Vol. 20: #26 • "Idaho" • (6-23-2024) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
"The
Neatest Little Paper Ever Read"
by Janet Spencer
Thereʼs so much to say about the many unique natural features, historical sites and recreational opportunities that Idaho has to offer, but this week Tidbits focuses on this stateʼs unique geographical features. Follow with us as we take an interesting tour of Idahoʼs many natural wonders!
• Some 14,000 years ago, an enormous highelevation body of water called Lake Bonneville burst through its natural containment barrier and gushed out catastrophically all at once. The phenomenal deluge transformed the topography of the entire western region all the way to the Pacific Ocean.The incredible rush created an enormous crevasse we now call Hells Canyon, which carries a constant flow of water called the Snake River.
• The Snake River is the ninth largest river in the U.S. Of its total length of 1,080 miles, 779 miles are within the border of Idaho, from where it enters in Wyoming to where it exits in Washington. It is Idaho: Turn to page 3
TRIVIA NEWSFRONT
(Answers on page 16)
your body
Melanocytes are the cells in the skin that produce melanin. Melanin gives the skin, hair, and eyes their pigment. An abnormal group of melanocytes is called a mole. The word “melanin” springs from the Greek “melas,” meaning “black.”
1. GEOGRAPHY: Which country’s native name is Cymru?
2. HISTORY: Which country is the first to recognize same-sex marriage?
3. MOVIES: Who voices the character of Frozone in the animated movie “The Incredibles”?
4. FOOD & DRINK: What is the primary ingredient in baba ganoush?
5. LITERATURE: The movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is based on a short story written by which American author?
6. MEASUREMENTS: How many grams are in a pound?
7. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What cultural phenomenon is celebrated on May 4?
8. TELEVISION: Rhoda Morgenstern is a sidekick in which 1970s TV sitcom?
9. SCIENCE: What is the process called when iron is coated with zinc?
10. U.S. STATES: What is the only vowel that is NOT the first letter of a state? Answers
Melanocytes are evenly distributed all over the body, with thousands in every square inch of skin. The palms of the hands and soles of the foot have almost no melanocytes, so moles never appear there.
It’s not known why melanocytes bunch up in clusters called “nests” that form moles. Moles often begin developing even before birth. Those are called congenital moles.
About one out of every hundred babies has moles at birth. Moles that grow later in life are called acquired moles. Nearly everyone has moles, and most people have between ten and 40. Caucasians have the most.
• The more moles you have, the greater your risk of melanoma. For those with pale skin, repeated exposure to the UV rays in sunlight can alter moles, causing an increased risk of malignancy. However, only about one-third of melanomas start as moles.
• It’s important that people notice the moles on their bodies and learn to identify signs of skin cancer. Be familiar with the ABCDEs of moles and see a doctor if any changes appear in the Asymmetry / Borders / Color / Diameter /or “Evolving.”
• In a medical study, white children had an average of 17 moles, whereas non-white children had only 2.5 moles. White adults averaged 61, while non-white adults had 16. Moles also tended to be larger on white skin.
• New moles tend to pop up during periods of hormonal change, particularly during puberty
and pregnancy. Most moles show up in the first 25 years of life.
• When surgically removed by a dermatologist, moles will not recur.
• Though black people don’t get nearly as many moles as whites do, they do acquire spots commonly called “Morgan Freeman moles.” The medical term for these harmless dark growths is “dermatosis papulosa nigra” which is abbreviated as DPN. They generally start as flat freckles and slowly become small bumps over time. Unlike moles, DPN never turn cancerous. About one-third of people of African and Asian descent have these.
• Skin tags are another type of benign skin growth. Unlike moles, which are composed of melanocytes, skin tags are made of skin, fat, fibrous tissues, and blood vessels. They are usually flesh-colored and attached to a stalk (“pedicle”) which protrudes from the skin. Although unsightly, they are harmless.
• Freckles are harmless small brown spots clustered on the skin. Caused by a localized overproduction of melanin, freckles are more common in people with blond or red hair, fair skin, and blue eyes.
• The tendency to have freckles is usually an inherited trait. Freckles become more prominent with exposure to the sun. People with freckles are more susceptible to skin cancer, although the freckles are not the cause.
• Another skin bump is called the cherry angioma. These benign growths commonly crop up in adults after age 30 and are particularly common in adults 75 and over. Caused by a harmless collection of blood vessels, they are red or purple in color.
• Warts are different from moles because they are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts do not become cancerous. Although they can develop at any age, they are more common in children than adults. Warts are contagious and can spread from one part of the body to another and from one person to another.
Wales.
The Netherlands.
Samuel L. Jackson.
Week of June 23, 2024
Idaho: (from page one)
the longest stretch of river within a single state outside Alaska.
• Although Idahoans often boast that their Hells Canyon is North America’s deepest canyon, a closer look shows that to actually be inaccurate. From the Snake River to the top of the tallest peak, Idahoʼs Devil Mountain, is a distance of 7,900 feet. Although that is quite a bit more than the Grand Canyon, which is 5,500 feet from river to rim at the deepest point, Kings Canyon in California’s Sierra Nevada range is even deeper. It actually rises from the level of the Kings River to the top of Spanish Mountain, which towers 8,240 feet above the river.
• Because Shoshone Falls presents an impenetrable barrier for fish navigating up the river, a tremendous number of salmon, trout, and sturgeon collect at the foot of the waterfall to spawn, which historically provided a good source of food for tribes living in the area. The number of fish has since been greatly diminished due to the number of dams on the Snake River.
• At Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument near Hagerman, Idaho, visitors can find a greater variety of preserved species from the Pliocene age than any other place on Earth. There are over 180 animal species here, along with 35 plant species. Eight of the species uncovered here have never been found anywhere else, and another 43 species were found here first.
• The Hagerman horse, similar to an ancient zebra, is Idaho’s state fossil. Archaeologists speculate that this great concentration of animals gathered around a drying lake during a time of extreme drought, dying of dehydration and naturally preserved over the millennia.
• At the Fossil Bowl near Clarkia, well-preserved
NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE
Climate zones are defined by weather patterns, latitude, and habitation of plants and animals. Worldwide, there are 32 different climate zones. Peru has more climate zones than any other place, with 32. Many of the eastern states in the U.S. have only one, most others have two. Idaho has 13 climate zones.
leaves, insects, fish, and flowers have been entombed in soft clay for thousands of years. For a fee of $10, amateur archaeologists can easily pry the layers apart, taking as many ancient fossilized leaves as they care to dig up. Some of them even retain their original brilliant colors until the moment they contact the air and quickly turn black.
• For over a century, Idaho’s Silver Valley in the panhandle near Coeur d’Alene led the world in the production of silver, lead, and zinc. Approximately one billion ounces of silver came out of the region. Today, the honor of the world's leader in silver production goes to Mexico.
• At Lava Hot Springs near Pocatello, the water has been flowing out at 110° F for unknown ages. The waters feed a number of nearby pool complexes, bathhouses, and water parks.
• Along Idahoʼs Thousand Springs Scenic Route, there are literally a thousand springs pouring out of the canyon walls. The water makes its way from an aquifer near Arco, taking about 200 years to travel the 400 mile distance, averaging 10 to 30 feet per day as it flows through subterranean passageways.
The Snake River likely got its name from early European explorers who misunderstood the sign made by the Shoshone people, as they identified themselves in sign language by moving their hands in a swimming motion. Although this appeared to the explorers to indicate a snake, it actually signified that they lived near a river with many fish.
• Big Springs near Island Park pumps out 92,000 gallons of water every minute. The water forms a river called Henry’s Fork, named for fur trapper Andrew Henry who established a trading post here.
• Archaeological excavations at the Wilson Butte Cave near the town of Eden have uncovered artifacts carbon-dated at 12,500 years old, making them among the oldest evidence of human habitation in the New World ever found.
• On October 28, 1983, an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale shook below the Lost River area near Challis. Although it was stronger than the California quakes in 1989 and 1994, it only killed two people because the region is so sparsely inhabited.
• Off U.S. Highway 93 there’s a viewing area where travelers can see the scarp heaved up by the quake. It’s 21 miles long and up to 14 feet high. Mount Borah, the tallest peak in the state, gained two feet in elevation after the quake, now standing at 12,662 feet.
• The town of Island Park sits in the middle of a huge caldera (volcanic basin) that’s 15 miles
Idaho: Turn to page 15
1. How many dams are on Idaho's Snake River?
2. What percentage of Idaho's electricity is generated by Snake River Dams?
onto that cord or cable. Done!
By Lucie Winborne
* In 1865, William E. Brockway printed a counterfeit $100 bill that was so perfect, it left the Treasury Department with the sole option of withdrawing all authentic $100 bills from circulation.
* The official name for Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, which is an abbreviation of its ceremonial name: “Krung Thep Mahanakon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.” Which is why we just call it “Bangkok.”
* Plastic surgery first took place in India around 600 B.C., when it was used with skin from the forehead to reconstruct the noses of criminals that had been amputated as punishment.
* In 1928, the German engineer Herman Sorgel proposed increasing Europe and Africa’s land mass by slowly draining the Mediterranean Sea, via a dam across the Strait of Gibraltar. Unsurprisingly, the idea never made it past the drawing board.
* The word “dunce,” meaning a dull-witted or ignorant person, comes from the name of John Duns Scotus, one of the greatest minds of his time.
* Jean-Baptiste Lully, the first documented conductor, was the first musician to use a baton -- a six-foot-long staff that he pounded on the ground in time to the music. Sadly, he accidentally stuck the staff into his foot during a concert, developing fatal gangrene as a result.
* The quagga, a close relative of the zebra but with stripes only on its head and neck, became the first extinct animal to have its DNA studied, in 1984.
* The 13th of the month is more likely to fall on Friday than on any other day of the week.
***
Thought for the Day: “One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.”
-- Andre Gide
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
Clever Ways to Use This for That to Save Time and Money
Pickle juice.
Whenever eggs go on sale, buy extra and hard-cook them. Then peel and drop them into jars of leftover pickle juice, and keep them in the fridge. The pickled eggs are great shredded into potato salad or casseroles, atop green salad, for quick and tasty egg salad (shredded, with mayonnaise) or even eaten whole as a snack.
Shower curtain.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
Recently as I was halfway out the door, car keys in hand, on the way to the home improvement center, I remembered I might already have what I needed. Cooking spray! That’s it. I’d heard it just might work. It did, and quite perfectly, too. No more squeaks, and I saved a trip and purchase, too.
There must be thousands of ways we can save time and money by finding clever ways to use “this” for “that.” Here are a few to get your creative juices flowing!
Cooking spray.
Got a squeaky door or sticky drawer? Spritz a little cooking spray on the hinges or drawer slides, then work it back and forth to distribute the “lubricant.” Wipe away any drips with a paper towel.
Baby gate.
Use an old baby gate as a drying rack for sweaters or other hand-washables that need to dry flat. Lay it flat side-to-side over the bathtub, adjusting the width of the gate as necessary. Now air circulates well, and that sweater will be dry in no time.
Mayonnaise.
Use mayonnaise to get rid of white water rings on wood furniture. Make sure the area is completely dry, then spread enough full-fat mayonnaise on the spot. Let it sit for several hours, even overnight. Now wipe it clean, and buff with a soft, clean cloth. Magical, isn’t it?
Cardboard drink holders.
If you’re anxious to tidy up a cluttered drawer, repurpose a clean cardboard drink holder to help divide and organize various items like office supplies, makeup, kitchen utensils or smaller clothing items like socks and underwear. Use one of those nifty holders in a drawer or cupboard to segregate cords and cables. How about using them to arrange items in your refrigerator? Or (there’s more!), with a touch of paint and creativity, use it to keep your dresser top neat and tidy. The possibilities just go on and on!
Eyeglasses case.
Don’t toss out that spare eyeglasses case. It can be used to protect your jewelry in your suitcase. Or how about that collection of crochet hooks rolling around in a drawer? They’ll fit nicely into a case. One can also make for a dandy manicure kit, or emergency first aid or sewing kit. Kinda makes you wish you had several cases, doesn’t it? Here’s one more: storage bin for those rascally earbuds.
Bread tabs.
Save those little plastic bread tabs to use as labels to mark various power cords, especially the ones in remote places like behind the entertainment center. Use a permanent marker to write “Printer,” “DVD,” etc. on the tab. Next, slip it
Got an old shower curtain? Even if it’s no longer good enough for its original purpose, there are several ways to extend its useful life: Use it to cover your patio furniture or barbecue next winter. Connect it with bungee cords. Or keep it in the truck of your car as a tarp for roadside emergencies in the event you need to sit on the ground, change a tire, or make a quick underbody repair.
Mesh bag.
A mesh onion bag is perfect for cleaning and storing cookie cutters and other small kitchen utensils. Just load up those dirty items, cinch the bag to close it, then set it on the top dishwasher rack for easy cleaning.
Water spots.
Look for Rain-X in the automotive aisle of your favorite discount store. It’s sold as a product to keep windshields free of water spots and help rain to sheet off windows. It works great on tub and shower walls to keep hard water stains from building up.
Rubber band.
Got an annoying stripped-out screw that you need to remove? Easy! To get a better grip, trap one side of a wide rubber band (use one that you saved from that last bundle of fresh broccoli) between the screwdriver and the screw head. Now give it a try. * * *
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.”
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
Jaywalking was not always a thing. Jaywalking had to be invented. And it may not come as a surprise that it was was invented by the automobile industry.
• Before cars were common, city streets were clogged with horses and carriages, kids playing ball, vendors, ladies chatting, etc. Pedestrians crossed the street wherever they wanted. There were no stoplights, crosswalks, or rules of the road.
• In the 1920s, automobiles became increasingly common. Drivers were tasked with the responsibility of avoiding obstacles in the road, including dogs, carts, streetcars, and kids. Predictably, the number of pedestrians injured or killed by cars increased sharply, with the elderly and children most affected. Blame always fell on the driver, regardless of circumstances. Public outcry against these
MOBILITY SCOOTERS
dangerous vehicles was intense.
• Whenever a traffic accident of any kind ended up in the courts, the judge invariably blamed whatever vehicle was largest. In cases where vehicles killed pedestrians, the driver would generally be charged with manslaughter. Newspapers were full of articles and cartoons demonizing cars.
• Anti-automobile coalitions gathered and joined forces, insisting that rules be passed. The crux was reached in 1923 when 42,000 citizens of Cincinnati, Ohio, signed a petition to put a ballot initiative to the vote requiring that all cars have a governor installed that would limit them to 25 mph.
• This terrified local car dealers, who collectively sprang into action. Letters were sent to every single car owner in the city asking them to vote against the proposal. Advertisements were run in local newspapers. Because of this effort, the measure failed.
• This sparked automobile groups from coast to coast to ban together and join the effort. It was clear that if they didn’t get on top of this situation quickly, it posed a severe threat to the entire auto industry.
• Auto enthusiasts joined forces to create a national publicity campaign to turn the tables, restricting the movement of pedestrians instead of the cars, and requiring accident reports to also include faults on the part of pedestrians.
• Meetings with top government officials resulted in a set of traffic laws that would apply to all cities across the country. In 1928, Los Angeles was the first to implement the Model Municipal Traffic Ordinance which specified, among other things, that pedestrians were allowed to cross the street only at crosswalks and only at right angles but not diagonally. This is still the official law today.
• The next problem lay in convincing not only the populace but also the police to follow these laws. They were rarely enforced, and judges often tossed the cases out of court. So the automobile industry geared up again to apply more pressure at key spots.
• One tactic was to create the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce. This group set up a free wire service for newspapers. Any reporter could send in a form outlining the circumstances of a local incident, and they would receive in return a complete article ready to print. All of these articles shifted blame due to the pedestrian rather than the vehicle: “A young boy was injured after dashing into traffic” instead of “Another vehicle struck and injured a young boy.” These articles underscored the fact that it was often the pedestrian’s fault, not the driver’s.
• School safety campaigns and poster contests
taught the lesson at a young age. Even the name of the infraction: “jaywalking” was chosen for maximum impact. Back then, the word “jay” referred to a country bumpkin– someone unschooled in the wise ways of a city slicker.
• The campaign worked. Cars successfully took ownership of the streets of the nation, now forcing pedestrians to observe and obey the marked sidewalks and crosswalks.
by Dana Jackson
Q: Now that Katy Perry is leaving “American Idol” as a judge, who will take her place? -- N.N.
A: Singer Katy Perry recently announced that she was leaving “American Idol” as a judge after seven seasons to focus on her own music career. She says that the show opened her heart and has given her an education that she couldn’t have found anywhere else.
Judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan are reportedly staying put for now, but the guesses are already rolling in regarding Perry’s replacement.
One superstar who won’t be taking the job is Kelly Clarkson. Known as the winner of the competition’s first season, Clarkson lives in New York and now hosts her own daytime talk show. In an interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” she said she had to quit as a judge on “The Voice” because the show films in Los Angeles. Clarkson wants to spend more time with her kids, and “Idol” would take her away from New York and her children. ***
Q: Do you know if there is going to be a season two of “Tulsa King” on Paramount+?
-- J.S.
A: “Tulsa King,” starring Sylvester Stallone as a mafia capo newly released from prison, was a huge hit for Paramount+; therefore, it was quickly renewed for a second season. While the setting of the show isn’t changing, production of
the show has moved from Tulsa to Atlanta, which probably isn’t surprising after Stallone tweeted two hot summers ago that being in Oklahoma has definitely prepared him for a lifetime in hell if he ever got sent there.
According to Deadline.com, joining the cast in the upcoming season are Rich Ting (“Warrior”) as Jackie Ming, a quiet but ruthless man with his own ambitions in Tulsa. The charismatic Neal McDonough (“Suits”) will play Cal Thresher, a powerful and extremely territorial businessman.
The show was created by Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind the smash-hit series “Yellowstone” and its spin-offs.
There’s talk that “Tulsa” could also spawn a spin-off someday if it continues its upward trajectory of success. Paramount’s Tanya Giles said, “The huge success we’ve had with ‘Tulsa King’ and Sylvester Stallone opens up possibilities with Taylor Sheridan. ... His mind works in terms of universes and backstories, so I think there’s always a possibility that there’s more to that universe and more to that story.”
With production on season two currently in progress, expect to see the new episodes premiering on Paramount+ as early as the fall or as late as the beginning of 2025. In the meantime, non-subscribers will be able to watch the first season on CBS later this summer. ***
Q: Have they released the Emmy nominations yet? Isn’t the ceremony usually in September? -- G.S.
A: The Primetime Emmy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, Sept. 15, this year. The lucky and talented nominees will be announced on Wednesday, July 17. A host hasn’t been announced yet, but Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”) was behind the mic last time. Be sure to visit www.Emmys.com for the latest news.
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
CLIP AND SAVE
Katy Perry Singer and television personality
Depositphotos
Classic Barbecued Chicken
No outdoor party, barbecue or family cookout would be complete without a platter of classic barbecued chicken on the table. This easy recipe serves 4.
1/2 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Salt Pepper
1 cut-up chicken (8 pieces)
1. In 3-quart saucepan, combine tomato paste, water, brown sugar, molasses, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, crushed red pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper; stir until well-combined.
2. Heat to boiling on high, then lower heat to maintain steady simmer. Cook 30 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
3. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground black pepper all over chicken. Place on grill, skin side down. Cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes or until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with tip of knife, turning over once. (Smaller pieces will cook more quickly.) 4. Immediately after chicken is cooked, transfer to a large bowl and toss with sauce until evenly coated.
Strawberries in White Wine
Make this simple Italian treat with perfectly ripe, fragrant fruit.
1/3 cup dry white wine, such as riesling or sauvignon blanc
2 tablespoons sugar 1 pint ripened strawberries, hulled and cut in half
In small bowl, stir wine and sugar together until sugar has dissolved. Divide strawberries among four goblets. Pour wine mixture over fruit.
* Each serving: About 61 calories, 0g total fat (0 g saturated), 0g protein, 12g carbohydrate,
Peaches in Red Wine
Prepare as directed but substitute 1/3 cup red wine for white wine and 2 cups sliced, peeled peaches (3 to 4 peaches) for strawberries. Makes 4 servings.
* Each serving: About 75 calories, 0g total fat (0g saturated), 1g protein, 16g carbohydrate, 0mg cholesterol, 1mg sodium.
For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping. com/recipes/.
NEXT WEEK in TIDBITS CELEBRATES
6/23 Just Let It Go Day
6/24 Celebration of the Senses Day
6/25 Take Your Dog to Work Day
6/26 Look Up Your Genealogy Day
6/27 Decide To Be Married Day
6/28 Lightning Safety Day
6/29 Bike Naked Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Benji and the Bickersons
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Benji, a 1-year-old German shepherd pup. Rarely do I meet a dog I don’t like, but shepherds hold a special place in my heart. We have two in the family right now.
The German shepherd is smart, sensitive and strong, equal parts soldier and sidekick, as comfortable in a police car as he is in a nursery. The American Kennel Club describes this marvelous breed as follows: “Energetic and fun-loving, the breed is very fond of children once a relationship is established. He is a loyal family pet and a good guard dog, the ideal choice for many families.”
Loyal and protective -- desirable qualities in any family dog. But what happens when family members disagree on how to nurture these attributes?
Meet the Bickersons.
Mama Bickerson wants a family dog, a fun, friendly companion she can walk through their neighborhood, sit with at a cafe and play with in the park.
Papa Bickerson wants a guard dog who will intimidate potential intruders and take down those who persist.
While these two wants are not mutually exclusive, attitude, as Winston Churchill said, “is a little thing that makes a big difference.”
Mama Bickerson’s attitude is loose and loving -- and utterly lacking in boundaries. While it’s neither appropriate nor effective to lay down the law too soon with a pup, Benji is now 1, which is plenty old enough to have a solid foundational education under his collar.
“There are only so many big box stores around here,” said an acquaintance as we sat around chatting with our group. The topic was finances and how seniors are scrambling to stay afloat (and stay fed). Hence the interest in taking on a part-time job, possibly as a door greeter somewhere. “It’s not like we’re suitable for stocking shelves,” she said. And we all nodded.
A recent AARP survey said that 70% of us are concerned about prices going up faster than our income. If there’s one thing we’re all getting good at, it’s math. Calculation of dollars in and dollars out are second nature now, and figuring out how many sandwiches can be made from various loaves of bread is easy math.
One of the group shared the result of the most recent survey of consumer finances by the Federal Reserve Board: The average 70-yearold senior has $60,000 tucked away in checking and savings accounts. We laughed, but in a sad
The Art of DESIGN
by Joseph Publillones
Tile
Since before the birth of Christ, tiles have existed throughout the Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa. Ceramic techniques and traditional motifs have been carried throughout the world. Stone, marble and glass mosaics and tile were featured decorations in most of the buildings of the Roman Empire and the Mozarabic culture. Many of these designs are protected and preserved for their majestic beauty. Some of these designs are so iconic that they are still reproduced today.
Kitchen areas, bathrooms, showers and backsplashes are places where we are accustomed to using tile, but don’t overlook other areas where it can be used. Why not tile a bedroom wall to give a more architectural backdrop to an interesting bed, or perhaps use tile to line a room from chair-rail height to the floor, the way that traditional Spaniards and Portuguese did?
way as we contemplated actually having that much cash to rely on.
But we weren’t laughing when one of the group shared that her landlord is trying to increase her monthly rent by $300.
I did a poll of our little group, with the question being: How do we survive this constant rise in prices of everything?
The answers were varied. If you have a job and are thinking of retiring, keep working. Pay off all debts while you still have income, especially credit cards and cars.
If you’ve already retired, sign up for every assistance program you can, including help with utilities and rent. Use the food bank or Meals on Wheels; call about community meals at churches or SNAP benefits. Look into drug discounts, perhaps at GoodRx.
But the biggest suggestion was this: Try not to take Social Security until your full retirement age, but first do the math to see if it would be more practical to start it now.
* * *
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
types and sizes of tiles. There are ceramic, porcelain, resin, cement, stone, cork, aluminum and even wood tiles. There are also limited-edition tiles that designers custom-design and produce for specific projects or for brands. Artisanal tiles are also available from smaller producers that can be customized to fit your particular design project. Getting any ideas yet?
Tile can also be used to lighten up dark rooms. Selecting tile that has a glossy finish will help bounce light into a room and make a room seem brighter. Using a muted or matte tile will not offer that benefit, but it is appropriate where light is abundant.
Tiles are not only suitable for kitchen and bathroom walls. In fact, they can be used to line an entry wall or a significant structural or architectural feature of a home or building. Remembering recent history, banks and office buildings in the 1970s and 1980s used rough-cut stone tile to give long spans of walls visual interest. Today, that concept of textured surfaces has reemerged into contemporary residential architecture as a way of introducing an integrated design component. It’s something different from lighter applications such as wallpaper or faux finishes.
Today’s marketplace is full of a variety of
Before the marble and granite craze, tile reigned kitchen countertops. Since the history of kitchens, tiles were the preferred material for countertops. Anyone that has a home from the 1890s through the 1950s is familiar with tiled countertops. This was the norm. They are very long-lasting surfaces; some are still being used today. Many homeowners are concerned about the grout lines and the fact that they are not as hygienic as the new slab materials. While this is somewhat of a matter of opinion, tile countertops do require maintenance in regrouting and sealing the grout to make sure the surface is impervious to bacteria and grime. Some tile manufacturers are even combining today’s biotechnology to produce tile that is antibacterial.
Don’t roll your eyes! Tiles are making a comeback as homeowner’s look to individualize their homes from what is being done elsewhere. Todays’ choices in tile make it much easier. So, in your next renovation project, give tile a chance. Its history is eternal.
Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com.
Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
hand, is rigid and self-righteous and flat-out wrong. In his efforts to evoke the protective nature of his pup, he confuses protection with aggression and encourages the latter. He refuses to neuter Benji and takes games of tug-of-war to an extreme, pushing Benji to a growling, snarling state no dog should ever reach.
The proof is in the pudding. Benji now lunges at other dogs at the vet’s office, and Mama no longer feels comfortable walking him in their neighborhood. In short, Benji is aggressive.
Thankfully, Benji is also young and smart, and it’s not too late to turn things around. But the first thing to turn has got to be the ‘tude -- the ‘tude about training and the ‘tude about the neut. This little shep needs to be neutered -- yesterday.
Once that’s taken care of, he needs to be professionally trained -- and you can’t train for protection without first training for obedience. Obedience training is the foundation for good canine citizenship and a steppingstone to advanced learning. Police dogs, therapy dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, agility masters, competitive show dogs, hunting dogs -- they all got their start in basic obedience.
The good news for Benji and the Bickersons: The path to fostering an exceptional family dog is exactly the same.
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.
COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Don’t Fret Over Social Security Starting Date
I am always hearing from readers who are hung up on making sure they start their Social Security benefits at precisely their full retirement age. Or at precisely the age of 70. They don’t want those benefits a month before. They don’t want them a month after. They want to make darn sure that their benefits start at exactly the month they chose as their Social Security starting date. And they almost seem to be losing sleep making sure this is going to happen. They send me emails asking me, almost begging me, to help them make sure they select the right date.
I always want to tell these guys (and it always seems to be guys) to chill out. Don’t worry. Be happy! You will probably pick the right date. But even if you don’t, guess what? The Earth will keep spinning and the sun will come up tomorrow. And you will not be making a huge mistake that will affect your benefits for the rest of your life. I will explain what I am talking about in a minute.
But first, let me go over the ground rules. They are really simple. If you want benefits to begin at your full retirement age, then on your Social Security retirement application, you simply indicate the month you reach your FRA as your starting month. So, if your full retirement age is age 66 and 8 months, and you will be age 66 and 8 months in September 2024, then you simply indicate September as your starting month. That’s it!
But some people overthink this. For example, they know that Social Security checks come one month behind. In other words, the September 2024 Social Security check is paid in October. So, if a guy turns FRA in September, he thinks too hard and he puts October as his starting month. But the Social Security application question isn’t asking you which month you want your check to show up in your bank account; it’s asking you which is the first month you want to be eligible for a Social Security check.
One little bit of clarification: Social Security eligibility always goes by month, not by days. For example, if you were born on Jan. 21, 1958 -- meaning your full retirement age is 66 and 8 months, and that’s when you want your benefits to begin -you don’t indicate Sept. 21, 2024, as your eligibility date. You simply indicate September 2024.
Some guys have told me that they are afraid to file for benefits early, because they are worried sick they will get benefits before their full retirement age. For example, Bob and I recently exchanged several emails. He was born Jan. 14, 1958. His full retirement age is 66 and 8 months. And he wants to make sure his benefits begin at his FRA, which would be September 2024. He asked me when he could file for benefits. I told him he could start the ball rolling next month, in July. But he doesn’t want to do that because he is worried they will use July as his starting date. I told him that assuming he indicates September as his starting date on the application, that is when his benefits will start. But he wrote back to say he was just so concerned about getting benefits on the wrong date that he was going to wait until September to apply.
I then sent him a return email with my “the
sun will come out tomorrow” message. In other words, even in the extremely unlikely event that his benefit start date ends up being July, the world won’t end, and his benefits won’t be affected all that much.
Let’s say Bob’s September full retirement age benefit rate is $3,200. If through some fluke, his benefits started two months earlier, he’d get a slightly reduced benefit. Benefits are reduced about 0.5% for each month they are started early. That comes out to a 1% reduction for Bob. So instead of $3,200 per month, he’d get $32 less per month, or $3,168. That’s the downside. He’d get $32 less each month. But on the upside, he’d get two extra Social Security checks at $3,168 each, or $6,336. Bob would have to live 198 months, or more than 16 years, before he came out on the losing end of the Social Security stick with that slightly earlier starting date.
Bob was a bit relieved by that point I made. But then he told me he had another concern: his wife. She has a lower Social Security benefit on her own record, and assuming Bob dies first, she will get widow’s benefits on his record. And he said he wants her to get as much money as possible. So, if Bob ends up with $32 less per month in retirement benefits, then his wife’s widow’s benefit would be $32 less per month, too.
I told Bob that if making sure his wife gets the highest widow’s benefit possible was his primary concern, he should consider waiting until 70 to file for Social Security. He would get almost four years’ worth of delayed retirement credits added to his benefit rate, and his wife would also get that extra money in the form of widow’s benefits. Bob told me he considered that, but he and his wife decided he should not give up all the benefits he’d get between now and age 70.
And here is a message for those who plan to wait until 70 to file: Social Security claims filed after full retirement age come with an option of taking up to six months in retroactive benefits. So, let’s say
1. The book of Bethel is found in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither
2. Moses and Aaron were instructed by God to sacrifice what color of heifer without blemish? a) Red b) Black c) White d) Tan
3. Which book begins, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God:" a) Romans b) Acts c) Ephesians d) 2 Timothy
4. What Old Testament woman was buried in a cave in the field of Machpelah? a) Eve b) Ruth c) Esther d) Sarah
5. How many righteous people did Sodom need to keep God from destroying the city? a) Three b) Ten c) Twelve d) Twenty
6. What did Jesus warn Nichodemus he must first do to enter the Kingdom of God? a) Repent b) Be born again c) Tithe d) Love others as himself
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
you reach 70 in August 2024. When you file, you could say you want your benefits to start in August, or you could elect to take the six months in retroactive benefits. In other words, your Social Security start date would then be February 2024. If you like the idea of a big retroactive check, then go for it, but your ongoing benefit rate will be about 4% less.
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 Easy-to-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. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. 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.
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
Can Sciatica Be Relieved Through Steriod Shots?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am wondering what the best treatment is for sciatic pain. Would a steroid shot help? The pain is behind my knee, down the outside of my leg, and now on my foot. -- J.F.
ANSWER: “Sciatica” is a general term for a process that compresses the nerve roots, which causes symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, and a loss of reflexes. The sciatic nerve supplies much of the innervation to the leg. The area that you describe is most likely the first sacral nerve (S1), and pain here is most frequently caused by disc herniation at the L5-S1 space. This can cause acute symptoms that are often quite severe.
Initial treatment is usually conservative, consisting of anti-inflammatories and avoiding activities that worsen pain. While bed rest was sometimes prescribed, it is seldom necessary for more than a day or two, and many people actually feel better when they are up and about. After a week, most people are able to do light activity, and I tell my patients neither to push themselves to do more than they can, nor force themselves to rest if they feel OK with light activity.
Steroids have certainly been used in this situation, and they are injected into the epidural space by an expert who uses imaging. Although there is a slight improvement in pain around three months among those who are treated with epidural steroids, there was no longer a benefit found around six months. This means that you get better only a little faster than normal at the cost of a small risk from the injection.
If a person isn’t recovering well within a few weeks, I often refer them to physical therapy. If they aren’t getting benefit at all (or they are getting worse), then it is time to find out what the cause is with an MRI and a referral to an expert. ***
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently read some comments stating there are studies indicating that metoprolol can cause Raynaud’s. I have been taking 25 mg of metoprolol daily (to control palpitations, not for high blood pressure) for about eight years, and last year, I was diagnosed with Raynaud’s. Are these comments accurate? I do not have any known autoimmune diseases that would indicate secondary Raynaud’s. -- H.B
ANSWER: Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is an accentuated physiological response to cold. When the known diseases that cause RP aren’t found, we call it primary RP.
Drugs that constrict blood vessels can
certainly precipitate RP. Decongestants, amphetamines, some cancer chemotherapy drugs, and cocaine are more likely on the list than beta blockers like metoprolol. But what you read is correct. Metoprolol, even at the low dose you take, can sometimes cause RP. However, it’s also possible that you just have primary RP and metoprolol has nothing to do with it.
It’s worth rethinking whether you need metoprolol. Palpitations can happen in healthy people without any pathological heart issues. If you have a known reason for the palpitations, ask your cardiologist (or whomever is prescribing the metoprolol) whether it would be possible for you to take a calcium blocker. Some calciumchannel blockers are vasodilators and are the first-line treatment for primary RP.
Unfortunately, calcium blockers with antiarrythmic properties are not effective with RP, so it’s possible that you may need both.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to ianswer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Accessible Mental Health Care
Veterans no longer have to pay the copays for the first three outpatient visits for mental health and substance use disorder care during each calendar year ... until the end of 2027. If any copays were paid going back to June 27, 2023, those costs will be reimbursed automatically.
There is a rule however: The outpatient appointment has to be with a mental health professional at the VA or someone in the VA’s approved network of community providers.
For new patients at the VA, the waiting times for appointments have decreased over the past year with primary care falling 11% percent and mental health visit wait times coming down 7%. That’s quite an accomplishment, since last year the VA provided over 116 million health care visits, which was 3 million more than the previous highest year. At the same time, over 400,000 veterans enrolled in health care in the past year, and the Crisis Line fielded over 1 million calls, up 15% over the previous year.
An important note: Any veteran in acute suicidal crisis can go to any health care facility for emergency care, whether it’s a VA or non-VA facility. This rule has been in place since Jan. 17, 2023, but too many don’t know about this option. The veteran is eligible for up to 30 days of inpatient care or up to 90 days of outpatient care. Being signed up in the VA health care system is not required, and there is no cost to the veteran, including for ambulance transportation.
There are a couple of rules to make sure the VA ends up paying for this care. The facility must be an emergency department at a full medical facility like a hospital. An urgent care facility doesn’t count. The VA must be notified within 72 hours. Ideally, it’s the facility that will call VA at 844724-7842, but a friend or relative can call as well.
See www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/providers/info-EmergencyCare.asp for more informattion.
* * *
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.
(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
M.D.
-- by Jim Miller
Can You Stop and Restart Social Security Benefits?
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Can I stop my Social Security retirement benefits and restart them later to get a bigger payment? I recently got a nice unexpected inheritance, so don’t need the money from Social Security right now. If possible, I would like to suspend my benefits and restart them at age 70. Is this possible? -- Do-over Dan
Dear Dan: Yes, it is. There are actually two different strategies that allow Social Security beneficiaries to undo their claiming decision. But to be eligible, there are certain conditions you’ll have to meet. Here’s what you should know:
Withdrawal Benefits
If you are in your first year of collecting retirement benefits, you can apply to Social Security for a “withdrawal of benefits.” Social Secu-
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
rity will let you withdraw your original application for retirement benefits, but it must be within 12 months of the date you first claimed your benefits.
If you opt for a withdrawal, Social Security will treat it as if you never applied for benefits in the first place. But there’s a catch. You’ll have to repay every dollar you’ve received, including those of any family members who have been collecting benefits on your earnings record, such as a spouse or minor child, along with any money that was withheld from your Social Security payments – for example, to pay your Medicare premiums.
You can only withdraw your application for Social Security benefits once, but you can apply for benefits again later when the monthly amount would be larger.
To withdrawal your benefits, fill out Social Security form SSA-521 (see ssa.gov/forms/ssa521.pdf) and send the completed form to your local Social Security office.
If you change your mind, you have 60 days from the date Social Security approves your withdrawal to cancel the request.
Suspend Benefits
If, however, you miss the 12-month window, or if repaying your Social Security benefits is not financially feasible, there is another doover option, but you’ll need to be full retirement age or older to be eligible.
Full retirement age is 66 and 6 months for those born in 1957, but it rises in two-month increments every birth year to age 67 for those born in 1960 and later. You can find your full retirement age at SSA.gov/benefits/retirement/ planner/ageincrease.html.
At that point, you can “suspend” your Social Security benefit and the good news is you don’t have to repay anything. But the bad news is your monthly Social Security benefits stop and so do those of any dependent family members (except a divorced spouse).
During the suspension, you will also accrue delayed retirement credits, which will increase your monthly retirement benefit by twothirds of 1 percent for each suspended month (or 8 percent for each suspended year) up until age 70.
Suspended benefits would automatically resume at 70, or you could choose to resume Social Security benefits earlier, but you’d only receive delayed retirement credits for the period when benefits were suspended.
You can request a Social Security suspension over the phone (800-722-1213), in writing or in person at your local Social Security office. The suspension would begin the month after you make the request.
Also note that if you’re enrolled in Medicare, there’s another consequence of withdrawing or suspending your benefits.
Normally, Medicare Part B premiums ($174.70 per month in 2024 for most beneficiaries) are deducted directly from monthly Social Security payments.
If you withdrawal or suspend your benefits and you’re enrolled in Medicare Part B, you’ll start receiving a quarterly bill from Medicare. You’ll have the option of paying electronically or by mail. Or you can sign up for Medicare’s Easy Pay, which automatically deducts your premium payments from your savings or checking account each month.
* * *
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.
ANTIQUE
JUNQUE
by Anne McCollam
by Anne McCollam
Victorian-Era Side Chair
Q: This is a photo of my grandmother’s chair. She made the needlepoint cover on the seat. Both the needlepoint and chair are in excellent condition.
Anything you can tell me about the style, age and value of the chair will be appreciated.
A: You have a late Victorian side chair. The demi arms, round seat, reeded and slightly splayed/fanned styles, turned legs and stretchers represent furniture design popular around 1870. The demi arms were made to accommodate bustles, and the round seats were caned or decorated with a cushion and needlepoint.
Your chair was factory-made and constructed of several different types of wood.
Similar side chairs can be found selling in the range of $125 to $175. * * *
Q: Helping my mother sort through my grandmother’s things, we found a pair of pottery planters. They are shaped like a rooster and a hen and decorated with multicolored feathers in a high-gloss finish. The rooster is over 7 inches tall, and the hen is about 6 inches tall. They are both in perfect condition, and each has a label with the words “Royal
Copley.”
Are our chickens “Antique or Junque?”
A: None of the above. Your planters are not old enough to be antiques; nonetheless, they are not junque. They are somewhere in between, but still in the collectible category. Royal Copley pottery was produced by Spaulding China Company, located in Sebring, Ohio, from 1942 to 1957.
Your set of planters would probably be worth $50 to $75.
* * *
Q: I have enclosed the mark that is on the back of a porcelain cake plate I inherited. The plate is decorated with pastel flowers against a white background and trimmed in gold. It measures approximately 10 inches in diameter and is in perfect condition. Included with the mark are the words “Wild Rose -- E & R -- Est. 1886.”
I plan to pass my plate on to my daughter and would like to learn more about the maker, vintage and value.
A: Carl Schumann Porcelain factory made your cake plate. They have made porcelain in Arzburg, Bavaria, Germany, since 1881. The letters “E & R” stand for Ebeling & Reuss Company. They were an importing firm located in Philadelphia that has imported porcelain from Europe since 1866. “Wild Rose” is the name of the pattern. Your cake plate was made around 1918 and would probably be worth $35 to $60.
Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has since 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 June 24, 2005, actor Tom Cruise rattled and debated with interviewer Matt Lauer, host of NBC’s morning talk show “Today,” with his criticism of antidepressant medications and psychiatric therapy, calling psychiatry a “pseudoscience.”
* On June 25, 1988, teenaged Debbie Gibson’s song “Foolish Beat” reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100, making her the youngest person ever to write, produce and perform her own No. 1 pop single.
* On June 26, 1993, President Bill Clinton ordered U.S. warships to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles at Iraqi intelligence headquarters in downtown Baghdad, in retaliation for an Iraqi plot to assassinate former President George H.W. Bush during his April visit to Kuwait.
* On June 27, 1939, one of cinema’s most famous scenes was recorded when Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara parted for the last time in “Gone With the Wind.” Director Victor Fleming also shot the scene using an alternate line -- “Frankly, my dear, I just don’t care” -- in case film censors objected to the word “damn.” They did, fining producer David O. Selznick $5,000 for including the curse even though they approved the movie.
* On June 28, 1919, Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles with the Allies, officially ending World War I. English economist John Maynard Keynes, who attended the peace conference but left in protest of the treaty, predicted that strict terms imposed on Germany would lead to its financial collapse.
* On June 29, 1776, Edward Rutledge, one of South Carolina’s representatives to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, wrote a letter to New York Rep. John Jay expressing his anxiety over whether moderates like the two of them could “effectually oppose” a resolution for independence. Jay had business elsewhere and was unable to attend the Congress.
* On June 30, 1934, in Germany, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler ordered a bloody purge of his own political party, assassinating hundreds of Nazis whom he believed had the potential to become future political enemies.
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
What would you call actress Tomlin if her home were on a narrow side road? Lily of the alley.
"l realize your new position as network administrator gives you a feeling of power, Higgins, but you've taken it over the top."
This side chair was made in the late Victorian era.
Carl Schumann Porcelain Factory has made porcelain since 1881.
Idaho: from page 3
wide. Experts estimate the volcano here erupted continuously for thousands of years before ultimately collapsing to the flat area that now exists.
• Craters of the Moon National Monument in Southern Idaho showcases the results of lava flows formed by a series of eight volcanic events that occurred in spurts between 15,000 and 2,100 years ago. Much of the lava here oozed through cracks in the surface, called fissure eruptions.
• There are also 25 different cinder cones throughout the region. At Hell’s Half Acre Lava Field, visitors can walk through lava tubes formed when flows of lava cooled and solidified on the outside while the hot magma inside continued to flow, leaving huge empty lava caves behind.
• The size of this national monument – 1,100 square miles – is nearly equal to the size of the state of Rhode Island. The area is so rugged that astronauts trained here to practice for moon landings. There are places where trees, incinerated by the heat of the lava, left perfectly formed molds behind.
• The opal mines in Clark County are the only place in North America where opals are present in large enough numbers to make commercial mining worthwhile.
• The trees at Roosevelt Grove of Ancient Cedars are around 2,000 years old.
• The Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness is the largest designated wilderness area in the lower 48 states.
• The Spiral Highway north of Lewiston climbs up in a series of 64 switchbacks, gaining nearly 2,000 feet in elevation in 7.3 miles. From the time it was completed in 1917 until Highway 95 bypassed it in 1979, it was the only road going north out of Lewiston.
by Jason Jenkins
Bernhard Langer has created a Senior Tour career that few would have envisioned after witnessing his PGA Tour days. Putting yips were sure to keep him from winning, yet with the long putter working successfully, Langer has relied upon his swing to elevate his game to one of the best senior champions ever.
Langer’s strong grip and “two part” backswing are truly his secrets of success. By two parts, we mean that as his body turned in the backswing, his arms would create a lifting action that would raise his hands high above his right shoulder. Many golfers glue those two actions together: body turns as arms swing around, or arms lift as body slides.
In the first half of the backswing Imagine the body turning as the arms go along for the ride. Then midway through, feel the arms lifting upward as you attempt to swing the club high above the right shoulder. Perhaps you elongated your successful playing days like Langer.
