Vol. 18: #52 • Beans • (12-25-2022) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

by Janet Spencer

It’s estimated that there are well over 600 different types or varieties of dry beans grown worldwide, though only about 200 are commercially cultivated. Beans provide a healthy addition to our diet by adding an excellent source of fibers, protein, vitamins, complex carbohydrates, folate, and iron. This week Tidbits stirs up some good reasons to appreciate these nutritious little legumes next time you bite into your burrito!

BEAN FACTS

• Beans were some of the very first plants cultivated by people worldwide. Evidence suggests that natives of Mexico and Peru were cultivating bean crops as far back as 7,000 BC. Ancient peas unearthed by archaeologists in Thailand were carbon dated to about that same period. Dry beans were also found in the tombs of the kings of ancient Egypt. The oldest varieties of beans are thought to be fava beans and broad beans.

• Where are the most beans grown? The top beanproducing countries are India, Myanmar (Burma),

1. TELEVISION: What is the primary setting of the Netflix series “Bridgerton”?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the Republic of Maldives located?

3. LITERATURE: What is the subject of Walt Whitman’s poem “O Captain! My Captain!”?

4. LANGUAGE: What is the third letter of the Greek alphabet?

5. HISTORY: When was the last time the Liberty Bell rang in Philadelphia?

6. MOVIES: What was Henry Fonda’s jury number in “12 Angry Men”?

7. MATH: What is a heptahedron?

8. BUSINESS: In what year did McDonald’s introduce the Big Mac to all of its customers?

9. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president tried to ban Christmas trees from the White House?

10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What do bees collect from flowers and use to make honey?

1. London, England. 2. Indian Ocean. 3. The death of President Abraham Lincoln.

• Nearly every star ever spotted has at least one planet. About 20% of the stars that are about the same size as our Sun have an Earth-size planet circling in the “Goldilocks” zone capable of sustaining life.

• Light takes 1.3 seconds to travel from Earth to the Moon. However, communicating with people on the Moon also takes 1.3 seconds because the electrically-generated information also travels at the speed of light.

• Information from Mars takes about seven minutes to travel to Earth.

• Nothing that has any mass can travel at the speed of light.

• The Milky Way galaxy is about 100,000 lightyears wide. The neighboring galaxy, Andromeda, is approximately 2.5 million lightyears away.

• It costs between $2,300 and $6,800 per pound to launch an object into orbit. This is the main reason we don’t have space hotels and moon bases.

• One of the largest stars known is called UY Scuti. Its radius is around 1,700 times larger than the radius of the Sun. To put that in perspective, nearly 5 billion of our Suns could fit inside UY Scuti.

• An Apollo mission to the Moon retrieved a camera that had been left there for several years. When it was examined back on Earth, scientists found it was crawling with Earth-bacteria, which had been on it when it left Earth, and had survived all the years on the Moon. It had not been sterilized before going to the Moon because everyone thought that no bacteria could survive on the Moon. NASA now sterilizes every inch of every spacecraft.

• The weight of the atmosphere on Venus is equal to being about half a mile underwater on Earth. The average temperature on Venus is around 860 F (460 C). It’s so hot that metals melt and turn to gas, rising up in the atmosphere, where they cool down and fall as metal snow.

• Galileo was among the first to see many moons circling Jupiter. His observations led him to believe that the Sun did not in fact circle Earth, but that Earth circled the Sun. This angered the

Pope, who forced him to retract the statement, and Galileo subsequently spent the rest of his life under house arrest for his blasphemy.

• One of Jupiter’s moons called Europa sports fabulous geysers that shoot water 120 miles high.

• The term “UFO” was coined by the U.S. Air Force in the 1940s and denotes anything seen moving across the sky that cannot be identified.

• The space probe Voyager 2, launched in 1977 and travelling at 35,000 mph (56,327 km/hr) has travelled 4.4 billion miles since leaving Earth. A light-day is just over 16 billion miles. So Voyager 2 has travelled about a quarter of a light-day so far, or around 6 light-hours. At this rate it will have travelled one light-day by around the year 2157.

• The breathable part of our atmosphere (roughly 2 miles thick) is all that separates us from suffocation and death in space. In the grand scope of things, 2 miles (3.2 km) is a sliver of practically nothing.

• Only 24 men have reached altitudes beyond the level of low earth orbit. Only 12 have managed to walk on the Moon. All of them were from the United States

• Jupiter has been dubbed the “vacuum cleaner of the solar system” because its powerful gravitational force eats up asteroids or comets that are nearby, stopping them from colliding with Earth. □

and Brazil. Likewise, the countries that consume the most beans are India, Myanmar, and Brazil.

• In the U.S., the states producing the most beans are North Dakota (32%), Michigan (17%), and Nebraska (11%). North Dakota has retained its position as the top-ranking producer of dry edible beans in the United States since 1991.

• The most popular dry beans in the U.S. on a per capita basis are pinto, navy, Great Northern, red kidney, and black beans.

NAME HISTORIES

• “Garbanzo” comes from the Spanish term for chickpea, “garvance,” which is a compound of “garau” meaning “seed,” and “antzu” meaning “dry.”

• “Edamame” is a Japanese word meaning “branch and bean” and denotes soybeans that have been cooked.

• Navy beans were so named because they were widely used by the U.S. Navy to feed shipboard sailors during WWII.

• Great Northern beans were given that name because they were first cultivated in large quantities in North Dakota.

• “Carat” comes from “carob,” which is a small Oriental bean. The beans are remarkably uniform in size and therefore became a standard for weighing gemstones.

• “Legume” comes from the Latin verb “legere” meaning “to gather.”

• Lima beans are named after Lima, Peru, where they have been cultivated for some 6,000 years.

• Beans are also known as lentils, legumes, and pulses.

• “Pulse” comes from the Latin word “puls” meaning “thick soup.” Pulse crops are the seeds (beans) of legumes.

• Although all beans are legumes, not all legumes

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

can be classified as beans.

• The word “lens” comes from the Latin word for lentil beans, “lentes,” because the lens has a shape similar to the bean.

BAKED BEAN FACTS

• Puritans were forbidden from working on the Sabbath, and that included cooking. The local natives showed them how to submerge a bunch of beans in a pot of water, put the pot in a hole, and fill the hole with hot coals and stones. This slow method of cooking meant that the Puritans could put a pot of beans into the hole on Saturday night and eat them for dinner on Sunday night. This is the origin of New England’s Boston baked beans, and it’s why Boston is known as Beantown.

• Today the official recipe for baked beans starts with white pea beans which are canned in a tomato sauce.

• There are approximately 465 beans in a standard can of Heinz baked beans.

• The earliest reference to baked beans was in 1832 in a book called “American Frugal Housewife.”

• The world record for eating six pounds of baked beans is one minute 48 seconds by Don Lerman of New York.

red blood cells to clump together, leading to symptoms of food poisoning, and can damage the gut. PHA is destroyed by high cooking temperatures, which is why raw dried beans, especially red kidney beans, should be soaked in water for a few hours and then boiled for at least 30 minutes. Cooking them in a crock pot at a lower temperature can be dangerous.

• A genetic disease called favism results from a genetic deficiency. Unfortunate victims with the favism condition have red blood cells that are so sensitive to oxidants found in fava beans that any contact with fava beans, no matter how casual or brief, will bring on a severe allergic reaction resulting in anemia, shock and sometimes death.

Beans: Turn to page 15

QUIZ BITS

1. What percent of a cooked bean is protein?

2. Which has a higher percentage of protein; beans or chicken?

Soaking dried beans for several hours brings them back to life. The process enhances the flavor and activates the enzymes, proteins, minerals and vitamins in the beans making them even more nutritious.

• The largest pot of baked beans ever created contained almost 1,500 gallons (5,600 liters) and was cooked up in Macedonia in 2012.

• The longest recorded time for sitting in a bath of cold baked beans is 100 hours by Barry “Captain Beany” Kirk of Britain.

• The 1967 album “The Who Sell Out” by rock band The Who featured on its cover a picture of frontman Roger Daltrey seated in a tub full of baked beans. The second track on the LP was titled ‘Heinz Baked Beans’.

BEAN CAUTIONS

• In their raw or undercooked form, red kidney beans are highly toxic, because they contain high amounts of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), a carbohydrate-binding protein. PHA causes

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

By Lucie Winborne

* When Ivan the Terrible’s young son Dmitry died, a bell was rung to mark the occasion. The bell was later lashed, tried for treason, found guilty and exiled to Siberia. Why? Local legend had it that the bell rang of its own accord, which was considered an evil omen.

* Each NFL team must provide the referee with 24 footballs for each game.

* A neuroscientist suffered a series of strokes that left him with an irresistible urge to rhyme and rap. He made the most of this unusual side effect by going on to pursue freestyle rap and improvisation as a hobby.

* Almost every New York City alley scene in the movies is shot at the same location.

* Nigel Richards won a French Scrabble World Championship without actually knowing how to speak the language. He just memorized words from a French dictionary.

* We hate to disillusion you, but pumpkin spice and pumpkin pie spice contain no pumpkin whatsoever.

* The world’s oldest known rose bush, which grows up the side of Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany, was planted more than 1,000 years ago and even survived a World War II bombing.

* In some cities, road crews use pickle juice or beet juice to combat winter’s icy streets.

* Got a mouse problem at your house? Your grocery store might provide a quick and easy answer in the form of bananas. Male mice are scared of their scent -- especially virgin male mice.

* American radio broadcaster Art Bell stayed on air for a world-record-setting 116 hours and 15 minutes as part of a fundraiser to bring 130 Vietnamese orphans to the U.S. for adoption. ***

Thought for the Day: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

-- Shirley Chisholm (c)

Inc.

Just be careful. Never sign anything you do not fully understand and couldn’t explain to another person in 50 words or less.

All that being said, your best bet may be to approach a family member who believes in you and your ability to make repayment.

When

Student

Debt Comes Home to Roost, Plus Fast Track on Mortgage Payoff

Everyday

®

I wish you well with your new career and getting your student debt repaid as quickly as possible.

CHEAPSKATE

by Mary Hunt

DEAR MARY: Several years ago I decided to become a medical transcription. I had no knowledge how school loans work and signed a student loan from Sallie Mae for $7,000 with a 12-month deferment on payments. It took 15 months to finish school, so my payments started before finishing.

I am still paying $134 a month on the loan wherein the principal has now grown to more than $12,500! I have looked into transferring the balance to a lower-rate loan as we are currently paying 15% variable on this one. But I can’t find anyone to agree to an unsecured loan. Is there another avenue I can pursue or am I stuck with this out-of-control student loan? -- Yvonne D., email

Dear Yvonne: My first instinct is to blast any lender that signs up students for loans without fully disclosing all of the ramifications of deferred interest and variable interest rates. And then to warn students to grow up, do some independent research and pay attention to what they’re getting into! It’s a lot easier to borrow than to pay back. But I’ll refrain from going off on that and get right to your question.

Your loan through Sallie Mae is not a federally guaranteed loan, but rather a private student loan. This means you do not have access to options that could potentially lower your interest or offer forgiveness.

There is an organization, U.S. Student Loan Center (https://usstudentloancenter.org/) that offers consolidation for private student loans, which you may want to check out. Typically, that means taking a number of loans and consolidating them into one. However, it is possible they can assist you with refinancing into a better rate of interest.

SOLAR PANEL DOCTORS

DEAR MARY: Our mortgage company has offered to enroll us in a plan that would change our current single monthly payment of $2,445 into two payments of $1,225 (every other week). Biweekly payments would be automatically deducted from our checking account.

The letter states that we would save $107,692 in interest on our mortgage as well as pay our 30-year mortgage off nearly 7 years early. There is a one-time enrollment fee of $595 and a $5.42 monthly participation fee.

I tried to set up the same deductions electronically, but the bill pay service will only allow for one payment per payee per month. Also, if I want to apply extra toward the principal each month, it can only be scheduled for the same date the mortgage payment is deducted.

Thanks for the help. -- K.G., email

Dear K.G.: I wrote an entire section in Chapter 9 of my book, “Live Your Life For Half The Price” (Revell, 2015), on this matter of biweekly mortgage payments. Here’s a brief explanation for how it works:

When you pay half of your payment every two weeks, in one year you make 26 half-payments, which equates to 13 regular monthly payments. It is that extra full payment that makes all the difference. But for a mortgage company to allow you to send half payments, you must enroll in a biweekly program and pay all those fees. Once you start, you can’t just switch back to monthly payments if you need to pull back.

Here is a simple way you can do the same thing on your own with no fees:

Each month when you pay your regular monthly payment, write a second check (or make a second principal payment) for onetwelfth of one payment. Make it very clear that this additional amount is for principal prepayment only and not to be held to cover future interest. Do this for 12 months and you will have made the equivalent of 13 monthly payments. Bingo!

If something comes up and you need to pull back, just stop sending that second check. And start back up when you like. No permission required; no fees assessed.

Watch your mailbox. I’m sending you an autographed copy of my book.

* * *

Specializing in: ¥

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate. com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”

• The hoopoe is a colorful bird found in Africa and parts of Asia. When it lays an egg, it covers the shell with a bacteria-laden fluid secreted from a gland under its tail. The bacteria release antibiotics which stop other more dangerous microbes from infiltrating the eggshell and infecting the chicks inside.

• The eggs of a typical hummingbird are the size of a kidney bean or smaller.

• Cuckoos are famous for laying their eggs in other birds’ nests, forcing the adoptive parents to raise the imposter chicks. But a bird called the blackcap is able to tell a cuckoo’s egg from its own eggs, and consistently throws the intruding eggs out of the nest

• The Australian mallee fowl buries its eggs in sand. When the chicks hatch, they have to struggle out from under a mound of sand after breaking out of their egg.

• An average bird egg the size of a chicken egg can have around 7,000 pores on its shell. As the developing chick grows it uses the oxygen from the air sack inside and replaces it with carbon dioxide. The tiny pores in the shell allow the carbon dioxide to escape and fresh air to get in.

• The mature yolk of an ostrich egg is the biggest single cell found in nature.

• Ostrich eggs weigh around three pounds, which due to its size was a factor leading to the decimation of ostrich numbers. Because the eggs are tasty and quite nutritious they became a popular food item, which caused the supply to run short. Their giant eggs are the largest of any living bird, although in proportion they are actually the smallest eggs relative to the size of the adult bird.

• The kiwi of New Zealand lays the largest egg relative to body weight. A single egg, which takes four to five days to be laid, weighs about a pound. The mother only weighs about four pounds herself. After she lays the egg, the male takes over incubation, guarding the egg for the next ten weeks.

• The eggshell serves as a calcium supply for the growing embryo. As the embryo matures, the shell slowly becomes thinner and the hatchling has an easier time breaking through.

• A bird called the rainbow pitta is native to Australia. It’s a strikingly beautiful bird with brightly colored plumage. It builds its footballshaped nest in the forest with a bird-size hole for an entrance. But the eggs are often eaten by snakes, which are able to smell the eggs from a distance. To protect against this, the pitta collects wallaby dung. Wallabies are marsupials related to the kangaroo. The pitta knows that a pile of poop at the doorstep prevents snakes from smelling the eggs inside.

• Ovenbirds mix clay with straw, cow patties, and plant debris to make nests that look like little adobe huts. Each nest has two rooms, an entryway and a nesting chamber, which are offset from each other so that a human hand -- or any other predator -- is unable to reach the eggs.

• Cowbird eggs have been found in nests of more than 220 other species.

• The eggs of cavity-nesting birds are often plain, but eggs that are laid in more open areas are often speckled and serve to camouflage them.

• Cassowary eggs have the thickest shells, which can be up to one-quarter of an inch thick and require effort to crack them open.

• Egg yolks are one of the few foods that naturally contain Vitamin D.

• Duck eggs are higher in fat and better suited for baking than chicken eggs.

• The size of a bird’s egg is relative to the size of its yolk. And, of course, the size of the yolk is relative to the size of the species.

• The largest known bird egg belongs to the extinct elephant bird. Its eggs were about the size of an American football, or almost a foot long. The bird was driven to extinction in the 1700s. □

by Dana Jackson

Q: What is Kit Harington doing now that “Game of Thrones” is over? I also thought he was hilarious in the Andy Samberg film where he played a tennis pro. Will he do any more comedies like that? -- E.E.

A: Back in 2018, when asked if he would want to continue playing the character of Jon Snow after 10 years on “Game of Thrones,” Kit Harington answered, “Not on your life.” Apparently, since then, he’s had some time to reflect and approached “Thrones” creator George R.R. Martin with an idea for a sequel, and “Snow” was born. Whenever it comes to fruition, “Snow” (the working title) is sure to be a hit. The “Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon” premiered on HBO in August and has averaged 29 million viewers per episode. According to EW.com, other spin-offs awaiting the green light include “’Ten Thousand Ships,’ about Princess Nymeria of the Rhoynar, and ‘The Sea Snake,’ about a young Corlys Velaryon,” among others.

I don’t see any comedy films or shows in his list of upcoming projects, but one standout is “Mary’s Monster,” which is about author Mary Shelley and the writing behind her masterpiece “Frankenstein.” Harington will play the monster.

***

James Bond will be, since Daniel Craig’s portrayal has concluded? The last I heard, Idris Elba was a possibility. -- F.T.

A: According to an article on TimeOut. com, “No Time to Die” producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson said it will be another two years before filming could even begin on another Bond film. This rules out 50-year-old Idris Elba (“Beast”), because they’re looking for an actor who will inhabit the role for the next decade.

Even Elba has taken himself out of the running, according to what he told the Wall Street Journal in an interview earlier this year: “I look forward to whoever gets it. When I look in the mirror, I don’t see James Bond.”

Other actors rumored to be the next pick include Tom Hardy (“Venom”), Regé-Jean Page (“Bridgerton”) and Henry Golding (“Crazy Rich Asians”). However, the latest buzz surrounds 32-year-old British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson (“Bullet Train”). He first made headlines for romancing his future wife, director Sam Taylor-Wood, who is 23 years his senior.

The couple eventually wed and have two children together, and Taylor-Johnson has gone on to establish an impressive acting career beyond gossip headlines.

***

Q: Is the new “Perry Mason” series returning to HBO anytime soon? I really enjoyed it. Matthew Rhys is always fabulous. -- L.B.

A: It’s been two and a half years since season one of “Perry Mason” concluded, leaving fans wondering if it had been canceled. Matthew Rhys, who plays the title character, will once again don his fedora beginning March 6 on HBO and HBO Max.

A new mystery is centered around the murder of a “scion of a powerful oil family.” Rhys gained a large following with his Emmy-winning role, Philip Jennings, on “The Americans” from 2013 to 2018. He was also recognized with a Best Actor Emmy nomination during his first season of “Perry Mason.” * * *

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

King Features News Syndicate

Q: Did they ever decide who the next

Good Recipes from

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Garlic-and-herb cheese and roasted peppers are the surprise filling for these boneless breasts. Served alongside lemony herb couscous, this dish is elegant enough for guests but easy enough for a family weeknight dinner.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

4 (about 1 1/4 pounds) medium skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/4 cup (about half 4.4-ounce package) light garlic-and-herb spreadable cheese

1/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers, drained and chopped

8 whole fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

LEMON & BASIL COUSCOUS

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1 cup couscous

1 cup fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1. Prepare Stuffed Breasts: With tip of knife, cut each chicken breast from a long side, keeping knife parallel to surface of breast, to form a deep pocket with as small an opening as possible.

2. In small bowl, combine cheese, peppers and basil. Spread 1/4 cheese mixture in each chicken pocket. Rub outside of chicken with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

3. Prepare Lemon and Basil Couscous: In 2-quart saucepan, heat oil, salt, pepper and 1 1/3 cups water to boiling over high heat; stir in couscous. Cover saucepan; remove from heat and let stand at least 5 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, place chicken on grill over medium heat and cook 12 to 15 minutes or until juices run clear when thickest part of breast is pierced with tip of knife, turning over once.

5. To serve, add basil and lemon juice to couscous, and fluff with fork to mix well. Spoon couscous onto 4 dinner plates and arrange chicken on top.

 Each serving chicken: About 255 calories, 35g protein, 4g carbohydrate, 10g total fat (5g saturated), 0g fiber, 113mg cholesterol, 560mg sodium.

Each serving couscous: About 205 calories, 6g protein, 37g carbohydrate, 4g total fat (1g saturated), 3g fiber, 0mg cholesterol, 295mg sodium.

Broccoli Soup

Potatoes and chicken stock ensure you won’t leave the table hungry after enjoying this vegetable soup. 1

Parsley, chopped Shredded cheese, for garnish

1. In blender, puree chicken broth and broccoli. Transfer to 4-quart pot.

2. Heat to boiling on medium-high. Whisk in potatoes and pepper. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Stir in 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese.

3. Garnish with lemon slices, chopped parsley and cheese. Serves 4.

For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/.

(c) 2022 Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved

NEST HEADS

By John Allen

DIAMOND

Brett Koth

NEXT WEEK in

TIDBITS BREAKS FOR SOME

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Right Idea, Wrong Dog

12/25 Christmas Day

12/26 Boxing Day (Canada)

12/27 Radio City Music Hall Day

12/28 Endangered Species Day

12/29 National Pepper Pot Day

12/30 Reflect On The Year Day

12/31 New Year's Eve

Picture it: A family of six goes to the shelter looking for a dog. They choose an older dog because they don’t want to deal with puppy issues. Back at home, right off the bat, they are confronted with food aggression and growling.

Now, the family is divided. Mom wants to return the dog to the shelter before someone gets hurt. Dad wants to keep the dog and teach his kids that dogs aren’t lamps that you return if they don’t work as expected. The kids love the dog just as he is and want to keep him.

At this point in the game, everyone’s wrong. They can’t keep the dog without professional intervention. This dog, in his current state, needs the help of a trainer or behaviorist who specializes in aggression.

That said, training always helps, but it isn’t a guaranteed cure.

Returning the dog to the shelter is an option, but it’s not ideal. Shelter animals face tough odds getting adopted once. Twice? And after being returned due to aggression? Doesn’t bode well for the dog.

Keeping the dog and working with him to manage the aggression is also an option. But it’s not one most lawyers, doctors, vets, animal control officers, police officers, child welfare agents or insurers would advise. Not with kids in the house.

The best option for all involved is a creative version of both.

First, enlist a professional trainer who understands aggression and has had success controlling it -- stat. There are also trainers who do “board and train.” It’s typically more expensive, but it serves the dual purpose of getting the dog’s behavior under professional management and getting the dog away from the kids.

Next -- or simultaneously -- start networking the dog. Rescue groups with their networks of volunteers may be able to locate a dog-savvy foster home without kids, giving the dog a temporary home until something permanent can be found. When they don’t have space readily available, some of these groups have outreach programs, which es-

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

Finding Assisted Living

Is 2023 the year when you have to consider moving into assisted living? Or perhaps helping an elderly relative make the move? In either case, this is a big decision and your first steps should be gathering as much information as possible for considering your options.

What type of care is needed?

Daily help with everything from bathing to meal preparation to remembering to take daily medications? Or is a more specialized, secure location with supervision needed for memory care? Perhaps something in between?

What facilities are in your area?

It will be important that friends and family can visit easily, as well as having access to the same medical care after the move. Going out for lunch locally can go a long way toward keeping relationships intact.

Scrutinize the facilities:

Once you’ve selected a few facilities to explore, start digging for information. Call the state and ask about the licenses, accreditation and safety track records. Call your local fire and police departments about potential safety issues.

The Art of DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

Bedrooms for Rest and Relaxation

Believe it or not, master bedrooms, not living rooms, are the most troublesome rooms to decorate for most homeowners. While the desire to make the room attractive and design-worthy is on the top of the list, comfort and personal needs are sometimes at odds with some aesthetic considerations. There are so many things to consider: the furniture layout, lighting, window treatments, fabric and even colors that will make your room into a haven of restfulness and relaxation. In difficult rooms such as these, my advice as always is to engage an interior designer before making any purchases or major decisions for your room. Here is an abridged guide to bedroom R & R: Beds are always the centerpiece of any bedroom. Buy the best mattress, pillows and bedding you can afford. These items are essential in creating a comfortable cocoon for sleeping and resting. Today’s mattresses are better than ever. Some are technological and can adjust the firmness of the bed so that it is perfect for everyone. Some can even lessen the snoring of a partner by adjusting the pitch of the bed automatically. Also, everyone’s preferred type of material and thread count differs, so pick one suitable for you and your sleeping partner.

Laying out your room should be straightforward. You should be able to see the doorway or entrance to your room while lying in bed. This is best because you can see who comes into your room, as recommended by feng shui principles. You should also avoid placing any mirrors across from your bed, as it reflects energy, counteracting

Do you know anyone who works in one of the facilities you’re considering, or who knows someone who lives there? Their input could be crucial when it comes to learning about any rules the facility might have, or any staff shortages that could lead to problems with residents' care or any ongoing complaints about the food or any of the services provided - or the lack thereof.

Then ask for a tour at every facility on your list. Stay as long as you can and ask a lot of questions and keep notes. Get a copy of the potential contract to give your attorney to review (ideally one specializing in elder law). Carefully scrutinize the staff and observe their interaction with the residents. What is their attitude? Do they appear to enjoy interacting with the residents? Are they alert and responsive to their needs?

Be aware of all expenses:

You’ll need to know what everything costs, and by everything, that means all the fees that might not be included in the overall amount. Are clients charged for field trips or special entertainment, for example? How about laundry costs?

As part of your information-gathering, go online and search for “how to select an assisted living facility” or something similar. Look for checklists of questions to ask. You’ll need all the information you can find.

* * *

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@ gmail.com.

(c) KingFeaturesSyndicate

relaxation.

Avoid drama in the bedroom. Keep bold and trendy colors for public rooms. Science aside, designers can tell you that there is plenty of research to indicate that most people like to sleep in airy pastel-colored rooms akin to sleeping in the clouds, or in darker-colored rooms such as navy blue or dark gray to resemble nighttime. Follow these color schemes to a good night’s sleep.

Keep it simple. “Streamline” should be the mantra in this room. Keep surfaces and decoration to a minimum. Your environment should be peaceful and without clutter. This also means paring your bedding down to the essentials for sleeping. A hundred pillows to remove from your bed at bedtime is no fun and can elevate your mood when you should be winding down.

We all love a light-filled room, but in a bedroom, the task at hand should be how to control light coming in. The best sleep is obtained in a dark room. Outside light can be controlled with blackout shades or lined drapery. Needless to say, lamps for reading a good book before going to bed are necessary and should be within reach to make it easy to turn off while drowsy.

These recommendations seem simple enough, but many homeowners are dumbfounded when approaching a master bedroom. Of course, there are many other issues to combine into a design, such as required medical equipment, comfort-height chairs for taking shoes and clothing on and off. All of these components can be combined stylishly.

These guidelines are a bit of common sense -- something that is often lacking when confronting our most important space in the home.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. His website is www.josephpubillones.com. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Cody’s

Corner (from page 9)

sentially turn you into the dog’s foster family while they network the dog on their site, at their adoption events and on online services such as PetFinder.

There are also sanctuaries of last resort, such as Best Friends Animal Society. So get your Google going, and don’t rule anything out.

Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of assuming that because a dog has behavior problems no one will ever want him. There are thousands of dog lovers out there who love a challenge. There are legions of professionals who prefer a project to an easy dog. There is help to be found.

These folks made a mistake. They went to a shelter not knowing how to choose the right dog for them, and they chose wrong. They aren’t bad people. The dog isn’t a bad dog. It’s just a bad match. Now they have a chance to teach their kids what really matters: Everyone makes mistakes. The answer isn’t to live with it. The answer is to take responsibility, move on, and do better next time.

Woof!

* * *

Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

My Holiday Gift Ideas for You

My holiday gift guide doesn’t include a box of chocolates or tickets for a Caribbean cruise. This is a boring old Social Security column, after all, so my gift suggestions are related to that government pension program. Near the top of my list is my absolute favorite Social Security publication. Called “Fast Facts and Figures About Social Security,” it’s just crammed with interesting and useful information about the program. And the good news is that they squeeze all that information into a booklet. The 2022 edition is only 43 pages long.

To find the booklet, go to the Social Security Administration website, www.socialsecurity. gov. At the homepage, open the “Menu” box and then scroll down near the bottom of the page. Under the section labeled “Research Policy and Planning,” click on the “Research Statistics and Policy Analysis” tab. On the page that opens, you’ll find lots of publications available. One of them is the “Fast Facts and Figures” booklet I’m going to talk about today. You can download the entire publication, but if you’re an old-fashioned guy like me, you might like to get a hard copy of it. I’m not really sure how to do that. There is a contact number and email address. I left them a message asking for the book, but I haven’t heard back yet.

The first few pages of the book provide general information about the various Social Security programs. But the rest is filled with fascinating little snippets of information. (A word of caution: I mean “fascinating” to a boring old Social Security guy like me.) I’ll spend the rest of the column sharing some of this data.

There were 8.1 million new claims for Social Security benefits filed last year. That’s about 27,000 new claims filed every single workday of the year! (If you wonder why you may have trouble getting an appointment at a Social Security Administration office or getting through to SSA’s 800 number, that is part of the reason.)

Of those, more than 8 million new claims, 59% were for retirement benefits; 31% were for survivor benefits; and 10% were for disability benefits.

Another chart shows that claims for retirement benefits have been climbing steadily over the years but have really spiked since 2005 (when the baby boomers started retiring). But interestingly, claims for disability benefits peaked in about 2010, and have been dropping off ever since. Perhaps that’s an indication that baby boomers are the first generation of seniors who do a better job of taking care of themselves (physically and mentally) and therefore are less likely to file for disability benefits.

I like a little pie chart in the booklet that breaks down the total Social Security population by types of benefits. Seventy-three percent are getting retirement benefits; 12% are getting disability benefits; 6% are the spouses and children of people getting retirement and disability benefits; and 9% are getting survivor benefits.

Another pie chart gives the age breakdown of Social Security beneficiaries. Nine percent are 85 and older; 25% are 75 to 84 years old; 44% are 65 to 74 years old; 7% are 62 to 64 years old; 11% are 18 to 61 years old; and 4% are under age 18.

This statistic may be surprising to some: There are more women getting Social Security benefits than men. Fifty-five percent of all beneficiaries are women and 45% are men.

Here’s the gender breakdown by category of benefit. Of all women getting Social Security, 71% get retirement benefits; 12% get disability benefits; 11% get widow’s benefits; and 6% get benefits as the spouse of a retiree or disabled person.

Of all men getting Social Security, 84% get retirement benefits; 14% get disability benefits; and 2% get benefits as widowers or as the spouse of a retiree or disabled person.

Another chart in the booklet shows how times have changed since Social Security first started paying monthly benefits in 1940. Back then, only 12% of retirement benefits were paid to women. Today, women make up 51% of all retirement beneficiaries.

The average monthly retirement benefit paid to men last year was $1,838, compared to $1,484 paid to women. But as might be expected, women get higher average spousal and survivor benefits.

Another indication of how women’s role in the workforce, and in turn, in the Social Security population, has changed over the years is a chart that shows that in 1960, 57% of all women over age 62 were getting benefits only as a dependent wife on a husband’s Social Security account. Today, only 18% of women are in that category. Twenty-four percent of current women beneficiaries over 62 are “dually entitled,” meaning they get some benefits on their own work record and some benefits as a spouse from a husband’s account; 58% of women get only their own retirement benefit.

Of the almost 3 million children who get Social Security benefits, the majority, about 1.3 million, get survivor benefits from a deceased father’s or mother’s Social Security record. Another 1.1 million are the minor children of someone getting Social Security disability benefits. The remainder are

the children of retirees.

My favorite section of “Fast Facts and Figures” helps clarify (with the use of easy-to-understand charts and graphs) the most misunderstood part of Social Security: the financing of the program. With the little space I have left, I’ll just share this. Of the more than $1 trillion in program revenues last year, 90.1% came from payroll taxes; 6.4% came from interest earned on the trust fund holdings; and 3.5% came from the taxation of Social Security benefits. And where did all that money go? The payment of Social Security benefits took up 99%; 0.6% went to administrative expenses; and 0.4% went to the Railroad Retirement fund. (There is a small interrelationship between Social Security and Railroad beneficiaries.)

And before I close out today’s column, let me suggest another couple of Social Security-related holiday gift ideas. I’m talking about my own books: “Social Security: Simple and Smart” and “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” The first provides 10 fact sheets that will answer all your questions about Social Security. The second dispels many of the myths that confuse so many Americans about our nation’s bedrock social insurance program. You can get both books for less than 10 bucks each at Amazon and other booksellers.

* * *

1. The main Christmas story is paraphrased from which two New Testament books? a) Mark/John b) Acts/Romans c) Luke/ Matthew d) Jude/Revelation

2. Who visited Jesus on the night of His birth and found Mary, Joseph and the babe lying in a manger? a) Inkeeper b) Shepherds c) Magi d) Herod

3. Where was Jesus when the Magi came to visit Him to present gifts? a) House b) Temple c) Inn d) Manger

4. How many times does the word Christmas appear in the Bible? a) None b) One c) Two d) Three

5. Who was King of Judea at the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem? a) Solomon b) Balak c) Darius d) Herod

6. What animals were present at Jesus' birth? a) Camels b) Donkeys c) Sheep and goats d) No mention of animals

Sharpen your understanding of scripture with Wilson Casey's latest book, "Test Your Bible Knowledge," now available in stores and online.

(Answers on page 16)

For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com © 2019 King Features Synd., Inc. © 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

ADVERTISING PROOF

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easyto-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Ten-Year Fracture Risk Determines Need for Osteoporosis Meds

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m 77 and have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. I’m taking Fosamax and following all the steps recommended for strengthening bones.

But I have two questions: First, is it possible to avoid a fracture without taking medication? Second, is it necessary to avoid coffee completely? I am confused about both questions, having read a lot of conflicting information online. I recently finished reading a book that strongly condemned osteoporosis medication, and I have also read that coffee is OK, even good, for bones; though, other sources say it leeches calcium from bones.

I would appreciate some clarity on these issues. -- J.M.

ANSWER: I have also read dire warnings about osteoporosis drugs, particularly the bisphosphonate class that includes alendronate (Fosamax), but the truth is more complex than it first appears.

The most important thing to realize is that every person has their own individual risk of developing an osteoporotic-type fracture. For young, healthy people with strong bones, the risk is very small, but as we age, the risk of fracture increases. Many medical conditions, as well as diet, exercise and some medications, affect the risk of fracture. Whether we are men or women, and even what our ethnicity is, affects fracture risk.

The bone mineral density measured by a DEXA scan provides much information, but an accurate fracture risk prediction needs to take a person’s whole history into account. Only people at high risk for fracture should be taking a medication like Fosamax.

A standard guideline is that people should be recommended medication therapy if their 10year risk of a hip fracture is greater than 3%, or their 10-year risk of any kind of major osteoporotic fracture is 20% or higher. If a person’s risk is less than these numbers, they may be unnecessarily subjecting themselves to the risk of medication. The FRAX score is a standardized, country-specific way of estimating risk (www. sheffield.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.aspx).

If a group of people has a risk of fracture of 20% in the next 10 years, then 80% of them will not have a fracture if they don’t take medication. Like treatment for high blood pressure or high cholesterol, medication treatment only helps a small proportion of those who receive it. We don’t have the ability to predict with certainty who will have a bad outcome from these conditions, so we recommend treating people when they reach a certain degree of risk.

Treating only higher-risk patients leads to the drug helping a higher proportion of the group, but some people who were not offered

medication will develop the bad outcome we’re trying to avoid. A person who gets a hip fracture that could have been prevented with medication treatment is a tragedy. In my opinion, a person should know the risks of treatment and the risk of withholding treatment before making a decision.

The calcium question is also controversial, but while it is true that caffeine causes the body to lose calcium, if you also take in enough calcium through diet, coffee does not seem to increase your risk of a fracture.

VETERANS

by Freddie Groves

Dirty Water Flows Downhill

760-320-1630

It’s not enough that I spent part of my childhood on a base that ended up as a Superfund site. This week I discovered that my current town, where I’ve lived for many years, has water contaminated by chemicals from the nearby now-defunct base.

The base, a mere few miles from my home, was declared a Superfund site in the 1980s due to the firefighting foams that contained two different perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), specifically perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), both deadly “forever chemicals.”

Three years later responsibilities were established for who would deal with the mess, and the base was eventually closed due to BRAC (base realignment and closure).

2021 Flag Days

Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day

Jan. 18 - MLK Jr. Day

Feb. 12 - Lincoln’s B-day

Feb. 15 - Presidents Day

The base was repeatedly cleaned and tested over the years, with acres paved over to contain the worst of the contaminated ground that they couldn’t dig up. Changes were made in how the water was treated as time went on, but chemicals were still found in the water. In some areas, a landfill cap was put in place; in others, there was removal of more soil; and in some areas there was cleanup and ongoing monitoring. Eventually those in authority considered the whole matter done and dusted.

March 29 - Nat’l Vietnam War Veterans Day

April 4 - Easter Sunday

May 15 - Armed Forces Day May 31 - Memorial Day

Now we learn that the original PFAS chemicals at the base may be contaminating the aquifer -- where we get our drinking water. Hidden away under their dirt cap, those chemicals appear to have migrated downhill. Tests done last year show that the level of chemicals was double what the state recommends, and one well was taken offline. New monitors were installed.

June 14 - Flag Day

Now, however, a recent test showed extremely high readings, higher than ever, with suspicion that closing that first well was driving the chemicals to the remaining wells where we get our drinking water.

July 4 - Independence Day

July 27 - Nat’l Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

The lesson here is this: If you live near a base that was deemed a Superfund site, and if remediation was done and the site declared to be clean, that does not mean problems won’t come back in the future.

Sept. 6 - Labor Day

Sept. 17 - Constitution Day

Water does, after all, flow downhill.

Oct. 11 - Columbus Day Oct. 27 - Navy Day Nov. 11 - Veterans Day

M.D.

How to Reduce Your Medical Bills

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: We're finding ourselves in a financial bind due to health expenses. What tips can you recommend to Medicare beneficiaries dealing with hefty medical bills? My husband recently had open heart surgery and is recovering slowly, but the medical bills are now coming in one after another. They’re putting us in medical debt, and really we need some adivce.

-- Struggling in Sturgis

Dear Struggling: I’m sorry to hear about your billing struggles, but medical debt has unfortunately become a chronic problem in this country. According to U.S. Census data 19 percent of America's households carry medical debt, including ten percent of households headed by someone 65 or older. Even seniors on Medicare can easily get snagged in a web of complicated billing and coverage problems.

To help you reduce your medical bills, here are some simple tips recommended by health care experts that you should try:

Double check your bills:

Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, including duplicate charges or charges for services you never received. If you’re facing a high bill and are on the hook for some portion of it, request itemized invoices from the clinic, hospital and other providers that detail everything you were charged for. This should include the date of the service, the ordering physician's name, the type of service provided, and the reason it was ordered for you. Then go through each one line by line. If you find something you either don’t understand or find suspicious, contact the provider for an explanation or a correction.

Wait for your EOB:

Doctors’ offices and hospitals may mail initial bills to you before they even submit them to your health insurer. So, hold off on any payment until you receive an Explanation Of Benefits (EOB) statement from your provider – Medicare, supplemental Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or private insurer. This will show what you may owe after your insurance has paid its portion.

If your EOB shows that your insurer is refusing to pay for services that you think should be covered, call them to see whether it’s a cor-

rectable mistake, such as a coding error for a certain test or treatment. It's not unusual for this to happen by a simple clerical error by the person entering the information on your record.

If it’s truly a denial of coverage, you may need to file an appeal. For details on how to file a Medicare appeal, see Medicare.gov/claims-appeals/ how-do-i-file-an-appeal

Ask for a discount:

Call the hospital’s accounting office or the billing staff at your doctor’s practice and ask if they can reduce your bill. You’d be surprised how often this works. Or if you have the funds to pay the entire bill, ask the hospital or provider for a “prompt pay” discount which may save you 15 percent or more.

If it’s more practical for you to pay your bills over time, ask the billing office to set up a no-interest payment plan for you. It’s in the provider’s interest to work with you in this way to assure they can obtain payment.

You can also call the hospital where your husband had his surgery and ask a billing specialist if the facility offers financial assistance. According to the American Hospital Association, about half of U.S. hospitals are nonprofit. This means they are required to offer free or discounted services in some instances. This is usually reserved for low to moderate income patients who have limited or no health insurance. The requirements for this can vary from hospital to hospital.

Get help:

If you’ve gotten nowhere on your own, contact the Patient Advocate Foundation (pa-

tientadvocate.org, 800-532-5274) who can help you understand and negotiate your medical bills, free of charge. Or consider hiring a medical billing professional to negotiate for you but be aware that these services can cost upward of $100 an hour. You can find potential candidates through the Alliance of Professional Health Advocates (advoconnection.com). Be sure to choose someone who is credentialed by the Patient Advocate Certification Board.

* * *

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

JUNQUE

ACDC Dolls Collectors Are Wired

Q: The enclosed photo is one of my childhood dolls. She was made by American Character Doll Company, given to me in 1945 and is still in good condition. She has a composition head, arms and legs, a cloth body, eyes that open and close, an open mouth with two teeth and coos when turned over. “AM CAR DO” is stamped on the back of her neck and she is 21 inches tall. She is not wearing her original clothes and her reddish brown hair is replaced with a wig. I would enjoy learning the value of my doll.

of a green leaf. The overall measurements are 5 inches in diameter and 5 inches tall. It is in mint condition.

I would like to know how old it is, whether it is a button box and a little more about its history.

A: Stanislaw Wiza founded his stoneware pottery in Boleslawiec, Poland in 1963. They produced high-quality, lead-free, white stoneware that was fired at a high temperature. Most of their ware was decorated with cobalt blue as the primary color. They made casserole dishes, thimbles, trinket boxes, plates and piggy banks, table accessories, lamps, cups, butter dishes and figurines. Today Wiza employs approximately 120 people.

Your covered dish is either a small casserole or a trinket box and could easily be used for buttons. It was made in the late 20th century. It would probably be worth $75 to $100.

Stanislaw Wiza founded his pottery in Boleslawiec, Poland in 1963.

* * *

Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has recently retired and no longer receives inquiries nor answers reader letters. Due to the popularity of her column, this publication will continue to reprint previous columns of interest to our readers.

To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.

* On Dec. 28, 1900, Mrs. Lulu Jenkins, of Chicago, was paid $4,000 in compensation for the lynching of her husband in Ripley County, Indiana. Mr. Jenkins allegedly was involved in the theft of a horse and ended up the victim of a furious mob. Two other men were killed as well.

* On Dec. 31, 1943, Henry John Deutschendorf, better known to us today as singer-songwriter, actor John Denver, was born. In a four-decade career before his untimely death in an airplane crash, he won worldwide affection and acclaim not just for his music but for his dedication to humanitarian and environmental causes.

* On Jan. 1, 1962, the U.S. Navy SEALs unit was created. Their elite members (only about 20% actually make it that far) are trained to operate in urban, desert and jungle locations and to withstand torture.

* On Dec. 26, 1966, the first Kwanzaa celebrations began in America, with the holiday continuing until Jan. 1. Created by activist, author and professor of Africana studies Dr. Maulana Karenga, the annual event, which affirms African family and social values, was originally intended to replace Christmas for Africans.

* On Dec. 30, 1984, speleologists (cave studiers/explorers) in the Mexican state of Oaxaca landed upon what was then thought to possibly be the world’s deepest cave after going through an enormous labyrinth of underground tunnels in the jungle.

A: American Character Doll Company was in business from 1919 to 1968. They were also known as Aceedeecee and ACDC. Their dolls were first made from composition, followed by hard plastic and vinyl. Both dolls and outfits were high quality. After closing in 1968, their molds were sold to Ideal Doll Company.

Collectors search for pristine dolls with original wigs and clothes. Your doll with replaced wig and dress would probably be worth $75 to $125. * * *

Q: I have sent you the mark that is on the bottom of a bowl with matching lid that my elderly neighbor gave me. The bowl is white porcelain trimmed with blue circles with yellow centers, and the lid is a knob in the shape

If a doctor tests your physical fitness level, I reckon he is looking at the vigor picture.

* On Dec. 27, 1994, Rwanda’s president died in a plane crash and the African country was plunged into a genocidal blood bath in which the Hutu majority slaughtered the Tutsis, leaving half a million dead. A distraught missionary exclaimed of the carnage: “There are no devils left in hell. They are all in Rwanda.”

* On Dec. 29, 2011, Russian authorities discovered a large amount of a rare caviar stored in, of all places, a morgue in St. Petersburg. A businessman and morgue attendant were arrested but claimed that the caviar was being kept for a personal New Year’s celebration.

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

"lf you want to chance snatching up those snazzy clubs that's your business. For me, l wouldn't use a ten-foot pole. l'm pretty sure this looks like a trap!"

American Character Doll Company was in business from 1919 to 1968.

• Fava beans contain L-dopa, the precursor to dopamine, an essential neurotransmitter.

• In the film “Silence of the Lambs,” antagonist Hannibal Lector said, “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.” A person with Hannibal Lector’s extreme psychiatric condition would have been treated with strong drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors. The three things you can’t eat with those medications in your system are liver, beans, and wine. Hannibal is making a joke, sarcastically referencing the fact that he’s not taking his meds.

THE MUSICAL FRUIT

• Yes, beans actually are a fruit, and, yes, they can make you toot. Just like peas, beans are a member of the legume family -- seeds that come in pods, making them a bonified fruit

• Beans contain raffinose, a type of carbohydrate that’s poorly digested by the body. Bacteria in the large intestine break down raffinose, resulting in gas and bloating.

• Beans do not cause gas if they have been zapped with low intensity gamma rays prior to being cooked.

• A product called Beano is well known for suppressing flatulence. The main ingredient is an enzyme extracted from a particular strain of a common mold which suppresses the creation of methane inside the human intestinal tract.

• If you eat beans regularly, you will actually experience less flatulence from them.

• “Flatulence” comes from the Latin root word “flatus” meaning “blowing wind.”

FINAL FACT

• Legumes are important to farmers because they enrich the soil with nitrogen, which is essential for all plant growth. No other plants can produce nitrogen. Legumes themselves don’t actually fix nitrogen in the soil, but their roots do. Bean roots host a species of bacteria called Rhizobia in nodules, and these bacteria convert nitrogen in the air into beneficial nitrogen in the soil. Outside of these bacteria, the only force powerful enough to accomplish this is a bolt of lightning striking the ground. □

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

forward in order to feel the correct position. Good leg work will assist in correct hip positioning as well.

Chipping Confusion

For years the chipping set up was taught with a series of mysterious and confusing elements. Point the feet way left. Put the ball behind the right foot. Lean most of the body weight left. All of which created an awkward looking system and typically low, screaming chips that ran off the green.

A good finish should have the left leg straight, the right thigh up close to the left leg, the right foot up on the toe, and the upper body arching back slightly. The trick is that the hips are now “tucked under” the upper body or the stomach is pushed forward. Many beginners, or players who don’t have good core strength, will finish with their hips pushed out behind their upper body. Learn to correct the finish by tucking the hips under or pushing your belt

Modern tour players keep chipping quite simple. They aim slightly left or fairly square with their feet, usually a clubhead apart. No need to aim way left. The ball position is slightly back of center. This keeps the club from leaning drastically, giving the clubhead reasonable loft. The body weight is partially left sided, which again aids in a little more loft on the shot.

If you need a long distance, running chip that comes out hot…grab your 7 iron instead of the sand wedge. Clear out the confusion with a simplified chipping set up.

Game Changers

Jason Jenkins was a 16-year member of the Jim McLean Golf School teaching staff and was one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100

Nominees 1999-2010. He was named one of the Golf

Top Teachers in California in 2011.

by Jason Jenkins

Jason Jenkins was a 16-year member of the Jim McLean Golf School teaching staff. He was one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teacher Nominees 1999-2010 and has been named one of the Golf Digest Top Teachers in California. Jason teaches at GOLFTEC CENTER in Indio. Contact him at jjenkins@golftec.com