Vol. 19: #3 • Tidbits Says, "O" Boy! • (1-15-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

by Kathy Wolfe

So what can be interesting about words that begin with the letter “O?” O my! O wow! O gosh! O gee! Let’s take a look at what Tidbits has learned about these words and see if some of the stories behind them doesn't pique your interest!

• It’s the 15th letter of the alphabet, and thought to be the oldest letter, with an estimated age of about 3,150 years. Ancient Syrians called the letter “o” ayin, which translates “eye.” “O” is about the fourth most-commonly used letter in English printed material.

• The 24th and final letter of the Greek alphabet is omega, often used synonymously to mean finality, the “end” or “the last.”

• The most common blood type is O positive, representing about 38% of the U.S. population. Seven percent have O negative. Those with Type O negative blood can donate to anyone, hence the name “universal donor,” but can only receive transfusions of Type O blood. Over 80% of the

valleyvisitors!

TRIVIA NEWSFRONT

The name of Annie Edson Taylor isn’t well-known in history, but her daring feat was truly astounding!

This week, Tidbits has gone overboard with the facts on the first woman to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

• Annie was just 25 when her husband was killed in the Civil War. For the next 38 years, she struggled financially, single and broke. She worked as a traveling schoolteacher, but the pay was measly and she could never get ahead. After reading a magazine article about folks who became famous for riding in barrels in the currents at the bottom of Niagara Falls, she put her mind to work on a solution to her financial dilemma.

• A suitable and relatively safe container was Annie’s first challenge. A custom-made, sturdy barrel, five feet high and three feet in diameter was constructed of oak slats and iron straps. She outfitted it with mattresses inside to cushion herself against injuries, along with a leather harness to her body. A 200 -lb. anvil was secured at the bottom of the barrel as ballast. Annie did sending her own cat over Horseshoe Falls to see if the barrel itself would withstand the plunge.

• Two days relatively barrel on She had advertised her stunt and attempted to rally publicity perhaps believing a younger person could make more money from the feat.

• At 4:00 PM that day, Annie Taylor climbed into her barrel, and was towed by a boat to the middle of the Niagara River where the line was cut. Rapids carried her along to Horseshoe Falls.

for most of the plunge, except for disappearing into the mist several times.

• Within a few minutes, she was bobbing in the swirling pool below and drifting to the rocks, reaching the shore about 20 minutes after her launch. As she was lifted out of the barrel, her first words were: “I prayed every second I was in the barrel, except for a few moments after I hit bottom when I went unconscious.” She emerged with just a three-inch cut behind her right ear and complaints of shoulder pain.

• Reporters and photographers rushed to her side to record the event. She remarked to the media that she would “caution anyone against ever attempting that feat!” Confident that the deed would bring her fame and fortune, Annie was sure that her money worries were over. With plans to tour the country with her barrel, she was devastated to discover that her manager had vanished…along with the barrel! Even after enlisting the help of private investigators to locate her stolen prize, it was never recovered.

• Annie managed to acquire some photo ops and speaking engagements without the barrel, but it didn’t take long for her fame to dissipate, and once again she was in financial trouble. She had used much of her savings on her quest of trying to find her stolen barrel.

• Although Annie penned a memoir about her adventure, returning to the Falls to sell it, it didn’t generate much income, and she returned to traveling teaching jobs. She died penniless 20 years later and was buried in a cemetery near Niagara Falls.

1. TELEVISION: Which TV game show features a “Daily Double” to increase potential winnings?

2. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of poisoned fruit does the fairy-tale character Snow White eat and fall into a deep sleep?

3. ADVERTISING: Which cereal features a character named Seadog?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president officially named the executive mansion the White House?

5. MOVIES: What is the name of the most famous Wookiee in the “Star Wars” movies?

6. MONEY: What is the official currency of Nigeria?

7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many legs do shrimp have?

8. HISTORY: How many states did Alabama Gov. George Wallace win as a third-party candidate in the 1968 presidential primary?

9. MEDICAL: What is the common name for the human trachea? 10. GAMES: How many suspects are in the board game “Clue”?

• At the Falls, more than 3,000 tons of water thundered to the rocky pool below at a speed of 32 feet per second, and more than 2,500 tons of force. Over the edge she went, remaining in view

ANNIE EDSON TAYLOR

population has a positive blood type, either A+, B+, AB+, or O+, and can receive O positive transfusions.

• The prefix oeno- is used to form words relating to wine. One who studies wines is an oenologist, while a lover of wine is an oenophilist. Oenomel is a mixture of wine and honey.

• What do these scientists do? An osmologist studies odors, while an orologist researches mountains. The oikologist analyzes the science of housekeeping.

• Are you irritating others by constantly repeating yourself? The fancy word for what you’re doing is obganiating. It’s from the Latin for “yelp” or “growl.” If you force your ideas upon others with undue insistence, you’re obtruding.

• Oklahoma is America’s 20th largest state and takes its name from the Choctaw language –“okla” means “people” and “humma” translates to “red” referring to the red earth found there. The state’s nickname is “The Sooner State,” referring to settlers who staked their land claims before the official opening date of lands in the territory in 1889.

her shoulder. It was part of a rocket launched in California the year before. Fortunately, the craft’s 551-lb. fuel tank crashed harmlessly into vacant ground near a Texas farm.

• Oklahoma is home to a community located in the middle of a toxic waste dump. Picher, Oklahoma, just a mile off Route 66, was founded in 1920 with more than 9,700 residents. It was America’s leader in lead and zinc mining, providing half of the lead used to make the bullets fired in World War I. Large piles of waste produced from the mines were scattered around the town, and groundwater was contaminated with enormous amounts of lead that leeched into the soil. By the time the EPA investigated the area in the early 2000s, 63% of the community’s children suffered from lead poisoning. In 2009, the agency evacuated the town.

• The residents of a monastery aren’t all monks. Those layman inhabitants who are not bound by monastic vows but choose to live and serve in the religious community are known as oblates.

• An Oklahoma resident became the first person to be hit by space debris falling from the sky in 1997, when a 5-inch-long piece of fiberglass struck ADVERTISING PROOF

• The sharpshooter Annie Oakley gained fame in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, but her skill began as a child in western Ohio, where she honed her hunting skills providing game for her impoverished family. In 1875, at age 15, she won a shooting contest against a top sharpshooter and vaudeville performer named Frank Butler. She married Butler the following year.

up near Fort Gatlin, it was known as Jernigan. It became Orlando in 1857, but still wasn’t incorporated for another 18 years, when it boasted 29 residents. By 1900, the population was 2,481. The current Orlando metro area population is about 2,038,000.

• Opinions differ as to the origin of the city’s name. Some say Orlando was named for a U.S. soldier killed near the Fort in 1835. Others maintain that a Florida judge named Orlando after the character in Shakespeare’s comedy “As You Like It,” just because he liked Shakespeare. This theory seems reasonable since the main street through the heart of the city is named Rosalind,

"O" words: Turn to page

QUIZ BITS

1. What is the word describing a tall four-sided shaft of stone?

2. What popular Muppet lives in a garbage can?

How about these big "O" words? If you can't buy things, you're an oniomaniac. Those with ombrosalgia have all sorts of aches and pains when it rains. The prefix "opsi-" is related to lateness. Couples who marry late in life are opsigamists, while the word opsimath defines a person who is a late learner, gaining knowledge late in life.

• The pair didn’t work together professionally until 1882, when Butler’s shooting partner became ill and Oakley stepped in. They joined Buffalo Bill in 1885, and performed throughout Europe. Oakley’s tricks included snuffing out the flame on a candle with a bullet, shooting corks off bottles, and shooting a cigar from her husband’s lips.

• At age 40, Oakley was badly injured in a train accident, but was able to recover following temporary paralysis and five spinal surgeries. She moved on from Buffalo Bill to an acting career on stage. She was still shooting at age 62 when she hit 100 consecutive clay targets from 16 yards (15 m), and at 64, she was still setting records and amazing audiences.

• The city of Orlando starts with O, but it wasn’t always so. In 1840, when the community sprang

By Lucie Winborne

* Martin Van Buren was the first U.S. president to be born an American.

* After the terrorist attacks that destroyed New York City’s Twin Towers, thousands of radio stations across the country received memos from media companies with a list of songs they considered “lyrically questionable” for a grieving nation. The list included The Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and (perhaps unsurprisingly) “Jump,” by Van Halen.

* Bacteria can live longer than four weeks in carpets, as well as other types of flooring, and can instantly transfer those germs to any food that touches them. In other words, forget that famous “five-second rule”!

* In 2017, 70 students drank so much alcohol at a fraternity house party in Maryland that the air inside the house registered .01 on a breathalyzer.

* Woodpeckers are the only animals to make sounds with something other than a part of their bodies. They will drum on a variety of objects to mark their territory, attract mates, locate food, or maybe just exercise or play.

* There’s a town named Hospital, in County Limerick, Ireland, that has no hospital.

* Not that most of us will ever get a chance to consume polar bear liver, but in case someone does offer it, you’re best off refusing. The meal might, and quite unpleasantly so, cost you your life. It contains too much vitamin A for humans to handle.

* During a 1976 strike by Los Angeles medical doctors, the death rate decreased by 18%.

***

Thought for the Day: “A bad attitude is like a flat tire; if you don’t change it, you won’t go anywhere.” -- Joyce Meyer

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

8 Painless Ways to Save Money and Grow a Cash Stash in 2023

retailers want to make their products appear cheaper without actually reducing the price. They offer a rebate, knowing that only a tiny percentage of consumers who buy the item will ever carry through.

No matter how small the rebate or complicated the process, promise you will not be among the lazy bunch in 2023. Apply for, follow up and then stash those rebates as they arrive!

Everyday

CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

The past 12 months have been tough on many people, and higher living costs have made it extremely difficult to build savings. So at this point, your best bet is to look ahead to 2023 and develop a plan that allows you to make great progress with your savings, no matter what that means for you.

HOW TO SAVE MONEY

Saving money is a curious term with two meanings: 1) To spend less, as in, “I buy things on sale to save money,” and 2) To physically place money where it is safe from being spent, as in, “I save money in my secret savings place.”

HINT: Open your free Rakuten account (more info at EverydayCheapskate.com/rakuten). It is so easy. Then, in the future, as you go to an online site that participates, you’ll get a little reminder to activate your Rakuten for that site with a single click. Should you make a purchase, you will begin to rack up lots of little amounts. I just got a Rakuten rebate for $4.24. And I love every penny of it because (did I already say this?) it all adds up!

NO. 5: DRINK WATER

Pay yourself a bonus like a dollar or two each time you eat out, and opt for water instead of a pricey beverage. And make that per person at the table. Don’t be a slacker in your obligation to pay up. And remember, no IOUs are allowed.

NO.

6: MAKE A SWITCH

Opt to exercise outdoors for the next 12 months instead of paying a gym fee. Or, determine you’ll ride the subway instead of jumping into a cab. Identify a name brand you will leave on the shelf this year in favor of its store brand equivalent. Then stash what you do not spend.

3:00 p.m.

OK, that’s fine. But here’s the problem. It’s easy to trick ourselves into thinking that 1 and 2 are the same. They are not unless you stop by the bank to deposit the difference between what you would have spent had the stuff not been on sale, right into your savings account or wherever you stash cash. Actually, that IS one clever way to boost your savings this year. Here are eight more:

NO. 1: TAX YOURSELF

This coming year, assess yourself a specific “tax” each time you make an ATM withdrawal. It might be $5 or $10; you decide. Whatever the amount, make sure you become a brutal tax collector AND carry through and put the tax you collected into your safe savings place. No slacking, no IOUs.

NO. 2: IMPOSE A MORATORIUM

Select a specific denomination of currency, like the $1 or $5 bill you will not spend this year, but save instead. Forbid yourself and get very strict. On second thought, why not just go with the $5? Your stash will grow much faster if you refuse to spend any Abe Lincolns in 2023.

NO. 3: HOARD THE COUPON SAVINGS

Here’s one way to do that if you are still working with paper coupons: When you grocery shop, ask the clerk to total your order and then pay for it -- however you do it. Then hand her the coupons and watch your total plummet. Since you’ve already paid, the clerk should hand back the cash equal to your coupon savings. Quickly, stash it in your cash savings so you are not overly tempted to spend it.

As digital coupons become more popular, the end result can be the same, but you will need to find a way to transfer cash from your digital accounts into your savings.

If available, open a savings account at the bank branch located in the supermarket. It’s easy to stop on your way out to make a savings deposit -- even if it’s super small. Never forget this principle when it comes to money and lots of other things in life: It all adds up.

NO. 4: RACK UP REBATES

They’re coming back in a big way as

NO.

7: GIVE IT UP

Pick one thing you will sacrifice this year -- just cut it out. Stash the amount you would have spent on whatever it is -- regular manicures, French fries, gourmet coffee, cigarettes -- into your savings container or account. You could always do your own manicures, swear off junk food or brew your own coffee for a year. As for that smoking habit, just imagine all the dough for your stash if you give that up.

NO.

8: TRICK YOURSELF

Whenever you write a check (checking accounts with their accompanying checkbooks have not completely disappeared; actually, it’s still an excellent way to manage money), record the amount rounded up to the next dollar. Then deduct that rounded-up amount from the balance. At the end of the month, reconcile your account, then withdraw and stash the “oops!” overage. *

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.”

If you don’t know much about dragonflies and would like to learn a thing or two, you’ve come to the right place! This week, Tidbits passes along the facts about these members of the Anisoptera infra-order, of which there are more than 5,000 known species.

• The word Anisoptera has its roots in the Greek language, combining “anisos” meaning “unequal,” and “pteron,” which translates “wing,” because this insect’s hindwing is broader than its forewing.

• A dragonfly has large, multifaceted eyes, containing up to 30,000 individual elements known as ommatidia, each consisting of a lens

system and a group of light sensitive cells. The eyes have a 360-degree visual field, able to see completely around the insect. Their eyes meet at the top of the head.

• These amazing insects can travel at 45 mph about 100 body lengths per second flying upwards, backwards, or to either side, and can also hover like a helicopter. They can even mate in midair! This is accomplished all the while the insect is flapping its wings just 30 times per minute. Contrast this with a mosquito that must flap its wings 600 times a minute, and the common housefly that flaps 1,000 times per minute.

• The wings of a dragonfly are truly remarkable! Each of the four transparent wings can move independently, flap up and down or be rotated back and forth on an axis. The wingspan varies between 2 and 5 inches. The largest dragonfly is Australia’s Petalura ingentissima, with a 6.2inch wingspan.

• Like all insects, dragonflies have six legs, but dragonflies cannot walk. They also don't have a stinger, so they won't sting you. They do, however, have teeth, so a bite is possible. Dragonflies aren't an aggressive insect, but they can bite out of self-defense when they feel threatened.

• Many adult dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colors, frequently blue or green, colors that change as they age, usually getting even brighter.

• The female lays her eggs on the surface of water. While the dragonflies are in their larval stage, they are known as nymphs, and spend a period of about two years in the water, molting up to 15 times before finally shedding the final skin and taking to the air. They live most of their life as an immature nymphs, since they don’t usually live more than a few months as an adult.

• A typical dragonfly might consume hundreds of mosquitoes per day.

• Dragonflies are symbolic in several cultures. The Chinese believe they represent change and instability. The Chinese practice of Feng Shui places dragonfly statues and artwork in areas of a home or office to bring about positive changes or new awareness.

• In China, they are also a symbol of prosperity and harmony, and are considered a good-luck charm. It’s considered especially good luck if a dragonfly lands on your head!

• To the Japanese, they represent courage, strength, and happiness. Swedish legend maintains that

the devil uses the insect to check for “bad souls. In the southern United States, legend has it that dragonflies catch insects to feed snakes, as well as stitching up any of the snake's injuries. □

by Dana Jackson

Q: Who is the actress playing Whitney Houston in the new film about her life? Is she doing the vocals for the film or lip-syncing over Houston’s? -- B.E.

A: Naomi Ackie won the coveted role of legendary singer Whitney Houston in “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” the biopic about the superstar’s accomplished, yet tragic life. Ackie’s first screen credit was in a 2015 episode of “Doctor Who,” but her big break came by playing Jannah in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”

According to Yahoo UK, Ackie, who is British, says that 97.9% of the vocals in the film are Houston’s, but that she herself did sing the first song in the movie when the character was a bit younger and “needed to be refined.” Even though she lip-synced, Ackie did a fantastic job recreating iconic moments in Houston’s life, such as singing the “Star Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV and starring in the hit film “The Bodyguard” with Kevin Costner. Whether or not Ackie’s hard work will pay off with an Oscar nomination on March 12 remains to be seen, as the film itself has received mixed reviews that might hurt her chances, despite her solid performance. ***

Q: How is Jay Leno doing since he was burned in a fire? Has he fully recovered? -- L.D.

A: For those who didn’t hear, former host of “The Tonight Show” -- and lover of cars old and new -- Jay Leno suffered second-degree burns while working in his garage recently. According to “People” magazine, on Nov. 12, while working underneath one of his vintage vehicles (he owns 204

cars and 168 motorcycles), “a freak fire erupted, spraying him with flaming gasoline.” He’s undergone several skin grafts at a burn center, but despite developing some scars, he has fully recovered. Fortunately, Leno’s friend Dave Killackey was nearby and pulled him out before any more severe damage occurred, which could have resulted in Leno losing an eye.

As for his career, after leaving late-night shows in 2014, the comedian launched his CNBC TV series “Jay Leno’s Garage,” where he and his celebrity friends celebrate everything from classic cars to supercars. The show features a mix of stunts, challenges, reviews and interviews with guest stars.

***

Q: Whatever happened to “Good Morning America’s” Joan Lunden? I haven’t seen her on television in years. She was always one of my favorites. -- I.S.

A: Now 72 years old, Joan Lunden is still a journalist, still happily married and the mother of seven children. She joined “GMA” in 1976 and was promoted to co-host alongside David Hartman in 1980, and later opposite Charlie Gibson. That ended in 1997, but she currently works for the compet-

ing “Today Show” as a special correspondent.

In 2014, Lunden faced a health crisis when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy as well as radiation treatment and a lumpectomy. She’s a strong advocate for early detection and believes women should have mammograms before the recommended age of 45.

You can keep up with Lunden on her official website: JoanLunden.com.

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

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

1.Whohada#1hitin1961withthesardonic “Mother-in-Law”?

2.Accordingtotheproverb,whatis“the

Wanna Dance with Somebody (PG-13) Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci 5. Babylon (R) Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie 6. Violent Night (R) David Harbour, John Leguizamo 7. The Whale (R) Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink 8. The Menu (R) Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy 9. The Fabelmans (PG-13) Michelle Williams, Gabriel LaBelle 10. Strange World (PG) Jake Gyllenhaal, Gabrielle Union © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

King

Good Recipes from

Salmon with Peppers

There’s no excuse to order takeout when you can throw together this tasty, healthy dinner for four in the time it takes to wait for the deliveryman.

1 cup quick-cooking brown rice

1 1/2 teaspoon canola oil 4 skinless center-cut salmon fillets

2 limes

3 small peppers (red, orange and yellow)

1 medium onion

1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves

6 ounces baby spinach

1. Prepare rice as label directs.

2. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1/2 teaspoon oil on medium 1 minute. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper on salmon. Add to skillet; cook 8 to 10 minutes or until opaque throughout, turning once. Transfer to serving plates. Grate peel of whole lime over fish.

3. While salmon cooks, slice peppers very thinly. Finely chop onion.

4. Drain fat from skillet. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in skillet on medium 1 minute. Add peppers, onion, 3 tablespoons water and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Cover; cook 5 minutes. Uncover; cook 3 to 5 minutes longer or until tender, stirring occasion ally. Stir in basil and cook until wilted. From lime, squeeze 1 tablespoon juice into mixture.

5. Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine spinach and pinch salt. Cover with vented plastic wrap; microwave on High 3 minutes or until wilted. Spoon next to salmon, along with rice and pepper mixture. Serve with lime wedges. Serves 4.

Lemon Pudding Cake

Pudding cakes are heavenly, delicate and simply too good to pass by, especially when served warm.

3 lemons

3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

3 large eggs, separated 4 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted 1/8 teaspoon salt

1. Heat oven to 350 F. Grease 8-inchsquare baking dish. From lemons, grate 1 tablespoon peel and squeeze 1/3 cup juice. In large bowl, combine sugar and flour. With wire whisk, beat in milk, egg yolks, melted butter and lemon peel and juice.

2. In small bowl, with mixer at high speed, beat egg whites and salt until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. With rubber spatula, fold one-fourth of egg whites into lemon mixture; gently fold in remaining egg whites just until blended. Pour batter into prepared baking dish.

3. Place baking dish in small roasting pan; place on rack in oven. Carefully pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of dish. Bake until top is golden and set, about 40 minutes (batter will separate into cake and pudding layers). Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Serve warm. Makes about 6 servings.



Each serving: About 255 calories, 12g

total fat (7g saturated), 5g protein, 32g carbohydrate, 133mg cholesterol, 180mg sodium.

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For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/. (c) 2023 Hearst Communications, Inc.

All rights reserved

NEST HEADS

By John Allen

DIAMOND LIL

by Brett Koth

Cody’s Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Dog Petting Etiquette

From a reader:

“I was taught as a toddler: When around a new dog, hold still and present your hand palm up for the dog to sniff. Recently, I had a vet tech breeze up to my dog, Ruby, and lower her hand down over Ruby’s head. Ruby jumped up and “air bit” at the vet tech’s hand.

“Also, when I walk Ruby, people encourage their kids to come up and pet her whether or not I say it’s OK, including toddlers who want to grab her to steady themselves. I was taught to ask permission to approach someone’s dog. What is wrong with people?”

My advice:

Don’t reach out to pet a strange dog, even with the owner’s permission. Dog owners do not always provide the most accurate assessment of their dog’s temperament. This is sometimes a byproduct of denial, but by and large, it’s ignorance. A dog owner who does not grasp the importance of socialization won’t understand that Fido’s good manners and sweet disposition at home aren’t guaranteed to hold true out on the streets with the rest of us. When a stranger asks for permission to pet Fido, his owner might give the go-ahead -- not realizing Fido’s inner Cujo hasn’t been tamed when it comes to strangers.

And the strangest of the strangers to a pooch? Children.

Children are awkward. They walk funny, fall over, flail their arms, shriek, clap, and their heads wobble all over the place. To a dog that hasn’t been raised around children, any of this may feel threatening.

I have four fantastic dogs at home. One of them has never been around children, and one of them gets nervous around quick, jerky movements. When my small nephew visits, I keep those dogs away from him.

This is not about aggression; it’s about fear. And it’s the kind of “better safe than sorry” judgment call responsible dog owners should be equipped to make.

If you must pet a strange dog, make a

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

Goals for 2023

I didn’t rush to create my goals for 2023, but now the time has come ...

One year ago I made two goals: to buy weekly food donation cards at the grocery store to give to the food bank and to continue to pick up weekly groceries for three elderly neighbors. I made it three-quarters of the year on both of those.

Food prices just got too high for me to continue buying a donation card each week. And the weekly grocery pickups for the three elderly ladies was no longer necessary once I introduced them to the food bank. Now I have new goals for 2023.

I’m going to continue following with “Growing Stronger,” the 126-page strength-training book that's offered free for seniors on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (cdc. gov). I’ve reprinted new, blank pages for the

DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

Winning the Game

Talk about a game night these days and it will lead to visions of groups of kids addictively playing Wii or Xbox. Technology has bred autonomous games and gadgets where one needn’t interact with others. But that hasn’t always been so. Summer nights were once meant for fun and games with friends and family -- a special time for jokes and multigenerational conversation.

Ever wonder what is the best use of an unused or odd corner of a room? It could be the perfect spot for a game table.

Everything that is old is new again. Yes, I know, most of you associate game tables with blue-haired ladies playing mahjong or smoke-filled tables with your father’s questionable poker acquaintances.

For many, this entails moving furniture around the living room and popping out a foldout table and chairs, with a smaller foldable tray table for snacks and refreshments. This was the norm, and no one seemed to mind -- until it was time to pick it all up late in the evening or early the next morning.

Today’s rooms offer a variety of good locations for game tables. The open floor plan of newer homes can offer more than one location for one or more game tables, if necessary. Somewhere adjacent to or near the kitchen is always a good place. Other locations, maybe tucked away in a den or even a spare bedroom, can dampen the chatter and occasional outbursts from winning or losing players.

charts, such as Long-Term Personal Goals and How Fit and Strong Are You Now?

I’m also just about ready to buy a pair of slightly heavier hand weights. If you decide to start the “Growing Stronger” strength program, ask your doctor first if it’s appropriate for you. And remember: Start slowly, with low weights.

In the tech category, my goal is to successfully set up a personal Wi-Fi hotspot. (A hotspot is letting your phone’s cellular service serve as WiFi.) This desire comes after a day with no power during a storm. No power meant no computer, but I did have cellphone service. Had I been able to set up a hotspot, I would have been able to access the internet on my tablet. If you decide to try this, be mindful of security.

As a final goal for the year, I’m going to have a banana each and every day. Whether it’s sliced over cereal or put in a smoothie, I’ll get my fiber, magnesium, potassium and vitamins B6 and C ... like it or not. And besides, they're tasty!

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Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

knuckle sandwich. This will protect your fingers. And don’t approach head-on, arm-extended. For many people, a rolled-up newspaper remains the weapon of choice in their futile attempts to correct canine missteps. To a dog, your arm looks suspiciously similar to that rolled-up paper.

Body language is important when dealing with dogs. Towering over a dog is taking a dominant position. As is petting the dog on the head. When greeting a new dog, the point is to make friends, not to assert your authority.

Word to the wise: With dogs, it’s all about territory. Everything is territory: the owner, the leash, the bed, the yard, the food, the toys. So when you approach a strange dog, even in the public domain, you are invading what they perceive to be their territory. The significance of this invasion depends on the degree of the dog’s territorialism.

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Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices

Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

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.

Remember, dogs are wolves. They may be wearing sweaters and booties with bows on their heads, but the instincts of wolves are embedded deep in their DNA. If a wolf were trotting by, would you reach out to pet it?

Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630

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.

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Here are some steps for prepping a space for a game table:

1. Make sure there is adequate light. For daytime playing, a source of natural light is always nice, so your game table should be placed in proximity to a window.

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2. Fresh air is always nice, especially if there are any cigar smokers in the room. A reversible ceiling fan will draw the stale air up to the ceiling and keep your cards from flying.

3. To ensure fair play, avoid placing any mirrors or reflective surfaces, such as glass-covered framed art, near the table.

4. It is advisable to have an area rug underneath the table to help dampen noise created by conversations or chairs pulled from the table.

5. Game table dimensions can vary from about 36 inches for an intimate corner of a room, to a comfortable 42 inches. Larger tables can make it hard to reach the center of the table to play your draw.

6. Padding on chairs is recommended for long games, as well as those with upright back support to avoid slouch ing or dozing off during a slow game.

7. Allow space for shelves or a cabinet to hold games in an orga nized manner.

8. Make your de sign feel festive with splashes of color and in teresting accessories. After all, your guests are there to play and be entertained.

9. A table, bar or bar cart might be needed for refreshments, snacks or a light meal served buffet style.

Follow these easy rules and your game area will be a winner!

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

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The Art of

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Turning Full Retirement Age in 2023? Consider Filing for Benefits This Month

I write a column like this one every January, but I don’t mind plagiarizing myself because it contains a very important message for people planning to retire in 2023.

January is a critical month for the hundreds of thousands of potential Social Security beneficiaries who are reaching 66 and 6 months, their socalled full retirement age, in 2023. The important message: all of them should at least consider the possibility of filing for their benefits this month, even though they may not be reaching their retirement age until later in the year.

Please note that if you want to delay filing for your Social Security benefits until 70 to get the “delayed retirement credit” of about 30% added to your monthly benefits, then you should forgo the procedure discussed in this column. Also, if you’re one of those people who absolutely insists on waiting until your FRA to file for benefits, then forget this column’s message.

But if you are open to the possibility of increasing your benefit payout for 2023, you may want to consider filing for benefits in January.

The reason for this early filing time frame has to do with some quirky and complicated features of Social Security’s earnings penalty provisions. Those provisions generally keep seniors who are still working off Social Security’s rolls until they reach that magic full retirement age.

The law essentially says if you are over 62 but under your full retirement age and are still working full time, you are not eligible for Social Security. Specifically, the rules require that the Social Security Administration deduct $1 from any retirement benefits you might be due for every $2 you earn over $21,240 in 2023.

However, the rules say that once you reach your full retirement age, you are due full Social Security benefits even if you are still working and no matter how much money you are making.

Let’s follow an example. Let’s say Ed was born in January 1957, which means he’ll reach his full retirement age of 66 and 6 months in July 2023. And let’s further say Ed generally makes about $80,000 per year and he plans to continue working indefinitely. Based on the earnings penalty rules I briefly outlined above, Ed figures he must wait until July (his full retirement age) to begin collecting his Social Security benefits. As I said, at that magical point the earnings penalty rules no longer apply, and he can get his Social Security. And prior to that, he’s making way more than the $21,240 income threshold.

But here is why Ed should check into applying for Social Security in January. Congress set up a more lenient earnings threshold for the year you reach your full retirement age. Specifically, it says you can earn up to $56,520 between January and the month you reach your full retirement age and still get Social Security benefits. And even if you earn more than $56,520, you lose only $1 from your benefits for every $3 you exceed that threshold.

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Ed is going to make $40,000 between January and June (i.e., before he reaches the magic age of 66 and 6 months). That’s under the $56,520 threshold for 2023, which means Ed is due benefits beginning in January. He does NOT have to wait until July to apply for his Social Security checks.

There is a bit of a catch. By starting his benefits in January, Ed will be accepting a slightly reduced amount. (Benefits are reduced roughly onehalf of 1% for each month they are taken before full retirement age.)

If Ed’s Social Security benefit at full retirement age is $2,500 per month, let’s look at his options.

Ed’s first option is to wait until July to start his Social Security benefits. He’ll get $2,500 per month for six months or $15,000 for the year 2023.

Ed’s second option is to file for Social Security in January. Starting his benefits slightly early, his monthly rate is reduced to about $2,400. That comes out to $28,800 in total benefits for the year 2023. The downside to Option No. 2 is his ongoing monthly benefit rate will be $100 less than what he would have been getting in Option No. 1. But because he’d be getting about $13,800 less in 2023 benefits in Option No. 1, it would take Ed a long time to make up that loss with his extra $100 per month in ongoing benefits.

Even if Ed were going to make more than the $56,520 income threshold between January and June, he only loses one dollar in Social Security benefits for each three dollars he exceeds that amount. So, he still might come out ahead by filing in January.

Here is a quick example using that scenario. Let’s say Ed will make $60,000 between January and June. That’s $3,480 over the $56,520 limit. And one-third of that excess, or $1,160, must be deducted from his 2023 benefits. But he would still get $27,640 in benefits for the year. That’s still way better than the $15,000 he would be due by waiting until July to file for his Social Security.

Please note that this strategy generally only works for those who turn full retirement age in early to mid 2023 and whose earnings prior to reaching FRA are at least close to the $56,520 limit. In other words, if you will make a lot more than $56,520 the year you attain your full retirement age, or if you reach your FRA later in the year, you should probably just wait until your FRA month to file for your Social Security benefits.

I know these rules are complicated and the math in the examples above might be difficult to follow. But my overall message is easy to follow: If you’re reaching your full retirement age in early to mid 2023, you might want to talk to a Social Security representative sometime this month to find out if it’s to your advantage to file for your benefits to start in January.

One word of caution: Many readers in the past told me that when they tried to file in January, Social Security Administration representatives told them they could not do so. Sadly, far too many SSA agents are unfamiliar with how these rules work. If you run into the same problem, tell that person to check with his or her supervisor.

* * *

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answers. 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.

1. The book of Obadiah is in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither

2. From Exodus 10, who made a false confession to Aaron and Moses? a) Herod b) Malachi c) Satan d) Pharoah

3. Who was told by an angel to save Israel from the Midianites? a) Moses b) Lot c) Gideon d) Laban

4. From 1 Samuel 9 and 10, who was the first king of Israel? a) David b) Saul c) Solomon d) Jehu

5. Who laughed on hearing she would have a child in her old age? a) Sarah b) Ruth c) Lydia d) Esther

6. From John 8:44, what is Satan the father of? a) Sin b) Serpents c) Lust d) Lies

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. © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Immunological Therapy Reasonable for Case of Lymphoma

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 86-yearold woman who was recently diagnosed with stage 3A follicular lymphoma. It was discovered on a CAT scan when I went to the ER for diverticulitis. I have no symptoms. The doctor did a biopsy to confirm, and I had a PET scan as well.

I feel good otherwise. I am only on blood pressure and cholesterol medications. My oncologist is recommending low-dose chemotherapy.

I am conflicted. At my age, what should I do? -- L.H.

ANSWER: There are many types of lymphomas (which are a type of cancer of blood cells), but lymphomas are predominantly in the lymph nodes. Follicular lymphoma is an “indolent” type of lymphoma, meaning it is very slowgrowing, but unfortunately often uncurable. People with no symptoms from follicular lymphoma and who are stage 1, 2 or 3A tend to have a long time before they have progression of the disease to the point of having symptoms. Depending on other characteristics, that time ranges from three to seven years. Choosing to hold off on treatment is definitely a reasonable option for a person in your situation.

However, your oncologist knows much more about your disease than I do, such as the extent of tumor in the abdomen, the molecular markers of the tumor, and additional blood results. When an oncologist suggests treatment, I would listen carefully.

One treatment that your oncologist might be considering is immunological therapy such as rituximab. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, rituximab alone is pretty nontoxic and can delay the progression of the disease. A large study suggested improvement in the quality of life with rituximab. Usually, rituximab is given once a week for four doses, but some oncologists repeat the four doses every two months.

If I had a patient in your situation, I would say holding off on treatment would be reasonable given your age and lack of symptoms, but a trial of the rituximab (if that is what the oncologist is contemplating) would also be a reasonable choice. If you had serious side effects to the treatment, I would recommend against further doses.

***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently read your column on astaxanthin. The article contained a statement that flabbergasted me. Can you explain the details behind it? You state, “Most astaxanthin sold commercially is synthesized from petroleum products.”

What gives? -- K.O.K.

ANSWER: Any drug, supplement or chemical you buy is either extracted and purified from a natural source or synthesized in chemical reactions (or some combination of the two). For example, if you buy curcumin from

the health food store, the supplement might start off as the roots of the shrub Curcuma longa in the ginger family. These are then boiled in water and baking soda and also powdered, making turmeric. Curcumin is purified from turmeric through the use of a solvent like acetone and becomes crystalized to make pure curcumin.

However, curcumin from the health food store might also be synthesized directly from vanillin, which, in turn, is derived from wood pulp or from crude oil. No matter whether the curcumin starts -- as turmeric roots from India, as wood pulp, or as oil -- the chemical you take is exactly the same, and your body doesn’t know where it’s coming from.

PROOF

Keep in mind that the manufacturer chooses the least expensive way of producing the product you want.

Dr. Roach

VETERANS

by Freddie Groves

VA needs More Employees for the PACT Act

5:00 p.m..

PACT is officially up and running as of the first of the year. PACT, aka Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, extends health care and benefits to veterans who were exposed to toxins around the globe and who subsequently became ill with an expanded number of presumptives.

The key feature of PACT is that veterans no longer have to fight to prove where their illness came from. It’s “presumed” the illness was the result of the toxins in the environment where they served.

Meanwhile, the Department of Veterans Affairs has been on a massive hiring blitz to fill positions in support of the new PACT Act. These positions will be all across the U.S. and Puerto Rico at all 56 regional offices. Not only do they need people to process the 175,000 claims that have been submitted since August (when the PACT Act was signed into law), but they need the people who give the actual support care.

If you, a spouse, a caregiver, a survivor or family member are interested in signing on for a position, check usajobs.gov and search for “veterans service representative” or “rating veterans service representative.”

The first step as part of the big push at the VA is to process the claims for veterans who are terminally ill, something the VA actually started weeks before the official Jan. 1 date. Additionally they will prioritize claims by homeless veterans, those over 85 years of age, those with cancer, those experiencing financial hardship and those who are recipients of a Purple Heart or Medal of Honor.

If you need to learn how to file a claim, go to VA.gov/PACT or call them at 800-MyVA411 (800698-2411). A caregiver, survivor or family member can also make the call for the veteran.

To learn more about PACT, go to VA.gov/ PACT and read “The PACT Act and your VA benefits.”

Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.

M.D.

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Those with Extra Help – the federal program that helps pay for drug costs – also have a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in a Part D plan, or switch between plans once per quarter in the first three quarters of the year.

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Office: 760-320-0997 Fax: 760-320-1630

When Can I Change My Medicare Coverage?

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Is it still possible to make changes to my Medicare coverage even though we’ve passed the fall open enrollment period? I’ve now found that the plan I chose wasn't the best one for me. I've heard that there are other times of the year beneficiaries can make changes. I'm hoping you can help me understand what options I still have. -- Changed My Mind

Dear Changed: Yes, you can still make changes. The annual Medicare open enrollment period isn’t your only opportunity to swap out Medicare coverage. There are other opportunities, but the timing of when you can make those changes depends on your specific circumstances and the kind of Medicare coverage you have. Here’s what you should know.

Medicare Advantage Change

If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may be able to use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which occurs each year from Jan. 1 through March 31. During this period, you can switch from your current Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan or to original Medicare with or without a prescription drug plan. You can only make one change during this period, and it will be effective the first of the following month after you make the change.

Special Enrollment

Depending on your circumstances, you may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to change your Medicare health and drug coverage.

There are a number of circumstances in which you may have a Special Enrollment Period, such as if you moved outside of your plan’s service area, or your Medicare Advantage Plan terminated a significant amount of its network providers, or you are enrolled in a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program.

If you need to make changes to your coverage but aren’t sure whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free Medicare counseling. To find a SHIP counselor in your area visit ShipHelp.org or call 877-839-2675.

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* * *

Also, be aware that if you’re enrolled in a Medicare plan by mistake or because of misleading information, you may be able to disenroll and change plans.

Typically, you have the right to change plans if you joined unintentionally, joined based on incorrect or misleading information, or, through no fault of your own, were kept in a plan you did not want.

To get help, call Medicare at 800-6334227 and explain to a customer service representative how you joined the plan by mistake and to request retroactive disenrollment or a Special Enrollment Period.

Fall Open Enrollment

As you noted in your question, there’s also the Fall Open Enrollment Period that allows all Medicare beneficiaries – those with original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans – to make changes.

The Fall Open Enrollment Period occurs

Beach House Yogurt

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.

BZ 4C 26x disc rate Nov. 24, 2013 Vol. 9 - No. 48

Property of AdVenture Media, Inc. 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630

by Jim Miller

JUNQUE

by Anne McCollam Creators News Service

Collector Could Scour Internet for Pot Parts

Q: I recently became interested in canning, and when I found the canner seen in this photo in an antiques shop, I bought it. I paid $25, and it works perfectly.

On the tip are the words “Automatic Canning Devices Inc. -- Chicago.” It has a metal bail handle and a black plastic one. The gauge was made by U.S. Automatic Gauge Company in New York and works. The canner is 15 inches high and 39 inches in circumference.

I was looking on line for spare parts, just in case I needed them. I came up completely emptyhanded and now am even more curious about my canner. Could you tell me anything about it?

A: Automatic Canning Devices Inc. made canners and pressure cookers in the early 1900s in Chicago. Their advertising claim in 1936 stated, “Canning outfit that works every day in the year.”

Your canner was made around the 1920s to 1930s and can be found selling anywhere from $25 to $60.

Keep scouring the Internet for pot parts, sooner or later they will turn up.

***

Q: Enclosed is the mark on the bottom of a pottery figurine of a wren. The bird is on a base and has a multicolored black and brown body and a yellow breast. The overall height is 4 inches, and it is in perfect condition. Also marked on the bottom is the number “3590.”

It belonged to my great-grandmoth-

Puzzle Solutions

(Go Figure puzzle will resume next week)

er and was given to her by a friend in the 1950s.

What can you tell me about my figurine and its history?

Stangl Pottery was located in Trenton, N.J.

A: Stangl Pottery was founded by Martin Stangl in Trenton, N.J. Stangl was a successful designer and ceramic engineer. His company produced dinnerware, artware and novelties.

In 1940, he introduced a line of ceramic birds and animals. Most pieces were marked with a number and the name of the decorator. “3590” is the number for the Carolina Wren.

Stangl died in 1972, and after his death, the company produced revised editions of their birds. They are no longer in business.

Your wren was made in the 1940s and would probably be worth $75 to $125.

* * *

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. com

* On Jan. 16, 1547, Ivan IV Vasilyevich (aka “Ivan the Terrible”) crowned himself the first czar of Moscow. But was that nickname really deserved? Yes and no: “Terrible” more accurately meant “strong,” “menacing” and “impressive” in his day, but there’s no denying the ruler had a pretty fierce, and on occasion murderous, temper as well.

* On Jan. 22, 1930, excavation began for the Empire State Building. Completed just a little more than a year after construction started, at 102 stories it held the record for world’s tallest building until 1972, when it was succeeded by the city’s World Trade Center.

* On Jan. 17, 1949, the first Volkswagen Type 1, or Beetle, in the U.S. arrived from Germany. It was designed by Ferdinand Porsche at the request of Adolf Hitler and sold well because it was not just well built, but reasonably priced, soon becoming “America’s budget car.”

* On Jan. 19, 1977, citizens of Miami received a jaw-droppingly unexpected gift from the sky -- a dusting of snow for the first time in the city’s history. To date, it was also the last occurrence.

* On Jan. 18, 1996, Lisa Marie Presley filed for divorce from Michael Jackson. Speculation as to the cause of the split ran as rampant as the questioning of the rather bizarre coupling in the first place, but Presley herself laid the blame simply on “irreconcilable differences.”

* On Jan. 20, 2010, the Chinese government banned the movie “Avatar,” claiming its plot mirrored the nation’s forced land evictions. Officials feared the fictional indigenous Na’vi race’s revolt could prompt a similar uprising among real-life citizens.

* On Jan. 21, 2014, activist Kanstantsin Zhukouski nominated his pet parrot in a local council election in Belarus. Unfortunately, he never found out whether the parrot could have actually won, as he soon withdrew its candidacy, probably to avoid a penalty after proving his aimed-for point on the uselessness of his country’s politics.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Don't you think the dry-erase whiteboard was a really marverlous invention? It's re-markable.

Automatic Canning Devices Inc., was located in Chicago.

the name of Orlando’s lover in the play.

• What’s the difference between an optician and an optometrist? Most folks have their eye exams at the optometrist’s office who can give exams, write prescriptions for contact lenses and glasses, diagnose abnormalities in the eye, and treat certain eye diseases. An optometrist is not a medical doctor and is not licensed to perform any surgeries.

• The Doctor of Optometry degree typically takes four years to complete. The optician is the professional who is trained to fit eyeglasses and frames on patients. It’s the ophthalmologist who is the medical doctor, capable of diagnosing and treating all eye diseases and performing surgery. The word “optic” has its roots in the Greek words “optikos,” meaning “having to do with sight,” and “optos,” which translates “seen or visible.”

• The law that created OSHA went into effect in April 1971 during the administration of President Richard Nixon. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established to promote safer working conditions, safeguarding workers from death, injuries, and illnesses resulting from their work environment.

• The need for such regulation was recognized in 1970, after nearly 14,000 fatalities, 2.5 million disabilities, and 300,000 illnesses were brought about by poor working conditions. The program seems to have done its job, resulting in a drastic reduction to 5,190 on-the-job deaths reported in 2021.

• What are you afraid of? If it’s crowds, you suffer from ochlophobia. A fear of rain is ombrophobia, while oneirophobia is a fear of dreams. And how about ornithoscelidaphobics? Those folks are afraid of dinosaurs! □

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

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

The lob shot that needs to land softly has been one of the most sought after game changers in amateur golf. While having a high lofted club has made this shot much easier, golfers still struggle with the techniques that top players use with seemingly ease and comfort.

The follow through or finish on these floating shots requires the left arm

wrist to hinge while the palm stays facing downward. Just the opposite of what’s desired on a normal full swing. The attempt is to prevent any clubface rotation through impact by preventing the hands and forearms from rotating.

The arms must “saw” or appear to retract after impact rather than extending like other pitch shots. Sometimes the grip end will finish closer to your body than its address distance.

termediate players, the finish position requires extra attention. The body is contorting into an unusual position and needs to be balanced to be effective. Advanced players take the finish position for granted, especially when it comes to the small arch in the lower back.

When I work with a lot of beginning to in-

Tuck It Under

Notice the clubface is “open” or pointing skyward at the finish as well.

Game Changers

Jason Jenkins was a 16-year member of the Jim McLean Golf

teaching staff and was one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100

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

by Jason Jenkins

Jason Jenkins was a 16-year 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

WE ARE EXPERIENCING A CRITICAL BLOOD SHORTAGE.

TELEVISION: Which TV game show features a “Daily Double” to increase potential winnings?

FOOD & DRINK: What kind of poisoned fruit does the fairy-tale character Snow White eat and fall into a deep sleep?

ADVERTISING: Which cereal features a character named Seadog?

U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president officially named the executive mansion the White House?

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MOVIES: What is the name of the most famous Wookiee in the “Star Wars” movies?

give blood. We can’t save lives without you.

MONEY: What is the official currency of Nigeria?

ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many legs do shrimp have?

HISTORY: How many states did Alabama Gov. George Wallace win as a third-party candidate in the 1968 presidential primary?

MEDICAL: What is the common name for the human trachea?

How many suspects are in the board game “Clue”?