Vol. 19: #18 • Misused Words and Phrases • (4-30-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

by Kathy Wolfe

You’ve probably been using common words and phrases incorrectly all your life and not even been aware of it. If that's your case, you belong to a unique group of people called everyone. This week Tidbits is armed with a dictionary and a knuckle-rapping ruler, and takes on the role of Grammar Police. Prepare to get set straight on some expressions that many of us misuse in our everyday verbal and written communications. So read on, shape up - and learn!

• The next time you tell a friend that you just thought of something you “should of” done, hopefully you’ll remember that the correct way to say it is, “I should HAVE done that.” And be sure you don’t say, “I have something I’m suppose to do today.” It’s SUPPOSED to be said differently! If you continue talking to that friend, you’re not “conversating,” you’re “conversing.”

• If you’re going on vacation, and your friend asks you to bring him back a “momento,” what he really means is a “memento,” which is a keepsake or souvenir. There’s no such English word as “momento.”

1. If your shirt is torn, do you “try to mend it” or “try and mend it” ?

2. When you're starving do you have hunger pains or hunger pangs?

3. If you offer counsel or instruction to a co-worker, is it “advise” or “advice” ?

4. Is giving someone extra space or freedom giving them “leadway” or “leeway”?

5. Which is correct -- “for who” or “for whom”?

JOSEPH MYATT

• Joseph Myatt was born in 1771 in Staffordshire, England. He began working as a gardener as soon as he was old enough to get a job. As the years passed, his skills and knowledge increased, and he moved up into better and better jobs. By the time he was 30, he was head gardener at a large country estate.

• In 1810, he moved with his wife and children to take a position as head gardener for an estate called Rosewood Park.

• Around this time, there was a cultural shift in English landscape gardening, which moved away from the formal European-style to a more natural pastoral style. The owner of Rosewood Park indulged in all the lastest garden trends. Joseph Myatt gained valuable horticultural experience.

• This was about the time that the middle class was born. Now everyone wanted gardens on their little plots of land, while owners of estates were on the lookout for something new. Joseph Myatt left his gardening job and went into the business of growing and selling plants. He was 45 years old when he opened his market garden on the outskirts of London.

• His main income came from raising fruits and vegetables which he sold to the markets of London. His sideline was raising exotic plants. But his expertise was in propagating plants and improving their strains. New and improved varieties of onion, cabbage, and potato still carry his name today. By this time his children were helping run the business.

and expensive, became affordable due to the expansion of trade with the British empire.

• When Joseph Myatt discovered that rhubarb stalks, when minced and stewed with sugar, made an excellent pie, he was ridiculed for being the person who invented “laxative pie.”

• Myatt persisted. He heard about a gardener who accidentally discovered that if the rhubarb plant was completely covered with manure and kept in darkness, the resulting rhubarb stalks would be much sweeter. Myatt worked to improve rhubarb, eventually coming up with a sweeter and much more palatable strain.

• When he sent his sons to market with bundles of rhubarb stalk, they failed to sell well until he had the marketing idea of including a recipe with every bundle sold. Sales took off.

• Now Myatt moved to a larger farm, and began specializing in growing strawberries. Strawberries grew wild and had never been deliberately cultivated. Myatt changed that. He worked to make them large, sweet, and prolific enough to warrant commercial production. This endeavor was extremely successful, and he won a medal for his work in 1832. Myatt began selling strawberry plants to other gardeners, and the strawberry-rhubarb pie was born.

1. MOVIES: Which movie gave actor Tom Hanks his first Oscar?

2. SCIENCE: Apollo astronauts reported that the Moon smelled like what substance?

3. GEOGRAPHY: How many stars are on the Australian flag?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president killed a man who insulted him in a duel?

5. MUSIC: Which pop group produced the hit song “God Only Knows”?

6. TELEVISION: “The Brady Bunch” features how many blended family members?

7. LANGUAGE: What is the official language of the United States?

8. U.S. STATES: What is the state capital of Rhode Island?

9. ASTRONOMY: Which is the only planet in our solar system that is not named after a god or goddess?

10. FOOD & DRINK: What is a cheese connoisseur called?

Answers

1. “Philadelphia.”

• He was in his 50s when he started experimenting with rhubarb, after purchasing some rootstock from a botanist who imported it from Russia. At that time it was a rare and exotic plant, considered to be for medicinal purposes only. A powder made from the red stalks of the plant was used as a laxative sold by apothecaries.

• Because the stalks of the rhubarb plant are extremely sour, they were not considered food. But then sugar, which had previously been rare

ADVERTISING PROOF

• By 1861, the business called Joseph Myatt & Sons owned 120 acres and employed 37 men, 12 women, and ten young boys.

• As railroads expanded, it became easier and easier to ship produce to market. A winemaker in Somerset, England began ordering huge shipments of rhubarb to make wine. Myatt prospered and became a prominent businessman.

• Joseph Myatt died at Manor Farm in 1855 at the age of 84, but his unique gardening experiments have forever improved the produce delicacies we enjoy today. □

2. Burnt gunpowder.

3. Six.

Week of April 30, 2023

Misused Words: (from page one)

• Step up to the coffee bar and order an “expresso,” and you won’t be ordering coffee! The correct term, “espresso,” has its origins in the Italian language. It’s from their word for “pressed out,” referring to the process of making coffee under steam pressure. One of the first espresso machines was patented in 1901, and could make a cup of coffee in about 45 seconds

• Lots of folks don’t know the difference between “affect” and “effect.” If something affects you, it might upset you, move you, touch you emotionally, or distress you. In other words, it may have an effect on you, in the form of consequences, influence, or outcome. “Affect” is a verb, and in most cases, “effect” is a noun. However, to further confuse the issue, “effect” can also be a verb, when it means something that causes, provokes, or brings about a result. Got all that?

• Now and then in a written communication, you might see the words, “It didn’t even phase me.” What the writer is really trying to convey is, “It didn’t even faze me,” meaning something

didn’t discourage or surprise the writer at all.

• How many times have you heard someone say, “I could care less about that”? That means the person is actually saying he or she could care less. If one is really at the lowest level of caring about something, he or she should really say, “I couldn’t care less about that!”

• Has something exciting grabbed your attention lately? Perhaps you think that it “peaked your interest.” The appropriate phrase is “piqued your interest.” The word “pique” means to cause a feeling of interest or curiosity.

• Do you know the difference between “regardless” and irregardless”? How about this: The difference is that one is a word, and the other one isn’t! The word “regardless” means “without regard.” Adding the “ir” at the beginning simply makes it a double negative, giving “irregardless” the clumsy meaning of “without-without regard.” Some argue that “irregardless” is indeed a word, with the same meaning as “regardless.” So some dictionaries have even given “irregardless” an entry because its continued misuse has become so common. This technically makes it an official word, even though it’s use is considered incorrect and “nonstandard.”

"Grammar is to a writer what anatomy is to a sculptor or the scales to a musician. You may loathe it, it may bore you, but nothing will replace it, and once mastered it will support you like a rock."

B.J. Chute

• If someone refers to something as being a moot point, it might mean that it’s unimportant, not worth talking about, or inconsequential. Or it might be a question that no one will ever be able to answer. However, if that person calls it a mute point, it’s incorrect usage. “Mute” means “silent,” and it rhymes with “cute.” “Moot” rhymes with boot, and means it does not at all apply to the matter being discussed.

• If you have a good friend who is available to help you out at any time, he or she is at your “beck and call,” not “beckoned call,” a phrase that is frequently misused. And if you did something you didn’t mean to do, it was “by” accident, not “on” accident.

• Let’s set the record straight on the word “there” and its homophones.The word “there” indicates a place, such as, “It’s over there.” The word “their” signifies possession, for example, “That is their house.” “They’re” is a contraction of

the words “they are,” as seen in the sentence, “They’re on vacation.”

• Perhaps an acquaintance has asked you to “borrow him some money.” You should say no to this request, but if you are so inclined to grant him some cash, tell him you could LOAN him some money! We borrow from, but loan to

Misused Words: Turn to page 15

1. Which word, conscience or conscious, means "awake?"

2. Which word, stationary or stationery, refers to writing paper?

1.What’s

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

"It's" and "its" are another pair that are frequently misused. "It's" is a contraction of either "it is" or "it has." When writing to an old friend, you should write, "It's been a long time." Or you could email a friend, "It's raining here today." "Its" is a possessive pronoun indicating what belongs to someone. For example, "The wolf stalked its prey."

2.What

1.VERNALEQUINOX

2.CROCUS

--

By Lucie Winborne

* Pixar required its entire staff to take a graduate-level ichthyology (the branch of zoology that studies fish) class to help improve the authenticity of “Finding Nemo.”

* Television inventor Philo Farnsworth got the idea for how the medium would work when he was just 14 -- and while plowing potatoes. He built the first working prototype seven years later, but died at 64 in relative obscurity due to a series of legal battles.

* A 20-year-old gallon of McDonald’s McJordan BBQ Sauce sold for $10,000 simply because it had Michael Jordan’s name on it.

* A lobster’s brain is located in its throat, its nervous system in its abdomen, its teeth in its stomach, and its kidneys in its head! It also hears using its legs, tastes with its feet, and tends to favor one front limb, meaning it can be right-clawed or left-clawed.

* After the Comstock Laws banned birth control in 1873, the makers of Trojan condoms found a way around that restriction by selling the prophylactics as a protection against STDs.

* Queen is the only band in which each member individually wrote more than one No. 1 hit.

* In North Korea, anyone who cuts down trees or starts a forest fire in protected areas could face the death penalty.

* When Joseph Stalin’s first wife died, he said: “This creature softened my heart of stone. She died, and with her died my last warm feelings for humanity.” He would go on to execute her brother, her sister and her cousin.

* No one actually “won” the war of 1812.

* Chicago was raised over four feet with screw jacks in the 19th century in order to install the U.S.’s first sewer system.

by Mary Hunt

This Is What Happens When Financially Immature Students Get a Credit Card

data and a variety of studies indicate that parents who bail a kid out of credit card debt once are far more likely to do it again!

May I step in here with some unsolicited advice? Don’t do it. Don’t bail her out, even if you feel you can afford it.

Unless your daughter has to suffer the consequences of her actions, she will not learn. Even if you were to bail her out now, I predict that within two years she will be $5,000 in credit card debt. Unless she does the hard work to repay her debt, she will not learn from her mistake.

You don’t want to see bankruptcy and/ or divorce in her future, but that’s exactly where she’s headed if this serious problem isn’t addressed now.

by Mary Hunt

Our kids are fortunate to be growing up in the most progressive and exciting time in history. Sadly, the very culture that offers them the world is also perpetrating this lie: “You are entitled to have everything you want, even if you don’t have the money to pay for it. It’s not a problem. You deserve it. Get it now, and you can pay for it later!”

There’s a huge consumer credit industry out there planning to give your kids their very own credit cards -- personal passports into the abyss of consumer debt. This will not require your permission or approval, something that one reader is experiencing firsthand.

DEAR MARY: My daughter who is in college got a credit card, and now she is in over her head, unable to pay what she owes.

She works part time and makes a very small salary. With the high interest and late fees, the balance is now over $2,500. I hate to do this, but now I will have to step in and handle the account to bail her out.

How can I negotiate with the credit card company to settle for less? I don’t know how she ever got this card in the first place on her salary. She kept quiet about not being able to make the payments until we started getting collection calls for her.

I will appreciate your thoughts and expertise. -- Millie

For parents in your situation who cannot be deterred from performing this kind of financial rescue, there is something monumental they need to ask themselves: Can we afford it?

Frequently, I hear from readers who are facing their own financial problems often a result of trying to help their kids. For certain, parents should not even think about paying off their children’s debts -- or co-signing a loan -- if they don’t have a financially sound retirement plan for themselves already in place.

Unless you have your retirement on track, then to me, that’s the end of the discussion. Retirement pensions aren’t what they used to be. Social Security is not going to provide the same kind of income that it did for previous generations. No one is going to be there to come to the forefront and help you.

As painful as it will be for you to step aside and not rescue your daughter, this could become a valuable "hard knocks" maturing process to allow this child to go through the fire in order to become a responsible adult.

Your daughter may have to drop out of school to go to work full time when she encounters the cold splash of reality that her own willful and careless spending got her into this situation. If she’s really interested and seriously committed to getting an education, she’ll be back.

That may sound harsh, but she has to understand how unacceptable this is and that no one is going to bail her out.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc

Herman Melville

Thought for the Day: “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” --

Dear Millie: Honestly, I doubt very much that anyone will speak with you at customer service because you are not on the account. If your daughter wants to add you to the account, that might be an option. And I’m sure the company may welcome that, particularly if it has had a lot of trouble working with her.

Credit card issuing companies give young people who are enrolled in college outlandish lines of credit because they know full well that most parents will rescue their kids if they overextend themselves, and not just one time. Recent

Lastly, make sure you are ready to offer lots of emotional support and encouragement. And it wouldn’t hurt to have counseling resources handy when she is ready to accept help.

* * *

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 2023 CREATORS.COM

Here are a few Tidbits morsels that will answer some of those pesky questions you’ve no doubt anguished over for years. Read on and be educated -- so you can finally get on with your life.

• ... hair and fur? The only difference is the usage of the words. Under a microscope there is no chemical difference between hair and fur. But it has become common to refer to all non-human hair as “fur.” If an animal has particularly sparse fur (such as that on an elephant or pig) it may be called “hair” too.

• horns and antlers? Antlers are made of bone. They sprout from the pedicle, a platform-like growth located just above the animal’s skull. Antlers begin growing in the spring and usually reach full size by late summer. Once mating season is over, the male sheds his entire rack. Horns, on the other hand, grow constantly throughout the life of the animal and are never

shed. Horns consist of tubular filaments of keratin, the same substance found in human hair and nails.

• a squad and a platoon? In army terminology, a squad consists of up to a dozen people. Squads can be combined to form a platoon. A platoon consists of 20 to 40 soldiers. Put three to five platoons together and you’ve got a company, and companies are grouped together to form battalions.

• sparkling wine and champagne? All champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is champagne. In order for it to be call champagne, the product must be made in France, and it must be made in the so-called traditional method (méthode traditionelle). If it’s not made this way, it can’t be called champagne and is simply sparkling wine (le vin sparkling).

• a hurricane and a typhoon? Both are tropical storms with winds above 74 mph. The only distinction is that the storms are called hurricanes if they occur in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, or eastern Pacific Ocean. Elsewhere, they’re referred to as typhoons. As a rule, typhoons tend to be stronger than hurricanes. The warm water of the western Pacific Ocean provides better conditions for the development of powerful storms.

• ... a boat and a ship? In this case, size matters. A ship is defined as any motorized craft designed for ocean or deepwater transport. A boat, on the other hand, is any watercraft that is physically small enough to be carried aboard and transported by a ship.

• a pig and a hog? While the two words are often interchangeable, there is a distinction. In the U.S., a pig is a younger domesticated swine weighing less than 120 lbs. Once a pig becomes sexually mature and exceeds 120 lbs. in weight, it becomes a hog.

• regular and premium gasoline? Regular gas has an octane rating of 87 (or 89 for “midgrade”), while premium petrol has an octane rating of 91 or 92. Higher-octane gasoline is

formulated to burn more slowly than regular gas, and thus is less likely to make your engine knock or ping.

• ... a lawyer and an attorney? Although the two words can be used interchangeably, they technically have different meanings. A lawyer is someone who has been trained in the law and is authorized to give legal advice. An attorney is someone who is legally empowered to act on the behalf of another person. Most in the field refer to themselves as “Attorney-at-Law” to avoid any confusion.

PonderBits

I always thought the dryer made my clothes shrink. Turns out it's the regrigerator.

Have you ever noticed that all the scientific instruments looking for intelligent life are pointed away from the Earth?

I think I'll invent a combination of laxative and alphabet soup. I'm going to call it Letter Rip.

MON.,

• Alzheimer’s and dementia? While dementia is an all-encompassing term referring to significant memory problems and other cognitive difficulties, Alzheimer’s disease relates to a specific type of dementia. In a nutshell, dementia is a syndrome, and Alzheimer’s is the cause of the symptoms.

• a college and a university? A college is a smaller institution that typically offers undergraduate degrees in four years or less. A “university” is a group of schools for studies after secondary school. At least one of the schools in a university is a college where students may receive a bachelor’s degree. A university also offers advanced studies for students to achieve post-gratuate Masters or PhD degrees. □

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by Dana Jackson

Q: I saw that Betty Gilpin has a new show. Whatever happened to the one on Netflix where she played a wrestler? Did it get canceled? -- H.E.

A: “GLOW,” starring Alison Brie and Betty Gilpin as two friends who become professional women wrestlers in order to pay the bills, was one of those shows canceled too soon. It lasted for three seasons on Netflix and was renewed for a fourth, which was ultimately canceled before filming, reportedly due to COVID restrictions.

The premise is based on the syndicated show “Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling,” aka “GLOW,” which aired on cable TV in the 1980s. It was a combination of athletic wrestling and over-the-top comedic characters. Netflix’s “GLOW” received high praise from critics and the professional wrestling community.

Gilpin’s newest project is headlining her own series -- “Mrs. Davis,” on the Peacock streaming app. It’s a sci-fi drama with an unusual plot about a nun who takes on a powerful form of artificial intelligence, in what Peacock is billing as “an exploration of faith versus technology.” The series’ first four episodes became available on April 20, followed by new episodes every Thursday. ***

Q: What was the name of the 1970s sitcom about a waitress who dated a doctor? I remember it starred the actor from the movie “Airplane!” It’s one of my earliest TV memories as a kid, but I’ve never seen it in reruns. -- N.M.

A: You’re thinking of “Angie,” which ran for two seasons on ABC from 1979 to 1980. It was produced by Garry Marshall (“Happy Days”) and starred Donna Pescow and Robert Hays as a coffee shop waitress and pediatrician who fall in love. Future “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Doris Roberts played Angie’s mother.

Before getting her own show, Pescow was best known for playing Annette in “Saturday Night Fever” and later for her daytime soap roles on “All My Children” and “General Hospital.” Her most recent credit is an episode of Hulu’s “Welcome to Chippendales.”

Actor Robert Hays is now 75 years old and has had a long career in Hollywood. His first movie role was the hilarious classic “Airplane!” in 1980, but prior to that, he guest-starred on multiple pri-

metime shows before landing “Angie.” His last role in a major production was playing Capt. Bob Wilson in the TV movie “Sharknado 2: The Second One,” in 2014. ***

Q: Is Trisha Yearwood going to record a new album anytime soon? I love her cooking show, but miss her as a singer. -- W.W.

A: Country singer Trisha Yearwood’s last studio album was “Every Girl” in 2019. It included collaborations with her husband -- singer Garth Brooks -- and Kelly Clarkson. Yearwood decided to pursue her other passion, cooking, a decade ago with her own series,”Trisha’s Southern Kitchen,” on the Food Network, which won a Daytime Emmy Award a year later.

Yearwood’s next solo project remains up in the air, but she will be one of the featured singers on her husband’s upcoming album “Duets” later this year.

* * *

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

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

are woven from durable, resilient PVC-Coated Extremely strong it won’t sag or tear under pressure! Our material preforms beautifully in all kinds of weather, is water resistant and can withstand the desert’s intense UV Rays!

1. Split ................................ (PG-13) James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy

1. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (PG) Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy

2. The Pope’s Exorcist (R) Russell Crowe, Daniel Zovatto

2. Rings (PG-13) Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe

3. A Dog’s Purpose (PG) Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid

3. John Wick: Chapter 4 (R) Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne

4. Hidden Figures (PG) Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer

4. Renfield (R) Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage

5. La La Land (PG-13) Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

5. Air

(R) Matt Damon, Jason Bateman

6. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (PG-13) Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez

6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (R) Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen

7. Suzume (PG) Nanoka Hara, Hokuto Matsumura

7. Sing (PG) animated

8. Lion ................................ (PG-13) Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman

8. Mafia Mamma

(R) Toni Collette, Monica Bellucci

9. The Space Between Us .. (PG-13) Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield

9. Scream VI

10. xXx: Return of Xander

(R) Courteney Cox, Melissa Barrera

Cage .................................... (PG-13)

Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen

10. Nefarious (R) Sean Patrick Flanery, Jordan Belfi

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Betty Gilpin (“GLOW” and “Mrs. Davis”)

Courtesy of Peacock

leaves

Good Recipes from Apple-Brie Pizza

You’re gonna love this easy French-style pizza packed with brie, caramelized onions and apple slices.

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced

1 recipe Easy Homemade Dough, or 1 1/2-pound ball pizzeria dough

1 small Gala or Empire apple, thinly sliced

4 ounces Brie, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

1. In a 12-inch skillet, heat oil on medium. Add onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook 15 minutes or until golden brown and almost tender, stirring occasionally.

2. Heat oven to 475 F. Spread onions on pizza dough. Bake 15 minutes. Top with apple and Brie. Bake 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon pepper and drizzle with vinegar. Garnish with basil.

 Each serving: About 405 calories, 18g fat (4g saturated), 10g protein, 52g carbs, 3g fiber, 530mg sodium.

Beef Tamale Pie

1 cup frozen corn kernels

1/2 (8-ounce) package shredded Mexican cheese blend (1 cup)

1. Heat broiler. Place polenta slices on cookie sheet. Place cookie sheet in broiler at closest position to source of heat and broil 10 to 12 minutes or until polenta is golden on top.

2. Meanwhile, drain beef jus into 12-inch skillet. Add tomatoes with their juice and chili powder; heat to boiling over high heat. Boil 4 to 5 minutes or until sauce thickens. While mixture boils, shred beef with 2 forks. Coarsely chop cilantro.

3. Stir frozen corn and beef into tomato mixture; heat through. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in all but 1 teaspoon cilantro. Arrange polenta over beef mixture; sprinkle with cheese and remaining cilantro. Cover skillet; let stand 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Makes 4 maindish servings.

 Each serving: About 380 calories, 14g total fat (8g saturated), 30g protein, 34g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, 97mg cholesterol, 1,800mg sodium.

* * *

For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our Web site at www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/.

(c) 2019 Hearst Communications, Inc.

ADVERTISING PROOF

This oh-so-good family-friendly dinner takes just 25 minutes to make.

Final Changes DUE: 5:00 p.m..

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Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com

1 log (16 ounces) precooked polenta, cut crosswise into 8 slices

Fax:

1 package (17 ounces) fully cooked beef roast au jus

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chiles

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro

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

Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

760-320-0997

Fax:

Final Changes DUE: 5:00 p.m.. review carefully.

WARNING: Reading Tidbits is habit forming

TIDBITS MIXES UP SOME THREES

Cody’s Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

You’re Not the Don, and It’s Not Personal

Letter from a reader: “Daisy is a 20-pound mutt, female, somewhere between 2 and 4 years old. We also have 6-year-old Labradoodle. We rescued Daisy two years ago from a reservoir near our house. She was on her last leg and has recovered nicely except for one thing: She’s overprotective when anyone or any dog enters our house or yard. If she knows the person or dog, she’s fine once she recognizes them. Otherwise, we can’t settle her down.

“I was watching our neighbor’s dog today, and Daisy was lying next to me. She started growling, and as the neighbor’s dog came closer, Daisy’s growl escalated. I told her to relax, but she started to attack the other dog. I grabbed her -- making sure she knew it was me -- and she turned on me and bit me.

“I responded in anger and approached her with that mindset, which made her even more aggressive toward me. I grabbed Daisy and my pistol and headed toward the woods, but I was just venting. I could never hurt an animal. But I am concerned that Daisy’s aggression will get worse as she gets older. I don’t know whether it’s hereditary or abuse, but I need to help her if possible.”

For a minute there, I thought we were heading for an “Old Yeller” ending -- minus the fateful rabies outbreak as justification.

I called this guy to make sure he had talked himself down from the ledge.

I asked him, “So, did you shoot her?”

He told me no, she’s fine. “I just got so angry.”

Some people reading this will be ready to meet at the town square, tar and feathers in hand. But the truth is, a lot of people get irrationally angry with their dogs when things don’t go their way.

Why are we getting so angry? Why is it the dog’s fault that we don’t understand their behavior? Were it not for this man and his family, Daisy would not be alive. She was seriously injured, unable to walk and in grave danger of starving to death alone in a ditch. He rescued her, got her vital medical attention and nursed her back to health. And don’t think that’s not part of the problem. He did so much for her. Why won’t she just behave for him?

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

3. The Weekly “Brain Breaker”

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

Why Are Seniors Targeted for Scams?

In one year alone, seniors lost over $3 billion to scammers, and it’s gotten worse every year. The 60-69 age group was bad enough, but the dollar losses rose even more after age 70, and much more after age 80.

Why are we targeted? The thieves believe two things about us: They’re convinced we're all rich and have great credit because we've worked our whole lives, and, worst of all, that we'll be too embarrassed to tell anyone we fell for their scam. Those two things alone make us constant targets.

According to a study by Stanford and AARP, all scammers have to do to turn us into victims is raise our emotions. Whether happiness or anger, it doesn’t matter, because either will prod us to hand over our private information or our money.

For example, scammers will say we’ve won a big prize, like the lottery, but to claim that prize we

The Art

DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

The Power of Black

Black coloring is used by designers all over the world. Industrial designers use it to accent shiny and polished metals and to highlight the shape of whatever they are designing. Publishers use black in bold fonts to capture your attention. In interior design, it is used both as an accent and as an entire color scheme. It is a color that is bold, elegant and conveys sophistication. Ever wonder why the most elegant tuxedoes are black? Or why the little black dress is a must in any lady’s wardrobe? The answer is clear: There is power in the color. Black can also represent wealth, style and sexuality.

A shiny black sports car, a black dress -- those are easy. But how do you integrate black into interiors? Well, it is definitely not for the faint of heart. It is only used by extremely confident people and interior designers who love to wow their audiences. A black velvet sofa, a zebra-striped pair of chairs or ebonized wood floors are just some of the ways. See how sexy it can be?

Sometimes black can be used on walls to make a small room look bigger, but conversely, an oversized room can be made to appear more intimate by painting one or more walls black or another dark color. When using black, adding mirrors to reflect a light fixture can be advisable to bounce some light to unexpected places in the room, such as a reflection onto the floor or a flash of light to a corner.

need to send them processing fees in advance. We are blinded by our excitement thinking about that huge prize and our common sense and better judgment flies out the window.

Emotions come into play when a scammer calls pretending to be a grandchild in serious trouble. We’re asked to send money right away. We’re frightened for them, so we do. But the emotional pleas for money don’t end there. Romance scams are huge, and too many lonely seniors willingly send cash to their newfound love interest without questioning it.

Scammers will pretend to be from the IRS and frighten us into paying past due money, and threaten us with jail if we don't send it right away.

The list of scams directed at the elderly is nearly endless: investments, lottery wins, low-cost prescriptions, charities, tech repair, cemetery debts, romance, help signing up for Medicare, auto warranties ... and many more.

Beware. If you allow yourself to be scammed once, they'll be back. You’ll be on their list as an easy mark.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@ gmail.com.

(c) KingFeaturesSyndicate

A great reason to use black as an accent into a room is to make it appear more contemporary and updated. It also adds a touch of mystery and luxury. Black accessories have the power to transform an overly feminine room and assert themselves with a touch masculinity that can result in a well-balanced design. Even the smallest amount of black in a room ups the chic factor of its decor. There is just a cool factor about the color black.

It is also an easy color to decorate with, as it pairs well with almost any color. Black is brilliant with gold, silver and shiny copper. It does well with most bold and full colors such as royal blue, candy apple red, coral pink and even orange. For more somber combinations, black and camel, or even black with brown or tan, can be very chic. Coco Chanel was known for her beautiful, creamy ivory and black shoes, as well as her tailored suits. And let us not forget everyone’s favorite: the classic combination of black and white.

Using black in your decor needn’t mean you are a relative of the Addams Family or in some Goth cult. Adding a dash of leopard print here or there might be a stretch for some, but the results can be quite striking. Some of your friends may not understand, but those who do will compliment you for your bravado and continental sophistication. Try it in your library or den, and your company might never want to leave. It’s just that good.

* * *

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

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

As with children, so it is with dogs. It just doesn’t work that way.

Daisy didn’t bite him because she’s ungrateful. She bit him because he inserted himself into an ongoing act of aggression, prompting her redirection onto him. She didn’t willfully ignore his earlier request that she “relax.” She has no idea what “relax” means because he hasn’t trained her to understand the word.

In his 1969 book “The Godfather,” Mario Puzo wrote of the now legendary Don Corleone: “If a bolt of lightning hit a friend of his, the old man would take it personal.”

For the Don, that philosophy fueled a strategy, one that allowed for no accidents, no misunderstandings, no unintentional slights -- which took all the stress out of deciding whether retaliation was appropriate. It was. Always.

For those of us not in the mafia, living this way makes no sense. And it’s wildly out of place in dealing with our dogs.

On that day, before the other dog and the pistol and after the other dog and the pistol, the story of Daisy and her knight was ongoing. He rescued her, he nursed her, he invited her to stay. Still to come in this story: He deepened his insight into her behavior, he got her trained, and they lived happily ever after.

Woof! * * *

Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.

COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM

Now you can read all the interesting stories, feature columnists, puzzles, quizzes and ads in our current issue, or browse through our archives -- all online. Enjoy Tidbits’ clean, wholesome and entertaining content whenever and wherever you are ...and, of course, it’s free!

"Too much of what is called 'education' is little more than expensive isolation from reality."--Dr.Thomas Sowell

of

SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

The SSN: A History Lesson

Regular readers of my column know that I try to avoid the use of Social Security jargon, abbreviations and acronyms as much as possible. That even goes as far as the name of the agency that runs the Social Security program. Although I must frequently do it, I just don’t like referring to the SSA (that stands for Social Security Administration) because most people have never heard of it. For example, everyone knows the FBI, or the IRS, or NASA. But if I hadn’t just told you that the SSA was the Social Security Administration, would you have known it?

On the other hand, there is one Social Security-related abbreviation that I think almost everyone knows: SSN, which of course stands for the Social Security number. And in today’s column, I’m going to give a little history about that ubiquitous number and the little paper card we all have that displays that number.

People sometimes ask me who got the first Social Security card. And they are also curious to know what the lowest Social Security number ever issued was -- and who got it. They usually assume that the person who got the first Social Security card and the person who got the lowest number are one and the same. But that’s not the case. The history of the SSN makes for an interesting story.

When Social Security numbers were first issued in 1936, the SSA did not yet have a network of field offices, so the agency contracted with the U.S. Postal Service to distribute and assign the first batch of Social Security numbers through its 45,000 local post offices around the country. Of these 45,000 post offices, 1,074 were also designated as “typing centers” where the cards themselves were prepared.

Because of that, the best that SSA historians can say with certainty is that the first SSN was issued sometime in mid-November 1936 from one of those 1,074 post offices to someone whose identity and SSN are unknown. Thousand of Social Security numbers and cards were probably issued on that day, so there is simply no way to tell who got the first one.

The SSA does know, however, who received the Social Security card with the lowest number.

They tried to make a bit of a public relations fuss over it, but it didn’t work out as the agency’s flacks planned.

SSNs were grouped by the first three digits of the number (called the area number) and assigned geographically starting in the Northeast, moving down the Eastern Seaboard and then across the country to the West. Although instead of starting in Maine (the most northeasterly state), they gave “001” numbers to New Hampshire. That’s because the plan was to give card number 001-01-0001 to John G. Winant, who was a former governor of New Hampshire and was at the time the chairman of the Social Security Board (the forerunner of the Social Security Administration). But Winant turned down the honor.

Then it was offered to the head of the agency’s regional office for the northeastern United States, but he also said no. They tried to designate a couple other officials for the alleged honor, but with no luck. In frustration, the agency’s PR people nixed their plans for a ceremonial first “official” SSN recipient. So instead, they just decided to issue card number 001-01-0001 to the first Social Security number applicant from New Hampshire. This proved to be Grace D. Owen of Concord, New Hampshire, who applied for her number on Nov. 24, 1936.

There is one more little twist to this story. If you do some research into old press reports, you may find a story that says the very first Social Security card was issued to John Sweeney of New Rochelle, New York.

What actually happened is this. All the SSN records prepared by post offices were shipped to the SSA’s headquarters in Baltimore. One of their first jobs was to create an official Social Security record (primarily to track earnings) for each SSN issued. When the first batch of SSN records came in from the postal service, the agency’s head of accounting operations pulled the top card off the pile and declared it to be the official first Social Security record. It happened to be card number 055-09-0001 belonging to the aforementioned Mr. Sweeney. The next day, newspapers around the country announced that Sweeney had been issued the first SSN. That wasn’t quite right. It would be more accurate to say that the first Social Security “earnings

record” was established for John Sweeney. But because those records were invisible to the public and the Social Security card was a very visible token of the program, the newspapers overlooked the nuance and John Sweeney had his 15 minutes of fame in 1936.

But neither 001-01-0001 nor 055-09-0001 is the most well-known Social Security number. That honor belongs to 078-05-1120.

In 1938, a wallet manufacturer in New York decided to promote its product by showing how the still relatively new Social Security card would fit into its wallets. The president of the company thought it would be a bright idea to insert a sample for display purposes in each wallet. His next not-so-smart idea was to put a real Social Security number on the display card. The number shown on the card, 078-005-1120, actually belonged to the president’s secretary, a woman named Hilda Witcher.

The wallets were sold by Woolworth stores all over the country. Even though the card was only half the size of a real card, was printed all in red and had the word “specimen” written across the face, many purchasers of the wallet adopted the SSN as their own! In the peak year of 1943, 5,755 people were using Hilda’s number. The SSA acted to eliminate the problem by voiding the number and publicizing that it was incorrect to use it. (Witcher was given a new number.) However, the number continued to be used for many years. In all, over 40,000 people reported what became known as the “Woolworth number” as their SSN. In fact, as late as 1977, 12 people were found to still be trying to use Hilda’s original SSN.

By the way, some of you may be wondering how I could be giving real names and real Social Security numbers in this column. First, the people mentioned have all long since passed away. Second, the SSA has flagged those SSNs (and other famous or infamous numbers) so that if anyone ever tried using them, they would be instantly investigated. * * *

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answers. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.

Final Changes DUE:

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

2. In a fit of jealous rage, what did King Saul throw at David, trying to kill him?

a) Spear b) Dagger c) Club d) Stone

3. From Exodus 1, what were the people of Israel forced to make? a) Chariots

b) Bricks c) Pottery d) Rafts

4. Who was the deceptive future father-inlaw of Jacob? a) Masa b) Jehoram

c) Laban d) Rehu

5. What did Shamgar use to kill six hundred Philistines? a) Lance b) Oxgoad c) Sword d) Club

6. How many deacons were chosen to help the apostles? a) Four b) Seven c) Nine d) Twelve

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

(Answers on page 16)

For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com

© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc. © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Voltaren, which I have also used, but without as much relief. Can you comment on CBD as an alternative treatment for arthritis? -- P.H.A.

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

Patient

With Risk of Breast Cancer Questions Safety of Yearly MRI

DEAR DR. ROACH: Due to a slight genetic risk of breast cancer (my Tyrer-Cuzick Model score was 20.6%), my doctor wants me to get breast MRIs with contrast annually. I am concerned about long-term exposure to the gadolinium-based contrast dye. I’ve learned that this heavy metal is considered safe, but traces of it can be stored in the brain and other body tissues.

I am 49 and in very good health. I also get mammograms annually. I consulted my doctor about spacing out my MRIs every two to three years, but he said I should have an MRI every year. So I could be getting these MRIs for the next 35 or so years. Do the benefits of contrast dye outweigh the harm in a person with my health profile? -- S.A.

ANSWER: I’m afraid I don’t have a good answer for you. It is true that most authorities recommend an intensive breast cancer surveillance program for women at a high risk of breast cancer, in the range of a 20% to 25% lifetime risk. (The average risk for developing breast cancer for a woman born today is estimated to be about 13%.)

The Tyrer-Cuzick model of estimating breast cancer risk tends to give higher estimates than the other commonly used models, such as the BRCAPRO. Other models may not put you over the threshold for intensive screening with MRIs, which is usually combined with mammograms.

The question about gadolinium (the chemical element used in the contrast dye for MRIs) is important because some people do store gadolinium in various tissues, including the brain, but the clinical significance of this is unknown. (People with kidney disease can develop a skin disease due to gadolinium, so they aren’t recommended to have MRIs with gadolinium.)

Although gadolinium can stay in the body for months or years, there has been no evidence of harm from gadolinium in brain tissue, despite these agents having been used for many years. Some agents have less retention than others. The U.S. FDA has mandated patient guides for these contrast agents, which relay the information above.

Given that there is a probable benefit to intensive screening for breast cancer in your case due to your high genetic risk, and no more than a theoretical risk from gadolinium, I believe that the benefits outweigh the risks, but I can’t say that with complete certainty.

***

DEAR DR. ROACH: A friend gave me a hemp product to try on the quite painful arthritis in my fingers, which affects my ability to enjoy golf. I was reluctant to try it, but for the last two weeks, I’ve used it topically on my fingers and have been pleasantly surprised by a significant reduction in pain and an improvement in flexibility.

One of your recent columns mentions

ANSWER: There are animal studies suggesting benefit from oral cannabidiol, a component of cannabis (hemp) that has no psychoactive component (it’s the THC in cannabis that gets people “high”). I found some small studies showing pain relief from topical CBD in people with neuropathy, but not for arthritis. Several people, like you, have written to me with reports of pain relief.

Topical CBD is probably very safe. Even oral CBD should be safe, but studies have found that many products labeled CBD have trace, or more than trace, amounts of THC, enough to make a urine test positive for cannabis. Until there is some evidence of effectiveness, I can’t recommend it, but people can try it based on safety and anecdotal reports.

GOOD NEWS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

If you suffered business disruption and financial loss due to the Covid lockdowns you may be due substantial compensation from the IRS. See details on The Employee Retention Credit IRS program on back cover, page 16.

Copay Exemption for Native American Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs is moving forward toward its goal of ensuring that Native American veterans receive the benefits they should be getting. Two weeks ago it was reduced mortgage interest rates for Native Americans, native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives and Pacific Islanders. Now, per the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, it’s a waiver on having to pay a copay for VA health care services and urgent medical care.

Besides taking affect now, it’s retroactive: Starting last year, on Jan. 5, 2022, any eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veteran who’s received care and paid a copay can go back and be reimbursed.

There are details, of course. To be eligible for exemption you need to be an American Indian or Alaska Native Veteran, provide a copy of an official tribal document showing that you meet the eligibility requirements of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and submit a Tribal Documentation Form (VA Form 10-334). That form is also known as Documentation of Indian or Urban Indian Status for Veteran Copayment Exemption.

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Final Changes DUE:

If you suffered business disruption and financial loss due to the Covid lockdowns you may be due substantial compensation from the IRS. See details on The Employee Retention Credit IRS program on back cover, page 16.

VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED

GOOD NEWS FOR

Pay special attention to the government’s definition of “Indian.” It involves being a first- or second-degree descendant of certain groups, and you must live in an urban center, which includes the department of Health and Human Services’ definition of an Indian population with unmet health needs.

If you’re not yet signed up for VA health care, this might be the time to do it and have that, plus the question of your copays, out of the way. In a medical emergency, you don’t want to have to think about what you’re going to do or where you’re going to go. And if you’ve paid out several copays since Jan. 5 of last year, you stand to be reimbursed if you’re eligible for the American Indian exemption.

Confused yet? There’s help at 800-698-2411, the MyVA number that’s answered 24/7 with assistance on a dozen different topics, from benefits to cemeteries to a crisis line.

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.

If you suffered business disruption and financial loss due to the Covid lockdowns you may be due substantial compensation from the IRS. See details on The Employee Retention Credit IRS program on back cover, page 16.

American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 66 in Palm Springs is seeking volunteer drivers. The drivers will drive a 9 passenger van known as the “AMVETS Express” from Cathedral City and Palm Springs to the Loma Linda VA Hospital and then return to the desert.

The driver will work one day per week. The van departs Cathedral City about 6:30 AM and returns to the desert in the afternoon of the same day. The van operates Monday through Friday.

Applicants for the position of driver do not have to be veterans. Applicants are required to study a training manual and pass a complete physical exam. The drivers cannot be over age 70. The drivers are volunteers and are not paid a salary.

For full details and to apply, please call

The AMVETS Express has operated since 2004 and it is the only free van transportation from the desert to the VA Hospital. Drivers are not permitted to accept tips from the passengers. The AMVETS Express takes homeless veterans and veterans who are having a mental health crisis to the hospital. We also transport many disabled veterans who cannot drive a car. For many veterans the AMVETS Express is the only way for them to receive their medical care. We transport about 22 veterans per month. Because we only have three drivers right now on some days we cannot operate for lack of a driver. To apply please call

Post

Commander Tom Swann Hernandez at (760)

-- by Jim Miller

How to Choose and Use a Walking Cane

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I have some hip and back problems and could use a walking cane for support to help me get around. Is there anything I should know about canes before I buy one? Are there different types for different conditions? -- Limping Linda

Dear Linda: When it comes to choosing a cane, most people don’t give it much thought, but they should. Walking canes come in many different styles, shapes and sizes today, so you need to take into account your needs and preferences to ensure you choose one that’s appropriate for you. Here are some tips that can help:

Types of Canes

The first thing you need to consider is how much support you need. That will help you determine the kind of cane you choose. The three basic types of canes you’ll have to choose from include:

1. Straight canes: These are basic, single point canes that typically incorporate a rounded “crook” handle or “L-shaped” ergonomic handle. Usually made of lightweight aluminum or wood, most of the aluminum models are adjustable in height and some even fold up.

2. Offset-handle canes: These also are single point straight canes but come with a swan neck curve in the upper part of the shaft that puts the user’s weight directly over the cane tip for added stability. These canes are typically aluminum, adjustable-height and come with a flat, soft grip handle that’s easy on the hands.

Some straight canes and offsethandle canes also come with triple or quad

tipped bases that can add gripping support and allow the cane to stand up on its own when you let go, which is very convenient.

Both straight and offset-handle canes are best suited for people with a slight walking impairment.

3. Quad canes: These work best for people who need maximum weight bearing and support. Quad canes come with four separate tips at the base, they usually have an offset flat handle, and can stand up on their own.

Fitting the Cane

cane in your right hand. The cane should then move forward as you step forward with the bad leg.

If you have to go upstairs, you should lead with the good leg. And when you go downstairs, you should put your cane on the step first and then step down with your bad leg.

ADVERTISING PROOF

ADVERTISING PROOF

The Mayo Clinic offers a slide show at MayoClinic.com/health/canes/HA00064 that will show you how to choose and use a cane. It’s also a smart idea to work with a physical therapist.

Final Changes DUE:

Once you decide on the type of cane, you need to make sure it has the weight capacity to support you, and it fits your height. To do this, stand up with your arms hanging straight down at your side. The top of the cane should line up with the crease in your wrist, so your arm is slightly bent at the elbow when you grip the cane.

Final Changes DUE: 5:00 Please review carefully. Double check: 

Where to Buy

You can buy canes at drugstores, discount retailers, medical supply stores and online, usually between $10 and $50. You’ll also be happy to know that Medicare covers canes with a written prescription from a physician.

The cane should also have a rubber tip at the bottom to prevent slipping. A worn or torn rubber tip can be dangerous, so check the tip frequently to ensure it’s in good condition and replace it when necessary.

The grip is also very important, so choose one that’s ergonomically designed, or one that has a molded rubber or foam grip that’s comfortable to grasp and hold firmly.

And if you travel much, consider getting a folding cane that can be packed or stored away easily.

How to Use

When using a cane, it should always be held in the hand opposite of the leg that needs support. For example, if your knee pain is on your left side, you should use the

are the words “Castleton China -- Dolly Madison -- Made in USA.” The set is a service for eight and includes a gravy boat and two platters. The dishes are decorated with a single pink rose in the center, scalloped edges and gold trim. They are all in excellent condition.

I am wondering what this set is worth and how I should go about selling it, if I should chose to.

by Anne McCollam Creators News Service

Sideboard Inspired by Charles Eastlake

Q: Enclosed you will find a photo of an oak sideboard. It was made in England and was in my sister’s antiques shop. When she closed the shop in 1986, I purchased it for $500. It is in mint condition, and the pulls are the original ones. The top is decorated with carved swans, and both doors have carved urns. Below the mirror is a shelf.

I hope you can provide some information on the vintage and value of my sideboard.

A: You have a fine example of an oak sideboard made in the Eastlake period of furniture in the late Victorian Era. It was factory made in England. The style was inspired by Charles Eastlake, the English designer around 1870. He believed the Victorian ornate curvilinear furniture to be excessive and advocated a return to simpler and unadorned designs. His ideas quickly spread to America and factories began producing Eastlake furniture in large quantities.

The scrolled top, mirror, shallow carvings, turned pillars on either side supporting the top and the overall design consisting of straight lines (with the exception of the scrolled top) are typical of the Eastlake period. By the early 1900s, the style had faded. Your sideboard was made around 1890 and would probably fetch $2500 to $3500.

Q: I have enclosed a drawing of the mark seen on a set of china that I inherited from my aunt. Also included with the mark

Puzzle Solutions

Bovine leather that has been somewhat mixed with metal to give it more strength? iron oxhide.

A: Castleton China, Inc. has been located in New Castle, Pa., since 1901. It was taken over in 1951 by Shenango Pottery. Castleton China produced fine china and made dinnerware for the White House during the Eisenhower and Johnson

administrations. Shenango Pottery was sold to Anchor Hocking in 1979. “Dolly Madison” is the name of the pattern and was in production from 1952 to 1972.

If you decide to sell your set, your options are placing it on eBay or placing an ad in a local paper. If you sell to an antiques dealer, you can expect to receive around half of its value. Your set would probably sell for $300 to $500. If you plan to keep it, insure it for the replacement value of $600 to $900.

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

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

2023 CREATORS.COM

Eastlake period of furniture began around 1870 and lasted until 1900.

Castleton China was founded in 1901.

• When it comes to revenge, there’s a difference between “extracting” and “exacting.” The word “extract” means to remove out of something else. If you say you are “extracting your revenge” on someone, you are taking out that person’s revenge, whereas if you “exact revenge” on them, you’re taking your revenge out on them.

• When you give someone complete freedom to do as he or she pleases, you are giving “free rein,” not “free reign,” as is used by some. “Free rein” is a reference to horseback riding, when the rider holds the reins loosely, allowing the horse freedom of direction, the opposite of keeping a tight rein. “Reign” can mean to rule as a monarch, such as Queen Elizabeth, who reigned over the United Kingdom. It can also mean to dominate or control, such as a winning team “reigning supreme” in the NFL.

• The maximum amount of time after an event within which legal proceedings may be initiated is known as the statute of limitations. You’d be surprised how many folks think it’s a statue of limitations! When the period of time passes, the courts no longer have jurisdiction and a claim may no longer be filed -- it’s now moot. Those crimes that are considered heinous, such as murder, have no statute of limitations.

• There is a bit of confusion about “your” and “you’re.” Your is a possessive adjective used to show it belongs to you. You might tell a friend, “Here is your portion.” You’re is a contraction of “you are.” You could tell your significant other, “You’re the best thing in my life.” When someone thanks you, it is incorrect to write, “Your welcome.” It is always “you’re welcome” - because they are!

• If you ask your friend how his son performed at the school track meet, and he answers, “He did good,” sorry to say, his grammar is incorrect. His correct response should be, “He did well,” or “He did a good job.” The word “well” is an adverb, a word that modifies verbs, while “good” is an adjective, used to modify nouns. However, if you don’t want to spoil the father’s proud moment, it might be best not to say anything except, “So glad to hear that!” □

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

Over Connected

One of the modern concepts in the golf swing has been to keep the upper left arm “connected” to the body throughout the golf swing. Many high level players have been seen hitting shots with towels under their arms, or training aids that keep the arm pinned to the body.

A good finish should have the left leg straight, the right thigh up close to the left leg, the right foot up on the toe, and the upper body arching back slightly. The trick is that the hips are now “tucked under” the upper body or the stomach is pushed forward. Many beginners, or players who don’t have good core strength, will finish with their hips pushed out behind their upper body. Learn to correct the finish by tucking the hips under or pushing your belt buckle forward in order to feel the correct position. Good leg work will assist in correct hip positioning as well.

Connection is specifically meant for the upper left arm and the side of the body. The intention of connection is to promote assistance in coiling the upper body in the backswing, and releasing the arm in the follow through.

Unfortunately, many golfers trying to stay “connected” have super glued the arm swing to the body. This over connection can restrict a free arm swing to the top and to the finish.

When I work with a lot of beginning to intermediate players, the finish position requires extra attention. The body is contorting into an unusual position and needs to be balanced to be effective. Advanced players take the finish position for granted, especially when it comes to the small arch in the lower back.

Tuck It Under

Game Changers

The arms need respective freedom at each point in the swing. If a glove where placed in the armpit area of each arm at address, the gloves should fall out at specific time. The right arm glove falls out by the top of the swing, and the left arm glove falls out in the finish. Do not try to keep the gloves pinched in the entire swing.

GO FIGURE!

planet in our solar system that is not named after a god or goddess?

10. FOOD & DRINK: What is a cheese connoisseur called? Answers

TRIVIA TEST Answers Answers

by Linda Thistle

1. “Philadelphia.”

2. Burnt gunpowder.

3. Six.

4. Andrew Jackson. In 1806 he shot and killed Charles Dickinson in a duel.

5. The Beach Boys.

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.

6. Eight: six children and two parents.

DIFFICULTY:

7. None — the United States