Vol. 19: Issue #27 • Famous Explorers • (7-2-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

by Kathy Wolfe

An explorer is defined as “one who travels to distant or unfamiliar previously unknown places.” This week, Tidbits breaks out the history books to recall these courageous individuals who stepped up to the challenge and braved high seas and treacherous treks to discover uncharted lands and unkown cultures.

ERIK THORVALDSSON

• Who was Erik Thorvaldsson? We know this tenthcentury Norse explorer better by his nickname Erik the Red, credited as having founded the first European settlement in Greenland.

• Born in Norway in 950 A.D., he earned his moniker for his ginger hair and fiery temper. He and his father had escaped from Norway, as his father was hunted for allegedly killing a man. Their exile trip wound them up on the island of Iceland. Erik himself later had to flee Iceland after being found guilty of murder. And so began a voyage that would lead him to discover a large landmass that would later be called Greenland.

• Wanting to start a settlement in his newly found land, he returned to Iceland to recruit colonists.

(Answers on page 16)

• While many other explorers were interested in obtaining gold, spices, and plunder on their voyages, British explorer James Cook was focused on mapping new lands, making astronomical observations, collecting botanical samples, and establishing relationships with indigenous populations. As a young man, he devoted himself to the study of math, cartography, geography, and astronomy.

• In the 1760s, Cook traveled to Newfoundland, where he charted the first maps of the area. He conducted astronomical observations, studying eclipses to determine the longitude of Newfoundland.

• In 1768, the British Royal Navy commissioned Cook to lead a scientific journey to the Pacific Ocean. The goal was to observe and record the Transit of Venus, an event that takes place when that planet passes directly between the Sun and another planet, making Venus visible from Earth as a small black dot moving across the Sun’s face. The purpose of this study was to determine the distance between the Sun and Earth.

• Departing England in August 1768, Cook sailed around Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America and out into the Pacific. The fleet arrived in Tahiti in April 1769, where Cook conducted his astronomic observations in June.

believed there was another larger continent south of New Zealand. Cook set off in search of the hypothetical “Terra Australis,” sailing as far south as the Antarctic Circle. Proving there was no Southern Continent, he set sail for Tahiti, discovering and mapping many previously unknown islands along the way.

• During Cook’s third journey, from 1776 to 1780, he became the first European to discover the Hawaiian Islands. In 1778, he set foot on Kauai, and named the group of islands the Sandwich Islands in honor of one of his patrons, John Montague, the fourth Earl of Sandwich and First Lord of the Admiralty. From there, he navigated to the west coast of North America, sailing north to what is now Oregon, past the Strait of Juan de Fuca, entered the sound on Vancouver Island, mapping the coast all the way to the Bering Strait, then west to the Siberian coast until the fleet was blocked by ice.

• The fleet returned to Hawaii. Although they had been heartily welcomed the first time, the second visit was fraught with tension and quarrels. The sailors brought diseases with them, infecting the native population. The crew stole firewood from a sacred burial ground, which was followed with retaliation by the theft of one of Cook’s longboats. Cook responded by trying to the kidnap their King. During the failed attempt, the Natives overpowered and killed Cook and four of his men.

• James Cook had spent 12 years sailing around the Pacific Ocean, providing invaluable maps of continents, islands, and coastlines. Although he had six children, all of them unfortunately died before bearing children of their own, so there are no direct descendants of the famous explorer. □

1. GEOGRAPHY: What is the tallest building in the world?

2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What does HTTP stand for in a website address?

3. LITERATURE: Which kind of animals are featured in the novel “Watership Down”?

4. HISTORY: When was the first iPhone released?

5. MOVIES: What kind of fish is Nemo in “Finding Nemo”?

6. GAMES: What is the final course on Mario Kart video games?

7. ASTRONOMY: How many planets in our solar system have moons?

8. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was licensed as a bartender?

9. MEDICAL: What is a more common term for somniloquy?

10. TELEVISION: How many castaways are on “Gilligan’s Island”?

Answers

1. Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

2. HyperText Transfer Protocol.

• Cook set out from Tahiti for New Zealand, where he mapped the country’s entire coastline. It was on to the southeastern coast of Australia, where, in 1770, he and his crew became the first Europeans to set foot on the continent’s eastern coast. Here he recorded his first observation of Aboriginal Australians, followed by a complete mapping of the east coast.

• Cook’s second journey, from 1772 to 1775 was another scientific expedition. At the time it was ADVERTISING

Famous Explorers (from page one)

He called the island Greenland, believing that people would be convinced to move if the area had a favorable name. At the time, Iceland was in the midst of a severe famine and people were ready for a new opportunity. In 985, 25 ships set sail for Greenland, but tragically, 11 were lost at sea on the 900-mile journey over open ocean. About 350 people arrived safely, and the settlement eventually grew to more than 5,000. Erik the Red held the title of “paramount chieftain” of Greenland.

• One of Erik the Red’s four children was also a famous explorer. Leif Erikson, also known as Leif the Lucky, is believed to have been the first European to have discovered the Americas, nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus, when “in 1492 he sailed the ocean blue.” There is evidence that this 11th-century explorer established a Norse settlement in Newfoundland and explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence centuries before other explorers. Upwards of 800 Norse objects have been unearthed at the archaeological site known as L’Anse aux Meadows, on the northernmost tip of Newfoundland.

DAVID LIVINGSTONE

• Scottish explorer David Livingstone studied medicine in order to become a medical missionary, and departed for Africa in 1841 to pursue that purpose. He also had the goal of mapping rivers and lakes, including charting the Zambezi River all the way to the sea, as well as discovering the source of the Nile River.

• After years of exploration, in 1855, he became the first European to see the colossal waterfall the natives had dubbed “Smoke that Thunders.” Livingstone named the spectacular landmark “Victoria Falls” after Queen Victoria. Located on the Zambezi River in southern Africa, the Falls are the world’s largest sheet of falling water, twice the height of Niagara Falls and more than twice the width.

• By 1856, Livingstone had crossed the African

continent from west to east. Although he returned to England several times, during which he published books and articles,

• After his last trip back to England, all contact with him had been lost for more than four years. In 1869, Henry Morton Stanley, a special correspondent for the New York Herald, was commissioned by the paper to go find Livingstone. Two years later, in November 1871, Stanley found the doctor in Ujiji, a village on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in present-day Tanzania. Uncertain whether he was the man he was looking for, he famously asked, "Doctor Livingstone, I presume?"

• Livingstone spent most of his life in Africa, dying there in 1873 at age 60, deep in the wilderness. He was an outspoken abolitionist, having seen the tragic consequences of the slave trade and made monumental efforts to combat slavery of Africans. He also discovered the connection between malaria and mosquitoes, and advocated the use of quinine as a remedy for malaria. Ironically, it was malaria that took his life.

JACQUES CARTIER

• In 1534, French explorer Jacques Cartier was commissioned by the King of France to journey to the New World in search of gold, spices, and other riches, along with seeking a northwest route to Asia. He didn’t find Asia, but after a 20-day voyage with two ships and 61 men, he landed on Newfoundland. The ships sailed through the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where he became the first European to discover Prince Edward Island.

• When he returned to France five months later, he was certain he had reached an Asian land. Another expedition followed the next year, a 14-month-long trek that resulted in 25 men dying of scurvy and a conflict with the previously-friendly Iroquois natives. One more voyage in 1541 brought Cartier to Quebec, which he claimed for France. He called the region “Kanata,” from the Iroquois word for “settlement,” a term later modified to title the entire country of Canada.

FERDINAND MAGELLAN

• Ferdinand Magellan was responsible for naming the Pacific Ocean, and was the first European to cross the Pacific. Seeking to establish a trade route in 1519, Magellan, along with 270 men and five ships, sailed from Sanlucar de Barrameda in southern Spain, on what would

become the first circumnavigation of the world. They sailed west across the Atlantic toward South America, landing at present-day Rio de Janeiro three months later. Ten months after that, his expedition discovered a sea route in southern Chile that was a natural passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, a passage that became known as the Strait of Magellan.

• Magellan anticipated a short journey to Asia from South America’s southern tip, believing it would be about four days. The crossing took over three-and-a-half months, during which time their food and water supplies were depleted, resulting in the deaths of 30 crew members, mostly from scurvy.

Turn

QUIZ BITS

1. What country was explored by Marco Polo?

2. Which explorer was the first to reach the North Pole?

(Answers page 16)

by

1.What’s

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

1.VERNALEQUINOX

2.CROCUS

When Jacques Cartier returned to France from his 1541 voyage to eastern North America, he carried large quantities of what he believed to be diamonds and gold. Imagine his disappointment when it was discovered he had only brought quartz crystals and iron pyrite!

by Mary Hunt

By Lucie Winborne

* The largest volcano in the solar system is Olympus Mons, on Mars, standing at an impressive 13.6 miles high with a diameter of approximately 370 miles. That’s nearly three times the height of Mt. Everest.

* During World War II, a U.S. naval destroyer won a battle against a Japanese submarine by throwing -- wait for it -- potatoes at them. The Japanese thought they were grenades.

* Lettuce is a member of the sunflower family.

* Gennaro Pelliccia, a taster for Costa Coffee, had his tongue insured for $22 million.

* To leave a party without telling anyone is called, in English, a “French exit.” And in French? Appropriately enough, it’s known as a “partir a l’anglaise,” or, to leave like the English.

* The rotund Buddha so commonly depicted in statues and pictures isn’t at all an accurate representation. Instead, his real-life counterpart was actually quite thin, due to self-deprivation.

* GPS may be free to use, but it still costs $2 million per day to operate. The funds are supplied by American tax revenue.

* No, the color red doesn’t make bulls angry -- they’re colorblind.

* One of the World Trade Center towers was purposely built to a height of 1,776 feet to reference the year the Declaration of Independence was signed.

* Want to generate electricity from mud? Crazy as the concept may sound, it is indeed possible, thanks to geobacter sulfurreducens, which belongs to a group of organisms known as electrogenic bacteria that are able to transfer electrons from organic matter to metals or other conductive materials.

* According to a study done by French researchers, if you listen to loud music, you are more likely to drink more in less time. ***

The Science of Shopping

rocket that you will buy it.

Counterpunch: If it’s not on your list, resist the temptation to touch it.

4. SOUND INFLUENCE:

Envirosell’s strategic planning advises retailers to first identify its target audience demographic, then to play the music that was popular when that group was in high school and college. Isn’t that your favorite music? It makes you feel warm and happy, which makes you want to linger. And the longer you stick around, the more you’ll buy.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

Don’t look now, but that man who just walked into the store behind you is not here to shop. He’s a shopping anthropologist on assignment. His employer just landed a big contract with this store. They want to know what makes you tick, and why you do the things you do. Once they have this data, they’ll use it manipulate and control you to do their bidding and improve their profit margins.

He’s watching your every move, taking notes, timing each of your behaviors and reporting back to central command.

You lingered for 7.37 seconds at the eyelevel display strategically positioned 15 feet from the front door. Check.

You reached out to touch the bath towels on Aisle 7, but put them back. Check.

It appears that you eyed another set of towels on Aisle 8, but you could not reach them. Copy.

Finally, you settle on the Sale towels, (Today Only!) of fine Egyptian cotton. You wheel away, pause slightly then return to pick up a second set. Duly noted.

Just as you were getting ready to check out, a friendly employee offered to help you find the matching bathmat and shower curtain. How thoughtful.

As you wait in line, the fragrance of coordinating candles and a strategically placed display of bathroom accessories calls your name. TouchÉ

By the time you reach the front of the line, you have unintentionally redecorated your bathroom. You came with cash to buy towels. Suddenly you find yourself reaching for a debit card. Success recorded. And thank you for shopping.

Counterpunch: Recognize this ploy, then get out of the store. You can listen to your favorite music in the car or and at home.

5. EMPLOYEE CONTACT:

Here’s what Envirosell knows and preaches to its retail business customers: The more shopper-employee contacts that take place, the greater the average sale. Talking with an employee has a way of drawing a customer in closer to buying. Why? Most people are kind and do not want to be rude. And when someone reaches out to help us, we feel the need to reciprocate by buying whatever it is they’ve offered. We don’t want them to feel bad or ruin that salesperson’s day.

Counterpunch: Do not reach speak with store employees unless you initiate the contact for a specific reason. A pleasant “No, thank you” when approached is proper.

Remember these five shopping triggers whenever you are in a retail environment -- plan, time, touch, sound and contact. Then take control.

Enjoy the retailer’s every attempt to improve its conversion rate at your expense, then determine that you are not obligated to help them pull it off.

* * *

Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog and the author of the book Debt-Proof Living.

So, you think I’m kidding? Au contraire, mes amis. Our “guy” is an employee of Envirosell, Inc., owned by Paco Underhill, author of “Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping.”

Thought for the Day: “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.”

Rabindranath

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM 1/16th page 1/12th page

Tagore

Envirosell has offices in every major city in the world, with thousands of employees who lurk and observe shoppers in retail stores and malls, bringing back valuable data that helps Underhill’s team advise their retailer clients on how to boost profits. You are their best teacher because you show them what works and what doesn’t.

In an amazing twist, we can use what they learn about the way we buy to turn the tables right back on them. Here’s how:

1. PLAN YOUR VISIT:

Underhill’s data shows that 70% of all purchases are unplanned. Retailers live and thrive because of unplanned purchases.

Counterpunch: Do not browse. Make a list. Stick to it.

2. SHORTEN YOUR STAY:

The longer you spend in a store the greater your personal “conversion rate,” which is retailspeak for turning a looker into a buyer.

Counterpunch: Do not dilly-dally. Take care of your business then get out of there.

3. THE TOUCHY/FEELY TRAP:

Retailers know that if they can get you to reach out and touch something, chances sky-

MORE EXPLORERS

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE

• Although Sir Francis Drake was declared a hero for being the first Englishman to circumnavigate the Earth, which he accomplished in 1577-1580, this explorer was also one of the world’s leading privateers. He had, in fact, quite a reputation of frequent piracy against Spanish ships and their valuable possessions.

• Queen Elizabeth I granted Drake a privateer’s commission, giving him the right to plunder the Spanish ports of the Caribbean. He also participated in the slave trade as early as 1567. Drake sailed up the western coast of North America, as far north as Vancouver, Canada, entering San Francisco Bay on the return south, claiming the area for Queen Elizabeth. When he returned to England with an enormous amount of Spanish treasure, he was honored by being knighted by the Queen.

HIRAM BINGHAM

III

• The site of Machu Picchu, hidden high atop a lofty mountain ridge nearly 8,000 feet above the Peruvian jungle, had long been forgotten except by a small indigenous population living in the area. This amazing tiered citadel of palaces, plazas, temples, and residences complete with a plumbing and sewage system, was so completely isolated it escaped discovery by Peru’s Spanish conquerors during their conquest of the area.

• But in 1911, a professor of South American history at Yale University named Hiram Bingham III organized an expedition with the purpose of searching for lost Incan cities. At last, he found the 15th-century city on a 7,970-foot ridge high in the Peruvian Andes Mountains. Bingham believed the site to be a religious shrine and training center for religious leaders.

• Modern archaeologists, however, now believe that Machu Picchu, built around 1450 by the Incan emperor, served as a summer retreat for royal leaders and their associates. Following the publication of his discovery, Bingham went on to serve as Connecticut’s lieutenant governor,

governor, and U.S. Senator.

ROALD AMUNDSEN

• In 1911, 39-year-old Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the South Pole. He had set out from Norway in August of 1910 with four men, 52 dogs, and four sleds, and arrived in Antarctica in January 1911. The crew spent the next ten months preparing for the trip to the Pole, fattening the dogs and refitting the sleds. The five men arrived at the Pole that year on December 14.

• Amundsen was no stranger to adventure. At 25, he had been part of an Antarctic expedition that was the first to survive a winter there, although not by choice. Their ship was firmly frozen in place, encased in seven feet of ice for 13 months before it was finally able to break free. At 31, Amundsen commanded the expedition that was the first to discover the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, a journey of three years.

HOWARD CARTER

• King Tut’s tomb was almost overlooked by British archaeologist Howard Carter and his crew. In 1922, Carter had been working in Egypt’s Valley of Kings for years, living in a group of huts in the area. While clearing away huts that had been abandoned years earlier, the group’s young water boy tripped on a stone, one that was actually the top of a flight of steps cut into the underlying rock. When the steps were dug out, a sealed doorway was found, stamped with hieroglyphics.

• After three weeks of careful excavation, a small opening had been made in the corner of the doorway. The light of a candle illuminated a large chamber enough to to see the gold and other priceless treasures inside. It took Carter and

his associates nearly ten years to evaluate and catalogue the thousands of items found within.

• Carter's remarkable discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb unlocked many mysteries about these ancient kings, and allowed a greater understanding of the Egyptian culture. □

CLIP AND SAVE

CLIP AND SAVE

by Dana Jackson

Q: I know that HBO’s “Succession” got a lot of praise and will probably clean up at the Emmy’s, but I enjoyed the show “Billions” much more. When does it return with new episodes? -- M.F.

A: Showtime’s “Billions” will return for its seventh and final season this August. Damian Lewis, who left the series at the end of season five, is back for several episodes, reuniting with cast members Paul Giamatti, Corey Stoll and Maggie Siff.

Unlike “Succession,” which appears to be over for good with no announced spin-offs, “Billions” has several planned spin-off series in the works, including the tentatively titled “Millions” and “Trillions.” Paramount Pictures president and CEO Chris McCarthy stated, “This final season is packed full of the incredible, complex dialogue and character dynamics fans have come to love, and we are thrilled to partner with them on turning this hit series into a global franchise.”

“Billions” will premiere first for subscribers of Paramount+ with Showtime on Friday, Aug. 11, before airing on Showtime on Sunday, Aug. 13.

Q: I was disappointed to hear that the sitcom “American Auto” has been canceled. Is there any chance it will end up somewhere else? -- T.T.

A: Justin Spitzer, the creative mind behind the NBC sitcom “American Auto,” recently revealed on Twitter what he had in store for the third season of his critically acclaimed comedy series. Unfortunately, unless another network or streaming service picks it up, we won’t get to see Ana Gasteyer’s Katherine Hastings and Payne Motors “finally finding success and taking the world by storm.”

NBC also gave the ax to two other beloved sitcoms: “Grand Crew,” which starred Nicole Byer (“Nailed It!”) and Echo Kellum (“Arrow”), and “Young Rock,” which was based on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s childhood.

On a positive note, NBC has renewed a dozen of its shows, including modern takes on classics like “Magnum P.I.,” “Night Court” and “Quantum Leap.” The hit futuristic drama “La Brea” will also return, and the trio of “Law & Order” and “Chicago” shows will all be back with new episodes.

Regarding “Magnum P.I.,” it was picked up by NBC after CBS canceled it, and not only has NBC saved it, they’ve renewed it for not just one, but two seasons! Perhaps “American Auto,” too, will get a second chance somewhere, someday.

Q: Where have I seen the actor who stars in “Citadel” with Priyanka Chopra? Has he been in any series I might have seen? -- S.A.

A: Scottish actor Richard Madden has been around for quite a while, but is probably most recognizable as Robb Stark in the first three seasons of the iconic HBO series “Game of Thrones.” He went on to star as Prince Kit in the 2015 release of “Cinderella,” which also starred Lily James and Cate Blanchett. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his title role in the British miniseries “Bodyguard.” He played Elton John’s manager in the film biopic “Rocketman,” and then became part of the Marvel Universe as Ikaris in “Eternals.” “Citadel” has been renewed for a second season by Amazon Prime Video.

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.

1. The Flash (PG-13) Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton

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

2. Elemental (PG) Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie

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

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

3. Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse (PG) Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld

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

4. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (PG-13) Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback

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

5. The Little Mermaid (PG) Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King

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

6. The Blackening (R) Antoinette Robertson, Dewayne Perkins

7. Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 (PG-13) Chris Pratt, Chukwudi Iwuji

7. Sing (PG) animated

8. The Boogeyman (PG-13) Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina

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

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

9. Fast X (PG-13) Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez

10. xXx: Return of Xander Cage .................................... (PG-13)

Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen

10. Asteroid City (PG-13) Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

2023

Damian Lewis (“Billions”)

Good Recipes from Easy Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are a great appetizer, and this recipe is particularly easy!

12 large eggs

1/2 cup light mayonnaise

1/8 teaspoon ground red cayenne pepper

Salt

1/4 cup very finely chopped red pepper

1/4 cup very finely chopped carrot

2 tablespoons very finely chopped cornichons or dill pickles

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill leaves

1. Place eggs in 4-quart saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover eggs by 2 inches. Heat to boiling on high, cover with lid, and remove from heat. Let stand 12 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Under running water, peel off shells and discard.

2. Trim the tops and bottoms of eggs so

that they can sit flat. Cut each egg in half crosswise. Transfer yolks to large bowl.

3. Into yolks, mash mayonnaise, cayenne, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until smooth. Stir in pepper, carrot, cornichons and dill until well-mixed.

4. Spoon rounded teaspoon of yolk mixture into each egg-white half. Place on serving platter; garnish with dill. Eggs can be made up to 1 day ahead, then covered and refrigerated.

Oven-Baked Pepper Bacon

1 1/2 pounds sliced lean bacon

2 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper

1. Heat oven to 400 F. Arrange bacon slices in 2 jellyroll or shallow roasting pans, overlapping the lean edge of each slice with the fat edge of the next.

2. Evenly sprinkle pepper over bacon slices. Place pans on 2 oven racks and bake 25 min-

utes, switching pans between upper and lower racks halfway through baking, or until bacon is golden-brown and crisp.

3. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain; keep warm. Makes 12 servings.

 Each serving: About 90 calories, 5g protein, 0g carbohydrate, 8g total fat (3g saturated), 13mg cholesterol, 255mg sodium.

John Allen

NEXT WEEK in TIDBITS VISITS

Cody’s Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis

Creators

Getting Fit Is Fun with a Furry Companion

During the season of beach bods and sixpack abs, it’s hard to remember that fitness isn’t just about looks. It’s about health -- and not just physical health.

Fitness is also about mental acuity, good behavior and an all-around feeling of happiness. This is true for humans, and it’s true for dogs. No doubt you’ve heard the saying: A tired dog is a good dog. Well, it’s almost accurate.

If a dog who hasn’t been out for so much as a walk around the block since winter suddenly finds himself jogging across town under a blazing sun, he’ll be tired, all right. But he might also get injured. Or be in pain. Or dehydrated. This is not the objective, and it could backfire. Pain, injury and illness can trigger aggression.

Nor is it the goal of exercise to simply tire your dog out by setting him loose in the yard to mindlessly run around in circles. So tired may be good, but tired in the right way is best.

What’s the right way? Depends on the dog. While it’s true that any exercise is better than none, in most cases, owners and dogs exercising together is optimal for many reasons:

-- You are there to bear witness to any injury your dog may suffer. Prompt attention and temporary restriction of activity if necessary can prevent a minor injury from becoming severe.

-- Your participation allows you to tailor the type of exercise to your dog’s needs. For example, herding dogs are intelligent and high energy by nature. Sports, games or even an obstacle course in the backyard will satisfy their need for physical exercise and mental stimulation.

(CryptoQuip Solution on page 14)

A Chihuahua, on the other hand, might be turned into a jittering bundle of nerves by such a regimen. This small breed’s exercise requirements would be easily satisfied with a couple of half-hour walks a day.

-- Exercising with your dog makes the en-

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 11

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Decoding Social Security ‘Claim’

Numbers

Q: I am a 78-year-old recent widow. I got my own Social Security number when I was about 20. But since my husband and I started getting Social Security benefits about 15 years ago, the correspondence I got from the Social Security Administration showed my husband’s Social Security number with a letter “B” behind it. Somebody at a Social Security office once told me this meant I was getting wife’s benefits on his record. How does the letter “B” stand for a wife? And now that my husband has died, I notice that any mail I get from the SSA shows my husband’s number with a letter “D.” Does this mean “deceased?”

A: No, it doesn’t mean deceased. Believe it or not, it stands for “widow!” So, you may legitimately wonder why in the world a “D” means widow. Shouldn’t it be a “W,” perhaps? I will use this column to explain the mysterious world of Social Security claim numbers. These numbers are sometimes referred to as BIC codes. BIC stands for “beneficiary identification code.”

First of all, what is a “claim number?” And how does it differ from a Social Security number? Almost everyone in this country has a Social Security number. It’s the number you give to your employer if you get a job, and it’s the number you would use to file an income tax return. It’s also the number that many government agencies and private companies use as a personal identification number for you. (The use of the SSN for personal identification is a topic for another column.)

But a claim number is the Social Security number on which you are claiming Social Security benefits. And it’s always followed by a little letter symbol to indicate the kind of benefit you have claimed. For many people their claim number is simply their own Social Security number with a letter symbol following it -- usually an “A.” But some people claim Social Security benefits on another person’s Social Security record -- almost always

a spouse and sometimes a parent. So, their claim number is the spouse’s or parent’s Social Security number followed by the appropriate claims symbol.

The little claims symbols were not assigned in any sort of meaningful pattern. In other words, the letter “R” was not used to indicate “retirement” benefits and the letter “W” wasn’t used to indicate “wife’s” or “widow’s” benefits.

Instead, the letters were essentially assigned alphabetically as benefits were added to Social Security law. Here is a list of the claims symbols used. It’s not a complete list.

No. 1: A -- This claims symbol indicates you are getting your own retirement benefits.

No. 2: B -- You are getting benefits as an aged (over 62) wife on your husband’s record.

No. 3: B1 -- You are getting benefits as an aged (over 62) husband on your wife’s record.

No. 4: B2 -- You are getting benefits on your husband’s record as a young wife (under age 62) caring for his minor child.

No. 5: B6 -- You are getting benefits as a divorced wife on your ex-husband’s record.

No. 6: C -- You are getting benefits as a child on your parent’s record.

No. 7: D -- You are getting aged (over age 60) widow’s benefits from your deceased husband’s record.

No. 8: D1 -- You are getting aged (over age 60) widower’s benefits from your deceased wife.

No. 9: D6 -- You are getting divorced widow’s benefits.

No. 10: E -- You are getting mother’s benefits -- paid to a widow under age 60 who is caring for the minor children of a father who has died.

No. 11: E1 -- Same as above, except you are divorced from the father.

No. 12: E4 -- You are getting father’s benefits -- paid to a widower under age 60 who is caring for the minor children of a mother who has died.

No. 13: F -- You are getting benefits as a dependent parent on a grown son or daughter’s Social

Security account (very rare).

No. 14: HA -- You are getting disability benefits on your own account. (Although sometimes the SSA shortens this to just “A.”)

No. 15: M -- You don’t have enough work credits for regular Social Security, and you only qualify for Part B Medicare benefits.

No. 16: T -- You are not insured for Social Security benefits, but you are eligible for Part A hospital coverage from Medicare. (See below for more information.)

No. 17: W -- You are getting disabled widow’s benefits on your deceased husband’s account.

No. 18: W1 -- You are getting disabled widower’s benefits on your deceased wife’s account.

No. 19: More about the “T” code. In the past, the “T” code was reserved only for those very few people who were not eligible for any kind of Social Security benefit but had paid taxes into the Medicare program. But when the full retirement age climbed beyond age 65, and people affected by that change started reaching that age, the SSA had to change their claims-filing rules. Those rules say that you can file for Medicare at age 65 without having to file for Social Security benefits. And these folks had to be given a claim number. It couldn’t be an “A” BIC code, which again means you are getting retirement benefits, so they used the “T” code, and the definition was changed to “entitled to Medicare but not yet entitled to Social Security.” That means the once little-used “T” BIC is now very common. There are currently millions of “T” beneficiaries. If you are one, meaning you took Medicare at 65 but are waiting until full retirement age, or maybe age 70 to file for Social Security, whenever you do that, your claim number will change from your SSN with a “T” to your SSN with an “A.”

Again, this list is not complete. It shows only the most common beneficiary codes. But “common” is a relative term. Many of the benefits listed above are infrequently paid. For example, you could almost count on your hands the number of people getting “F” (parent’s benefits) or “W1” (disabled widower’s benefits).

* * *

1. The book of Numbers is in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither

2. In which Gospel (KJV) did Jesus say, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth"? a) Matthew b) Mark c) Luke d) John

3. From Mark 15:23, while on the cross Christ was offered wine mixed with ____. a) Salt b) Vinegar c) Water d) Myrrh

4. In 2 Kings 5, who had his leprosy washed away in the Jordan? a) Elisha b) Saul c) Naaman d) Absolom

5. From Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and _____"? a) Hope b) Protector c) Comfort d) Strength

6. Who had a staff that God turned into a serpent? a) Elisha b) Noah c) Abraham d) Moses

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

Inc.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easyto-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

Memory Aids We Can Use

There may come a time when you can no longer immediately remember the 25 telephone numbers that used to be easily recalled. I suspect it comes to us all. When it's our turn to have that pesky problem, it’s time to start making lists.

Having a cellphone is probably the easiest way to save all those numbers. But the problem comes when the phone is on its charger and can’t be accessed, or - heaven forbid - when you discover you've left it at home. That's when the old-fashioned, low-tech handwritten lists are a lifesaver.

I made such a list for my father many years ago, not at all suspecting then that I would need the same type of list someday myself. I’d taped his list inside the cabinet door in his kitchen, the one right above the phone on the wall.

I now have a similar list taped to the inside of my own cabinet door, and another on a slim strip of paper taped on the side of my computer monitor. Of the two, that’s the most handy because I’m often at the computer.

I’ve also made a list for the other side of the monitor of important dates, with items such as inspection and new tags for the car and the next date to pick up a three-month batch of prescriptions at the pharmacy.

A third memory aid I use is a small pocketsized notebook that I carry in my purse with all these phone numbers jotted down in case I find myself somewhere without my phone. In this llittle book I also keep a list of all the medicines I'm currently taking, both prescriptions and OTC. This has proven handy when doctor's offices request this information for their records, and it's right at your fingertips..

One thing that was helpful for my father years ago when he was very senior and using his first computer: I made him a notebook of instructions. In a three-ring binder I put pages with one instruction per page in easy-to-read type, with titles like “How to Send Email,” and I’d start each instruction with “Turn on the computer,” because that’s where his skill level was. Periodically, as his computer skills grew, he’d request additional instruction pages. It was a lot easier for both of us than trying to do this over the telephone.

Nowadays, if he were still living, I’m sure I’d be creating a “How to Use the Cellphone” notebook for him. I’d be happy to.

* * *

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

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

tire experience as much about bonding as about getting in shape. If you carve out time every day for exercising with your dog and customize that exercise to accommodate his breed and your lifestyle, you will have created something that will both lengthen and strengthen your relationship, as well as your muscles.

Here are a few ideas of the kind of exercise I am talking about. Again, do a little research into your dog’s breed to determine what kind of exercise would benefit him most:

-- Most dogs benefit from at least one long walk every day. How long should be determined by breed and current fitness level. If your dog is out of shape, gradually increase the length and pace of your walks over time.

-- Supervised swimming is good exercise

for most breeds. But don’t just toss your dog into a lake assuming he’ll be a great swimmer.

-- Hiking trails provide good exercise and stimulation for dogs -- on-leash, of course.

-- Set up an obstacle course in your yard for a good mental and physical workout.

-- Jogging and Frisbee are tried and true forms of exercise, as well. Just remember to always have water available for you and your dog.

Bottom line: Exercise isn’t about feeling tired. It’s about feeling -- and being -- your best. 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.

High Blood Pressure Readings Call for Additional Medication

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 68-year-old female who was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 32. I am 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weigh 130 pounds. I’ve been taking 240 mg of verapamil for all of these years.

A few years back, my medication started coming in 120-mg dosages, so I started taking one in the morning and one at night. My blood pressure both at home and at the doctor’s office is often higher than I think it should be, averaging 138/88.

Recently, I used a 24-hour blood pressure monitor, which showed that more than 50% of my daytime readings were above 140/90, while my nighttime readings averaged 118/82. I am still waiting to hear back from my doctor regarding the results of this test, but I wanted to get your thoughts. Should I be on some other type of medication? Should I alter the timing to get better daytime readings? -- E.T.

ANSWER: In my opinion, these readings are not ideal. Twenty-four-hour, ambulatory blood pressure readings are usually 5 to 10 points lower than office blood pressure readings, so your average daytime readings are correspondingly higher.

There is strong evidence that in people at high risk for heart attack (such as those who are already known to have blockages), controlling blood pressure to an average of less than 120 systolic (the first or top number) and less than 70 diastolic (the second or bottom number) reduces risk. It’s not as clear for people who are at a lower risk, such as people who have high blood pressure without any additional risks.

In my own practice, however, I will usually try to get my patients close to those optimal numbers, as long as the medication does not cause side effects. In a situation like yours, I would consider additional daytime medicine. More verapamil might be reasonable, but many doctors might use a different medication, such as a diuretic, in the morning to try to get the optimal blood pressure with less risk of side effects.

Very often, the choice of blood pressure medication depends on any other medical issues a person may have. Only your doctor knows enough about your medical condition to make a personalized recommendation.

***

DEAR DR. ROACH: Can you eat eggs if you have a severe allergy to them? I ask this because my grandson vomited after eating scrambled eggs for the first time, so my daughter-in-law took him to four doctors until she found one who agreed with her that he had a severe allergic reaction. (The first three said he did not.) Since then, he has eaten baked foods with eggs in them without getting a reaction. -- G.A.

ANSWER: Egg allergies are among the most common childhood food allergies, second only to cow’s milk. Symptoms of a severe egg

allergy can start within minutes of eating an egg product, with skin changes (flushing, itching or swelling) and problems with the airway (swelling of the throat or a change in voice). Not all people -- whether they’re adults or children -- get skin changes, and gastrointestinal symptoms are also common. Although vomiting may occur, other symptoms (looking pale, lethargy or diarrhea) commonly occur.

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

Fraud and Theft Foiled by the VA’s OIG

A single episode of vomiting is not strong evidence of a food allergy. Blood and skin testing are sometimes used to evaluate whether an allergy is truly present.

PROOF

ADVERTISING PROOF

More importantly, repeated exposure without symptoms is evidence against the diagnosis of a food allergy (although it is possible there was not enough egg in what your grandson ate to trigger a reaction).

I strongly recommend a consultation with an allergist.

* * *

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

Not all the thefts and fraud that the Office of Inspector General uncovers runs into the millions. But a stolen dollar is a stolen dollar, and the Department of Veterans Affairs OIG will go after it, no matter the amount, big or small.

Take the perp who stole used precious metals that were supposed to be recycled. This dental tech at a VA facility pocketed the loose metals and sold them to a third party. A nice little business on the side. For this, he could get ten years in prison and a possible fine of $250,000 ... all for the $17,000 he made passing along stolen gold fillings to a fence who resells the precious metal to dealers.

Then there were the 44 doctors, who should have known better, who have to pay back $5.7 million that they netted from a fraudulent selfreferral program. The eye and ear clinic broke the law that bars them from referring patients to facilities where they have a vested interest and financial relationship. It’s called the Stark Act, and it keeps physicians from sending their patients to places where they know they’ll get a monetary kickback, putting their own greedy interests first instead of caring more about the patients’ health benefit.

Then there was the couple who, for seven years, submitted over 100 fictitious applications claiming that their company was providing services to veterans in need of aid and attendance. Aid and attendance is giving assistance to homebound veterans who need help with everyday basic functions, like eating, bathing and taking medications.

This couple hunted up veterans and surviving spouses and got the needed information, like DD-214s, bank records and other personal doucuments. Over 70 veterans were approved for funds, and the couple pocketed over $2 million while the veterans themselves got only a small portion of that.

The couple could get a max of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine ... each. As of this writing, their company web information still pushes the aid and attendance angle and describes how they will diligently submit all their needed documents to the VA.

* * *

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

Best Meal Delivery Services for Seniors

Who Don’t Cook

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Can you recommend some good and healthy meal delivery options for seniors who don’t cook or get out much? My 82-year-old father lives alone and is surviving on canned foods and take-out meals. It's a not a healthy diet at all, and I worry about him not eating the proper foods.

-- Concerned Daughter

Dear Concerned: There are actually a wide variety healthy meal delivery options that can help non-cooking seniors who live at home. Here are several top options to check into:

Community-Based Programs

A good place to start, is to find out if there’s a senior home delivery meal program in your dad’s area. Meals on Wheels is the largest program that most people are familiar with, but many communities offer senior meal delivery programs sponsored by other organizations that go by different names.

To find services available in your dad’s area, visit MealsOnWheelsAmerica. org, which offers a comprehensive directory on their website, or call the area aging agen cy near your dad. Call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 to get the local number.

Most home delivered meal programs across the U.S. deliver hot meals daily or several times a week, usually around the lunch hour, to seniors over age 60 who have problems preparing meals for themselves, as well as those with disabilities. Weekend meals, usually frozen, may also be available, along with special diets (diabetic, low-sodi um, kosher, etc.).

Most of these programs typically charge a small fee (usually between $2 and $9 per meal) or request a donation, while some may be free to low-income seniors who qualify for Medicaid. There are also some Medicare Advantage plans that cover limited meal service benefits.

Meal Delivery Service Companies

Another great option for your dad is to order him some pre-made meals online from a meal delivery service company. These companies provide a wide variety of tasty meal choices and will usually post the nutrition information for their meals right on their website.

Most companies will also cater to a

host of dietary and medical needs, such as low-sodium and low-carb meals, diabetic meals, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options. Plus, the ordering process is very easy.

Depending on the company you choose, the food arrives either fresh or frozen and most deliver all across the U.S. Prices generally start at around $8 to $13 per meal, plus shipping, however many companies provide discounts or free shipping when you order meals in bulk. And most companies work with Medicaid and some Medicare Advantage plans to help reduce costs.

Some of the best meal delivery companies for older adults, as rated by Verywell Health for 2023 include:

Best Variety: Magic Kitchen (magickitchen.com)

Best Value: Mom’s Meal (momsmeals.com)

Best for Nutrition Consultation: BistroMD (bistromd.com)

Best Plant-Based Meals: Mosaic (mosaicfoods.com)

Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth (modifyhealth.com)

Best Chef-Prepared: CookUnity (cookunity.com)

Best for Customization: Snap Kitchen (snapkitchen.com)

For more information on this list and their testing methodology, visit VerywellHealth.com and search “Best Meal Delivery

Services for Seniors.”

Grocery Stores and Restaurants

Depending on where your dad lives, he may also be able to get home delivered meals from local grocery stores or restaurants. Some grocery stores offer a selection of pre-cooked meals and foods, including roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and fresh soups and salads. Contact the grocery stores in your dad’s area to inquire about this option. Or check with some of his favorite restaurants to see if they offer home delivery, or he could use a restaurant delivery service like UberEats.com, DoorDash.com or GrubHub.com

It is around 8 inches in diameter and is decorated with gray crackle glaze and trimmed with cobalt blue rabbits around the rim. It is in mint condition. There are no chips or cracks.

Anything you can tell me about the history of this plate and what its value might be will be greatly appreciated.

by Anne McCollam Creators News Service

Sun Shines on Tea Set

Q: The enclosed photo features a porcelain tea set that is a service for six. It has been in our family for years and was given to me in 1946 for my wedding. Each piece is marked with the letters “R.S. Japan -- Made in Japan” and with the image of the rising sun. The set includes a teapot, a cream pitcher, sugar bowl, dessert plates, cups and saucers. Each piece is decorated with a luster glaze and all are in excellent condition.

What can you tell me about my tea set?

Dedham Pottery was located in Dedham, Mass.

A: Your plate was made by Dedham Pottery in Dedham, Mass. The pottery was founded in 1866 as Chelsea Keramic Art Works in Chelsea, Mass. In 1889, they closed and reopened several years later as Chelsea Pottery U.S. The name was finally changed to Dedham Pottery when they relocated to Dedham in 1896.

The glaze is known as gray craquelle and was developed by owner, Hugh Robertson. The spider-web veining was achieved after the firing process and during the cooling. The cobalt blue animals, birds and flowers were hand painted by their accomplished decorators.

Joseph Linden Smith designed the rabbit motif, and it was so popular that it was decided to use as the company logo. Rabbits that face left were found on early pieces and highly prized by collectors. Also, pieces signed by the decorator are very desirable and more valuable than those without a signature.

The pottery closed in 1943 due to escalating manufacturing costs and a limited number of skilled artisans. Collectors alert: Dedham pottery has been reproduced in Massachusetts for over 25 years.

* On July 3, 1971, Jim Morrison, lead singer for the rock group The Doors, died in Paris at just 27 years old of what was officially listed as heart failure likely due to a heroin overdose, though no autopsy was performed as it was not required under French law.

* On July 4, 1845, American author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau began a two-year experiment in simple living at Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts, famously writing that he “went to the wood because I wished to live deliberately.” The resulting book about his experience has been called, among other things, part social experiment and part voyage of spiritual discovery.

* On July 5, 1975, Arthur Ashe became the first Black man to win a Wimbledon singles title after defeating the overwhelming favorite Jimmy Connors, who was then the No. 1 tennis player in the world. Ashe would later say that prior to the match, “I had the strangest feeling that I couldn’t lose.”

* On July 6, 2004, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry chose Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina to be his running mate. Edwards was considered by some to provide balance to Kerry’s campaign. Others found Edwards to be essentially reliant on smooth speeches and personal charisma. Years later, in his autobiography, Kerry admitted he’d made an unfortunate choice that botched his chance at the White House.

A: As a general rule, porcelain marked “Made in Japan” was made after 1920. The mark with rising sun image that you described was used from the late 1940s.

Similar tea sets made in Japan are usually worth $150 to $200.

Q: This mark is impressed on the back of a stoneware plate that I found while going through my grandmother’s things when she was moving to a retirement home. She told me it was given to her when she was a child. She is in her nineties, so I know the plate is old.

Puzzle Solutions

As homework, I'm supposed to read this book by writer Dahl in one day.

Time to hit the Roald!

Your early 1900 plate would probably be worth $250 to $350.

* * *

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 COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

* On July 7, 1865, Maryland tavern owner Mary Surratt became the first woman to be executed by the U.S. federal government, for her alleged complicity in the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Historians remain divided on the question of her guilt.

* On July 8, 1997, the Mayo Clinic and the U.S. government warned that the diet-drug combination popularly known as fen-phen, originally touted as a “miracle medicine” for weight loss, could cause serious heart and lung damage.

* On July 9, 2011, the northeast African country known as Republic of South Sudan seceded from Sudan, becoming the youngest country in the world. Since that time, however, it has been plagued with widespread ethnic violence and human rights violations.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Japanese porcelain tea set is from the 1940s.

Famous Explorers (from page 3)

• Magellan’s fleet reached Guam in March 1521. Although Magellan’s expedition was the first to circumnavigate the Earth, the explorer himself did not make it back home. He was killed in a fight with the native people of Mactan Island in the Philippines. The remainder of the fleet finally returned to Spain in 1522, with only 19 survivors.

VASCO BALBOA

• Magellan may have named the Pacific Ocean, but he wasn’t the first European to see it. That honor belonged to Spanish conquistador and explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa, who led a 1513 expedition in search of gold. He had already established a settlement on the Isthmus of Panama and led upwards of 200 Spaniards and natives across the strip of land. Balboa climbed a high mountain peak, revealing the Ocean in his view. The group named it the Mar del Sur, meaning South Sea. Seven years later Magellan renamed and sailed across this body of water.

VASCO DA GAMA

• Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama is credited as the first navigator to sail around Africa’s southern Cape of Good Hope, and as the first European to reach India by sea. In July 1497, da Gama departed Portugal, leading a fleet of four ships carrying 170 men. His quest was to discover a sea route from Europe to the East and establish a profitable trade relationship for precious spices.

• The fleet sailed down the western coast of Africa, through the treacherous waters off Good Hope, the southernmost tip of Africa. They reached the trading posts of India ten months later. After a successful venture, the ships, laden down with spices, set out for home, a journey that would last 11 terrible months. Out of a crew of 170 that had set sail 732 days earlier and traveled 24,000 miles, just 54 survivors remained. The majority of the men had perished from illness, primarily scurvy.

• A second journey to India in 1502 consisted of 20 ships, returning with a fortune in spices, gems, and pearls. In 1524, da Gama was asked to return to India to deal with the corruption of Portuguese officials. He returned to India, but died of malaria only three months later. □

(Related story page 5)

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Play Better Golf with JACK NICKLAUS

Resist The Roll

The backswing relies upon many moving parts, but owes a lot of its consistency and control to the ankles. The back foot and ankle can be the cornerstone upon which proper body pivot and weight shift is built upon.

Many amateurs suffering from a “rolling ankle” which implies that the ankle and foot lose support in the backswing by rolling to the outside of the foot’s support. Once the ankle gives, the knee and hip are sure to follow. The rolling and bending of the leg make it difficult to control the body’s height, and inhibits shifting weight correctly in the forward swing.

From address, the weight should start on the ball of the foot and on the inside of the foot as well. During the backswing, the weight will shift slightly back toward the heel, but remain on the inner half of the foot. The knee will help keep the weight in its appropriate place by not over rotating to the outside of the foot’s support. The body should turn against a supportive ankle and knee, rather than succumbing to a rolling action.

2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What does HTTP stand for in a website address?

3. LITERATURE: Which kind of animals are featured in the novel “Watership Down”?

4. HISTORY: When was the first iPhone released?

5. MOVIES: What kind of fish is Nemo in “Finding Nemo”?

6. GAMES: What is the final course on Mario Kart video games?

7. ASTRONOMY: How many planets in our solar system have moons?

8. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was licensed as a bartender?

9. MEDICAL: What is a more common term for somniloquy?

10. TELEVISION: How many castaways are on “Gilligan’s Island”? Answers

HyperText Transfer Protocol.