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by Patricia L. Cook Next week, on February 21, many people around the globe will celebrate Mardi Gras. This issue of Tidbits will “laissez les bons temps rouler” (let the good times roll) as we explore this celebration. • • The city most associated with Mardi Gras in America is New Orleans. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday,” the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which begins the Christian season of Lent. It is also the last day of the Carnival season. “Carnival” season is a period of feasting and fun that always begins on January 6, which in Christianity is the Feast of Epiphany, following the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” While mostly celebrated in areas where Roman Catholicism is predominant, Epiphany is celebrated in other churches as well. • • In New Orleans, parades happen for several weeks before Mardi Gras, but the largest and probably most famous happen on the last weekend before and through Mardi Gras day. There are about a dozen held in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day, with even more in the suburbs. • • Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday and Lent are all important times for Catholics. Ash Wednesday is the first of 40 days (excluding Sundays) prior to Easter that make up Lent. Lent is a time of preparation for Easter, when the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. • • Another term used for Mardi Gras is “Shrove Tuesday.” Shrove is the past tense of “to shrive” and means “to go to or make confession.” Mardi Gras is known as the day to party. In New Orleans, when the clock strikes midnight, Lent starts, and the ...continued on page 2
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Parades... (continued) party ends. Mounted police lead a parade of street cleaners, clearing and cleaning the city. • • Historians believe that French explorers Iberville and Bienville held the first American Mardi Gras on March 3, 1699. After a very difficult journey down the Mississippi River, they landed about 60 miles south of New Orleans. They had a small celebration and named the area “Pointe due Mardi Gras.” Bienville also established “Fort Louis de la Louisiane,” which later became Mobile, Alabama. Many say that the first official Mardi Gras was held in Mobile in 1702. (During this time, before the Louisiana Purchase, Mobile was part of Louisiana.) • • For many years, New Orleans and other French settlements of the South marked the Mardi Gras holiday with street parties, masked balls and lavish meals. When the Spanish took control of New Orleans, they abolished the rowdy celebrations. The bans were in force until Louisiana became a state in 1812. • • Secret societies or clubs, called krewes, started forming as early as 1781. The first was the Perseverance Benevolent & Mutual Aid Association. Krewes started the parades as we know them today and keep them going. The krewes are private, non-profit organizations whose members plan and pay for their parades, costumes, throws and more. There are no sponsorships or city funds used. • • By the late 1830s, there were processions of masked people with carriages and riding horseback. Newspapers started announcing the Mardi Gras events in advance. More krewes formed, and today there are more than 50 parades in the Greater New Orleans area. • • On February 24, 1857, the Mistick Krewe of Comus, a secret society of businessmen, organized a torch-lit procession with rolling floats and marching bands. This began the parade traditions that persist today. The parade was followed by a ball for the krewe and their guests. • • Today the elaborate, invitation-only balls for the many krewes begin when Carnival Season starts on January 6. Each krewe elects a king and queen and their court. They wear masks and are never officially revealed; except for Rex, who as the King of Carnival, is revealed the day before the parade. • • The Krewe of Rex, organized in 1872 by a group of businessmen, came up with the idea to have a King of Carnival. They held the first parade during the daytime. This krewe introduced the Mardi Gras song (“If Ever I Cease to Love”), the flag and the colors of purple, green and gold. Meaning was assigned to the colors in 1892: Purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. • • While most parades require crowds to simply watch and applaud when floats pass, Mardi Gras crowds work hard to catch “throws.” This tradition started in 1871. The most popular throws are beads, plastic cups and doubloons. Doubloons are aluminum medallions, like large coins, that depict the parade theme on one side and the krewe’s emblem on the other. The first medallions appeared in 1884, with the Krewe of Rex, and the start of doubloons like those given out today started in 1960 also with Rex. • • The actual name for the Krewe of Rex is the School of Design. Rex, the King of Carnival, arrives by a boat that crosses the Mississippi River on the night before Mardi Gras. When Rex arrives, the Mayor of New Orleans presents him with the key to the city. • • One of the most popular and “different” parades held during Mardi Gras in New Orleans is put on by the Krewe of Zulu.
...continued on next column
Issue #495
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This krewe started in the early 1900s, with their first official appearance as Zulus in 1909. The group started from a group of black men who belonged to a Benevolent Aid Society. These societies were the first forms of insurance in the black community where, for annual dues, members received financial help when sick and financial aid when needing to bury deceased members. • • Zulus made a distinct impression on Mardi Gras crowds in 1909 by being totally different. They wore raggedy pants and had a quartet singing in front and behind their king. The king wore a “lard can” crown and carried a “banana stalk” scepter. • • Another difference with the Zulu Parade is their unusual throws. Possibly as early as 1910, the krewe made their mark by throwing coconuts, known as “Golden Nuggets.” In the early years the coconuts were in their natural “hairy” state, but a few years later, the krewe started handing out beautiful painted and decorated coconuts. • • In 1988, the Louisiana Legislature passed a law dubbed the “Coconut Bill” that excluded the coconut from liability for injuries arising from the Zulus handing out coconuts in their parades. • • Louisiana is the only state where Mardi Gras is a legal holiday.
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Week of February 13th ¥ On Feb. 16, 1848, romantic composer Frederic Chopin plays his final concert in his adopted city of Paris, 18 months before his death from tuberculosis at the age of 39. After fleeing his native Poland, he spent the rest of his life amid the high society of France. ¥ On Feb. 19, 1851, an angry mob in San Francisco’s business district “tries” two Australian suspects in the robbery and assault of C.J. Jansen. Vigilantes were fairly common during the Gold Rush boom in San Francisco, and they were so well regarded that they took over the Democratic Party in the late 1850s, and some became respected politicians. ¥ On Feb. 18, 1885, Mark Twain publishes his famous and controversial novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” At the book’s heart is the journey of Huck and his friend Jim, a runaway slave, down the Mississippi River on a raft. ¥ On Feb. 13, 1915, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is formed. ASCAP collects and distributes royalties for copyrighted musical works. Today, ASCAP reports that it distributes more than $800 million in royalties annually to its members. ¥ On Feb. 14, 1929, Sir Alexander Fleming, a bacteriologist, discovers penicillin. Having left a plate of staphylococcus bacteria uncovered, Fleming noticed that a mold, similar to the kind found on bread, had fallen on the culture and had killed many of the bacteria. ¥ On Feb. 15, 1933, president-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt escapes an assassination attempt. Deranged, unemployed brick layer Giuseppe Zangara shouted, “Too many people are starving!” and opened fire with six rounds. Zangara’s extreme action reflected the anger and frustration felt among many Americans during the Great Depression. ¥ On Feb. 17, 1966, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys rolls tape on the first take of “Good Vibrations.” Six months, four studios and $50,000 later, he finally completed his 3 minute, 39 second symphony, pieced together from more than 90 hours of tape recorded during literally hundreds of sessions.
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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You don’t like rejection. But instead of trying to “ram” your ideas through to an unreceptive audience, stand back and wait for a more favorable environment later this month. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Job commitments call for the tidy Taurean to charge into those problem-plagued projects and get them into shape. Then go ahead and enjoy the fun and friendships of your expanding social life. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) The pressures of the workplace are beginning to ease. While you still need to stay connected to your ongoing commitments, you’ll be able to take more time to relax with family and friends. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You might feel that you need to prove how much you can do. But be careful not to take on more than you can handle, or you risk being bogged down. An Aries has a message for you. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Financially it could be a little tight for a while. So resist the urge to splurge on things you don’t really need. There will be time enough to indulge yourself when the money squeeze eases later this month. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) You demand trust from others. But someone is creating a situation that could put your own trustworthiness in question. Be sure to keep all lines of communication open. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A problem delays the recognition that you hoped to receive for your hard work. But all will soon be resolved. Remember to make patience your watchword this week. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Those wonderful ideas could expand your workplace prospects and ultimately lead you on a new career path. Your personal life also opens up new vistas. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) So much seems to be swirling around you these days that you might find it hard to focus on priorities. Best advice: Take things one at a time, and you’ll get through them all. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Work out situations with what you have, and avoid the temptation to create complications where they don’t exist. This applies both at home and in the workplace. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Keep your keen senses open to possible changes in personal and/or professional situations. Knowing what might lie ahead gives you an edge on how to handle it. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Personal pressures at work could create a problem with your performance. Best advice: Focus on the job ahead of you. If necessary, you can deal with the other issue later. BORN THIS WEEK: Like your fellow Aquarian Abraham Lincoln, you have a way of handling the most difficult situations with grace and conviction. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Issue #495
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Finding Lower-Rate Credit Cards If your credit is solid but you’re paying higher credit-card interest rates than you’d like, don’t expect the credit-card company to lower your rate without a request from you. Even then it’s likely you’ll be stuck. But you have another option: credit unions. It’s likely that a credit union will be your best bet for a credit card you’ll want to keep long term. The National Association of Federal Credit Unions [www.nafcu.org] wrote in a recent news release that credit unions have an upper limit of 18 percent for both credit cards and loans. Their average credit-card interest rate is 12 percent, with some as low as 9 percent. When it comes to fees, credit unions are generally much lower. Credit unions are not-for-profit, so they’re not out to charge a fee for every loophole they can get away with. You’ll find ATMs, good service and a friendly staff because as an account holder, you are a member-owner. If you want to look for credit unions you’re eligible to join and see a comparison between their rates and banks, go online to www.culookup.com. (Tip: On the lookup screen, it asks for your whole street address. Don’t give it. You’ll get just as much information by putting in just your ZIP code.) You’ll be shown a map of credit unions in your area. On the left side, click on Compare CU Rates for comparisons on nearly any financial product: car and boat loans, adjustable- and fixed-rate mortgages, money-market accounts, credit cards and certificates of deposit. The site also has a number of calculators for home, credit, retirement, savings and auto. Remember: Don’t cancel your other credit cards if you take a new one for a better deal. Bring the balance to zero on old card, and then let the card sit unused. Your credit score is partially determined by the total amount of credit available to you versus the percentage of that amount you have used. If you have an unused card with a $10,000 availability and you cancel that account, the percentage of your total availability drops. As the percentage of credit you use rises (after you cancel a card), your credit score drops. Keep your percentage under 30 percent. David Uffington regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Write to him in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com.
(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
Sciatica: Big Nerve Can Be Big Problem DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 78-year-old woman, and five months ago I came down with sciatica in my left leg underneath the buttock. It’s very painful. I’d like to know if there is something that can be done. -- S.M. ANSWER: The sciatic (sigh-ATTIC) nerve is the body’s longest and largest nerve. It springs from nerve rootlets that emerge from the spinal cord in the lower back. Those rootlets intertwine to form this big nerve. It travels from the back, through the buttocks and down the leg to the foot. Anything that presses on or irritates the nerve in its long course gives rise to sciatica (sigh-ATTICuh), painful inflammation of the nerve. A bulging back disk can press on the nerve. Arthritic spurs on the spine are another source of irritation. A collapse of a backbone from osteoporosis is another trigger for pain, and the pain can be in the lower back, the buttocks or down the leg to the foot. Have you tried Tylenol (acetaminophen) for pain relief? Aleve, Advil, Motrin and the many other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs dull pain and quiet inflammation. Icing the painful back area for 10 to 15 minutes three times a day is another way to numb pain. If ice doesn’t work, turn to heat -- hot compresses or a heating pad. Stretching the back might take pressure off the nerve. Sit on a firm chair with feet on the floor and knees shoulder-width apart. Turn slightly to the left. Then, with your right arm dangling down between the knees and left arm dangling down on the outside of the left knee, bend down to the floor as far as you can and hold that position for five seconds. Straighten up and reverse the process by turning to your right and arranging your arms with the right arm outside the right knee and the left arm between the knees. If this exercise hurts, stop. If it doesn’t, perform five bends each, to the right and then to the left. Do the exercise three times a day. Five months is a long time to put up with back pain. I’m not sure if self-treatment will do much for you. You need a doctor’s intervention, along with physical therapy. The booklet on back pain delves more deeply into its causes and treatments. To order a copy, write: Dr. Donohue -- No. 303W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. *** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Some time ago, you answered a letter from an 80-year-old lady who asked if she still needed to have mammograms. I say an unqualified yes. Two years ago, at the age of 82 1/2, my mammogram detected cancer. Surgery was followed by radiation. Two years later, I am feeling fine and doing well. -- A.S. ANSWER: Experts argue about the value of mammograms late in life. Stories like yours make me side with those who promote having mammograms as long as a woman is in reasonable health. If a woman has an estimate of living at least four more years, mammograms are a good idea. *** 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) 2012 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved
A couple with three children waited in line at San Francisco’s Pier 41 to purchase tickets for a boat trip to Alcatraz. Others watched with varying degrees of sympathy and irritation as the young children fidgeted, whined, and punched one another. The frazzled parents reprimanded them to no avail. Finally, they reached the ticket window. “Five tickets, please,” the father said. “Two round trip, three one way.”
February 14 - February 22, 2012
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Explore the World of International Investments You’re probably accustomed to measuring the progress of your investments, and the overall condition of the investment world, by checking on indexes such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500. And since these types of benchmarks focus alDustin Friend most exclusively on American companies, you might get the idea that the best investments are located right here in the United States. But that impression would be false — because there are, literally, a world of investment opportunities beyond the U.S. borders. In fact, as of the end of 2010, U.S. stock markets constituted less than a third of the total global stock market value, according to the World Bank. And you can probably just look around at the products you use in your daily life to identify many successful foreign companies. Why invest a portion of your portfolio internationally? Here are a couple of reasons to consider: Growth potential — The United States is a mature, highly developed economy. That doesn’t mean, of course, that we have no “upside” here. However, you can also find considerable growth potential in emerging markets — countries such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico that are characterized by younger, less mature economies. Diversification — The world’s financial markets are somewhat dependent on one another, but that doesn’t mean they constantly move in unison. In any given year, the U.S. markets may be down, but international markets might be doing better. Consequently, if during that year, you had invested only in U.S. companies, your portfolio may have taken a hit. It’s important to diversify your portfolio by investing in many different vehicles, but you can also boost your diversification through geography. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification can’t guarantee a profit or protect against loss.) While international investing can be beneficial, it does not come without risks. For one thing, when you invest overseas, you may encounter political instability, which could threaten the financial markets of a country or region. Conversely, financial problems, such as the European debt crisis, can result in loss of confidence in individual governments. Also, you might experience currency risk, which means that changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies could harm the value of your investments. And in any given year, any market, foreign or domestic, may be down. Ultimately, you should probably limit your exposure to international investments to no more than 20% to 25% of your overall portfolio, with the exact amount, if any, depending on your situation — your goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, financial situation and other factors. You may also want add an international flavor to your portfolio by investing in quality U.S. compa-
...continued on next column
Keep a level head in an up-and-down market. Dustin Friend Financial Advisor .
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1. When Philadelphia's Roy Halladay won his second Cy Young Award in 2010, he tied the mark for the longest gap between Cy Young Awards (seven years). Who else did it? 2. From 1986 through 2006, the San Francisco Giants had three managers. Name two of them. 3. In 2010, Ryan Mallett broke the University of Arkansas record for most career TD passes. Who had held the mark? 4. How many times during his 31 seasons did the NBA's winningest coach, Don Nelson, lead a team to the playoffs? 5. Who were the last two remaining active NHL players to have played in the 1980s? 6. How many times did the Japanese women's soccer team fail to beat the U.S. before defeating the American team in the 2011 World Cup final? 7. In the final race of his career in 1920, Man o' War defeated the 1919 Triple Crown winner in a match race. Name the losing horse. Answers 1. Atlanta's Tom Glavine -- 1991 and 1998. 2. Roger Craig, Dusty Baker and Felipe Alou. 3. Clint Stoerner, with 57 (1996-99). Mallett finished with 62. 4. Eighteen times. 5. Mike Modano and Mark Recchi, both of whom retired before the 2011-12 season. 6. Twenty-five times. 7. Sir Barton. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
Explore the World of International Investments continued... nies that do a considerable amount of business abroad. In any case, given the more complex nature of international investing, you’ll want to consult with a financial professional before writing a check. Still, consider the international investment world. With a little exploring, you may discover some good possibilities out there. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
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Issue #495
TM
Be a Responsible Pet Owner February is Responsible Pet Owners Month, and while I sometimes grouse about events that designate a specific period of the year to do something that should obviously be done every single day, I think it’s a worthy way to enlighten new pet owners or those thinking about getting a pet on how to care for that pet. So, how can you be a responsible pet owner? If you’re considering getting a pet: --Study and learn all you can about the pet or breed you’re interested in. --Consider adopting from a shelter or rescue. --Avoid buying dogs from puppy mills, at flea markets or other sketchy places. --If buying from a breeder, research and consider carefully before making a purchase. If you already have a pet: --Spay or neuter your pet. --Do more than just provide food, water and shelter: Give your pet lots of love and attention. --Teach your children how to properly care for pets and how to play responsibly with them. --Provide regular, daily obedience training to your dog. --Keep your cat indoors. --When taking your dog out for a walk, follow your town’s leash laws and pick up after it. --At dog parks, follow the posted rules. Owners who don’t follow rules can put the park at risk of being shut down. Don’t be that guy. There are, of course, many other ways to be a responsible pet owner. But this is a good time to review the way you care for your pets, the routines you’ve fallen into, the training you’ve meant to start -- and to plan new fun and activities for your pets and family. 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) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc. By Samantha Weaver
¥ It was 19th-century German philosopher, composer and poet Friedrich Nietzsche who made the following sage observation: “At times one remains faithful to a cause only because its opponents do not cease to be insipid.” ¥ Despite all the cartoons you’ve seen throughout your life, rabbits generally prefer greens to carrots, and mice would rather eat grains and fruit than cheese. ¥ The area that is now the state of California had a population of about 700 in 1854. In 2010, the population had increased to 37,253,956. In the span of just over one and a half centuries, the population increased a whopping 53,000 times. ¥ Rice paper is not made from rice. It’s made from the pith of the rice paper plant. ¥ You may be surprised to learn that, according to the National Sleep Foundation, 33 percent of all preschoolers have a TV in their room, and 20 percent of infants and toddlers have one. ¥ If you ever make a trip to Italy (lucky you!) and visit the town of Modena, be sure to go to the bell tower. There you might see an item that is, to the best of my knowledge, unique in the world: a wooden bucket that started a war. In 1325 a group of soldiers from the thencity-state of Modena raided rival city-state Bologna and returned home with the bucket. Greatly desiring to get the bucket back, Bologna declared war. The war raged on for years, but Bologna never did get its bucket back. ¥ If you’re a schoolteacher in Arkansas, you should be aware of an arcane law there: If you bob your hair, you’ll be ineligible for a pay raise. *** Thought for the Day: “A committee is a cul-de-sac down which ideas are lured and then quietly strangled.” -- Sir Barnett Cocks (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Issue #495
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As the family gathered for a big dinner together, the youngest son announced that he had just signed up at an army recruiter’s office. There were audible gasps around the table, then some laughter, as his older brothers shared their disbelief that he could handle this new situation. “Oh, come on, quit joking,” snickered one. “You didn’t really do that, did you?” “You would never get through basic training,” scoffed another. The new recruit looked to his mother for help, but she was just gazing at him. When she finally spoke, she simply asked, “Do you really plan to make your own bed every morning?”
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