Vol. 21: #2 • DONUTS • (1-5-2025) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
first take a hole and then wrap some dough around it. But kidding aside, our regular doses of donuts puts them in high demand, and donut production is big business. So follow along with us as we search out some facts about these circular sweets and how they became such scrumptious snacks!
WHODONUT?
• Donuts, or items similar to donuts, have actually been part of the human diet for centuries. It’s claimed that a sailor from Maine named Hanson Gregory invented the hole in the donut in 1847 when he stuck his cake onto the spoke of the ship’s wheel during a storm. There’s even a plaque in his honor. However, it has long been known that removing the middle of a fried cake would make the center crispier and less soggy.
• A petrified donut was found under layers of ash in the ruins of Pompeii. Another ossified donut was found in a cave in Oklahoma, made by an unknown prehistoric tribe. A painting created in 1627 shows
TRIVIA NEWSFRONT
(Answers on page 16)
1. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of cake is named after a British queen?
2. TELEVISION: What is the name of the family dog on “The Simpsons”?
3. ANATOMY: How long does a human red blood cell exist?
4. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Where is New Year’s celebrated first each year?
5. ADVERTISING: Which company sponsors a 13-foot-long Weinermobile?
6. MEASUREMENTS: How many pints are in a quart?
7. MOVIES: What is the name of the dance performed in the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”?
8. BIOLOGY: What does the term ectothermic mean?
9. GEOGRAPHY: Which country has the longest coastline in the world?
10. LITERATURE: Who is the author of “The Canterbury Tales”? Answers
1. Victoria Sponge Cake.
Santa’s Little Helper. 3. About 120 days.
• The 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series is an annual event consisting of four separate 155-mile (250 km) marathon footraces, each taking place in a different desert around the world. It’s been recognized as the world’s ultimate endurance test.
• The four segments start with the “Gobi March” in the Gobi Desert, which straddles the border between Mongolia and China. Next is the “Atacama Crossing” in the Atacama Desert of Chile in South America. The third leg is the “Namib Race” in Namibia, Africa. The grand finale is “The Last Desert” located in Antarctica.
• These locations are four of the world’s biggest and most forbidding deserts. Runners must endure the cruel effects of the driest, hottest, coldest, and windiest places on the planet, in a grueling test that stretches them to their physical and mental limits.
• This ultramarathon started with the first Gobi race in 2003. A new leg of the race was added each year after that. The first time all four races were held in a single year was 2006, and the tradition continues today.
• Typically runners from about 40 different countries are present for each race, giving participants a chance to meet their competitors from many different regions of the world.
• So far, over 70 races have been held, featuring over 10,000 runners representing over a hundred countries. Both men and women are allowed to participate in this race.
• Runners are welcome to enter as many of the four competitions as they want. However, anyone who wants to compete in the Antarctica challenge is required to have successfully completed at least two of the previous races.
• Any contestant who completes all four earns the distinguished honor of becoming a member of the “4 Deserts Club.” Anyone who completes all four races in the same year becomes a member of the exclusive “4 Desert Grand Slam Club.”
• Each 155-mile (250 km) race takes place over a seven-day period. A campsite is erected every night, offering runners a place to sleep, hot water
for washing, a campfire, medical care if needed, and an internet connection. Between camps, runners follow flags that mark the way, passing through periodic checkpoints along the route where water and medical care are available.
• Other than these comforts, each person is responsible for carrying their own supplies, including their own food and equipment. In addition, they are given a list of mandatory survival supplies they must carry at all times.
• The race begins at the appointed time each day. Runners must reach the end of that day’s course within a set time in order to qualify them to continue. Every person’s run time is recorded daily and totaled at the finish line to determine the winner. Collective finish times over the seven-days range between 25 and 70 hours.
• The winner is awarded one point; the secondplace finisher gets two points; the third-place winner receives three points, and so forth. After completing all four races, the goal is to achieve the lowest possible score.
• In 2010, South African runner Ryan Sandes did the impossible, winning each of the four legs of the race. He had a total score of 4, the lowest score possible. He is the sole runner to have received this honor. At the time, only 81 people had completed all four marathons, and only 11 had completed them in the same calendar year.
• The races were recognized as the world's leading endurance footrace series by TIME magazine in 2009 and 2010, as the "Ultimate test of human endurance"
• Each race also acts as a fundraiser, with a portion of the money raised going towards a local charity.
a donut among other items of food along with various household objects.
CROSSING THE POND
• The American donut experience began with a Dutch immigrant in New York City. Anna Joralemon opened her donut shop in the year 1673, long before America was even a unified nation. She is credited with bringing donuts to our land, though claims that she “invented” donuts are not accurate.
• At the 1934 World’s Fair in Chicago, the display showing donuts being turned out by an automated machine was a big attraction. During the Great Depression, donuts were a sweet treat that nearly everyone could afford. A dozen could be bought for five cents.
remains dry, with just a quick dunk. FINAL FACTS
Donuts: (from page one) Donuts: Turn to page 15
• During WWI and WWII, ladies working as volunteers for the Salvation Army set up “soup kitchen” type outlets near the front lines to serve soldiers in battle. Instead of serving soup, however, they served hot sweet donuts, giving war-weary Americans both an energy and a morale boost. When the war ended, men returning home clamored for donuts, contributing to their burgeoning popularity. Today, the Salvation Army continues to give out the Golden Doughnut Award to honor citizens who exemplify the good works of the Salvation Army.
• In 1920, the first successful donut-making machine was invented after a dozen unsuccessful models. The creator, a Russian immigrant named Adolph Levitt, dubbed the all-in-one contraption “the Wonderful Almost Human Automatic Donut Machine.” Ingredients went in one end, and donuts came out the other. Crowds assembled in front of Levitt’s New York bakery storefront to watch the spectacle. He sold 128 of his machines in the first year. This was just the beginning of Levitt’s donut empire. He sold thousands of the machines to corner cafes, roadside eateries, and local bakeries worldwide.
• It was Levitt who first made a concerted effort to change the spelling from “doughnut” to “donut.” Many of his customers were not proficient in English and had trouble pronouncing “dough.” Dunkin’ Donuts adopted the simpler spelling for their nationwide chain of franchises. Today, both spellings are considered correct.
• Dunking donuts in coffee or milk came about as a result of a dining flub. 1930s Hollywood starlet Mae Murray accidentally dropped a piece of her donut into her coffee while dining out at an upscale New York eatery. In classic savoir faire fashion and not wanting her to feel embarrassed, her companion dropped his into his cup as well. They both casually scooped them out with their spoons and continued eating them.
• Clark Gable made dunking fashionable in a scene in Frank Capra’s 1934 movie “It Happened One Night” in which he patiently instructs actress Claudette Colbert on how to properly dunk her donut in a cup of coffee.
• At one time, the Dunkin’ Donuts chain offered a donut shaped like a Q, with a “handle” meant to facilitate dunking. It was discontinued because it had to be hand-cut and people tended to dunk the handle first.
WEIRD DONUTS
• Dolicious Donuts, a bakery in Canada, was once known for some of the world’s most expensive donuts. The “Donutopia” was glazed with chocolate-balsamic vinegar icing, sprinkled with real gold flakes and sugar crystals shaped like diamonds, and filled with wine-infused cream. Even the water used to craft it, called Bling H2O, cost $39 per bottle. The donuts sold for $100 each and proceeds were “donutted” to a local soup kitchen. Unfortunately, the bakery is now defunct.
A Krispy Kreme donut store in Brittain gained some unwanted publicity when it advertised a new weekly children's program called "Krispy Kreme Klub Wednesday," shortened to "KKK Wednesday". After a flood of complaints, an apology was issued and the nickname discarded.
• Voodoo Doughnut in in Portland, Oregon, used to sell donuts reputed to be glazed in NyQuil and others stuffed with Tums and Pepto-Bismol, until local health officials stepped in. They also made the “Tex-Ass,” which weighed a halfpound, equal to six regular donuts. It was free if you could eat the whole thing within 80 seconds. However, when a man choked to death in his attempt, the donut was quickly discontinued.
• In a typical donut shop, it takes 55 minutes to create a donut from start to finish. It must fry for 85 seconds in hot grease, and then cool.
• When it comes to dunking, a donut made of finely ground flour will hold more liquid than a donut made of course flour and will be less likely to break. Tip it in at an angle so the top
• Donuts are between 15 and 25% fat. Cake donuts are 15% sugar, while raised yeast donuts are only 3% sugar. The calorie count ranges from 200 for plain donuts (equal to toast with jam) to
1. What actress ate 20 donuts a day, jumping four dress sizes, in order to play the role of Bridget Jones?
2. Titanium dioxide, a white pigment used in paint, cosmetics and sunscreen, does what for donuts?
instead of a traditional three-tiered wedding cake.
A wedding reception was featured in "People" magazine for having a four-foot pyramid stacked high with 150 Krispy Kreme donuts
By Lucie Winborne
* Despite the NFL making more than $9 billion annually, being projected to make more than $25 billion a year by 2027, and paying its CEO more than $30 million a year, 68% of NFL stadium construction costs since 1923 have come from taxpayer money.
* One of Walt Disney’s first art jobs was drawing cartoons for a local barber in exchange for haircuts.
* The Khasis are a tribe in India that grow their own bridges. For generations, they have passed down the art of treeroot manipulation, forming centuries-old “living bridges” out of the powerful roots of Ficus elastica trees.
* Jesse James once gave a widow who housed him enough money to pay off her debt collector and then robbed the debt collector as the man left the widow’s home.
* In 2007, a Swiss woman was unable to enter the U.S. because she had no fingerprints. She had a rare genetic disorder called adermatoglyphia, where a person is born without fingerprints. There are only four known extended families worldwide that are affected by this condition.
* Arnold Schwarzenegger was paid $15 million for his role in “Terminator 2,” which averaged out to a most impressive $21,429 per word.
* Lions, tigers, leopards and other big cats go wild for Calvin Klein’s Obsession for Men cologne! It’s used by researchers to lure animals toward cameras in the wild and is sprayed at zoos and wildlife refuges.
***
Thought for the Day: “There’s no hope without endeavor. Hope has no meaning unless we are prepared to work to realize our hopes and dreams.”
-- Aung San Suu
Kyi
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
Is It OK to Dispose of Fats, Oils and Cooking Grease Down the Kitchen Drain?
you can recommend, please? I’m not interested in knit sheets, by the way I like soft, white sheets (not crisp percale). -- Diane
Dear Diane: Thanks for finding me! I believe you are referring to JCPenney’s Royal Velvet (I agree, they were the best ever), a line of bed linens that were discontinued a couple of years ago. Now JCP has brought Royal Velvet sheets back but under a different brand name: Wrinkle Guard.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
DEAR MARY: Is there any problem with disposing of cooking grease and oil down the kitchen drain, as long as one is careful to follow with very hot water? My wife and I are at odds on this and have agreed to let you settle the argument. Hope to hear back soon. We could use some harmony. -- Ben
Dear Ben: While I’m not exactly a marriage counselor (though I did write “How to DebtProof Your Marriage” -- just saying), I’m happy to help settle this little spat. You didn’t say who’s on which side of the debate, but I’m glad for that -wouldn’t want to be accused of playing favorites! Now, if you’re in a hurry and just want the bottom line: No, it is never OK to pour cooking grease, oil or fats (FOGs, for short) down the drain, no matter how hot the water.
I know, I know. It may seem like a small thing, but trust me on this. According to American Water (the biggest water utility company in the U.S.), when those FOGs go down the sink, they quickly cool off and quickly turn into a thick sludge that clings to the inner walls of your pipes.
Dish soap and garbage disposals aren’t going to do anything to break this stuff down. Over time, it builds up and can cause nasty stubborn blockages, backups and even overflow problems. And the odor? Let’s just say it’s not the kind of scent you want wafting through the house.
And let’s not even get started on the cost of fixing it. According to Angi, the average price to clean out a grease-clogged drain is around $300. Ouch! That’s a bill you could’ve avoided by just tossing the grease in the trash.
So what can you do instead? Before you wash those greasy pots and fry pans, place several large wads of paper towels in your trash container. Grab a rubber spatula and scrape off as much of the grease as you can onto the towel wads to absorb the grease and keep it somewhat contained. Then wipe the pan out with fresh paper towels and toss them into the trash. Only then is it safe to wash the pan with soap and hot water. Trust me, paper towels are way cheaper than calling the plumber later.
FILLERPAGE2
2Q08-WEEK19
MAY4-MAY10
I hope this clears things up and restores peace to your household. In fact, I think I hear the faint sound of harmony floating through your home now. If you ever need more tips (or a little marriage counseling -- just kidding!), I’m here.
***
TRIVIANEWSFRONT™
byKaraKovalchik&SandyWood
DEAR MARY: I found you on Facebook during the pandemic and have loved the Everyday Cheapskate daily email and blog ever since.
While the brand name may be not quite as elegant as “Royal Velvet,” Wrinkle Guard is an excellent replacement. These 100% cotton sheets have the sateen weave (smooth and silky like Royal Velvet) as opposed to percale weave, which produces a more crisp feel.
I have prepared more details, links and pricing on my picks for best inexpensive cotton bedsheets at EverydayCheapskate.com/BestInexpensiveSheets. Come visit!
* * *
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
I bought a set of bedsheets you recommended from JCPenney. I absolutely love them, so much that I wash them and put them right back on the bed. I would like to purchase a second set, but sadly, I can no longer find them. Are there any others brands with comparable quality, comfort and pricing that
to him, and the dog knew it too. He named her Gobi. “Maybe it was love at first sight from Gobi’s point of view, but frankly I thought she was a bit of a pest to begin with,” he later said.
• Dion Leonard was born in Australia in 1975. As an adult, he moved to Scotland and took up running. He began winning marathons. In June of 2016, Leonard entered an ultra-marathon that changed his life.
• The Gobi March is a week-long, 155-mile (250 km) marathon in China’s Gobi Desert.
• The day before the race, Leonard noticed a small dog hanging around the camp. It was a female mongrel, a Chihuahua-terrier mix with a funny but cute little face. Leonard assumed she lived nearby.
• However, when the race began the next day the little dog started running along too. Leonard assumed it would turn back as soon as she got tired, but she kept up with the pack of over 100 marathoners as they trod their way through the 23-mile (37 km) route of the first day’s course.
• The next day, the dog decided to run next to Leonard, staying doggedly at his side. Leonard shared some of his food with her at the end of the day. She slept with him in his tent that night as temperatures dropped.
• On the third day, the course required racers to cross a stream. Leonard waded across, but the dog was afraid of the watery rapids and remained whimpering on the far shore. Feeling pity for the little pup, he heaved a sigh and returned to carry her over in his arms.
• By now, Leonard knew that the dog belonged
• On the 4th and 5th days, the race route crossed the hottest and most barren portion of the Gobi Desert. Worried the dog would die of heat and exhaustion, he left her with a race organizer. They were reunited for the final leg of the race.
• The picture of Dion Leonard crossing the finish line with Gobi at his heels ricocheted around the world. Leonard placed 2nd. Both man and dog received medals.
• All in all, the dog ran her short little legs 77 miles (124 km) of the 155-mile (250 km) race.
• Leonard then had to return to Scotland and find some way to transport Gobi back with him. He soon found it was an involved ordeal requiring time, paperwork, and money.
• He knew there was a required four-month quarantine, but hoped to have her back at home by Christmas. “For a little dog, Gobi certainly has a big heart,” he said. He left Gobi with a race organizer who promised to look after her. Leonard returned home to make arrangements.
• A fundraising campaign proved successful due to the storyʼs wide publicity and the dogʼs fame. However, before the adoption could proceed, Gobi escaped from her foster home and got lost in Urumqi, a large city of 3 million in China.
• Leonard flew to China.
• Over 30,000 posters were distributed throughout the city, but it was the social media campaign that did the trick. Someone recognized a stray dog on the street as the famous Gobi, took her in and reported her find to the proper authorities. The video of their reunion circled the planet.
• However, Gobi had received several injuries while she’d been roaming and confused by the cityʼs busy streets. Donated funds were used to send her to Beijing for surgery. After she recovered, the quarantine began.
• Leonard had originally hoped to have her with him in Scotland by Christmas, but he missed that goal by a month.
• Leonard wrote a book about the experience, “Finding Gobi: A Little Dog with a Very Big Heart.” It soon soared to the top of the bestseller lists. A flood of newspaper articles and media appearances followed. Gobi was named “Dog of the Year.” Thereʼs now serious talk about a movie.
• Leonard later said, “If you’d told me back then that I’d go on to become a book author and have
these amazing experiences all because of this little dog, I would never have believed it. I guess that’s just an example of the beauty of life.”
by Dana Jackson
Q: Who is the actor starring as Superman in the new film coming out this summer? I’ve never seen him before. -- K.P.
ceived a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival after the movie premiered there in May, but one month later when it was released nationwide in theaters, you could hear a pin drop.
It was rather surprising given that his western “Dances With Wolves” won the Oscar for Best Picture three decades earlier and that the “Yellowstone” TV series, which was set on a ranch out West, was a recent huge hit. Alas, “Yellowstone” audiences didn’t feel like watching Costner in a 3-hour slow-moving flick, no matter how good the writing and performance. “Chapter 2” was supposed to be released in 2024, but because of the box-office failure of its predecessor, it’s been pushed to 2025.
traumatic experience during the time of World War II. Brown’s name is featured prominently on the cover, which would make the reader presume that she authored the book. However, it turns out it was ghostwritten by Kathleen McGurl.
Brown has been open about her collaboration with the author, and the book would never have been published without Brown’s input about her own family’s history. According to Variety, Brown and Netflix are developing the book into a movie, and yes, Brown is set to star in the role of her grandmother.
* * *
A: Director James Gunn chose David Corenswet to don the red cape in his upcoming “Superman” movie because the film focuses on an earlier part of the superhero’s life. Henry Cavill, who most recently played the Man of Steel, is 41 years old, while Corenswet is a decade younger. A brief trailer of the movie was recently released online, which not only featured the titular character but also featured Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult).
Corenswet’s prior credits include the miniseries “Lady in the Lake,” the movie “Twisters,” and the Ryan-Murphy-produced series “The Politician.” “Superman,” however, will likely make him a household name this summer.
Q: Whatever happened to the latest western movie by Kevin Costner? I blinked and missed it in theaters. Is it streaming anywhere? -- Y.S.
A: ”Horizon: An American Saga” is a fourchapter film series that “Yellowstone” star Kevin Costner wrote, directed, and acts in. “Chapter 1” reportedly had a $100 million budget with a big chunk of it financed by Costner himself. He re-
Currently, you can stream “Chapter 1” on Max. “Chapter 3” started its principal photography in May, while “Chapter 4” is in active development. But it might be best to simply release “Horizon” as one big miniseries on streaming. Perhaps then it would receive accolades from the Emmy Awards instead of the Oscars someday. ***
Q: I saw a book at the library that had Millie Bobby Brown’s name on it, but I forget the title. Is she an author now, too? -- D.D.
A: The novel “Nineteen Steps,” which was published in 2023, is based on actress Millie Bobby Brown’s (“Stranger Things”) grandmother’s
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
I allow myself the enjoyment of a donut only once per year. This morning I had 1632, 1709, and 2025.
David Corenswet (Upcoming in “Superman”) Courtesy of Netflix
Bacon French Toast Bake
Our gift to you: Make-ahead French toast your family and guests will love!
1 loaf challah or brioche bread, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices (about 1 pound)
6 large eggs
2 cup half-and-half
2 cup grated Gruyere cheese (about 8 ounces)
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 slices smoked bacon, chopped
1. Leave bread slices spread out on rack or platter at room temperature at least 2 hours or until slightly stale. Grease 3-quart baking dish.
2. Arrange bread in prepared baking dish, slightly overlapping. In large bowl, whisk eggs, half-and-half, Gruyere, 1/4 cup maple syrup, cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper until combined. Pour all over bread in baking dish. With hands, press down on bread to submerge. Cover baking dish with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 1 day.
3. Heat oven to 375 F. Remove plastic. Sprinkle bacon all over top of bread mixture. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until golden brown and set.
4. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon maple syrup before serving. Serves 10.
Each serving: About 410 calories, 23 Good Recipes from
g fat (10 g sat.), 18 g protein, 33 g carbs, 655 mg sodium.
Huevos Rancheros
Spice up your brunch creation with this zesty Huevos Rancheros recipe.
1 can (19-ounce) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/4 cups (about 11 ounces) mild or medium-hot salsa
4 large eggs
cooked to desired firmness.
3. To serve, sprinkle bean mixture and eggs with shredded cheese. Garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve with warm tortillas if you like. Serves 4.
ADVERTISING PROOF
3 ounces shredded Mexican cheese blend
3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley leaves, for garnish Warm flour tortillas (optional)
1. In 10-inch skillet, mix black beans, salsa and 1/4 cup water. Heat to boiling over high heat, stirring frequently.
Bill Baker - The Solar Initiative Back Cover 4C Non-Profit Disc. Rate Dec. 22,
2. Break eggs, 1 at a time, into custard cup and slip into skillet on top of bean mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover skillet and simmer 5 minutes or until whites are completely set and yolks begin to thicken or until eggs are
By John Allen
DIAMOND LIL
by Brett Koth
Donald Duck by Walt
1/10 Houseplant
1/11 Human
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
One Wrong Doesn’t Make a Right, Either
It is a well-known mathematical fact that two wrongs don’t equal a right. Lesser known is the surprising notion that one doesn’t, either. The following letter from a reader culminates with the explosive assertion of a single disturbing wrong:
“I just got this dog from the pound. She eats well and sleeps with me, and she’s very intelligent. But she keeps leaving me little poops and puddles in the house. I leave the door open and she still poops in the house, right by an open door. She is 4 years old or so, and the pound has no history on her. I have not beaten her yet, but I am about to!”
Brute force is never an effective teaching tool. Most people, if told their child’s eye had been blackened not by a bully but by his English teacher because of his inability to spell, would run to the nearest happy hour full of ACLU lawyers and scream “civil rights violation!” And the teacher’s defense would be embarrassingly lackluster: “No, I never taught him how to spell, but I left the dictionary right there on his desk.”
Dogs are not born housebroken. It is not a matter of better breeding, bad genes or big bucks. To date, with all that modern technology affords we humans and our canine counterparts, no breeder has been able to deliver into the world an inherently potty-trained dog. Or child.
If you want your dog to perform his bodily functions out of doors, you have to let him know that. This is done through training. Training is essentially the creation of a shared, albeit limited, language between man and beast.
The good news is that housebreaking is easy to achieve and takes less than a week to accomplish. The bad news is that a lot of people would prefer not to make even that minimal effort. Unfortunately, the headache that results packs enough of a wallop to lead a person down the wrong path -- toward abuse, squalor and abandonment.
The basics of housebreaking boil down to the regulation of three components: food, water
of the monthly benefit amount because of the early retirement penalty.
Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
Changes to Social Security ogin
Retirement -- Not Yet for Many of Us
By necessity, many grab onto part-time jobs just to have a few extra dollars coming in every month. Those few extra dollars can mean the difference between making the house payment, or the rent, or the light bill ... or not.
If you and your pooch are steadfast in your adherence to what I call the Feed-Water-Walk regimen, he’ll catch on remarkably fast: He eats and drinks at the same times every day, and he relieves himself outside immediately after.
Many of us didn’t plan for this. Years after we expected to retire, we find ourselves still employed one way or another on the workforce. For too many of us, working is still a necessity for financial reasons.
If you use the My Social Security account online, you’ll need to make several changes or you’ll be locked out. If you haven’t updated your account since Sept. 18, 2021, using the new method, the login for checking your Social Security account is no more and your username won’t work. You’ll now need to create a new account using one of their credential service providers at Login.gov
Careful planning likely convinced most of us that with a bit of savings and a monthly Social Security check we could safely (and voluntarily) retire. A recent study concluded that roughly 80% of us fall into this category, thinking we would be financially OK in retirement.
Having access to your Social Security information can have several benefits, whether you currently receive benefits or not. You can now get an estimate of future benefits, check on the status of your application or get a replacement card. You can confirm your earnings or get an SSA-1099 tax form. You can update your information such as address and either set up or change your direct deposit.
I did an informal poll of neighbors and acquaintances, all of whom are past retirement age. A full 90% are employed, with most of them working at part-time jobs. All of them said it was for financial reasons.
One gentleman shared that he’s working to save up for the glasses he needs, the costs that Medicare won’t cover. Another is working to put every possible dollar into paying off the last of her mortgage. Everyone else, it seems, is still working to put groceries on the table, keep gas in the car or make the mortgage payment.
Will the new administration really ease a lot of this financial burden for us as promised? We all certainly hope so. Clearly, the small Social Security increases we’ve been receiving aren’t enough. They just aren’t.
* * *
Security is one big reason they’ve made this change. You’ll be using federal authenti
On the flip side of the coin, there are those who were pushed into early retirement before they were financially ready. Whether it was because of the health of a spouse and the need to become a caretaker, or corporate downsizing, they were out the door and left in a difficult financial position. They found themselves forced to sign up for Social Security before their full retirement age and having to give up nearly one-third
The Art of
DESIGN
by Joseph Publillones
Home, Sweet Home
We are all familiar with the saying “Home, Sweet Home,” but what does this mean? This varies greatly from person to person. What is comfortable and stylish for one person is not for another. It is fascinating to find out how people truly live, and hard to find out. Once hired, this is what I sometimes resort to... an unannounced visit. Perhaps some consider it rude, but it is effective for me... you’ll see why.
There is nothing I love more than to pay unannounced visits to my clients and friends...and no, not because I am doing a “Motherin-law’s” housekeeping visit. Lord knows the only housekeeping that I know how to do is the one that I hire. I love these visits because they are spontaneous, or at least I make it seem that way, and you can actually see how people live and use their spaces, without them taking time to show you the way they’d like to live.
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. and walks.
if your teenage daughter loves to plaster the walls of her bedroom with adhesive tape, your live-in Mother-in law is determined to move all your accessories around the house, or your husband sleeps in another room.
When you are working with an interior designer, it is time to be bitterly honest about your household. Your designer can often find solutions by design that can make your interventions seem like a great idea to your nemesis. This is not the time for keeping up appearances.
This always reveals the unedited version. I always take away something from these visits. As a designer, I never try to impose a lifestyle on clients, but rather define and refine their own style. I actually learn something about my clients to better assist them.
Your lifestyle is what should define your decoration. Working with a designer, a client enters into a relationship, where it is expected that you divest information that is somewhat private and can be considered intimate territory. So what
Creating your “Home, Sweet Home” is not unlike buying a couture gown, or having a custom suit made -- it requires a little patience and some time for fittings so it can fit you like a glove. Whatever your design style is, the design has to function for you particular needs or your family. This might mean letting go of conventional concepts of a household; For example, forgoing a formal dining room if you eat out all the time, or if your kitchen works best with a dining area. There shouldn’t be any obstacles when making your space work for you, but it needs to make sense. Your designer should always be your sounding board for ideas, good and bad, and steer you in the right direction. Somewhere between their advice and your needs lies the best answer for your design.
My favorite quote about being sincere about your design needs is from Dr. Seuss:
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
* * *
Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Fla. 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.
COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM
Your role? You provide the food and water at the same times every day, and you take him outside immediately after -- simply leaving the door open is not good enough.
To help matters along:
-- Lay down no paper or puppy pads on the floor in any part of your house, as this will only confuse your pup.
-- Confine the dog to one area of the house when you are not home.
-- Allow no buffet-style eating or drinking until the dog is successfully housebroken.
Should an accident occur along the way, proceed in one of two ways:
-- If you catch your pup in the act, interrupt him with a verbal correction, take him outside immediately and praise him when you get there. Then go inside and clean the soiled floor with an odor neutralizer.
-- If you stumble upon an accident, clean it up and forget about it. Accidents should be infrequent if you are upholding your end of the deal.
Consistent repetition is the key to successful training, and housebreaking is no exception. Beating a dog, on the other hand, will get you nowhere -- except the courthouse or the clink.
For detailed information on the Feed-WaterWalk housebreaking regimen and additional training techniques, check out “Good Dog, Bad Dog,” “When Good Dogs Do Bad Things” and “I Just Got a Puppy. What Do I Do?” You’ll find these books and more in your local bookstore, public library or at www.unclematty.com.
Woof!
Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
The Social Security Fairness Act: A
$200 Billion Boondoggle
Congress just passed a law that will give me (and millions of people like me) extra Social Security benefits that we simply do not deserve and haven’t earned.
To understand what is going on, here is a quick history lesson: The original Social Security Act included unintentional and overly generous benefits for government employees. These were benefits that no other Americans could get. About 50 years ago, a more responsible Congress recognized this and created two laws to correct this mistake. The Windfall Elimination Provision said that Social Security retirement benefits for government employees should be figured the same way as those for all other senior citizens. The Government Pension Offset law said that government pensions should offset any Social Security spousal benefits potentially due, just as Social Security retirement benefits have always offset those same spousal benefits.
But now, bowing to relentless pressure from government employee unions and advocacy groups, a more naive and vote-seeking Congress has repealed WEP and GPO. So once again, government retirees like me will get overly generous Social Security benefits that no other senior citizens in the country are eligible for. And by so doing, they have put a $200 billion hole in an already rapidly deflating Social Security budget balloon.
To explain why repealing WEP and GPO is a wrongheaded boondoggle, I will use myself as an example. But first, you need to know a basic tenet of Social Security: Benefits have always been skewed to give lower-paid workers a better deal than their more highly paid counterparts. Very low-paid workers could get a Social Security benefit that represents up to 90% of their preretirement earnings. This percentage is known as a “replacement rate.” People with average incomes (the middle class) generally get a 40% replacement rate.
So now back to me. I spent the bulk of my career working for the federal government. While working as a fed, I paid into the Civil Service Retirement System, not Social Security. (Things have changed since I was hired in the early 1970s; all federal employees hired after 1984 pay into Social Security.) But I also did pay into Social Security at a few jobs I had in high school and college and at other jobs I’ve had since I retired from federal government work. I have about 15 years of earnings that were covered by Social Security.
So when the Social Security computers looked at my record when I applied for Social Security benefits, they assumed I must be poor. After all, I had all those years with no earnings. That record didn’t show that I actually was working all that time for the government and earning a civil service retirement pension.
And because the Social Security system thought I was poor, it was programmed to give me that 90% poor person’s benefit rate. In other words, I would have been getting an undeserved windfall from Social Security. And that’s where the “Windfall Elimination Act” came in. It correctly recognized that I wasn’t poor, and it gave me the same 40% rate all other average income Americans get. And it did the same for all other workers
who spent the bulk of their careers in jobs not covered by Social Security. These are primarily teachers, police officers and firefighters in certain states. (Why those groups don’t pay into Social Security is the subject for another column.)
For the past half-century, union officials representing these groups have been pressuring Congress to eliminate WEP because they wrongly think the law cheats their members out of Social Security benefits they are due. And in each of those years, a bill to eliminate WEP has failed to get approved. But in this wacky political year, things were different. So even though almost all of you reading this column are getting the proper 40% Social Security benefit rate, Congress has now decided to eliminate WEP to give me (and all those other government employees like me) the 90% rate -- boosting our Social Security checks by a couple hundred extra bucks per month. What a sham and what a shame!
But it gets even worse. As I said, the other law that the misnamed “Fairness Act” eliminated is called the Government Pension Offset, or GPO.
To explain what is going on here, I will once again use myself as an example. Before the GPO law came into effect, I would have been able to get my government pension retirement check AND I would have been due a “dependent” husband’s benefit on my wife’s Social Security record. Why? Because of those Social Security computers that think I’m a poor old guy with just a small Social Security check. So I was deemed financially dependent on my wife and granted spousal benefits on her Social Security record. But the GPO law came along and recognized I worked for the government and get a civil service pension check. And just like a Social Security retirement check offsets any spousal benefits that might be due, my civil service pension check would also offset those potential de-
pendent benefits.
But by eliminating GPO, Congress is giving me (and all those millions of other government pensioners) unintended benefits from our spouses. Think about that. Almost all of you reading this column cannot collect your own Social Security retirement check and at the same time, get some extra benefits from your spouse’s account. But now I and other government pensioners will do just that. And so if you believe that repealing WEP and GPO makes sense, write your member of Congress and tell him or her you think the “Social Security Fairness Act” was a great idea. But if you don’t think it’s fair, then write your member of Congress and say, “Shame on you! I thought you were supposed to be saving Social Security, not squandering its funds on greedy government retirees!”
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
Why the Government Shouldn’t Limit Sodium Intake
DEAR DR. ROACH: I read in a health journal that large amounts of sodium are unhealthy for one’s diet. The government standard is no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. If one’s health isn’t so good, some doctors say that their sodium intake shouldn’t be more than 1,500 mg per day. Everything you eat or drink counts.
If consuming sodium is so bad for your health, then why aren’t there limitations in the amount of sodium a company can put into their products? Shouldn’t this be controlled by the federal government, similar to alcohol or numerous other chemicals in food and drinks that we find in cans, boxes and packages?
For instance, why should diet soda have sodium in it? -- E.R.
ANSWER: It is true that excess sodium has health risks, and I agree with public health officials in recommending that people consume less sodium. High sodium increases blood pressure levels for most people. Even in people without high blood pressure levels, a high-sodium diet slightly increases stroke risk and predisposes them to kidney stones.
However, sodium is an essential nutrient, and although sodium deficiency is unheard of now, there are conditions where a high-sodium diet is important. I recently saw a patient who had POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) after COVID, and she needs 8-12 grams of sodium daily to keep her blood pressure up.
As a physician, my role is to advise. It’s not for me to dictate public policy, and I worry about the government making regulations about what is a personal choice. Pretzels contain 250300 mg of sodium in a 1-ounce serving, so a big bag of pretzels might have 5 grams of sodium -- two day’s worth. I’m uncomfortable with the government limiting my ability to buy this, even if it isn’t a good idea for me to consume it all in a day.
On the other hand, I think that the decision made by the Food and Drug Administration in 2015 to ban the use of trans fats was correct. Trans fats are exceedingly unhealthy, and manufacturers quickly switched to heathier options. The decision to ban a substance or limit its use must be made wisely.
As far as diet sodas, sodium suppresses the bitter taste that can accompany some artificial sweeteners. A typical diet soda might have 20 mg of sodium (0.02 grams), so those usually aren’t the biggest offenders. On the other hand, a large pizza might have 6-10 grams of sodium. ***
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 73 years old with an extremely large prostate. My PSA reading was over 11 ng/mL. I’ve had negative biopsies, and my new urologist put me on finasteride. He told me that he had great results with it and could cut my cancer risk by 80%. I’ve been taking it for more than six months, and my latest PSA was 4.4 ng/mL. I’m reluctant to keep taking it. What are your thoughts on finasteride? -- H.D.
ANSWER: I agree that finasteride de-
creases the risk of prostate cancer and death due to prostate cancer. Unfortunately, the data show more of a 25% to 30% decreased risk rather than an 80% risk. If it were 80% successful at stopping prostate cancer, we would be recommending it to all men (in absence of side effects). Still, a decrease in prostate cancer risk is worth considering when it comes to the treatment of symptomatic prostate enlargement. Finally, finasteride reduces PSA levels by about half, which needs to be taken into account when interpreting the PSA level.
* * *
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer 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
VA Outreach: Blast Exposure
The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a significant outreach to bring more eligible veterans under the VA health care umbrella. The reason: Increased concern about the health impacts of repeated blast exposure.
Blast exposure and head trauma can come from any number of situations -- anything from heavy fire, IEDs, missile launches, artillery blasts -- and can later result in a variety of problems, including thoughts of suicide and mental health concerns.
by Freddie Groves
The VA is reaching out to veterans who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan, and they’re going all-out with public service announcements, advertising and even text messages to veterans. Veterans who served in those locations may be eligible for care, ranging from regular and specialty care, to primary care, mental health care and regular screenings, as well as blast exposure screenings.
Meanwhile, the VA has geared up their research about the health impact of blast exposure and encourages all eligible veterans to sign up for care. The more veterans who sign up, the more research they can do. The more research they do, the better the treatments that can be developed.
Blast exposure isn’t the only concern the VA is looking at. Veterans who were exposed to toxins, whether on active duty or in training, are eligible to enroll in VA health care, even if they never deployed to Vietnam, the Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan or any combat zone post-9/11.
If you suspect you might have experienced blast exposure, call the VA for a screening. For immediate information, go to va.gov and search for “blast exposure.” You’ll find several podcasts and videos exploring blast exposure and the effects on mental health, how blasts affect cognitive function and more.
If you need to sign up, see www.va.gov/ health-care/how-to-apply for the four different ways to apply for care: by phone, by mail, in person at the closest VA center or with the help of an accredited VSO or attorney. For an immediate connection, call them at 877-222-8387.
* * *
Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.
M.D.
-- by Jim Miller
How to Help a Hoarding Parent
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: My dad has always been a pack rat, but since mom died a few years ago he’s become more of a hoarder. The clutter in his house has gotten out of control to the point of becoming a safety hazard. I don’t know what to do. Any suggestions?
-- Distraught in Centerville
Dear Distraught: Unfortunately, hoarding or clutter addiction is a problem that’s become increasingly common in the U.S. It effects approximately 6 percent of Americans age 65 or older. The problem can range anywhere from moderate messiness to hoarding so severe it may be related to a mental health disorder like obsessivecompulsive disorder. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources that can help you help your dad.
Why People Hoard
The reasons most people hoard is because they have an extreme sentimental attachment to their possessions, or they believe they might need their items at a later date. Hoarding can also be a sign that an older person is depressed, anxious or showing early symptoms of dementia.
Common problems for seniors who live in excessive clutter are tripping, falling and breaking a bone; overlooking bills and missing medications that are hidden in the clutter; suffering from the environmental effects of mold, mildew and dust, and even living among insects and rodents.
What to Do
To help you gauge your dad’s problem, the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) offers a free “Clutter Hoarding Scale” that you can download at Challeng-
If you find that your dad has a moderate cluttering problem, there are a number of things you can do to help.
Start by having a talk with him, expressing your concern for his health and safety, and offering your assistance to help him declutter.
If he takes you up on it, most professional organizers recommend decluttering in small steps. Take one room at a time or even a portion of a room at a time. This will help prevent your dad from getting overwhelmed.
Before you start, designate three piles or boxes for your dad’s stuff – one pile is for items he wants to keep-and-put-away, another is the donation pile - either for you, your siblings, or for charity. The last pile is the throwaway stuff.
You and your dad will need to determine which pile his things belong in as you work. If he struggles with sentimental items that he doesn’t use, suggest he keep only one item for memory sake and donate the rest to family members who will use them.
You will also need to help him set up a system for organizing the kept items and new possessions.
Find Help
If you need some help with the decluttering and organizing, consider hiring a professional organizer who can come to your dad’s home to help you prioritize, organize and remove the clutter.
The National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO.net) and the ICD (ChallengingDisorganization. org) both offer directories on their websites to help you locate a professional in your area.
If your dad has a bigger, more serious hoarding problem (if his daily functioning is impaired, or if he is having financial difficulties, health problems, or other issues) you’ll need to seek professional help.
Talk therapy and/or antidepressants can help address control issues, anxiety, depression, and other feelings that may underline hoarding tendencies, and make it easier for him to confront his disorder.
To locate help, contact Helping Elders Live Productively (H.E.L.P.). This is a free education, counseling, and referral resource that helps older adults and their families who are experiencing hoarding, by connecting them with legal services, mental health assistance and support groups. Call 310533-1996 for a referral or visit Help4srs.org/ support-services-for-seniors-who-hoard
You can also find professional help through the International OCD Foundation, which provides a hoarding center on their website at Hoarding.iocdf.org
And to get help with challenging cleanup jobs, the biggest provider is SteriClean, Inc. (see Hoarders.com or call 800-
462-7337), a hoarding cleanup company that has franchises located throughout the country.
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.
CLIP AND SAVE
ANTIQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Colonial Style Revived in Mid-20th Century
Q: Enclosed is a photo of a chest of drawers that was part of a set. It has a metal tag with the words “Thomasville Chair Company -- Character Furniture Since 1904.”
I called a local antiques dealer/appraiser to ask his opinion. I told him it was made by Thomasville in the early 1940s and asked if it is valuable. He said, “Probably not.” Then he hung up on me. I still have the original price tag that says the set cost $600.
Anything you can tell me about this chest will be appreciated.
A: You have an American Colonial Revival chest. The style was popular in the early to mid-1900s. Thomasville Chair Company produced several lines of bedroom and living room furniture based in early 1800s designs. Thomasville was founded in North Carolina in 1904 and recently closed.
There is not a large interest in Colonial Revival furniture and it would probably be worth $75 to $100.
Q: This mark is on a set of china dishes that I purchased at an estate sale from a 90-year-old friend. The set consists of six fivepiece place settings and includes a small platter. The pieces are smaller than most dinner
sets. Each dish is decorated with pink, yellow and white flowers against a white background, and it’s trimmed in gold. Included with the mark are the letters and numbers “M 43 - N 8.”
I would like to know what this small set was used for and what it is worth. Also, is the set considered collectible?
Homer Laughlin China Company was established in East Liverpool Ohio, in 1877.
A: Homer Laughlin China Company made your dishes. The factory was founded in East Liverpool, Ohio, in 1877. It has manufacturing plants in several other cities.
The smaller size of your set would indicate it is a luncheon set. “Virginia Rose” is the name of a specific shape that was decorated in at least 12 different patterns. This popular shape was introduced in 1929 and was in production until the early 1970s.
The patterns were variations of pink flowers and were decals, rather than hand-painted. “M 43 -- N 8” shows your set was made in 1943 at Plant 8. Although Laughlin dishes are collectible, they are not rare and usually modestly priced.
The value of your set would probably be $100 to $200.
* * *
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 Jan. 6, 1975, “Wheel of Fortune,” one of American television’s longestrunning syndicated game shows, debuted on NBC. Created by Merv Griffin, it was hosted for decades by Pat Sajak and Vanna White, the latter of whom often contributed her own puzzles and was noted as apparently never wearing the same gown twice in more than 6,000 episodes.
* On Jan. 7, 1785, Frenchman JeanPierre Blanchard and American John Jeffries flew from Dover, England, to Calais, France, in a gas balloon, becoming the first people to cross the English Channel by air, though they almost crashed into it along the way due to excess weight from objects that had to be jettisoned.
* On Jan. 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law, which created new standards and goals for America’s public schools and applied tough corrective measures for failure to meet them. Nowadays, however, it is largely regarded as a failed experiment.
* On Jan. 9, 1887, nearly an inch of snow fell every hour for 16 hours on the western American plains, impeding the ability of already starving cattle that “staggered through village streets and collapsed and died in dooryards” to find food. Millions of the animals were lost, sending hundreds of ranchers into bankruptcy and ending the era of the open range.
* On Jan. 10, 2008, Tata Motors introduced the small, bubble-shaped Nano, billing it as the world’s cheapest car with an anticipated price of about $2,500, thanks to its lack of amenities including radio, airbags, air conditioning, even a second windshield wiper.
* On Jan. 11, 2010, Miep Gies, the last survivor of the small group that helped hide Anne Frank, her family and four others from the Nazis during World War II, died in the Netherlands at age 100.
* On Jan. 12, 1995, Malcolm X’s daughter Qubilah Shabazz was arrested for conspiring to kill Louis Farrakhan, who she believed was responsible for her father’s assassination. After she admitted her “responsibility,” though not guilt, the government accepted a plea bargain.
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
"I've had to fire the entire staff except" you, William. You're going to have quite a heavy workload without extra pay, but you do have job security."
Thomasville Chair Company was founded in 1904.
Donuts: from page 3
500 for frosted or filled.
• The most popular donut in America is the creamfilled donut, followed by plain glazed donuts.
• Krispy Kreme donuts are kosher.
• A donut-related puff pastry similar to a donut hole is very popular in France. It is so light and fluffy that it’s named “pet de nonne” which translates as “the nunʼs flatulence.”
• A Polish donut called the Paczki contains a regional vodka.
• The Donut Hole in La Puente, California features two gigantic fiberglass donuts set on end, with a drive-through donut factory connecting the two. Customers drive through the giant confections to pick up their favorite donuts. It’s been an area landmark since 1968.
• Some astronomers have theorized that the Universe, instead of being infinite, is actually shaped like a donut.
Game Changers
by Jason Jenkins
The takeaway has been one of the most varied topics in golf instruction over the years. While there is a wide range of preferences and parameters for club and body movement, the majority of top players tend to fall into a similar category of “one piece takeaways”. The term implies that the club movement away from the ball involves a unison of body movements rather than a drastic leading of one part over the others.
One of the common dangers of the takeaway is an overly dominant wrist action that forces the club well to the inside of the target line. By coordinating the arms, shoulders, torso, and hips to move together, with little independent hand action, the club will move in a neutral, on plane journey.
The first two feet of club travel should involve the chest turning to the right while the “triangle” of the arms and hands stays passive. The lower body many times has to make a slight shift and rotation to allow the upper body’s action. The grip end of the club may stay aligned to the navel during this sequence. Avoid excessive wrist or forearm rotation in this phase.
