Vol. 19: #9 • Basketball Greats • (2-26-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

TIDBITS SALUTES BASKETBALL GREATS

by Kathy Wolfe

Swish! This week, Tidbits heads to the court to check out some of the facts about the great players of the sport of professional basketball. Whether you're an avid fan of the game or not, we think you’ll find it interesting to learn about the backgrounds of these legendary sports figures, and how they earned their claim to fame.

• Although you don't know him by this name today, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr. was born in 1947, weighing in at 12 lbs, 11 oz. By age nine, he was already 5’ 8” tall, and when he reached 8th grade, he stood 6’ 8”. He finally topped out at 7’2”.

• Alcindor attended a parochial high school in New York City, where he set a record for most points scored. His college career began in 1965 at UCLA, where he scored a record 56 points in his first game. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1st round of the NBA draft in 1969, and was named Rookie of the Year for the 196970 season. Having converted to Islam, Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in

He’s known as the “Father of the Brillo pad.” How did attorney Milton B. Loeb gain this title? Follow along and see!

• It was the early 1900s and kitchens were equipped with heavy cast iron cookware, but a new product had burst on the scene. Aluminum pots and pans had made their debut! It was a revolutionary improvement in cookware, but there was one major drawback – they blackened easily and were nearly impossible to clean.

• A cookware peddler and his jeweler brotherin-law put their heads together to solve that problem. They started with jeweler’s rouge, a jewelry polishing compound made from finely ground iron oxide. It was a dark red substance that gives it the name “rouge,” mixed with tallow, which serves as a binding agent. It’s used for achieving a high shine for silver and gold. The brothers-in-law then added soap, and compressed it all together in fine steel wool. The concoction worked miraculously to scour the aluminum pans, and the pair began selling it along with the pans.

• Although they realized they needed to patent their product, the men didn’t have the funds to pay for legal services. They approached New York City attorney Milton Loeb and offered him a share of the company if he would secure the patent.

• Loeb tried the steel wool pad, found that it gave aluminum an extraordinary shine, and accepted their offer. He came up with the name “Brillo” and its trademark, obtained the patent in 1913, and formed the partnership with the pair under the name Brillo Manufacturing Company, with headquarters and production in New York City. The steel wool pads were packaged five to a box, along with a cake of soap.

Final Changes DUE:

forgotten. Although he wasn’t the inventor, Loeb can take credit for the popularity and commercial success of the Brillo product.

• In 1921, operations moved to London, Ohio, where headquarters and manufacturing continue to this day. Loeb then expanded the company to Great Britain, Ireland, and Canada.

• Forty-two years later, in 1963, Brillo merged with the Purex Corporation and Loeb became a director and senior vice-president of that company, in charge of Brillo. In addition, he was a director of the Soap and Detergent Association. As if the Brillo business wasn’t enough, Milton Loeb served as an officer and director of Loeb’s, a family-owned department store in his native Lafayette, Indiana. Loeb passed away in 1972, at age 84.

• In 1964, artist Andy Warhol brought Brillo to the world of pop art. As a follow-up to his Campbell Soup can renditions, Warhol created 3-D replicas of the Brillo box using screenprint ink and house paint on plywood, creating precise copies of the packaging. He made hundreds of the boxes, first for a New York City exhibit, then other exhibits across the nation. In 2010, one of the iconic boxes sold at auction for over $3 million. □

ADVERTISING PROOF

1. TELEVISION: Which cable TV series features a character named Don Draper?

2. MOVIES: What subject does Professor Minerva McGonagall teach at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

3. HISTORY: Where was civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president had a sign on his desk that read, “The Buck Stops Here”?

5. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the world’s largest desert?

6. LITERATURE: What is the real name of the author Lemony Snicket?

7. FOOD & DRINK: What is the fruit that gives the liqueur creme de cassis its flavor?

8. MUSIC: What inspired the Beatles’ song “Blackbird”?

9. CELEBRITIES: What is singer/ actress Judy Garland’s birth name?

10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What are squirrels’ nests called?

Final Changes DUE:

• Loeb continued his law practice, but his role in Brillo became increasingly active. He entered the Army in World War I, and when he returned home after the war, it wasn’t long before Brillo was taking up almost of his time. He left his law career to become the company president.

6)

• What became of those inventors who came up with this revolutionary solution for cleaning aluminum pots and pans? Over the years since, their names seem to have been lost and

When Your Muscles and Bones Hurt, Should You Choose ROLFING®?

Rolfing® changes your posture so that your body becomes straighter and more symmetrical through careful manipulation of the wrappings around the muscles that shape the body, fascia. A thorough reeducation process allows you to be different within your body, all within a 10-session series.

Rolfing® can be very effective in alleviating muscular-skeletal pain and tension through improving your overall alignment. Rolfing® is not medical care or treatment, and Rolfers do not diagnose or treat illness. However, Rolfing® can be very effective when chronic mis-allignments in your body is the source of your problem

4. Harry Truman.

Week of February 26, 2023

Basketball Greats: (from page one)

1971.

• Jabbar was traded to the L.A. Lakers in 1975, winning five NBA championships there. His salary in 1984 was $1,530,000, but had more than doubled by the close of his career. His estimated NBA earnings are $8,560,000.

• After 20 seasons in the NBA, Jabbar retired in 1989 as the highest-scoring player of all time with 38,387 points. He’d been voted NBA’s MVP six times and played a record 57,446 minutes. In addition to appearing in a few movies, he has authored 17 books. Several health problems have plagued him, including severe migraines, a leukemia diagnosis in 2008, and quadruple bypass surgery in 2015.

• LeBron Raymone James Sr. was born in 1984 and grew up playing basketball for St. VincentSt. Mary High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. He was quickly recognized as an outstanding player and was scouted by professional teams who eyed him as a future NBA superstar. And they were right. Among numerous other achievements in his stellar career to date, he has won four NBA championships and competed in ten NBA Finals, each with MVP awards, and has won two Olympic Gold Medals.

• Most recently as a star with the Los Angeles Lakers, and amid a huge celebration by players, fans and the media alike, LeBron overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s longstanding record as the NBA's all-time leading scorer by sinking his 38,389th point in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With still years yet to go in his professional career, many believe he is certain to break the 40,000 point mark.

• Larry Bird was known as “the hick from French

Lick,” referring to his hometown of French Lick, Indiana. His childhood was not an easy one, as his mother worked two jobs to help support the family’s six children. There were plenty of family problems in the Bird home, including poverty, which motivated Larry’s determination to succeed. He escaped from the troubles, which included his parents’ divorce and his father’s subsequent suicide, by playing basketball, becoming his high school’s all-time leading scorer.

• The Indiana Hoosiers offered Bird a basketball scholarship in 1974, but he dropped out after a month, finding the large campus and huge number of students too overwhelming after life in a friendlier, slower paced small town. He enrolled in a small college near home for a year, then transferred to Indiana State University in 1975.

• Two years later, the 6 ft. 9” Bird was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in NBA’s 1978 draft, but chose to stay in college, graduating with a B.S. in Physical education in 1979. He then signed a five-year, $3.25 million contract with the Celtics, the highestpaid rookie at that time. His entire 13-year pro career, 1,061 games, was spent with this team, securing five NBA finals appearances, and three championships. In a 1985 game vs the Atlanta Hawks, he scored his personal best of 60 points.

• Bird was a member of the 1992 Olympic basketball “Dream Team,” the first time that NBA players were sent to compete in the Games, games that earned the team the gold medal. He retired in 1992, following back surgery to remove a troublesome spinal disc. He was a coach for the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000.

• Can you name the first NBA player to score more than 30,000 cumulative points? It was the 7’1” tall “Wilt the Stilt” Chamberlain, the Kansas Jayhawk alumnus, who joined the Philadelphia Warriors in 1959. Because the NBA did not accept players who had not completed college, Wilt played a year as a Harlem Globetrotter after leaving the University of Kansas in 1958, before joining the Warrior team. He still holds several records, including the most points scored in a season, with 4,029 in the 1962 season, an average of 50.4 points per game.

• That was also the year he became the first and only player to score 100 points in a game In all, Chamberlain holds 72 NBA records. He moved with the Warriors to San Francisco in 1962, was

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

The sport of basketball was invented in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts, by Canadian physical education instructor James Naismith. He was looking for a way to keep his athletes in physical shape during the winter months. He set up elevated peach baskets on either end of their indoor gym as goal targets, and established rules to be followed while bouncing and passing a soccer ball.

The game became so popular that other schools soon followed suit.

traded to the Philadelphia 76’ers in 1964, then to the Lakers in 1968. He retired in 1973 after playing in 1,045 games, did some coaching for a year with an ABA team, then moved into business and filmmaking. Chamberlain passed away in 1999 at age 63.

• Scotty Pippen started his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls in 1987 and ended with the Bulls in 2004. But in between, he also played one season with the Houston Rockets and four with the Portland Trail Blazers. He made the postseason 16 consecutive years.

• In 2008, at age 42, he had a brief comeback to pro ball, playing a few games for two Scandinavian teams. In 1992, Pippen and

Basketball Greats: Turn to page 15

����������������� ����

QUIZ BITS

1. Name the NBA star who played the co-pilot Roger Murdock in 1980 film "Airplane."

2. How many seasons did Michael Jordan play in the NBA?

(Answers page 16)

by

1.What’s 2.What

1.VERNALEQUINOX

2.CROCUS

By Lucie Winborne

* In 2015, a study found that having more than 10 trees on their block made folks feel as healthy as if they were seven years younger or made an additional $10,000 a year.

* The medical term for ice cream headache is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. Now you know why we call it an ice cream headache or brain freeze.

* In the NHL, if both the goalie and backup goalie are unable to play, the team can substitute any available goalie who isn’t bound by a professional contract with another team. To date, such replacements have included an accountant, a facilities manager and an equipment manager.

* A course called The Science of Batman was offered at the University of Victoria in Canada in 2016, with the design of examining “how the human body can be adapted and improved based on the metaphor of the caped crusader himself.”

* While still a teenager, Dasia Taylor used beet juice to develop surgical sutures that change color to indicate an infection.

* The ant-eating assassin bug piles its victims onto its body to scare predators.

* In 1829, some Victorians were gripped with pteridomania, or “fern fever,” and began eagerly collecting the plants after botanist George Loddiges spread the (quite unsubstantiated) claim that they could not only improve mood, but increase both intelligence and virility.

* Asia is bigger in surface area than the moon.

* Ever heard that old claim that watching scary movies will help you burn calories because they get your heart racing? Sorry, but the “study” that produced this finding was meant more for publicity than to be taken seriously. You’re more likely to burn the same amount just by lounging on your sofa ... and watching something like, say, “Bambi.”

Thought for the Day: “Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.”

-- Mark Twain

by Mary Hunt

8 Easy Ways to Cut Your Electricity Bill

thick curtains can also help retain heat inside the room.

NO. 6: USE ENERGY-SAVING LIGHT BULBS

Switching to energy-efficient LED light bulbs from incandescent, compact fluorescent and halogen bulbs can save you approximately $225 per year on your energy bill.

Although these bulbs may have a higher initial cost, there’s no need to replace all the light bulbs in your home at once. Instead, replace them as they burn out.

NO. 7: CUT DRYER TIME WITH DRYER BALLS

by Mary Hunt

The mail arrives. The electric bill is right on top. Shove it to the bottom of the stack. Finally, hands shaking, open it, knowing you’ve been negligent. Lock eyeballs with the amount due. Higher than it has ever been. Sure, rates are skyrocketing; everyone is being impacted. But that does not make this easier to swallow.

If you’re facing high utility bills that rival the rent or mortgage payment -- or just need to cut costs -- these tips can help you get started cutting your electricity bill.

NO. 1: CHANGE AIR FILTERS

The filter(s) on your HVAC (heating ventilation air-conditioning) system should be changed every three months to keep the system in tip-top shape. Set an alarm; mark it on the calendar. I may not be the only homeowner who had to learn this very expensive lesson the hard way.

NO. 2: KEEP VENTS CLEAR

It’s understandable to want to hide vents with furniture to improve the appearance of a room, but it’s crucial to leave enough space around them so that air can circulate properly. Blocking vents can cause your HVAC system to work harder and even break down.

NO. 3: ADJUST THE THERMOSTAT THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Lower the thermostat a bit when you are not at home and at night during the winter. Be mindful not to set the temperature too low while you’re away as it can cause your heating unit to work harder, increasing energy bills and putting stress on the unit.

Invest in a programmable thermostat for your home. Set it to adjust the temperature automatically according to your schedule.

NO. 4: ADJUST WATER HEATER TEMP

While adjusting your thermostat, consider changing the temperature of your water heater as well. The Department of Energy states that setting a water heater to 140 F is the default, but this can result in annual wasted costs of $36 to $61. It is safe for most households to set the temperature to 120 F instead.

NO. 5: INVEST IN BLACKOUT CURTAINS

An inexpensive way to cut costs is to invest a few bucks in blackout curtains. Found at stores like Walmart and Target, they block light, noise, and temperature fluctuations. In winter,

Dryer balls are commonly known for preventing static and wrinkles, which is true, but they also have additional benefits, like significantly reducing drying time by up to 25%, saving you money on utility bills and time on your chores.

NO. 8: USE CAULKING TO CUT ELECT BILL

Applying caulking around windows and doors can help retain warm air inside during the winter and cool air inside during the summer, according to the Department of Energy. This easy home repair project can be completed in a couple of hours, costing as little as a few dollars. Caulking can help fix minor air leaks, but if you find that your utility costs are particularly high in the winter and summer, more extensive upgrades such as a new roof or storm windows may be necessary to prevent major air leaks. A home energy audit can help determine your home’s most effective energy-efficient upgrades.

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

SOLAR PANEL DOCTORS

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

The year 1992 marked the first time that professional basketball players were allowed to compete in the Olympic Games. Prior teams were made up of collegiate players and occasionally Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) players.

• Nicknamed the “Dream Team,” the Olympic team included such greats as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, and David Robinson. The Dream Team defeated its Olympic opponents by an average of 44 points.

• Charles Barkley was drafted by Philadelphia 76ers in the 1st round of the 1984 NBA Draft after a college career at Auburn University. He was often controversial and outspoken during his 16 seasons in the NBA, including a suspension for verbally abusing and spitting on a spectator. He said of himself, “I am not a role model.”

• Barkley moved on to the Phoenix Suns in 1992,

then to the Houston Rockets in 1996. He was an 11-time All-Star, the All-Star MVP in 1991, and the NBA MVP in 1993. As a member of the U.S. Olympic “Dream Team” in 1992, he was the team’s highest-scoring member. Barkley was also on the 1996 Olympic gold team.

• Earning the moniker "Sir Charles", "Chuck", and "the Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for three teams. Though shorter than the typical power forward, he used his strength and aggressiveness to become one of the NBA's most dominant rebounders. He was a versatile player who had the ability to score, create plays, and defend.

• Since his retirement in 2000, he’s been a successful NBA television sports announcer and analyst.

• For a guy who initially didn’t make his Wilmington, North Carolina high school varsity basketball team, Michael Jordan managed to come out okay! Although other greats are also mentioned, most folks agree that Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.

• Jordan played college ball for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, and was a member of their 1982 national championship team. In 1984, he was chosen third overall in the NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, with a first year salary of $550,000. His first NBA championship came in 1991 with the Bulls, followed by two more in 1992 and 1993. In the midst of that, he played on the 1992 Summer Olympics “Dream Team.”

• Jordan surprised everyone when he suddenly retired from basketball before the 1993-1994 season to try out a career in minor league baseball with the Chicago White Sox organization. The decision was based on the dream of Jordan’s late father, who had yearned for Mike to become an MLB player. Tragically, his father had been murdered three months earlier.

• In March 1995, Jordan announced his return to basketball with the press release “I’m back.” He then starred in three more NBA championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998.

MON.,

• During the 1995-1996 season, he found time to portray a cameo role as himself in the live-action/ animated film “Space Jam,” the 10th highestgrossing film of 1996. Warner Brothers Studios went to the expense of building a basketball court on the set for Jordan’s use during his breaks in the filming process.

• In January 1999, Jordan announced his second retirement from the NBA, citing the desire to

spend more time with his family. Was there a chance he would return to basketball? Jordan said he was 99.9% sure the answer was “No.”

• But in September 2001, he came out of retirement yet again to play for the Washington Wizards, an organization of which he had been part-owner and president of operations since January, 2000. On April 16, 2003, he played his final NBA game.

• Throughout his remarkable career, “His Airness” racked up six NBA championships, five NBA MVP awards, 14 All-Star games, three All-Star MVP awards, six NBA Finals MVP Awards, and ten scoring records, among numerous other record-breaking achievements. □

FILLERPAGE2

FILLERPAGE2

2Q08-WEEK19

2Q08-WEEK19

MAY4-MAY10

MAY4-MAY10

TRIVIA

PRESENTS

TRIVIANEWSFRONT™

1.Whohada#1hitin1961withthesardonic “Mother-in-Law”?

2.Accordingtotheproverb,whatis“the motherofinvention”?

3.WhatwastherealfirstnameofAfricanAmericancomedienneMomsMabley?

4.Whatfilmactorwantedto in1987? ThrowMomma fromtheTrain

1.ErnieK-Doe

1.ErnieK-Doe

2.necessity

3.Loretta

2.necessity

3.Loretta

NEWSFRONTANSWERS TRIVIA byKaraKovalchik&SandyWood

4.DannyDeVito

4.DannyDeVito

4.DannyDeVito

5.CandyLightner

5.CandyLightner

5.CandyLightner

CLIP AND SAVE

by Dana Jackson

Q: Is Tina Fey working on any new shows? Did the one about the mayor get canceled? I really loved “30 Rock,” and I’m hoping she’ll do a reboot of it someday. -- S.L.

A: It was recently announced that Fey and her former “Saturday Night Live” Weekend Update co-anchor, Amy Poehler, will be going on a comedy tour together. Since they are very busy women, they only have time for four cities, at least for now. According to Deadline.com, they’ll kick it off with their first performance on April 29 in Washington, D.C., then on to the improv capital of the world, Chicago, on May 29. From there, Fey and Poehler will appear at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway on June 9 and will cap off their tour in Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena on June 10.

The Tina Fey & Amy Poehler: Restless Leg Tour is calling itself a celebration of “thirty years of friendship with an evening of jokes, iconic stories and conversational entertainment.”

Another pair of comedy legends, Steve Martin and Martin Short (who star in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building”), did a similar stage tour last year. Incidentally, Fey had a recurring role on their series as well.

There aren’t any plans for a “30 Rock” reunion, which would prove especially difficult given star Alec Baldwin’s recent legal troubles. Her most recent creation, “Mr. Mayor,” starring Ted Danson, was canceled after two seasons. Despite recently

striking out, I’m sure it won’t be long before Fey hits another creative home run.

***

Q: When does the new season of “The Masked Singer” begin? I usually catch it midway through, and I want to watch it from the beginning this time. -- L.A.

A: Season nine of the hit singing competition show began on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. Hopefully, you caught the commercials during the Super Bowl and don’t miss any episodes, but if you do, you can catch encore episodes via OnDemand, FOX NOW, Hulu and Tubi.

According to “Entertainment Weekly,” this season’s theme nights include Abba Night, DC Superhero Night and ‘80s Night. Returning panelists include Ken Jeong, Nicole Scherzinger, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg and Robin Thicke. Also, expect some star cameos.

***

Q: I read a rumor that Sheryl Lee Ralph didn’t really sing at the Super Bowl -that she lip-synced instead. Doesn’t she have a fantastic voice? -- U.J.

A: Yes, long before she won an Emmy for her comedy chops in the sitcom “Abbott Ele-

mentary,” Sheryl Lee Ralph was nominated for a Tony Award for her powerful vocals in Broadway’s “Dreamgirls.” After she wowed ticketholders at the Super Bowl with her rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” viewers at home wondered if she lip-synced the lyrics instead of singing live. The following day, Ralph neither confirmed nor denied, telling “The Hollywood Reporter,” “Does it matter? ... No. Thank you.”

* * *

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. Magic Mike’s Last Dance (R) Salma Hayek, Channing Tatum

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

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

2. Avatar: The Way of Water (PG-13) Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana

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

3. Titanic (PG-13) Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet

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

4. 80 for Brady (PG-13) Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda

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

5. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (PG) Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek

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

6. Knock at the Cabin (R) Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff

7. Sing (PG) animated

7. A Man Called Otto (PG-13) Tom Hanks, John Higgins

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

8. Missing (PG-13) Tim Griffin, Ava Zaria Lee

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

9. M3GAN (PG-13) Allison Williams, Violet McGraw

10. xXx: Return of Xander Cage (PG-13) Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen

10. Plane (R) Gerard Butler, Daniella Pineda

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

Tina Fey

Good Recipes from Pulled Pork Pot Pie

1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped collard greens

1 box (8 1/2 ounces) corn-muffin mix*

1 container (18 to 20 ounces) refrigerated barbecue sauce with shredded pork

1 can (15 to 16 ounces) black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained

1. Heat oven to 400 F.

2. Remove frozen collard greens from package. In small microwave-safe bowl, heat collard greens in microwave oven on High 2 to 3 minutes or just until greens are mostly thawed but still cool enough to handle. Squeeze greens to remove excess water.

3. Prepare corn-muffin mix as label directs for cornbread, but do not bake.

4. Spread sauce with pork in bottom of 1 1/2-quart glass or ceramic baking dish. Top with black-eyed peas and collard greens. Spoon batter evenly over greens. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until filling is hot and top is well-browned. Makes

4 main-dish servings.

 Each serving: About 615 calories, 16g total fat (5g saturated), 34g protein, 82g carbohydrate, 11g fiber, 94mg cholesterol, 1,705mg sodium.

Steamed Broccoli With Buttery Herb Crumbs

Bags of broccoli flowerets make prep time a snap for this tasty side dish.

1 lemon

3 tablespoons margarine or butter

4 slices bread, torn into 3/8-inch pieces

1 garlic clove, crushed with garlic press

* * *

tablespoon margarine. Sprinkle crumbs on top. Makes 8 servings.

 Each serving: About 95 calories, 4g protein, 11g carbohydrate, 5g total fat (1g saturated), 3g fiber, 0mg cholesterol, 220mg sodium.

* * *

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

(c) 2019 Hearst Communications, Inc.

1/4 cup packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped

For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/.

2 bags (12 ounces each) fresh broccoli flowerets

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. From lemon, grate 1 teaspoon peel, and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice.

2. In 12-inch skillet, melt 2 tablespoons margarine over medium heat. Add bread and cook until golden, about 8 minutes, stirring often. Stir in garlic, parsley and lemon peel; cook 30 seconds. Remove skillet from heat.

3. Meanwhile, add about 3/4-inch water to wide-bottomed 5- to 6-quart saucepot. Place collapsible steamer basket (about 11 inches in diameter) in saucepot; heat water to boiling over high heat. Add broccoli to steamer basket; cover and steam 5 to 6 minutes or until tender-crisp.

4. Transfer broccoli to serving bowl; toss with salt, pepper, lemon juice and remaining 1

PonderBits

If someone can't make themselves get out and vote, could you say they have electile dysfunction? Does anyone else have a plastic bag full of plastic bags, or is it just me?

Do people in Australia call the rest of the world "Up-Over"?

If a cookie falls on the floor and you pick it up... that's a squat, right?

• Extensive valley-wide distribution in over 600 newsstand locations - including Wal-Mart, Walgreens, and Revivals, as well as restaurants,

Donald Duck by Walt

By John Allen

Tidbits Word Search

"Team Tally"

Cody’s

Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

The Other Dog

The Other Dog. No, it isn’t the latest salacious kibble out of Hollywood. At least not yet. It’s the excuse many people cling to in order to avoid accepting responsibility for their ill-mannered pooch.

But the other dog didn’t chew up the sofa cushions.

But the other dog never attacked the mailman.

But the other dog knew not to, ahem, “hug” the neighbor’s leg.

If that’s true, if the other dog really knew so much more, then you’re in great shape. All you have to do to get the new pooch up to speed is teach him all that great stuff you taught the other dog. After all, if you don’t teach him, he won’t know.

Then again, the other dog simply might not have shared the new pup’s appetite for upholstery, postal carriers and great gams.

It defies logic to believe any one dog will behave like any other dog just because they’re both dogs. Most dogs don’t instinctively know to stay off the BarcaLounger and out of the fajita meat.

Angel or devil. Sometimes in the beginning, it can feel like nothing more than a coin toss. But either way, dogs, just like children, need discipline and guidance from their “parents” in order to become good citizens with whom the rest of us enjoy sharing space. In other words, we have to train them.

I’ve attended many dog shows in my time. I’ve met beautiful dogs, groomed to the hilt, with textbook temperaments. I’ve met proud and dedicated dog owners who had dropped thousands on handling and grooming. I also met a 160-pound Neapolitan mastiff who pulled so hard on the leash that his owner couldn’t walk him and a 15-pound terrier who continually bounced off my kneecaps. Beautiful show dogs, but still not trained. Perfect teeth and bones and super-shiny coats, but still not trained.

These animals were quite literally the champions of their breed. And still they had bad manners.

It’s relatively easy to teach a dog good manners; there’s no ego factor to negotiate when teaching a dog. But you’ll need to do some homework

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

"You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time." -- A. Lincoln

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

Is It Taxable?

After preparing my own taxes annually for the past 40 years, I'm quite familiar with all the forms, the proper way to make my entries, and what documented records I need to include for filing. But this year, and for the very first time, I’m about to have someone else do them for me.

This is not without concerns, of course, but the people who volunteer to prepare taxes at our senior center are trained. They’re part of the AARP Income Tax Assistance Program, which means they’re IRS-certified and therefore will be up to speed about any recent changes to tax laws... which will certainly be handy at this point.

As of this writing, the IRS is telling people to hold off sending in their tax returns for 2022. The reason: So many states handed out so many types of money during the pandemic that the IRS isn’t sure yet what is and what isn’t taxable. For example, checks designated as “rebates” might or might not be taxable. A Covid disaster emergency relief check is not. However, in some cases, the issue is complicated by whether you do or do not itemize.

People in at least 22 states are caught up in this dilemma.

If you haven’t done your taxes yet and want help, or if you want to make a note for next year, do an online search for “AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Locator.” Once on the site, scroll down and enter your ZIP code or town in the search field to find the locations where this assistance is available near you.

Be sure to ask about the forms you’ll need to pick up and fill out before your appointment, and, depending on what Covid precautions they many be following, whether you’ll be going inside or waiting in the parking lot to be called in.

The other good news is that this AARP service is free. For me it means I don’t need to spend $50 once again to buy the computer software and do it myself and hope I haven’t made an error somewhere ... perhaps with guessing wrong about whether that state check I received is or isn’t taxable.

I'm hoping the pro I'm working with can find I'm entitled to a lot more deductions than I ever did on my own!

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

by Joseph Publillones

Making a Family Room

What goes into the makings of a family room? Historically, the first family rooms emerged from the hands of architects into floor plans about 50 or 60 years ago. This room was a bit different in character from all others. Less formal than a living room, the family room was to encourage family connection and interaction. The family room made its first appearance as an appendage of the kitchen, the heart of a home. At the same time, televisions sprouted from coast to coast. Televisions, like the radio was previously, became the anchor of the family room.

Shelter magazines of the 1960s and 1970s often referred to the room as a den for gathering, and architecturally the introduction of sliding glass doors allowed this newly minted room access to the outdoors. Over the years, not much has changed about the decor of this now ubiquitous room. Seating arrangements favored for family rooms are generally L-shaped and U-shaped groupings. Of course, sectionals have found a favorite room in family rooms for ample and comfortable seating.

Mostly innovations in family rooms have to do with advances in audio-visual technologies -namely televisions to flat screens, and record players to CD players or web-supplied media. Family rooms are the perfect place for extracurricular activities such as music, board games and computer stations, too. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the development of the custom wall unit and the armoire to conceal the TV set.

Lately, in newer homes, the dedicated family room is disappearing. A new architectural concept has been trickling called the great room. This merges the functions of living room and family room, providing large open areas in which dining, cooking and living take place. Often times, these spaces are double the height, requiring large-scale furniture and accessories to scale the space down.

The new great room/family room truly encourages family gatherings and interaction and helps to reduce generation gaps by architecturally mixing up all the spaces. Of course, each family is unique, and arrangements are made for each family’s particular activities. The design and style should reflect those living there.

Family rooms are supposed to be casual and carefree. Some suggestions include washable slipcovers or seasonal slipcovers for upholstered furniture. Multitask lighting that can be dimmed and or moved is a must for comfort and reading. Comfortable rugs underfoot are a must for warmth and to reinforce a grouping or seating area. Rugs add character and color depending on the pattern selected. Pillows and throws are the finishing touches in creating the ultimate comfortable family room.

Another trend in today’s family room is the addition of a nearby beverage center, and in some instances a snack bar on which to place bowls of fruits and other snacks. Ultimately, comfort is foremost in family rooms so that they will be used often by all members of a household.

* * *

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

first. For some dog owners, everything they know about dogs is based on the other dog. They don’t know about teething, they don’t know about crate training, they don’t know about housebreaking. They don’t know about temperament testing, tone of voice, personality or the particulars of one breed versus another. And they don’t hold these truths to be self-evident: that while all dogs may be created equal, all dogs are not the same.

A good way to drive that point home is to go to a dog show. You’ll see beautiful specimens from every breed imaginable, but for some up-close oneon-one with the dog and his or her owner, attend a “benched” show. Those are shows where the competing dogs are required to stay in specific areas -- on benches -- when they aren’t being judged. This allows for interaction between spectators and participants, and it’s a great way to ask questions of breeders and do some homework when trying to decide what breed of dog best suits your lifestyle.

The International Kennel Club has two benched shows every year, and an online search of your area will reveal other benched shows open to the public. If you’re thinking about getting a dog, dog shows are a great way to get a lot of homework done in one sitting.

Whatever you do, don’t get a new dog with the other dog in mind. Even if he’s the same breed, even if he’s the same litter, even if he’s the twin brother, he won’t be the same dog. So the next time you find yourself dangling “the other dog didn’t do that” from the tip of your tongue, remember: That’s why he’s called “the other dog.” 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.

The Art of DESIGN

SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

An Unusual Morning Mailbag

Most mornings, I sit down at my computer and open my emails. I find many of the same questions I’ve answered hundreds, if not thousands of times over the 25 years I’ve been writing this column. And even though it’s “deja vu all over again,” I don’t mind answering those questions because I know that not everyone has memorized all my past columns and these queries are coming from folks now facing some Social Security issues or decisions in their lives.

But for some reason, this morning’s batch of emails was different. They still were questions I’ve dealt with in the past. (I don’t think there is a single Social Security question I have never been asked.) Still, they were not the common questions I’m asked over and over again, so I thought I’d put them in today’s column.

Q: I am a bit of an amateur genealogist. I want to create a family tree and I’m trying to get whatever information I can about several deceased relatives. I know I might be able to get a little information from their Social Security records. How do I go about doing this?

A: The most easily obtainable Social Security record you can get is a copy of the deceased person’s Social Security number application card. That card lists the deceased’s name, date, place of birth and parents’ names. Just do a Google search for “Social Security form SSA-711.” That’s the form you use to get a copy of that SSN application card. The usual fee for this service is $30. And I’m sure you’re also checking out online sites like Ancestry. com.

Q: I was married to a man for 28 years. It was a troubled marriage. We divorced about ten years ago. During most of that marriage, I was a stay-at-home wife and mother. All the children from that marriage are grown. About three years ago, I met the most wonderful man and we got married. But one complication is that he is living in this country illegally. He is working and paying taxes. (I’m not really sure how that works.)

Will I ever be able to get any benefits from my first husband’s Social Security? Will I get anything from my second husband’s Social Security?

A: As long as you are married to husband No. 2, you can’t get any Social Security from husband No. 1. And because husband No. 2 is an undocumented immigrant, he won’t be able to get any Social Security -- even though he is somehow paying into the system. And that means you can’t get any spousal benefits on his record. But if your marriage to husband No. 2 ends, you could go back and get benefits from No. 1. Or if you happen to have enough credits on your own record, you could get a small retirement benefit. You would need a minimum of ten years of work to qualify for your own Social Security.

Q: In a recent column, you answered a question from a divorced wife who was wondering if she could get the “bump up” in So-

cial Security benefits even though her prior husband, who was also at full retirement age, was planning on deferring his benefits until he was 70.

You said that she should file her claim because the law says a divorced woman can file for benefits on an ex-husband’s record even if he is not collecting benefits -- although the ex would have to be at least age 62.

Well, my wife and I are both at full retirement age. She filed her claim this past year, and I am deferring my benefits until age 70. When I questioned the Social Security clerk about why my wife did not receive the bump up to half of my FRA benefit, which is significant, we were told that my wife could not get the bump up until I began to receive benefits. So, is this another “marriage penalty?”

A: The law just assumes that a widow under age 60 ought to be able to work and support herself and not rely on the Social Security system for her livelihood. However, there is an exception for younger widows who are caring for small children. A widow with minor children of the deceased in her care can get benefits at any age. She would collect those benefits until the youngest child reaches age 16 (although the children continue to get survivor benefits until age 18).

In your case, once you reach age 60, you could file for widow’s benefits then -- if you’re not working. If you are working, you’d have to wait until you stop working or reach full retirement age, whichever comes first, to file for benefits. And when that happens, you’ll have several options. Just as one example: you could file for widow’s benefits at your full retirement age and then at 70, switch to about 128% of your own retirement benefit.

PROOF

Final Changes DUE: 5:00

A: It’s not a “marriage penalty” per se. There is a reason why the rules are different for divorced women and married women.

It all comes down to the issue of dependency. The law requires a woman to be financially dependent on her husband’s Social Security in order to be eligible for spousal benefits on his record. If a woman is still married to her husband, and if he’s still working and not getting Social Security, it’s assumed that his income is being used to support her and therefore she doesn’t need his Social Security spousal benefit until he applies for benefits himself. But the law can’t make that assumption for a divorced woman. It can’t be assumed that she is being supported by her ex’s current income. So that’s why she is able to collect his Social Security even if he hasn’t yet filed for benefits himself.

Q: I am a recent widow. My husband died in October 2022. I am 47 years old. We were married for 25 years. I was told I would have to wait until I am 60 years old to collect his Social Security. Yet I know another widow who is ten years younger than me, and she gets a Social Security check for herself and her children. Why is this?

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. 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

1. The book of 4 John is in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither

2. In Romans 10, what body part does Paul call "beautiful" on those who bring the "Good News"? a) Hands b) Mouth c) Heart d) Feet

3. Who died after getting his long hair caught in tree branches and was slain by enemy soldiers? a) Joash b) Absalom c) Ahaz d) Asa

4. From Matthew 22:14, "For many are called, but few are ..."? a) Worthy b) Chosen c) Willing d) True believers

5. What caused the death of Job's children? a) Flood b) Windstorm c) Plague d) Great earthquake

6. Who was the mate of Abigail? a) Job b) Issac c) Nabal d) Baasha

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

High Doses of Vitamins Lead to Vitamin Toxicity

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been diagnosed with vitamin D toxicity, according to the blood work from a month ago -- my result was 122 ng/mL. I was taking high doses of vitamin D3 in pill form (15,000 IU a day for three years) bought from a drugstore. I have stopped taking it, but I need to know how long it will take to have a normal amount in my body. (Weeks, months?)

Can you shed any light on this question? I would like to take it again when my level comes down, but in a lower amount. Also, by any chance, would the high amount of D3 in my system have any correlation to a diagnosis of stenosis of the aortic valve? -- C.I.

ANSWER: Vitamin D toxicity is not common. I have seen one case in my career requiring hospitalization, due to a very high elevation of the blood calcium level. Vitamin D increases absorption of calcium from food through the intestines. In addition, calcium can come out of bones in people with very high levels of vitamin D. With high vitamin D levels, calcium levels can also become dangerously high.

Common symptoms of very high calcium levels include constipation, nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness, kidney stones, and neurological symptoms, including poor concentration and fatigue. These symptoms tend to happen at levels higher than yours, above 150 ng/mL. Years of high calcium levels can absolutely cause existing heart valve disease to worsen quickly.

In cases of acute intoxication from vitamin D, available treatments include steroids and pamidronate (an injectable medicine similar to alendronate and other drugs used to treat osteoporosis), which can quickly bring the calcium levels back down to normal.

Without this kind of intervention, a vitamin D level will still come down on its own, only more gradually. Vitamin D3 is removed slowly from the body, because it can go into fat tissue. It takes about two months for half the excess to be removed from the body, but because the active forms are removed more quickly, toxicity from excess vitamin D3 usually only lasts for weeks, not months. Still, you are likely not to need any vitamin D for many months, and if you do take it again, do not exceed the safe dose of 5,000 IU a day.

I recommend you also get your blood levels tested. Recent studies have questioned the benefit of supplemental vitamin D for most people, although some people, such as those with osteoporosis and low vitamin D levels, probably still benefit.

I’m very glad you wrote. Many people still don’t know that excess of some vitamins can occasionally be dangerous. Vitamin A is the other vitamin where high levels can be very dangerous.

***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 67-year-old female who has been unable to tolerate both

liquid and pill forms of colonoscopy preparations. Therefore, my gastroenterologist has been unable to complete a colonoscopy on me. What are my other options? -- F.K.

ANSWER: I would consider an alternate form of colon cancer screening. Home stool tests look for blood and DNA for colon cancer, or both. The data on Cologuard (a commonly available brand) show that it isn’t quite as good as a colonoscopy, but much better than not receiving a screening. However, if the result is positive, you will certainly need additional testing, which calls for preparation, possibly requiring you to get the preparation done under supervision.

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.

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

A

48-Year Theft

Forty-eight years is a long time to pull off a scam, but one woman managed to keep it going for that long. The crime: forging her mother’s signature on the back of checks for widows’ benefits ... for 48 years.

During all those years she continued to send in fraudulent paperwork while impersonating her mother -- who died in 1973 -- and continued to collect the money.

Her excuse, when finally caught, was that her abusive husband told her to keep cashing the checks. She divorced him and was then out from under his control, yet she continued to cash the checks.

Yes, when her mother died she had to take in and raise her younger siblings, so it’s possibly understandable that she assumed she could take the money that had been meant for her mother. But eventually those children grew up and were no longer minors living at home.

In the middle of the decades-long theft, she filed for bankruptcy and claimed she had no income, even though she was receiving the Department of Veterans Affairs benefits checks all along.

She’ll need to repay the $416,000 that she stole (not likely to happen), but there’s no jail sentence, only a year of home confinement, because the perp in this case is now 76 years old.

Why, inquiring minds want to know, does the VA not demand proof of life or some type of verification about where the money is going when benefits are paid year after year, decade after decade?

Surely someone could have done the math. If the mother was X years old when she started collecting the widow benefits, what were the odds she was still living 20 years, 30 years or 40 years later? Couldn’t someone have asked for verification? Or gone to the door?

Just receiving handwritten forms over the years doesn’t seem like much of an effort to safeguard the funds that are sent out.

That $416,000 (that they’ll likely never see again) is a lot of money.

mornings only as the return trip leaves Loma Linda at noon. Transportation reservations must be made in advance. Call for more information.

-- by Jim Miller

Could You Have a Thyroid Problem and Not Know It?

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: What are the symptoms of thyroid disease? I’ve been dealing with a number of health issues over the past few years, and a friend of mine recently advised me to get my thyroid checked, suggesting that might be what is causing my problems.

Can you tell me if this is something worth looking into?-- Almost 70

Dear Almost: If your thyroid is not functioning properly it can cause a number of health issues that can be tricky to detect as the symptoms often resemble other age-related health problems. In fact, as many as 30 million Americans have some form of thyroid disorder, but more than half are not even aware of it.

What to Know

The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck that has a huge job. It produces hormones (called T3 and T4) that help regulate the rate of many of your body’s activities, from how quickly you burn calories to how fast your heart beats. It also influences the function of the brain, liver, kidneys and skin.

If the gland is underactive and doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones, it causes body systems to slow down. If it’s overactive, and churns out too much thyroid, it has the opposite effect, speeding up the body’s processes.

The symptoms for an underactive thyroid (also known as hypothyroidism) – the most common thyroid disorder in older adults – will vary but may include fatigue and weakness, unexplained weight gain, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, joint pain, a puffy face, hoarseness, thinning hair, muscle

stiffness, dry skin and depression. Some patients may even develop an enlarged thyroid (goiter) at the base of the neck. However, in older adults, it can cause other symptoms like memory impairment, loss of appetite, weight loss, falls or even incontinence.

The symptoms of an overactive thyroid (or hyperthyroidism) may include a rapid heart rate, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, insomnia, increased appetite, weight loss, tremors of the hand, frequent bowel movements, sweating, as well as an enlarged thyroid gland. Too much thyroid can also cause atrial fibrillation, affect blood pressure and decrease bone density, which increases the risk of osteoporosis.

Those with the greatest risk of developing thyroid disorders are women who have a family history of the disease. Other factors that can trigger thyroid problems include: autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s or Graves disease; thyroid surgery; and radiation treatments to the neck or upper chest. Risk can also increase with certain medications including interferon alpha and interleukin-2 cancer medications, amiodarone heart medication and lithium for bipolar disorder.

Get Tested

If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, or if you’ve had previous thyroid problems or notice a lump in the base of your neck, ask your doctor to check your thyroid levels. The TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) blood test is used to diagnosis thyroid disorders but depending on what they find, additional blood tests may be necessary.

If you are diagnosed with a thyroid problem, it’s easily treated. Standard treatment for hypothyroidism involves daily use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levothroid, Synthroid and others), which is an oral medication that restores adequate hormone levels.

Treatments for hyperthyroidism may include an anti-thyroid medication such as methimazole and propylthioracil, which blocks the production of thyroid hormones. Another option is radioactive iodine, which is taken orally and destroys the overactive thyroid cells and causes the gland to shrink. But this can leave the thyroid unable to produce any hormone and it’s likely that you’ll eventu

ally become hypothyroid and need to start taking thyroid medication.

For more information on thyroid disorders, visit the American Thyroid Association at Thyroid.org

years old.

The dishes are eggshell color and decorated with gold rims around the edge and gold band inside with roses in the center. Also included with the mark are the words “USA -44N5.”

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE,

Since I plan to pass this set down to my daughter, we would like to know more about its history, age and value.

628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

Anne

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT.

MOMENTS IN TIME #12345_20230213

FOR RELEASE FEB. 13, 2023

Porcelain Vase Is Decorated With Asian Scenes

Q: I have enclosed a photo of a footed porcelain vase that I bought at an estate sale. It is approximately nine inches tall, has two handles and is decorated with Asian scenes of pagodas and trees. The trees are embellished with gold dots, and there is a gold band around the top. On the bottom is a wreath with the letter “M” in the center. Outside the wreath are the words “Hand Painted -- Nippon.”

Thanks for any information on the age, history and value of my vase.

A: You have a nice example of hand-painted Nippon porcelain. The letter “M” in the mark represents the Morimura Brothers. They had offices in New York City and imported porcelain to the United States.

“Nippon” is the Japanese name for Japan and was used in trademarks from 1891 to around 1921. Nippon porcelain is very collectible.

The gold dots are called moriage and were often used to decorate both Nippon and Satsuma Ware.

Your vase was made in the early 1900s and would probably be worth $350 to $600.

Q: This mark is on a complete set of dinnerware that I have. The set is a service for 12. It originally belonged to my mother who got them when I was a child, and I am 84

A: Homer Laughlin China Company was founded in East Liverpool, Ohio, in 1871 by Homer and Shakespeare Laughlin. Homer bought out Shakespeare in 1877. In 1907, the company was sold to Louis Aaron and his sons and W.E. Wells. They continued to use the Homer Laughlin name and are still in business.

Eggshell Georgian is the name of the shape and was introduced in 1937. Art Director Frederick Rhead designed the Georgian shape. It was decorated with myriad different patterns and some were embossed.

“44N5” shows your dishes were made in 1944 in the Newell, West Virginia plant. Your dinnerware would probably be worth $350 to $500.

* * *

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 2022 CREATORS.COM

• On Feb. 27, 1693, England’s first women’s magazine, The Ladies Mercury, debuted. With a print run of just four weeks, each single-sheet, double-sided issue consisted of an advice column addressing “all the most nice and curious questions concerning love, marriage, behavior, dress and humor of the female sex, whether virgins, wives or widows.”

• On March 5, 1774, John Hancock delivered the fourth annual Massacre Day speech, commemorating the Boston Massacre in which British soldiers killed five men in a crowd on King Street. Hancock’s oration and denunciation of the presence of British troops in Boston increased his standing as a leading patriot.

• On March 1, 1869, U.S. postage stamps featuring scenes were issued for the first time. The pictorials included a post horse and rider, a locomotive, a shield, an eagle and a ship, and the Adriatic Sea. Prior to that time, the stamps had only depicted portraits of dead statesmen.

• On March 4, 1960, actresscomedienne Lucille Ball filed for divorce from Cuban-American singer and bandleader Desi Arnaz, citing his drinking and infidelity, after 14 years of marriage. The couple most memorably earned a place in American hearts as Ricky and Lucy Ricardo on their 1950s TV sitcom “I Love Lucy.”

• On March 2, 1962, Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points, the most ever by an NBA player in a single game, in a match with the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania, with a final winning score for the Warriors of 169147. Six decades later, Chamberlain’s record still remains unbroken.

• On March 3, 1991, motorist Rodney King’s severe beating at the hands of Los Angeles police officers was captured on an amateur video taken by bystander George Holliday from a nearby balcony, which later led to riots when the officers were acquitted. King had been stopped and arrested for driving while intoxicated on the interstate.

• On Feb. 28, 2013, scientists electrically connected the brains of two rats with electrodes reaching into the motor cortex, the region of the brain that processes movement. The animals were then able to share and act on each other’s sensory information and were trained to press a lever when a light went on above it.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

"l see you in the midst of sand, lush foilage, trees and water. Either you're going on a wonderful vacation or you're a really lousy golfer."

Nippon vase was made in Japan.

Homer Laughlin China Company was founded in 1871.

Basketball Greats (from page 3)

Michael Jordan were the first players to win an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same year.

• Shaquille O’Neal stands 7’1” tall, and weighed 325 lbs. during his basketball years. Shaq first met the coach of the Louisiana State University Tigers, Dale Brown, when he was a young teen living on a U.S. Army base at Wildflecken, West Germany, where his stepfather was stationed. Brown saw his potential and started getting him involved in the game as a serious player in 1989.

• He left LSU in 1992 after being drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick. He was Rookie of the Year that season, leading the team to the NBA Finals. Over his 19-year career, Shaq played for six teams. Can you name them?

• After four years with Orlando, he moved to the L.A. Lakers, and three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. From there it was on to the Miami Heat in 2004 and his fourth NBA championship. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2008, then to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2009-2010 season, and retired with the Celtics in 2011. He played 1,207 regular season games and 216 post-season games, 15 of which were All-Star games. He was an Olympic gold medalist in 1996.

• Off the court, O’Neal began to compose rap music, releasing five studio albums, including a platinum certification for his 1993 debut album. He continues to produce electronic music, touring under his stage name, DIESEL. He’s also had a successful movie, television, and video game career, as well as professional wrestling. His net worth is estimated at $400 million.

• Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the L.A. Lakers, winning five NBA championships, an 18-time All-Star, and the all-time leading scorer in the team’s history. His career-high game was in 2006, scoring 81 points. He added two Olympic gold medals to his achievements in 2008 and 2012. He had an unusual feat for a basketball player in 2018, when he won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his work “Dear Basketball.” Sadly, Kobe’s remarkable career was abruptly ended as the world mourned his untimely death in 2020 along with his 13-yearold daughter in a helicopter crash. □

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

Divotology

Do divots really tell golfers what happened in the swing to cause the shot to miss its target? Unfortunately many players may read too much into the alignment of a divot, but sometimes in can be fairly accurate.

Most players who see a divot aligned left of where they thought they were aiming attribute it to an “over the top” or “outside to in” downswing path. That can be true, but also keep in mind that the swing works in an arc through impact, not just leading into the ball.

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.

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

A straight shot in golf can still have a divot that curves or appears to aim slightly left of the target. The clubhead is simply on its “return arc” away from the target line. It’s also possible for the hands to stop through impact in a way that alters the clubhead movement more sharply back to the inside. It’s what I would call “coming over the bottom”. The path may actually be fairly neutral, but the clubhead’s action creates a divot aligning more leftward. Many

mishit shots left of the target with this process more than they realize.

Game Changers

1B

1. TELEVISION: Which cable TV series features a character named Don Draper?

& Monday Closed

2. MOVIES: What subject does Professor Minerva McGonagall teach at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

3. HISTORY: Where was civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated?

& Thursday 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president had a sign on his desk that read, “The Buck Stops Here”?

Friday, Saturday 7:00 AM - 2:30 PM

5. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the world’s largest desert?

6. LITERATURE: What is the real name of the author Lemony Snicket?

7. FOOD & DRINK: What is the fruit that gives the liqueur creme de cassis its flavor?

8. MUSIC: What inspired the Beatles’ song “Blackbird”?

GO FIGURE!

9. CELEBRITIES: What is singer/ actress Judy Garland’s birth name?

10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What are squirrels’ nests called? Answers

by

Linda

Thistle

1. “Mad Men.”

2. Transfiguration.

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

3. Memphis, Tennessee.

4. Harry Truman.

5. Antarctica.

6. Daniel Handler. 7. Black currants.

8. Civil rights unrest in Little Rock, Arkansas, according to Paul McCartney.

9. Frances Ethel Gumm.

10. Dreys.

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

2. 15 seasons