Vol. 20: #22 • Random Facts • (5-26-2024) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

"The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read"

by Janet Spencer

This week, Tidbits is diving headfirst into our big bag of odd trivia, strange facts, and random curiosities. We’re pulling out the tantalizing trivia to tickle your funny bone and pique your curiosity. From the Scottish Highlands to the depths of space, prepare for a whirlwind exploration of the extraordinary. Like digging into a bag of potato chips- once you start, it’s hard to stop munching on these tasty nuggets of knowledge! So, put on your bib and let the wonderful world of weird and random facts!

WEIRD FACTS

• The hills comprising the Scottish Highlands in the British Isles are a continuation of the Appalachian Mountains in the U.S. The two chains were connected before continental drift opened up the Atlantic Ocean.

• Pin cushions often look like little red tomatoes. Those little tomatoes are filled with emery powder of the same type that emery boards are made of. This sand cleans and sharpens the pins and needles thrust into it.

TRIVIA NEWSFRONT

(Answers on page 16)

1. ANATOMY: What does the human vestibular sense do?

2. MOVIES: The phrase “As you wish” is key to which 1987 movie?

3. GEOGRAPHY: What is the largest island in the Caribbean?

4. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What are Chinese astronauts called sometimes in the West?

5. TELEVISION: Which sitcom features a character named Phoebe Buffay?

6. MEASUREMENTS: What is the square footage of an acre?

7. SCIENCE: What are the four states of matter?

8. HISTORY: Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave women the right to vote?

9. LITERATURE: Which 19th-century novel contains the line, “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship”?

10. MONEY: In the old British monetary system, how many pennies were equal to a pound? Answers

(Trivia Test answers page 16)

your body

In the early days, it was hard to measure vision. One early eye doctor used mustard seeds, asking his patients how many they could count from increasing distances. It was an inexact science.

• Herman Snellen, a Dutch eye doctor, devised the solution. In 1862, he invented the eye chart that is still used today. It typically has a large letter “E” at the top, and each line below has an increasing number of letters that get progressively smaller. He carefully calibrated the ratio of one line of letters to the next, ensuring an exact mathematical progression of decreasing size.

• The chart was an instant hit. The British Army began using it immediately because they needed a standardized method of measuring their soldiers' visual acuity. The Snellen Eye Chart is generally recognized as being the most famous poster in history.

• After much experimentation, Snellen determined what a normal person with average eyesight could discern at a distance of 20 feet. When it’s said that a patient has 20/20 vision, it means that what an average person can see clearly at 20 feet, the patient can also see at 20 feet. A patient with 20/60 vision can see clearly at 20 feet what a normal person can see at 60 feet. Someone with 20/200 vision can see clearly at 20 feet what a normal person can see at 200 feet.

• Of the 11 lines of letters, most people with normal vision can see all but the last three or four lines, which generally means they have 20/20 vision. A person who cannot read any lines of letters below the large E at the top has 20/200 vision.

• 20/200 vision means the person is legally blind. In most states, people applying for a driver’s license must prove they have at least 20/60 vision to qualify for a license.

• If you can read the very last line of letters on the

chart while standing 20 feet away, you have 20/5 vision, which means you can see at 20 feet what other people can only see from 5 feet away. This is not possible in humans. The best recorded vision in humans is 20/10—the ability to see objects clearly from 20 feet what an average human can see from only 10 feet. Many people have reportedly achieved 20/15 vision following laser vision correction.

• If you’re taking the Snellen eye test by looking at a chart on the wall, you don’t necessarily have to be standing exactly 20 feet away from the chart. The size of the chart can be scaled down.

• Only the nine letters C, D, E, F, L, O, P, T, and Z are used in the Snellen chart. He chose these letters because they are common among many European languages. Today, the charts have been translated into different “languages” to match the patient’s native tongue.

• Optometrists in countries that use the metric system don’t use 20/20 as the indicator of perfect vision. Instead, they use 6/6, referring to six meters, which equals 19.69 feet. (The metric system was implemented after Snellen devised his chart.) In this case, 6/6 is perfect vision, while 6/60, indicating that the person can see clearly at six meters what others can see at 60 meters, is legally blind.

• For people who are unable to identify letters, such as children or the illiterate, Snellen devised an even simpler test. It’s called the Tumbling E Chart. It looks like an ordinary eye chart except that every letter is a capital E, with the E’s pointing in all four directions. The patient must indicate with three fingers in which direction the E’s are pointing as the letters get progressively smaller.

• For kids who can’t read yet, there’s the Lea Symbols chart, which uses shapes like apples, houses, and squares. It’s like a vision test and a game of “I Spy” rolled into one. “Can you see the tiny apple?” is much more fun than, “Read line six, please.”

• About half of adults need eyeglasses to correct vision deficiencies. ‭

Week of May 26, 2024

Facts: (from page one)

BIODIVERSITY ODDITIES

• Botanically speaking, to be considered a berry, the item must have three layers composed of the skin, the flesh, and the berries; it must contain two or more seeds; and it must develop from the single ovary of a single flower. Strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries are not true berries. Neither are cherries. Watermelons are berries, as are bananas, tomatoes, blueberries, peppers, eggplants, and avocadoes.

• Honey never spoils. Archaeologists examining King Tut’s tomb found jars of honey dating back 2,000 years that was still edible. The oldest honey ever found was found in the tomb of a noblewoman in Tbilisi, Georgia. It was approximately 5,500 years old and unspoiled because of the low moisture content and acidic qualities.

• Fresh eel blood is more toxic to mammals than most other venoms that appear in the animal kingdom. The toxin causes muscles to cramp, including the heart. This is why eel is always served cooked well done.

• Fiddler crabs are either left-clawed or rightclawed at the same proportion as humans are left- or right-handed.

• Mammoths still existed at the time that the Pyramids were being built in Egypt.

• Blue whales are the loudest animals on the planet, with vocalizations that can reach 188 decibels.

• Groundhogs and woodchucks are the same animal.

• Lions are called “king of the jungle” but they don’t live in the jungle; they live on the savannah.

• When female lions are pregnant, each unborn kitten is encased in an internal “hammock” that swings as she moves. This helps stabilize her

movement as she runs and hunts.

• Lions urinate upwind from prey so the scent blows over to where they are grazing. When the prey moves downwind to safety, they run to where the rest of the pride lays in wait.

• The roar of the MGM lion is actually the dubbed roar of a tiger. Similarly, the call of an eagle in movies is usually over-dubbed by the more dramatic call of a red-tailed hawk.

• Cheetah cubs when they are born have white stripes on their backs which make them look exactly like honey badgers. The honey badger is a formidable fighter and most animals give them a wide berth. Cheetahs outgrow the stripes as they mature.

• Bees have tiny hairs all over their eyes, which help the bee sense wind direction and speed. This helps the bees find their way home on windy days.

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS

• The first computer “bug” in history was actually a moth that crawled into the machine and died. It was found and “de-bugged” on September 9, 1947, at Harvard University.

• There are hydroelectric dams upstream from Niagara Falls. At night during peak tourist season they reduce the amount of water flowing over the falls by 50%, funneling it into reservoirs to be used for power generation during the day. The flow over the falls is cut by 75% during winter months.

• The continent of Australia is wider than the Moon. Russia is wider than Pluto.

telescope provided the first solid evidence that they exist.

• George Washington owned many slaves and was particularly irked when one of them, a woman named Ona Judge, successfully escaped. He was angry because he felt he had treated her well.

• Mozart had an older sister that was just as talented as he was, but their parents pushed her to “retire” while pushing him to succeed. She was the one who preserved his music following

Facts: Turn to page 15

• The difference between a cemetery and a graveyard is that a graveyard is attached to a particular holy place such as a church, temple, or monastery, whereas a cemetery is any other burial place that is open to all. The word “cemetery” comes from the Greek phrase meaning literally “sleeping place.”

• The tradition of diamond engagement rings started with Archduke Maximilian of Austria in 1477 when he proposed to Mary of Burgundy. His sparkling gesture set a trend among European aristocracy that eventually became a global symbol of love and commitment. (Now you guys know who to thank!)

• Albert Einstein used math to predict the existence of black holes 40 years before the Hubble

Michael J. Fox's middle name is actually Andrew. There was already an actor named Michael Fox, so he needed to distinguish himself with a middle initial, but thought it presumptuous to call himself, "Michael A. Fox."

By Lucie Winborne

* Australian bushranger Joseph Johns escaped from prison so many times that the government finally had to build a special cell to hold him, after which an overly (if understandably) confident governor said to him, “If you get out again, I’ll forgive you.” You guessed it: Johns escaped that as well.

* There’s a “Heaven Scent Pizza” for dogs, made of flour, carrots, celery and Parmesan cheese.

* A high school basketball coach was fired after his team won 100-0 because the Catholic school he worked for thought that such a wide-margin victory failed to display a “Christ-like and honorable approach to competition.”

* Two Chinese bank employees stole over $6.6 million and spent it all on lottery tickets. Unfortunately, crime didn’t pay when they only recovered about $13,000.

* Don Rickles died before he could record dialogue for “Toy Story 4.” Rather than replacing him, Disney reviewed 25 years of material from the first three films, video games and other media, and assembled enough to cover the entire film.

* A study has found that second-born children are more likely to be troublemakers.

* In Japan, male students can confess their love to another person by giving them the second button -- the one closest to the heart -- from the top of their school uniform.

* Laser removal doesn’t actually remove a tattoo. It just helps break it down so the body’s white blood cells can carry it away. Eventually, you poop out your tattoo.

* A bloodhound in Alabama went outside to relieve itself and accidentally joined a half marathon, then ended up in seventh place. The race was redubbed the “Hound Dog Half,” and those who end up in seventh place earn a special award. ***

Thought for the Day: “If you run out of kind words for yourself, stop talking.” --

Niklas Goke

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

How I Got Started Roasting Coffee Beans

dark roast. While the beans are roasting, you will see the chaff flying off either into the bowl or box, or into the air. This is normal and another reason you want to roast outdoors.

Step 3: The minute you have reached your desired roast, turn off the air popper very quickly, and pour the beans out of the popper into one of the colanders. Careful! The beans and the popper will be very hot.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

It all started about nearly 15 years ago when I had a conversation with a friend who'd recently taken up the hobby of home coffee roasting. The motivation? First, quality and taste, but also to cut the high cost of quality coffee by at least half. That was enough to get my attention and all I needed to become equally enthusiastic.

by Mary Hunt

Today, I'm going to walk you through the entire process I used to get started.

Because the coffee beans must get hot enough to burn off the chaff that surrounds each bean, roasting coffee produces a lot of smoke. While I know some people roast indoors, I do not recommend it because it's going to send your smoke alarms into a tizzy and smoke up the house. More than that, you will be roasting at such a high temperature, setting a fire becomes all too possible.

So, where to roast? Outdoors. Or just inside an exterior entrance such as in the garage. Let wisdom be your guide.

What's needed as a beginning roaster: -- Air popcorn popper. You want an older model like West Bend Poppery or Poppery II. I found mine on eBay, which is a good source, or you can check yard sales, thrift stores or even your garage. The machine needs to run at 1,2001,500 watts. While you can still buy air poppers, newer models don't get hot enough to roast the beans evenly.

-- Two metal mesh colanders.

-- Oven mitt.

-- Airtight container.

-- 1/2 cup green (raw) coffee beans.

Step 1: Measure out 1/2 cup green coffee beans and pour them into the air popper where you would normally pour the popcorn kernels. This is going to give you a net weight of 2 to 3 ounces of roasted coffee beans.

Step 2: Turn on the air popper. Place the bowl in front of the machine, where the popped popcorn would exit, to catch the chaff. The beans will begin to swirl around in the machine, but don't worry. They are not going to pop out the way popcorn would. In a few minutes as the machine gets hotter, you'll see the beans begin to turn brown. Next, you'll hear the beans starting to make a cracking sound. At the first crack, you will have reached "city roast," which is a typically a light roast. The longer you let the beans roast from this point on, the darker the roast you will achieve. You will hear the beans popping and cracking for several seconds. Then the sound will taper off. The next stage is when the beans start to sound more like Rice Krispies crackling in milk. This is called the "second crack" and signals that you have reached what is called a "full city" or

Step 4: It's important to air cool the beans very quickly so the roasting process ceases. To do this, pour them into one colander, shake them around, and then pour them into a second colander. Continue to toss the beans from one colander until the beans are just warm to the touch.

Step 5: Place the beans in a container that has a tight-fitting lid. However, do not apply the lid at this time. Freshly roasted beans must be allowed to "de-gas" for at least two hours, up to overnight, to achieve their full coffee flavor. If you were to grind and brew beans immediately upon roasting, you would be very disappointed. The beans are not ready to be ground and brewed until they have rested for at least a few hours, to allow them to develop to their peak of flavor.

Would you like resources for green coffee beans as well as an overview of my own coffee roasting journey (I have graduated several times to higher levels of home roasting)? I have posted all of this for you at EverydayCheapskate.com/ roasting.

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https:// www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”

COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM

HANDY TIPS

We’ve rounded up a treasure trove of useful tidbits to streamline your day-to-day life, from nifty household hacks to nerdy tech advice. Read on!

HOME ECONOMICS

• When you paint a room, write the color, brand, and finish on painter’s tape and tape it to the back of a wall outlet or light switch.

• Also write which breaker controls an outlet or light switch on the back of the plate.

• Use RainX (the water repellent for windshields) on the shower door in your bathroom to help prevent residue build-up from soap and hard water.

• Put an over-the-door shoe holder in your bathroom to keep stuff out of the drawers.

• Barilla Pasta maintains a Spotify account with songs that are perfectly timed to cook whatever type of pasta you’re having. The songs work for other brands of pasta as well.

• Boxes of tin foil and cling wrap have small tabs on the ends of the boxes that, when pushed in, will hold the roll securely in place while you rip a piece off.

• If the “on” and “off” switch on the machine has the symbols “I” and “O” remember that the “I” stands for “Ignition” and the “O” means “Off.”

• Most manual can openers have bottle openers on one leg of the handle.

• In an elevator, if you press the button for the wrong floor or notice all the floors have been pressed, you can double-tap a button, which will unselect that floor.

• When you call customer service and get stuck in a frustrating phone tree that will not let you speak to someone, try pressing “0” and keep pressing it until you get transferred to a human.

CAR CRAFTINESS

• If you've ever wondered which side your gas tank is on, look no further than your dashboard! Many cars have a small arrow next to the fuel gauge that points to the side of the car where the gas tank is located—saving you from circling the pump.

• When putting gas in your car, the inside of the gas access door panel usually has a little hooktype device to hold the gas cap.

• If you’re annoyed by loud video messages while gassing up, the second button down on the left will usually mute the audio.

• Rearview mirrors in cars have a tab that lets you flip it upward, reducing the glare if the car behind you has its high beams on at night. It shifts the angle so that you see the reflection from the surface of the glass instead of the mirror finish on the other side, cutting the reflection to 7% of its original brightness.

• If your turn signal blinker is faster than usual, it means you have a bulb out.

• When parking on a slope, turn your wheels towards the curb if you’re facing downhill, and away from the curb if you’re facing uphill. This simple trick can prevent your car from rolling in case of a parking brake failure.

Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone

or triple-tap the back of your phone to trigger actions like taking a screenshot or launching an app. It’s like having extra buttons!

representative immediately with changes or

WINDOWS WONDERS

TECH TIPS: ANDROID PHONES

• If you have a calculator on your smart phone and you turn it and the calculator horizontally, it will become a full scientific calculator.

• If you type a long text and want to make a change in the middle of it, but are having trouble getting the cursor in the correct position, touch the space bar and gently swipe one way or the other to smoothly move the cursor like a mouse.

• If you double-tap the lock button on an Android, it opens the camera app. The power button plus the volume down on any Android will take a screenshot. Try pressing and holding the volume button while the camera app is already open and see what happens.

iPHONE TRICKS

• Make typing with one hand a breeze; just hold down the globe icon on the keyboard and select the one-handed layout. Perfect for multitasking.

• Keep your iPhone's battery charged longer! To prolong your battery’s lifespan, use Optimized Battery Charging. Enable it in Settings > Battery > Battery Health,and keep your battery happy.

• Copy text directly from your camera or photos with Live Text. Simply tap on the text in the Camera or Photos app and save important info in a jiffy.

• Need quick access to your favorite actions? Tap into shortcuts with Back Tap! Set it up in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Double-tap

• A handy Windows command is Windows key + V which lets you access your clipboard history. This makes it easy to copy things you paste often.

• Windows Key + Shift + S is a shortcut to a snipping tool. It will freeze and darken your computer screen, and then you can click and drag a square to grab a snapshot that you can paste wherever you want or even send as an email attachment.

• Windows Key + D will take you directly to the desktop.

• In Windows, if you want to paste text without the formatting, use Ctrl + Shift + V. ‭

To Sell or Not to Sell?

their DREAM HOME. Homes that are PRICED CORRECTLY ARE SELLING, which makes NOW a good time to sell while you have equity and there is still low inventory (and that’s a Smart Move)! Marcanne and MJ have worked in all types of markets over the last 20+ years; this change in the market will require a savvy agent with experience to navigate the sale of your home. Give us a call; we can meet to give you a FREE market analysis and discuss a strategy for selling your home today! ©

by Dana Jackson

Q: Are there any more series in the works for actress Poppy Montgomery? I’m in the process of watching all the reruns of “Unforgettable” with her in it. -- L.M.

A: Australian actress Poppy Montgomery has starred in two very successful drama series, both on CBS. First, she played FBI agent Samantha Spade in “Without a Trace,” opposite another Australian -- Anthony LaPaglia (“Florida Man”). The show lasted seven seasons and likely led to Montgomery headlining another series for the same network, called “Unforgettable.” The premise is about a crime solver with hyperthymesia, a condition in which she can recall every place, conversation and moment in her life. It’s loosely based on actress Marilu Henner (“Taxi”), who was diagnosed with the same condition.

Since “Unforgettable” ended in 2016, Montgomery has starred in the ABC series “Reef Break,” but it lasted just one season. Her other credits include TV movies like “A Surrogate’s Nightmare,” “Mission Control” and “Christmas on the Farm.” There are no other upcoming projects listed for her, but I wouldn’t rule her out for another network series in the future.

Q: Is it true that Reba McEntire is leaving “The Voice”? Who will replace her? -- N.N.

A: No, as a matter of fact, Reba McEntire will be back for her third consecutive season as a coach this fall on the singing-competition series “The Voice.” Also returning as a coach is Gwen Stefani, but there will be two new occupants in the big red chairs this coming season. Canadian crooner Michael Bublé and Los Angeles rapper Snoop Dogg will round out the team. Both have served in other capacities on “The Voice,” in the form of advisor and mentor, respectively.

Wanna Sell Your Car?

***

Q: I’m wondering if actress Laura San Giacomo is still working? I read that she’s married to an actor I saw in a movie on HBO about surfing, called “North Shore.” Are they still married? -- K.B.

A: Laura San Giacomo won an Independent Spirit Award for her supporting role in the indie film “Sex, Lies and Videotape” back in 1989. A year later, she made another memorable impression on audiences as Julia Roberts’ wisecracking roomie in the blockbuster hit “Pretty Woman.”

She went on to star alongside David Spade in “Just Shoot Me!” for seven seasons, playing a hot-tempered journalist who loses her job and is forced to go work at her father’s fashion magazine. It might appear that her career took a downturn after that, but in reality, she’s been working pretty much nonstop for the past two decades. More recently, she had a recurring role as a therapist on the hit series “NCIS,” played an acting coach in the Emmy-nominated HBO series “Barry,” and was part of the ensemble cast of the Tim Allen series “The Santa Clauses.”

As for her husband, San Giacomo has been married to Matt Adler (“North Shore”) since 2000. Most of his recent credits include voice work for animated series and video games.

***

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.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of ABC

Poppy Montgomery in “Reef Break”

Good Recipes from

All-American BBQ Chicken

Try our sweet and spicy sauce on pork spareribs too.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce

1 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup light molasses

1/4 cup Worcestershire

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)

2 (3 1/2 pounds each) chickens, each cut into quarters, skin removed if you like

1. In 10-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, vinegar, molasses, Worcestershire, brown sugar and ground red pepper; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, 45 minutes or until sauce thickens slightly. If not using sauce right away, cover and refrigerate to use within 2 weeks.

2. Reserve 1 1/2 cups sauce to serve with grilled chicken. Place chicken quarters on grill over medium heat; cook 20 to 25 minutes, turning chicken once. Generously brush chicken with some of the remaining barbecue sauce; cook 20 minutes longer, turning pieces often and brushing with sauce frequently until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with tip of knife. Serve with reserved sauce. Serves 8.

* Each serving with skin: About 500 calories, 23g total fat (6g saturated, 42g protein, 34g carbohydrate, 158mg cholesterol, 755mg sodium.

Grilling Poultry

Whether you’re cooking chicken, duck or turkey, the best way to test for doneness is with a thermometer. Breasts should be cooked to 170 F; thighs and whole birds to 180-185 F. You can remove poultry from the grill when it’s 5 or 10 degrees below the recommended temperature, but be sure to let it stand about 10 minutes to allow the temperature to rise.

If you don’t have a thermometer, remove the bird to a white plate and pierce with a fork. Any juice that comes out should be clear. If juice comes out pink, cook a little longer and check again. You can test cut-up pieces of chicken the same way.

Corkscrew Pasta with Spring Veggies

Toss sauteed asparagus and leeks with pasta and creamy goat cheese. Yum!

1 bunch (about 1 pound) leeks

1 package (16 ounce) corkscrew or bowtie pasta

1 tablespoon margarine or butter

1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut diagonally into 2-inch pieces

1 package (4 ounces) soft goat cheese, cut into small pieces

1. Cut off roots and leaf ends from leeks. Discard any tough outer leaves. Cut each leek lengthwise in half, then crosswise into 1/4-inchwide slices. Place leeks in large bowl of cold water; with hand, swish leeks around to remove any sand. Transfer leeks to colander. Repeat process, changing water several times, until all sand is removed. Drain well.

2. In large saucepot, prepare pasta in boiling salted water as label directs.

3. Meanwhile, in nonstick 12-inch skillet, melt margarine or butter over medium heat. Add leeks and cook until almost tender, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Stir in asparagus, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper; cook 5 minutes longer, stirring often. Add 1/3 cup water; cover and cook 3 to 5 minutes, until asparagus is tender-crisp.

4. Drain pasta, reserving 3/4 cup pasta cooking water. Return pasta to saucepot. Add asparagus mixture and pasta cooking water; toss well. Spoon into large serving bowl; sprinkle with goat cheese and coarsely ground black pepper. Serves 4.

* Each serving: About 580 calories, 11g total fat (5g saturated), 23g protein, 96g carbohydrate, 6g

By John Allen

DIAMOND LIL

by Brett Koth

Donald Duck by Walt

UNUSUAL

FIRSTS FIRSTS

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis

A Chance To Do Better

For the past few months, “Maggie,” our 2-and-a-half-year-old Shar Pei-Boxer mix, has been getting really aggressive toward my boyfriend, his mom, his 2-year-old nephew and me.

Lately, she’s been growling at our nephew when he tries to hug her and at our smaller puppy when he’s merely playing with a toy. Last night, she jumped on the bed and woke me. When I sat up, she started snarling at me. I took her downstairs to the cage, and she was fine until it came time to actually go into the cage. At that point, she snapped at the smaller dog and then turned toward me and snarled.

Initially, I yelled at her, but then I tried to calm her down by saying in a soothing voice, “Maggie, it’s OK. Maggie, calm down.” I reached in slowly to pet her, and she bit me and drew blood for the third or fourth time now. Until today, I blamed her for acting that way. But I realize now that it is our fault. The “punishment aggression” description covers basically everything we have done to discipline her.

I never knew that my behavior could affect a dog so much. I grew up seeing my parents discipline our dogs that way. Now I have no idea what I can do for her since her aggression is our fault. Do you have any advice? I really, really want to try to fix the situation. But I just can’t keep her around if she is going to snap at our nephew.

There’s a lot to learn from a letter like this.

The letter writer demonstrates the importance of leading by example. She learned from her parents the only methods they knew of disciplining a dog -- outdated, uninformed punishing tactics that involve yelling, bullying and possibly worse. Minute by minute, her nephew was learning the same.

Her story illustrates the value of personality testing and training. Getting a feel for a dog’s personality before making him your dog empowers you to select the best fit for you, your fam-

Wuzzles solution Page 16

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

Information S ources for F ood S afety

At this writing we’re being told on the news that the bird flu that’s popping up across the country is being found in milk we buy. Then days later, no, it’s not. It’s only in raw milk, not the pasteurized we buy at the store. Except yes, there are “viral fragments” in pasteurized milk.

With conflicting information, what can we do to stay safe?

Various agencies in the government release alerts and recalls about our food safety. Sometimes they find an undeclared allergen in a food product or an item has not been inspected. Then there are the adulterants such as tiny pieces of plastic found in food.

Sometimes, however, what’s found is quite serious, such as listeria, E. coli or salmonella, which can make people (especially seniors) extremely ill.

Receiving alerts and warnings about these can help us avoid foods that can make us sick. There are several alert/recall sources, but the one with the best information is at www.foodsafety.gov. You can either check the site on your computer or phone, or have the alerts sent to you. The website also has information on safe food storage and food poisoning.

The CDC has information on alerts as well at www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/ outbreaks/index.html. One recent recall warned of metal fragments in ice cream. The FDA has a wider selection of alerts, covering shellfish, baby food products, beverages and dietary supplements. See www.fda. gov/food/recalls-outbreaks-emergencies/ alerts-advisories-safety-information. One recent alert concerned elevated levels of

lead in several cinnamon products.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls) recently recalled ham products that made it into the country without being inspected and ground beef with E. coli.

Sign up for as many (or as few) alerts as you need to feel safe about your food. If you sign up for more than one, you may get duplicate information, as they often share between agencies.

Both “insurance” & “Lic. #” are: Arial

* * *

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.

•

•

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

ily and your lifestyle -- and enables you to judge his ability to relate to children, if necessary. Your dog’s personality also determines the necessary method of training and discipline. You don’t train or discipline a shy dog the same way you would a dominant dog. Everything is different, right down to the tone of your voice.

Many dog owners in similar situations never own up to their role. Instead, they deny a problem exists or dance around it with a litany of excuses. The writer of this letter has had a very important breakthrough. She now understands the extent that an owner’s behavior can affect a dog.

Anyone who reads this column regularly knows what’s coming: A 2-year-old cannot live safely under the same roof with a dog like Maggie. The first new household rule should be that Maggie has zero access to the nephew -- not even supervised access, because it only takes a second for something to go terribly wrong.

•

All of the adults involved in this situation have an equal and immediate obligation to Maggie to do two things: enlist the services of a professional trainer and find her a better home. She needs an adults-only home with people who understand the importance of boundaries and consistent training -- neither of which has anything to do with punishment. The training they provide starting now will increase Maggie’s chances of finding such a home exponentially.

•

With the writer’s realization comes a chance to do better -- to the benefit of everyone, including the child, the puppy and, hopefully, Maggie.

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.

worked and paid into the system.

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

You Must Pay In To Get Something Out

More than a few people are just bound and determined to believe the worst about the government in general and about the Social Security system in particular.

Here is one example of that. In my recent survey of the services provided by the Social Security Administration, hundreds of my readers praised the agency and gave it an average rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5). But borrowing a phrase from former Vice President Spiro Agnew, more than a few “nattering nabobs of negatism” also piped up with comments similar to this one: “We all know the government can’t do anything right. And the SSA gets one star because it can’t do anything right, either.” Another person said this: “I give the SSA one star. Even though I’ve never been to a Social Security office, I can only imagine it’s 10 times worse than your typical driver’s license bureau!”

First, let me say a word in defense of the much-maligned driver’s license bureaus. I recently had occasion to renew my license. I made an appointment online. I showed up at the bureau’s office in my city at the prescribed time. The office was clean and modern and well-organized. Places were clearly marked where those of us with appointments could wait. Within a few minutes, my name was called, and a friendly agent took care of me. The entire process took about 10 minutes. (I know that obviously driver’s license bureaus can change from state to state and even from city to city. I’m just relaying my experience. 5 stars!)

Anyway, back to Social Security. I think a big reason for all the “negatism” about Social Security has to do with the many unfounded myths and rumors that are out there, mostly in the online world, about the program. And then those rumors get spread from one naive and uninformed “nattering nabob” to another.

In fact, there are so many myths, I devoted an entire book to them. It’s called “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can get the book at Amazon.com and other booksellers.

In today’s column, I’m going to deal with one of those myths. It usually goes something like this: “I’ll tell you what’s wrong with Social Security. It’s all those people getting benefits who never put a dime into the system! There are millions of them!”

Let me start by saying this: There isn’t a single soul getting a Social Security check who hasn’t worked and paid into the system or who isn’t a spouse or child of someone who has

I had a recent email exchange about this with a reader. He said that it’s those spouses and children that he is talking about. He wanted to know how many of those kinds of folks there are.

I answered his question, but first, I asked: “So what’s your point? Should these people be kicked out of the program?” And surprisingly, he said: “Yes. In my view, if you yourself haven’t worked and paid Social Security taxes, you should not get a Social Security benefit.”

I don’t think I need to tell most of my readers that is an extreme and misguided view of how a social insurance system should work. If his ideas became reality, I think I would put him in charge of contacting each widow personally and saying something like this: “I’m sorry, ma’am, even though your husband worked for 50 years paying Social Security taxes before he died, because you never paid into the system yourself, we are going to have to cut off your Social Security checks.”

And I’d also have him call all the children of a deceased parent and tell them: “I’m sorry, little one. I know your dad died and you’re getting some Social Security on his account. But because you haven’t worked, I’m afraid we’re going to have to stop your checks. Good luck!”

I sure am glad that guy, and guys like him, aren’t running the country. What a mean and heartless place it would be. Anyway, he still insisted that I tell him how many spouses and children were getting benefits. Here are numbers for the roughly 66 million Social Security beneficiaries:

-- Retired workers: 48.5 million, or 74% of all beneficiaries

-- Spouse and children of retirees: 2.7 million, or 4%

-- Disabled workers: 7.6 million, or 12%

-- Spouse and children of disabled workers: 1.2 million, or 2%

-- Widows(ers) and children of deceased workers: 5.8 million, or 8%

Someone could look at those numbers and say that about 9.7 million people, or roughly 14% of all Social Security beneficiaries, are getting Social Security checks even though they themselves haven’t paid into the system.

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

2. From John 20, by what other name is the apostle Thomas known? a) Tommy b) Paulos c) Moses d) Didymus

3. Which book begins, “And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness”? a) Exodus b) Leviticus c) Numbers d) Psalms

4. What did Jesus and Peter pay for with a coin found in a fish's mouth? a) Tax b) Cloak c) Bread d) Sandal straps

5. From Poverbs 11, what word did Solomon use to describe soul winners? a) Warm b) Wise c) Wealthy d) Wonderful

6. Which prophet was saved from death by a talking donkey? a) Balaam b) Ezekiel c) Joel d) Samuel

Sharpen your understanding of scripture with Wilson Casey's latest book, "Test Your

(Answers on page 16) For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com

But it’s not quite that simple. Many of those getting benefits as a spouse or widow are what is known as “dually entitled.” That means they are getting some benefits on their own record, and then they are getting some extra benefits from a spouse’s Social Security account. In other words, even though they are getting supplemental “dependent” benefits, they have worked and paid into the system.

Another reader sent me an email about “those people on disability who are getting benefits they never worked for.” That gullible guy has bought into the myth that people getting disability benefits are deadbeats who are somehow ripping off the taxpayers.

So let me make this very clear: You cannot get Social Security disability benefits unless you have worked and paid Social Security taxes.

I think I know where these rumors get started. There is a program with a confusing name called Supplemental Security Income. The program is managed by the Social Security Administration, and it sounds like it is some kind of Social Security supplement. It is not. It is a federal welfare program that, even though it is run by the SSA, is paid for out of general revenues, not Social Security taxes. SSI pays a small monthly stipend (rarely more than about $900) to poor people who are over age 65 or who are disabled. There may be people on SSI who have never worked and paid taxes. But again, this program has nothing to do with Social Security.

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

COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM

My wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo.

I had to put my foot down.

Bible Knowledge," now available in stores and online.

Low Iron Levels Might Affect Blood Donor’s Depression

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am wondering if there is any link between low iron and depression/anxiety. I am a 37-year-old woman, and I started taking Lexapro a few years ago. I upped my dose last year because I wasn’t feeling great, and my doctor and I decided that it was a good step to take.

During the years that I have been taking Lexapro, I have also been a regular blood donor. I am CMV-negative, so I have blood suitable for newborns. The Red Cross says I am a “hero for babies,” and I enjoy doing something good.

I haven’t donated in about five months, and I am feeling significantly better regarding my depression. I know that donating blood affects iron levels, but does it also affect the concentration of Lexapro in my body? If not, can low iron be contributing to my depression? I would love to know the answer so that I can possibly continue to donate, perhaps less frequently. --

J.M.

ANSWER: First, thank you for donating so regularly. CMV is a virus most people have been exposed to, and like most herpes viruses, it stays in the body forever. Newborns and premature babies, as well as organ transplant recipients, need CMV-negative blood, and there aren’t many CMV-negative people who can donate.

Depression and anxiety are both tightly linked to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Lexapro doesn’t increase serotonin, but it does make the transmission of serotonin from one nerve cell to another more effective by reducing the reuptake of serotonin at the nerve junction. Low iron levels have been shown to reduce serotonin levels, so this may be part of the reason why your depressive symptoms have been worse. However, there are many other reasons, both inside and outside of your body, that can make depressive symptoms worse. Still, if you do have low iron levels, you can replace iron faster and keep it normal, despite blood donation and menstruation, with an iron supplement. (It would be best to check with your doctor on this.) If your depression gets better, then this would be pretty good evidence that low iron does affect your mood. (Note: You can have low iron and not have anemia at all.)

Find the right donation frequency so you can still help without putting your mental health in danger. ***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 86-yearold male in good health. Several years ago, I had about 1/3 of my prostate removed because I couldn’t pee. After the surgery, all was well with a steady stream until about two weeks ago. During one of my many trips to the bathroom, I noticed that I had a hard time when starting to urinate, and the stream was

stop-and-go. This continues to this day, but it isn’t a problem during the day.

Any thoughts on my sudden change in urinating? -- D.S.

ANSWER: A sudden change in urination should prompt an evaluation for a urine infection. These are quite common with men in their 80s, especially those with prostate problems, even if they have undergone surgical treatment. Your first stop should be your regular doctor for a urine test, and if this doesn’t reveal the problem, it is time to visit your urologist.

Some medicines can dramatically worsen the ability to urinate in men, especially decongestants and antihistamines. Some people use these at night, which might explain why you only experience problems at that time.

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.

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

Fighting Back Against the Drug Companies

You have to love it when a drug company gets nailed for their role in the opioid drug crisis. In this case, our favorite government department, Office of Inspector General for the VA, was involved in bringing down a huge drug manufacturer for distributing a misbranded opioid. The result: The drug company was hit with the second largest penalty ever against a pharmaceutical manufacturer: $1.536 billion (that’s billion, not million) in fines and forfeiture.

The manufacturer’s list of crimes and deceptive business practices is long. Among other things, they declared that the drug was tamperand crush-resistant. Sales reps went so far as to hit pills (although not the drug in question) with hammers to prove they were crush-proof and therefore did not have an abuse potential. (Being crush-proof is key when prescribing opioids because there is a risk of misuse such as snorting crushed pills.) They hid the effects of their drug and the fact that it was highly addictive. Additionally, the label that went out with the drugs didn’t give correct directions for usage.

To make it even worse, the manufacturer targeted medical providers they knew were prescribing the drug off label (for non-medically accepted reasons), thereby adding to the opioid drug crisis, all in the name of greed. They even held sales contests so the sales reps would be sure to target for sales those who were prescribing the highest level of opioids.

Part of that $1.5 billion includes $450 million that will go to state, municipal and Tribal groups to fund drug programs. On top of that is a fine of $475.6 million for civil liabilities.

Now the VA will be able to recoup some of its expenses ($8.5 million) for all the drug interventions and treatment they had to do over the years because of that drug -- and the OIG was right there in the middle of it. * * *

Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.

M.D.

Final Changes DUE:

-- by Jim Miller

Financial and Legal Resources for Grandparents Raising Grandkids

Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any programs that you can refer me to that financially help grandparents who are raising their grandkids? I’m raising two of my grandchildren and could use some help. --Tapped Out Tonya

Dear Tonya: Money is a common problem for the nearly 2.4 million U.S. grandparents who are raising their grandchildren today. To help with the day-to-day expenses, there are a wide variety of programs and tax benefits that can make a big difference in stretching your budget. Here’s where to look for help.

Financial Assistance

For starters, find out whether your family qualifies for your state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which may include cash assistance, food benefits, utility bill assistance and free or low-cost daycare. Or, if your household income is too high to qualify as a family, ask about the “child-only grant” for just the grandkids support alone.

Also, check to see if you’re eligible for foster care payments as a relative caregiver, or if your state offers any additional programs like guardianship subsidies, non-parent grants or kinship care. Adoption assistance payments are also available to adopted grandchildren with special needs.

To inquire about these programs, contact your state’s TANF program and/or state Department of Human Services. See ACF.hhs.gov/ofa/

I

The

map/about/help-families for contact information.

You also need to see if your grandkids are eligible for Social Security, including benefits for dependent children, survivor benefits or SSI – visit SSA.gov or call 800-772-1213. And find out if they’re eligible for free/low-cost health or dental coverage through your state’s Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program: InsureKidsNow.gov or 877-543-7669.

You can also use Benefits.gov, the official benefits website of the U.S. government that has a screening tool to help you identify the programs that you and your grandchildren may be eligible for and will direct you to the appropriate agency to apply.

Tax Benefits

In addition to the financial assistance programs, there are also a range of tax benefits that you may qualify for too like the Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC which is available to those with moderate to low incomes, and the Child Tax Credit which is worth $2,000 per dependent child under age 17.

If you’re working, and are incurring childcare expenses in order to work, there’s a Child and Dependent Care Credit that can help. And, if you’ve legally adopted your grandkids, there’s an Adoption Tax Credit that provides a federal tax credit of up to $16,810 in 2024.

You can also deduct medical and dental expenses if you and your dependent grandchildren’s healthcare cost exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income for the year. And there’s even education-related tax credits that can help your grandkids go to college, like the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit.

In addition to the tax credits and deductions, if you’re unmarried you may qualify for “head of household” status when you file your tax return, which has a higher standard deduction and a lower tax rate than you would filing as a single.

Legal Help

If you haven’t already done so, you should also talk to an attorney to discuss the pros and cons of obtaining legal guardianship, custody or adoption. Without some sort of legal custody, you may not be eligible for many of the previously listed financial assistance programs, and there can be problems with basic things like enrolling your grandkids in school or giving a doctor permission to treat them.

For help locating affordable or free legal assistance, visit FindLegalHelp.org, or call the

Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 for referrals. Also see GrandFamilies.org, a clearinghouse resource that offers information on financial assistance, adoption, foster care and more.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

I also use to grind bread crumbs, nuts, meat and to shred potatoes. I would appreciate all you can tell me about my grinder and its value.

ANTIQUE

by Anne McCollam Creators News Service

by Anne McCollam Creators News Service

Satsuma Vases Were Made in Japan

Q: Enclosed is a photo of a pair of Asian umbrella holders that I inherited from my aunt. Actually, I’m not sure if they are umbrella holders or what they are. They are approximately 18.75 inches high and 8.5 inches at the widest part. Marked on the bottom of each are blue lines with curved lines. The scenes are against a cream-colored background and decorated with small white raised dots. The finish has a crazed appearance. Each is in very good condition. There are no cracks or chips.

Any help you could give me will be greatly appreciated.

A: Your have a pair of Satsuma vases. They are too small to be umbrella holders. Satsuma-ware is Japanese glazed pottery. It was usually cream-colored and decorated with raised enamels and often had a crackled finish. Satsuma was first made in the Satsuma Province in Japan by Korean potters around 1600. There are four periods of design: Edo, Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods. Your vases were made during the Meiji period, which lasted from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The raised dots are moriage, and the figures are Samurai officers. Your circa 1900 vases would have an insurance value of $225 to $325 each.

Q: I have and still use a “Universal” kitchen meat grinder that belonged to my grandmother. The handle contains the words: “L.F. & C. New Britain -- Conn. -- U.S.A.” The mark includes several patent numbers from 1897 to 1900. There are four attachments that

A: Landers, Frary and Clark made your meat grinder. Founded in 1853 by George Landers, “Universal” was added to the name in 1890. Over the years, they produced a variety of household appliances from meat grinders to toasters. Their grinders were a boon to American homemakers. They could chop, grind and slice both meats and vegetables.

Universal grinders can be seen selling on the Internet for $85 and higher.

Q: This mark is on the back of a platter that belonged to my great-grandmother. It was given to her for her wedding in 1913. The platter is decorated with a blue medallion in the center and a blue border against a white background. The edges are scalloped. It is in excellent condition.

What can you tell me about its history and value?

A: You have an ironstone Flow Blue platter that was made by WH Grindley & Co. It was founded in Tunstall, Staffordshire, England, in 1880, and they made both ironstone and earthenware. The firing process often caused designs to run and appear blurry, thus the name, Flow Blue. Based on your description of the design, the platter is an example of Grindley’s “Lorne” pattern. The pattern is a transfer print. This mark was used from 1891 to 1914. Your platter would probably be worth $150 to $175.

WH Grindley & Co. was founded in England in 1880.

* * *

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 May 27, 1831, trapper-explorer Jedediah Smith, who established the South Pass across the Rocky Mountains in modern western Wyoming as a well-known and heavily traveled route for fur trappers, was riding alone when he was attacked and killed by a hunting party of Comanche Native Americans on the Santa Fe Trail.

* On May 28, 1983, Irene Cara’s song “Flashdance (What a Feeling),” from the “Flashdance” movie soundtrack, reached the top of the U.S. pop charts and helped push the film to the No. 3 spot on that year’s total box-office revenue list. It also proved to be the biggest hit of Cara’s career.

* On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary reached the summit of Mount Everest, becoming the first climbers confirmed to have conquered the world's highest peak. Their historic ascent marked a monumental achievement in human exploration and inspired adventurers worldwide to aim for new heights—literally..

* On May 30, 1899, amateur bandit Pearl Hart and her drifter boyfriend, Joe Boot, held up an Arizona stagecoach, making away with over $400 in cash. Although discovered and sentenced to prison, neither served their full term, and Hart was pardoned by the governor in 1902, living out the rest of her life in relative obscurity.

* On May 31, 1970, an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale off the coast of Casma, Peru, in the Pacific Ocean caused an avalanche traveling at over 100 miles per hour that buried the towns of Yungay and Ranrahirca, killing an estimated 50,000 people and making it the worst natural disaster ever recorded in the country’s history.

* On June 1, 1958, following a long political crisis over the Algerian War, former French president Charles de Gaulle was called out of retirement to head a new emergency government as prime minister for a six-month term in an effort to keep the country together.

* On June 2, 1920, Eugene O’Neill won his first of four Pulitzer Prizes, for his play “Beyond the Horizon,” which was also his first full-length work to be staged. Though he was initially not happy over the news, his attitude improved upon learning the award came with a $1,000 prize and did not involve a ceremony.

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

"This program isn't exactly user-friendly."

Satsuma-ware is Japanese glazed pottery made during the Meiji period in the late 1800s.

his death along with Mozart’s wife.

• Franz Joseph Haydn was a prolific composer known for his musical mischief. His Symphony No. 94, the “Surprise” Symphony, features soothing melodies interrupted by sudden loud bursts, meant to awaken drowsy audiences. In his Quartet in E flat major, Opus 33 No. 2, the “Joke,” he cleverly inserts extended pauses to deceive listeners into premature applause. Then there's Symphony No. 47 in G major, known as the “Palindrome,” where the music of the third movement remains the same played forwards or backwards.

• Oxford University in England was founded around 250 years before the Aztec Empire.

• The Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk was in 1903. Apollo landed on the Moon in 1969. Only 66 years passed between the two events. Neil Armstrong was born in 1930 and was 17 years old when Orville Wright died in 1948. Theoretically, the first man to walk on the Moon could have met the first man to fly.

• The humble paper clip was invented in 1899 by Norwegian Johan Vaaler, who sought to create a better way to bind papers together. Little did he know that his simple invention would become a universal symbol of organization and efficiency!

• We put men on the Moon before anyone even thought to put wheels on luggage.

• By the time Cleopatra was born around the year 69 B.C., the Pyramids were already over 2000 years old.

• Charlie Chaplin once entered a Charlie Chaplin lookalike contest and did not win. Competing anonymously, he only managed to secure third place, much to his amusement.

• The word “nerd” was first coined by Dr. Seuss in his 1950 book “If I Ran the Zoo.” It referred to a creature in the book, and later evolved to describe socially awkward individuals. Its evolution has continued and is often used as a term of endearment for individuals with a deep passion or expertise in specific subjects, particularly in the fields of technology, science, and academia. Today, being called a “nerd” can be a badge of honor, signifying someone’s dedication and enthusiasm for their interests. So, that begs the question...are you a proud “Tidbits-nerd”? ‭

Give your golf-related advertising message targeted visibility in full color in this weekly 2” x 6” fixed location $153 per insertion reaches 70,000+ readers each week at the low cost of only $2.18 per 1,000 reader impressions!

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

When Turn Equals Straight

Longer hitters have great lower body action, especially when it comes to the left hip and leg. This secret motion can be summarized into a “Shift and Rotate” sequence that all good throwing and striking motions employ.

Most golfers can shift their weight forward effectively, but lack the proper rotation of the leg and hip through impact.The left leg stays bent into impact but is in the process of turning in order to straighten the left leg.

This rotation of the left hip and leg is a speed element that gives players that game changing distance. The rotation causes the left foot to even spin out at times where the weight rolls to the outside of the foot and back toward the heel.

The hip does not rotate immediately in the downswing but should aggressively rotate through impact, thus the shift and rotate sequence.

1. ANATOMY: What does the human vestibular sense do?

2. MOVIES: The phrase “As you wish” is key to which 1987 movie?

3. GEOGRAPHY: What is the largest island in the Caribbean?

4. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What are Chinese astronauts called sometimes in the West?

5. TELEVISION: Which sitcom features a character named Phoebe Buffay?

6. MEASUREMENTS: What is the square footage of an acre?

7. SCIENCE: What are the four states of matter?

8. HISTORY: Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave women the right to vote?

9. LITERATURE: Which 19th-century novel contains the line, “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship”?

10. MONEY: In the old British monetary system, how many pennies were equal to a pound?

Answers

1. It is the sense that deals with movement, gravity and balance.

2. “The Princess Bride.”

3. Cuba.

4. Taikonauts.

5. “Friends.”

6. 43,560 square feet.

7. Solid, liquid, gas and plasma

8. 19th.

9. “Little Women.”

10. 240.

Linda Thistle