready to end their work day. It is sounded Monday to Saturday but silent on Sunday. The whistle also is blown in honor of several Canadian holidays. • If you do happen to visit Blow Me Down Park and Deer Lake in Newfoundland you should also head southwest and see Jerry’s Nose. Why? Because a place with a name like that should be interesting! • Heading way south, actually to the southern hemisphere, there is a lone rock hill in Queensland, Australia that is named Bang Bang Jump Up! This may make you wonder if a hunter found a large kangaroo years ago! • Hat Head National Park in New South Wales Australia boasts sand dunes, wetlands, the clear waters of the Tasman Sea and beautiful beaches. As opposed to “bed head,” which means bad hair, this is a place where a hat is needed for protection from the sunshine. It is about seven hours south of the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia. • There are many odd place names in all countries, including the United States. The state claiming New York City, one of the most fashion forward, sophisticated cities in the world, is also where Hoosick and Owl’s Head are located. However, there is also an Owl’s Head, Maine. Additionally, Maine has Bald Head and Suckerville on the map. • Speaking of suckers, if you’ve driven across the U.S. on Interstate 40 you’ve probably noticed signs for Toad Suck Park, near Conway, Arkansas. Years ago, Toad Suck was a steamboat stop on the Arkansas River. The legend is that riverboat crews would visit a local tavern and “suck whiskey until they swelled up like toads!” The name is still used today for a U.S. Corps of Engineers Lock and Dam, a bridge, and the popular “Toad Suck Daze” festival held in Conway each May. • By the way, most Americans say the name of the Arkansas River using the same pronunciation used for the state: Ar-can-saw. People in the state of Kansas call it the Ar-Kansas, with emphasis on their state name! • Kansas has a small unincorporated town named

Canada. David Christie, Speaker of the Canadian Senate from 1874-1878, sent his sons to purchase land in Kansas and other Canadians followed. • Some places have names that have no known reason for their origin. Maybe the answer to those origin questions should be submitted to Why, Arizona! Why is a community about thirty miles north of the Mexican border near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The town name originated from the Y intersection of State Routes 85 and 86. Arizona law required all city names to have at least three letters – or it would have simply been “Y.” By the way, the intersection has since been changed to a T intersection. • If you are looking for Grit, Noodle or Cut and Shoot, you need to go to the state of Texas. Grit was so-named after the texture of the soil. Noodle was named after Noodle Creek, which according to old folk tradition meant “nothing,” meaning the creek bed was dry. • Cut and Shoot was named when a religious dispute concerning a visiting preacher arose in the Texas town. Some wanted to hear him and some didn’t! An eight-year-old said, “I’m scared! I’m going to cut around the corner and shoot through the bushes in a minute!” He did cut but didn’t shoot and his words lived on in the town name! • While all places have histories, the small towns of Remote and Boring in Oregon must not have been as lively as Cut and Shoot. No Name, Colorado also missed out on a lively name. • Hot Coffee, Mississippi got its name from an innkeeper who attached a sign shaped like a coffee pot to his building to attract business in the 1800s. The inn’s business grew and the area adopted the name. • Two Egg, Florida was originally named Allison after a family-owned sawmill. During the Great Depression locals began trading eggs for other needs at the general store. The practice saved the town, and the name Two Egg was adopted. Tiny little Two Egg is still on the map! • Many strange names dot the map of Kentucky. Monkey’s Eyebrow, Rabbit Hash, Big Bone Lick, and Possom Trot are some of the peculiar ones. However, you have to go to Missouri to get to Peculiar and if you are interested in bigger critters like moose, maybe a visit to Eek, Alaska would be fun! • For the longest place name in the world, head down under to beautiful New Zealand. gihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu is a hill where a chief of the native Maori tribe mourned the loss of his brother. It means “the hilltop where Tamatea with big knees, conqueror of mountains, eater of land, traveler over land and sea, played his koauau to his beloved.” ■

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For Advertising Call (248) 423-1765 GREAT DOUGH! While many think of money when they see the word, “dough,” this information is about the use of dough in baking some of the world’s favorite breads. • The topic of bread dough is enormous so a few “little” facts about some popular breads will fill this Tidbits section quickly. • Let’s start with the Pillsbury Dough Boy. An icon of advertising in America known around the world, “Poppin’ Fresh” is the doughboy’s official name. Created by the Leo Burnett advertising agency in 1965, the doughboy debuted in a crescent roll commercial. Within three years he had an 87% recognition factor. • The doughboy’s first words were,”Hi! I’m Poppin’ Fresh, the Pillsbury Doughboy!” As he popped out of the canned rolls, he also said, “Nothin’ says lovin’ like bakin’ in the oven, and Pillsbury says it best.” Since the beginning, the doughboy has been dressed in a chef’s hat bearing the Pillsbury logo, a white neckerchief and his soft “doughy” body. He is known for his cute giggle when poked in the tummy! • BeaverTails Canada Inc. has a corner on the market in the northern country with its famous pastries called “BeaverTails.” The company claims that it is “the first to hand-stretch fried pieces of dough to the shape of beavers’ tails.” Created by Pam and Grant Hooker in Ottawa in 1978, the company is now

owned by twin brothers Anthony and Pino DiIoias and Pino’s wife, Tina Serrao. • The pastries, made with whole wheat dough and a variety of sweet toppings, had a big television moment when President Obama stopped by the Byward Market in Ottawa in 2009. They also have been served at special events, such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January, 2012. • Just as BeaverTails are fried dough (or floatcooked), so are “beignets.” The official state doughnut of Louisiana, beignet is French for “fried dough.” Most popular at the Café du Mond, “the original French Market coffee stand since 1862,” in New Orleans, beignets were actually brought to

Louisiana by Acadians from the Maritime Provinces of Canada: Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. • Areas with large Polish communities serve their own version of fried doughnuts, paczki, usually with a sweet filling. Mardi Gras, which is March 4 this year, is Paczki Day in Poland and areas with Polish immigrants. • Napoleon Bonaparte was the originator of the name for pumpernickel bread. His demand for a loaf of dark rye bread was for his horse! He ordered “Pain pour Nicole,” which meant “Bread for Nicole,” the horse. This was in Prussia where the bakers were German and they heard it as “pumpernickel.” • Another bread with an odd name is the “hushpuppy.” Served in the southern U.S., usually with fried fish or other seafood, hushpuppies are small round or finger-shaped bites of fried cornmeal batter. Several legends about the name exist, either about Civil War soldiers, fishermen, or cooks who tossed the tasty treats to dogs to stop begging or barking followed by, “Hush, puppy!” The oldest story of their creation actually is attributed to a group of nuns from France who settled in New Orleans around 1727; the treats were known as “croquettes de maise,” or corncake. • The term “breaking bread” is not only a term used for mealtime, but for religious fellowship. It is also a universal term for “peace.” Now, go in peace and enjoy some dough! ■ all - yo u - c an - eat pi z z a

SeniorBits by Matilda Charles

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One particular study compared “master athletes” (recreational athletes who seriously exercised four to five times a week) who were 40 to 80 years old. Researchers measured leg strength, muscle mass and fat content of their muscles. They even took MRI scans of cross sections of the muscles of those at various ages who exercised versus those who didn’t. They discovered that the loss of muscle mass and strength was not due to aging alone. Senior athletes had almost as much leg muscle as the younger athletes. There was little fat in the muscles of senior athletes. There was little loss of strength. Which means there’s hope for the rest of us. Here’s my theory, after viewing the photos: We might not get back all the muscles and strength we had when we were very active and younger, but we can get back some of it, even if we’ve

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Ask about classes at your local senior center. Even yoga or tai chi would be a good place to start. 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) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Tidbits® Michigan Smelly Tonsil Stones Common in Young Adults By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Dear Dr. Donohue: What is the best way to get rid of tonsil stones, besides sticking my finger down my throat as far as I can and trying to dislodge the smelly things? More importantly, what is the way to prevent tonsil stones? I never had them until a year or so ago. --S.M. Answer: Tonsil stones, or tonsilloliths, are the not uncommon (one study reported them in 7 percent of young adults) but seldom discussed clusters of calcified material that lodge in the tonsils. Your tonsils, those oval-shaped swellings on the sides of the back of your throat, are important for the cells of the immune system. Tonsilloliths form in the crypts (deep valleys) of the tonsil, and sometimes are visible as white or yellow spots when looking in the mirror. They become bothersome if they are large enough to cause discomfort or difficulty swallowing, but often they are noticed because of their unpleasant odor. Tonsilloliths often spontaneously come out of the tonsils; they usually are described as waxy or hard, with a peculiar odor. I don’t recommend sticking your finger in

Collision

the back of your throat. The gag reflex can be very strong, and the tonsils have a very good blood supply, so damaging them can be very bloody. Some authorities recommend removal using the tongue attachment of a Waterpik (or similar device), but I have had general success with saltwater gargles. Very large or recurrent tonsilloliths are an indication for a visit to the ENT doctor. Dear Dr. Donohue: My blood count showed that my hemoglobin is too high. Everything else is normal. My doctor says the hemoglobin is high because I smoke. The doctor is on me, every time I see him, to stop smoking. I want to, but I haven’t been able to. Is he putting me on with another scare tactic?-- S.C. Answer: Hemoglobin is the stuff inside red blood cells that grabs onto oxygen as the blood cells pass through the lungs. Determining a person’s hemoglobin is a surrogate for determining the number of red blood cells. The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke prevents the attachment of oxygen to the red blood cell. The body senses an oxygen deficit. It ups the production of red blood cells to compensate. The hemoglobin count rises. Your

doctor is telling you the truth. Now you’ve got two doctors harping on you. Dear Dr. Donohue: I am writing to see if the medicine I get in the United States is the same that I get from India. I took Evista by Eli Lilly, who says there is no generic; however, my supplier from India says there is a generic.-- A.O. Answer: India has no patent protection of medications, so many Indian companies make versions of U.S. pharmacologic drugs at greatly reduced cost. Some of the companies are exceedingly reputable, and the drugs are identical. However, you don’t have the guarantee of purity that comes with government regulation of pharmaceuticals in the United States and Canada. While I understand wanting to save money on an expensive medication, you’re taking a risk. 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 328536475.yearly in the United States. (c) 2014 North America Synd., Inc., All Rights Reserved

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Auto Sales Expert Varsity Lincoln Barry Harnos Lincoln MKC Configurator Comes Alive

Dear Varsity Lincoln: I saw your article last month regarding the MKC, are they available for order yet? -Hollie Stevens Canton, MI Answer: Yes, we do have order guides available! Lincoln has also launched a configurator online allowing consumers to get a better idea of how this new model with stack up against other compact luxury crossovers. Like we mentioned last month the MKC will have a starting price of $33,995, but now we know that its price includes a destination charge of $895. Models equipped with the base 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine come standard with the Premiere package – $33,100 for front-wheel drive and $35,595 for all-wheel drive. Both models offer equipment upgrades from the Select and Reserve packages. The $3,230 Select package adds features like leather seats, power passenger seat, folding

and heated door mirrors and painted 18-inch wheels, while the pricier $6,935 Reserve package adds in heated and cooled front seats, panoramic roof, hands-free liftgate, two-tone wheels and an embedded modem (providing features such as remote lock and unlock, vehicle finder and preconditioning). Opting for the new 2.3-liter EcoBoost inlinefour raises the base price to $39,965, and it comes standard with all-wheel drive and all of the equipment in the Select package; the Reserve package is still optional. All models can be further optioned up with the $2,235 Technology Package (adding adaptive cruise, active park assist and lane keeping system) and the $580 Climate Package (heated rear seats and steering wheel, auto high beams and rain-sensing wipers). Checking all the options, a fully loaded 2015 MKC with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost will have a total MSRP of $47,715. Later this year, Varsity Lincoln will offer consumers the opportunity to take the MKC overnight for a 24 or 48 hour Date Night test drive. If you are interested in test driving or ordering an MKC please call or stop by Varsity Lincoln for more information.

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Cemetery Clean Up Day-- Saturday, April 12 9 am - 12 pm Arbor Day-------------------- Saturday, April 26 9 am - 12 pm River Day-------------------- Saturday, June 7 9 am - 12 pm Earth Day-------------------- Saturday, May 3 9 am - 12 pm Shredding Days------------- First Saturday every month 9 am - 12 pm For more information, please call Novi Parks at 248.347.0400 or visit www.cityofnovi.org.

Welcome To

Clean Out Your Junk Drawer

Parks & Recreation!

Please help us and our programs out by Clean out your junk drawer… closets… and kitchens! We are in need of your donations. We will gladly accept the following items that have been cleaned or are new and in package. • Old and clean bedsheets - worn are OK • Picnic baskets • Pet costumes, gently used • Costume pieces • Hoola Hoops • Halloween Decorations, not scary • CLEAN Plastic Bottle Caps, all colors, 2 inches or smaller • Spools of Ribbon, any length • Magnets • Envelopes

Northville Watch For Our Spring/ Summer Brochure!

Spring/Summer Brochure will be available online and mailed to residents on March 7th!! Program Registration Begins on March 18th (residents) and March 21st (non-residents) Beat the winter blues and get moving!!Come join us for our drop in activities at Recreation Center at Hillside and the Northville Community Center. Basketball, volleyball, pickleball, swimming, fitness classes! Full schedules available online.

One Starry Night- An Earth Hour Event Saturday, March 29, 7-9 pm Nature Center

Mother Daughter Princess Tea Saturday, March 22, 10-11:30 am Longacre House Dress up like a princess and join us for a fancy tea party! Activities include: A princess craft to take home, a tea complete with the fanciest cookies in town. You’ll have a chance to get your picture taken with famous princesses. Ages: 3+ Fee: $13/ person/ Resident Fee: $8/ person Class #210500-01 Registration Deadline: March 14

Turn off the lights and explore the cosmos with the Farmington Hills Nature Center! A local astronomer will explain the planets, stars, and phases of the moon. Kids will create a star wheel, listen to the legends of the constellations, and sparkle with moon dust! There will be a telescope set-up to view the starry night sky! Please dress for cold weather, as the star gazing protion of the program will be held outdoors. Ages: 5+ Fee: $5 per person or $15 per family of 4 Class #211239-01

Pizza & Eggs Saturday, April 12, 12-1:30 pm Costick Center This is not your ordinary egg hunt! First, we will

Items will be used for future activities, including our annual Trick or Treat Trail, Northville Nite: A Family New Year’s Eve Party. Items accepted at the Recreation Center at Hillside, 700 West Baseline, Northville, MI 48167 at anytime. If you find these or other craft items that we may be interested in please call Julie Foley, Aquatic Supervisor & Special Events Coordinator, at 248- 349-0203 ext. 1404 for approval. For our complete Fall/Winter 2013 - 2014 brochure visit: www.northvilleparksandrec.org 700 West Baseline Rd. Northville, MI 48167

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eat pizza and then head out to the “egg patch” to search for eggs. A bag will be provided for the search and all children will receive a goody bag. Children must be accompanied by an adult Fee: $7/ resident or $12/ non-resident Class #210507-01 Registration Deadline: April 4 or until full

SAVE THE DATE Earth Day Celebration April 22 at Heritage Park View a full list of programs and events in our Special Services Activities Guide! Scan the QR Code to view our Brochure!

Page 6

Tidbits® Michigan WE CLEAN ALL BLINDS & SHADES!

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Answer: Happy 2014 to You, too, Lauren-- and to all of our TIDBITS friends! This a great question and one we are asked frequently. While there ARE the occasional foreclosed home listings still trickling into the market, the traditional views one may have about a foreclosed home and its marketing sure has changed. In order to answer you best, I’d like to confirm that the reason most people are interested in foreclosed properties is the perception that you’ll save a lot of money because they are priced considerably below market value, even if they require rehabilitation, restoration or significant repairs. While several popular TV shows we love to watch feature a seeming abundance of these opportunities, the “bargains” of a few years ago are actually very few and far between, today. To illustrate my point, I checked the MLS today, and there are only 17 out of 458 listings for sale in Plymouth, Canton and Northville indicated as foreclosures, as of this writing. These 17 homes (less than 4% of the available homes for sale ) are on the market at an average of $255,000. Now, when you take into consideration that the average property sold and closed in those same areas in 2013 at an average of $242,000, suddenly, you realize these “foreclosures” are not priced significantly below market at all, anymore. And frequently, the banks are investing in new carpet, paint and cleanup so the homes are more marketable and bring a better price. We’d love to help you find a new home, Lauren! Call us and we can help you start the process. And readers, If you’re thinking about buying a new home or selling your property, Century 21 Curran & Christie would like to apply for the job!

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Robert Curran Dear Robert: Happy New Year! I am thinking about buying a new home in the area and wondered if I can find any great foreclosure bargains?-- Lauren B. Plymouth

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Stone of the Month Aquamarine by Puja Gupta

he month of March heralds spring....but this year I think March forgot what it was meant to do. So with the white outside, I would like to talk about the cool blue gem known as Aquamarine.

Bob Curran is the President and CEO of Century 21 Curran & Christie, ranked the #1 Century 21 Office in the Great Lakes Region and #7 in the USA in 2011.

(248) 264-1700 or (800) 621-2021 Visit us on the web: www.century21cc.com

Ask

Jenny

Dear Jenny: I am a stay at home mom with two daughters, ages 3 and 5. My neighbor down the street has a boy and a girl roughly the same ages. We have been neighbors for almost 10 years and have always gotten along great. She loves to suggest play dates for our kids but I always find myself coming up with an excuse to decline. Honestly, her kids are little brats! They hit, bite, tantrum, and basically trash my house when they come over. I am unsure how to handle this. Do I discipline them or wait for her to do it? --Leslie in Farmington

Dear Leslie: Situations like this can be tricky. If you are comfortable talking to her about this, you should. Approach her as you would want to be talked to, without a judgemental attitude. People can take criticism of the children as a personal attack

Answer on page 2

on themselves. We tend to see our offspring as an extension of ourselves and take it personally when our parenting skills are called into question. That being said, you should never hesitate to step in when it is a matter of safety. Your rules apply in your home and giving gentle but firm direction is completely appropriate. Believe it or not, children appreciate boundaries. They me not show it, but clear rules help them know what is expected of them. Another solution would be to arrange play dates in a neutral location, away from your homes. Sometimes a larger group of children can diffuse an attention seeker. It would be even better if it was a structured activity like crafts or even gymnastics. Burning off extra energy can do wonders to distract a mischievous mind. However you decide to handle it, put yourself in her place and think about how you would want it done. Next month: She has an overbearing motherin-law. Read about it in April’s column. Do you have a question for Jenny? Send an email to: Editor@TidbitsMi.com

The name aquamarine is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marina, meaning the sea. This gemstone was believed to protect sailors, as well as to guarantee a safe voyage. The serene color of aquamarine is said to cool the temper, allowing the wearer to remain calm and levelheaded. Its pale, cool color beautifully complements spring and summer wardrobes. Aquamarine is most often light in tone and ranges from greenish blue to blue-green; the color usually is more intense in larger stones. This gemstone is mined mainly in Brazil, but also is found in Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan, and Mozambique. Those born in March can wear another gem Bloodstone; a dark-green jasper flecked with vivid red spots of iron oxide. This ancient stone was used by the Babylonians to make seals and amulets and was believed to have healing powers — especially for blood disorders. Medieval Christians often used bloodstone to carve scenes of the crucifixion and martyrs, for which reason it was also dubbed the Martyr’s Stone. According to the legend about the origin of bloodstone, it was first formed when drops of Christ’s blood fell and stained some jasper at the foot of the cross. A beautiful example of carved bloodstone with the seal of the German Emperor Rudolf II can be seen at the Louvre in Paris. Generally found embedded in rocks or in riverbeds as pebbles, primary sources for this stone are India, Brazil, and Australia.

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