BIRKENSTOCKS
by Janet Spencer
A family of German shoemakers revolutionized footwear as we know it. Birkenstocks appealed to people not because of their thick and chunky looks, but because this footwear actually fostered a long-term emotional attachment with its wearers.
A Birkenstock CEO once called it “love at second sight.” Popular among beatniks, tree-huggers, and the back-to-nature crowd, Birkenstocks carry a reputation of social consciousness, all while enjoying a level of name-brand recognition that exceeds nearly any other shoe. How did this happen? Lets strap on our comfy sandals and take a walk through some of Birkenstocksʼ interesting history!
• One thing that sets Birkenstocks apart from all other shoe companies is that it’s been handed down through family generations since before the U.S.A. was officially born. The birth of Birkenstocks stretches back to 1774 when Johann Birkenstock was licensed as a shoemaker in Germany. But the story really got started with Johann’s great-greatgrandson Konrad.
• Konrad, who ran two shoe shops in Frankfurt, Birkenstocks: Turn to page 3
TRIVIA NEWSFRONT
(Answers on page 16)
1. TELEVISION: What is the name of the town in the sitcom “Parks and Recreation”?
2. GEOGRAPHY: The Earth’s equator runs through how many countries?
3. MOVIES: Who plays the character Morpheus in “The Matrix”?
4. MYTHOLOGY: Which Greek hero was dipped in the River Styx as a baby and made almost invulnerable?
5. EXPLORERS: Which English explorer claimed Australia for Great Britain?
6. HISTORY: Which two Native American leaders fought Gen. George Custer’s troops at the Battle of Little Bighorn?
7. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What are the two traditional flowers associated with the July birth month?
8. LITERATURE: Which poem begins with the line, “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary”?
9. ANATOMY: Where is the smallest skeletal muscle in the human body located?
10. INVENTIONS: What medication, originally used to treat eye muscle spasms, later became a success in reducing facial wrinkles? Answers 1. Pawnee, Indiana.
(Trivia Test answers page 16)
2. 13.
3. Laurence Fishburne.
4. Achilles.
your body
90,000 strands versus 140,000 strands for other colors. But since each hair is thicker, it has the appearance of a full head of hair.
• The rarest combination of hair color plus eye color is a blue-eyed redhead. Redheads most commonly have brown, hazel, or green eyes. Only about 1% of humans have red hair and blue eyes.
• Redheads are more likely to have freckles, and they sunburn easily. They also have a greater chance of developing skin cancer.
Redheads
• Out of every 100 people in the world, one or two of them will be a natural redhead, the rarest hair color. Worldwide, 84% of the population has black or dark brown hair. Brunettes come in second with 11%. Only about 3% are blond, and 2% are redheads.
• The gene for red hair is a recessive trait, meaning a baby must inherit one gene from each parent to be a redhead. If both parents have the gene, but are not redheads themselves, there’s only a 25% chance the baby will be a redhead. If one parent is a redhead and the other is not, but carries the gene, there’s a 50% chance of the baby being a redhead. However, if both parents who have the gene are redheads, it’s a virtual guarantee that their offspring will also have red hair.
• Scotland has the highest proportion of redheads with 13% of the population, followed by Ireland with 10%. However, the United States has the largest population of redheads in the world, with an estimated 7 million. Though all races have redheads, the trait is more frequently found in people of northern and western European ancestry.
• Surnames common throughout the British Isles reflect the frequency of red hair there, including Flanary (“red eyebrow”), Reid (“red-haired, ruddy complexion”), and Flynn (“bright red”).
• In 1995, researcher Jonathan Reese found that a mutation of the gene MC1R on chromosome 16 is responsible for red hair. Labeled the “ginger gene,” it blocks the production of brown and black pigments and causes an accumulation of red and blond pigments. The mutation likely appeared for the first time several thousand years ago.
• The same MC1R genetic mutation makes it easier for redheads to create and absorb Vitamin D, which is important for people living in northern climates.
• Red hairs tend to be thicker than other hair colors. Redheads have fewer strands of hair on their heads, amounting to an average of
• Redheads also tend to bruise more easily. They are more tolerant of pain and require lower doses of painkillers. Surprisingly, however, they also tend to require about 20% higher doses of anesthesia.
• They are also more likely to be left-handed.
• Red hair does not grey the way other colors of hair do. Instead, it gradually turns blond before turning white.
• It’s much harder to dye red hair different colors because it holds onto its natural pigmentation much more than other colors of hair. If red hair must be dyed, dark colors are far easier to achieve than light colors.
• Of the women who dye their hair at home, 30% choose red shades.
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• There are proportionately more redheads featured in commercials than there are in the world. A 2014 study found that 30% of ads during primetime hours included someone with red hair.
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"Fearfully and wonderfully made" One in a series
invented the world’s first insole in 1896, followed by the first flexible arch support in 1902. He called his creation a “fussbett,” meaning “footbed,” and it set the stage for all that followed.
• Konrad’s insole was designed to mimic the natural contours and curves of the human foot. In a day and age when all shoe soles were completely flat, this innovation was the start of everything that sets Birkenstocks apart. By 1925, demand for these insoles was so great across Europe that it warranted the opening of a large factory in Friedberg, Germany.
COMPANY GROWTH
• Konrad’s son Carl joined the business and began offering training courses and lectures about foot health to cobblers and podiatrists.
• Carl’s son Karl was the first to expand the Birkenstock line from insoles to shoes by designing a shoe around his grandfather Konrad’s contoured insole and flexible arch support, transforming it into an orthopedic shoe.
• The original Birkenstock shoe was released in 1964. The ergonomic design was meant to cradle and protect the foot. This model of shoe, named “The Madrid,” served as the prototype for all Birkenstock styles to come.
• Birkenstock shoes were available only in Europe, but all that changed because of a woman with sore feet. Margo Fraser was a German citizen living in California. In 1966, she traveled to a health spa in Bavaria. She was suffering from a lot of foot pain. She was given a pair of Birkenstocks as therapy, and the pain disappeared.
• Inspired by her own experience and the health benefits the shoes gave her, she asked the company if she could import and sell them in America. They soon granted her the distribution rights.
• Fraser found that shoe stores refused to carry them because they considered them ugly. Then she got the idea to sell them at health fairs and
health food stores, asking that they be displayed beside the granola. This idea was a pivotal moment in Birkenstocksʼ history when the renegrade brand immediately resonated with anti-establishment hippies, liberals, and the back-to-nature flower children of the 60s and 70s.
• Margo Fraser’s distribution company was the only firm permitted to import Birkenstock products into the U.S. and played a huge role in Birkenstock’s global success. She remaind the sole distributer until 2007, when the owners of Birkenstock Orthopädie GmbH & Co. KG purchased their long-standing distribution partner BDUSA, thus expanding their market share even further.
STYLE CHANGES & CONSTRUCTION
• A two-strap model called the Arizona debuted in 1973 after Karl Birkenstock tested the prototype on employees. Today, a third of all Birkenstocks sold are their Arizona style.
In 2019 actress Frances McDormand was a presenter for the Academy Awards. For the occasion, she wore a berry pink silk gown. Underneath, she wore custom-made neon-yellow Birkenstocks. She said of Birkenstocks that they had "literally transformed me physically and philosophically."
• Whereas most shoe companies come out with new styles every year, a marketing strategy to increase sales, Birkenstock limited itself to only occasional variations on the basic design. They never moved production to places like China or Mexico but kept everything where it all began; in Germany, one of the world’s greenest countries with some of the best labor laws.
• The company grew slowly until the late 1980s when it found a foothold in the athletic/comfort shoe market. Between 1989 and 1992 the company grew 500%. Between 1992 and 1994 alone, Birkenstock sold more shoes than it had in the previous 20 years.
• Birkenstocks are made of only three basic parts – strap, sole, and footbed – so they are easy for any competent cobbler to repair. They are already extremely durable, and their ability to be repaired can make the shoe nearly immortal. A single pair can last a lifetime, which is not bad for a shoe that retails between $50 and $150.
• Birkenstocks do have some drawbacks. They are not designed for prolonged exposure to water, so they don’t make a good beach shoe. They are also not suitable for wearing during strenuous
physical activity or sports.
POPULARITY STRIDES
• The company gets a publicity boost every time a celebrity is seen wearing them. Photo sessions with Kate Moss, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna,
The longer a person wears a pair of Birkenstocks, the more contoured they become to the shape of the wearer's foot. It may take some time for the shoes to fully conform, but they continue to become more comfy as time passes.
and well-being.
By Lucie Winborne
* Guglielmo Marconi, whose invention of wireless telegraphy was credited for saving the lives of over 700 Titanic passengers after it sank in 1912, had turned down a free passage on the ship, choosing instead to go to America via the Lusitania three days earlier. He narrowly missed death at sea a second time in 1915, when he was again a passenger on the Lusitania, about a month before it was sunk by a German U-boat.
* The story of Cinderella first appears in a Chinese book written in the 850s.
* Margaret Dixon, a Scottish criminal, was hanged at Musselburgh in 1728. However, just a few hours later, she climbed out of her coffin, and was reprieved and pardoned. Still, as her husband was considered a widower because she was “officially” deceased, Scottish law dictated that they had to remarry.
* The country of Liechtenstein has twice as many registered corporations as citizens.
* On April Fools’ Day 1957, the BBC television documentary “Panorama” broadcast a documentary about the socalled spaghetti orchards of Switzerland, with discussions of spaghetti plantations in Switzerland and Italy, the spaghetti weevil, and the reason for the pasta’s being of such uniform lengths held against a background of Swiss “spaghetti trees.” Many viewers, forgetting or failing to notice the date, believed the orchards were real!
* Groups of geese on the ground are called a gaggle, but in the air they’re referred to as a skein.
* Honey has been used as a center for golf balls and in antifreeze mixtures.
* In 1974, the U.S. Army Materiel Command ran a contest to name its new headquarters building and received around 500 entries. The winner? “The AMC Building.” ***
Thought for the Day: “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.” -- Florence Nightingale (c)
Inc.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
A Quick, Easy, Legit Way to Cut Prescription Drug Costs
Remember to input precise details such as the form, dosage and quantity of your prescription during your search. This attention to detail guarantees you’ll receive the most accurate price possible when you visit the pharmacy, ensuring maximum savings on your medications.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
I want to tell you about a shocking encounter I had with my friendly neighborhood pharmacy that opened my eyes and forever changed the way my family uses big discounts to slash our prescription drug costs.
by Mary Hunt
For several years, my doctor had prescribed two preventive-type medications, both generic. Together, they cost about $24 for a 30-day supply. Given that our health insurance at the time included prescription coverage, I never questioned my copay or refill frequency or considered there might be cheaper alternatives.
Then we changed our health insurance providers, a small matter that had slipped my mind that day as I drove through to pick up refills.
The pharmacist asked if I’d changed insurance; I said yes, I had, and she responded, “That will be $178.” What?! Once I retrieved my jaw up from the steering wheel, I asked her why the price was so high. She explained it might be a combination of my previous coverage, pharmaceuticals and the high cost of meds. I paid the new amount and could not get home fast enough to search for a cheaper place to get these meds filled in the future.
I had to look at the search results three times before I could believe what I was reading. One of the links took me to the Rite Aid Rx Savings Program. I input the two medications in the search box provided, and the price quote came back as less than $26 total for a 90-day supply for both medications -- about $8.75 per month, not even close to the $24 for 30 days I had been paying with insurance for quite a few years.
I grabbed the receipts, bottles and paperwork and quickly rushed back to the pharmacy.
I asked the same employee about the Rite Aid Rx Savings Program and if my prescriptions would qualify. She hesitated, then asked me why I hadn’t requested information on the program when I was there earlier. I bit my tongue. It required a good deal of restraint, but I did not lash out, “Well, that would be rather difficult because I did not know about your savings plan!” Instead, I remained calm as she contacted my prescribing doctor and refilled the meds for 90 days, handing me new receipts and $150 cash.
Some time ago, the Rite Aid Rx Savings Program was discontinued in favor of SingleCare, a more comprehensive prescription savings program also accepted by nearly 100 other pharmacies.
SingleCare is a free-to-use prescription discount service that negotiates low prices with pharmacies so you can afford the medications you need. SingleCare offers discounts on more than 10,000 name-brand and generic drugs, allowing you to save up to 80% on the retail or “cash” price.
Interested? You can sign up at SingleCare.com. SingleCare just might be your go-to prescription savings solution. As a free-to-use service, SingleCare actively negotiates with pharmacies to secure the lowest prices possible on vital medications. Its mission? To ensure that affordability never stands in the way of your health
When it’s time to refill your prescription, inform your pharmacist that you’re a SingleCare member and present your coupon card, which you will receive by mail once you’ve created an online account. Request that they use it to process your prescription, and watch as they input the numbers to apply your savings.
Your SingleCare pharmacy savings card can be used at over 35,000 SingleCare member pharmacies nationwide, including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter, Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, H-E-B, HyVee, Meijer, Wegmans and Rite Aid.
NOTE: Some pharmacies, such as Walgreens, Walmart and CVS, feature signature SingleCare cards that will maximize your savings at those pharmacies. Make sure to use the signature card when applicable.
By the way, I have no affiliation with SingleCare, nor do I work for the organization. I’m just a very happy SingleCare card-carrying member and wanted to share it with you. * * *
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
• A pangram is a sentence that uses every letter in the alphabet. The most well-known is, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” Other pangrams include: “Mr. Jock, TV quiz PhD, bags few lynx.” This is probably one of the best examples because each letter is used only one time. Other examples: “Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.” “Waxy and quivering, jocks fumble the pizza.” “How vexingly quick daft zebras jump.” “Jinxed wizards pluck ivy from the big quilt.”
• An ambigram is a word that looks the same from different orientations. For example, the words “swims,” “mow,” and “dip” will be the same even when turned upside down.
• An anagram is a rearrangement of the letters in a word to form a different word. For example, the word “stifle” is an anagram of “itself.” Other examples are dusty/study, night/thing, players/ parsley, and state/taste.
• Acronyms are abbreviations of the first initials of a series of words: IBM for International Business Machines; NBC for National Broadcast Company etc. Sometimes acronyms turn into regular words: Ram (random access memory); scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus); snafu (situation normal, all fouled up); laser (light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation); radar (radio detection and ranging); sonar (sound navigation and ranging); and modem (modulator-demodulator).
• Capitonyms are words that change meaning if the first letter is capitalized. For example, Turkey (the country) and turkey (the bird); August (the month) and august (distinguished); Polish (from Poland) and polish (to make something smooth); China (the country) and china (porcelain); Titanic (the ship) and titanic (gigantic).
• Palindrom is a term derived from the Greek palin dromo (“running back again”) that describes a word that reads the same either backwards or forward. For example, “civic,” “madam,” “radar,” and “deified” are palindroms. Numerical palindromes include sequences that read the same in reverse order (e.g., 1991), as well as those that can be read upside down and backward (e.g., 1961)
• Most average adult English speakers know between 20,000 and 35,000 words.
• The shortest and oldest word in the English language is “I.” The shortest complete sentence is: “I am.”
• The letter “e” is the most commonly used letter in English.
• More English words begin with the letter “s” than any other letter.
• Only one word uses the letters X, Y, and Z in order: Hydroxyzine, which is a type of medication used to control anxiety and allergic wheezing.
• The most complex word in the English language is “set.” This seemingly insignificant word has over 430 definitions and requires a 60,000-word definition that covers 24 pages in the Oxford English Dictionary, far more than any other single word.
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• The word “good” has more synonyms than any other word in the English language, with 380.
• The longest common word with no vowels is “rhythms.”
• The word “facetious” is one of the few English words that contains all five vowels in alphabetical order.
• Some of the words where each letter appears in alphabetical order include abhors, accent, access, almost, biopsy, billow, and effort.
• The longest word you can make using only four letters is “senseless.”
• The word “whatever” consistently ranks as the most annoying word in the English language.
• The word “good-bye” is a contraction of “God be with you.”
• English is not the official language of the United States because the United States does not have an officially designated language.
by Dana Jackson
Q: Whatever happened to actress Shawnee Smith from the Ted Danson show “Becker?” Is she still acting? -- M.M.
A: Yes, Shawnee Smith is still active in show business. She played the memorable ditzy office aide Linda on the sitcom “Becker” until 2004, but is known to horror fans for her role in the “Saw” movies. She also played Charlie Sheen’s ex-wife in the series “Anger Management.” Next up for Smith are two more projects that fall within the horror genre: “Slay” and “Psychopomp.”
Q: I saw a headline that Billie Eilish’s mom was once on “Friends.” Who did she play? -- S.I.
A: Nine-time Grammy-Award-winning recording artist Billie Eilish grew up homeschooled with her aspiring actor parents and her future musical collaborator brother, Finneas. Her mom, Maggie Baird, and dad, Patrick O’Connell, both struggled as actors but made their kids their top priority.
Baird performed and also taught improv comedy to future stars like Melissa McCarthy. Eilish calls her dad “the best actor I’ve ever seen” and says that her mom “can do all these voices and characters.”
Despite their talent, Baird and O’Connell mostly guest-starred on various primetime series and movies. O’Connell played a reporter in Marvel’s
“Iron Man” and a bartender on “The West Wing,” while Baird played a casting director to an auditioning Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) in an episode of “Friends,” titled “The One Where Joey Loses His Insurance.” She’s also appeared on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Bones,” and “Six Feet Under.”
Eilish still lived with her parents in their two-bedroom home in Los Angeles up until 2023. She actually bought a $2.3-million home when she was 17, but didn’t officially move into it until she was 21.
The proud parents attended the Academy Awards ceremony this past year to see their kids not only perform and receive a standing ovation, but also win an Oscar for their song “What Was I Made For?” from the movie “Barbie.” ***
Q: When is the final season of “Stranger Things” coming out? Also, how will they explain the actors being so much older since the last time they filmed? Is it set in the future?
-- L.J.
A: As far as a premiere date for the fifth and final season of the hit streaming series “Stranger Things,” it’s said to be out on Netflix sometime in 2025. The good news is that the show has been in production since January after it was delayed an extra seven months due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes.
Ross Duffer, one of the show’s creators,
told TVLine that there will be a time jump in the story. In addition, the episodes will be lengthy, like “basically eight movies,” according to Maya Hawke, who plays Robin in the show. “Terminator” star Linda Hamilton has also joined the cast in an undisclosed role.
Producer Shawn Levy acknowledges the fast-growing cast, but says that along with the hair and makeup teams, “the ‘80s are also our friends in returning these young adult actors to their iconic Hawkins characters.”
* * *
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.
Actress Shawnee Smith in “Saw X” (2023)
Courtesy of Lionsgate
Trattoria-Style Shrimp Fettuccine
Classic and quite simple to prepare, this shrimp and pasta dish can be served on its own thanks to the bag of fresh spinach that gets incorporated at the last minute.
12 ounces fettuccine or spaghetti
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium (6- to 8-ounce) onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 bottle (8-ounce) clam juice
Salt
1 pound shelled and deveined large shrimp, with tail part of shell left on if you like
1 bag (5- to 6-ounce) baby spinach
1/3 cup (loosely packed) fresh parsley leaves, chopped
1. Heat large covered saucepot of salted water to boiling on high. Add pasta and cook as
label directs.
2. Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, heat oil on medium until hot. Add onion and garlic, and cook 10 minutes or until golden and tender, stirring often. Add wine; increase heat to mediumhigh and cook 1 minute. Stir in clam juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt; heat to boiling. Stir in shrimp, and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp turn opaque throughout.
3. Drain pasta and add to skillet with spinach and parsley; toss to coat. Serves 6.
Each serving: About 350 calories, 7g total fat (1g saturated), 115mg cholesterol, 515mg sodium, 46g total carbohydrate, 4g dietary fiber, 24g protein.
Savannah Desoto Brittlebread
This recipe originally appeared in FanFare, a cookbook created by The Des Moines Symphony Guild.
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 8-ounce container plain yogurt
1. Mix all ingredients. Wrap dough with plastic wrap and chill at least 1 hour or overnight.
2. Take about one-eighth of dough
and roll out to a thin sheet to fit on ungreased cookie sheet. The dough is light and sticky, and the board and rolling pin will need reflouring frequently. Wrap dough loosely around rolling pin, then unroll it onto cookie sheet. (For easier rolling, work with 1 piece of dough at a time and keep remaining dough in the refrigerator.)
3. Bake at 425 F for 5 to 8 minutes until golden brown. Keep an eye on it; it browns very quickly once it starts. Remove brittlebread to wire rack to cool, then break into serving-size pieces. Repeat with remaining dough. If brittlebread does not seem crisp enough, it can be put back into the oven briefly. Store brittlebread in tightly covered container. Makes 16 servings.
Each serving: About 155 calories, 6g fat, 16mg cholesterol, 90mg sodium.
For hundreds of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipes/.
NEXT WEEK in TIDBITS STUDIES UP
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7/21 National Ice Cream Day
7/22 Be A Good Teammate Day
7/23 Hot Enough For Ya Day
7/24 Cousins Day
7/25 Hire A Veteran Day
7/26 Aunts And Uncles Day
7/27 National Water Gun Fight Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Wrong Dog in the Doghouse
“Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.” -- Mark Twain
Usually, when I write of training, I’m referring to a dog. But there are times when only a coin flip can decide who -- dog or master -- is in greater need of education. This is one of those times.
“We got our Doberman, Sasha, from a breeder when she was 8 weeks old. She’s now 4.
“When she first came to live at our house, we had a male pug named Max and a female black Lab named Quincy, who stays outside in a kennel. Max and Sasha loved each other, but Sasha didn’t love Quincy. They got into a few fights when Quincy came inside on winter nights. Sasha always went after her neck, but Quincy was never hurt.
“A few weeks later, Max died from unknown diabetes. We tried to bring Sasha around other dogs, but she wouldn’t accept them.
“Then, when Sasha was a year old, we found kittens in a woodpile. She loved them! She thought they were her babies. So we kept a male cat we call Patch, and those two never had any problems, except for one time when Patch scratched Sasha. But Sasha didn’t fight back.
“We also have a parakeet that Sasha loves to stalk and chase around.
“So far, Sasha has bitten six people; three of them had to go to the hospital for stitches. Two of the people she bit live in the house, me being one and my mom the other. She bit me to the extent that I had to get plastic surgery on my cheek.
“She also has bitten my aunt and three friends who walked into my house without me accompanying them -- which is understandable but not tolerable.
“A few weeks ago, we brought a puppy that we wanted to keep home to see Sasha. He is a Boxer-black Lab mix. Sasha loved him. It’s obvious that she always wanted to play with other dogs, but was
Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10
Solution on page 14)
SENIOR NEWS LINE
by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.
Changes to RSV vaccine recommendations
The vaccine for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) has come under some changes in the CDC recommendations list. Until recently, they suggested that anyone over 60 should consider getting the vaccine.
Now they say, specifically:
If you’re over 75, get the shot. If you’re between 60 and 74, get the shot if you’re at risk of contracting a severe case of RSV. Those most at risk include those with a chronic condition such as lung disease, diabetes, liver disorders and more.
If you’re between 50 and 59, one of the two versions of the vaccine is suitable for you if you run the risk of severe RSV. In other words, if you’re at risk, you move to the head of the priority line.
RSV causes lower respiratory tract disease, and the shots have an 80% efficacy rate, which means they will likely help.
These suggestions are for those who didn’t get the vaccine last year (the first year the vaccine was available); you don’t need one every year.
Step one would be to ask your doctor if you should get the vaccine. If the answer is yes, ask if there is a preference between the two (Arexvy vs. Pfizer). Ask when you should get it. The CDC recommends late summer and early fall, before the RSV season hits.
At this point, the CDC is looking at studies to decide whether additional doses are needed in seniors, especially considering the potential side effects that popped up in clinical trials.
Specifically, the CDC, as well as the FDA, are monitoring the data to see if there is a possibility of increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) with the RSV vaccine. That is likely the reason for the change from “everyone over age 60” should consider getting the vaccine to “those who are at the highest risk” for severe RSV disease.
Whatever category you're in, it's wise to first consult with your doctor for advice on what steps are best for you to take.
* * *
Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@ gmail.com.
(c) KingFeaturesSyndicate
by Joseph Publillones
The Luxury of Your Bedroom
Home has never been at the forefront the way it is now. The recent covid lockdowns and quarantines impacted young and old alike, and caused every imperfection in your dwellings to raise its head like an ugly pimple. One of the areas prone to need some help is your bedroom.
Let’s take this head-on. Change your headboard. Almost any headboard can be revamped with either paint or fabric. If your current headboard is mainly made out of wood or metal, paint is your first go-to solution.
or go the opposite way, blue tape in hand, and paint distinctive shapes and geometric patterns in a dark paint color for contrast.
Shall I even mention wallpaper? Today, there are collections of peel-and-stick removable wallpaper. The beauty of using this product is that once you’re tired of it, you can either remove it and replace it with another pattern or use the wallcovering in another location. This just requires patience and some crafting skills.
Painting your headboard a new color is a super quick fix. This change can be done in less than an hour ... just make sure to mask or lay paper down around the headboard so as to not paint the floor or other components of the bed. Alternatively, fabric, batting material and a staple or hot glue gun will help you transform your headboard, which is the focal point of your furniture in the bedroom.
I’m always an advocate for changing the color of a room, in this case, a bedroom. If this sounds too challenging, just try painting the wall that the bed is positioned against. For example, let’s say your room is a neutral, inoffensive shade of ivory; you can paint a contrasting color on one wall, and voila, you are done. For those willing to take a chance and experiment, you may accent the wall with white paint in a freehand pattern --
Changing the lighting in your bedroom can also make a substantial change; it can even make the colors of your walls seem different. Lighting is the one trick most used in theatrical performance because it can create the illusion of a new appearance at minimal cost and at the flick of a switch. You can also add a dimmer to the mix. The ability to dim the lights can create a sense of intimacy and may be an added benefit to addressing your bedroom issue -- the lighting, that is.
For many, bedrooms have become the center of the home. Many activities besides sleep and, well, you know what else, take place inside those four walls. Some are using their bedrooms as gyms, beauty spas and ad hoc offices. Outfitting your bedrooms for all these activities is essential. Special occasions are often celebrated with breakfast in bed and, on other occasions, dinner in bed. Luxuriate in your bedroom. After all, you are worth it. The time is now.
Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Fla. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM
Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
just too scared.
“We’ve had the puppy for about four weeks now. The second week, Sasha bit him on the nose when he tried to walk over to her food bowl. She has growled at Patch a few times when he did this, but she never bit. The puppy wasn’t hurt.
“Today, though, Sasha clamped down on the puppy’s head when he jumped up onto the couch where Sasha was sitting. The puppy might not survive.
“We love our Sasha with everything in us, and nobody wants to get rid of her or put her down. She really is a great dog! She has never been abused, beaten or deprived of anything, and we don’t understand why she acts like this. Is she just jealous?”
The issues at hand are plentiful, but jealousy is not among them. Multiple female dogs in one house is not advisable -- they are prone to fighting over dominance and territory. Providing an aggressive dog a throne, such as a couch, bed or other piece of furniture usually reserved for humans, only elevates an already existing sense of entitlement. And failing to act at the first sign of aggression invites the unwanted behavior to stay.
But primary among them stands the issue of judgment. The wrong dog is in the doghouse. Until the owners recognize this, no person, dog, cat or parakeet in this house is safe.
Woof!
* * *
Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.
COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM
The Art of DESIGN
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Don’t Take Financial Advice From a Guy in a Kayak
I’ve discussed this issue before in this column. I am a Social Security expert. I know all about the rules and regulations that can affect your Social Security benefits.
But I am NOT a financial planner. I rarely tell people when to apply for their Social Security benefits. I give them all the facts and then let them decide, sometimes in consultation with a real financial planner, exactly when they should start their Social Security checks.
But even though I’ve stressed a thousand times that I am not a financial planner, people are always emailing me asking me when they should take their Social Security benefits. So how do I prove to folks that I’m not a financial guy?
Well, I think I finally have proof.
I was going through some old family photos the other day and came across this picture. That’s my wife in the kayak. And I’m in another kayak behind her taking the photo. And that’s our neighbor’s boat!
Let me explain. We were living at the time in San Diego. Or to be more specific, we were living on Coronado Island, which sits in the bay across from downtown San Diego. We were living in a part of town that was interspersed with canals. Every house in the neighborhood had a dock. And almost every dock had a boat moored to it.
Coronado Island was populated, for the most part, by people of means. For example, San Diego was a Navy town. The sailors who didn’t reside on base lived in apartments spread around the city. But the captains and admirals lived in Coronado. So did the captains of industry, as well as many doctors, lawyers and other professionals. And yet, a moderately paid government employee and his librarian spouse (that would be me and my wife) somehow managed to find a home we could barely afford in Coronado.
So there we were with a home on the water and a boat dock, surrounded by people who had the money to fill their slip. Many of our neighbors had boats similar to the one you see in the picture. But all my wife and I could afford were a couple of kayaks. Yet I can tell you, we sure had fun paddling around the canals and out into the San Diego Bay in our poor man’s yachts!
Anyway, here is my point. Look again at the picture. Would you rather take financial advice from the person in the kayak or from the person who owned that huge yacht? I think it’s a no-brainer. Talk to the guy in the yacht about financial advice. But you can talk to me for Social Security advice.
I was reminded of all this when some of you reacted to something I said in a column a couple weeks ago. I told readers not to fret so much over
the starting date for their Social Security checks. I specifically told a guy who was almost losing sleep because he wanted to make darn sure his benefits started exactly at age 70 that he shouldn’t worry. I said if his benefits happened to start one month early, he’d only lose a fraction of 1% in his ongoing benefit rate. So I said it was “no big deal.” And I thought my comment was literally that -- no big deal. But here is an example of the reaction I got: “I can’t believe the lousy financial advice you gave a reader this week! You told him it would be ‘no big deal’ if he got one month’s extra Social Security check at a reduced rate. You’re wrong. It would be a huge deal. You’ve got to remember that the loss he suffers will just continue to compound over the years. He could eventually lose hundreds if not thousands of dollars if he takes the reduced benefit rate.”
...Well, please let kayak boy make a couple points in response to that criticism and others I received in a similar vein.
First, I was not giving this guy financial advice. I merely told him that I thought it wasn’t that big a deal if he ended up making a mistake and starting his benefits in August instead of September when he turned 70.
Second, let’s follow an example to find out if it would be a “huge deal” if that happened. Let’s say the guy’s full retirement age benefit is $3,000 per month. If he waited until age 70 in September to start his retirement checks, he’d get a 32% bonus. In other words, he’d get $3,960 monthly.
The delayed retirement bonus is actually two-thirds of 1% for each month benefits are delayed beyond full retirement age -- up to age 70. So, if this guy inadvertently started his Social Security checks in August, he’d get a roughly 31.4% bonus instead of the full 32%. In other words, his monthly Social Security check would be about $3,942.
That’s $18 less than his potential age 70 rate. But then you have to remember that he would be getting one extra Social Security check at the $3,942 amount. If you divide $18 into that, you will learn that he has to live 219 months, or about 18 years, beyond age 70 before he is going to come out on the short end of the Social Security stick by
1. The book of Damascus is found in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither
2. What did Paul's writing say about those who refused to work should be banned from doing? a) Worshipping b) Marrying c) Eating d) Celebrating
3. From Matthew 27, the "potter's field" was also known as the field of _____? a) Dispair b) Sorrows c) Vengeance d) Blood
4. What priest of Midian was the father-inlaw of Moses? a) Jethro b) Nabab c) Melchizedek d) Eleazar
5. How many mothers birthed the 12 tribes of Israel? a) Two b) Three c) Four d) Five
6. Jesus called himself the bread of ____? a) Salvation b) Life c) The world d) Mankind
Sharpen your understanding of scripture with
(Answers on page 16) For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com
starting his benefits one month early. Or to put that another way, once he is 88 years old, he will start losing $18 per month.
I suppose there is a chance this guy could live to be 100 and end up losing hundreds or even a couple thousand dollars. Of course, there is also a chance he’ll get hit by a bus at age 72.
So is it “no big deal?” Or a “huge deal?” I guess it’s all in the way you look at it. If you are a money person and like to worry about these things, then consult a financial planner (who probably owns a big boat), go over all the numbers, create all kinds of spreadsheets, come up with all kinds of matrixes and then make a decision. (And hope you don’t get hit by that bus!)
But if you’re like me, someone who doesn’t lose any sleep over the financial decisions he’s made, then just make the best choice you can based on the knowledge you’ve gathered, don’t fret over a month or two glitch and enjoy the rest of your life paddling around in your kayak!
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.
Wilson Casey's latest book, "Test Your Bible Knowledge," now available in stores and online.
Bisphosphonates Cause Esophageal Disorders To Worsen
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 68-year-old female with osteopenia. My doctor wants me to take a bone medication such as Boniva or Fosamax. I’ve read that folks with esophageal issues may be harmed by taking these. Can you explain why? -- C.M.C.
ANSWER: First off, we don’t usually treat isolated low bone mass (osteopenia) with powerful medicines like the ones you mentioned, which are both bisphosphonates. These medicines have the potential for harm and should only be used when the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.
A person with low bone mass and a history of a fragility fracture has osteoporosis, regardless of their bone density. Some people with low bone density may be at such a high risk for fracture (based on their FRAX score) that treatment is indicated. Before treating someone with medication, many authorities recommend a 10-year risk of a fracture of 20% or higher (or a risk of a hip fracture of 3% or higher). You should find out your FRAX score.
The issue with the esophagus is that if pills get stuck in the esophagus, they can cause severe damage to it. So, people with esophageal disorders -- such as achalasia, esophageal stricture or varices, or Barrett’s esophagus -- should not take these types of medicines by mouth. People with reflux without these complications can take oral bisphosphonates as long as they can comply with staying upright for 30 minutes after taking them.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My boyfriend got cancer from HPV. He was successfully treated. Is he capable of transmitting it to me? -- S.
ANSWER: HPV causes different types of problems. Warts are all caused by HPV, but only a few strains of HPV can predispose people to cancer.
The most common HPV-related cancer in men is head and neck cancer, since HPV is the leading cause of these cancers. Most of these cases in men occur from a sexually acquired HPV infection. Men are at a higher risk for HPVrelated head and neck cancers than women, even though women are at a much higher risk for the overall HPV-related cancers (since cervical cancer unfortunately remains common).
Once a person has HPV, they can potentially spread the virus, even without any visible signs of infection. Condoms reduce but do not
eliminate the risk of transmission. Close skinto-skin contact is necessary for transmission, and although sexual contact is a common way of transmitting HPV, it is not necessary. Most people cure themselves of the virus within a few years.
By far, the best way to prevent HPV transmission (apart from never having close contact with anyone) is vaccination. The HPV vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection if it is given before the onset of sexual activity, but it still may be fully or partially effective after the onset of sexual infection.
The HPV vaccine prevents infection, but it is not recommended for treatment. The recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is to vaccinate at the age of 11 or 12, up to the age of 26. But it is approved up to the age of 45. I have rarely given individual patients the HPV vaccine even after that age, based on their particular circumstances, and insurance typically does not pay for it in the United States.
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.
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Did the VA Contact You About Agent Orange Benefits?
If you served in Vietnam, were exposed to an herbicide like Agent Orange, got sick and submitted a claim that was denied, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was supposed to find you and offer compensation. Did they?
Specifically, after the Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs class action lawsuit in 1986, it was decreed that Agent Orange exposure resulted in service-connected diseases. Despite the thousands of claims that were denied, the VA was to find those veterans and pay compensation.
The eligibility requirements, per the lawsuit, were that the veteran had to have one of the covered diseases from AO exposure, the VA had to have received a claim for a service-connected disease and the claim had to have been denied.
Then, also per the lawsuit, the VA had to look for all the veterans they’d previous denied, digging through their records, without any action required on the part of the veteran (or family member, if the veteran was then deceased) -- and award benefits for it.
Then because of possible shipboard exposure to AO, and after three additional presumptive conditions were added to the list, the VA issued a press release saying they would send letters to veterans saying they would review all the records.
Enter the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to see how the VA was doing in tracking down the veterans.
The result: The OIG calculates that the VA neglected to send letters to over 88,000 veterans. And the OIG calculated that 86,894 veterans were likely eligible but were not identified by the VA to have their claims looked at again.
What followed was a list of what sounds like excuses on the part of the VA as reasons they didn’t find all the veterans. You can read those for yourself in the OIG report at https://tinyurl.com/sd9u3net
If you believe you qualify for benefits under Nehmer and had a denied claim for herbicide exposure and subsequent illness, call the VA.
Don’t let them miss you again.
*
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.
-- by Jim Miller
Kitchen Ideas for Aging-in-Place
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: My 82-year-old mother, who loves to cook has had several kitchen-related accidents over the past year, which has me concerned. What tips can you recommend for making a kitchen safer and more practical for seniors, without doing a big expensive remodel. -- Inquiring Daughter
Dear Inquiring: There are a number of small improvements and simple modifications you can do that can make a big difference in making your mom’s kitchen safer and easier to maneuver. Depending on her needs, here are some tips for different aspects of her kitchen:
Lights: If the lighting in your mom’s kitchen needs improvement, replace the old overhead fixture with a bright new ceiling light, and add LED lighting under upper kitchen cabinets to brighten up her kitchen countertops.
Floors: If she has kitchen throw rugs, to reduce tripping or slipping, replace them with non-skid floor mats or consider gel mats, which are cushiony and more comfortable to stand on for long periods. GelPro.com and WellnessMats.com offer a nice selection.
Tell them you saw their ad in Tidbits! advertisers,
Cabinets and drawers: To reduce bending or reaching, organize your mom’s kitchen cabinets and drawers so that the items she most frequently uses are within comfortable reach. You can also make her lower cabinets and pantry easier to access by installing pullout shelves or revolving lazy susans. And, by installing pulldown shelves in her upper cabinets (see Rev-ashelf.com) so she doesn’t have to get on a stool to reach things on high shelves. I also recommend replacing her cabinet and drawer knobs with “D” or “C” shaped pull-handles because they’re more comfortable for arthritic hands to grasp than knobs.
Faucets: If your mom has twist-handle kitchen faucets, replace them with ADA compliant single handle faucets, or with a touch, motion or digital smart faucets. They’re easier to operate, especially if she has hand arthritis or gripping problems. And, for safety purposes, set her hot water tank at 120 degrees to prevent possible water burns.
Microwave and cooktop safety: If your mom’s microwave is mounted above her stove, consider moving it, or get her a small microwave for the countertop so she doesn’t have to reach over a cooktop to insert or remove food. And if you’re worried about your mom forgetting to turn off the stove there are automatic shut-off devices you can purchase and install to prevent a fire. iGuardStove (iGuardFire.com) makes one of the best smart shutoff devices for gas and electric stoves. And to guard against microwave fires, there’s the SmartMicro microwave shutoff made by Pioneering Technology (PioneeringTech. com).
Shopping for Appliances
If you’re looking to upgrade some of your mom’s appliances, here are some different features to keep in mind.
Refrigerator: French-door refrigerators that open in the middle are great for seniors because it makes it easier to see and reach what’s inside. Pullout adjustable height shelves and a water/ice dispenser on the outside of the door are also very convenient.
Stove or cooktop: Look for one with controls in the front so your mom won’t have to reach over hot burners to turn it off, and make sure the controls are easy to see. Flat surface electric or induction burners, or continuous grates on gas stoves are also great for sliding heavy pots and pans from one burner to the next. And ask about automatic shut off burners.
Oven: Self-cleaning ovens are a plus and consider a side-swing door model. They’re easier to get into because you don’t have to lean over a hot swing-down door. Also consider a wallmounted oven, installed at your mom’s preferred height to eliminate bending.
Remember: You read it in tidbits!
DON’T FORGET!
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Dishwasher: Consider a drawer-style dishwasher that slides in and out for easier access and, if possible, have it installed on a raised platform 12 to 24 inches above floor level so it can be loaded and unloaded without so much bending over.
Washer and dryer: Front-load washers and dryers with pedestals that raise the height around 24 inches are also back-savers and easier to access.
As you can see, there are quite a number of safety-enhanced products available today to help prevent potentially dangerous accidents in the home. This list will hopefully offer solu
tions to some of your concerns about about your Mom's safety in the kitchen.
worth $25 to $50.
Q: I have drawn the mark that is on the bottom of a porcelain demitasse set. The set is a service for 6 and includes a coffee pot, a covered sugar bowl, a cream pitcher, dessert plates, cups and saucers. They are decorated with a cobalt blue glaze and embellished with gold. The set has been in our family for generations and is in mint condition.
Dishes
Have a Magical Theme
Q: Enclosed is a photo of the dishes I used as a child in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Each dish is marked on the back with the words “Fondeville -- Ambassador Ware -England -- Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.” On the cup and the plate are the words, “The Buttercup Fairy is ever so shy. If even a bunny dares to spy.” On the bowl are the words “Queen of the Fairies, Titania Rose, Scolding two elves, who look at their toes.”
I have not found this pattern on any online website. I would like to know the value of my set.
A: Your child’s set of dishes was made by Ambassador Ware in England and distributed in the United States by the Fondeville and Co., which was located in New York. Fondeville and Co. was founded by Eugene L. Fondeville around 1942. They were the distributor for Laurelton, Ambassador and Embassy wares.
Ambassador Ware was made by Soho Potteries in Staffordshire, England. Soho Potteries were founded in 1901 and they were bought by American stoneware manufacturer, Pflatzgraff and Co.
Your circa-late-1940s set would probably be
Please tell me the year my set was made and its estimated value for insurance purposes.
A: Martial Redon and Co. made your set in Limoges, France, around 1891. Redon took over the porcelain factory, Gibus and Redon, in 1882 and changed the name to “M. Redon.”
They produced fine dinnerware, as well as decorative pieces and art objects. When he died in 1890, his son ran the company and continued to use the same marks until around 1902.
Your set should be insured for $1300 to $1600.
* * *
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 2024 CREATORS.COM
* On July 22, 1893, Katharine Lee Bates wrote the lyrics to “America the Beautiful” after admiring the view from the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado. The song’s music was composed by Samuel A. Ward, a church organist and choirmaster in Newark, N.J. The two never met in person.
* On July 23, 1980, Pham Tuan became the first Vietnamese citizen as well as the first Asian in space when he flew on board the Soyuz 37 mission as an Intercosmos Research Cosmonaut. His career awards included the rare distinction of being one of the few foreigners to receive the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
* On July 24, 1915, the passenger ship SS Eastland capsized while tied to a dock in the Chicago River, killing a total of 844 passengers and crew in the largest loss of life disaster from a single shipwreck on the Great Lakes.
* On July 25, 2000, George Bush announced his selection of former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney to be his running mate on the Republican presidential ticket. Cheney had worked under all five presidential administrations between 1969 and 1993, and Bush described him as qualified, respected and someone who shared his vision for America.
* On July 26, 1952, Argentina’s first lady, Eva Peron, died of cancer at the age of 33. Shortly before her passing, she had been given the title of “Spiritual Leader of the Nation of Argentina” by the Argentine Congress, and she was also accorded a state funeral, which was generally reserved for heads of state.
* On July 27, 1866, the first permanent transatlantic telegraph cable was successfully completed, reaching from Valentia Island, Ireland, to Heart’s Content, Newfoundland.
* On July 28, 2018, Wendy Tuck of Australia became the first female captain to win the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Afterward, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, she said, “If one little girl sees this, sees it can be done and has a go, that will be what matters to me.”
“The only thing that stupid club will do is make you walk further to find out where that wicked slice of yours landed.”
Ambassador Ware was distributed in America by Fondeville and Co.
Redon and Co. was located in Limoges, France.
Birkenstocks: from page 3
Tanya Tucker, Shaquille O’Neal, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes, and even Martha Stewart have shown them sporting their “Birks”.
• In 2012, Birkenstock’s popularity jumped when fashion designer Phoebe Philo of Céline lined Birkenstocks with mink, put them on the runway, and called it the “Furkenstock.” This sparked a deluge of luxury knock-offs that spurred the sale of the real thing as fashionistas found that comfy shoes could also be très chic. Vogue magazine raved about the new trend, saying, “There’s nothing better than a really pretty dress with an ugly shoe.”
• In 2021, the company was worth $4.9 billion. In 2022, 30 million pairs of Birkenstocks were sold, with estimated revenue of $1.27 billion. The company’s customer base is 30% baby boomers and 31% millennials.
• Today, these iconic shoes are sold in about 100 countries and are available in around 800 different sizes, styles, and colors. The company added waterproof models made out of synthetics. There’s even a leather-free vegan option. In 2018, PETA presented the company with its Libby Award for being the “Most Animal-Friendly Shoe Company.”
• Today, the Birkenstock corporation is owned by L. Catterton, a company backed by the French conglomerate LVMH (Louis Vuitton - Moët Hennessy) which is, ironically enough, just the sort of high-fashion outfit that Birkenstock had always shunned.
• It’s been said that when Birkenstocks first found their footing among the anti-nuke health-nut counterculture, the concern was not over what they looked like so much as whether the shoes helped align the chakras. They were the shoe of the opposition; they were the kale of footwear. And yet, Birkenstocks eventually transcended these stereotypes and became an icon of practical value. The shoes are high quality, they’re timeless, and most importantly, they’re comfortable.
Game Changers
by Jason Jenkins
The lob shot that needs to land softly has been one of the most sought after game changers in amateur golf. While having a high lofted club has made this shot much easier, golfers still struggle with the techniques that top players use with seemingly ease and comfort.
The follow through or finish on these floating shots requires the left arm to fold, and the left wrist to hinge while the palm stays facing downward. Just the opposite of what’s desired on a normal full swing. The attempt is
to prevent any clubface rotation through impact by preventing the hands and forearms from rotating.
The arms must “saw” or appear to retract after impact rather than extending like other pitch shots. Sometimes the grip end will finish closer to your body than its address distance.
Notice the clubface is “open” or pointing skyward at the finish as well.
Linda Thistle
of the nine numbers only once.
DIFFICULTY:
