Tidbits of the Rogue Valley - Vol 1 Issue 37

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Volume 1 Issue 37

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PEPPER

by Janet Spencer It’s called the King of Spices for good reason. For centuries it served as the cornerstone for various economies and it inspired trade, conquest, and exploration in search of better trade routes and new supplies. It’s the world’s most traded spice, accounting for 20% of the entire spice trade.

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THE HISTORY OF PEPPER • The word pepper originated with the Sanskrit word ‘pippali.’ It went into the Latin language as ‘piper’ and then into German as ‘pfeffer.’

The word pepper was used in a figurative sense to mean ‘spirit’ or ‘energy’ as far back as the 1840s. Sometime in the early 20th century, it was shortened to ‘pep.’

Michelle Johnson DDS University of Texas, 1999

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• Pepper is one of the oldest and most important spices in human history. Pepper was the first spice to make its way into Northern Europe as the Roman Empire spread. Back in the days when salting was the only method of preserving meat, pepper was valued because it gave food added ‘pep.’

• Historians discount the myth that pepper was popular because it disguised the taste of rotten meat, saying that nothing can disguise the taste of rotten meat. Now you can buy a year’s supply of pepper for a few dollars, but it used to cost an ounce of gold to buy an ounce of pepper. (cont’d next page)

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THE ORIGIN OF PEPPER • Black pepper comes from the berries of a tropical vine in the botanical family called Piperaceae.

The pepper that we sprinkle on our food is entirely different from the red peppers, bell peppers, chili peppers, and jalapeno peppers which come from the Capsicum family. Those are fruits, whereas black pepper is a berry.

• Columbus, searching for a shorter route to the pepper supply of India, discovered the New World. Because he was desperate to find pepper, everything that he came across which had a hot taste was dubbed “pepper.” That’s why today we have green peppers and chili peppers.

• Black pepper grows best in moist tropical areas and is native to southern India. Currently Vietnam is the world’s largest producer and exporter of pepper, producing 34% of the world’s supply.

Other top exporters include India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Malaysia.

• Pepper vines grow up to 30 feet (9 m) tall, killing any tree they clamber over. On modern farms, they are kept to 12 feet (3.6 m) to make harvest easier, and they climb up poles rather than trees.

• Each vine becomes productive after three or four years, and will bear fruit every third year for up to 40 years. A good vine will produce up to 12 pounds (5.4 kg) of peppercorns annually. The pepper comes from berries that hang in clusters off the vine like tiny little grapes.

• Much of the world’s pepper is grown on family farms in India and Malaysia where home-garden plots may yield only one or two pounds (.5 to 1 kg) of pepper per year.

• When monetary value is considered, peppercorns are the most widely traded spice in the world.

However, if weight is considered, slightly more chili peppers are traded than peppercorns. (continued next page)

Preparing Pets for Disaster DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Here in Florida, we’re urged to have a hurricane preparedness plan between June and November, which is traditionally hurricane season. But often emergency officials forget about pets. Can you remind readers to include their pets in any disaster planning?

Things can happen really fast, and pets are often forgotten and put at risk. -- Larry in Deerfield Beach, Florida DEAR LARRY: Absolutely! We’ve seen in past natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina that our pets can suffer greatly if no plan is in place for them. Dogs and cats cannot fend for themselves after a disaster.

Different regions of the country can experience different issues, too. For example, the Northeast had one of its coldest, snowiest winters in almost two centuries this year. Roofs collapsed, people had trouble heating their homes and many seniors, often with pets, were stuck indoors for days on end. It was a different kind of disaster, but no less stressful for those who were displaced or suffered health issues.

The Humane Society (www.humanesociety.org), American Red Cross (www.redcross.org/prepare/ location/home-family/pets), Ready.gov (www.

ready.gov/caring-animals) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/ features/petsanddisasters/) all have detailed information to help you prepare pets in case you have to quickly evacuate your home.

Guidelines include but aren’t limited to: making sure your pets’ vaccinations are up to date and that they wear ID tags, license and ideally are microchipped; having a pet carrier for each pet; adding pet supplies, medications and extra leashes and collars to your disaster kit; and keeping a copy of all pet records with your critical family documents.

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PIPERINE

excess and wipe away dirt with a clean, damp washcloth.

* Line junk drawers in the kitchen or bathroom with inexpensive sheets of corkboard. Things don’t slide around as much, and you can even use pushpins or finishing nails lightly inserted into the cork to make custom compartments in the drawers so things like pens don’t roll around. * “If your eyeglass screws tend to come loose, just unscrew, brush clear nail polish over the threads and rescrew tightly. As the polish dries (in seconds), it will form a tighter bond.” -- I.D. in Oregon * Shaving cream can be used as a spot cleaner for most carpets.

Simply dab a bit of the cream into the stained area, scrape off any

* Ways to remove gum from your child’s hair: laundry pretreatment rubbed in with the fingers; ice cubes to harden the gum so that it can be picked out in chunks; and good, oldfashioned peanut butter and a comb. * This one is an oldie, but a preschool goodie, from L.R. in Washington: “Use wide rubber bands around a drinking glass for children. It will provide a little non-slip protection, especially if the glass is filled with a cold drink.

The rubber band is reusable, and you can write the child’s name on the band with a ballpoint pen in order to identify his or her cup!” * How do you keep cats away from your plants in the garden? One reader suggests strips of tin foil. Another recommends mothballs (which can be toxic, so use carefully and follow all safety instructions).

• The chemical in pepper called piperine (pronounced PIE-pur-een) is what gives pepper its bite. Each peppercorn is made up of about five to seven percent piperine. It’s an irritant and when it comes in contact with delicate nasal passages, it causes a sneeze to clean it out. Piperine stimulates mucous membranes and it is also a diaphoretic, meaning it causes perspiration.

Therefore, if you have a cold and eat a good peppery soup, it may help your congestion clear up.

PEPPER POPULARITY • Black pepper is the top selling spice in America.

• Americans consume 37 million pounds of pepper per year altogether.

• Worldwide consumption totals 130 million pounds annually.

• The average American will shake seven ounces (.2 kg) of ground pepper onto their food at the table each year.

PEPPER FACTS • Studies have shown that pepper stimulates the digestive tract, increases the appetite, and aids digestion.

• Pepper starts losing its flavor as soon as it’s ground, becoming completely flat in taste as the volatile oils evaporate. Ground pepper should be kept in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator to preserve its spiciness. Whole peppercorns, on the other hand, will keep their flavor forever.

• Pepper should not be added before cooking because it reacts to heat and turns bitter. Instead, sprinkle it on as a garnish after the cooking is over. (This is why waiters offer to pepper your food after the meal has arrived at your table.)

• Ground pepper will not dissolve in water, but when dissolved in alcohol, it quadruples in pepper power.

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“Best foot forward Before the Appraisal” Condition counts. What the appraiser sees will set the tone for the appraisal.

Start with the outside. Has the lawn been mowed? Are the bushes trimmed? How does the siding look? You want to make a good impression from the time the appraiser drives up. The same goes for the inside. You want to present a clean, organized home. An appraiser doesn’t want to see work that needs to be done, like missing carpet, torn wallpaper, broken fixtures, missing tiles and so on. Hopefully you have already repaired any issues identified in the initial House Inspection.

Make the appraisal process distraction free. This means cage or remove pets from the home. Send the kids to Grandma’s for the day, if possible. Make yourself available to answer any questions, but for the most part, stay out of the way. The appraiser has a job to do and may want to avoid small talk, at least until the appraisal is done.

Having your house appraised can be stressful. The key is to be prepared. Strive to put your best effort in presenting your home as well maintained, clean and ready to be compared to the current real estate market.

Give us a call if you need some guidance, our experience benefits you -- we guarantee it.

Rogue Valley Real Estate People get their home appraised for many reasons. Sometimes, a home appraisal is needed for insurance, estate, settlement or refinancing purposes. Most commonly, a home appraisal is part of the selling process.

No matter what the reason, there are things you can do to make your appraisal more successful.

The key to any home appraisal is preparation. In the case of a sale, purchase or refinancing of a home-- a home appraisal is essentially a valuation of your property in comparison to others of similar size, quality and location that have recently sold. It is best practice to be proactive in addressing cosmetic and structural issues – that’s why it’s a good idea to get a “whole house inspection”, along with identified needed repairs, completed before the Home Appraisal is scheduled.

Start by hiring a qualified, certified appraiser in your state. Ask for a referral from your real estate agent, insurance agent or loan officer. Once you decide on an appraiser, Explain the purpose for the appraisal. Provide recent real estate tax bills, recent inspection reports (as we mentioned), any surveys that have been done for your land and any written agreements related to the property. Create a list of updates that have been made to the house. Provide the date of the updates and the costs involved. Consider anything you have done to increase the value of your home.

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Most Medications Increase Fall Risk

DEAR DR. ROACH: You recently wrote that antihistamines used for sleep can increase the risk of falls. Are there any sleep aids that don’t increase fall risk? -- C.A.L. ANSWER: Since almost all medications are associated with fall risk, reducing the overall number of medications should be a goal for all of us who prescribe medication for older people. Some medications are more risky than others, such as the antihistamines I mentioned, but also prescription sleep aids such as Ambien, Lunesta and Sonata, antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and others, diazepam (Valium) and related drugs. Major tranquilizers such as Seroquel are high risk.

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Insomnia itself increases fall risk, so effective treatment that doesn’t use medications that cause problems the next day is the goal.

Melatonin works for some people; melatonin 0.3 mg might be effective and appears to have a lower risk of falls. Better still, non-drug treatment such as cognitive behavior therapy, including sleep hygiene, has no risk of medication-associated falls and may reduce overall fall risk by improving sleep.

Basics of sleep hygiene include avoiding long (longer than 20 minutes) naps, avoiding bright light (including TV and computer) before bed, reserving the bed strictly for sleep and maintaining the same bedtime and wake time every day. A CBT therapist can give much more detailed and personalized information. *** DEAR DR. ROACH: After a terrible bout of IBS, my doctor tested me for C. diff, and it came back positive. He put me on an antibiotic and told me I was just a carrier. Can you please explain to me what it means to be a “carrier”?

I would hate to think that I might pass it on to my grandchildren by touching them, or changing their diapers, etc.I work in a hospital and feel I have a “dirty” secret, because all I get is, “Just wash your hands.” Any information that you may have on the subject would be greatly appreciated. -- M.D.

BAD LUCK • Eddie Collins was an infielder for the Chicago White Sox in the early 1900s. He had a habit of sticking a piece of gum on the button on the top of his cap when he went to bat. If he got two strikes, he would take the gum off the cap and chew on it vigorously for a few minutes for good luck. But one day teammate Ted Lyons secretly sprinkled pepper on the gum just before Eddie went to bat.

When Eddie got two strikes, he started chewing.

He spat— and then struck out.

PEPPER AS MEDICINE • Pepper decoctions are widely used in traditional Indian medicine and as a home remedy for relief from sore throat, throat congestion, and coughs.

Piperine has some antimicrobial properties, but at the concentrations present when pepper is used as a spice, the effect is small. Piperine also enhances energy metabolism in the body and has been shown to have antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. It has been shown that piperine can dramatically increase absorption of various nutrients, but when taken in large amounts it also has an irritating effect upon the intestines.

• Some people believe pepper can help cure vitiligo, which is a skin disease that causes some areas of skin to lose its normal pigmentation, turning it white in patches. (Michael Jackson suffered from this affliction.) According to researchers in London, piperine can stimulate the skin to produce pigment. Topical treatment of piperine combined with ultra violet light therapy is much better than the other treatments for vitiligo.

• Piperine is a natural insecticide and can be used in the garden. Mix a teaspoon full of ground pepper with a quart of warm water and spray.

• The volatile oils from black peppercorns are used in the manufacture of perfume in order to provide a warm and earthy odor.

ANSWER: A carrier is someone who harbors a condition but who has no symptoms of the condition. There is a possibility of passing on a condition when you are a carrier.

In your case, the bacteria Clostridium dificile, universally called “C. diff,” is present in about 3 percent of all healthy adults. However, somewhere between 20 percent and 50 percent of patients in hospitals and long-term-care facilities have asymptomatic C. diff. The spores of C. diff are very, very difficult to eradicate and can be found on many surfaces, and so hospital workers as well as patients may become infected (with symptoms of diarrhea) or can be carriers. This may be how you acquired the bacteria.

Current guidelines do not recommend treatment for carriers. The most important way to prevent your passing on the infection is good hand-washing. The best method is warm water and soap after using the bathroom. (My hospital recommends singing “Happy Birthday” in your head twice to be sure you are washing long enough.) Alcohol sanitizers are ineffective for C diff. By being meticulous in hand-washing, you can minimize the risk of passing on the bacteria.

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NOTEWORTHY INVENTIONS

GEORGE

• George’s hobby was photography. He was going on vacation and he wanted to take pictures. The problem was that it was the 1880s, the camera weighed 30 pounds (13 kg), and it took hours to produce a single photo. George decided to find a better way.

• It took him three years to invent a better way.

First he invented a dry glass plate instead of the wet glass plate; this simplified the process.

Next he invented a way to put the emulsion on paper instead of glass. This was a miraculous improvement, but professional photographers wouldn’t use it because you could see the grain of the paper through the photo, and glass was still superior.

• So George began to market it to the amateur photographer. In 1888 his camera cost $25 at a time when a new suit cost $15, so sales were slow. Then he discovered cellulose.

• With cellulose film, the quality was sharp, the camera was small, and the price was cheap. He began selling cameras that were pre-loaded with 100 negatives. People would take 100 photos and then return the entire camera to the company. The company would develop the negatives, print them out, re-load the camera with 100 more negatives, and return the entire package to the customer.

• By 1896 he’d sold around 100,000 cameras.

However, in 1900 he introduced a camera priced at $1 which was so simple even a child could take pictures. It was a sensation.

• George decided the name of his company had to be short, simple to spell, easy to pronounce, and impossible to confuse with anything else.

He came up with a nonsense name that fits all these qualifications. What’s the company called?

(Extra credit for knowing George’s last name and bonus points for knowing the name of the $1 camera.) (Answer at top of next page.)

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Motor sports have been around for more than 100 years. Once man designed the engine, the race was on! Everyone wanted to know who was the fastest.

Here’s a look at some of the most famous races in history.

The first international race series in history is credited as The Gordon Bennett Races.

In 1899, millionaire Gordon Bennett envisioned an annual race among automobile clubs in various European countries. To enter the race, the car had to be produced solely in its country of origin.

The first race took place in 1900.

Just over a decade later, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” premiered in 1911.

Otherwise known as the Indianapolis 500, the race takes place over Memorial Day weekend at the International Motor Speedway.

Ray Harroun won the first Indy 500. Several other racers have dominated the event, including four-time winners A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears. Mears also holds the record for the most pole positions with six. The pole position is awarded during the time trial and provides the fastest qualifier with the best starting position.

This race continues to be one of the most coveted in motorsports.

Another famous race is the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Beginning in 1923, this race is just what it sounds like…24 hours of racing. Designed to push a car to its

Medicare Open Enrollment Mark this on your calendar: Oct. 15. That’s the date that Medicare Open Enrollment begins, the period when you can make changes to your health and drug coverage. It runs through Dec. 7.

It’s during this period that you’ll need to take a hard look at how well your plan has served you so far this year. If you decide that all is well, do nothing, whether you have the Original or an Advantage plan. Your current plan will roll over into 2016 when the new coverage starts Jan. 1. Consider your drugs. If you’re on a new one and will likely stay on it, see whether your drug plan covers it. If not, you might look at other plans.

Changing your mind: If you have a

Free Training For All Vets

The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched two training programs as part of the Veterans Economic Communities Initiative -- and they’re both free and don’t use up GI Bill benefits. The goal is to offer education to help veterans move ahead in civilian careers, learn skills and earn credentials.

Learning Hubs: Offered in 50 cities, and classes can be both in person and online. Learning includes course material and local experts, as well as networking opportunities. After completion, veterans receive a free verified certificate from Coursera. Get started at blog.coursera.org/veterans.

Notice the info on the right of the screen: They partner with top universities and organizations.

Accelerated Learning Programs: Intended, for the most part, to build on what was learned in the military. The first group of courses is IT-related and

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limits, the race requires the best mechanics in the world. Today, the driving of each car must be shared among three drivers. Even with that relief, that’s still a lot of driving.

Also from the world of Formula One racing is the Monaco Grand Prix.

This race has taken place annually on the Circuit de Monaco since 1929. The Monaco Grand Prix is a narrow course, with tight corners and tunnels. It can be a relatively low speed race, but the precision required makes up for the reduced speed.

From the streets to the desert, the Baja 1000 takes racing to a wild and woolly level. It takes place on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and is open to nearly any vehicle. The vehicles may be different, but the course is the same.

Racers run either a point-to-point race or a loop. The point to point starts at one location and ends at another. The loop course starts and ends at the same location. Unlike most races, different classes of vehicles compete in the same race and on the same course. The classes include small and large bore motorcycles, buggies, trucks and custom race cars. The first official Baja 1000 was run in 1967 as the Mexican 1000 Rally.

Due to its extreme nature, the race has garnered a lot publicity and TV coverage.

As long as there are motorized vehicles, people will race them, sports cars and family vehicles alike. And when it comes to keeping you on the road, think of Kelly’s Automotive Service, where we service your vehicle, but take care of you. ~ Safe Travels, Dave Kelly

Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch back to your original Medicare between Jan. 1 and Feb. 14. If you decide to switch back, you also can add a drug plan at that time.

You can sign up on the phone (call the new plan or Medicare, if you’re making a change) or online.

Medicare.gov has a section on signing up, and it can answer hundreds of questions, such as: I’m still working at age 65, with company insurance. If I don’t sign up now for Part B, will I have to pay a penalty later? Can I have Medicare and Marketplace coverage at the same time?

You also can find information on coverage for procedures, claims and appeals, plus doctors and plans in your area. Or you can call 1-800 MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). It’s staffed 24 hours a day, including weekends.

For plan help, ask Medicare for the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) in your state, or see www.shiptacenter.org.

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Who can apply: Veterans from any era and current service members who are within six months of getting out (with approval of commander). Veterans will need to have honorable or other than dishonorable discharge. Most programs have no prerequisites.

Go online to benefits.va.gov and search for either the Accelerated Learning Program or Learning Hubs.

This is a great opportunity to get some free education, and you’ll get help with job placement once you complete a program.

Benefits Sales and Service marla-kasdorf@leavitt.com www.redwoodsleavitt.com

Last week I shared my “drive” down memory lane on my recent trip to New York.

During that trip I spent about 8 hours a day for two weeks with my mom in an Assisted Living/Memory Care facility. Within those two weeks we had 6 musical groups perform for the residents-everything from Big Band standards to A capella Gospel to Folk. The smiles, dancing, clapping and sing-alongs were heart-warming....even for us visitors and the aides! I also took her to a “concert in the park” nearby. For 2 hours, aches, pains, and “nervous habits” ceased to exist. There was only the enjoyment of the sounds and the memories associated with specific pieces.

Our inherent desire to express ourselves and be “moved” by music is powerful. Sharing and participating in multi-generational styles of music brings our families and friends closer. If you have a chance to play for or provide DVDs of local performances for a facility, please share-- You’ll be amazed at the smiles, memories and interest they can generate! Here’s to being moved by music and to your health – Marla Kasdorf, Leavitt Group Ins.

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Depression Glass Q: I have inherited five pieces of Depression Glass, but have no idea of the pattern. My mom thinks the pattern is from the 1930s. I am enclosing some pictures and hope you can help me. -- Betty, Sun City West, Arizona A: Your Depression Glass isn’t as old as you thought. The pattern is Forest Green and was manufactured by Anchor Hocking Glass Company during the early 1950s. It is a common pattern and typical prices are a goblet, $10;

mixing bowl, $11; and a cup, $7.50. The company was located in both Lancaster, Ohio, and Long Island City, New York. *** Q: I have more than 1,000 78-rpm records. Everyone tells me they have no value. I’ve been to all of the antiques shops in my area and have not found anyone interested in them. -- Greg, via e-mail A: I get dozens of letters such as yours each month, and the answer is always the same. Old 78-rpm discs are difficult to sell because it is almost impossible to find turntables with the appropriate speed and needle. I recommend you try your luck on eBay. *** Q: I have a small collection of about a dozen fruit jars that are early and unusual. How can I find out how much they are worth? -- Sam, Spring Branch, Texas

A: Bill Schroeder is one of the foremost authorities of fruit jars, and his nifty price guide is considered a classic. “1000 Fruit Jars Priced and Illustrated” is user-friendly and should be helpful. It is $5.95 and available in print or eBook. You can access it by calling 1-800-626-5420, or writing Collector Books, P.O. Box 3009, Paducah, Kentucky 42002. *** Q: I prowl garage and estate sales, and am especially interested in silver and ceramics. Can you recommend a pocket guide to help me identify marks? -- Barbara, Santa Fe, New Mexico A: Judith Miller’s “Antique Marks” features more than 6,000 marks to identify silver, ceramics, glass and other assorted treasures. It is $9.99 and fits in the pocket. You can order a copy at amazon.com.

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1. TELEVISION: What was the name of Wilma and Fred’s daughter on “The Flintstones”?

2. ROYALS: Which English king founded the House of Tudor?

3. GEOGRAPHY: Lapland is a region of what country?

4. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the name of the Communist Party newspaper of Cuba?

5. ART: What French sculptor unveiled a bronze work in 1904 called “Le Penseur”?

6. MYTHOLOGY: Which Greek Muse presides over love poetry?

7. HISTORY: In what war were tanks first used?

8. MOVIES: Who were the two male stars in the film “The Philadelphia Story”?

9. MEASUREMENTS: What is 1/100th of a second called?

10. ASTROLOGY: What is the 11th sign of the zodiac?

1. Name the last majorleague pitcher before Cleveland’s Corey Kluber in 2014 to strike out at least 14 batters in consecutive starts.

2. Which was the last team before the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011-14 to have four consecutive N.L. Championship Series appearances?

3. When was the last time before the 2011-2012 NFL seasons (Baltimore and New England) that there was a back-to-back rematch in the AFC title game?

4. Long Island guard Jason Brickman, in 2014, became the fourth Division I player with 1,000 career assists. Name two of the first three to do it.

5. Since the 2000-01 NHL season, only two teams have won back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies for being the best regular-season team.

Name them.

6. Name the first American black female to win an Olympic gold medal.

7. Who was the last PGA golfer before Jordan Spieth in 2015 to go wire-to-wire in winning the Masters?

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Page 7

Showcase Grandkids With Fun Photo Frame

Answer: Kodak, George Eastman, Brownie.

NOTEWORTHY INVENTIONS GORO YOSHIDA • In 1932 Germany released a new camera called the Leica. Billed as the best camera on earth, it caused a sensation in Japan. However, it sold for 420 yen at a time when 70 yen per month was considered high pay.

• At the time, a man named Goro Yoshida had a job repairing motion picture cameras and projectors in Tokyo. He often traveled to China to buy parts he needed. One day a trader in Shanghai asked him, “Why do you come to China for camera parts? Your country builds battleships and airplanes; why can’t you build cameras?”

• Intrigued, Yoshida disassembled a Leica camera, examining it carefully. He found it was made of ordinary materials, and he couldn’t understand why something made of brass, aluminum, and rubber should be so expensive.

It made him angry.

• So he went into business with the intention of inventing an affordable camera. By 1934 he had a prototype. Yoshida named the camera and the company Kwanon, after the Buddhist goddess of mercy. He made three functioning prototypes, and then sold the company. The new owners offered the cameras for sale in 1935 at half the price of a Leica.

• The name of the company was simplified in spelling when the camera was released to an English-speaking world. It’s pronounced almost the same, but the English pronunciation of the word means ‘a code of laws’ or ‘a set of fundamental principles.’

• Though he had long since left the company, by the time Goro Yoshida died in 1993 at the age of 93, the company he founded had become a multinational corporation that specializes in optical equipment, copiers, and computer printers. What’s it called?

(Answer at top of next page)

Grandparents can never get enough pictures of their grandkids. With Grandparents Day just around the corner on Sunday, Sept. 13, remember them with the best gift of all -updated photos of you and the kids! But don’t just tuck them in an envelope. Show them off in a frame made from extra computer mouse pads you might have stuffed away in a drawer. Not only do the frames look slick, but they won’t break in the mail en route to Grandmother’s house.

Here’s how to make the frame: Find a special photo. Use it as is or trim off the sides to highlight the portion you want to show in the frame. For a standard-size photo, you’ll only need half of an 8-inch-by-12-inch mouse pad.

Cut the mouse pad in half widthwise with a pair of scissors. The cut edge will be the base of the frame. Measure your photo and then cut out a rectangle or square in the middle or to the side of the mouse pad slightly smaller than the photo. Save the cut-out piece for a stand.

To make the stand, cut the cut-out piece in half. These two pieces will be the two feet of the stand. Now, cut out a 1/2-inch-deep-by1/4-inch-wide notch into the middle of the long edge of each cut-out piece.

At the base of the frame, cut two 3/4-inch slits about 6 inches apart from each other.

Widen the slits slightly so that the feet can be snuggly inserted and the frame stands nicely.

Center the photo in the cut-out portion and tape it to the back of the frame. For fun, glue or attach a decorative item next to the photo.

For example, if the photo is from a fishing trip, attach a real lure that “caught the big one.”

If the mouse pad has designs on it, such as multiples of bubbles, cut out the mouse pad in the shape of a submarine. Cut out circles for portholes to frame several headshots of the whole family. Or if the mouse pad has flower designs on it, use it for a photo taken in a garden.

When complete, wrap and mail to those special grandparents, who will appreciate the creativity and the gesture.

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murdered a bartender when he was 18 years old.

He was sent to Leavenworth, where he proved to be a difficult and troublesome prisoner. He killed a guard and was sentenced to death, which was commuted to life without parole.

• At Leavenworth he rescued a small injured bird which sparked a lifelong love of birds, especially canaries. He raised them, wrote about them, and corresponded with experts. But when prison officials discovered that some of the equipment he ordered supposedly for his birds was instead being used to build an illegal moonshine still, he was transferred to Alcatraz. He spent the next 17 Answer: Canon. years there before being transferred to a prison in Missouri, where he died in 1963. Although ALCATRAZ he was never allowed to keep birds while • “Alcatraz” is the Portuguese word for pelican; it imprisoned at Alcatraz, he still became known as comes from the word meaning the bucket of a the Birdman of Alcatraz. waterwheel.

• Robert Stroud was denied permission to see the ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ 1962 movie starring Burt Lancaster that was • The island of Alcatraz off the coast of California based on his life. near San Francisco was first used as a military fortress beginning in the 1850s. Then it was a military prison for years before becoming a federal penitentiary in 1934. The prison was closed in 1963 because it had become too expensive to operate. Now it’s a tourist destination.

• Over the years, 36 prisoners were involved in escape attempts. Seven of those were shot and killed; two drowned; 22 were re-captured; and five remain unaccounted for but are presumed to have drowned. One of the escape attempts served as inspiration for the 1979 movie “Escape from Alcatraz.”

• Guards on Alcatraz Island allegedly told prisoners that the island was surrounded by sharks who had had their right fins removed so that they could do nothing but swim in circles around the island. This was thought to deter prisoners from breaking out and swimming to the mainland. In truth, although there are sharks swimming in the waters off Alcatraz, they are not the man-eating variety, even with both fins.

• It’s about a mile and a half from the island to shore, a hard swim but by no means impossible.

In fact, each summer 1,000 amateur athletes compete in the Escape From Alcatraz triathlon.

First they swim the mile and a half (2.4 km) from Alcatraz Island. Then they take an 18-mile (29 km) bike ride through Golden Gate Park, and they finish up with an eight-mile (12.8 km) run through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

FAST FACT • During the years Alcatraz was used as a federal prison, the average length of stay for an inmate was five years.

FAMOUS INMATES • A total of 1,545 men served time on Alcatraz, the most famous of which was Al Capone, who was incarcerated there for four and a half years. Capone was transferred to Alcatraz from the penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia because his ‘family’ members moved into a hotel next to the prison and communicated with him constantly, allowing him to continue to run his crime organization in Chicago. On Alcatraz he was cut off from this contact. Capone behaved so well at Alcatraz that he was allowed to play the banjo in the inmate band, called the Rock Islanders.

• Robert Stroud was convicted in 1909 of having

1. Arizona’s Randy Johnson, in 2004.

2. The Atlanta Braves, 1991-99 (no post-season played in ‘94).

3. Denver and Cleveland, after the 1986 and ‘87 seasons.

4. Bobby Hurley (Duke), Chris Corchiani (N.C. State) and Ed Cota (North Carolina).

5. Vancouver (2011-2012) and Detroit (2004-2006, with 2005 season suspended due to lockout).

6. Alice Coachman in the high jump in 1948.

7. Ray Floyd, in 1976.

Answers 1. Pebbles 2. Henry VII 3. Finland 4. Granma 5. Rodin, “The Thinker” 6. Erato 7. World War I 8. James Stewart and Cary Grant 9. A “jiffy” 10. Aquarius