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April 27, 2016
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Volume 2 Issue 17
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TIDBITS® PLAYS SOME FAVORITE
VIDEO GAMES
Your comfort and health are our primary concerns.
by Kathy Wolfe Approximately 1.23 billion people around the world spend an average of an hour a day playing video games. This week, Tidbits studies up on the history of this industry. • Video games were being developed as far back as the 1950s, when New Mexico’s Los Alamos Laboratories developed the first blackjack program on an IBM 701 computer in 1954. A checkers game came along two years later on the same type of IBM computer. (This game defeated a checkers master in 1964!) • William Higinbotham was an American physicist who was a member of the team that developed the first nuclear bomb. In 1958, he created “Tennis for Two,” played on an oscilloscope. Although Higinbotham obtained twenty-plus patents during his life, he never patented his video game. • In 1962, Steve Russell, a computer scientist from MIT, led a team that developed a game on one of the first PDP-1 computers, which were the first to use a screen and a typewriter keyboard. “Spacewar!” is considered the first recognized widely available computer game. This two-player game required each player to take control of a starship while firing photon torpedoes in an attempt to destroy the other. A star in the center of the screen pulled on both ships as they maneuvered to keep from falling into the gravitational pull.
Michelle Johnson DDS University of Texas, 1999
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VIDEO GAMES (continued):
• In 1971, engineers Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney created “Computer Space,” the first arcade game. The following year they founded Atari, and released the legendary arcade game “Pong.” Bushnell sold Atari to Warner Communications in 1976 for $28 million and remained employed as president of the company. By 1982, the company was experiencing $1.3 billion in annual sales and was the fastest-growing company in the history of American business. The Atari 2000 was introduced in 1977, a game system that incorporated joysticks, interchangeable cartridges, color graphics, and different settings for difficulty. • Before long, Atari wasn’t the only game in town. In 1979, Mattel debuted their game system Intellivision, an improvement over the Atari 2000, and experienced sales of three million units. • In July of 1980, a Japanese company, Namco, released the arcade game Pac-Man. It was designed by Toru Iwatani, supposedly while eating pizza. The player guides Pac-Man through a maze as he eats dots while pursued by four enemy “ghosts,” Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. One of the highestgrossing video games of all time, it was followed by Ms. Pac-Man in 1982. • Nintendo acquired the rights to distribute the Magnavox Odyssey in 1974, the first home video game console, a system with 12 games. In 1981, the company released the first of its many successful games, “Donkey Kong,” featuring a carpenter named Jumpman. It was the world’s first look at the character who would later be called Mario, with a new occupation, that of plumber. “Donkey Kong” was the first game to have four levels. • In 1983, Atari suffered losses of $533 million, and the company was sectioned off and sold to three different buyers.
Can You Afford a Pet? DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I’d like to adopt a dog that is family-friendly, one that my two kids can grow up with. A beautiful golden retriever is up for adoption at our local shelter, but even though friends have told me she will probably be a perfect dog for us, I have my doubts after meeting her. Should I adopt this dog anyway? -- Doug H., Houston DEAR DOUG: When bringing any dog home, there’s always a risk that despite all of your homework, despite knowing as much as you can about a particular breed and even about a particular dog, things will not go as expected. Many experienced dog owners know this, and quite a few accept that chance and just roll with unexpected behavior or temperament issues. However, you’re looking for a dog that has a good temperament around children. Retrievers -- particularly Labrador and golden -- tend to be great family dogs that socialize well with kids and other pets. It’s a big reason why Labradors were the most popular breed in the U.S. in 2015, and goldens were No. 3 -- a rank both have held for at least three years, according to the
American Kennel Club. But every dog has its own personality and temperament as well. A number of factors can affect a dog’s behavior, and shelter dogs in particular can have traumas, such as being abandoned or abused, that change how they react to people and situations. In this case, follow your gut instinct. If the shelter allows you to take the dog home for a few days as a trial, consider doing that. Otherwise, if you are unsure about this particular dog, you may want to keep looking.
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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Temper your typical Aries urge to charge into a situation and demand answers. Instead, let the Lamb’s gentler self emerge to deal with a problem that requires delicacy. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You are aware of what’s going on, so continue to stand by your earlier decision, no matter how persuasive the counter-arguments might be. Money pressures will soon ease. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) By all means, have fun and enjoy your newly expanded social life. But don’t forget that some people are depending on you to keep promises that are very important to them. CANCER ( June 21 to July 22) You need to wait patiently for an answer to a workplace problem and not push for a decision. Remember: Time is on your side. A financial matter needs closer attention. LEO ( July 23 to August 22) You now have information that can influence that decision you planned to make. But the clever Cat will consult a trusted friend or family member before making a major move. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Good news: You’re finding that more doors are opening for you to show what you can do, and you don’t even have to knock very hard to get the attention you’re seeking. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your gift for creating order out of chaos will help you deal with a sudden rush of responsibilities that would threaten someone less able to balance his or her priorities. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Congratulations. Your energy levels are coming right back up to normal -- just in time to help you tackle some worthwhile challenges and make some important choices. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) The sage Sagittarian should demand a full explanation of inconsistencies that might be cropping up in what had seemed to be a straightforward deal. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A conflict between obligations to family and to the job can create stressful problems. Best advice: Balance your dual priorities so that one doesn’t outweigh the other. AQUARIUS ( January 20 to February 18) Don’t guess, speculate or gossip about that socalled mystery situation at the workplace. Bide your time. An explanation will be forthcoming very soon. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Boredom might be creeping in and causing you to lose interest in a repeat project. Deal with it by flipping over your usual routine and finding a new way to do an old task. BORN THIS WEEK: You can warm the coldest heart with your lyrical voice and bright smile. You find yourself at home, wherever you are.
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1. GEOGRAPHY: On what continent is the nation of Sierra Leone located? 2. TELEVISION: Which TV character was known for the saying, “Live long and prosper”? 3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which of Santa’s reindeer comes first, alphabetically speaking? 4. MEASUREMENTS: What is the time frame indicated in “circadian rhythm”? 5. MATH: How many sides does a heptagon have? 6. MUSIC: What was the Oscar-winning theme song of “The Poseidon Adventure”? 7. COMICS: What company created “Avengers,” “Spider-Man” and “Hulk”? 8. HIGHER ED: What private university’s main campus is in South Bend, Indiana? 9. ASTRONOMY: What was the first planet to be discovered using the telescope? 10. MEDICAL: What is the focus of oncology?
1. In 2014, the Nationals’ Bryce Harper became the sixth player in majorleague history to have at least 50 homers and 30 steals through his age-21 season. Name three of the other five. 2. Twice during the 1960s, two pitchers won Cy Young Awards and faced each other in the World Series in the same year. Name either duo. 3. Ken Niumatalolo is the winningest football coach in Navy history (68 wins entering 2016). Who is No. 2? 4. How many consecutive winning seasons have the San Antonio Spurs had under head coach Gregg Popovich? 5. Wayne Gretzky holds the top two records for fastest to 50 goals in a season (39 games, 42 games). Who is third? 6. Name the last male skier to win six slaloms in a World Cup season before Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen in 2016. 7. Who was the first African-American golfer to get full-time playing privileges on the PGA Tour?
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Layered Fresh Fiesta Dip for Cinco de Mayo
VIDEO GAMES (continued): • A 29-year-old Russian mathematician named Alexey Pajitnov released the puzzle game “Tetris” in 1984, featuring “Tetriminos,” geometric game pieces made up of four square blocks each. As the puzzle pieces fit together, lines are cleared, and when four lines are cleared, the player achieves a “Tetris.” The name comes from the ancient Greek word tetra, meaning “four.” • Nintendo released its game system in 1985, as well as the wildly successful “Super Mario Brothers” game. Another huge success, “The Legend of Zelda” came along in 1987. In 1989, the company introduced the hand-held video game device, the Game Boy. • Sega took a chunk out of Nintendo’s profits when they introduced their system, Sega Genesis, in 1989, with sales of nearly 31 million units, and their famous character Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991. Another competitor entered the scene in 1995 when Sony debuted their first PlayStation. Nintendo rebounded the following year with the Nintendo 64 system, and Sega followed up in 1999 with their Dreamcast console. • Microsoft unveiled their X-Box system in 2001, launching it with the new game “Halo.” Sony quickly answered with the PlayStation 2 the next year, the first game console to use DVD technology. PlayStation 2 is the bestselling home game console to date, with over 155 million units sold, while their latest upgrade, PlayStation 4, released in 2013, is the fastest-selling in history, with sales of one million consoles in the first 24 hours. • Anyone could become a musician like Jimi Hendrix with the introduction of “Guitar Hero” in 2005. With its guitar-shaped controller, resembling a miniature Gibson SG, the player presses buttons on the controller keeping in time with the music notes on the screen.
I’m always looking for a reason to celebrate, especially when food is part of the festivities. May is just around the corner, and with it many opportunities for family, food and fun, starting with May Day. Preschoolers delight in filling mini paper baskets with cookies, candies and a flower to secretly hang on neighbors’ front doorknobs. Mother’s Day on the 10th is a good excuse to serve breakfast in bed to that deserving mom. Tucked inbetween, on the fifth, is Cinco de Mayo -- a festive time to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage with parades, music, dancing and, you guessed it, lots of eats. We’ll mark the day with a dinner of tasty south-of-theborder fare, starting with a fresh, updated version of the Tex-Mex 7-layer fiesta dip with chips. I’m mixing cream cheese and sour cream with homemade taco seasoning that kids can stir up in advance. We’ll omit beans that can make the layering mushy, and toss in ripe avocado chunks to replace the more time-consuming guacamole prep. Grated cheese, fresh ripe tomatoes, chopped green onions, avocado and crispy lettuce piled high top it off. Start this colorful creation by mixing up your own taco seasoning mix. It’s worth the effort, not only because you control the salt content, which is high in most commercial packets, but also you’ll save money, especially when you purchase the spices in bulk. Plus, your kids will gain skills in measuring and learning names of spices from around the world. TASTY TACO SEASONING MIX 1 tablespoon salt-free chili powder 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes (optional) 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper Mix all ingredients in a bowl, and store in a jar with a tight lid. Makes 1/4 cup (about 4 tablespoons). LAYERED FRESH FIESTA PARTY DIP 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature 1 8-ounce container sour cream 2 tablespoons “Tasty Taco Seasoning Mix” (see above) 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes 1/4 cup sliced green onions 1 ripe avocado, chopped 2 cups crisp lettuce, loosely chopped 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional) Tortilla chips for dipping 1. Combine the cream cheese, sour cream and seasoning mix in a large mixing bowl. Spread evenly over a large dinner plate. 2. Sprinkle 3/4 cup of the cheese evenly on top. Continue with the tomatoes, onions, avocado, lettuce and remaining cheese. 3. Serve with a basketful of tortilla chips.
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For Advertising Call (541) 203-0233 VIDEO GAMES (continued):
• Although Guitar Hero was enormously successful, (with sales of $1 billion in its first week), it had trouble keeping producers and developers, and the franchise shut down in 2011. • There are several negative aspects of playing video games, including tendonitis in the hands and wrists, backaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, the promotion of sedentary behavior, and social isolation. Violent games have been linked to aggressive behavior and desensitization to violence. Gaming marathons have even resulted in deaths, including recently when a 38-year-old man died after playing nonstop for five days, and another 32-year-old who suffered a heart attack and died after playing for three days straight without stopping. • Video games also have some positive benefits. Studies indicate that they improve hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and spatial reasoning skills. Playing also contributes to the ability to multi-task and make quick decisions, since most games require fast reactions. Brain scans have shown improved concentration and pattern recognition. Favorable results have been achieved in helping people with autism and with improving memory in those with dementia. • Who plays video games in America? More than 150 million Americans play on a regular basis, about two-thirds of American households. Four out of five U.S. households own a device that is used to play video games, with at least two gamers per household. Fifty-one percent of U.S. homes have a dedicated game console. The average age is 35, with 60% males and 40% female, with 42% of Americans playng three hours or more per week. Thirty-five percent of players use their Smartphone to play.
To Your Good Health By Keith Roach, M.D.
Once a Neat Freak, Dad Now a Hoarder
DEAR DR. ROACH: I know you’re not a psychiatrist, but I hope you can help. My dad was a single parent raising us kids, and he was always clean when it came to housework. Every room in our house was almost spotless. But lately, we have noticed him becoming a hoarder and being more disorganized. By that, I mean keeping weeks-old newspapers on the floor, the kitchen table, everywhere, and he gets upset if we try to help him clean. He’s 79. Could it be a sign of senility or Alzheimer’s disease? -- R.S. ANSWER: Hoarding behavior can have several
psychiatric causes, and, indeed, a psychiatrist may be necessary to make the diagnosis. However, odds are that your dad always had some form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and with age has become worse. There are other possibilities. Fronto-temporal dementia, a type of dementia that is distinct from Alzheimer’s disease, has a variant in which personality and behavior changes are prominent, but given the history of what sounds like unusual cleanliness habits, I would suspect that OCD is the most likely diagnosis. There usually is a long delay from the time symptoms begin until the time the diagnosis is made. A diagnosis needs to be made before treatment -be it medications, psychotherapy or some combination -- can begin. Treatment can improve not only the hoarding behavior but also the distress your dad is feeling. A psychiatrist or psychologist is the expert in making the diagnosis and for treatment. The booklet on Alzheimer’s disease details the symptoms of this common illness. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Roach -- No. 903W, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. 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. ROACH: A year ago, my internist
prescribed Evista for mild osteopenia, but my gynecologist said she would not have put me on medication yet. Two of my friends also have osteopenia, but they have not been prescribed medication. I stopped taking Evista last month, because of my fear of developing blood clots. What is your view on this? -- N.S. ANSWER: Osteopenia simply means “too little bone,” and it is a risk factor for developing osteoporosis. Most experts would treat osteopenia by ensuring that you are getting adequate calcium and vitamin D, and seeing that there are no other causes for your osteopenia, such as low thyroid level or medications that can lower bone density, such as cortisone. Although there may be reasons to treat osteopenia before osteoporosis develops, medicines like raloxifene (Evista) are reserved for the more serious condition of bone loss, osteoporosis. Raloxifine does decrease the risk of fractures. Raloxifene has risks: It increases the risk of blood clots by about 1 person per thousand over five years. However, it decreases the risk of breast cancer. Thus, raloxifene is a poor choice for someone with an increased risk of clots, but a very reasonable choice for women who need treatment for osteoporosis and also have an increased risk for breast cancer.
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* Hong Kong has more Rolls Royce cars per capita than any other city in the world.
* A proverb of unknown origin states, “The length of a piece of wood can only be too short on one end.” * Scotsmen and their descendants make up almost half of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and almost three-quarters of American presidents.
UNUSUAL ANIMALS:
RED PANDA
Most of us think of pandas as the giant blackand-white bear weighing close to 350 lbs. (160 kg.) Did you know there is also a red panda that doesn’t even resemble that big bear? Read along and learn. • The red panda, found in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and part of China, isn’t really a panda at all, or even a bear. It shares the habitat of the giant panda of the foothills of Nepal’s Himalayan Mountain range and in the cool bamboo forests of central China, and eats the same diet, but there the similarities end. The red panda more closely resembles a raccoon, complete with a ring-striped tail, and in fact belongs to the same genetic superfamily as the raccoon, skunk, weasel, and badger. • It’s just slightly larger than a household cat, about 25 inches (63 cm) long, with a long bushy tail of an additional 19 inches (47 cm), which it uses as a wraparound blanket on cold nights. A red panda will weigh from 7 to 14 pounds (3.2 to 6.4 kg) when fully grown. Its entire body, even the bottom of its feet, is covered with soft dense fur. • For the most part, red pandas are herbivores, a plant-eating animal. However, they do supplement their diet with fish, bird eggs, and insects when available, as well as fruit during the warmer seasons. They also like mushrooms and acorns but two-thirds of their diet consists of bamboo. Unfortunately, bamboo is not a very good source of energy as well as being hard to digest. The panda must spend 13 hours a day eating and looking for food in order to sustain its body, and must eat 20% to 30% of its body weight each day – between 2 and 4 lbs. (1 to 2 kg) of bamboo shoots and leaves. A panda might eat up to 20,000 bamboo leaves in one day!
* An adult human has 60,000 miles of blood vessels. * There was a scientist once who made it his mission to taste as many different kinds of meat as he possibly could. In his opinion, the worst tasting was mole meat. I won’t argue. There probably aren’t very many people who would be willing to gain enough experience in that field to be able to debate the matter.
Virtual Medical Care Seniors are clipping along at a fast rate when it comes to being involved in new technology. However, just because new things are available doesn’t mean we should participate until we check them out. Tele-visits for medical problems are one of those areas where the idea might be better than the actual execution. For someone who’s ill, however, and can’t get a sameday appointment with the doctor, the idea of going online for medical care might be appealing. A recent study looked at the results of telephone, webchat and videoconference medical visits to test the level of care and the accuracy of diagnoses. The illnesses were limited to fairly simple complaints such as lower back pain, sore throat, sinus infection and strep throat. Nearly 600 “virtual” online medical visits were made to eight websites, and the results were checked.
Scheduling Problems Are Legion at VA
I’ve been rooting for little White River Junction, Vermont. Back when I first started watching the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center there, White River Junction had its hands full with claims overload. Sure, its numbers weren’t as bad as places like St. Petersburg, Florida, where 46,366 veterans waited an average 207 days for claims to be completed. For White River Junction to have 969 veterans waiting an average 239 days didn’t seem so bad. The VA Office of the Inspector General paid a call on the facility, as it is doing across the country after all the problems with appointment-scheduling scams exposed in Phoenix. Inspectors interviewed 40 people and reviewed 700,000 records in White River Junction, and the results aren’t pretty: * Half of schedulers entered the appointment
* The main cabin of Air Force One, the airplane in which the president flies, is 4,000 square feet. That’s more than many people’s homes. Air Force One has seven bathrooms and 16 TVs. And there is enough food aboard to serve 2,000 meals. * There is a popular, bright green melon liqueur, “Midori,” which is used to make fruity drinks such as melon balls. The name is very descriptive -- in Japanese, “midori” means “green.” * Most people know that a human has 46 chromosomes, but how do we compare to other living things? Not surprisingly, an ant has only two. A fruit fly has eight. A garden pea has 14. Your pet dog has 78. And a garden fern? It has 1,260 chromosomes! * The state with the highest percentage of people who walk to work is Alaska.
Here’s what researchers came up with: * Doctors asked the correct medical history and did physical exams 69 percent of the time. * Patients were given the correct diagnosis 76 percent of the time. * Out of 101 complaints of ankle pain, only 17 recommended X-rays. * Only 83 patients were referred to a health provider, and that was because followup care could not be provided on a website. * Researchers found no big difference between the methods of communication, such as videoconference versus telephone. While the jury is still out on the accuracy and safety of virtual medical care, it is becoming big business, with some services aligning with corporations as a way to get fast medical care to employees. Before you decide to use an online site for medical care, determine whether your Medicare Advantage plan will pay for it. Some of them will. If you have an online medical visit, have your file and diagnosis forwarded to your regular doctor.
date as the patient’s desired date 100 percent of the time. Others did that most of the time, making it look like appointments were made within required time frames. * To keep from exceeding the 14-day appointment requirement, the mental health unit just sent new patients to its walk-in clinic so they could be seen that day. * Schedulers in multiple departments were putting information in paper folders to be entered later when appointments came available. That way patients could be scheduled within the 14-day window to make the stats look good. The electronic wait list (computerized scheduling) hadn’t been used in 8-10 years. * At one point, 700 consultations had not been scheduled. When upper management learned of the backlog, the appointments were put in the computer system, with overbooking “up to four times clinic capacity.” In one specialty clinic, appointment times were cut to 15-20 minutes to fit in as many patients as possible -- to the detriment of veterans’ health when serious illnesses weren’t discovered. I’m disappointed.
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Davy Crockett Lunchbox Q: I was a big fan of Davy Crockett during the 1950s and even had a coonskin cap. I managed to save my Davy Crockett lunchbox, and it is in fairly decent shape. How much could I sell it for? -- Carl, Tulsa, Oklahoma A: In 1954, Walt Disney produced the Davy Crockett show and it became an immediate hit. The “Ballad of Davy Crockett” shot to the top of the charts, and almost every kid in the country pestered his parents for a coonskin
cap. Crockett was portrayed by Fess Parker. Two lunchboxes were produced, one for the American market and the other for Canada. Your American lunchbox is valued in the $125-$800 range depending, of course, on condition. The value was found in the “Official Guide to Disney Collectibles” by Ted Hake and published by House of Collectibles. *** Q: I have a GAR badge that was used during an encampment in Indiana in about 1890. What was the GAR, and is my badge valuable? -- Bill, Shreveport, Louisiana A: The Grand Army of the Republic was formed immediately following the Civil War “to provide aid and assistance to the widows and orphans of the fallen Union dead and to care for the hospitalized veterans as needed.” The first encampment was staged in Indianapolis in November 1866. The organization was disbanded in 1949 when the last comrade of the
GAR died. Your badge is probably valued in the $25-$50 range. *** Q: I have a Singer sewing machine that is the Model 15-30. It is in an oak cabinet that has been damaged by dampness. A neighbor has offered me $600 for it. Should I sell? -- Bill, Indianapolis, Ind. A: Take the money and run. According to several dealers I consulted, your machine is probably worth about $300, and perhaps even less with the cabinet damage you described. *** Q: I have a letter that was signed by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1885. I have been offered $1,200 for it, but I think it might be worth more. -- Lillian, Hastings, Neb. A: A standard letter signed by Harriet Beecher Stowe should sell in the $200 to $500 range.
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Mozilla as the name of their browser. weddings, as bridegrooms traditionally (Mozilla had originally considered carry the hide, and panda tail hats • The pandas spend most of their lives in “Firebird” as the name, but discovered are considered good-luck charms for trees, feeding and sleeping. They aren’t it was already been used.) newlyweds. Images of the panda social animals, and keep pretty much to have been discovered in 13th-century themselves, leading a solitary life. A • Because it’s estimated that there are Chinese artwork as part of a hunting typical panda’s life span is about eight fewer than 10,000 adult red pandas scene. years. remaining, it’s classified an endangered species. While hunting is illegal in • Fans of the animated Kung Fu Panda • The name “panda” translates from the most places, in southwest China, they films will recognize the character of Nepali language “ponya,” which means are hunted for their fur, particularly the Shifu as an elderly red panda. Voiced “bamboo or plant-eating animal.” In bushy tails, from which hats are created. by Dustin Hoffman, Shifu serves as the the Chinese, the name is “hun-ho,” The tails and hides are frequently part of strict kung fu master. translating “firefox,” which is used by RED PANDA (continued):
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an advocate for their equal employment opportunities as well.
• The organization was soon incorporated as Goodwill Industries, and by 1934, Goodwill was a strong force in providing aid to those in need. They approached one of the advisors to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt with an innovative idea. Goodwill’s executives proposed that the federal government make a $5 million grant to the organization, and Goodwill would put every unemployed American to work. There is no evidence that FDR considered the proposition.
• Following Edgar’s death in 1942, his son Reverend Henry Helms became executive GOODWILL INDUSTRIES director, and devoted his life to fulfilling his May 1 – 7 has been designated as Goodwill father’s mission. Industries Week, and what finer time for • Today, Goodwill generates nearly $5.5 billion Tidbits to bring you the particulars on this in revenue every year, with over 80% of that worldwide charitable organization. amount spent directly on the organization’s • It was the dream of Edgar Helms’ parents employment and community services. Last that he live his life on the Iowa family farm, year, close to 27 million people were served but Edgar had a dream for a greater cause. and nearly 320,000 people placed into Feeling a call to devote his life to the church employment after receiving Goodwill’s job and helping others, he enrolled in Cornell training. More than 2,600 thrift stores fund College, and later Boston University, earning Goodwill’s calling. a Bachelors Degree of Sacred Theology. His • Macon, Georgia, is home to Helms College, excellent academic achievements earned him an institution established in 2007 to provide a fellowship to London to study the povertyeducation in the culinary arts, medical and stricken neighborhoods there, with the dream health vocations, automotive technology, and of doing missionary work in India afterward. the construction industry. • Helms was disappointed to learn that he was not being sent to India after all, but instead to a Methodist church in one of Boston’s poorest immigrant areas. Morgan Hill Chapel, situated in one of America’s worst slums, was surrounded by drug addicts, thieves, gamblers, prostitutes, and every type of criminal. Helms and his wife established a settlement house, a haven for immigrants which provided a nursery, a gymnasium, recreational activities, English classes, and other education helping the immigrants settle into their new life. • Helms was soon inundated with requests for food and clothing. In 1902, he began combing Boston’s wealthier neighborhoods carrying a burlap bag, collecting discarded and damaged goods. He then offered wages to the poor of Morgan Hill to mend and repair items, which were in turn sold to the poor. The proceeds were used to develop job training programs. It was Helms’ motto that the poor “needed a chance, not a charity,” believing that their greatest need and want was employment.
• By 1905, Helms’ endeavor was known as Morgan Memorial Cooperative Industries and Stores. With money from his church, Helms began a trek across the United States, spreading the word of his undertaking. He also became a pioneer in the fight for equal pay and fair treatment of immigrant workers. When approached by the disabled, he became
1. Orlando Cepeda, Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Andruw Jones and Mike Trout. 2. Denny McLain and Bob Gibson, 1968; Mike Cuellar and Tom Seaver, 1969. 3. George Welsh, with 55 wins (1973-81). 4. Nineteen seasons. 5. Mario Lemieux did it in 46 games in 1988-89. 6. Italy’s Alberto Tomba, in 1994-95. 7. Charlie Sifford, in 1961.
Answers 1. Africa 2. Mr. Spock, “Star Trek” 3. Blitzen 4. 24 hours 5. Seven 6. “The Morning After” 7. Marvel 8. Notre Dame 9. Uranus 10. Cancer