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January 2, 2016

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of Pike, Floyd & Johnson Counties Volume 1 Issue 8 TheThe Neatest Little Paper Neatest Little PaperEver EverRead Read

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TIDBITS® SAYS

IT’S PARADE TIME

by Kathy Wolfe

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Soups, Salads, Sandwiches & Sweets

Everybody loves a parade! In conjunction with the New Year’s Day parades, Tidbits marches along several parade routes, bringing you the info on these processions.

• Ticker-tape parades are a well-known occurrence in New York City. The first such event took place in 1886 and honored the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. Back then, 1-inch (2.54 cm) strips of paper were used to print stock quotes from the ticker machine. Many of the offices along the Broadway parade route were stock brokers and threw the tape out of their office windows on those below, giving the tradition the name of ticker-tape parade. When the stock ticker was replaced with electronic boards in the 1960s, folks used shredded paper and confetti.

• The mayor of New York City is the one who decides who receives the honor of a ticker-tape parade. The route is called Canyon of Heroes and winds from a section of lower Broadway through New York’s financial district. Each honoree has a black granite marker embedded in the sidewalk along the route, inscribed with the date and description of the achievement.

Astronauts, military personnel, athletes, and political dignitaries are among those who have been honored. turn the page for more!

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Page 2

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PARADES (continued):

• Theodore Roosevelt was paraded upon his return from an African safari in 1910, Charles Lindbergh was hailed following his trans-Atlantic flight in 1927, and war generals Eisenhower and Nimitz were celebrated after World War II. Astronaut John Glenn was honored in 1962 and the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins were showered with confetti upon their return from the world’s first walk on the moon in 1969. Only one pope has received a New York ticker-tape parade, Pope John Paul II in 1979.

• Although often associated with athletic success, the first athletes weren’t honored in a ticker-tape parade until 1924, with the return of the Olympic team from the games in Paris, where Johnny Weissmuller won three gold medals in swimming and Harold Osborn was a hero in track and field.

Since then, several Olympic teams have been heralded, as well as the New York Yankees, the World Series Champions seven times, the New York Mets as Series winners in 1969, and the New York Giants football team. In 1957, Wimbledon Champion Althea Gibson, the first person of color to win in professional tennis, was paraded and remains the only tennis player to be honored as such.

• Athlete Jesse Owens faced extreme racial prejudice when he traveled to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. He proved his worth when he took the gold medal in the 100-meters, 200-meters, long jump, and relay team, the first American track and field athlete to win four golds in one Olympics.

The racial prejudice continued on the home front when Owens had to ride the freight elevator at New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to a reception following a ticker-tape parade honoring his victories. He later said that Franklin Roosevelt “snubbed me. The President didn’t even send me a telegram.”

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls Santa Claus is coming to town with a bag full of healthy chocolate goodies. Now that’s a “gift of the season” that you can sink your sweet tooth into without guilt.

Sugar substitute to equal 1/2 cup sugar, suitable for cooking 1/4 cup reduced-fat peanut butter 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup coarsely chopped dry-roasted peanuts 1. Layer a baking sheet with a large piece of waxed paper. In a medium-size microwavesafe mixing bowl, combine sugar substitute, peanut butter and chocolate chips. Cover and microwave on HIGH (100 percent power) for 30 seconds. Stir, then re-cover and microwave for another 15 seconds.

2. Stir in vanilla extract and peanuts. Mix well to coat completely. Form into 16 balls and place on waxed paper. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or until firm. Makes 8 (2 each) servings. * Each serving equals: 149 calories, 9g fat, 5g protein, 12g carb., 39mg sodium, 1g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Fat, 1/2 Meat, 1/2 Starch/Carb.; Carb Choices: 1.

IT WORKS!

Is There a Robot in Your Future?

The National Institutes of Health is about to spend $2.2 million to develop robots that will improve our quality of life. There will be three versions: one as a social companion for children to promote curiosity, one for the visually impaired to help with identifying and grasping objects, and one for us seniors.

Our version will be a dual-mode robotic Smart Walker to help keep us moving without the assistance of others and without the need for home remodeling or installing ramps for wheelchairs. It will have two abilities: a powerassisted Smart Walker, and a Smart Mule that will walk alongside.

Go online to www.nibib.nih.gov, click News & Events and scroll to “NIH funds development

of robots to improve health, quality of life” to see the prototype. The user would actually stand in the robot, with four sturdy legs on all sides keeping balance, and choose the level of assistance. This mode uses a computer camera to scan the environment and navigate obstacles while sensing the user’s motions.

The walk-along mule would be good for keeping balance while also letting the robot carry a load, perhaps a basket of laundry.

The purpose of the smart robots, according to the news release from NIH, is to keep us physically active. Which is a great idea.

I, however, have questions.

How much will this gadget weigh? Will it fold up and fit in the car? How easily will it assemble? Will it go over curbs?

Keep these in mind down the road when the robot is ready for trials. And, if you live anywhere near the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, chances are that they’ll need study participants at some point to test the robots.

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PARADES (continued):

1. Is the book of Matthew in the Old or New Testament or neither?

2. Who was Herod’s information source as to where the Christ Child was to be born? Joseph, Reuben, Micah, Matthew 3. Which Old Testament prophet (book) said the most about the birth of Christ? Nehemiah, Isaiah, Daniel, Obadiah 4. What group received the angels’ announcement of the birth of Jesus?

Carpenters, Shepherds, Tentmakers, Masons 5. Where was the young child when the Magi came to visit Him to present gifts? Manger, Under the stars, House, Temple 6. From Matthew 2, to what country did Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus flee? Jordan, Syria, Oman, Egypt

• The person honored with the most New York parades is explorer Richard Byrd, with three. The first was in 1926 after he achieved the first flight over the North Pole. The next year, his transatlantic flight was commemorated, and in 1930, the parade saluted his flight over the South Pole and his first Antarctic expedition.

• It required 466 sanitation workers to clean up 56.5 tons of paper after the parade following the Yankees World Series victory in 2009.

• The largest amount of paper thrown was in 1945, when a ticker-tape parade was held to celebrate the Allied victory over Japan. 5,438 tons of paper streamed out over Broadway, 100 times more than the average parade.

• There have been 206 ticker-tape parades since 1886, including the most recent for the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team in July, 2015, the first non-New Yorkbased team to receive a parade. The price tag for that parade was about $2 million.

• The Tournament of Roses Parade was first held in Pasadena on New Year’s Day, 1890, and included horse-drawn carriages covered in flowers. The parade was followed by foot races, polo matches, and a tug-of-war contest. In 1902, the parade was followed by a football game for the first time, considered the first “Rose Bowl.” However, football games post-parade have only been an annual event since 1916. Today’s Rose Parade route is 5.5 miles (8.9 km) long and includes marching bands, horse units, and flower-covered floats. Famous parade Grand Marshals have included Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bob Hope, Richard Nixon, Shirley Temple, Frank Sinatra, and Sandra Day O’Connor.

YOUR FIRST STEP IN KIDNEY DISEASE EDUCATION

Attend a Kidney Smart class to learn about your kidney health and treatment options. These one-hour classes are led by caring healthcare professionals in your community at no cost to you.

Please contact: Brandi Davis, Kidney Smart Educator 606-616-8627

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1. In 1963, Pete Rose recorded his first base hit for the Cincinnati Reds, against Pittsburgh. What kind of hit was it?

2. Name the two left-handers who each won 20 or more games four times for the Baltimore Orioles between 1968 and 1974.

3. In 2014, Marcus Mariota became the all-time leader in career passing yards (10,796) for the University of Oregon. Who had held the mark?

4. The Portland Trail Blazers set an NBA record in 2015 for most consecutive wins in home openers (15 years). Who had held the mark?

5. When was the last time before 2015 that two U.S. players were among the top five picks in the NHL Draft?

6. Name the last time before 2015 that Japan won the world title in men’s gymnastics.

7. Who was the last female golfer before Inbee Park (2013-15) to win three consecutive Women’s PGA Championships?

Q: I saw a commercial for a new TV series with Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta, and it looked REALLY good. What can you tell me about it? -Danny T., via email A: In “Shades of Blue,” which premieres Thursday, Jan. 7, at 10/9c on NBC, Jennifer Lopez stars as New York detective Harlee Santos, a single mother who runs with a group of dirty cops, taking her cut of the bribes and protection money to give her bright and promising daughter a leg up for a better future. However, she is caught by the FBI, which forces her to turn informant on her cop family to save herself. The cop drama also stars Drea de Matteo (“The Sopranos”) and Dayo Okeniyi (“The Hunger Games”).

I recently spoke with Dayo, and he gave me the inside scoop on the series: “When the show starts, it’s my character’s (Michael Loman) first day as a detective. And a lot of stuff goes down. And over the course of 13 episodes, we get to really learn the truth of what it’s like to be a detective in modern America. I just love the script. When writers are that good, your job is very simple.”

Dayo tried not to fan-geek out too much while working with the legendary Ray Liotta (who plays Lt. Wozniak), telling me: “Ray Liotta is 100 percent one of my top ten favorite, most dynamic actors of all time. And ‘Goodfellas’ is one of my favorite movies. If Ray Liotta tells you in a movie, ‘Let’s go for a ride,’ you’re going to die.

So, I remember reading one of the drafts, and Wozniak comes up to Loman, and he’s like: ‘Loman, put down the phone. Let’s go for a ride.’

And I was like, ‘Oh my God! Am I going to die?’

That was really cool. And I’m pretty sure I’m the first person to go on a ride with Ray Liotta and not die.” *** Q: Last year you wrote about a musical TV series that was on ABC and had knights and such in it.

What’s it called, and will it be back? -- Jill H., Brooklyn, New York A: The show you’re thinking of is ABC’s “Galavant,” an event miniseries that aired eight halfhour episodes in January 2015. Season two will begin airing its 10 episodes over the course of five nights, starting Sunday, Jan. 3. *** Q: Can you tell me what Robert Kazinsky has been up to since “True Blood”? -- Ginger C., via email A: Robert stars in the new Fox series “Second Chance,” which premieres Jan. 13 at 9/8c.

The story is inspired by Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” and centers on Jimmy Pritchard, a 75-year-old former Los Angeles County sheriff who is killed in a robbery, and then brought back to life in the body of a younger man (Robert) by billionaire tech-genius twins Mary and Otto Goodwin.

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* On Jan. 2, 1897, American author Stephen Crane survives the sinking of The Commodore off the coast of Florida. He will turn the harrowing adventure into his classic short story “The Open Boat.” * On Dec. 29, 1915, the French National Assembly formally cedes the land that holds the British war cemeteries to Great Britain, ensuring that even as World War I was being fought, its most sacred monuments would be forever protected. * On Dec. 30, 1922, in post-revolutionary Russia, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR, also known as the Soviet Union) is established, comprising a confederation of Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine and the future republics of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. * On Jan. 3, 1938, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, an adult victim of polio, founds the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, later renamed the March of Dimes Foundation. The virus, which affects the central nervous system, flourished in contaminated food and water and was easily transmitted. * On Dec. 28, 1954, Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington is born in Mount Vernon, N.Y. In 2002, for his performance as a corrupt cop in “Training Day,” Washington became the first black man to win the Best Actor Academy Award since Sidney Poitier in 1964. * On Jan. 1, 1973, Roseann Quinn, a 27-year-old New York teacher, visits Tweed’s Bar in Manhattan and is picked up by her soon-to-be killer. The incident inspired the cautionary novel “Looking for Mr. Goodbar,” later made into a movie starring Diane Keaton. * On Dec. 31, 1999, the United States hands over control of the Panama Canal, putting the strategic waterway into Panamanian hands for the first time. A ship heading from New York to San Francisco can save about 7,800 miles by taking the Panama Canal rather than sailing around South America.

1. COMICS: In the comic strip “Peanuts,” where was Snoopy born?

2. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of unicorns known as?

3. FAMOUS QUOTATIONS: Who once said, “When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully”?

4. U.S. STATES: The Mystic River flows through which U.S. state?

5. MEDICAL: What is the medical name for a condition known as “the bends”?

6. ASTRONOMY: Which planets in our Solar System are known as the gas giants?

7. TELEVISION: Who did the character named Lurch work for?

8. HISTORY: Where was Martin Luther King assassinated in 1968?

9. GEOGRAPHY: Where are the Balearic Islands located?

10. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What would a vexillologist study?

To Your Good Health

By Keith Roach, M.D.

Artificial Sweeteners and Weight Gain

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am currently dieting and, with that, trying to reduce my sugar intake. I prefer drinks sweetened with aspartame over water most of the time. Am I asking for trouble? -- P.C. DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m curious how diet soda, which has zero calories, causes one to gain weight. In “studies” that say that, do they look at people who have had diabetes for years and use artificial sweeteners without gaining weight?

People will use ANY excuse for their weight. To blame a no-calorie sweetener seems a bit silly, don’t you think? -- V.W., R.D.N. ANSWER: There remains confusion about arti-

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PARADES (continued): • Although the Macy’s Parade has been an Thanksgiving morning fixture since 1924, it wasn’t the first. Gimbel’s, a Philadelphia department store, was ahead of them by four years, sponsoring the first parade in 1920.

Macy’s, however, became the one to watch, adding the first of their famous colossal helium balloons in 1927, a giant Felix the Cat. By 1933, more than a million people lined the parade route. As popularity grew, more balloons were added – Mickey Mouse in 1934, Superman in 1939, Popeye in 1957, and Hello Kitty in 1976. Other notable characters include Curious George, Scooby-Doo, Mr. Potato Head, and Snoopy and Woodstock.

• Look out below! On a rainy Thanksgiving in 1957, as Popeye floated above the New York City crowd, his cap filled up with rain, and dumped its contents on parade-goers below.

In 1994, the purple Tyrannosaurus Rex Barney veered off course and ran into a lamp post, causing a large tear in his side. Luckily, Barney was the only one injured. Not true three years later, when the Cat in the Hat struck a lamp post, flinging fragments to the street and striking a spectator, resulting in her skull fracture and a month-long coma.

• In 1919, the community of Lodi, California, held a parade honoring soldiers who had returned from World War I. A California entrepreneur named Roy Allen mixed up a formula for root beer he had purchased from an Arizona pharmacist and sold it on a street corner during the parade for a nickel a mug.

The beverage was so popular that before long, Allen had expanded to four sites, which eventually evolved into drive-ins. In 1925, he took on one of his employees Frank Wright as a partner and the pair began offering franchises under the name A&W. The company is the oldest franchise restaurant in the country with more than 1,100 locations in 10 countries.

Make Marbleized Paper at Family Wrap Party

Whether we’re children or adults, we all like to feel useful and part of the holiday festivities. Now’s the time to enlist the kids in the fun and creative job of giftwrapping. But before you go out and purchase rolls of wrap, save money by making a beautiful batch for this year’s gifts.

Gather big paper bags from your recycling bin, plus marbles and bright poster paint, and you’ll be ready for family fun.

Here’s the stuff you’ll need: -- One large, sturdy cardboard gift box approximately 12 by 18 inches, or similar container with sides -- several marbles (one for each paint color) -- liquid poster paint in several colors -- spoons (one for each color) -- plain brown paper grocery bags, construction paper or butcher paper -- recycled deli or margarine tubs -- scissors -- newspaper Here’s the fun: Cover your work surface with newspaper. Cut open the paper bags and trim a sheet to fit the bottom of the box.

(Or, if using construction paper or butcher paper, cut to size.) Place the paper inside. Pour a small amount of each color of paint into the containers.

Drop a marble in one of the paint containers. Shake the container gently until the marble is thoroughly coated with paint, or use a spoon to move the marble around in the paint. With a spoon, drop the marble in the box and shift the box back and forth so the marble rolls in all directions, leaving paint on the paper. Repeat the process, using a different marble for each color of paint desired.

When the colorful, abstract design is complete, remove your paper of modern art and let it dry.

TIP: For smaller packages, “shake and create” gift wrap using a clean, large cylindrical potato-chip can with a lid. Loosely roll a sheet of paper inside the can so that it lines the interior. Using one color at a time, roll a marble or two in paint (as described above) and drop in the can. Snap on the lid, shake a few times, remove the lid and put the marble or marbles onto newspaper.

Repeat with a marble or two in another color. Remove the paper to reveal your art. You might want to paint jingle bells along with the marbles for a fun, festive sound while shaking.

TOMMY TIDBITS CONTEST COMING SOON! Details coming in the next few weeks!

ficially sweetened beverages and their effect on weight gain and on overall health. There are two schools of thought: The first is that artificially sweetened beverages satisfy the desire for sweets, so people are less likely to consume more. The second is that diet soda, without any actual calories, provokes greater desire for sweets.

I do think that using studies is not silly, and might help sort this out. What I found was that in a 2009 study, those who drank more diet soda were more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.

This was confirmed in a 2013 study. It doesn’t prove that drinking the diet soda was the cause of the increased diabetes risk, but it is a consistent association.

By contrast, a 2014 study (funded by the American Beverage Institute) showed that, among a group of people in a weight-loss program, a greater degree of weight loss was seen among participants who were allowed to continue drinking diet soda compared with a group allowed to drink only water.

Alas, scientific studies don’t give us a definitive answer. Clearly, drinking diet soda is much, much better than drinking sugar-sweetened beverages. I will have to use my knowledge of biology and give my opinion that water is preferred

over artificially sweetened beverages, but I can’t prove it. I would say if you are still having trouble losing weight on diet soda, try switching to water to see if it helps.

Finally, blaming a particular food -- or blaming the person trying to lose weight -- is not likely to help that person reach a goal. *** DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an older male, with irregular heartbeat. I am on medication for it. Will having sex put too much strain on the heart or cause further problems? -- Anon.

ANSWER: This is a common concern, and fear of heart attack or other problems often keeps couples from sexual intercourse when one or both have heart issues. In most cases, the risk is low. I can’t tell you in your particular situation, but your cardiologist or regular doctor can answer your question.

People at moderate risk include those with a recent heart attack, with stable angina or with multiple cardiac risk factors. Those at high risk include people with unstable, recurrent angina, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe heart failure and high-risk irregular heart rhythms, such as ventricular tachycardia.

Regular exercise reduces heart risk from activity, including sexual activity.

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Easy Christmas Stollen

Ricotta cheese adds richness and moisture to this sweet bread.

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 8 tablespoons butter or margarine (1 stick) 1 cup ricotta cheese 1/2 cup candied lemon peel or coarsely chopped red candied cherries 1/2 cup dark seedless raisins 1/3 cup slivered blanched almonds, toasted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 large egg yolk 1. Heat oven to 325 F. Grease large cookie sheet.

In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. With pastry blender or two knives used scissor-fashion, cut in 6 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. With spoon, stir in ricotta until mixture is moistened. Stir in candied lemon peel, raisins, almonds, vanilla, grated lemon peel, egg and egg yolk until well mixed.

2. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; gently knead dough 2 or 3 times to mix. With floured rolling pin, roll dough into 10-inch-by-8-inch oval.

Fold oval lengthwise almost in half, so that edges do not quite meet.

3. Place stollen on prepared cookie sheet. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Transfer to wire rack. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter and brush over warm stollen.

Cool completely. Makes 12 servings. * Each serving: About 298 calories, 14g total fat (7g saturated), 7g protein, 38g carbohydrate, 67mg cholesterol, 211mg sodium.

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Apple-Ginger Glazed Ham for a Crowd

1 fully cooked smoked whole ham (14 pounds) 1/2 cup apple jelly 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger Fresh herbs for garnish

1. Heat oven to 325 F. Remove skin and trim some fat from ham, leaving about 1/4-inch fat covering.

2. Place ham on rack in large roasting pan (17 by 11 1/2 inches). Bake ham 2 hours 30 minutes.

3. After ham has baked 2 hours 30 minutes, prepare glaze: In small saucepan, combine apple jelly and ginger and heat to boiling over medium-high heat; boil 2 minutes. Brush ham with some glaze. Bake ham 30 minutes to 1 hours longer, brushing occasionally with remaining glaze, until meat thermometer inserted into center of ham registers 140 F (15 to 18 minutes per pound total cooking time).

4. When ham is done, transfer to warm large platter; let stand 20 minutes to set juices for easier slicing. Garnish with herbs. 20 maindish servings * Each serving: About 175 calories, 30g protein, 10g carbohydrate, 5g total fat (2g saturated), 81mg cholesterol, 1,500mg sodium. a Guinness World Record. In the city of Lima, Peru, Otto rode a skateboard through the legs of 30 people, setting a new record for skateboarding through the longest human tunnel.

* It was 20th-century Nigerian novelist, poet and professor Chinua Achebe who made the following sage observation: “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.” * Historians say that on April 4, 1968, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. participated in a pillow fight in the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. This wouldn’t be noteworthy, of course, except for the fact that he was assassinated at the motel that same evening. * Those who study such things say that men without beards are 40 percent more likely to describe themselves as happy. * In November of this year, a bulldog named Otto set

* You probably won’t be surprised to learn that before horseradish was called horseradish, it was known as “stingnose” in many areas of the United States.

However, you might be surprised to learn that it was sometimes rubbed on a person’s forehead to relieve a headache. * Lawmakers in Kentucky evidently once thought it necessary to pass legislation making it illegal to paint one’s lawn red. * You might not think of tarantulas as fragile, but they are. Despite their soft, furry appearance, if one of these spiders has even a short fall without catching itself on its thread, the drop likely will shatter its exoskeleton or rupture its abdomen. * If you ever have the good fortune to encounter a group of bunnies, you’ll know that you can collectively call them a “fluffle.”

Why Are Cats Such Finicky Eaters?

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I find it weird that my two dogs, “Shep” and “Bull,” can eat just about anything (I have to hide all the pet food), while my cat, “Trudy,” will turn up her nose at most food. And although she’s perfectly healthy, sometimes she gets sick after eating wet or fresh food. Why? -- Sarah in Madison, Wisconsin DEAR SARAH: Cats’ eating behaviors have long been a source of curiosity for both pet owners and the scientific community. Why do they turn their nose up at certain foods and chow down on others? Why do they sometimes throw up after eating? Why do they gnaw on grass when they’re meateaters?

The answer is: It’s complicated, and no one is entirely sure. A recent study, for example, found that cats have some genes that are more commonly possessed by herbivores

Page 5

(animals that eat only plants, like cows).

These particular genes help them detect bitter flavors, alerting them to potentially poisonous plants.

This research opens a new avenue into understanding why cats are more picky about their food than dogs -- also meateaters -- tend to be. If cats are detecting a bitter taste in their food then they may be less inclined to eat it. And, a bitter taste also may trigger a vomiting response to safeguard against ingesting what is perceived to be poison.

The study’s results could lead to changes in how commercial producers formulate their cat food. Whether that is a good thing remains to be seen.

In the meantime, feeding a finicky cat remains a trial-and-error process. Try small amounts of different foods -- dry, wet and fresh -- and note Trudy’s likes and dislikes.

NOTEWORTHY INVENTORS:

EDOUARD MICHELIN

“Because so much is riding on your tires” has been the familiar slogan for Michelin tires since 1985. Here’s the story on the French inventor who brought us the first pneumatic tire.

• Edouard Michelin studied art for ten years and had all intentions of spending his life as a painter in Paris. But at age 28, a family crisis altered his plans and the course of his life. The French family-owned business that manufactured agricultural tools, drive belts, hoses, and bicycle tires was in serious financial difficulties, and in 1888, Edouard abandoned his dream to help save the mismanaged company from ruin. His brother Andre, an architectural engineer, also abandoned his own business to join forces with Edouard. With Andre as the head of marketing and public relations and Edouard in charge of research and production, they set out to keep the business afloat.

• A bicycle with a punctured tire changed everything for the company. It took Michelin four hours to repair the bicycle’s tire, made of reinforced rubber and filled with compressed air. The pneumatics were glued to the rim of the wheel, and it was very time-consuming to glue the tire back on. The Michelin brothers could see that the inflatable tire made for a faster, more comfortable ride and resolved to build a detachable tire with an inner tube that was easily changeable by a cyclist.

• In 1891, the Michelins had their bicycle tire ready for the famous Paris-Brest bicycle race with one of the frontrunners, Charles Terront, riding on Michelin tires. When Terront, France’s first major cycling star, suffered a puncture, he was able to quickly fix the tire himself and went on to win the race. The product was an immediate success.

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IT WORKS!

CALL (606) 207-3846 physical ability, intelligence, courage, disposition, willpower, general alertness and personal habits (in particular, he disdained drinkers).

Those who didn’t adhere to his code weren’t around very long -- he even traded “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, a superstar, because he couldn’t stand his erratic nature. Mack, however, coached longer than any other manager in history, so it stands to reason that there just might be something to learn from his set The Mack Code of rules.

So once again, for all of you coaches, players or For the past two weeks, I’ve shared the core phi- people in need of some sort of self-help, here’s anlosophies of Vince Lombardi and John Wooden other gift for your bulletin board and locker room.

-- widely considered to be the greatest coaches of all time. Baseball, not surprisingly, is a little CONNIE MACK’S CODE OF CONDUCT weirder when it comes to measuring “the best” 1. I will always play the game to the best of my in any category. This week, we go with the great ability.

Philadelphia manager (right there, an oxymoron) 2. I will always play to win, but if I lose, I will not Connie Mack. Mack, it should be noted, won look for an excuse to detract from my opponent’s more games than any manager in history. He also victory. lost more games than any manager in history.

3. I will never take an unfair advantage in order to Mack’s code is particularly powerful when you win. put it into the context of its time. These rules 4. I will always abide by the rules of the game -- on were set down around 1916, a time when women the diamond as well as in my daily life. couldn’t vote, and ethnic strife and segregation 5. I will always conduct myself as a true sportsman were the norm. Mack loved the world he carved -- on and off the playing field. out for himself in between the lines.

6. I will always strive for the good of the entire Mack was a believer in the “big inning.” He team rather than for my own glory. preferred power hitters to contact hitters, and 7. I will never gloat in victory or pity myself in even though he is generally credited with the defeat. employment of the defensive shift, he didn’t 8. I will do my utmost to keep myself clean -- physlike to interfere much play to play. He wasn’t a ically, mentally and morally. meddler; he wanted a team made up of outstand- 9. I will always judge a teammate or an opponent ing players, trained in the fundamentals. He is as an individual and never on the basis of race or said to have valued seven things in a ballplayer: religion.

Published by Events in Print, LLC MICHELIN (continued):

• The next step was to adapt the tire for use on motor vehicles. At that time, automobiles were equipped with wooden wheels with a metal rim. The Michelins set about trying to convince French carmakers of the advantages of pneumatic tires. Within five years of that famous bicycle race, 300 Paris taxis were equipped with Michelin tires.

• In 1894, the Michelin Tire Company introduced what is now one of the world’s oldest and most recognizable trademarks, the Michelin Man. Named Bibendum, the character designed from stacked tires made his debut at the World’s Fair, the Lyon Exhibition of 1894, where the brothers had a booth.

• There were 52 very discouraged employees when the brothers took over the company, which quickly grew to 500 motivated workers when the bicycle tire became successful. Edouard Michelin knew all of them personally and took an interest in their personal lives and families. That became a little more difficult a few years later when the work force grew to 2,000.

By 1922, the Michelin factory employed 20,000 workers.

• Edouard passed away in 1940, but the company continued to break ground in the industry. In 1946, Michelin designed and patented the radial tire. In 1934, the company had purchased the bankrupt Citroen automobile brand, and in 1946, it was the leading automaker in France.

All new 1948 Citroen models were fitted with the new radial tires. Four years later, Michelin developed a radial truck tire.

Michelin now owns B.F. Goodrich and Uniroyal and is the world’s largest producer of tires. It was not until 2012 that the CEO was not a member of the Michelin family.

CLOCKS

Tick-tock goes the clock, goes the old nursery rhyme. Consider these facts about the history of various types of time-keeping devices.

• The word “clock” has its origins in the

1. He hit a triple.

2. Dave McNally (1968, ‘69, ‘70 and ‘71) and Mike Cuellar (‘69, ‘70, ‘71, ‘74).

3. Bill Musgrave, with 8,343 yards (1987-90).

4. The Boston Celtics (197992).

5. It was 2007 (Patrick Kane and James van Riemsdyk).

6. It was 1978.

7. Annika Sorenstam (200305).

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French word “cloche,” meaning “bell.” In German, the word is “glocke,” and Latin is “glocio.”

• In 1330, the octagonal bell tower of the San Gottardo Church in Milan, Italy, featured the first public clock. It was one of the first recorded clocks that struck the hours.

• Clocks became more accurate in 1656 with the invention of the pendulum. The weight on the pendulum swung back and forth steadily, and a clockmaker invented a device to count the swings and drive the clock’s hands.

• In 1755, Vacheron & Constantin, the first watch-manufacturing firm, was established in Switzerland, and it has remained in business continuously for 260 years. In 2005, the company manufactured a complex wristwatch for its 250th anniversary that was 18-carat gold with blue sapphire glass.

Containing 834 individual parts, only seven Tour de I’lle watches were made, carrying a price tag of $1.54 million.

• Levi Hutchins of Concord, New Hampshire, is credited with the first mechanical alarm clock in 1787. His clock did have one serious drawback – it could only ring at 4:00 AM! A mechanical wind-up alarm clock that could be set for any time was patented by a familiar name, Seth Thomas, in 1876. The Seth Thomas Company began producing clocks in 1813, and that brand can still be purchased today.

• The Westclox Clock Company began production of the familiar Big Ben alarm clocks in 1908. In 1912, the first batteryoperated alarm clock was introduced.

• In 1927, the highly-accurate quartz clock was developed by a Canadian telecommunications engineer, Warren Marrison. It was based on the regular vibrations of a quartz crystal in an electrical circuit, and could stay accurate for weeks or months at a time.

• The world’s most accurate clock is the strontium clock, an atomic clock that is accurate to within one second over 15 billion years. It was developed by physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder and measures the movement of strontium atoms pinned in a narrow column with

Autos

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powerful lasers. The strontium atoms have a vibrational frequency of about 430 trillion times per second, and the clock counts these oscillations to create the clock’s “tick.”

• Twice a year, many countries alter the time on their clocks by one hour, either ahead or back, in accordance with Daylight Savings Time. According to legend, in 1784, Benjamin Franklin jokingly proposed waking people earlier on summer mornings in order to work more during the day and save candles at night. Apparently not everyone considered it a bad idea!

Germany was the first country to officially adopt the system in 1916. Great Britain followed in 1917, and the U.S. in 1918.

There are differing opinions as to whether DST actually saves energy. Some studies indicate that it does cut electricity usage in the U.S. by about 1% a day. Others claim that about 3 million barrels of oil are saved during those months. There also seems to be a reduction in road accidents with the increased daylight.

Answers 1. Daisy Hill Puppy Farm 2. A blessing 3. Samuel Johnson 4. Massachusetts 5. Decompression sickness (also known as divers’ disease) 6, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune 7. “The Addams Family” 8. Memphis, Tenn.

9. Mediterranean Sea (Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera) 10. Flags

BIBLE ANSWERS: 1) New; 2) Micah; 3) Isaiah; 4) Shepherds; 5) House; 6) Egypt

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great for babies, too! -- JoAnn) * “Whip the whites of your eggs when you are working with heavy flours, like coconut and almond meal. The whipped whites will lighten cakes and muffins.” -- C.L. in Montana

* To keep snow off your windshield, use a flannel-backed tablecloth stretched to cover both windshield and wipers. Put it flannelside to the glass. Then you’ll be able to lift it (and the snow) off your windshield to drive.

* Mix a little cinnamon into a half-cup of powdered sugar. Then place a doily on top of a pound cake and sift the flavored sugar on top. Remove the doily to reveal the tasty design.

* Have trouble opening jars? Keep a mousepad -- those nifty computer desk pads -- in your kitchen. The rubber side gives you a great grip on jars of all sizes.

* “If you have trouble holding your cat still to clip its claws, sneak up while it’s asleep.

You might get only a couple done before your cat catches on and wriggles away, but you’ll get there.” -- P.L. in Oklahoma (Slow and steady wins the race, P.L. Your tip works

* “In cold winter months, keep your robe (and slippers or whatever else) under the covers with you when you sleep. Pull it next to or over you a few minutes before you get up. It’ll be toasty and will help make the transition into the cold a little less harsh.” -Giselle in New York

The Global Learning Organization (GLO) of Big Sandy Community and Technical College announces its study abroad trips for the summer of 2016.

Italy: The Grand Tour Led by Professor Greta Heintzelman Slone May 30-June 10, 2016 From Venice’s endless canals to each Roman piazza, Italy has no shortage of awe-inspiring sights. You’ll see Doge’s Palace pale façade change color at sunset, stroll over the Bridge of Sighs and explore the ruins of the ancient Roman Forum on this show stopping tour of Italian culture. We will explore Venice, Florence, Pisa, Assisi, Pompeii, Sorrento, Rome, and Capri during our 12 day stay. Highlights include Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, and world renowned art museum, The Accademia Gallery, where the Statue of David resides.

Two General Education courses to be offered in conjunction with this trip during the spring term 2016! Earn credit and experience the art of Italy for yourself!

Estimated Cost: $4,000.

For more information, contact: Greta Slone at GSlone0020@KCTCS.EDU Cuba Led by Professor Fallon Watson June 6-14, 2016 Our trip focuses on Havana as a people-to-people tour of this island culture that has been previously unknown to us. We will get to know local people, work with them in-depth in a variety of settings such as health clinics, farms, and even a circus school. This is an amazing once in a lifetime opportunity to see and experience authentic Cuban Culture.

General Education courses will be offered in conjunction with this trip during the spring term 2016! Earn credit and experience authentic Cuban culture!

For more information, contact Fallon.Watson@KCTCS.EDU