Vol. 18: #46 • Eat Your Veggies • (11-13-2022) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

TIDBITS REMINDS YOU TO

Veggies Eat Your Veggies

by Janet Spencer

Just as “Popeye” of cartoon fame gulped down his spinach for strength, we should all make vegetables part of our everyday diet. This week Tidbits shows how vegetables play a critical role in America’s food consumption, and that your mother was right when she said those leafy greens on your plate are good for you!

VEGGIE FACTS

• About 43 million people across the U.S. maintain vegetable gardens. The top veggie grown is tomatoes, followed by cucumber, pepper, beans, carrots, squash, and onions.

• The average American eats 92 lbs (42 kg) of vegetables each year.

• An asparagus bed will yield asparagus for 20 to 30 years. Male asparagus is bigger, tastier, and up to four times more productive than female asparagus. Asparagus also comes in white and purple varieties. White asparagus is green asparagus which is buried

FResH PicKeD

1. TELEVISION: What was Net flix’s first exclusive content series? 2. U.S. STATES: Which state is home to the Grand Canyon? 3. GEOGRAPHY: Where are the famous Moai statues located? 4. MOVIES: Who directed the chill ing 2017 movie “Get Out”? 5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which country’s largest airline is Aer oflot? 6. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which pres ident was elected to two nonconsecu tive terms? 7. ANATOMY: The ossicles are located in what part of the human body?

8. LITERATURE: Which awardwinning novel is set in Maycomb, Ala bama?

9. MEDICAL: Which international organization declared monkey pox to be a public health emergency?

10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the only natural predator of great white sharks, aside from humans? Answers

• The difference between asteroids and comets goes back to the way they were first formed. Although it appears that they were created at the same time, they formed under different circumstances.

• Some scientists theorize that the solar system started out as a rotating cloud of gas and dust. At the center, the Sun formed through gravitational collapse, which released heat. At the center of this dusty gaseous nebula, the region was hot and dense, while the outer regions were cooler.

• Asteroids formed near the center where only rock and metal could remain solid. Comets formed at the outer reaches, which was cold enough for water and gases to freeze. Comets, therefore, are “dirty snowballs” found at the outer reaches of the solar system, in the Kuiper Belt (named for astronomer Gerard Kuiper who postulated its existence) and the Oort Cloud (named for Dutch astronomer Jan Oort, ditto).

76 years (it was last here in 1986, and will be back again in 2061). Many comets have a much longer orbit period, but some are shorter. Encke’s comet comes around every 3.3 years. We'll see it next in October 2023.

• Whenever asteroids or comets slam into each other or slam into planets or moons, debris is released, and this is where meteors come from. Meteors are generally no bigger than three feet wide, and often are no bigger than a grain of sand. They are simply bits and pieces of comets and asteroids.

• When comets pass close to the Sun, the icy materials start to melt off, leaving behind a long tail. The word comet originates with the Greek word meaning “long hair.”

• Meteor showers originate with the passing of a comet, when Earth passes through the debris field left in its wake. The Perseids seen each August and the Leonids in November are caused by the debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle. The Orionids seen in October are from Halley’s Comet.

Friday, 10/21/22

• Meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites are names for space rocks at different stages. The ones floating around in space are meteoroids. The ones that enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up are called meteors. Those that don’t burn up entirely and instead collide with the surface of the Earth are called meteorites. Most of the meteors which we call “shooting stars” are merely the size of a small pebble.

• Most asteroids are lumps of rock which circulate in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The total mass of all the asteroids in the solar system combined would actually be less than that of the Moon.

Edgar Medina Mobile Massage Therapy

• The “-ite” ending is often used in the names of rocks and minerals, such as anthracite. That’s a good way to remember that meteorites are the ones that make it to Earth’s surface as rocks.

1/16th page, 4c, 26x October 30 - April 16, 2023

• The word “asteroid” means “star-like.” In disaster movies, it’s always an asteroid that’s on a collision course that's about to destroy Earth.

• The Rosetta spacecraft, carrying the Philae lander, rendezvoused with a comet called 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in 2014. 67P indicates that this was the 67th periodic comet discovered. Churyumov and Gerasimenko are the names of the discoverers. The Philae lander landed on the comet almost 11 years after leaving 35,000 escaping be carbonbased molecules like proteins, carbohydrates — organic matter which could help in the search remaining 55% of the dust is formed of inorganic minerals, mostly

Halley’s

reappearing every

• NASA’s Johnson Space Center has a collection of meteorites that acts as a sort of meteorite library. Studying them provides more clues to how our solar system may have been formed. □

and not exposed to light. Asparagus contains asparagusic acid, which is transformed in the digestive tract to compounds rich in sulfurous compounds including methanethiol, the same putrid chemical odorant found in skunk spray.

• “Beet” comes from the Greek letter “beta” because it looks like the Greek letter B.

• Beets are red because of pigments called betalains, which also cause the red color of cactus flowers, rhubarb, and chard. Some people cannot metabolize betalains, which is expelled through the urine, turning it pink.

• Carrots contain pigments called carotenoids, including beta carotene. Not only do these pigments give carrots their orange color, but they also act as the precursors to vitamin A. In the digestive tract, enzymes snip carotenoids in half, and the result is two molecules of vitamin A. A lack of vitamin A results in night blindness, and a prolonged deficiency can result in permanent blindness.

• Beta carotene is often added to things to improve the coloring. When added to milk, it makes it look creamier. Margarine is often colored with beta carotene as well. If you eat too many carrots over a short period of time, the beta carotene can turn your skin orangish.

• Americans eat about 12 lbs. (5.4 kg) of carrots per year per person.

• Celery gets its name from the Latin “celer” meaning swift and quick, as in “celerity” and “acceleration.” It was once thought to have fast-acting medicinal value.

• An average stalk of celery has 10 calories, but the commonly held belief that it takes more calories than that to digest it is not true.

• About half of all corn produced in the U.S. is used as livestock feed. Another 15% is exported, and around 25% is used to make ethanol. Only 1% is eaten as regular corn by humans. The rest is made into corn syrup, cornstarch, corn oil, and cornmeal. Corn originally meant “kernel”

as in “peppercorn” and “corned beef.” In England corn referred to wheat, in Scotland it meant oats, and in the Bible it probably referred to barley.

• Corn provides 20% of world’s total food energy. Corn must be cultivated. If humans disappeared, corn would too. Today’s highly modified corn cobs are so densely packed that the seeds cannot disperse enough on their own to allow enough kernels to sprout, grow, and thrive.

• As a corn kernel dries out, the soft starch begins to shrink as it dehydrates, forming a dimple. This dried seed corn is known as “dent corn.”

• Individual grains of corn pollen can travel half a mile in less than a minute.

• It was thought that sleeping on a bed of cucumbers would ease a fever resulting in the phrase “cool as a cucumber.”

• Samuel Johnson stated that, “A cucumber should be well sliced, and dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out.” Food historian Waverley Root says of cucumbers that they are “as close to neutrality as a vegetable can get without ceasing to exist.”

been heated.

• The Latin word “radix” means “root” resulting in the word “radish.” “Raphanus” is Greek meaning “appearing rapidly” and is where

• More than half of the cucumbers grown in the U.S. are used for pickles.

• Americans consume 9 lbs (4 kg) of pickles each year per capita.

•. Lettuce has about 8 calories per cup.

• California produces 70% of America’s lettuce.

• “Romaine” lettuce comes from “Roman” since it’s thought to have originated in Italy.

• The more sunlight a lettuce leaf receives, the darker green it becomes, and the greater amount of beta-carotene it contains. Inner leaves remain pale and are therefore less nutritious.

• Americans eat about 30 lbs (14 kg) of lettuce per year per person.

• Only about 15% of watermelons sold in U.S. markets are seeded. In many countries, watermelon seeds are roasted and eaten.

• Once you pick a watermelon it will never get any sweeter than the moment it is separated from its vine.

• The red in watermelon comes from a carotenoid called lycopene, the same thing that makes tomatoes red and grapefruit pink. Ounce for ounce, watermelon contains 40% more lycopene than tomatoes.

• Eating a cooked tomato yields higher amounts of lycopene than eating raw tomatoes because lycopene is hard to digest and absorb unless it’s

The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra consists of 11 musicians, all of whom perform on instruments made of veggies: Carrot flutes, pumpkin drums, and leek violins.

By Lucie Winborne

* You’ve no doubt heard of shattering a glass with your voice, but how about sing ing at a pitch so low only an elephant can hear it? That feat belongs to Tim Storms, who possesses a 10-octave vocal range and holds the Guinness World Record for lowest note produced by a human and widest vocal range.

* In some parts of the world, tarantulas have “pet” frogs, which they protect from predators.

* At the Harvard-Yale annual college football matchup in 2004, Yale students played quite the trick on their opponents by dressing as Harvard pep squad mem bers and handing out crimson and gold placards to the crowd. While told their cards would spell out “Go Harvard” when raised, the actual message read “We Suck.”

* Two of the most common paint col ors at Walt Disney World are “Go Away Green” and “Blending Blue.” Their curi ous monikers attest to the fact that Disney Imagineers created them to make your eyes ignore them.

* The first known dental filling dates to the Neolithic period and was made of beeswax.

* Billy Joel’s song “Only the Good Die Young” was banned by some radio sta tions for being “anti-Catholic.” Joel hardly minded, however, as the resulting public ity made the tune so popular that he wrote to the president of Seton Hall College in New Jersey (the first entity to forbid it) re questing a ban on his next record as well.

***

Thought for the Day: “People who don’t take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year.” -- Peter Drucker

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

A Big Belching House Guest

atop the heater) clockwise until it stops. Then at tach a garden hose to the drain valve at the base of the heater and run the other end of the hose into a light-colored bucket in order to view the sediment.

Open the drain valve and turn the cold water supply back on to flush out the sediment. Be careful; the water coming out is hot! The wa ter first exiting the heater carries the most sedi ment. When water runs clear, shut off the drain valve, detach the hose and turn the power back on.

Everyday

Our house is not haunted, but just try to tell that to our guests. “Our water heater makes funny noises,” I warn. First-timers respond with a smile and nod -- and forget.

CHEAPSKATE®

Caution: If your water heater is gas-pow ered, call the gas company for specific instruc tions before attempting to re-light it yourself. In many cities, they will come to your home and do that for you, no charge.

by Mary Hunt

“What was that noise?” is the predictable next-morning question. Some say it sounds like a big clumsy man on the roof. Children trend more toward a “monster in the wall” theory.

PROOF Final Changes DUE:

It’s the water heater. It makes funny noises. I’ve never understood why, and as long as hot water keeps coming through the pipes at the right time, we’ve just learned to live with the loud rumbling.

Handyman Jim Brown says we’re lucky. The thing should have failed by now, given the hardness of the water in our area. At the very least, we’ve been spending way too much money to keep Big Belch running.

The problem is sediment. When the water containing high levels of calcium and minerals is heated or frozen, the dissolved salts precipitate out. You’ll see it in the bottom of a glass that had contained ice and was left to thaw several hours. It’s the residue left in a pot after boiling water. Your water heater is like a big tea kettle. Over time, you will hear your water heater rumbling when it is heating. It isn’t about to blow up, but it is now much less efficient.

Mineral deposits can cause several prob lems. In all cases, they take up space so your water heater holds less water. After cutting them open, one repairman told me he’s seen water heaters with deposits two feet deep -- 40% of the tank capacity displaced by sediment! Research shows that for every 1/2 inch of sediment on the bottom of a gas-fired water heater, 70% more fuel is required to heat the water.

Manufacturers recommend that we regu larly drain and flush our water heaters to get rid of the sediment. How often depends on the min eral load in your water, the amount of hot water used and whether a water softener is part of your system.

To drain, Jim says to first turn off the power. If your water heater is gas-powered, twist the dial on the thermostat from the “on” position to “off.” If it’s electric, flip the circuit breaker off at the service panel that controls the water heater or flip off the main breaker. Next, shut off the cold water supply by twisting the water valve (located

The owner’s manual that came with your water heater will give specific instructions for routine cost-saving maintenance.

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Mary invites you to visit her at Everyday Cheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommend ed 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.”

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

• Molybdenum (pronounced "muh-lib-duh-nuhm) is a trace mineral which is normally found mixed in with other minerals. It has the 6th highest melting point of any element, which is why 80% of its production is used in steel alloys.

• In 1979, the Phelps Dodge corporation of the U.S. bought a molybdenum mine in a remote coastal region of British Columbia, Canada, about 500 miles north of Vancouver, and two hours away from the nearest neighboring town.

• Expecting to create a huge mining boom, the company proceeded with great optimism to build an entire town from scratch for the sole purpose of housing an estimated 1,200 people. The population would consist mainly of the mine workers and their families, along with support personnel such as maintenence workers, shopkeepers and city officials. Because the town was so far removed from any civilization, they would require everything needed to maintain independence.

• The new town was called Kitsault, derived from a local native phrase meaning “way up in there,” most likely referring to the great travel distance needed to reach this remote location.

• The corporation went all-out in planning the newly created township, spending an estimated $50 million on the necessary forest clearing and construction during 1980 and 1981.

• First needed was an electrical generating facility, followed by home construction, a grocery store, a cafe, bank, theater, post office, school, medical clinic, and a pub. But then there was so much more: a curling rink, enclosed shopping mall, swimming pool, gym, community center, and bowling alley.

lovely new homes and apartment buildings with winding paved roads and stylish street lights.

• Then disaster struck, when everyone was suddenly impacted by a development that severely crippled their economy. The introduction of molybdenum by-products into the market sharply reduced the raw value of molybdenum. The market crashed. There was no longer any profit to be made from molybdenum, and the Phelps Dodge corporation nearly went bankrupt.

• Only 18 months after the mine opened with the newly-built and fully-functional city at its gates, the town was completely evacuated. It became an abandoned ghost town. The last of the residents left on October 31, 1983.

• The company, hoping for resurgence in the value of molybdenum, hired caretakers to keep everything from falling apart. But the mine never re-opened and the people never returned.

• Luckily, an ambitious millionaire decided the town was worth saving. In 2004, he bought the entire town for $5.7 million and hired a team of caretakers to prevent the city from falling into decay. The electric power is still maintained, roofs are repaired; streets are cleared; homes and businesses and buildings are kept in tip-top shape. Lawns are mowed and trees are trimmed. Everything is fully maintained and kept as a kind of 1980s time capsule.

• There are still menus in the restaurant, toys in the day care, books in the library. There are ash trays on the tables in the pub. Shopping carts are neatly lined up while the grocery store aisles and shelves are completely empty. Most of the residents left their possessions behind, simply because it’s too difficult and expensive to get moving equipment to a location that remote.

• The mine, however, was not part of the purchase. A different mining company bought that, but later failed in its attempt to turn a profit.

• The present owner of Kitsault says that one day he may turn the town into a spiritual retreat, or perhaps a science center. There has been talk about developing it as a hub on a natural gas pipeline. Its future remains unknown.

• Today, for a fee, you can tour the town, if you’re willing to travel that far on bad roads or fly by seaplane to get there. You can even spend the night in one of the homes, wander through the abandoned buildings on vacant roads (possibly sharing them with a roaming grizzly bear or moose). One of the abandoned homes has been transformed into a museum showcasing the short life of the community.

• But don’t show up without a reservation or an invitation. The gates to Kitsault are locked and closely guarded. □

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1doa98h9l6A

by Dana Jackson

Q: When will the new season of “Vir gin River” be available on Netflix? Also, what is the diagnosis that Denny received last sea son? I hope they don’t kill him off! -- L.K.

A: “Virgin River” premiered on Netflix in 2019 and is currently filming its fifth season. The romantic drama series is filmed in British Colum bia but is set in Northern California. Mel, the lead character, who is played by Alexandra Brecken ridge, is a nurse practitioner who relocates from Los Angeles to the small, picturesque town of Vir gin River.

At the end of season four, Denny (Kai Brad bury) revealed to Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) that he has Huntington’s disease, which is a degenerative neurological disorder. According to the Hunting ton’s Disease Society of America, the genetic dis ease “causes deterioration in a person’s physical, mental and emotional abilities.” While Denny has told Lizzie they don’t have a future together be cause of his health issues, “it doesn’t look like she’s giving up on him in season five,” according to TV Line.com.

Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told TV Line that he doesn’t want to focus on “the dark and the sadness,” but instead wants to “take a story that has the potential to go into a dark place and find a way around it.”

“Virgin River” will return with new epi sodes on Netflix some time in 2023, but newcomers can binge the first four seasons in the meantime.

Q: Why are they changing lead actors for “The Witcher”? Handsome Henry Cavill is the season we watch. -- A.I.

A: Henry Cavill recently announced on social media that he’s vacating the role of monster hunter Geralt of Rivia after three seasons. He has nothing but praise for the character and wishes his succes sor nothing but the best. Liam Hems worth (“The Hunger Games”) will be tak ing over the role in the eventual fourth sea son, but Cavill fans can still see him as Geralt in the upcoming third season in the summer of 2023 on Netflix.

The only thing that could probably lure Cavill away from “The Witcher” is his love of the character that put him on the map: Superman. The DC Universe has big plans for the actor with plans for another movie centered around the iconic char

acter, the role he first inhabited ten years ago in “Man of Steel.”

***

Q: I just saw a photo of Sheryl Under wood of “The Talk,” and she has lost a lot of weight. How did she do it? -- A.R.

A: Sheryl Underwood told People maga zine that she worked “really, really hard” to lose 95 pounds, which is no easy feat at the age of 59. She did it with the help of a dietitian and personal train er. She also had the help of a weekly injection of Wegovy, which helped “suppress her appetite and jump-start her weight loss program.”

“The Talk” is a syndicated talk show that airs weekdays on CBS.

* * *

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

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

King Features News Syndicate

Good Recipes from

Pecan-Crusted Catfish

It takes only three ingredients to create this crunchy fish dish from our sister publication Women’s Day. Using mustard as a binder instead of egg, cover catfish fillets in chopped pecans and bake until the nuts are lightly toasted.

4 catfish

fillets

2 tablespoons honey mustard 1 cup pecans

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking pan with nonstick foil.

2. Finely chop pecans by hand or in food processor. Spread on a sheet of wax paper. Put honey mustard in small cup; stir in 2 teaspoons water. Brush one side of fillets with mustard mix ture, then press into chopped pecans. Place on baking pan.

3. Bake 10 to 14 minutes until pecans are lightly toasted and fish is just cooked through. Serves 4

Tips: Use tilapia fillets instead of catfish; use walnuts instead of pecans; stir a few drops of hot sauce into the mustard mixture. Serve with roasted sweet potato wedges and sauteed kale.

Bourbon-Glazed Baby Carrots

You can whip up this tasty side dish in no time with packaged peeled and washed baby car rots.

2 bags (16 ounces each) peeled baby carrots 1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons margarine or butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon bourbon

3. Add mixture to carrots in skillet; stir in bourbon (sugar mixture will harden). Cook over medium-high heat 7 to 10 minutes or until sugar mixture melts, carrots are tender and glazed, and liquid evaporates, stirring. Makes 8 accompani ment servings.

Final Changes DUE:

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1. In 12-inch skillet, heat carrots and 1 cup water to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until car rots are tender-crisp. Drain; return to skillet.

2. Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, cook sugar, margarine and salt over medium-high heat 4 to 5 minutes or until sugar and margarine melt and turn golden, stirring frequently.

 Each serving: About 95 calories, 1g protein, 15g carbohydrate, 3g total fat (1g satu rated), 2g fiber, 0mg cholesterol, 225mg sodium.

NEST HEADS

By John Allen

DIAMOND

by Brett Koth

11/13 World Kindness Day

11/14 Operating Room Nurse Day

11/15 Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

11/16 National Parental Involvement Day

11/17 Homemade Bread Day

11/18 Mickey Mouse Day

11/19 American Made Matters Day

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Working with Fear

Fearful dogs are tricky. They are to dog trainers what antique glass heirlooms are to UPS delivery people: special care and handling re quired.

I’ve worked with the owners of many shy or fearful dogs, usually after these people spent years exacerbating the problem with their own misguided behavior: the weary woman who comes home to yet another accident on the rug and in her anger screams “No! No! No!” at her shy little dog; the macho man who wants his water-fearful dog to swim so badly that, out of frustration, he throws the pooch into the pool.

Her dog is now fearful of her arrival at the end of the day.

His dog is now fearful of water and him.

Fighting fear with fear doesn’t work.

Full-on in-your-face exposure to that which is the source of great fear will not magically erase the fear, as if it existed only in an Etch-A-Sketch. Irrational fear is much deeper than that. In most dogs, such dramatic exposure will induce a flood ing effect, in which the dog appears resigned but in actuality shuts down completely -- as a last-resort coping mechanism. When neither fight nor flight is an option, freeze.

An 84-year-old woman called me last week. She was frustrated. Her three Pomeranians -- a.k.a. The Three Stooges -- were barking, yapping and eating the plants in her indoor garden. The Stooges are small and on the skittish side. Yelling, which never helps, would in their case make things much worse. I agreed to work with her.

First, I showed her how to use the leash as a training tool -- in this case, to correct the exces sive barking behavior. Then I invoked the all-pow erful squirt bottle to subsidize the correction. This startles the dogs, distracting them from the un wanted behavior and giving her the opportunity to “reset” them to a more desirable behavior -- which she then reinforces with praise and affection.

And finally, I introduced her to The Home Depot, where she found inexpensive, unobtrusive fencing to keep The Stooges from snacking on her azaleas.

A couple of training sessions, with her rein

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

Two important product recalls

Several disturbing items have been in the news lately. Have you heard about these product recalls?

CPAP machines: Two dozen different CPAP machines have been recalled. The list includes Bilevel PAP, BiPAP or BPAP machines, as well as the CPAP. The reason is a bit frighten ing. Black foam pieces can come loose and be breathed in or swallowed.

While the recall was issued quite a long time ago, the Food and Drug Administration just updated that information with this alert: If you now have one of the repaired or replaced machines (due to the previous recall), testing is currently be ing done to ensure that the repair foam used is OK. The reason for the concern and the current test ing: There have been deaths, far too many deaths, from the breakdown of the foam used in these machines.

To learn more about this, go online to: https://tinyurl.com/hvy73j36

The Art of DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

Is Your Home Getting Too Smart for You?

Sometimes I think we're living in the fu turistic era of the Jetsons. At other times, it’s George Orwell’s “1984.” A recent online search for an office coffee maker literally put me over the edge. I like all the fancy coffee concoctions made by hipster handlebar mus tachioed baristas as much as anyone. Of course, I love the foamy cream with the heart-shaped caramel drizzle, but what that has done to the coffee makers is beyond my comprehen sion. Now there are cap sules, large and small, of every flavor imaginable, machines that make cof fee short or long and accompanying equipment to make milk frothy hot or cold. Oh, the possibilities!

Some newer homes are now considered “smart.” These are homes often with automated doorbells with cameras. Their climate can be con trolled with a tap of your phone. Coffee can be started so it is ready by the time you wake up, and music and information can be commanded out of thin air by speaking loudly so that a home-auto mating apparatus can execute online searches and get your favorite tunes playing at your whim. Rosie the robot has been replaced by a small round disc that vacuums on a regular basis with out even being asked. But how much technology is too much?

Of course, our desire is to keep up with the latest innovations. Many of you who are of a certain age may remember the 1960s televi

You can also call the Philips company at 877-907-7508.

The recall says not to stop using the machine until you talk to your doctor, whether you have an original machine or one that was repaired or is a replacement.

Bedrails on portable beds: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (and several compa nies) issued a warning for thousands of portable bedrails, the ones that attach to the sides of beds to keep someone from falling out. The problems are so serious that deaths were reported when people became wedged between the mattress and the rail.

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

forcing the techniques and commands in between meetings with me, and the next thing I know, I’m greeted at the door with homemade biscotti! We were celebrating the fact that her problems with The Stooges had diminished to the point of total satisfaction. Peace in the kingdom. No fear mon gering required.

ADVERTISING PROOF

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Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

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

These bedrails were made under vari ous names. Your best bet is to call the Consumer Product Safety Commission and ask about bed rail recalls to be sure you learn about all possible brands. Contact them at 800-638-2772.

For more information, go to the FDA web site (fda.gov) and put “Safety Concerns about Bed Rails” in the search box.

For overall recall information, keep an eye on this government site: www.cpsc.gov/recalls.

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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

sion cabinets that came with built-in speakers, a record player on one side and a bar cabinet on the other, the 1970s beds that had speakers on the headboards and a slot for your 8-track tapes or the massaging beds that made you feel like hurling -- especially after dinner and a couple of cocktails.

Today’s furniture makers have taken no tice and have begun to incorporate technology in ways never before imaginable. Beds can be made softer or firmer according to your sleeping habits and try to adjust themselves to whether you snore or not. The newest selections of sofas and com fortable chairs for family rooms are equipped with USB ports for recharging your tablets, laptops and phones. Recently, there are even wallpapers woven with LED lights in them and fiber-optic fab rics that can change colors at your desire.

I enjoy the novelty of these innovations as much as any consumer, but knowing how quickly technologies change now adays, I’d think really hard before spending any significant amount of money on any of these trendy items. There are some innovations that work really well, such as those that turn lights on and off, as well as surveillance and security systems that allow you to see what is going on in and around your home for protec tion. But sometimes, your home may be getting too smart. As a matter of fact, the other day, I was just thinking out loud and the home-automating apparatus that sometimes goes by a single name answered me back. Talk about creepy. * * *

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 ators.com.

Regardless of your dog’s temperament, if you could get him to drop unwanted behavior A in favor of desirable behavior B without scaring the daylights out of him, isn’t that what they call a winwin? But if your dog’s temperament leans toward the nervous and anxious, fear tactics of any kind -- including yelling and finger wagging -- are offlimits. It’ll take a little more time and patience, but in the end, you’ll have a problem solved, instead of more problems.

Woof!

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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.

COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM

SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Rules I Can’t Explain

I really get upset when readers tell me that they talked to a Social Security Administra tion employee hoping to get an understanding of some confusing Social Security rule and the only reply they got was this: “It’s the law.” In my opin ion, that’s a bad answer. People should be given a reason why a particular Social Security law exists in the first place.

I’ve always prided myself on not just know ing Social Security rules and regulations, but on be ing able to explain the reasoning behind the laws, many of which some people (even SSA employees) find confusing and perplexing. That’s why, while I still worked for the SSA, I used to conduct a train ing session for employees I simply called “Ratio nale.” And in that class, I provided the rationale behind rules and laws that were sometimes diffi cult to understand. (And judging by the number of “It’s the law” responses that readers tell me they get from SSA employees, maybe somebody at the agency needs to pick up where I left off when I re tired 18 years ago!)

Having bragged about my understanding of the rationale behind the rules, I must admit there have always been some laws I’ve never been able to understand myself, and I’ll discuss them in today’s column.

No. 1: Why doesn’t a wife share in the bonus her husband earns for starting his benefits after full retirement age? I really don’t know.

A retiree can earn a little bonus in his So cial Security checks if he delays starting his Social Security benefits until after his full retirement age. He gets an extra two-thirds of 1% added to his re tirement check for each month he waits -- up to age 70. (There is no bonus paid for months beyond age 70.) Depending on what your full retirement age is, that can be anywhere from a 24% to a 32% bonus for a retiree.

But if that guy has a wife eligible for ben efits on his record, her spousal rate is based on his full retirement age benefit, not his augmented de layed retirement benefit. That’s the bad news. The good news is that if he dies, the widow’s benefit is based on his higher delayed retirement rate. In other words, a wife doesn’t share in these delayed retirement credits, but a widow does. And again, I can’t explain why.

Also, a note of clarification. I referred to a husband getting retirement benefits and a wife getting spousal benefits on his record. I did that because 95% of the time, that’s the way these rules play out. And that’s because, for a variety of rea sons discussed many times in this column, the husband has a higher Social Security benefit than the wife. But if you happen to be part of a house hold where the wife makes more money than the husband, then just turn the genders around in my

above discussion of the rules.

No. 2: Why is there a six-month waiting period before Social Security disability benefits can be paid? I really don’t know.

The law says that if you file for Social Securi ty disability benefits and your claim is approved, no benefits can be paid for the first six months. Well, actually, the law says that no benefits can be paid for the first five full calendar months of a disabil ity. So, unless you just happened to have become disabled on the first day of the month, you end up waiting for six months before your Social Security checks start. (There are a couple of severe medical conditions where the waiting period is waived.)

Let’s give an example of how this plays out. Bob has a heart attack on March 15. He files for Social Security disability in April, and on June 25, his claim is approved. He gets an “award letter” tell ing him that he became disabled for Social Security purposes on March 15. The letter also tells him that he will get his first Social Security check after five full calendar months have elapsed. So, the first dis ability check he is due will be for the month of Sep tember, payable in October. (Social Security checks always come one month behind.)

Why does Bob have to wait until October to get his first disability check if he became disabled in March? I’m really not sure.

I checked the SSA website for information about this. It says the six-month waiting period is intended to make sure that the condition is not a short-term disability. (By law, Social Security dis ability benefits are only paid for long-term disabili ties.) But that doesn’t quite make sense to me. The medical review process for disability claims is quite extensive. That’s why it takes several months to process disability claims. And part of that process is to root out short-term disabilities. In other words, once a claim is approved, it’s already been decided that the person has a long-term disability. So why wait another six months?

No. 3: Why is there an earnings penalty if you’re under full retirement age? I really don’t know.

the law said you had to be retired to get “retire ment” benefits. So, if you were a senior citizen who was working and had any kind of income, you couldn’t get Social Security. Over the years, Con gress gradually eased that restriction. At first, they said if you were over 72 and working, you could get Social Security checks. Then they lowered that to 70. And then in the 1990s, they lowered it to full retirement age. So, if you are over your FRA and working, you can get Social Security checks, no matter how much money you make.

But they kept the penalty in place for Social Security recipients under FRA. The law says for ev ery $2 you earn over a yearly threshold ($19,560 in 2022), $1 must be taken out of your Social Security checks.

So why the penalty for people under full re tirement age? My guess is it’s supposed to be an in centive to keep seniors from filing for benefits until they reach full retirement age, but I’m really not sure.

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.

6. From Ruth 4:13, who was her mate? a) Samuel b) Boaz c) Jacob d) Xerxes

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

When Social Security began in the 1930s, (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.

Excess Connective Tissue Leads to Outward Skin Condition

DEAR DR. ROACH: In my 40s, I devel oped lumps in the palms of my hands. I was diagnosed with Dupuytren’s contracture and underwent hand surgery to correct the condition. I also noticed similar lumps in the arch es of my feet, which don’t cause any pain, so I’ve not sought treatment for my feet.

Now in my mid-60s, I have experi enced a severe bend in my penis. I assume it’s Peyronie’s disease. The bend has less ened over several months. What is the cause and connection between these phenomenon? Should I seek treatment? -- B.M.

ANSWER: All three of the conditions you mention are related to excess growth of connec tive tissue. In the hand, Dupuytren’s contracture is caused by excess growth of a connective cell (called a fibroblast) in the superficial palmar fas cia (fascia is the thick, tough connective tissue found in many places in the body). A very similar condition in the plantar fascia (“plantar” refers to the sole of the feet) is called plantar fibromatosis (also called Ledderhose disease).

Peyronie’s disease is also caused by excess growth of fibroblasts, with deposition of collagen plaques in the penis, causing pain and deformity of the penis. This, in turn, can cause psychological distress and sexual dysfunction.

Twenty-one percent of people with Pey ronie’s also have Dupuytren’s contracture. It is thought that repeated trauma, whether to the hand, penis or foot, is a trigger for the abnormal fibroblast activity in people with a genetic predis position.

Many men do not speak to their physi cian about Peyronie’s disease, so they don’t get referred to a urologist, who can discuss the options for treatment. Treatment may include medications, injection and surgery, and referral to an expert is appropriate for all men in whom the condition is suspected. ***

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife was di agnosed with liver cancer in January. We do not know how she got it, since she does not smoke, drink or do drugs -- and has no family history. She has lost about 50 pounds. She is currently receiving the immunotherapy drugs Tecentriq and Avastin. These drugs worked for a while, but now they do not work as well.

My question is, could these drugs have caused this weight loss, since the side effects of both medications say that they

might cause weight loss? What else could she take, and what could we do to help her gain weight faster? Her legs are very weak, and she has trouble walking. She has even fallen a few times. Thank you. -- H.R.

ANSWER: I am very sorry for your wife’s diagnosis. Many symptoms found in people with cancer can be caused either by the cancer or by its treatment, and it can be very hard to deter mine which is causing the symptoms. Weight loss is an extremely common symptom in people with liver cancer, so it may not be either of these drugs causing the problem.

Even though weight loss can happen with either of the medicines she is taking, 50 pounds makes me suspect the issue is more likely the cancer itself, rather than the drug. But, of course, both might be working together.

A registered dietician can help work with your wife to give her nutrition advice, which normally includes tasty, high-protein, nutrient-rich foods. Her cancer doctors may help with antinausea medicines, treating any underlying de pression and sometimes prescribing medicines to stimulate appetite.

VETERANS

by Freddie Groves

A monk walks into a beer garden...

It’s always amazing what thieves think they can get away with, especially when the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General starts looking their way. Here are two instances where the thieves really should have known better.

When the Covid pandemic assistance mon ey was handed out to businesses for economic di saster in 2020, two people figured that would be an excellent way to grab funds for their nonprofit re ligious organizations. One was an Orthodox Chris tian monk and the other was an attorney. After multiple fraudulent applications, they eventually made off with $3.5 million. One-third of the money was used for a property they were turning into a monastic complex, complete with chapel, brewery and beer garden, not to mention an audio system and antique furniture.

The monk, who’d taken a vow of poverty, additionally purchased a $40,000 Swiss watch. Those who reviewed and approved the applica tions should have been clued in by the name of the monastic property: Shrine of St. Nicholas the Won derworker, Patron of Sailors, Brewers & Repentant Thieves. At this writing, the pair has been released on a comparatively tiny $10,000 bond after arraign ment.

A Texas woman didn’t nab as much cash, but the circumstances are still despicable. The woman and her husband claimed VA and SSA dis ability money because they said that the veteran had an active duty injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. They’d been given an adapted home by a nonprofit group, a specially equipped vehicle and money. A thumbs-up to the local news, however, for their investigation after being sent a video of the veteran walking around the neighbor hood and playing basketball.

The veteran died in federal custody while awaiting trial, but his spouse was found guilty of mail fraud, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, theft of government funds and more. At sentencing she faces 20 years for each wire and mail fraud charge, 10 years on each health care fraud charge and theft of funds and five years for each false statement re lated to a health care matter.

Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot person ally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to colum nreply2@gmail.com.

M.D.

Top Financial Scams Targeting Seniors Today

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: What are the most common scams today that target el derly seniors? My 84-year-old mother fell for a phone scam this week and they got into her bank account. This is outrageous! How can we prevent this? -- Paranoid Patty

Dear Patty: Great question! While many scams today are universal, there are certain types of fraud that specifically target older adults or af fects them disproportionately. And unfortunately, these senior-targeted scams are on the rise.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in 2021 there were 92,371 older victims of fraud resulting in $1.7 billion in losses. This was a 74 percent increase in losses compared to 2020. This is big business.

Here are five of the most common senior scams that were reported last year, that both you and your mom should be aware of.

Government imposter scams:

These are fraudulent telephone calls from people claiming to be from the Internal Rev enue Service, Social Security Administration or Medicare. These scammers may falsely tell you that you have unpaid taxes and threaten arrest or deportation if you don’t pay up immediately. Or they may say your Social Security or Medi care benefits are in danger of being cut off if you don’t provide personal identifying information. They may even “spoof” your caller ID to make it look like the government is actually calling.

Sweepstakes and lottery scams:

These scams may contact you by phone, mail or email. They tell you that you’ve won or have the potential to win a jackpot. But you need to pay a fee, or cover taxes and processing fees to receive your prize, perhaps by prepaid debit card, wire transfer, money order or cash. Scam mers may even impersonate well-known sweep stakes organizations, like Publishers Clearing House, to fool you.

Robocall scams:

Robocalls take advantage of sophisti cated, automated phone technology to carry out a variety of scams on trusting older adults who answer the phone. Some robocalls may claim that a warranty is expiring on their car or elec tronic device, and payment is needed to renew it. These scammers can also “spoof” the number to make the call look authentic. One common method is the “Can you hear me?” call. When the person answers “yes,” the scammer records their "yes" reply and hangs up. The criminal then has a voice signature to authorize unwanted charges on items like stolen credit cards.

Computer tech support scams:

Theses scams prey on senior’s lack of knowledge about computers and cybersecurity. A pop-up message or blank screen usually ap pears on a computer or phone, telling you that your device is compromised and needs fixing. When you call the support number for help, the scammer may either request remote access to

your computer and/or state that you pay a fee to have it repaired.

Grandparent scam:

The grandparent scam has been around for many years now. A scammer will call and say something along the lines of: “Hi Grandma, do you know who this is?” When the unsuspecting grandparent guesses the name of the grandchild the scammer most sounds like, the scammer has established a fake identity. The fake grandchild will then ask for money to solve some unex pected financial problem (legal trouble, overdue rent, car repairs, etc.), to be paid via gift cards or money transfers, which don’t always require identification to collect.

Other Scams

Some other popular scams targeting old er adults right now are romance scams through social media and online dating sites, COVID-19 scams, investment scams, Medicare and health insurance scams, and Internet and email fraud.

All of these scams are designed to steal your money with no way to trace the criminals or to retrieve it once you have innocently given them a quick and easy way to get their hands on it.

For more information on the different types senior scams to watch out for, along with tips to help your mom protect herself, visit the National Council on Aging website at NCOA.org, and type in “the top 5 financial scams targeting older adults” in the search bar.

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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.

How Medicare Works with Other Coverage

Q: I have Medicaid and Medicare. Which one pays first?

A: Medicare pays first; Medicaid pays second.

Q: I’m 65 and have group health plan coverage with my employer. How does that work with Medicare?

A: It all depends on these conditions:

• If the employer has 20 or more employ ees, then the group health plan pays first, and Medicare pays second.

• If the employer has fewer than 20 employees and isn’t part of a multi-employer or multiple employer group health plan, then Medi care pays first, and the group health plan pays second.

• If the employer has fewer than 20 employees and is part of a multi-employer or multiple employer group health plan, then the group health plan pays first, and Medicare pays second.

Q: Do PPO or HMO plans through my em ployer cover services outside of the network?

A: It’s possible that neither the plan nor Medicare will pay if you get care outside your employer plan’s network. Before you go outside the network, call your group health plan to find out if it will cover the service.

Q: I’m 65, retired, and I have group health plan coverage from my spouse’s current employer. How does that work? A: The same conditions apply to your spouse’s employer’s plan as listed in the second question-and-answer above. Q: I’m under 65, disabled, retired and have group health plan coverage from my former employer. How do the payments work? A: Medicare pays first, and your group health plan (retiree) coverage pays second.

-- by Jim Miller

JUNQUE

by Anne McCollam Creators

Crazy Quilt Is a Stitch in Time

Q: This is a photo of a “crazy quilt” that was passed on to my mother. It was handmade by my great-grandmother after she migrated from Italy at age 15 to marry my great-grandfather. They were needy and came under the wing of the Jane Adams Hull House in Chicago. The quilt was a product of her learning experience there. It is made up of velvet and silk pieces embroidered together to form the pattern. The date “1892” is sewed into one corner. The quilt has been well preserved over all these many years.

Any information you can give me about this quilt and the value it might have will be appreciated.

Q: This mark is on the back of a pas tel dinnerware set that I inherited from my grandmother. The set is a service for eight and includes serving dishes. The pastel colors are in excellent condition.

Since I plan to pass the set on to one of my daughters, I would like to know more about the history and value of this set.

Taylor, Smith, and Taylor was located in Chester, West Virginia, from 1901 to 1981.

A: Taylor, Smith and Taylor made your semiporcelain dishes. They were located in Chester, West Virginia, from 1901 to 1981.

The Lu-Ray Pastels line was introduced in 1938. The dishes were available in Sharon Pink, Windsor Blue, Persian Cream and Surf Green. Chatham Gray was added in 1949. Lu-Ray, as well as Vistosa, were two of their most popular lines.

Lu-Ray dishes were designed to be a con trast to the bright cheery colors of Fiestaware that was made by Homer Laughlin China.

The name Lu-Ray was inspired by the Luray Caverns in nearby Virginia, and the line was dis continued in 1961.

Your dinnerware for eight would probably be worth $300 to $400.

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

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

* On Nov. 14, 1889, journalist Nellie Bly took a page from Jules Verne’s novel “Around the World in 80 Days” by following in the footsteps of the book’s protagonist, Phileas Fogg, and embarked on her own adventure, starting in Hoboken, New Jer sey. She chronicled the trip in her book “Around the World in 72 Days.”

* On Nov. 15, 1949, Nathuram Godse, Narayan Apte and six of their co-conspira tors in the assassination of Mahatma Gan dhi were hanged at the Ambala jail. Godse, unhappy over Gandhi’s accommodation of Indian Muslims, had shot Gandhi the previ ous January while Gandhi was out for his evening prayers.

* On Nov. 16, 1990, Fabrice Morvan and Rob Pilatus, known to the pop music world as Milli Vanilli, were humiliatingly stripped of their Grammy award for the “Girl You Know It’s True” album when it was re vealed they hadn’t sung even a note of it.

* On Nov. 17, 1827, the Delta Phi fra ternity, America’s oldest continuous social fraternity, was founded at Union College in Schenectady, New York. With just 10 active chapters today, it has resisted expansion in order to create an “intimate, personal ex perience” for its members.

* On Nov. 18, 1872, American civil rights activist Susan B. Anthony and 14 of her brave female cohorts were arrested for vot ing illegally in the United States presiden tial election of 1872. Though she was fined $100, she refused to pay a cent of it.

Crazy Quilts were popular from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.

A: Jane Adams was a visionary who founded Hull House, a pioneer settlement for European im migrants who came to the United States around 1900. They welcomed those in need of acclimating to a new country. Hull House provided educational, social and artistic programs for throngs of Italians, Jews, Irish, Greeks, Germans and even Canadian French new to the United States.

Crazy quilts were popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They were made by using irregular patches of silk or velvet that were applied to fabric. Each piece was sewn together by embroidering.

Similar crazy quilts can be found selling any where from the hundreds to several thousand dol lars. ***

Puzzle Solutions After eyeballing some guy's convincing fake driver's license, the bouncer remarked "That's not a bad ID."

* On Nov. 19, 1493, Christopher Colum bus set foot on the island called Borinquen, which he had viewed for the first time the day before. He rechristened it San Juan Bautista, but today we know it as Puerto Rico.

* On Nov. 20, 1805, Beethoven’s only opera, “Leonore, or The Triumph of Marital Fidelity” (later known as Fidelio), premiered in Vienna -- not to its originally intended au dience of the aristocracy and Imperial court, who had fled before Napoleon’s advancing army, but a small audience of French of ficers. Their unsurprising lack of enthusiasm shelved the project for nearly a decade.

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

"Witnesses at the miniature golf course said he totally lost it after 37 putts on the windmill hole. His club flew through a fourth floor window across the street."

the genus name for radishes came from. Radishes can go from seed to crop in three to four weeks. Horseradish and wasabi are in the radish family, and their tangy bite is caused from intermingling of enzymes when cell walls are broken by biting, chewing, or cutting. It’s meant to repel insects and animals.

• Scallions are named for the city of Ascalon, a port city in Palestine (now called Ashkelon) where they were cultivated widely.

• Hot peppers grown in cool climates are milder than hot peppers grown in warm climates. Generally, the deeper the color – orange, yellow, and red – the hotter the pepper. Peppers are generally a good source of vitamin C, with a typical bell pepper containing six times as much vitamin C as an orange, but the hotter the pepper, the less vitamin C it contains. No matter how hot the pepper is supposed to be, however, they will all be completely bland as infant peppers on the vine. The hotness doesn’t set in until the fruit is about a month old.

FRUITS vs VEGGIES

• A fruit is the fertilized ovary of a flower: tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, cukes, beans, peas, peppers, and corn are fruits. A vegetable is any part of a plant that is edible that is not a fruit: flowers (cauliflower, broccoli); stems (asparagus); tubers (potatoes); bulbs (onions); and roots (carrots). Herbs are plants with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, medicine, or perfume, but not used as a main ingredient. □

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Longer hitters have great lower body action, especially when it comes to the left hip and leg. This secret motion can be summarized into a “Shift and Rotate” sequence that all good throw ing and striking motions employ.

Most golfers can shift their weight forward effectively, but lack the proper rota tion of the leg and hip through impact.The left leg stays bent into impact but is in the process of turning in order to straighten the left leg.

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

This rotation of the left hip and leg is a speed element that gives players that game changing distance. The rotation causes the left foot to even spin out at times where the weight rolls to the outside of the foot and back toward the heel.

When I work with a lot of beginning to in 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.

The hip does not rotate immediately in the downswing but should aggres sively rotate through impact, thus the shift and rotate sequence.

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 Teacher 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

1. TELEVISION: What was Net flix’s first exclusive content series?

U.S. STATES: Which state is home to the Grand Canyon?

GEOGRAPHY: Where are the famous Moai statues located?

MOVIES: Who directed the chill ing 2017 movie “Get Out”?

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which country’s largest airline is Aer oflot?

U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which pres ident was elected to two nonconsecu tive terms?

ANATOMY: The ossicles are located in what part of the human body?

Ala bama?

MEDICAL: Which international organization declared monkey pox to be a public health emergency?

ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the only natural predator of great white sharks, aside from humans?

LITERATURE: Which awardwinning novel is set in Maycomb, Ala bama?

MEDICAL: Which international organization declared monkey pox to be a public health emergency? 10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the only natural predator of great white sharks, aside from humans?

“To Kill a Mockingbird.”

WHO (World Health Organiza tion).

Orcas or killer whales.

2022 King Features Synd., Inc.