Tidbits of the Rogue Valley - Vol 1 Issue 38

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J.R.R. TOLKIEN WEEK

by Kathy Wolfe

It’s Tolkien Week, and what better time to focus on the author J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. considered by many to be the “father of modern fantasy literature.”

• John Ronald Reuel Tolkien’s father was an English banker promoted to a branch in South Africa, where Tolkien was born in 1892. At age three, the boy sailed to England with his mother and brother for an extended family visit.

His father was to join them later, but died from rheumatic fever before he could make the journey. With no means of income, his mother took her children to live with her parents in Birmingham, England.

• Educated by his mother, Ronald, as he was called, was reading at age four.

Studying Latin as a young child, his lifelong passion for languages began. In addition, his mother taught him French and German, and after her death, he learned Old English, Finnish, Gothic, Greek, Italian, Old Norse, Spanish, Welsh, Danish, Russian, and Swedish.

• When Tolkien was 12, his mother was diagnosed with diabetes, which, in preinsulin days, was usually fatal. She was gone in less than a year, leaving her boys in the care of a Catholic priest, Father Francis Xavier Morgan. turn the page for more!

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TOLKIEN WEEK (continued):

• As a 16-year-old living in a boarding house, Ronald met 19-year-old Edith Bratt, and a deep friendship blossomed. When it began to turn serious, Father Francis, who saw Edith as a distraction to Ronald’s studies, banned Tolkien from seeing her or even writing to her for three years, until he turned 21. By that time, Edith was engaged to another, but she broke it off to marry Tolkien in 1916.

• World War I broke out in 1914, but Tolkien was able to delay military enlistment until he completed his Oxford degree. After being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, he was sent to the Western Front in France in 1916 to participate in one of the bloodiest battles in history, the Battle of the Somme. More than 1,000,000 men were wounded or killed in the battle, which lasted from July to November of that year. Tolkien spent four months on the Somme front, in and out of trenches, where he contracted “trench fever,” an infection similar to typhus. He spent a month in the hospital, and over the next two years, he suffered several relapses. During his recoveries, he wrote poetry and short stories.

He was eventually released from duty due to poor health.

• Following his release, Tolkien was hired as an “assistant lexicographer” by the Oxford English Dictionary, commissioned to work on history and etymology of Germanic words that began with the letter “W”. Within less than two years, he became a professor of English at the University of Leeds, the youngest professor there. By 1925, he was a professor at Oxford, not only teaching, but writing academic works for scholars, including A Middle English Vocabulary.

Cooking for Pets DEAR PAW’S CORNER: You’ve written often about cooking fresh, healthy (and safe) meals for pets, referencing cookbooks as guides for your readers to use. Those are great but now that so many of us are online, don’t forget that a lot of good videos are available for free that show how to cook for pets! -- Jerry C. in Lafayette, La. DEAR JERRY: You’re absolutely right -- there are numerous online resources for pet owners looking for great recipes for their dogs and cats.

Cooking fresh food for pets does take extra time, and owners must be careful with the ingredients they use, from spices to additions like onions (which are poisonous to dogs). But giving your pet a fresh meal once or twice a week is a great addition to its diet. Some might even consider feeding their pet an exclusively home-cooked diet, but doing so does require a transition period to get used to cooking for one’s pet regularly and adjusting recipes for sensitive stomachs if needed.

There are a lot of videos online showing ways for pet owners to cook for their pets,

but finding them can be a bit of a chore.

YouTube is home to a lot of these videos: For example, Google the Doggy Cooking Network, Salmon Pup Cakes for a demo of the YouTube-based series that features recipes for dogs. Or try Linda’s Pantry, another YouTube series, which outlines how to make a week’s worth of homemade dog food.

As always when cooking fresh for your pets, review guidelines on what ingredients aren’t safe for them. And monitor your pet whenever you introduce any new food or treat.

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TOLKIEN WEEK (continued):

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Personal matters claim a good deal of the Lamb's time in the early part of the week. But by midweek, pragmatic considerations (work, school, jobseeking, etc.) begin to take priority.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The seasonal shift ignites the Bovine's creative aspects. You could do well if you try to combine your penchant for innovation with the more pragmatic demands of the week.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Ideas come easily to you this week. And never mind that some might suggest they're unworkable and/or impractical. It's your vision that counts. Work them out and see what turns up.

CANCER ( June 21 to July 22) Personal matters continue to dominate the early part of the week. By midweek, more workaday issues once again begin to emerge. Balance your time to give both the attention they need.

LEO ( July 23 to August 22) A new contact could provide an expanded opportunity. But be sure you get all the facts before you consider signing on. Ask questions, and be wary if you don't get the right answers.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) An unexpected development could cause some supposedly resolved disagreements to reignite.

Deal with the situation before it leads to some really serious problems.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A

clash of work-linked viewpoints needs to be discussed openly, honestly and calmly by all concerned before it can impede progress on an ongoing project.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) The Scorpion's pragmatic side helps you accept the possibility that a change of plans might be the wise thing to do. Be sure to weigh all your considerations carefully.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Some people might not take no for an answer. Never mind. Keep your resolve if you're sure you don't want to be involved in a potentially sticky situation.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) All other facts and figures aside, it's what you learn about potential colleagues that can be most helpful in assessing any decisions you're likely to make regarding a new project.

AQUARIUS ( January 20 to February 18) You might want to reconsider some of your outside commitments if they continue to demand more time than you can spare. Be honest with yourself when making a decision.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Pay attention to that inner voice of Piscean wisdom counseling you to remove those rose-colored glasses and take an honest look at any decisions you might face this week.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a penchant for persuasion that would make you a fine candidate for a political career.

• In the early 1930s, while teaching at Oxford, Tolkien had had several poems published in magazines, but it was the story of dwarves, trolls, goblins, dragons, and wizards written for his children that was to cement his success. The Hobbit was the story of Bilbo Baggins who sets out to win a treasure guarded by Smaug the dragon. Many of Tolkien’s characters originated from his love of Norse mythology, and their names, such as Oin, Borun, Dwalin, and Gandalf, were taken from the Old Norse language. He personally created more than 100 drawings for the manuscript. His brilliant capacity for languages inspired him to write his own languages, including Qenya, Eldarin, and Gnomish, which he incorporated into his writings.

• The Hobbit was shown to the chairman of a publishing firm, who tried it out on his own 10-yearold son. The book was published in 1937 and was an immediate success. It has never been out of print, has remained on children’s recommended reading lists since its publication, and has been translated into more than 40 languages.

• As the popularity of The Hobbit began to grow, the publishers approached Tolkien about producing a sequel. He spent more than 10 years working on and off on the sequel, and when complete, a dispute with the publishers led to a further delay.

The book was divided into three volumes – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, with the first installment released in 1954, and the second and third over the next several months. Tolkien himself described Lord of the Rings as a “fundamentally religious and Catholic work,” embracing many theological themes.

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by Frank McKinney - A great book for balancing life, work, family and any other goals and aspirations you have for yourself.

– This book is fantastic for learning your strengths and focusing on getting even stronger!

— This book as a great mindset book for any beginning entrepreneur or real estate investor because it definitely helps you to focus on WHY you want to invest or WHY you want to start on the entrepreneurial path.

– This book is kind of an off-the-grid book written by a real estate investor and low-key educator. John W. Schaub is a well respected real estate educator and this book is easy to understand and a really good resource.

– It is not specific to real estate, but is an entrepreneurs hand book.

– The title says it all – this book is all about giving before you receive.

–It teaches you a lot about how to face each day in the business world. This book shows you that sometimes the greatest treasure is the journey.

As you can tell, not all of these books are real estate related, but they are all related to the success mindset! You have to believe in what you are doing and surround yourself with high-quality people to have success – even if some of those people are in books.

With that said, if you find yourself ready to take the leap, but want some guidance in the real estate investing adventure, I highly recommend Jared Hokanson and his team at Hokanson Realty – you will definitely benefit from his experience – he guarantees it.~ All the Best, Cat Bonney, Publisher and Investor

Rogue Valley Real Estate In this Building Bits, I am going to broach the subject of real estate investing. There may be a few of you out there that have considered investing in real estate, but maybe you didn’t know where to start or thought that it might be too time consuming or risky. Well, it can be daunting, but if you are willing to educate yourself in some areas, when it comes to investing in real estate you will be pleasantly surprised how rewarding it can be.

Before I move onto specific strategies on real estate investing—this week I must pave the way with a prologue. Real estate investing requires a different mind set. One of the best tools for helping build that mindset, is actually a board game. You may have heard of the inventor of this board game, he first became famous with a book called “Rich Dad, Poor Dad.” The author is Robert Kiyosaki and the board game is “Cashflow 101.”

This is a game of patience and repetition. But in the end, the simplicity of the game helps you begin to change your mindset from that of a “consumer” to that of an “investor.” But if you are unable to find a group that plays “Cashflow 101” or you don’t want to play it online – at least consider reading “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and begin your education in developing the mindset of an investor.

Having established that developing an “investor mindset” is at the forefront of becoming a successful real estate investor, let me suggest some other books that can help you in this endeavor.

There are only so many ‘original’ real estate books on the market and many are simply re-treads of old ideas with fancy new packaging. If you want to be successful in life, not simply real estate, you must continue to feed your brain and your soul with new books that often will revive familiar ideas and goals. Here are a few favorites, some old, some new.

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• Tolkien considered himself more of a philologist than a writer, that is, one who specializes in the relationship of languages to each other and studies ancient texts. The British census registry listed him as a “professor of English Language and Literature.” He lived a modest lifestyle and was not wealthy from his writings until late in his life. When The Hobbit was published, he was 45 years old and 62 when Lord of the Rings was published.

• A 1999 Amazon poll ranked Lord of the Rings as the “favorite book of the millennium.”

• Movie director Peter Jackson undertook a monumental project in 1999, the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. All three movies, filmed entirely in Jackson’s native New Zealand, were shot simultaneously over 438 days beginning in October of 1999 and continuing through December, 2000. The more than 150 different locations included conservation areas and national parks, with seven units shooting concurrently. Each film underwent a full year in post-production before its release. The overall budget was approximately $300 million. The film series grossed close to $3 billion. Each third of the trilogy was released the week before Christmas, with The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001, The Two Towers in 2002, and The Return of the King in 2003.

• Jackson has also directed three additional films based on The Hobbit – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in 2012, The Desolation of Smaug in 2013, and The Battle of Five Armies in 2014. As with the Lord of the Rings films, all were released shortly before Christmas. This trio was made with a $745 million budget, and grossed $2.9 billion at the box office.

Develop the entrepreneurial mindset from learning vital lessons of the best entrepreneurs.

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

For High Cholesterol, Statins Are Way to Go

DEAR DR. ROACH: Last year, I told my doctor that I no longer wanted to take a statin drug. I had read so much about statins and am on meds for cholesterol and high blood pressure. I am 73, and other than having arthritis in my knees, I am not having problems.

My doctor put me on fenofibrate. I am due for my yearly checkup in a few months and don’t really know yet how this is working on my cholesterol. I was wondering what your feelings are about this drug. -- RS ANSWER: I’ve written a lot about statins, which have been proven to save lives and

reduce heart attacks in people with heart disease and also in some people at higherthan-average risk for heart disease. In contrast, although non-statin medications reduce cholesterol, they have not been proven to do what they are really intended to do, which is to prevent heart disease and death.

I suspect that medications like fenofibrate do have a small benefit in protecting the heart; however, I would not use them unless the side effects of statins made it impossible to take one. Often, people intolerant of one statin do well on another. For people at high risk, such as those with previous heart attack or known blockages, I would try a different class of medication. For people at lower risk, I would work on a diet proven to reduce heart disease risk, such as the Mediterranean diet, and encourage regular exercise and use medications such as fenofibrate sparingly or not at all.

Another medication, ezitimibe (Zetia or Ezetrol), also lowers cholesterol but without convincing proof that it lowers heart disease risk. It may be that the mechanism by which statins reduce heart risk is not just through lowering cholesterol.

Learn more about high cholesterol and

how to control it in the cholesterol booklet.

Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Roach -- No. 201W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. *** DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 81 years old and in good health. I am 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weigh 168 pounds, the same as in 1950.

My blood pressure and cholesterol are good on treatment, and my pulse is 62. I drink an energy drink three or four times a week after the noon meal, when I don’t take a nap and need to keep going. I am a farmer, and am active every day. Are these energy drinks harmful to me? -- L.M.W. ANSWER: The caffeine in one energy drink is about 160 mg per 16-ounce can, which is the equivalent of somewhere around a cup or two of regular coffee, depending on how strong you make it. That much caffeine doesn’t cause problems for most people, especially for those who are used to it. However, it also has 52 grams of sugar -- about 14 teaspoons. My advice is to stick with coffee. You will save money and reduce your sugar intake a lot.

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(not if ) the What will you be holding...

NOTEWORTHY INVENTORS:

GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE

The name of Westinghouse is more than a brand of appliance. George Westinghouse was an engineer who created far more innovations than you may be aware of. Let’s look at just a few.

• Even as a child, this son of a machine shop owner showed an aptitude for machinery. However, as a teen, he put his passion aside to enlist in the New York Cavalry to serve in the Civil War. The year after his release, Westinghouse, age 19, received his first patent for the rotary steam engine. At 21, he had invented a device that guided derailed railroad cars back onto the tracks and a railroad switch that steered trains onto one of two tracks.

• After witnessing a wreck between two trains whose engineers were unable to stop, at age 22, Westinghouse devised a railroad air brake.

Previously, brakemen had to run from car to car, applying brakes manually on each one. The new design enabled engineers to apply brakes simultaneously on all cars, an invention that was eventually made mandatory on all American trains. The following year, Westinghouse had founded the Westinghouse Air Brake Company, the first of 60 companies he would found throughout his life.

• His next contribution to the railroad industry was improvements to railway signals, which had previously used oil lamps. He founded the Union Switch and Signal Company to produce his signal and switching inventions.

• When Thomas Edison began receiving notoriety for his light bulb and electrical distribution system, Westinghouse began his own experiments with electricity.

Brakes are quite possibly THE most important system on a vehicle today.

We of course don’t want our car to drive poorly, but a poor functioning brake system could possibly turn a car into a deadly weapon.

In recent years, brakes have evolved to be a high-tech computer controlled system. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) helps the vehicle to stop and remain in control on slippery roads, stopping faster and safer by not letting the wheels lock up. As the brakes are applied, the speed of each wheel is monitored by speed sensors at the wheels. This information is then sent to the computer. If one wheel is slowing faster than the others indicating a possible lock-up, the computer will momentarily release the brake on that one wheel until it matches the speed of the other wheels then reapplies it. And if you thought all that was a lot to take in…. All this happens up to 10 times a second. Much faster and with more precision than even the most skilled driver could ever manually control.

With all those systems and moving parts, keeping brakes in good working condition requires regular maintenance.

Maintenance should include flushing the brake fluid, cleaning & adjustment of drum brakes and the emergency brake systems. If the ABS light is on, this

Divorce Rate Soars The rate of divorce among older adults (over age 50) has doubled in the past 20 years. Among those who are in remarriages the divorce rate is even higher -- 2 1/2 times that of those in a first marriage.

The implications for seniors aren’t the same as they are for younger generations -- we have a different set of issues that come with divorce.

If you’re considering ending a marriage, here are some things to think about: * Adult children -- What role will they need to take? Caregiver or financial supporter as one of you ages? And that’s if you have adult children nearby. * Your home -- Who gets to keep it? The one who ends up with the house will likely end up

Smoke and Mirrors?

Allison Hickey, undersecretary for benefits at the Department of Veterans Affairs, says the number of backlog disability claims has gone down to 98,535, the first time since 2013 that it’s been below 100,000. “Backlog” is the term for claims that are 125 days old or older.

That 98,535 number isn’t the total number of claims. That number currently stands at 362,799 disability and pension claims, with an average of 105 days pending. During August 2015, processing was taking an average of 149 days, and all of 2015 averages at 172 days.

How to handle all those claims? Kick it back to the veteran for more information, and label the claim closed? Deny a claim and label it closed until the veteran objects and appeals?

Leave boxes of claims unopened so they’re not

indicates that the computer sees a problem with the system and will not activate, leaving you with only standard braking.

A technician should start by first retrieving the stored code, conduct a full brake inspection, then diagnose and repair the problem (which is not always as easy as it sounds).

Brakes are engineered to wear at the pads, and also may wear the rotors.

This may cause a pulsation with applying brakes. Most times the rotors can be resurfaced, but at some point they will need to be replaced.

A proper brake job should also include checking other parts of the system: Calipers must move freely, and slides, hoses, sensors, must all work properly. If you have any questions about the brake systems in your car, ask your technician to show you what he/she finds or video tape the issues. Most times, but not all, the wear and tear is visible making it easier for you to feel you are getting something you actually need.

Having your brake system checked regularly may prevent a costly accident or repair. More importantly it can help keep you and your precious cargo safe. Just know that we are here to help when you need it -- Kelly’s Automotive Service, where we service your vehicle, but take care of you. ~ Safe Travels, Dave Kelly

with less of something else in the settlement. * Caring for parents -- If you’re a caregiver (financially, physically or both) for your own parents, you’ll likely end up doing this on your own. What will that do to your own health? Can you afford it? * Alimony -- If you’re still working, you’ll likely pay alimony to an unemployed spouse, and not for just a short period of time. It will likely be until the end of his or her life. * Retirement -- Your assets will likely be halved, and as a senior, your ability to increase income will be limited. Your tax bracket will change to single, which is a higher tax rate.

Get financial and legal counseling before dropping the D-word on your spouse. Get all your information first so that assets don’t disappear.

Know whether there are any 401(k) plans and if there have been any loans taken out on them.

Be sure to understand your rights. And if you remarry, get a pre-nup without fail.

included in the numbers?

Or do a little shredding of veterans’ information, as was done in Philadelphia and nine other regional offices. The VA’s Office of the Inspector General is still looking into that. Allegations are that documentation sent in by veterans in furtherance of their claims was dumped in bins for shredding in some offices. That means the info was never added to the files, which could affect claims because they would be incomplete.

In at least one office, there hadn’t been a records management officer for seven months to oversee any shredding.

The number of appeals pending in the Monday Morning report for June 1, 2015, was 303,724.

Within approximately 75 days, that number jumped to 313,338 appeals.

Six years ago the VA wanted to clear the over-125 days backlog by the end of 2015. For three years, claims handlers at the VA have been required to put in 20 extra hours per month to clear the backlog. Think they’ll make it?

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Costume Jewelry Q: At a recent garage sale, I purchased a shoebox filled with rhinestone costume jewelry from the 1940s and ‘50s. Most of them look like designer pieces. Can you recommend a good price guide to help me determine current values. I only paid $5 for the collection. -- Susan, Omaha, Nebraska A: It sounds like you got a good deal. In recent years, rhinestone jewelry has become extremely popular with collectors, and that has caused prices to soar. Although there are several excellent

price guides, I highly recommend “Rhinestone Jewelry: A Price and Identification Guide” by Leigh Leshner and published by Krause Books. It features more than 500 illustrations in full color, and details the beauty, history and current market value of all types of rhinestone jewelry. There also is information on how to care for costume pieces. *** Q: I have a Japanese tea set that has more than 50 pieces. It is pre-occupation. What is it worth? -Joyce, Victoria, Texas A: Your question is much like someone asking me what a car is worth. If the car is a 1935 Packard, it is probably worth major bucks. On the other hand, if it is a Yugo, it’s likely not worth much.

Identification marks on porcelain identify both the maker and sometimes the period it was crafted. This is its pedigree, and without this basic information it

is impossible to determine much about your set. *** Q: I own an unopened copy of Michael Jackson’s 1982 “Thriller” album. I would think this would be a collectible. -- Tamera, Crossville, Tennessee A: A quick check of eBay shows an album in mint condition selling for $50, with one still sealed in its original packaging offered at $185. As with most collectables, condition is everything. *** Q: I have a 1909 Sears & Roebuck Catalog published by Venture Book Company in New York.

How much is it worth? -- Charlotte, Marion, Illinois A: Your catalog is not an original from 1909, but rather a re-issue published in 1979. According to several book dealers I contacted, it is worth less than $10.

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“Thank Yous” to Summer 1. GEOGRAPHY: In what country is the city of Sao Paulo located?

2. MUSIC: What singer made the song “Mack the Knife” famous?

3. HISTORY: When were the anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti executed for crimes that they may not have committed?

4. LITERATURE: Who wrote the children’s book “Charlotte’s Web”?

5. EDUCATION: Which field of study has been described as “the dismal science”?

6. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president’s nickname was “Old Hickory”?

7. MATH: What is the decimal equivalent of the fraction 3/4?

8. MOVIES: What film features the theme park “Walley World”?

9. ASTRONOMY: In which constellation is the Big Dipper located?

10. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What does a sphygmomanometer measure?

1. When was the last time before 2014 that the Baltimore Orioles swept a playoff series?

2. Name the last majorleague team to hit .300 or better for a season.

3. In 2014, South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier recorded his 200th SEC victory as an SEC coach. Who else has hit that mark in the SEC? 4. Who was the only Norwegian to play in the NBA? 5. In 2015, Boston University’s Jack Eichel became the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey. Who was the first?

6. When was the last time before 2015 that Juan Pablo Montoya won an IndyCar race on a road or street course?

7. How many years passed between Serena Williams’ first and second singles titles at the French Open?

WESTINGHOUSE (continued):

• Edison’s first system provided direct current electricity to 59 homes in Manhattan in 1882.

Westinghouse recognized that the weakness of a DC network was its short transmission range, with customers having to live within a mile of the plant. He began work on an alternating current power system with a transformer that enabled AC to travel long distances. He established Westinghouse Electric in 1886 and that year, his first commercial AC power generating station provided electricity to Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

• When the World’s Columbian Exposition opened in Chicago in 1893, it was lit by 25,000 Westinghouse electric lights. The company had beat out the bid of its rival, Edison’s General Electric, by a million dollars. An entire building at this World’s Fair was dedicated to educating the public through electrical exhibits.

• In 1896, Westinghouse won the contract to install the first hydroelectric power system, harnessing the energy of Niagara Falls. Power was effectively transmitted to Buffalo, New York, more than 20 miles (32 km) away.

Westinghouse’s companies were now worth about $120 million, employing about 50,000 workers.

• With the invention of the automobile, Westinghouse went to work on a compressed air shock absorber for better suspension. In addition, he developed steam turbines to provide power for large maritime vessels. The first illuminated tennis court was designed by George Westinghouse, lit by 1,500 bulbs. He was also responsible for several inventions for the distribution of natural gas.

• When Westinghouse died in 1914, he had more than 360 patents to his credit. Because he was a Civil War veteran, he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Say, “thank you.” Those two important words are so embedded in our training as children that we pass the gesture of politesse to the next generation as part of the social drill.

My mom was no exception. At a young age, she taught me to get in step every year when my Great-Aunt Miriam sent me a birthday card with crisp $1 bills inside, equal to my years. Since she lived miles away, I couldn’t just “say” thank you. Instead, Mom shared her stationery and showed me how to write, address and stamp a handwritten note to 916 Lyons Ave. Sure, it’s easier nowadays to say “thank you” with email or text. But the handwritten word does so much more. Expressing gratitude with pen on paper says something about how the thankful person went out of his or her way to do something extra special. That’s why Wendy Brown, former video producer and mom of three, is passionate about handwritten thank-you notes and started her inspiring blog and unique online paper-goods boutique dedicated to the art of handwriting (www.brownink.com).

At the age of 5, her mom gave her personalized stationary, and she was hooked. To this day, her prized possessions are shoeboxes filled with letters to and from family, notes to friends and travel journals. “There has never been a more important time to slow down and relish the power in handwriting and the excitement of receiving a note, especially one that says, ‘thanks,’” she says.

Here are two ideas for doing just that with young kids as they reflect and write personalized thank-you notes of appreciation to day-camp counselors, coaches, relatives and friends.

Preschoolers: Set out a piece of paper, fold it in half, and let your preschooler stamp or attach stickers of images on the front side of the paper symbolic of things they enjoyed doing with the recipients, such as eating ice-cream cones, going to the beach or catching fish off a dock. Prompt your child to dictate a thank-you message that you write inside.

School-age: Young school-age kids will have fun choosing and printing out their favorite summer photos from your computer and gluing the small prints on paper. Encourage them to write words around each photo describing the activities they did together with the person they are thanking.

Show them how to sign, address and stamp the envelope.

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FOLKS WHO DIDN’T EXIST There are several familiar people you might think were historical figures. Not so! Follow along and see!

• For generations, young girls have been reading Nancy Drew mysteries, a series that originated in 1930. Their author, Carolyn Keene, was the invention of publisher Edward Stratemeyer, who hired several ghostwriters over the years to write the books. He paid the writers $125 per book, and made them sign over all rights to the manuscripts. They were also required to sign a secrecy contract that forbade them from claiming any credit for the books.

• Maybe you learned to type from the “Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing” program, software introduced in 1987 to teach touch-typing. It’s logical to assume that the lovely face featured on the box is that of Mavis Beacon, except for the fact that there is no such person. When The Software Toolworks designed the packaging, they used the image of a Caribbean-born model named Renee L’Esperance who was discovered while working at a department store. Today the company uses digitallyproduced images.

• According to folklore, Paul Bunyan formed the Great Lakes out of a need for a large enough watering hole for Babe the Blue Ox to drink from. He supposedly cleared North Dakota of its forests and Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes were reportedly formed by his and Babe’s footprints as they stumbled through a huge blizzard. This lumberjack of legend may have been a participant in Canada’s 1837 Papineau Rebellion when French Canadians rebelled against their new ruler, the Queen of England. A tall bearded bellowing man was among the loggers and became famous for his part in the battle, Legends of his heroics were told around loggers’ campfires for years to come, each one being embellished a bit more.

• The historical existence of King Arthur has long been debated with no conclusive results. The legendary 6th-century king is said to have led British troops against Saxon invaders. In the Middle Ages, Geoffrey of Monmouth penned The History of the Kings of Britain, depicting Arthur and his Knights

1. The Orioles swept Oakland in 1971.

2. The Boston Red Sox hit .302 as a team in 1950.

3. Paul “Bear” Bryant (292 wins) and Vince Dooley (201).

4. Torgeir Bryn, with the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1989-90 season.

5. Maine’s Paul Kariya, in 1993.

6. It was 1999, in Vancouver.

7. Eleven years (2002 to 2013).

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of the Round Table as great warriors, but his account is considered a work of myth without much history.

• It’s possible that a character similar to Robin Hood may have actually lived, but no positive real-life person has been verified. The famous outlaw who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor had his origins in 14th-century folklore, with some versions claiming he was actually nobility who turned outlaw.

Historical evidence exists for a criminal named Rabunhod, but there is no proof that he was the renowned bandit.

• Betty Crocker was invented in 1921 by the Washburn Crosby Company (later General Mills) as a customer service representative for answering questions about baking. Her name was chosen as a tribute to the recentlyretired director of the company, William Crocker. By 1924, “Betty” had her own radio program, the airwaves’ first cooking show.

By the 1940s, Betty Crocker was known to 9 out of 10 American homemakers, and a 1945 Fortune magazine survey revealed her as the second best-known woman in America, with only First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt ahead of her. The first Betty Crocker cookbook, published in 1950, was an instant best-seller, and is still in publication today.

Answers 1. Brazil 2. Bobby Darin 3. 1927 4. E.B. White 5. Economics 6. Andrew Jackson 7. 0.75 8. “National Lampoon’s Vacation” 9. Ursa Major 10. Blood pressure