Vol. 20: #12 • Creepy, Crawly, Critters • (3-17-2024) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Kathy Wolfe

This week Tidbits offers the facts on a few of the weird and creepy creatures with which we all share our world. But before you let the subject gross you out, we think you'll find these facts are not only interesting, but fascinating to see the results of nature at work!

• There are more than 400,000 known species of beetles, nearly 40% of all insects and 25% of all known animal species. It’s estimated that there could be as many as two million species that exist. Of the 400,000 known, 5,000 of them are types of ladybugs, also referred to as ladybird beetles.

• Not all ladybugs are red or orange with seven black spots. Some are striped or have no markings at all. The markings are to indicate to predators that they don’t taste good! When ladybugs are threatened, the joints in their legs release an oily, disgusting-tasting fluid. Ladybugs are carnivorous, each capable of eating up to 5,000 insects in their

TRIVIA NEWSFRONT

(Answers

1. TELEVISION: Which TV sitcom featured a father figure named Philip Banks?

2. LANGUAGE: How many letters are in the Greek alphabet?

3. MOVIES: Which movie features the line, “To be honest, when I found out the patriarchy wasn’t just about horses, I lost interest”?

4. SCIENCE: How long is an eon?

5. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is most of the Kalahari Desert located?

6. MUSIC: Which singer once was called the Material Girl?

7. FOOD & DRINK: What is injera?

8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of cockroaches called?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which large U.S. city is nicknamed Emerald City?

10. GAMES: How many blocks are in a Jenga tower?

Answers

1. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

2. 24.

3. “Barbie.”

It’s alarming to learn that roughly 3.2 million people die every year due to physical inactivity. Here are some facts and suggestions to avoid becoming part of that statistic!

• Are you a couch potato? Do you have a sedentary lifestyle? If your life includes a lot of sitting and lying down with very little to no exercise, this might describe you. Our lives have become more inactive – long days sitting at a desk at work, sitting in cars, buses, or trains, binge-watching TV, or playing hours of video games.

• What’s bound to happen? It’s a no-brainer that burning fewer calories makes you gain weight. Your metabolism can slow down, resulting in the body having difficulty breaking down fats and sugar. If you’re not using your muscles, you are bound to lose strength and endurance. Bones can get weaker, blood circulation can decline, and inflammation might increase. Lack of physical activity has been shown to increase feelings of anxiety and depression. Covid often hits inactive people much harder than those who exercise.

• Some benefits of exercise are immediate. Just one session of physical activity boosts thinking and improves cognitive function for many, and reduces short-term feelings of anxiety. Activity also stimulates brain chemicals that can heighten the happiness level.

• For those who are overweight, each pound lost can reduce the load on the knee joints by four pounds. Add it up – for every pound lost, that’s 40 lbs. less weight for the knees to support, resulting in less wear and tear, thus reducing the risk of osteoarthritis.

• The long-term benefits of exercise just can’t be beat! Being active boosts the body’s “good” cholesterol, which keeps blood flowing smoothly, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. A faster-beating heart delivers nutrients and extra oxygen throughout the body. The

quality of sleep improves as you fall asleep faster and get a deeper sleep. Muscle strength is improved and endurance is also boosted with regular exercise.

• Even the risk of developing certain cancers –bladder, breast, colon, esophagus, kidney, lung, and stomach -- is lowered by being physically active. Exercise is linked with prevention of stroke, high blood pressure, arthritis, depression and anxiety, and falls. Type 2 diabetics can see controlled blood sugar levels and a lower risk of heart and nerve damage.

• The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 110,000 deaths in the U.S. could be prevented every year if adults 40 and older increased their moderate-to-vigorous activity by just a small amount and on a regular basis.

• So where do you start? It’s never too late to get started. A person who’s been inactive, can start with just a few minutes of moderate activity each day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, take a short brisk walk at lunch, rev up the pace when you mow the lawn or do household chores.

• Take more steps! For older adults, the risk of premature death declines when taking about 6,000 to 8,000 steps per day. Research indicates that each extra 1,000 steps above that was associated with a 15% reduction in risk of death. Riding a stationary bike has also been shown to slow cell decline in older adults as well.

• Just 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week will bring health benefits that can’t be ignored. And don’t forget the side benefit of a boost in confidence and self-esteem! 

Week of March 17, 2024

Critters (from page one)

lifetime. They’re an asset to farmers because they eat aphids and other crop-damaging pests. In fact, that’s how they got their name.

• Years ago, when European farmers were plagued by pests in their fields, they prayed that the Lord would use the Virgin Mary to send relief to save their crops and livelyhoods. Soon, swarms of ladybugs appeared and literally wiped out the entire infestation. The thankful farmers called them the “beetle of Our Lady,” and thereafter the name stuck. The average lifespan of a ladybug is two to three years.

• Fireflies are also a type of beetle, with more than 2,000 different species of these tiny lightning bugs. Fireflies are bioluminescent, meaning they produce light, a process accomplished by an enzyme known as luciferase. A chemical reaction called chemiluminescence occurs in the firefly’s light organ when oxygen combines with calcium, adenosine triphosphate, and the enzyme. Their colors vary according to species, and include yellow-green, orange, turquoise, and bright poppy red.

• The glow has several purposes – drawing in prey, attracting a mate, and warding off predators. People in the western United States might say there are no fireflies in their part of the country, but there are! Not all species have the ability to produce light, and glowing fireflies are seldom seen west of the Rocky Mountains.

• The bombardier beetle may be very small, less than an inch (2.5 cm) long, but it has no trouble keeping its predators at bay. When threatened, this amazing creature shoots its enemies with a jet of hot, stinging liquid. This defense mechanism is engaged when the beetle’s two abdominal chambers mix their natural chemicals in a third chamber up on its back to

produce a boiling spray of benzoquinone. This corrosive liquid is fired through the abdominal tip, with the ability to rotate 270 degrees to aim at foes, just like the turret gun atop a military tank. There are upwards of 40 different species of bombardier beetles in the United States.

• Tapeworms are nothing to joke about. These horrid little parasites, which can reach lengths up to 12 feet, can infiltrate both animal and human intestines, and drain the body’s nutrients for years without the host even being aware of it. They typically enter the body through raw or undercooked meat, most commonly beef, pork, and freshwater fish.

• A tapeworm’s head has suction cups and tiny hooks that attach to the lining of the intestines. While the most common symptoms are diarrhea, nausea, weakness, or a mild stomach ache, some people have no symptoms at all. Left untreated, the result can be anemia, vitamin B-12 deficiency, jaundice, chest pains, paralysis and seizures, and in severe cases, even death. It’s not just humans affected by tapeworms. Dogs, cats, birds, fish, hyenas, antelope, wolves, moose and even whales can get them.

• The leafcutter ant can lift 50 times its weight with its mouth. That’s the same as a human lifting a car with his teeth! The ant’s speciallydesigned jaws enable it to saw leaves, flowers, and foliage with their chainsaw-like mandibles that vibrate 100 times per second. The colonies of the leafcutters can contain up to ten million ants, with some nests covering areas as large as 6,460 square feet.

• You don’t want to mess with the giant Peruvian centipede, the world’s largest centipede. These crawlies measure 12 inches (30 cm) long, with up to 23 body segments. They don’t inch along the ground as you would suppose, but are fast and aggressive creatures that easily overpower their prey of snails, worms, scorpions, tarantulas, and even small lizards, frogs, snakes, birds, and mice. They’ve been spotted climbing cave walls, where they hang upside-down from the roof by their back legs, and strike out at flying bats. All of this is accomplished by their two front appendages, which contain nasty claws filled with toxic venom. The carnivorous centipedes inject the venom in their prey, immobilizing it immediately. Although rare, the venom is capable of killing a human.

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

The venom of a female black widow spider is 15 times more toxic than that of a rattlesnake. However, even though the venom is much more toxic, the spider's bite is not as deadly as the snake's, because the black widow gives one small bite, and only when threatened. Deaths from a black widow bite are extremely rare.

American tarantula is the world’s heaviest spider and in second place for largest leg span. It measures nearly a foot wide and is covered in barbed hairs that are extremely painful when attaching to another creature. Their strong oneinch-long fangs can easily slice through flesh. When the prey fights to free itself, the fangs

Critters: Turn to page 15

1. What name is given to someone who studies insects?

2. How many eyes does a caterpillar have?

Answers page 16

• The Goliath bird-eater spider could produce arachnophobia in anyone! This South

Tidbits of Coachella Valley Page

By Lucie Winborne

* In a process called rice-fish culture, Indonesian farmers introduce fish into their rice fields so the fish droppings will act as fertilizer. In turn, the fish also eat harmful insects and improve oxygen circulation, increasing crop yields by up to 10%.

* Anuptaphobia is the fear of being single forever.

* The people who falsely claimed the copyright to the “Happy Birthday to You” song made $2 million a year for decades, until the song was ruled to be in the public domain.

* A man who had received the transplanted heart of a suicide victim married the donor’s widow and took his own life in the exact same way as the donor did.

* After two thieves in England broke into a man’s house and made off with his laptop, they found child abuse material on the device and took it to the police. The pedophile received a sentence of three years in prison, while the thieves were given 12 months of community service in light of their “good deed.”

* During his presidency, John F. Kennedy refused to take his salary of $150,000 per year, instead donating the entire amount to charity.

* Hundreds of people die each year from shoveling snow.

* Who says cats don’t care? After one feline owner survived a series of strokes, he tried to train the animal to dial 911. While he wasn’t sure at first that the attempt would pay off, after he fell from his wheelchair following a seizure, police received a silent emergency call from his home and arrived to find him incapacitated and his cat next to the phone.

* Loneliness poses a greater risk to one’s health than obesity. ***

Thought for the Day: “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

Reader Mail on RollerCoaster Income and Debit Cards for Kids

restraint during that occasional month when it feels like your ship has come in. Don’t believe it. Next month could produce little, if any, income. You have to learn to handle both.

DEAR MARY: I would like to know your opinion of the Greenlight Debit Card for kids. -- Debbie

Dear Debbie: I am opposed to any kind of plastic for kids. Honestly, age 18 is about the right time to introduce credit and debit cards. Plastic is a privilege for financially mature adults.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

Recently, I heard from one of my dear readers, Jenn. The topic of her message? Her family’s roller-coaster income. No, they don’t work at an amusement park. But given their financial situation, it feels like they’re on some kind of scary, rickety, spine-chilling carnival ride.

DEAR MARY: My husband has two jobs. He is an artist and a salesman. He earns commissions from both jobs, so we never know what our income will be. I work part time and am paid hourly. We can barely keep our heads above water. I need your advice on how we can still live on a budget. -- Jenn

Dear Jenn: The mistake many people make who live with an uncertain income (or what I call “mystery means”) is that they spend whatever amount of money they earn as it comes in.

They'll multiply a good month’s income by 12, figure that’s their annual income and set their lifestyles accordingly. Then they starve during the lean months, allowing the bills to pile up unpaid, hoping that a good month will follow soon.

The secret to living on an uncertain income is to determine the very minimum you need to live each month. What dollar figure must your husband’s commissioned jobs produce so that when added to your part-time paychecks it will allow you to pay all of your bills? Whatever that number is, let that become the new salary income you budget for.

Next, open another checking account and designate it as your 'holding" account. Now, instead of putting his commission checks into your regular household bill-paying account, always deposit them to this holding account.

Once a month, write out one check from this account to pay him his paycheck. This is going to require a great deal of discipline because some months he will bring in more than the amount you’ve established to be his salary. That’s good because you will have lean months ahead. Allowing money to build up in that separate account will become the reserve you need to pay him even during those slow months.

Being self-employed (or commissionbased, which, to me, is about the same thing) can be either rewarding or horribly debilitating. It all depends on your willingness to exercise great

Plastic confuses and skews children’s thinking. Cash, on the other hand, works like a dream. It’s real, and you cannot spend more of it than you have. Teach your kids how to earn, save, give and manage cash. Those are the skills they need to learn so that they will be able to understand and manage plastic in the future.

I have written extensively about this in my book, “Raising Financially Confident Kids,” which also includes a foolproof, step-by-step plan that will help you to produce financially confident adults. I hope you will read it before you hand your child a debit or credit card.

Keep an eye on your mailbox. I’m sending you a copy of the book with my compliments. Enjoy!

* * *

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.”

THE

GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Travel with Tidbits to China this week as we explore the longest man-made structure in the world.

• In the Chinese language, the term for the Wall, “Wanli Changcheng,” literally translates “The Long Wall of Many Miles.”

• Construction of the Great Wall began in 770 B.C. as a means of survival and to fend off the continuous raids of the nomads from the North, They were in dire need of control as the raids were causing severe damage to the Chinese economy and their social structure.

• The emperor at the time, Qin Shihuangdi, took on the task of having the numerous border walls that were already in place connected together to form a single, strong wall of defense. His ultimate goal was to have a wall of protection that stretched along the entire length of their border. This monumental task took over 2,000 years of continuous construction until the final phase was completed in 1878, during the Qing Dynasty. It is known to the world today as the Great Wall of China.

• Although more than 20 Chinese dynasties worked on the construction between the 7th century B.C. and the 19th century, the bestknown sections were built during the Ming Dynasty, between 1368 and 1644, a distance of

5,500 miles (8,852 km). The height of the Wall varies between 16 and 26 feet, although at one point it measures 46 feet tall. Its average width is 21.3 feet across.

• The main materials of the Wall were earth, stone, lime, and wood. The later work by the Ming Dynasty primarily used bricks rather than hard-packed earth. The bricks were bound together by sticky rice mortar, a mixture of glutinous rice and lime, an exceptionally strong and water-resistant combination.

• The official total length of the Wall is 13,170.7 miles (21,196.18 km), more than one third the distance of the equator. Sadly, over 25 percent of the Great Wall has disappeared. Every year, a little bit more is lost due to physical weathering, including erosion from sandstorms, and human activities, with vandalism a major threat. People have looted the bricks and sold them. Many bricks were taken to build civilian houses, and some parts of the Wall have been destroyed to make way for mining. Until 2006, there were no regulations on the Wall’s conservation.

• Throughout the centuries, more than a million workers labored on the fortification. The labor force consisted of soldiers, prisoners of war, conscripted peasants, and convicted criminals. It’s believed that around 400,000 died during the effort, and it’s believed that many of the casualties are buried within the wall, although no actual remains have been unearthed.

• The Great Wall actually isn’t just one continuous wall. There are overlapping walls, trenches, watchtowers, beacon towers, parallel walls, fortresses for battles, and barracks for soldiers. In some areas, there is no wall, with high mountains or rivers forming the barricade. There are 10,051 wall sections, 1,764 ramparts, 29,510 individual buildings, and 2,211 fortifications. As many as 25,000 watchtowers were constructed on the Wall.

• The most visited section of the Wall is at Badaling, about 50 miles northwest of Beijing’s city center. This portion was built in 1504 during the Ming Dynasty. In 1957, this portion became the first to be reconstructed and restored. It has since been opened to tourism and now receives an estimated 63 million visitors a year.

• Although it’s been said that the Great Wall of China can be seen from the moon with the naked eye, it’s just not true. Astronaut Gene Cernan has said that it is visible at orbit altitudes less than 200 miles, and then only in certain lighting conditions, adding that,

“It’s less visible than a lot of other objects, and you have to know where to look.” Other space explorers have said that trying to see with the Wall from space is equivalent of “trying to spot a single hair from a hundred yards away.” 

by Dana Jackson

Q: I recently watched the series Sofia Vergara starred in about a female drug lord, and it made me wonder if Julie Bowen is also doing something now that “Modern Family” is over? -- A.E.

A: It’s been four years since the smashhit sitcom “Modern Family” ended, but Bowen has been selective with her next series commitment. She’ll soon star in the 1980s-set supernatural-thriller series “Hysteria!” on Peacock, where she’ll play the mother of a teenager who is accused of being a satanist.

A premiere date hasn’t been announced yet, but the highly anticipated series recently added Garret Dillahunt (“Raising Hope”) and Nolan North (“Pretty Little Liars”) to the cast. ***

Q: I saw that Denise Richards and NeNe Leakes from “Real Housewives” are in a new TV movie on Lifetime. Who are the other two women in it? Are they also from the Bravo shows? -- K.S.

A: Despite the movie starring Denise Richards and NeNe Leakes, and having a title like “Hunting Housewives,” this new Lifetime movie isn’t about Bravo’s “Real Housewives” franchise. Instead, it’s a scripted movie about four friends whose plane crashes en route to a spa vacation, and they find themselves being stalked by someone -or something.

Richards had a long acting career before

returning to reality TV for “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” As she’s no longer a regular cast member, she’s back to acting in television and films. Leakes is best known for her time in the Atlanta franchise of “Real Housewives,” but she’s also guest-starred on shows like “Glee.”

The other two women running for their lives in the movie are played by Kym Johnson Herjavec and Melyssa Ford. Ford has starred in several music videos, but is best known as a podcaster. Herjavec is best recognized for her days as a dance pro on “Dancing with the Stars,” where she met her husband, Robert Herjavec, of “Shark Tank.” She also co-starred in the holiday romance movie “Christmas with the Knightlys.” ***

Q: What happened to the show “Will Trent”? I hope it wasn’t canceled. It was one of the best new series I’ve seen in a while. -- A.K.

A: “Will Trent” returned to ABC for its sophomore season on Feb. 20. It’s based on Karin Slaughter’s best-selling novels about a special agent who grew up in Atlanta’s foster care system. Ramón Rodriguez, who plays the crime-solving titular char-

acter, earned a Critics Choice Award nomination for the role in his debut season.

Erika Christensen (“Parenthood”) co-stars as Detective Polaski, who was seriously injured by a serial killer at the end of the last season, and Iantha Richardson is back as Will’s partner. The great cast is a big reason why the show has earned accolades from fans and critics alike.

The new abbreviated season is due to last year’s months-long strikes in Hollywood, but hopefully, “Will Trent” will be renewed for a third and longer season this fall. * * *

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

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc

1. Split ................................ (PG-13)

James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy

1. Dune: Part Two (PG-13) Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya

February 13, 2017

2. Rings (PG-13)

Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe

2. Bob Marley: One Love (PG-13) Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch

3. A Dog’s Purpose (PG)

Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid

3. Ordinary Angels (PG) Alan Ritchson, Hilary Swank

4. Hidden Figures ....................(PG)

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer

4. The Chosen: S4.E7 (NR) Austin Reed Alleman, Victoria Blade

5. La La Land (PG-13)

Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

5. Madame Web (PG-13) Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney

FILLERPAGE2 2Q08-WEEK19

MAY4-MAY10

FILLERPAGE2 2Q08-WEEK19 MAY4-MAY10

6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (R)

Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen

6. Migration (PG) Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks

7. Sing (PG) animated

8. Lion ................................ (PG-13)

7. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Hashira Training (R) Natsuki Hanae, Kengo Kawanishi

Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman

TRIVIANEWSFRONT™ PRESENTS

TRIVIANEWSFRONT™ PRESENTS

8. Wonka (PG) Timothée Chalamet, Gustave Die

byKaraKovalchik&SandyWood

byKaraKovalchik&SandyWood

9. The Space Between Us .. (PG-13)

Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield

9. Argylle (PG-13) Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard

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

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

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

Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen

10. The Beekeeper (R) Jason Statham, Emmy RaverLampman

2.Accordingtotheproverb,whatis“the motherofinvention”?

2.Accordingtotheproverb,whatis“the motherofinvention”?

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

PRESENTS

1.Whohada#1hitin1961withthesardonic

3.WhatwastherealfirstnameofAfricanAmericancomedienneMomsMabley?

3.WhatwastherealfirstnameofAfricanAmericancomedienneMomsMabley?

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

4.Whatfilmactorwantedto in1987? ThrowMomma fromtheTrain

4.Whatfilmactorwantedto in1987? ThrowMomma fromtheTrain

Julie Bowen (Upcoming in “Hysteria!”)

Depositphotos

Good Recipes from

Chunky Sweet Potato Soup

Sweet potatoes, loaded with vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, form the base of this hearty, vivid-orange soup. Avocado adds fresh green color along with healthy, skin-softening fats, which also aid the body’s absorption of beta-carotene.

2 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion

1 medium red pepper

3 clove garlic

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Salt and pepper

1 quart lower-sodium vegetable broth

2 pound sweet potatoes

2 can lower-sodium black beans

2 cup water

1 Hass avocado

1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves

1 lime

1. In 5- to 6-quart saucepot, heat oil on medium. Add onion and red pepper; cook 5 min-

utes, stirring. Stir in garlic, cumin, paprika, cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook 2 minutes, stirring.

2. Add broth, potatoes, beans, water and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Heat to boiling on high. Reduce heat to medium, simmer 15 minutes.

3. Transfer 3 cups of soup to blender. Puree until smooth; return to pot. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt. Serve, garnished with avocado and cilantro, with lime. Makes 6 main-dish servings.

Grilled Sausage and Apple Slaw Subs

Hearty brats and creamy, crunchy slaw are made fit for fall tailgating with the addition of crisp apples.

4 wedge bratwurst links

2 large unpeeled Granny Smith apples

1/2 small red onion

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard

1/4 teaspoon celery salt

4 hoagie rolls

1. Heat grill or grill pan for direct grilling on medium-high. Grill bratwurst links 10 to 12 minutes or until cooked through, turning often.

2. Meanwhile, grate unpeeled Granny

Smith apples and red onion into large bowl. Toss with mayonnaise, cider vinegar, spicy brown mustard and celery salt. Divide among hoagie rolls. Serves 4.

3/17 St. Patrick's Day

3/18 Truck Drivers Appreciation Day

3/19 Vernal Equinox (Spring begins)

3/20 Small Business Development Day

3/21 World Puppetry Day

3/22 Tuskegee Airmen Day

3/23 Purim (begins at sundown)

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

The Downside of Dog Parks

Harry Truman said, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” But what if it’s your dog that wants a friend? Take him to the dog park, right?

One of the greatest myths about dog parks is that they are Ground Zero for the socialization of dogs. But the proper socialization of a dog requires a highly structured environment, something a dog park is far from. Just imagine a playground full of children ages 3 months to 15 years, with rules posted on a sign, but no one responsible for enforcing them. Scary, isn’t it?

The reality of dog parks is that they are fenced-in areas that allow for the unsupervised mingling of dogs of all ages, sizes, temperaments and obedience levels. They are frequently carpeted in feces, as people enter the dog zone and surreptitiously break from the good habit of picking up after their pooch. They contribute to the spread of disease as a result of the unclean grounds and the willy-nilly union of healthy and unhealthy dogs. And they often serve as an arena for impromptu dogfights.

As is probably obvious by now, I am not a fan. But don’t take my word for it; consider this recent letter from a reader:

“I read your column frequently and am always gratified to hear your advice for owners of dogs who are already aggressive. I often go to the park with my dog, Maya, who always minds me. But there is inevitably a person there with an aggressive dog. I can’t tell you how many times an owner like that has laughed and said, ‘Oh, he just thinks he’s tough’ or ‘He’s not being aggressive, he’s just playing rough’ after their dog has bitten or even taken down my dog.”

This is why schools group kids in classrooms according to age, development and learning ability.

This is why kennels separate some dogs from others and require proof of current shots for all dogs.

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

by Matilda Charles

You Know Better, Right?

A retiree fell for a scam that drained his account of all his savings. It took a lifetime to save the money and only a minute for it to vanish, and he's still broke to this day. All it took was him foolishly giving his private information to a scammer.

The gentleman received an email saying

that email was from his bank. Within moments of sending his email reply, his entire account was emptied. Not only that, but he was then instructed on the phone, by someone he believed was a bank officer, to hand over his credit cards to a bank courier because those accounts were also compromised.

The scammer quickly went on a spending spree and maxed out every single card. It’s rare, but thanks to security video and detective work this criminal was eventually caught. While he might be spending years in jail, the hapless victim has been financially wiped out and left to try to pick up the pieces of his life, with no hope of getting that spent money back.

Some basic hints for safety:

If you’re uneasy about any portion of a call, HANG UP.

Don’t do banking on your phone or computer, even if you know what you’re doing with those devices.

If you get a call from someone claiming to be at your bank, hang up. Dial the number of the bank yourself and find out if they were actually looking for you. Especially do not follow their instructions if the “security” people at your bank insist you need to transfer your money into a different account to keep it “safe.”

If you’re asked to call *72 followed by a different number, HANG UP. Do not dial *72. It’s a call forwarding option that prisoners, callers to 900 sex line numbers and people in foreign counties use as a way to charge expensive calls to your phone. And you have to pay.

Don’t panic if you suspect you have a scammer on the line. Just hang up

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

This is why both kennels and schools have someone present and in charge of enforcing the rules.

I recently asked a woman why she takes her dog to the dog park, and she explained that she wants her dog to have friends. Her son interjected and said, “Mom, you go there to gossip with your friends.” Kids really do say the darnedest things, don’t they? But he’s right: Most of the socializing that goes on at dog parks takes place between dog owners. People see it more as a chance to catch up with their friends than to play catch with their dog. Some are looking for love; still others will settle for free dog sitting.

Of course, many people take their dog to the dog park to soak up some sun and show their pooch a good time. And that’s great, especially if your hometown keeps a clean, green dog park, where everyone pitches in and monitors their dog’s behavior, and respects the standard rules and myriad personalities that come and go throughout any given day at the park.

If that doesn’t describe your favorite dog park, you might consider looking for new stomping grounds or a new activity to do with your dog. Trust me, you’ll miss your friends more than he’ll miss his. 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.

2012

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

You Are Being Paid Properly

In my 32 years of experience working for the Social Security Administration and the 27 years I’ve been writing this column, one of the more common complaints I’ve heard from people goes something like this: “I don’t think I am getting the right Social Security benefit amount. It’s less than it should be.” Or like this: “Based on what all my friends are getting, I am sure they figured my benefits incorrectly and they are not paying me enough.” Or sometimes something very blunt like this: “The government is cheating me out of my hard-earned Social Security!”

And here is something interesting: Not once in the past five decades have I heard something like this: “I think Social Security is paying me too much money!” I guess that’s just human nature. People tend to expect the worst (especially when it comes to government services) and/or they believe they are being cheated out of something that everyone else is getting.

Lots of times, this phenomenon is the result of when senior citizens start talking and comparing government benefit amounts. The people getting less than their friends and neighbors inevitably feel as if they have been left holding the short end of the Social Security stick.

What they don’t understand is that there are literally dozens of variables that determine the amount of a Social Security check: things like your date of birth, your earnings history, your age when you filed for benefits, any early retirement reductions incurred or any late retirement bonuses earned. And when spousal or widow(er)s benefits are involved, then all those same variables for the husband or wife on whose record benefits are claimed come into play.

People just don’t realize it is a combination all those variables that affect the amount of a Social Security check. Instead, they tend to believe their check is wrong because someone at the Social Security Administration messed things up.

Readers who follow this column know that I have often been critical of incorrect information sometimes given by employees of the SSA and of some of the services provided by the organization as a whole. But I can tell you there is one thing they are very good at: The SSA is very careful and very accurate about calculating Social Security benefits.

And I must point out here that almost all calculations are NOT done by pencil-pushing bureaucrats sitting at their desks with a calculator or adding machine. Instead, those calculations are done by the SSA’s huge, powerful and very reliable central computing systems. And there have been countless studies done by Congress and other oversight agencies concerning the accuracy of Social Security payments. And the studies show that the SSA pays the right benefit amount something like 99% of the time.

I should clarify that I am talking about the accuracy of the initial calculation of a person’s basic Social Security benefit amount. People getting ongoing Social Security checks can be paid incorrectly from time to time. But that’s usually because the SSA has faulty information. For example, a beneficiary who is under full retirement age and working and making more than the earnings pen-

alty limit fails to inform the government of his or her income, resulting in benefits being paid that were not due. Those kinds of “overpayments” are not uncommon. But the person’s basic Social Security benefit amount is still accurate.

Here are some examples of questions I’ve gotten recently from people who think they are being paid incorrectly.

Q: I am getting $2,200 per month in widow’s benefits. I have a friend at church who gets $2,550 in widow’s benefits. Our husband’s worked side by side in the same business. So why am I getting $300 less than her?

A: Earlier in this column, I mentioned all the variables that come into play in a benefit computation. I’m sure you and your friend and your respective husbands all had different dates of birth. And maybe this lady’s husband made just a little more than your husband. Or maybe he waited a little longer before he filed for his benefits before he died? Or maybe you took benefits sooner than she did?

Q: I started getting retirement benefits in 2000. And I’ve always been convinced I’m getting less than I should. This has been bothering me for 24 years! Can I go to my Social Security office now and complain about this?

A: Well, I suppose you could. But nothing is going to happen. The time to question a benefit amount is when those benefits start. Back in 2000, you received an “award letter” when your Social Security checks started rolling in. That letter gave you appeal rights. It would have said you have 60 days to ask for a review of your benefit computation. So that was the time to question your benefit rate -- not almost a quarter-century later.

Q: I, and all other Social Security beneficiaries, are being cheated out of benefits because I recently learned that all benefits are rounded down. How did this injustice come about?

A: For decades, Social Security benefits were always rounded up. But back in the 1980s, a conservative Congress was looking for ways to trim government expenditures in general and Social Security benefits in particular. One of the little gimmicks they came up with was to round down to the nearest dollar all Social Security benefit calculations. So individual Social Security recipients lose a few nickels or dimes every month. But because Social Security is so huge (one-fourth of the entire federal budget), it save billions for the taxpayers.

Q: Millions of teachers like me around this country are being cheated by offsets applied to their Social Security benefits. Please explain this travesty!

A: You are not being cheated out of anything. I’ve explained the fairness of those offsets hundreds of times in this column over the years. If you want to understand what’s going on, I have an entire chapter devoted to this topic in my book, “Social Security -- Simple And Smart.”

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

2. From Genesis 3, who made clothes for Adam and Eve out of animal skins?

a) Eve b) Adam c) The Lord d) Bible not specific

3. What did Jesus say His followers would never walk in? a) Solitude b) Fear c) Shame d) Darkness

4. Lamentations 3 speaks of the wormwood and the .......? a) Fire b) Gall c) Fence d) Fig

5. Who had a vision of a lion having eagle's wings? a) John the Baptist b) Peter c) Isaiah d) Daniel

6. From 2 Samuel 20, who killed Amasa? a) Joab b) Sheba c) Abishai d) Bichri

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(Answers on page 16)

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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. (If ordering the “Simple and Smart” book from Amazon, click on “See all formats and editions” to make sure you are getting the 2024 edition.) Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM

© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Proton-Pump Inhibitors Highly Recommended for Barrett’s Esophagus

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a retired male over 65 and a former occasional cigar smoker. I quit 15 years ago after I was diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus. I was also a former drinker and quit seven years ago. I regularly completed all the biopsies as required and took my proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) daily as instructed.

This year, I read an article about PPIs contributing to dementia and neuropathy, which I have. My primary care physician suggested that I switch to over-the-counter H2 blockers as a safer approach. I developed an irregular heart rhythm and soaring blood pressure.

I was then diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib). My stress test and echocardiogram are normal for my age. I am now on some heavy-duty beta blockers, blood thinners and a very expensive rhythm-control drug.

A book I recently read written by two top cardiologists stated that long-term use of PPIs is dangerous and can cause AFib, but a recent article published by the National Institute of Health states the opposite. I also read that an irritated esophagus stimulates the esophagus nerve and triggers AFib. I’m confused now.

Because Barrett’s vastly increases my chances for getting a very aggressive cancer, doing nothing is not an option. I have already modified and continue to modify my diet, but that only goes so far. And as I’m sure you are aware of, a stroke caused by AFib is often life-threatening.

My complicated question is, which professional approach would you recommend: PPIs or H2 blockers? Is there a third option? -- B.B.

ANSWER: There is not a definitive answer on whether PPIs, like omeprazole, increase the risk of AFib. Studies are potentially confounded by the fact that people with AFib sometimes think they have stomach problems and may take a PPI, leading to a false association between the PPI and AFib. As you say, there have also been studies that suggest a decreased risk of AFib in people who use PPIs.

In my mind, the increased risk of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus as a result of untreated stomach acid reflux in a person with Barrett’s esophagus is the key in this situation, as Barrett’s is a condition where abnormal lining of the esophagus occurs due to years of acid exposure.

I do not believe over-the-counter H2 blockers, like famotidine (Pepcid), are adequate enough to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, so I advise patients in your situation to use PPIs, despite their known risks.

The data suggesting a risk of dementia are weak. While there might be a small risk, the risk isn’t high enough to avoid using a PPI in a

person with Barrett’s. B12 deficiency is absolutely a risk in people taking long-term PPIs. Low B12 can certainly lead to neuropathy, but both can be prevented and treated by testing for B12 deficiency and by getting supplementation, if needed.

I am very glad to hear you are getting routine endoscopic surveillance and biopsies so that any abnormal growth of the esophagus can be identified and treated promptly.

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

(c) 2024 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

Expanded PACT Act

Expanded benefits for the PACT Act have kicked in years sooner than expected. As of recently, March 5, 2024, veterans who were exposed to toxins can get VA health care without applying for VA disability benefits first.

The PACT Act covers over 20 presumptive illnesses for exposure to Agent Orange and other toxins, as well as the burn pits, radiation, oil well fires, depleted uranium and more. The covered illnesses include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, a dozen types of cancer and interstitial lung disease. Deployment wasn’t necessary; veterans were exposed to asbestos, firefighting foam, paints, chemicals, pesticides, Camp Lejeune water and more here in the U.S.

If you filed before and were turned down, file again or call. The VA is supposed to go through the files and contact you, but don’t wait on that.

If you’re already enrolled in VA health care, call your local VA health facility and ask for your initial screening for toxin exposure. Don’t wait on this; get a baseline test.

To get more information, call 800-698-2411 (800-MYVA411). Or go online to VA.gov/PACT and scroll through the information. You’ll find links to file for VA disability, a supplemental claim and more. Read about military exposures at www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures.

For all the millions the VA has spent to inform veterans about PACT, there are some they’re leaving out: members of the Maine National Guard who trained at the Canadian military support base in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada. In 1966 and 1967, the place was saturated with Agents Orange and Purple as a means of testing effectiveness in killing foliage.

In 2005, the Canadian government did site testing of the ground, water and air. They ended up handing out money to Canadians who’d been there.

Gagetown is still used for National Guard training, not only for units from Maine but other states as well. People became ill, of course, from exposure, but they’re not eligible for VA health care for exposure to Agent Orange or any of the other “rainbow” of toxin colors at Gagetown.

Freddy

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regrets that he cannot

ally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to

-- by Jim Miller

How to Tap Underutilized Burial Benefits for Veterans

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: What types of funeral benefits are available to aged veterans? My 83-year-old father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, served during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Does he qualify for any programs like this? -- Planning Ahead

Dear Planning: Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) National Cemetery Administration actually offers a variety of underutilized burial benefits to veterans as well as their spouses and dependents.

Most U.S. veterans (both combat and non-combat) who received honorable discharge from service are eligible for burial benefits. To verify your dad’s discharge, you’ll need a copy of his DD Form 214 “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.” If you don’t have it, you can request online at Archives.gov/veterans

Here’s a rundown of some of the different benefits that are available to veterans who die as a result of a nonservice-related death.

Military Cemetery Benefits

If your dad is eligible and would like to be buried in one of the 155 national or 119 state, territory or tribal-operated cemeteries (see VA.gov/find-locations), the VA provides a number of benefits at no cost to the family, including: a gravesite; opening and closing of the grave and perpetual gravesite care; a government headstone or marker; a United States burial flag that can be used to drape the casket or accompany the urn; and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.

If your dad is cremated, his remains will be buried or inurned in the same manner as casketed remains.

But be aware that funeral or cremation arrangements and costs are not taken care of by the VA. They are the responsibility of the veteran’s family, but some veteran’s survivors may be eligible for burial allowances.

The VA also offers a memorial web page called the Veterans Legacy Memorial for any veteran buried in a national, state, territorial or tribal cemetery. This allows families to post pictures and stories of their loved one online as a way to remember and honor their service.

If you’re interested in this option, the VA has a pre-need burial eligibility determination program to help you plan ahead before your dad passes. See VA.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility or call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at

Private Cemetery Benefits

The VA also provides benefits to veterans buried in private cemeteries. If your dad chooses this option, the VA benefits include a free government headstone or grave marker, or a medallion that can be affixed to an existing privately purchased headstone or marker; a burial flag; and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.

Funeral or cremation arrangements and costs are again the responsibility of the family, and there are no benefits offered to spouses and dependents that are buried in

Military Funeral Honors

Another popular benefit available to all eligible veterans buried in either a national or private cemetery is a military funeral honors ceremony. This includes an honor guard detail of at least two uniformed military persons, folding and presenting the U.S. burial flag to the veteran’s survivors, and the playing of

The funeral provider you choose will be able to assist you with all VA burial requests. Depending on what you want, certain forms may need to be completed which are always better done in advance.

For a complete rundown of burial and memorial benefits, eligibility details and

required forms visit Cem.va.gov.

Burial Allowances

In addition to the burial benefits, some veteran’s survivors may also qualify for a $948 burial allowance and $948 for a plot to those who choose to be buried in a private cemetery. And $231 for a headstone or grave marker allowance. To find out if your dad is eligible or to apply, see VA.gov/ burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance.

by Anne McCollam

Vaseline Glass Was Made as Early as 1850

Q: Enclosed you will find a photo of a Vaseline glass dish. It measures approximately 5 inches by 5 inches and 1 inch deep. It is in mint condition.

What can you tell me about my dish as to its origin and possible value?

A: You have a nice example of Early American Pattern Glass. Vaseline glass is popular with pattern glass collectors. The yellow-green color was achieved by adding uranium oxide to the formula. Large amounts were made from 1850 to around the1920s. The term “Vaseline,” used to describe the dish, is based on the yellow-green glass looking similar to petroleum jelly. The pattern is “Daisy and Button.”

Early American Pattern Glass was made from around the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. Your early 20th-century dish would probably be worth $45 to $70.

Q: This mark is on the bottom of a porcelain figurine that I have of a mother and small child. It has been in my family since the early 1900s. It is 15 inches tall and in perfect condition.

I hope you can tell me something about its history and value.

A: A. W. Fr. Kister Porcelain Manufactory made your porcelain figurine. It has produced porcelain in Scheibe-Alsbach, Thuringia, Germany,

since 1838.

Your circa 1900 figurine would probably be worth $900 to $1,400. ***

A. W. Fr. Kister Porcelain Manufactory has been in business since 1838.

Q: I have a cedar hope chest that is decorated with a coat of arms on the front and flanked by carved crests in relief. It was made by the Edward Roos Company. I think it was located in St. Louis and went out of business in the 1950s. I paid $39 for it at an antique sale in 1971.

Can you comment on this piece and its possible worth today?

A: Edward Roos Company Cedar Chest Factory was established in Forest Park, Ill., in 1918. Its cedar hope chests were made in a wide variety of styles and wood. They were lined in cedar to help prevent moths. One of the most popular designs was its art deco waterfall.

Roos developed a successful magazine promotion directed toward young women who were planning on marrying. Even before a young woman was engaged to be married, they began gathering linens, towels and blankets that were stored in the hope chests, thus the name.

By in the late 1940s, the factory was in decline and soon closed. The building was purchased in the 1960s, and the owner planned to turn it into condos. The venture failed and the building was ultimately torn down.

Similar cedar chests can be seen selling from $150 to $500.

* On March 18, 1971, a 100-foot tsunami, caused by a massive rock avalanche that crashed into Lake Yanahuani from a height of 1,300 feet, destroyed a Peruvian mining camp and killed hundreds of people.

* On March 19, 1954, Willie Mosconi, aka Mr. Pocket Billiards, set a new world record for running the most consecutive pool balls without a miss -- 526, in fact! -during an exhibition in Springfield, Ohio. A handwritten and notarized affidavit with the signatures of more than 35 eyewitnesses served as proof of his feat.

* On March 20, 1648, King Charles I of England attempted an initial escape from his captivity at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight by climbing out of a window, but the effort proved fruitless when he got stuck between its frame and an iron bar, and had to retreat to his room.

* On March 21, 1984, New York City’s Central Park designated a section of its grounds as “Strawberry Fields” to commemorate former Beatle John Lennon, who was shot dead in front of his nearby residence by Mark David Chapman.

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

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

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

* On March 22, 1946, the United States Army made its first successful launch of an American-built rocket out of the atmosphere, using a combination of American and German scientists in adapting the German V-2 rockets seized after the Allied victory in World War II. The rocket reached an altitude of about 50 miles.

* On March 23, 2022, New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, announced the country would relax Covid mandates for some of its workforce, allowing restaurants and similar hospitality venues to increase their indoor capacity from 100 to 200 people. Vaccine passes were no longer required to get into shops, and visitors no longer needed to scan the venue’s location using their Covid-19 tracer apps.

* On March 24, 2017, 560 people dressed as ghosts to set a world record for the largest such gathering. But these spooks at the Mercy School Mounthawk weren’t trying to scare anyone -- rather, their aim was to highlight the invisibility of arthritis.

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Vaseline glass was made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

only sink deeper and release toxic venom that paralyzes the victim. As the spider approaches its prey, it rises up on its hind legs as a means of intimidation. It then rubs its hairy legs together creating a hissing noise that can be heard 15 feet away. Although its name implies that this spider’s main diet is birds, it mainly dines on frogs, insects, and rodents. Its venom is nontoxic to humans, although a bite can cause some pain and swelling. The Goliath has become a popular exotic pet, with a lifespan in captivity between 10 and 15 years, although some have been documented at 20 years.

• When you hear the loud chirp of a male cricket, it’s either establishing and defending its territory or trying to attract a female. The cricket is rubbing its wings together very rapidly to produce the sound. The warmer the temperature, the faster the chirp. The volume of a cricket’s chirp can reach up to 100 decibels.

• A male cricket can be quite aggressive with a rival, even to the point of physical combat including wrestling. If the cricket loses a leg during the battle, it has the ability to regenerate a new one. The cricket can leap 30 times its length, which would be the equivalent of a human jumping the length of a basketball court. There are 900 species of crickets worldwide, with some living up to a year. In China and Japan, they are a symbol of good luck and abundance. 

Jason Jenkins

Good driving requires a shallow angle of attack from a slight inside downswing path. You’ve maybe heard the term “sweep the ball” off the tee to create this approach. Yet, without a launch monitor by your side, how would you know if you’ve accomplished those goals? Time to look at your tee.

Yes, that two inch piece of wood (or plastic) will tell you a lot about your swing approach:

1. Broken tees show either too steep a downswing or too low of a swing of the clubhead to the ground. If you’re hitting the ground while breaking the tees, you really need some help.

2. No tee movement usually indicates too high a swing above the ground or too inside a downswing approach.

3. The best sign of sweeping the ball of the tee is a tilted tee still in the ground, or one that pops up in the air, landing anywhere around you.

1. TELEVISION: Which TV sitcom featured a father figure named Philip Banks?

2. LANGUAGE: How many letters are in the Greek alphabet?

3. MOVIES: Which movie features the line, “To be honest, when I found out the patriarchy wasn’t just about horses, I lost interest”?

4. SCIENCE: How long is an eon?

5. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is most of the Kalahari Desert located?

6. MUSIC: Which singer once was called the Material Girl?

7. FOOD & DRINK: What is injera?

8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of cockroaches called?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which large U.S. city is nicknamed Emerald City?

10. GAMES: How many blocks are in a Jenga tower? Answers

1. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” 2.