Vol. 21: #4 • Skating Disasters • (1-12-2025) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
by Janet Spencer
While the enjoyment of ice skating has long been a favorite pastime of many, and the art of figure skating is seen as a serene and graceful sport, skating itself has seen its share of unfortunate outcomes. And, as you will see, some of these outcomes have spelled outright disaster. Follow along as Tidbits takes you on a rather hazardous journey across some thin ice!
LONDONERS' LAMENT
• In the middle of London, was a small boating lake in the center of Regent’s Park that didn’t always freeze over. However, following an exceptionally cold January in 1867, the pond froze over solid enough to bear the weight of skaters. At the time, ice skating was already becoming a popular fad, and many took advantage of the opportunity to strap on their skates and join the fun.
• On January 14, the ice suddenly cracked as groups of skaters were twirling around. More than 20 people fell into the icy water but were quickly pulled out, cold and shaken but unharmed. The temperature had
TRIVIA NEWSFRONT
(Answers on page 16)
1. GEOGRAPHY: What is the smallest continent by area?
2. MOVIES: What is Deadpool’s real name in the movie series?
3. MEASUREMENTS: How many ounces are in 1 gallon?
4. TELEVISION: What is the name of the character that Jason Bateman plays in “Ozark”?
5. FOOD & DRINK: What is the dimple at the bottom of a wine bottle called?
6. U.S. CITIES: Which city also is known as Motown?
7. LITERATURE: The movie “Bridget Jones Diary” is loosely based on which novel?
8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: Which is the only big cat that doesn’t roar?
9. MEDICAL: What is a common name for fasciculation?
10. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin term “magnum opus” mean?
• Billy Mills was born in 1938 in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, a member of the Ogalala Lakota tribe. Orphaned at age 12, Billy was sent to the Haskell Indian Nations School in Kansas. There, he distinguished himself by winning the crosscountry championship in 1956.
• This win resulted in an athletic scholarship to the University of Kansas. In short order, Billy was chosen to be on the National Collegiate Athletic Association team, where he began racking up the wins.
• After high school, he joined the military. He was a first lieutenant in the Marines when he qualified for the 1964 Summer Olympics, running the 10,000-meter race. Of the seven races held on tracks, the 10,000-meter is the longest standard and the most grueling track event, measuring just over 6 miles. It requires 25 laps.
• When Mills arrived at the Olympics in Tokyo on October 14, he found he would be competing against 37 other runners. Favored to win was Australian Ron Clarke, who held the world record, a smug and confident opponent.
• When the starting gun went off, the runners surged. By the time the race was half over, a pack of five contestants had left the others behind. Ron Clarke was out in front, but the other four, including Mills, dogged his heels
• Coming around the final bend, Clarke, Mills, and one other runner were in a tight knot. On the final stretch, Mills pulled out and sprinted to the finish line in a final burst of speed, pulling ahead of the other two.
• In the radio announcers control booth, sports
commentator Dick Bank began screaming into the mike, “Look at Mills! Look at Mills!” while his co-commentator, Bud Palmer, very sedately droned on about what was happening.
• Billy Mills won the race, crossing the finish line a full second ahead of the expected winner, Ron Clarke, and setting an Olympic record.
• Afterward, a reporter rushed up to Mills and asked, “Who ARE you?” to which Billy Mills simply replied, “A Lakota boy from little Pine Ridge!” The win stunned everyone. Billy Mills was a virtual unknown.
• NBC promptly fired Dick Bank from his commentator job because Olympic officials preferred their announcers speak in a calm, controlled drone over excited screaming, which they felt was both vulgar and improper.
• Bank, a longtime sports statistician, had previously noticed Billy Mills rising in the ranks of athletes and noted that he was someone “to keep a close eye on.”
• Bank was also working as a sales rep for Adidas when they were handing out shoes to the athletes who would be competing in the Olympics. He was nearby when the Adidas representative refused to give a pair to Billy Mills because he’d never even heard of him. Bank stepped up, ran after Billy as he walked away, and saw that he got his pair of size 12 Adidas track shoes.
• And this is why, when Dick Bank was later hired as an NBC track and field commentator, he got so excited when he saw Mills suddenly take the lead. His excitement, live on the air, cued listeners that something extraordinary was happening. Even his cohort in the announcer’s booth, Bud Palmer, admitted he had no idea who Billy Mills was or why his win was so important.
• Since then, no American has ever won the 10,000-meters race. Mills later founded the nonprofit “Running Strong for American Indian Youth.” He wrote two books, and now does inspirational speaking.
• Dick Bank went on to a successful career as a producer of jazz music, dying at age 90 in 2020. He never again worked as a sports commentator.
• Mills was wearing the Adidas shoes Bank had given him when he won the Olympic race.
Skating Disasters: (from page one)
dropped even lower overnight, and by the next day the hole in the ice had frozen over solid.
• By the following afternoon, about 500 people were back on the lake, skating to their heartʼs content. Suddenly the ice cracked worse than before, and about 200 skaters instantly found themselves submerged and panicking in freezing water that was about 12 feet deep.
• Bystanders quickly pulled most of them out to safety, but more than 40 others, weighed down by heavy skates and waterlogged woolen coats, were either trapped under the ice or unable to keep themselves afloat. Some who they were able to drag out later died of hypothermia. It was the worst weather-related accident in Britain’s history at the time. Horrified citizens insisted the lake later be filled in to raise the depth to four feet to ensure it would never happen again.
FOLLIES FIASCO
• The concession stand at the Indiana State Fairground Coliseum in Indianapolis ran a lot of its equipment off propane back in 1963. The hot dog cooker, the nacho machine, and the hamburger grill all ran off gas. Dozens of portable propane tanks were kept in a storage room adjacent to the concession stand.
• On Halloween night in 1963, the concession stand was extra busy as the choreographed “Holiday on Ice” skating exhibition was in full swing. The stadium was packed. It was 11:00 pm, and the show was about to wrap up with just three minutes left. The skaters linked arms in a grand finale pinwheel, spinning in a wide circle.
• What no one knew was that one of the propane tanks in the storage room had a faulty valve. It had been leaking liquid propane gas all evening long. At 11:00 pm, that gas met the hot electrical charge running the popcorn machine. The explosive result was catastrophic.
• The concession stand, located under a flank
of box seats above, blew upwards with great force with a fireball shooting up 40 feet. Large chunks of concrete rained down, a damaged wall collapsed, and the floor caved in. As onlookers rushed in to help the injured, the rest of the propane tanks blew up in successive explosions.
• A make-shift hospital was set up in a barn as emergency responders rushed in from all over the city. Nursing students were called to duty from their dorms. Many of the injured were transported to the hospital in private vehicles.
• Of the thousands in attendance, 54 people died on site; 20 more later succumbed to their injuries; 400 others were injured, many seriously.
• The finger of blame was immediately pointed every which way. A grand jury indicted seven people in total, including employees of the gas provider and the company that operated the arena, as well as the state fire marshal and the city fire chief. At later dates, however, all of the individuals either had their charges dropped or their convictions overturned. Victims of the explosion were eventually awarded $4.6 million in settlements. but in the end, no direct charges were brought against anyone.
• The structure was rebuilt and is now called the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The fiery catastrophe remains the largest single disaster in Indiana history.
The Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to a hockey player displaying exceptional sportsmanship, is named for a hockey player who died of a head injury after falling on the ice while playing for the Minnesota North Stars in 1968.
CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE
• The town of Bad Reichenhall sits on the border of Germany and Austria. High in the Bavarian Alps, it’s a noted spa town. In fact, the German word “bad” means “spa.” In 1971, inspired by the 1970 Olympics in Munich, the town built a new sports center. It was a mammoth structure featuring several swimming pools, a large skating rink, a restaurant, assorted dressing rooms and rental facilities, and an underground parking garage, all under a single roof.
• During the holiday season of 2005, it began snowing quite heavily in Bad Reichenhall. Snow was nothing new, but this extraordinarily heavy snowfall continued for days.
• On January 2, 2006, managers of the sports complex worried about the snow load on the roof of the complex. It was decided that the facility would close for business after the public skating hours ended at 4:00 pm. The private hockey practice scheduled for that evening was canceled. That would allow experts to examine the roof and assess the danger. At the time of that decision, 50 people were skating in the rink. Week of January 19, 2025
About one in every 700 ice skaters will experience an injury, and the average age of those injured is 33 years old. Most incidents occur during falls on the ice, with inexperience and the slippery surface adding to the risks.
• However, just moments before the facility closed, the entire roof suddenly collapsed. Clocks mounted on the wall stopped at 3:54 pm.
• Rescue efforts, hampered by the continuing snowfall, took three days. Only one survivor was pulled from the wreckage alive. Fifteen skaters died. Of those, 12 were children, while 34 other skaters were injured. None of the dead died of hypothermia while awaiting rescue; all had died of bodily trauma caused by the collapse itself.
• An inquiry showed that roofing material had
Skating Disasters: Turn to page 15
1. In what year did Dorothy
2. What year did Dorothy Hamill declare bankruptcy, closing down the Ice Capades forever?
Hamill purchase the Ice Capades?
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
Avoid These Expensive Tax Mistakes
File will be back in 2025. Check soon at directfile.irs.gov to see if you are eligible for Direct File. While you’re there, read the reviews!
INCORRECT ID NUMBERS
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
You’ve rounded up your receipts, figured out all your deductions, and now you’re ready to load that onto your tax forms. This is not the time to get sloppy. Make sure you don’t run any of these red flags up the flagpole of your tax return, and you will greatly reduce the chances of getting hit with the most dreaded of all tax events -- the audit.
by Mary Hunt
MESSED-UP MATH
Doublecheck to make sure your arithmetic is correct. Math errors are not limited only to miscalculations. They could also be truncated numbers. Negative numbers need to have brackets around them. Consider attaching a spreadsheet or adding machine tape. (E-filing makes sure that math calculation errors don’t occur.)
SLOPPY RECORDS
If you are self-employed, your deductions need to be very carefully documented. As a member of this group, don’t be tempted to blur the line between personal and business expenses, especially mileage deductions and homeoffice usage.
MISSING MILEAGE
Automobile logs are one of the most commonly audited items. If you take this deduction, make sure your records are detailed with beginning and ending odometer readings, location and reason for the trip.
OVERSTATING CONTRIBUTIONS
Charitable deductions that are more generous than the IRS’s standard and average guidelines could give an auditor reason to pause. Taking deductions for large, noncash contributions are particularly suspect. Be sure to have all receipts showing the date of donation, the receiving organization and the valuation of the donated items to document these contributions.
WRONG TAX FIGURES
If you are preparing your own taxes, be sure you are pulling the correct numbers from the tax tables. E-filing will automatically pull the right numbers, so this is something to consider if you are opting to go it on your own, without an accountant or tax preparation professional. While the IRS Direct File pilot is now closed, the Direct
The most common mistakes, according to the IRS, have to do with Social Security numbers. Make sure they are accurate and match the name(s) given. If you show dependents, you must include their SSNs. Failing to include a dependent’s name and SSN can result in underpayment or being denied the earned income tax credit for qualifying individuals and families
MISSING ATTACHMENTS
Attaching the required documentation, such as W2s and 1099s, is critical. All necessary forms and schedules should be included with sequence order given in the upper right-hand corner.
FAILURE TO SIGN
Be sure to sign your return (both spouses, if filing jointly) and make a copy of it and all supporting documents for your records. Remember, being audited isn’t always bad. Sometimes the IRS will discover they owe you money.
RECEIVING A SIZABLE REFUND
This is not a red flag to signal an audit, but it’s a sign that you’re making a colossal mistake. It means you overpay your taxes. Part of your paycheck goes missing every payday, and you need to find it. It’s stupid to overpay your taxes and then find yourself running to the credit cards because you can’t make your paycheck stretch far enough. Fix your withholding by using the Tax Withholding Estimator at irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator, then visiting your employer’s HR department to change the number of exemptions you are now claiming. And if you still want that big annual refund, automatically just deposit the difference to a savings account every payday.
invites you to visit her at Everyday-
Cheapskate.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.”
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• More people speak English as a second language than all of those who use it as their native tongue.
• The Leaning Tower of Pisa leans because it was built on soft soils. It took 344 years to build and was already tilting by the time it was finished in the year 1178.
• It’s often been claimed that queen ants in ant colonies can live up to 30 years. However, this is only thought to be true because of ants that were kept in captivity for study purposes. It’s possible that queen ants in the wild live much longer.
• Dolphins have names for each other. Researchers recorded unique vocalizations from one dolphin directed at another dolphin. They later played those sounds back, resulting in individual dolphins responding to a specific vocal whistle that they recognized as their own.
• About half of all gold ever found on Earth comes from a single plateau in South Africa. It’s called the Witwatersrand, a 35-mile-lone escarpment. The name means “ridge of white waters.”
• Leeches are attracted to the smell of garlic.
• The Eiffel Tower is repainted every 7 years. The weight of each coat of paint equals the weight of 10 elephants.
• A British researcher studying chocolate once insured her taste buds for $1 million British pounds. The policy stipulated that she avoid spicy foods in order to protect her tongue from damage.
• Bananas turn from green to yellow to brown just like all leaves do after they are picked, as their chlorophyll begins to deteriorate.
• Montpelier, Vermont, with a population of about 8,000, is the only state capital that does not have a McDonalds within its city limits.
• Baby octopuses are the size of a flea.
• It costs five cents to make a dollar bill.
• Owls have specialized feathers which protrude in order to dissipate the airflow as it flies. This gives them the edge of complete silence as they
glide through the forest.
• In 1992, a container ship from Hong Kong lost one of its cargo containers in the middle of the sea, which released its cargo of about 30,000 rubber duckies. Those rubber duckies floated on the ocean currents, washing up on shores worldwide for years. It actually provided valuable insights for oceanic researchers.
• Sleep loss makes it more difficult to lose weight by interfering with hormonal balances. It tends to increase the hormone ghrelin, the hormone that triggers hunger.
• A starfish has no blood. It absorbs nutrients from ocean water directly through its skin. If you cut off a starfish’s leg, it simply grows a new one.
• It takes about six months for a fingernail to grow from the base to the tip. Large nails grow faster than the small nails. Nails grow faster on the dominant hand.
• There’s a species of ant that lives only between 63rd and 76th Street on Broadway in Manhattan, New York. It has never been found anywhere else.
• The most popular state bird is the Northern cardinal, with seven out of the 50 states choosing it as the bird to represent them. That’s followed by the Western Meadowlark (6 states) and the Northern Mockingbird (5).
• Cats cannot taste sweet flavors because they are missing the gene that puts sweetness receptors on the tongue.
by Dana Jackson
Q: Who is the handsome young actor in the new Nicole Kidman movie “Babygirl”? I’ve never seen him before. -- S.W.
A: Harris Dickinson is a 28-year-old British actor who made his feature film debut in the 2017 film “Beach Rats.”
But 2022 was a big year for him with two more films that exposed him to a wider audience. First up was “Where the Crawdads Sing,” the mystery thriller based on the bestselling novel of the same name that starred another Brit, Daisy EdgarJones (“Twisters”). The movie earned mixed reviews but was deemed a boxoffice hit, especially when it was available through streaming.
Dickinson then capped off the year by playing a male model in the Oscar-nominated film “Triangle of Sadness,” which also starred Woody Harrelson.
Many of his fans state that his best performance is his role as the tragic wrestler David Von Erich in the 2023 film “The Iron Claw,” which also starred Zac Efron (“A Family Affair”) and Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”). All of these films eventually led him to being cast in the new movie “Babygirl,” where he plays a seductive intern opposite Kidman’s married CEO.
Q: Is it true that the TV series “Grimm” is being rebooted? Will it have the same ac-
tors as before? -- M.N.
A: Yes, there are substantiated reports that a reboot of the supernatural-drama series “Grimm” is in the early development stages. The original show ended in 2017 after airing for six seasons on NBC, but the new incarnation will be on Peacock.
It’s also not certain yet whether it will be a series or just a movie. Either way, the original showrunners David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf are said to be involved in some capacity with the potential reboot, according to TVLine, while Josh Berman (“Drop Dead Diva”) will write and produce the new “Grimm.”
NBC’s “Grimm” starred David Giuntoli (“A Million Little Things”) as Nick, a “slayer of fairy-tale monsters,” along with a large cast that included Claire Coffee (“S.W.A.T”), Russell Hornsby (“Mike”), and Bree Turner (“Law & Order SVU”). Whether they’ll appear in the reboot will depend upon their availabilities. ***
Q: I read that a man is going to replace Hoda Kotb on the “Today” show, but who will be Jenna Bush Hager’s co-host on their show? -- K.E.
A: Craig Melvin is familiar to “Today” show audiences as he’s been a co-host of “Weekend Today” since 2016, so it was natural to name him
as Kotb’s replacement opposite Savannah Guthrie. However, the fourth hour of “Today” is taking its time finding a host who has the right chemistry with Jenna Bush Hager. They plan to have a series of rotating guest hosts to find the right pick.
The newly rebranded “Today with Jenna & Friends” kicked off on Jan. 13 with Taraji P. Henson (“Empire”), followed by Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”) and Keke Palmer (“Nope”).
The three actresses (as well as the future co-hosts) will spend anywhere from one episode up to a week’s worth in the chair alongside Hager.
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
King Features News Syndicate
New Fried Chicken
Our answer to high-fat fried chicken: skinless drumsticks brushed with creamy mustard, coated with crushed whole-wheat cereal and baked to a crispy golden brown.
3 tablespoons bottled light Italian salad dressing
1. Heat oven to 400 F. Spray 15 1/2-by10 1/2-inch jelly-roll pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Remove skin from chicken drumsticks. On waxed paper, mix cereal and parsley flakes. In small bowl, mix creamy mustard blend and salt.
3. Brush each drumstick with mustard mixture; coat with cereal mixture, then place in jelly-roll pan.
4. Bake drumsticks 30 minutes or until coating is crisp and juices run clear when chicken is pierced with tip of knife.
5. While chicken is cooking, thinly slice radishes and olives. In large bowl, toss radishes, olives, watercress and dressing.
6. To serve, arrange salad and drumsticks on platter. Makes 4 servings.
Each serving: About 310 calories, 12g fat, 102mg cholesterol, 1,125mg sodium.
Grilled Asparagus
Grilling asparagus is one of the simplest and tastiest ways to enjoy this late-spring vegetable.
1 pound medium asparagus
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1. Prepare outdoor grill for covered, direct grilling on medium.
2. Trim ends from asparagus. Place asparagus in jelly-roll pan; brush with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer asparagus to grill topper or vegetable basket on hot grill grate. Cover grill and cook asparagus 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly charred and tender, turning occasionally. Serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 4.
* * * For hundreds of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipes/. (c) 2025 Hearst Communications, Inc.
NFL GREATS
1/19 National Popcorn
1/20 Inauguration Day
1/21 National Hugging Day
1/22 Celebration of Life Day
1/23 National Handwriting Day
1/24 Pay Someone a Compliment Day
1/25 Opposite Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Matty’s Big Adventure
Every so often those of us in the business of teaching get a reminder that we still have plenty to learn. For me, that memo came this holiday season, as I trudged through two feet of snow.
A former client of mine got in touch with me and asked whether I was available to fly to the Washington area the week of Christmas and do some continuing training with her two German shepherds I had worked with once before. Oh, and she had a brand-new 6-month-old German shepherd puppy who needed some training, too.
I’m originally from New York, but have lived my last few decades in California, where the weather is beautiful but, with the exception of mountain altitudes, rarely a winter wonderland. The idea of a week with three German shepherds and a snowy vista appealed to me, so I shuffled some things around to make it work.
Upon my arrival, I familiarized myself with the layout of the house and property, and mentally prepared for my mission: It was to be me and the dogs alone for a week in a house set back a good snow-covered mile from the nearest road. The problem with the two older dogs -- both 6 years old and female -- was their aggression toward each other. The pup displayed no signs of this inclination, and the owner wanted to keep it that way.
The first couple of days went great. No fights. No trouble. All three dogs responded to my instruction like the intelligent creatures they are. I kicked back with a cup of hot tea and basked in the glory of a job well done.
On the third morning the older dogs needed to go outside. As the three of us stumbled around in the bitter-cold darkness of 4:30 a.m., a full-grown dogfight broke out, shattering the silence of the still night air. Two fierce German shepherds going at it like wild animals. And me, trying to keep my balance and separate them while in two feet of snow.
I’m no stranger to breaking up dogfights, it’s part of my training and expertise. But this was
purpose is to make us believe something ... and open our wallets. It’s the same with AI-generated videos: to make us believe something is real when it isn’t.
ADVERTISING PROOF
Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
something else. It was dangerous, and I was scared.
Final Changes DUE: 5:00 p.m.. Please review carefully.
The year is off to a roaring start when it comes to scams. To hear the experts tell it, we have AI to thank for a lot of it. Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is enhancing some of the scams that were already out there and creating more as the technology increases.
Our goal: to get through 2025 without losing a single dollar to these scheming crooks. Last month the FBI put out an alert focusing on scams created by artificial intelligence and ways to protect ourselves.
AI-generated text creates fake social media profiles, emails, websites and texts that push financial frauds like investment and romance schemes to trick us into sending money or disclosing personal information.
AI-generated pictures can include fake driver’s licenses or credentials for fake law enforcement. As an indication of how low they’ll go, AI can even create fake pictures of natural disasters that tug at our heartstrings and convince us to open our wallets and send money.
AI-generated audio can impersonate public figures or our loved ones and, again, the
No. 1 on the FBI’s list of ways to protect ourselves is to have a secret word or phrase within your family to verify their identity. As always, if you’re suspicious about a call you receive, hang up. Don’t send anyone you don’t know any cash or gift cards. Don’t post your photos online. If they’re online now, take them down.
As a start in staying safe from AI, search online for “how to spot AI text” so you can learn to recognize it. Then look for images and audio. Get up to speed on the different ways AI can fool you. Sadly, we need to be wary at all times 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.
While making another attempt to pull them apart, I fell flat on my back. In that moment, I remember lying in the dark, the sting of snowflakes on my face, the sound of raw violence above my head, thinking: This is it. Here lies Matty. Dog trainer. Dog lover. Dog food.
Miraculously, I was able to get myself up, pull them apart and calm everyone down. Well, almost everyone. Once we were back inside, I stretched out on the bed in preparation for the oncoming cardiac arrest. And as I lay supine, certain of its imminence, the phone rang: The owner decided she wanted to spend Christmas with the puppy. Would I mind walking the pup to the roadside so she could have a friend swing by and grab him?
The puppy! Where was the puppy??
After a short search I found young Shep in the mudroom, along with my snow boots -- now soleless, tongueless, laceless and toeless. And for dessert, he’d eaten his leash. I could only stare at him, my mouth agape. He stared back at me as if to say, “See, Uncle Matty? You don’t know everything.”
I called my wife: “You won’t believe what happened. The dog ate my boots.”
She said, “That’s the kind of stuff that makes people call you.”
She was right. While I was wrestling with two out-of-control canines, the third dog I was training was feasting on my boots. This lesson had ample time to sink in as I schlepped the young pup in my arms across the snow-covered mile to the road with my frozen feet stinging in my toeless boots.
Woof!
The seller will also be your lender!! Learn more today and contact Realtor Kenneth Williamson, DRE #02239828
* * *
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
Turning Full Retirement Age in 2025? Consider Filing for Benefits This Month
I write a column like this one every January. But I don’t mind plagiarizing myself, because it contains a very important message for people planning to retire in 2025.
January is a critical month for the hundreds of thousands of potential Social Security beneficiaries who are reaching their full retirement age in 2025. The important message: All of them should at least consider the possibility of filing for their benefits this month, even though they may not be reaching their retirement age until later in the year.
Please note that if you want to delay filing for your Social Security benefits until 70 to get the “delayed retirement credit” of about 30% added to your monthly benefits, then you should forgo the procedure discussed in this column. Also, if you’re one of those people who absolutely insists on waiting until your FRA to file for benefits, then forget this column’s message.
But if you are open to the possibility of increasing your benefit payout for 2025, you may want to consider filing for benefits in January.
The reason for this early filing timeframe has to do with some quirky and complicated features of Social Security’s earnings penalty provisions. Those provisions generally keep seniors who are still working off of Social Security’s rolls until they reach that magic full retirement age.
The law essentially says if you are over 62 but under your full retirement age and are still working full time, you are not eligible for Social Security. Specifically, the rules require that the Social Security Administration deduct $1 from any retirement benefits you might be due for every $2 you earn over $23,400 in 2025.
However, the rules say that once you reach your full retirement age, you are due full Social Security benefits even if you are still working and no matter how much money you are making.
Let’s follow an example. Let’s say Ed was born in December 1958, which means he’ll reach his full retirement age of 66 and 8 months in July 2025. And let’s say Ed generally makes about $80,000 per year and that he plans to continue working indefinitely. Based on the earnings penalty rules I briefly outlined above, Ed figures he must wait until July (his full retirement age) to begin collecting his Social Security benefits. As I said, at that magical point, the earnings penalty rules no longer apply, and he can get his Social Security. And prior to that, he’s making way more than the $23,400 income threshold.
But here is why Ed should check into applying for Social Security in January. Congress set up a more lenient earnings threshold for the year you reach your full retirement age. Specifically, it says you can earn up to $62,160 between January and the month you reach your full retirement age and still get Social Security benefits. And even if you earn more than $62,160, you lose only $1 from your benefits for every $3 you exceed that threshold.
Let’s say Ed is going to make about $41,000 between January and June (i.e., before he reaches the magic age of 66 and 8 months in July). That’s
under the $62,160 threshold for 2025, which means Ed is due benefits beginning in January. He does NOT have to wait until July to apply for his Social Security checks.
But there is a bit of a catch. By starting his benefits in January, Ed will be accepting a slightly reduced amount. (Benefits are reduced roughly one-half of 1% for each month they are taken before full retirement age.)
If Ed’s Social Security benefit at full retirement age is $3,000 per month, let’s look at his options.
Ed’s first option is to wait until July to start his Social Security benefits. He’ll get $3,000 per month for six months, or $18,000 for the year 2025.
Ed’s second option is to file for Social Security in January. Starting his benefits slightly early, his monthly rate is reduced to about $2,900. That comes out to $34,800 in total benefits for the year 2025. The downside to option two is his ongoing monthly benefit rate will be $100 less than what he would have been getting in option one. But because he’d be getting about $16,800 less in 2025 benefits if he chose option one, it would take Ed a long time to make up that loss with his extra $100 per month in ongoing benefits.
Even if Ed were going to make more than the $62,160 income threshold between January and June, he would only lose $1 in Social Security benefits for each $3 he exceeded that amount. So he still might come out ahead by filing in January.
Please note that this strategy generally only works for those who turn full retirement age in early to mid 2025 and whose earnings prior to reaching FRA are at least close to the $62,160 limit. In other words, if you will make a lot more than $62,160 before your full retirement age, or if you reach your FRA later in the year, you should probably just wait until your FRA month to file for your Social Security benefits.
Here is one other consideration. If you are waiting until your full retirement age (or even later) to start benefits in order to give your spouse a higher widows or widowers benefit when you die, then forget this procedure. That’s because any reduction you take in your retirement rate will carry
1. The book of Hebrews is found in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither
2. In Matthew 16:23, to whom did Jesus. say, "Get thee behind me, Satan"? a) Demonic spirit b) Rizpah c) Peter d) Judas
3. Who was stoned to death for preaching that Jesus is the Savior? a) Philip b) Stephen c) Paul d) Andrew
4. How many men did Nebuchadnezzar see walking in the fiery furnace? a) One b) Three c) Four d) Five
5. According to Luke 2:4, what town was known as "The City of David"? a) Antioch b) Nazareth c) Nimrod d) Bethlehem
6. From biblical accounts, who could be called "Mr. Patience"? a) Moses b) Job c) Daniel d) Paul
(Answers on page 16)
or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com
over to your spouse’s eventual survivors benefit. I know these rules are complicated, and the math in the examples above might be difficult to follow. But my overall message is easy to follow: If you’re reaching your full retirement age in early to mid 2025, you might want to talk to a Social Security representative sometime this month to find out if it’s to your advantage to file for your benefits to start in January.
A word of caution: Many readers in the past told me that when they tried to file in January, Social Security Administration representatives told them they could not do so. Sadly, far too many SSA agents are unfamiliar with how these rules work. If you run into the same problem, ask to speak to a supervisor.
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 2025 CREATORS.COM
Steroid Injections Provide Amazing Relief From Shingles Pain
DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent column on shingles. I am 66 and in fairly good health. I had both Shingrix shots about five years ago and take hydroxyurea for polycythemia vera (PV).
Around Aug. 1, I noticed some spots on my forearm that appeared to be a spider bite. I went to my family doctor, and she immediately diagnosed me with shingles and put me on gabapentin, which didn’t help much. The next month was complete misery.
I never really had itching or an extensive rash, but intense pain and burning developed from the top of my neck down to my left thumb and forefinger. My wife read that hydroxyurea lowers your immune system, which is probably why I had such a bad case of shingles despite the Shingrix shots.
My cousin is a retired anesthesiologist and recommended an epidural steroid injection (ESI) that would help me immediately. I had the injection, and within 24 hours, I had an 80% improvement in my pain level. Over the next month, the pain decreased another 10% to 15%. I went from being almost incapacitated to being able to live again in 24 hours. The outcome was life-changing!
It seems that doctors need to be brought up to date on ESIs for shingles. I understand that the studies are inconclusive, but the on-the-ground results seem to show that it is effective. The pain from shingles has to be experienced to really understand how debilitating it can be. ESIs are fairly inexpensive, and even if they only helped slightly, they would be worth the cost. To have the improvement I found is priceless. -- Anon.
ANSWER: I often recommend the vaccine to prevent shingles, but as your case shows, the vaccine isn’t perfect. I agree that your PV and its treatment with hydroxyurea may have predisposed you to the complication of shingles you had, called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). You are quite right that the pain can be extraordinarily severe.
I am glad you wrote because steroid injections are not a treatment that I have written about before. As you say, not all trials found a benefit, but the largest trial found that intrathecal injections (which are similar to epidural injections but are found to be more effective in a small trial) led to excellent or good pain relief in 90% of people with intractable PHN, compared to 4% in people who didn’t receive treatment.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a healthy 50-year-old man. When I was at the pharmacy recently, they said I could get a vaccine for pneumonia. Is this something I should do? -- S.I.
ANSWER: The pneumonia vaccine at age 50 is a new recommendation by the Advisory M.D.
Committee on Immunization Practices. The risk for developing severe pneumonia from the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae starts to increase at age 50 and becomes much higher after 65. The new vaccines (PCV20 and PCV21 under the brand name Prevnar) have long-lasting protection for many strains of this bacterial species. If you haven’t had this vaccine and are over 50, you should consider it during your next visit. (It’s OK to get the vaccine at the same time as the flu or COVID vaccines.)
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
When the Punishment Does Not Fit the Crime
I had to read the sentence three times before I understood that it really did say what I thought it did: A Department of Veterans Affairs nurse stole pain drugs from dying patients and got a slap on the wrist.
The name was familiar, and I realized that yes, I’d written about this nurse earlier this year when she pleaded guilty to diverting the drugs. I said at the time that the maximum possible sentence of four years was way too short for the crimes.
Specifically, this nurse would take the pain drugs intended for patients in intensive care and only give a partial dose. She would take the rest of the dose herself and falsify the medical records.
She did this to one patient alone 19 times in nine days. She even volunteered to care for a certain patient just so she could steal his drugs.
The three drugs in question were hydromorphone (which is two to eight times stronger than morphine), fentanyl (which is 50-100 times more potent than morphine and heroin) and oxycodone -- all high-power medications for serious pain.
Can you imagine being the patient who needed the pain relief, didn’t get it, and suffered solely because of your nurseʼs selfish theft?
As someone who once had surgery that required morphine afterward for pain control, I can’t imagine the horror of experiencing pain and not getting relief from medication that your doctor has ordered ... because the nurse wanted it instead for her own selfish purposes.
And I said at the time, four possible years in prison for these crimes would not be enough. But now she’s finally been sentenced, and what did she get for punishment? Two years of probation. And that’s what I had to read three times, because surely it didn’t really say that -- except it did. And of that two years, the first six months will be home confinement.
I wish someone would explain to me how hanging out at home for a few months and then being free on probation is anywhere near the right punishment for these egregious crimes.
Our legal system is broken.
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.
-- by Jim Miller
The Surprising Dangers of Earwax
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I’ve heard that excessive earwax can cause serious health problems in elderly seniors. What can you tell me about this? -- Caregiving Daughter
Dear Caregiving: It’s true! Medical studies have found that excessive amounts of earwax can indeed cause problems in elderly seniors. The findings include hearing loss or ringing in your ears. Some people experience vertigo, which increases the risk of falling. And there’s also a correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline and depression.
Earwax – which is not really wax at all, but a substance called cerumen that binds with dirt, dust and debris – is normally produced by the body as a way to clean and protect the ears. In most people, the self-
cleaning process works fine. But in others, including more than 30 percent of elderly people, the wax collects to the point where it can completely block or impact the ear canal.
Those that are most affected are elderly seniors, especially those living in nursing homes or assisted living centers that provide substandard hygiene. And those highest at risk are hearing-aid users because the devices push wax down into the canal.
Earwax Removal
Usually, earwax moves up and out on its own, so the best way to control it is to leave it alone. But that advice can backfire for those who accumulate excessive amounts of earwax.
The symptoms of an earwax problem can include an earache, a feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, an ear infection, ear itchiness, or cough due to pressure from the blockage stimulating a nerve in the ear.
If you or your elderly loved ones experience any of these symptoms, try using a softening agent to help the wax leave the ear or to remove it more easily.
If you prefer the natural route, try baby oil or mineral oil. Using an eyedropper, apply a drop or two into your ear, tilting your head so that the opening of the ear is pointing up toward the ceiling. Stay in that position for a minute or two to let the fluid flow down to the waxy buildup. Then tilt your head in the opposite direction to let the fluid and wax drain out.
Or try an over-the-counter earwax removal solution or kit, which are sold in most pharmacies. Solutions may contain oil or hydrogen peroxide, and some kits include a bulb syringe that you squeeze to flush your ear with warm water, if needed.
You may need to repeat this wax-softening and irrigation procedure several times before getting rid of the excess earwax. If, however, the symptoms don’t improve after a few treatments, you need to see an audiologist or ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor to have the wax removed.
Earwax removal is one of the most
common ENT procedures performed. They have
It might be tempting to poke a cotton swab, bobby pin, pencil or finger into your ear to get the gunk out, but don’t go digging. Yes, it will remove some of the wax, but it also may likely push the rest of it deeper into the ear canal and increase your risk of injuring your eardrum, only making the problem worse.
ANTIQUE
JUNQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators
Amberina Is the Gold Standard
Q: Enclosed is a photo of a small Amberina glass pitcher. It stands 6 inches tall and is in perfect condition. It shades from deep yellow at the base to red at the top. I recently paid $18 for it at an antiques shop in Maine. The dealer said it was made in 1890. Anything you can tell me about my pitcher will be appreciated.
A: Your Amberina glass pitcher is an example of Early American Pattern Glass and is very collectible. Joseph Locke of New England Glass Company patented the Amberina formula in 1883.
The color was achieved by adding gold to a compound that was used in firing. New England Glass Company granted licenses to several other glass companies to permit them to produce Amberina glass. It has also been made by Fenton, Blenko and Boyd Art Crystal. Newer pieces don’t have the rich color and gradual shading.
Your circa 1890 Amberina pitcher can be found selling in antiques shops and eBay in the range of $40 to $60.
Q: I have enclosed a drawing of the mark that is seen on the back of a plate that was my mother’s. She always used it as the “Birthday Plate.” If it was your birthday, you dinner was served on it. The plate is white and decorated with brown flowers and leaves that look like ink drawings.
I would appreciate anything you can tell me about my plate.
A: Colonial Pottery was made by F. Winkle and Co., which was located in Stoke, Staffordshire, England, from 1890 to 1931. “Grace” is the name of the pattern, and it is a transfer print. Your plate was made sometime between 1890 and 1925. It would probably be worth $25 to $35.
Q: I have a framed photo of Shirley Temple holding a dog when she was a little girl. She looks gorgeous with all her curls! I would like to know what it is worth because I’d like to sell it.
A: Without more information, it can be difficult to provide accurate information. There were many different photos of Shirley Temple holding a dog. Whether the frame is original, what kind of dog she is holding, and what she is wearing are a few of the details that are important. Most photos of her and a dog sell in the range of $25 to $50. That being said, there is one early 1930s photo of her with a terrier dog that is valued at $450.
* * *
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
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
* On Jan. 20, 1973, Jerry Lee Lewis, aka “The Killer,” made an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, declaring, “I am a rock-and-rollin’, country-and-western, rhythm-and-blues singing [expletive deleted]!” before launching into his set, which notably included all the rock-and-roll classics he’d promised Opry officials not to play. Shunned by the pop music world following his controversial second marriage to his teenage cousin Myra Gale Brown, Lewis had staged a successful comeback with country music.
* On Jan. 21, 1959, Carl Switzer, aka the cowlick-sporting, warbly-voiced Alfalfa of the beloved “Our Gang” film series, was fatally shot by Moses Stiltz during an altercation over a debt Switzer believed he was owed by Stiltz.
* On Jan. 22, 1981, Annie Leibovitz’s final portrait of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, hit newsstands, a month and a half after Lennon’s assassination by Mark David Chapman.
* On Jan. 23, 1984, Hulk Hogan defeated World Wrestling Federation champion Iron Sheik and earned his first WWF title at New York City’s Madison Square Garden when he also became the first wrestler to escape Sheik’s signature move, the “camel clutch.”
* On Jan. 24, 1956, Look magazine published the confessions of J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant, who were acquitted in the previous year’s abduction and murder of Emmett Till, a Black teen from Chicago. The men were reportedly paid $4,000 for their participation in the article.
* On Jan. 25, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the first national Revolutionary War memorial, honoring Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, who died during an assault in Quebec nearly a month earlier. The monument was crafted by King Louis XV’s personal sculptor, Jean-Jacques Caffieri, after he was hired for the job by Benjamin Franklin.
* On Jan. 26, 1961, about a week after his inauguration, President John F. Kennedy appointed orthopedist Janet Travell as his personal physician, making her the first woman in history to hold that post. Following Kennedy’s assassination, she retained her position and became President Lyndon B. Johnson’s personal doctor.
"I think it's time to speak to you, Howard, about your abuse of the breakroom privileges."
Amberina glass was made by New England Glass Company.
Colonial Pottery was made in Staffordshire, England.
from page 3
been glued to the rooftop using an adhesive that deteriorated when wet. Moisture had run into the steel support girders, causing them to rust. The weakened structure then collapsed all at once under the prodigious load of heavy snow.
• Blame was spread among various individuals, city departments and involved companies, with token punishments handed out, but no single source could be held solely responsible.
• In 2007, the remains of the entire complex were demolished. A new sports complex was built. A memorial now stands in that location with a plaque bearing the names of those who died.
FATAL FLIGHT
• The U.S. figure skating team of 1961 featured both women and men who were at the top of their game. The team was the first that was ever featured on CBS’s “Sunday Sports Spectacular.”
• The World Figure Skating Championships were being hosted in Prague, Czechoslovakia that year. On February 15, 72 people boarded a Boeing 707 bound for the event, consisting of 18 skaters, 16 coaches and family members, and 38 other passengers and crew.
• The plan was to fly to Brussels and then switch to a connecting flight that would take them to Prague. However, the captain overshot the runway in Brussels and pulled up to make a routine missed approach for a another try.
• But something went terribly wrong as the plane, still at a low altitude, suddenly overbanked and plummeted into a cabbage field. The crash killed all on board, as well as a farmer in his field.
• While it's thought that it was either pilot error or a mechanical failure of one of the flight-control mechanisms, the exact cause of the crash was never determined,
• The loss of the country’s top skaters was devastating. The championship events were immediately canceled that year.
• However, the publicity surrounding the tragedy drew a new interest in ice skating and encouraged other youngsters to try their hand at the sport.
• One of those youngsters was a 12-year-old named Peggy Fleming, whose coach was among those killed in the crash. She went on to win five U.S. titles, three World titles, and the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics.
Game Changers
by Jason Jenkins
Knuckle It Up
Making any change to your golf game can be a difficult one, especially if it involves the grip. Yet, if the majority of amateur golfers would take that investment to improve their hand position, it would reap benefits for games to come.
The left hand is a particular problem for most golfers due to the natural tendencies to position it improperly. A poor left hand grip has the thumb separate from the forefinger, wrist barely turned to show one knuckle, and is gripped mostly in the palm. Very few players can get away with such a poor position.
In order to correct the hand position, attempt to achieve the opposite of the aforementioned: Connect the thumb to the forefinger area slightly, turn the wrist to show at least three knuckles, and grasp the club more in the fingers. If you can simply go from one knuckle to three, you’ll usually see an improvement in ball flight control. Mark your glove on the knuckles to be more aware of the hand’s position.
By taking a “stronger” left hand grip position, the chances of eliminating the slice and poorly struck shots will be greatly enhanced.
name for fasciculation?
The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.
by Linda Thistle
10. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin term “magnum opus” mean? Answers
