Vol. 20: #32 • The Flintstones • (8-4-2024) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
"The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read"
TIDBITS ROCKS WITH
by Janet Spencer
As the world’s first primetime TV cartoon series, “The Flintstones” debuted in 1960 on ABC and ran 166 episodes through 1966. Airing on Friday nights, the show was the most financially successful and longest-running animated franchise ever to hit the small screen. This week Tidbits traces the history of this iconic series and how it held its popularity for over 30 years of reruns.
THE INCEPTION
• William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were animators working for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) when they developed the hit cartoon show “Tom and Jerry.” When MGM later closed its animation studio, the two artists formed their own company, Hanna-Barbera, with their first hit “Huckleberry Hound” airing in 1958. Next they wanted to create a show geared more towards an adult audience, and “The Flintstones” was the result.
• Alan Reed was a well-known movie actor who starred in many films in the 1940s and 50s. As The Flintstones: Turn to page 3
TRIVIA NEWSFRONT
(Answers on page 16)
1. TELEVISION: What was SpongeBob SquarePants’ original name when the story was pitched?
2. MOVIES: Which famous horror film was set at Crystal Lake, New Jersey?
3. LANGUAGE: In Great Britain, what are stabilisers?
4. MUSIC: Which band had a hit with the 1961 “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”?
5. GEOGRAPHY: How many U.S. states have a border with Mexico?
6. MATH: How many sides does a hectogon have?
7. INVENTIONS: In what year were flat-screen TVs first sold?
8. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of cheese is used in a caprese salad?
9. U.S. STATES: Which state’s nickname is “The Land of Enchantment”?
10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What kind of dog is Scooby-Doo in the animated cartoons? Answers
your body
"Fearfully
• Did you know that each of your hands contains 27 bones? Eight are in the wrist, five are in the palm; and 14 are the digits of the fingers and thumb. The hand is comprised of more bones than any other part of the body.
• The feet each have 26 bones, so more than half of the 206 bones in the adult human skeleton are located in the hands and feet.
• The hand also has 29 joints, 123 ligaments, 34 muscles, 48 nerves, and 30 arteries. That’s quite a bundle of mechanics, but your hand could not operate properly without them.
• Of the 34 muscles that operate the hand, none are located in the four fingers. Instead, half are located in the palm, and half are anchored in the forearm. The fingers move because they are attached to tendons that are attached to muscles in the palm and the forearm. Tendons function like the strings on a marionette.
• The motor cortex is the part of the brain that controls all the voluntary movements of the body. About 25% of the motor cortex is devoted to just the muscles in the hands.
• The wrinkles on the back of the finger knuckles are more accurately called dimples. Each knuckle marks areas where the skin is attached to the tendon underneath the skin at that point. This prevents the skin of the fingers from sliding around like a glove does.
• Only the fingers, toes and the bottoms of the feet tend to wrinkle when wet. However, in patients where the nerves to those areas have been severed, no wrinkling occurs. Researchers theorize that having wrinkled skin in wet conditions provides a functional advantage because it’s easier to grip things in the water if the skin is wrinkled, and the feet find a better purchase on slippery wet
rocks.
• If a person’s hand becomes paralyzed and no longer moves, the wrinkles and creases over the joints eventually smooth out and flatten.
FAST FACTS
• The skin on the palm of the hand and the underside of the fingers has no hair, and is unable to tan.
• If you had to lose one of your fingers and could choose which one, the index finger carries the least load and is therefore the easiest to do without.
• The hand of an adult male human weighs about one pound.
• The name for the palm of the hand comes from the same origin as the palm tree, with its fingerlike fronds.
• One study found that nine percent of women between the ages of 25 and 74 suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Almost 90% of women and 80% of men between the ages of 75 and 79 experience some level of arthritis in their hands.
• There is no evidence that cracking the knuckles causes arthritis.
• About 20% of all disabling accidents that happen on the job involve the hands.
• About 25% of athletic injuries involve the hand and the wrist.
• Children under the age of six are at the greatest risk for crushing or burning injuries of the hand.
• Surgery on the hand did not become common until battle injuries during World War II forced the issue.
• Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife, had six fingers on her right hand.
• Over the course of an entire human lifespan, the fingers on a human hand will bend and stretch an estimated 25 million times.
• Our fingernails can tell a lot about our overall health. The color, texture, and consistency can all be indicators of various health conditions.
Week of August 4, 2024
The Flintstones: (from page one)
the voice of Fred Flintstone, animators drew the character to match Reed’s looks, with a large nose and broad body. In an early script, Fred was to holler out, “Yahoo!” However, Reed remembered his mother quoting the hair product Brylcream slogan, “A little dab will do ya!” He asked producers if Fred could yell “Yabba dabba do!” instead, and the result was an instantly recognizable trademark shout.
• Jean Vander Pyl voiced the part of Wilma, and was paid $250 per episode. When the series ended, she was given a choice of either a lump sum of $15,000 ($140,000 today) or getting residuals from syndication. She chose the lump sum, never expecting syndication to be so successful. From her home in San Clemente, CA she later said, “If I had chosen residuals, I wouldn’t just live in San Clemente; I’d own San Clemente.” She died in 1999, the last surviving cast member of the show.
• Bea Benaderet provided the original voice of Betty Rubble. She was well known for her appearances on “The Jack Benny Show” and “The George Burns Show.” She later landed a major role in the series “Petticoat Junction” playing Kate Bradley, owner of the Shady Rest Hotel and mother of three daughters. Because the shooting schedules conflicted, Bea gave up her role as Betty Rubble. The part was taken over by actress Gerry Johnson.
• Mel Blanc, known as “the man of a thousand voices” played the role of Barney Rubble. Blanc was already famous for being the voice behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, and others. Tragedy struck when Blanc was involved in a serious head-on collision in 1961 which put him in a coma and left him hospitalized for 70 days. Voice actor Daws Butler filled in for Blanc
NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE
Though Daws Butler acted the part of Barney for only five episodes, his voice is instantly recognized by most Americans. Butler provided the voice for Huckleberry Hound, Cap'n Crunch, and Snap, Crackle & Pop, among others. Later Butler established a voice acting school. Graduates included Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson) and Mona Marshall (South Park).
for five episodes, until Blanc recovered enough to speak from his hospital bed. Producers and engineers set up a recording studio in his hospital room. Blanc then recorded another 40 episodes from his recovery room at home.
• The song “Meet the Flintstones” only came on the scene for the third season onward. Before that, the opening music was a peppy upbeat instrumental tune. When the show went into syndication, the theme song was retroactively added to previous episodes.
THE FAMILY GROWS
• In the third season, writers decided to add a baby to the family. The show was already pushing the envelope by depicting Fred and Wilma sharing a single bed. Now they pushed boundaries further as the pregnancy proceeded through the season. Wilma discovered her pregnancy, shared the news with Fred, became increasingly pregnant, returned from the hospital with baby Pebbles, and then adjusted to having a baby in the house.
Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo, Richie Rich, the Smurfs, and Popeye, along with many traditional sitcoms. But it all started with the Flintstones.
• The child was first scripted to be a son, “a chip off the old block,” until the president of Ideal Toy Company phoned producers to ask if the impending child was going to be a girl or a boy. When informed it would be a boy, the response was, “Gee, that’s too bad; I have the ideal toy if only it was a girl!” The gender of the child was changed on the spot. The baby became “a pebble off the old Flintstone.” Over three million Pebbles dolls were subsequently sold in the next few months.
• The baby’s name was fitting because Wilma’s maiden name was Pebble. Therefore it was also fitting that Jean Vander Pyl, the voice of Wilma, was also the voice of Pebbles.
• The show was also one of the first to explore other difficult topics including infertility, depression, and suicide. After the arrival of Pebbles, Betty and Barney also wanted a baby. Betty found she was unable to bear children and sank into depression. Then the possibility of adopting baby Bamm-Bamm arose. When the adoption nearly fell through, Barney almost committed suicide by throwing himself off a bridge, but
Fred stopped him. Eventually the adoption was successful and Bamm-Bamm entered the cast of characters.
• With the success of the Flintstones, HannaBarbera expanded into more primetime cartoons with “The Jetsons,” set in the future instead of the past. The actor who voiced George Jetson had previously written two episodes of “The
Flintstones: Turn to page 15
1. What kind of cat do the Flintstones own?
2. What causes Fred to pound on the door and howl for Wilma in the closing credits?
The
By the time Hanna-Barbera sold out to Warner Bros. in 2001, they rivaled Disney for the top spot in successful animated shows. They introduced
By Lucie Winborne
* In some Inuit (Eskimo) languages, a noun can have over 1,000 forms.
* Oxford University once had rules forbidding students from bringing bows and arrows to class.
* King Mithridates VI of Pontus took small doses of poison throughout his life to develop a resistance in case an attempt was made to kill him. He built up such a strong immunity that when he attempted suicide to escape capture by the Romans, the poison had no effect and he had to order a slave to dispatch him with a sword.
* Isaac Asimov’s first bestseller was his 262nd published book.
* The record for spinning a basketball on a toothbrush is 1 minute and 8.15 seconds. (No, we never thought of spinning a basketball on a toothbrush, either.)
* Velociraptor noises in the film “Jurassic Park” were made by mating tortoises.
* In 1984, a Chihuahua named Percy was seemingly killed by a car while accompanying his owner, Christine, on a visit to her parents. Christine’s father buried the dog in his garden, but a terrier named Mick, who belonged to her parents, dug up the grave, dragged Percy to the house, and licked him until a faint heartbeat could be detected. While Percy recovered, it’s worth noting that the two dogs had always hated each other, and continued to do so after Percy’s rescue!
* Historically, on Father’s Day, more collect calls were made than on any other day of the year.
* China has more people who have learned English than the United States.
* In ancient Egypt, slaves were murdered to accompany their deceased owners to the afterlife.
Thought for the Day: “I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening.”
-- Larry King
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
How to Outsmart Those Subliminal Supermarket Tricks
prepared and brightly packaged, overprocessed food items. Either a hot deli or bakery in the store will be emitting heavenly smells to appeal to your senses and start those compulsive buying juices flowing. The perimeter of the store is the safe zone: produce, dairy and meat.
ADVERTISING PROOF
Final Changes DUE:
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
I had never thought much about the logistics and intense marketing behind the supermarket business and all its subliminal aspects until one day, in a tremendous hurry, I dashed into my favorite market only to find it had been completely rearranged the previous night.
Please review carefully. Double check:
Have you ever wondered why the milk is always positioned at the farthest area to the back? If it was at the front, the harried father needing to pick up milk on the way home could dash in and out in a matter of seconds. By putting it at the farthest reach of the store, he’s compelled to walk all the way to the back, past all the tempting impulse items on the journey. Running in to pick up milk is a big compulsive purchase just waiting to happen.
Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with
The harder I searched for the items I needed, the more frustrated I became. Finally, I went to the store manager to register my complaint. He told me that this is business as usual for a profit-conscious, modern-day supermarket.
It seems that a store of this size allocates a large portion of its advertising budget appealing to customers’ compulsive shopping habits. Its marketing relies heavily on customers making their buying decisions on the spot, not methodically before they walk through the doors. That means it is critical that every item on every shelf is placed strategically to capture the fascination of the consumer.
It’s a proven fact that the typical shopper quickly memorizes the layout of the store, knows exactly where to find the items needed, and becomes oblivious to everything else. But by turning the place upside down every year or so, the store can “introduce” its regular shoppers to thousands of products they might never have noticed if the store remained unchanged.
If that was the goal, it certainly worked. In my quest to find the regular stuff, I saw all kinds of things I’d never seen before.
Further, I’ve learned the average food shopper spends over an hour every week shuffling up and down the aisles of the all-American supermarket, snatching item after item, building an expensive tower-in-a-basket. At the end of the exercise, the score is tallied, and in most cases the supermarket is the clear winner. The ordinary shopper is as predictable as a pigeon following a trail of bread crumbs right into an awaiting trap.
You probably can’t avoid the supermarket completely, and it is difficult to remain completely true to your shopping list and financial plan in these kinds of stores. But you can enter the supermarket with extreme caution, fully aware of the many ways your compulsiveness is being tested.
And you can walk in with personal protection: a shopping list and only the amount of cash you intend to spend. Leave the credit cards and checkbook at home, and you will have given up the opportunity for you to overspend!
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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
Final Changes DUE: 5:00
The most expensive and frivolous items are usually placed at eye level. Baking staples such as flour and sugar are commonly on low shelves or so high up you have to reach for them. Eye-catching displays with lights, bells and whistles usually promote junk-type and expensive items, even though they are piled up to appear to be on sale.
The center aisles typically house the
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
Itʼs generally known that the cops and doughnuts connection has evolved into a kind of match made in heaven. In fact, we recently ran a background story about how this ongoing tradition between the two actually began. But weʼve since learned of a cops and doughnuts love affair that blossomed into a story that tops them all. And we just couldn't let this go by without sharing part two of this fascinating saga with our readers. Enjoy!
• The town of Clare, Michigan, with a population of just over 3,000, experienced an economic downturn, and businesses in the downtown district one by one began to close. Local residents were particularly saddened to hear of the closure of the Clare City Bakery, which had been serving their pastries to customers since 1896.
• The Clare police department was especially alarmed by the news, not only because many storefronts were already vacant on main street
but also because the shop, located just a block from the police department, provided city cops with a convenient place to meet to discuss matters over doughnuts and coffee.
• Horrified that their favorite go-to meeting place was about to close its doors, the entire police force decided to hold a serious discussion about the impending calamity. Many ideas were voiced, until a unanimous decision was made: Every cop in the city police force – all nine of them – pitched in $1500 apiece to take action.
• They outlined a business plan on the back of a pizza box, and bought the bakery in 2009. None of them knew how to make a doughnut. No one knew anything about running a business. One of them retired from the police force in order to manage the store, with the others helping out as much as possible. Thus began a steep learning curve that ultimately resulted in a wonderful success story.
• Re-branded as “Cops & Doughnuts,” the little bakery was transformed, turning a struggling business into a community hot spot.
• When a press release announced the grand opening of this police-owned doughnut shop, the publicity ricocheted around the country. There were public appearances on TV shows, radio interviews, and newspaper coverage. Fox News, CNN, and “Good Morning America” did stories about the cop-owned bakery. People lined up around the block to get doughnuts. Business boomed and never slacked off.
• During its busiest times, the number of out-oftown visitors can surpass the townʼs full-time residents, with tourists arriving by the busload. In 2015, over half a million people stopped by during the course of the year. The bakery is open round the clock, seven days a week during the summer, when the little shop sometimes turns out upwards of 15,000 doughnuts daily.
• The shop’s logo is a police badge encircled by a frosted doughnut covered with sprinkles. Customers can purchase a selection of 15
different doughnuts, all with clever names. There’s the nightstick (cinnamon twists), tasers (lemon-filled), squealers (bacon-topped long johns), and the Jailhouse Rock (peanut butterfilled Bismark). However, the most popular item on the menu is always the giant-sized “felony fritter,” a fried apple pastry as big as a plate.
• The bakery has become so successful that the cops bought an adjacent vacant store, not only to provide additional seating, but also to set up the Cop Shop, where customers can purchase police-themed souvenirs. Customers get their “mug shot” taken behind the bars of a realisticlooking jail cell door. Coffee mugs, T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and bumper stickers are emblazoned with favorite slogans such as “Don’t Glaze Me, Bro,” “Cereal Killer,” and “DWI— Doughnuts Were Involved.” A museum display shows a collection of police department patches from across the nation.
• Members of the police force still use the bakery as their go-to meeting place, but now with a lot more invested than just doughnuts and chat.
• Meanwhile, the steady stream of tourists and the revenue they bring revitalized the little downtown district. Now, vacant storefronts are a thing of the past, and the local Chamber of Commerce is smiling again.
GOLFERS!! GET ROLFED
by Dana Jackson
Q: I just saw the movie “Twisters” and was happy to see one of my favorite actresses, Maura Tierney, again. The last thing I saw her in was “The Good Wife,” but it was only a few episodes. What else has she done? -- W.T.
A: Maura Tierney has been acting mainly on television for over three decades, but is probably best known for her roles on the sitcom “NewsRadio” and another show you might have heard of -- “ER.” She went on to act in some independent films and TV shows before landing another starring role in Showtime’s “The Affair” with Dominic West (“The Crown”).
She followed that with a short stint on another Showtimes series “Your Honor,” starring Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), before landing another role on Showtime in “American Rust,” opposite Jeff Daniels (“A Man in Full”). But it only lasted two seasons.
Tierney can be seen in the current summer blockbuster movie “Twisters,” but she’ll be returning to our television screens in a big way this fall as a detective on “Law & Order.” This marks her return to NBC on Thursday nights since playing Dr. Abby Lockhart on “ER.”
The original “Law & Order” returned to NBC after an 11-year hiatus in 2022. There have al-
ready been cast changes in just two seasons, with the departures of Sam Waterston, Camryn Manheim and Jeffrey Donovan. The length of Tierney’s contract is unknown, but she’ll bring a loyal fanbase with her regardless.
***
Q: Did Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ever officially divorce? If not, how long has it been going on? -- E.S.
A: Even though the A-list couple split in 2016, they’re still battling it out in court over their businesses. However, a judge did declare them legally single, but the business and custody issues are still being fought out in court. Pitt is suing Jolie for $67 million after she sold her shares of their French winery. Jolie also protested a judge’s decision to grant Pitt 50/50 custody.
Pitt’s relationship with his children might be beyond repair. Daughter Shiloh filed a petition to legally drop her father’s surname when she turned 18, and two other daughters, Zahara and Vivienne, both dropped his name informally. ***
Q: Did they use any CGI for the cat in the new “A Quiet Place” prequel? It looked real, but I’d be amazed if they didn’t use any special effects. -- V.T.
A: For the motion picture “A Quiet Place: Day One,” director Michael Sarnoski wanted the emotional support cat Frodo to “feel like a real character.” Instead of generating one with CGI spe-
cial effects, the movie cast two real felines to play the role of Lupita Nyong’o’s service animal. The cats’ real names are Nico and Schnitzel and reportedly got along well offset (no cat fights!). They received about 12 weeks of training in various wet and dry situations before filming. Nico and Schnitzel did such a great job, but it’s too bad there’s not a special category at the Oscars for four-legged actors.
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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.
Maura Tierney in “Twisters” (2024)
Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Good Recipes from
Fruit Bowl With Mint and Lime
1 cup sugar
2 cups loosely packed fresh mint leaves and stems, coarsely chopped
2 limes
1/2 large (about 10 pounds) seedless watermelon
2 medium (about 3 pounds each) cantaloupes
1 large (5 pounds) honeydew melon
1. Prepare syrup: In 2-quart saucepan, heat sugar and 1 cup water to boiling over high heat; boil 5 minutes or until syrup thickens slightly. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in mint. Refrigerate syrup about 2 hours or until well chilled.
2. Meanwhile, from limes, grate 2 teaspoons peel and squeeze 1/4 cup juice.
3. Drain syrup through sieve into small bowl, gently pressing with spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Stir in lime peel and juice. If not using syrup right away, cover and refrigerate up to 1 week. Makes about 2 cups.
4. Prepare fruit: With large spoon, scoop out watermelon flesh and transfer to medium bowl. Reserve watermelon shell. Cut watermelon into bite-size pieces, discarding seeds, if any. Place watermelon in very large bowl. Remove rinds from cantaloupes and honeydew; cut flesh into bite-size pieces and add to watermelon in bowl. If not serving fruit right away, cover fruit and shell separately with plastic wrap and refrig erate up to 4 hours.
5. Just before serving, toss fruit with syrup and spoon into reserved shell.
sodium, 19g total carbohydrate, 1g dietary fiber, 1g protein.
Walnut-Crusted Chicken Cutlets
This quick and easy chicken recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Olive oil nonstick cooking spray
1/2 cup panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs)
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and cooled 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, loosely packed
1 large egg white
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 pound chicken-breast cutlets, thinly sliced
1. Heat oven to 450 F. Place rack in 15 1/2-by-10 1/2-inch jelly-roll pan; spray pan and rack with cooking spray.
2. On large dinner plate, combine panko, ground red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. In food processor with knife blade attached, blend walnuts and parsley until nuts are finely chopped;
toss with panko mixture until well-blended. Set aside.
3. In pie plate, whisk egg white and Dijon until well-mixed.
4. One at a time, dip 1 side of each cutlet in egg-white mixture, then into walnut mixture to coat side evenly; press firmly so mixture adheres. Arrange chicken on rack in jelly-roll pan, coatedside up; lightly spray with cooking spray.
5. Bake chicken 10 to 12 minutes or until topping is golden-brown and chicken is no longer pink throughout. Serves 6.
Each serving: About 215 calories, 8g total fat (1g saturated), 66mg cholesterol, 280mg sodium, 5g total carbohydrate, 1g dietary fiber, 29g protein.
site at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/.
8/4 American Family Day
8/5 National Picnic
8/6 Hiroshima Remembrance Day
8/7 Purple Heart Day
8/8 National Pickleball Day
8/9 Book Lovers Day
8/11 Middle Child Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
The Downside of Dog Parks
Harry Truman said, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” But what if it’s your dog that wants a friend? Take him to the dog park, right?
One of the greatest myths about dog parks is that they are Ground Zero for the socialization of dogs. But the proper socialization of a dog requires a highly structured environment, something a dog park is far from. Just imagine a playground full of children ages 3 months to 15 years, with rules posted on a sign, but no one responsible for enforcing them. Scary, isn’t it?
The reality of dog parks is that they are fenced-in areas that allow for the unsupervised mingling of dogs of all ages, sizes, temperaments and obedience levels. They are frequently carpeted in feces, as people enter the dog zone and surreptitiously break from the good habit of picking up after their pooch. They contribute to the spread of disease and parasites as a result of the unclean grounds and the willy-nilly union of healthy and unhealthy dogs. And they often serve as an arena for impromptu dogfights.
As is probably obvious by now, I am not a fan. But don’t take my word for it; consider this recent letter from a reader:
“I read your column frequently and am always gratified to hear your advice for owners of dogs who are already aggressive. I often go to the park with my dog, Maya, who always minds me. But there is inevitably a person there with an aggressive dog. I can’t tell you how many times an owner like that has laughed and said, ‘Oh, he just thinks he’s tough’ or ‘He’s not being aggressive, he’s just playing rough’ after their dog has bitten or even taken down my dog.”
This is why schools group kids in classrooms according to age, development and learning ability.
This is why children, in order to attend public schools, have to show proof of vaccination from certain diseases that would otherwise spread like wildfire.
Animal shelters across the country are being overwhelmed with the large number of adoptable animals coming in on a daily basis, with the numbers increasing at a steady rate. How did this happen?
When the pandemic started and people were generally sequestered in the confines of their homes, many lonely people decided the time was perfect to adopt a pet for some welcomed companionship. But now that workplaces have reopened and the kids are back in school, those pets have, in too many cases, become a chore that no one has time for anymore.
Thousands of pets have ended up in the shelters, not through any fault of their own. And now they are the ones needing companionship and loving homes to care for them.
That’s where we come in.
We seniors, for the most part, are the ones who spend more hours at home, and we
The Art of DESIGN
by Joseph Publillones
Back to the Future
It has been a long time, probably since the 1920s and 30s, since the small home has been on the minds of architects and designers. It’s not that there aren’t capable professionals to design small; it’s that the profession as a whole has been too busy designing bigger and bigger houses to conform to Americans’ needs. However, it seems that, just like life, the real estate market has come full circle.
Recently, there has been a rebirth of the small house movement, which has sprouted up all over the world, mainly as a reaction to overconsumption and the effects of inflation. Many people want houses that are more tailored, and they are conscious of the impact of construction on the Earth. This movement is opposite to the idea of the McMansions of the 1990s and early 2000s.
have the time to take care of one (or more) of those little creatures. We have so much to give them and gain in return, and they deserve it. It’s not a one-way street. Having a pet to care for has big benefits for us as well, both physical and psychological.
Research shows that we’re happier in general when we have a pet to care for, and doing so holds off cognitive decline. These little furry guys can keep us busy thinking, remembering duties, sticking to a routine and planning for their care.
When we have a pet we develop a relationship with them, which helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and blood pressure. We get exercise walking a dog (and meet up with other dog owners along the way). Cholesterol levels go down and so does our stress. And we have the satisfaction of taking care of another living creature who rewards us with love.
If you live in a place where it’s impossible to have a pet, you can still get the benefits of being around animals. Walk the dogs at the shelter and play with the cats several days a week to distract them from the noisy chaos of that environment. Your efforts will be rewarding -- and very much appreciated.
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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.
Take, for example, the bungalows and cottages that were built all throughout the United States, from Miami to Los Angeles during the ‘20s and ‘30s. Their success was the result of designing with restraint and with an economy of means; however, they were meant to accommodate middle-class families without excesses. Many of these homes still exist and are highly coveted for their charm and efficiency. Homeowners today may reconfigure a room to allow for another bathroom or a larger kitchen, but the fact that these houses can easily accept these modifications and renovations speaks volumes about the quality that went into their construction to begin with.
Today’s consumers, and those who are enlightened about our global situation, want quality products of minimal size. For small houses to be successful, they must have good construction methods and materials that are nontoxic to the environment yet are durable and have aesthetic appeal. Other aspects that are important to small homes are proper orientation with regard to the amount of sunlight and shade. Orientation will affect what kind of insulation is required, the amount and type of windows, and mechanical and/or passive systems for cooling and heating. Finally, everyone wants their home to be aesthetically pleasing.
To solve all of the issues needed today and into the future, architects and designers will be required to develop a new kind of thinking and a high degree of ingenuity. Sure, today’s requisite for air conditioning, smart energy consumption and hurricane protection are just some of the additional tasks to resolve. Integrating systems into the home that make them beautiful, efficient and technologically viable for the future is just part of the game.
Real estate developers also need to do their part and take note of the reality of the current market demands and think about building in a more global context. Building in the near future will not be about building bigger and cheaply but rather recognizing that the demands of the consumer will be more aligned with quality and economy of space. Back to the future, the time for the smaller home has arrived.
* * * 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
from others and require proof of current shots for all dogs.
This is why both kennels and schools have someone present and in charge of enforcing the rules. I recently asked a woman why she takes her dog to the dog park, and she explained that she wants her dog to have friends. Her son interjected and said, “Mom, you go there to gossip with your friends.” Kids really do say the darnedest things, don’t they? But he’s right: Most of the socializing that goes on at dog parks takes place between dog owners. People see it more as a chance to catch up with their friends than to play catch with their dog. Some are looking for love; still others will settle for free dog sitting.
Of course, many people take their dog to the dog park to soak up some sun and show their pooch a good time. And that’s great, especially if your hometown keeps a clean, green dog park, where everyone pitches in and monitors their dog’s behavior, and respects the standard rules and myriad personalities that come and go throughout any given day at the park.
If that doesn’t describe your favorite dog park, you might consider looking for new stomping grounds or a new activity to do with your dog. Trust me, you’ll miss your friends more than he’ll miss his.
Woof!
Cody’s Corner (from page 9) * * *
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
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Social Security Rules
Rarely Change
I feel guilty when I repeat information in a column. But sometimes a message I delivered in an old column just demands to be repeated. And I was reminded of that this week when I got more than a few emails from readers who all said basically the same thing. It usually goes like this: “It’s so hard to stay current with Social Security because the rules are changing constantly!”
I guess I can understand why someone who is not familiar with Social Security, but suddenly takes an interest because he or she is approaching retirement age, might think that. But in fact, with one exception, there have not been any major changes to Social Security since 1983. In other words, for about 40 years now, we’ve been operating with essentially the same Social Security rules.
The rules for retirement benefits are fairly cut and dried. Your benefit rate is a percentage of your average monthly wage using a 35-year base of inflation-indexed earnings. It is around 40% for people with average earnings. It’s a lower percentage for higher income wage earners, and a higher percentage for people with low incomes. (That’s one of the “social” parts to Social Security.) Using that formula, you come up with your primary insurance amount, or PIA. (I normally do not like to use jargon, but I’m going to keep referring to the PIA throughout this column, so please indulge me this one bit of government-ese.)
If you wait until your full retirement age to start your benefits, you will get 100% of your PIA in the form of a Social Security benefit. If you start benefits before your FRA, they are reduced roughly one-half of 1% for each month a benefit is taken, down to 70% of the PIA for people who take Social Security at 62 (the earliest possible retirement age). If you delay the start of your benefits after FRA, you get a two-thirds of 1% increase added to your PIA for each month you wait. That comes out to between a 24% to 32% bonus (depending on your FRA) if you don’t start your retirement benefits until age 70 -- the latest possible start date.
The rules for spousal benefits are also pretty simple. Usually, you will be paid your own Social Security benefit first. Only after that benefit is paid will they look to a spouse’s Social Security record to see if you can get any additional benefits from a husband or wife’s Social Security account.
The spousal rate is 50% of the husband or wife’s PIA if you wait until your full retirement age to collect benefits. As with retirement benefits, there is a reduction if you take benefits before FRA. It is roughly one-half of 1% for each month. That comes out to about 30% of the spouse’s PIA if benefits are taken at 62.
What all that means is that if you have worked and earned your own Social Security benefit, it is unlikely you will be due any benefits on a spouse’s record -- while your spouse is alive. Or to put that another way, your own Social Security retirement benefit is likely to be more than one-third to one-half of your spouse’s Social Security amount. It’s a different story for widows and widowers, and that is explained a little later in the column.
If you are divorced and if you were married to your ex for more than 10 years, and you are currently unmarried, you could get benefits from your ex -- but again, only if that 30% to 50% spousal rate
pays more than your own benefit. Earlier, I mentioned there was one exception to the fact that Social Security rules haven’t changed in more than 30 years. That exception was a loophole that, for a while, anyway, allowed some seniors to collect spousal benefits while delaying their own retirement benefits until age 70. But that loophole closed a couple years ago, so it’s no longer an issue for those pushing retirement age now. I only mention it because internet rumors would have seniors believe they can still use that provision. But to repeat: No, you can’t.
Benefits for widows (and a few widowers) are another big part of Social Security that have not changed in decades. To avoid a lot of “his/her” and “he/she” pronouns, I’m going to address this part of the column to women, because statistics show that about 95% of survivor benefits are paid to women. Having said that, Social Security rules are gender neutral, so if you are involved in a marriage where the wife made more money than the husband and thus gets a higher Social Security benefit, and the wife dies first, the surviving husband could get widower’s benefits.
Anyway, in most cases, a husband dies first, and usually after both he and his wife have been getting Social Security for a while. In other words, they are in their 70s, 80s or beyond. When that happens, the widow will almost always start getting what the husband was getting, less her own retirement benefit, if she is getting one.
If the husband dies while his wife is in her early to mid-60s, and before she has started her own Social Security benefits, then she has some options. For example, she could start out collecting reduced widow’s benefits and then at her full retirement age, switch to 100% of her retirement PIA. Or she could wait until 70 to make the switch and then collect that 24-32% bonus mentioned earlier. Sometimes (depending on the dollar amounts involved),
it works better for the widow to take reduced retirement benefits and then at her full retirement age, switch to a full widow’s rate, i.e.,100% of her deceased husband’s PIA. (There are no bonuses if a woman delays starting widow’s benefits beyond her FRA.)
The earliest a woman can start widow’s benefits is age 60, when she would usually get about 71% of her husband’s PIA. In rare cases, a disabled widow can start benefit as early as age 50. A young widow, no matter what her age, with minor children at home can collect up to 75% of her deceased husband’s PIA. And of course, the kids get checks too until they reach age 18.
The other major part of Social Security is disability benefits. The rules for those benefits also haven’t really changed in three or four decades. In a nutshell, you could qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you have worked and paid Social Security taxes in five out of the last 10 years and you have a physical or mental impairment that is so severe it is expected to keep you from working for at least 12 months. You can also get these benefits if you have a condition that is terminal. And as reported in last week’s column, if you are a senior who becomes disabled after your full retirement age, disability benefits are not payable. To put that another way: Once you reach that golden age, a Social Security retirement benefit pays the same rate as a disability benefit.
If you are already getting disability checks when you reach your full retirement age, those benefits are automatically switched to retirement benefits. But the dollar amount remains the same.
1. The book of Hebrews is found in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither
2. What did the Lord cast down among the Israelites who complained about their wilderness misfortunes? a) Earthquake c) Fire b) Drought d) Famine
3. From Genesis 33, where did Jacob build a house and make booths for his cattle? a) Beersheba b) Jerusalem c) Kidron d) Succoth
4. On the seventh day of the creation week, what did God do? a) Created man b) Divided the oceans c) Named the animals d) Rested
5. On which Mount did Moses receive the Ten Commandments? a) Sinai b) Zion c) Carmel d) Pisgah
6. Whose two sons were Hophni and Phinehas? a) Ichabod b) Jehoida c) Eli d) Mattan
Sharpen your understanding of scripture with Wilson Casey's latest book, "Test Your
Knowledge," now available in stores and online.
(Answers on page 16) For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com
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
Bible
High Creatinine and GFR Levels Signify Severe Kidney Damage
DEAR DR. ROACH: Last summer, a city policeman came to my door. My doctor had been unable to contact me with the results of a recent blood test and called the police. The policeman handed me a card with the results written on it.
My creatinine level was 4.1, and my glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 14. He said the numbers indicated that my kidneys were failing and that I should go to the emergency room immediately. Except for swelling in one ankle, I had no symptoms.
During a day and a half in the hospital, I lost 14 pounds of fluid after the insertion of a catheter. Within two weeks, my creatinine level was measured at 2.1. After a few months of wearing the catheter, my prostate was “trimmed back” (my words, not the doctor’s) using a procedure called a “TURP.” I am back to normal.
What is a TURP, and how routine is it? Are there any long-term negative effects? How close did I come to kidney failure? -- T.J.R.
ANSWER: Your problem was obstruction of urine flow due to an enlarged prostate. The urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) goes right through the middle of the prostate, and an enlarged prostate can block flow partially or completely.
This is a very common problem. Sometimes the urine flow stops entirely, but this doesn’t have to happen in order for kidney damage to occur. It’s the increased pressure in the bladder that causes damage.
Creatinine is an end product of protein metabolism, and since it is removed by the kidney, it’s a good indicator of kidney function. The higher the creatinine level, the worse the kidney function. The creatinine level (along with age and sex) are used to estimate the GFR, a direct statement of a person’s kidney function.
A (stable) GFR of less than 15 is considered stage 5 kidney failure, which usually means that dialysis will be necessary to preserve life.
Note that creatinine itself isn’t the problem; it’s a marker for the fact that the kidney can’t remove all the other waste products, which will then build up and make a person very ill.
When a person with urinary obstruction develops a creatinine level over 6, it’s likely that they will have permanent kidney damage, but I have seen people with higher levels recover and some with lower levels experience permanent kidney function loss. My guess is that you were only a few days away from having permanent damage.
A trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a traditional treatment for an enlarged prostate. Although newer treatments are often used in situations where there is plenty of time to spare, a TURP is a routine treatment for the type of obstruction you had. There are possible longterm side effects from a TURP, such as erectile dysfunction, but those are usually noticed immediately after surgery and often get better over time.
Finally, a plea: Make sure that your doctor has your up-to-date contact information, including your emergency contacts. We physicians are very grateful to have the police available for emergencies, but would rather not have to use them. I try to remind my resident physicians to be sure that we have a working contact number any time we order a test, but it’s best if both the patient and physician have it on their lists. Even routine tests can occasionally come back with critical results.
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
It’s not double dipping!
Veterans who took the separation check that was offered when they left the service cannot legally get disability payments now -- until that separation money is paid back.
Think about that a minute.
The military wants to wind down and asks a veteran to go ahead and retire early, maybe years before the veteran planned to do so. But, yeah, the check is offered and accepted.
Time goes by and life happens and disability payments are needed. Or maybe the veteran is eligible due to the PACT Act covering exposure to toxins ... except there’s a law saying a veteran can’t get both the separation money and disability payments. That separation money has to be paid back, and the Department of Veterans Affairs starts taking it out of any disability payments it does make.
And what of the veterans who did receive disability over the years because, oops, the VA made a mistake and now it wants all that money back?
In some cases, the amount taken monthly is the total income a veteran has. Some have applied for hardship and been denied. Some will be paying back that separation money for years and years.
The RAND Corporation did a study about how many veterans are caught in this situation. On average, per that study, veterans are having to pay back between $20,000 and more than $50,000. It’s not only those who left the service and were given separation pay. Other types of benefits include disability severance pay, non-disability severance pay, readjustment pay, special separation benefit and others.
And what does a veteran do when suddenly the monthly income drops to zero?
The VA wants to consider these two types of payments -- disability benefits and separation pay -- double dipping if a veteran gets both. It’s not. And if the government is going to offer thousands of dollars to coax a veteran to leave the service, they need to make it absolutely clear that disability payments won’t be allowed if needed down the road.
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.
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
M.D.
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I recently received an email advising me that I need to update my online Social Security account for me to be able to access my Social Security records.This seems fishy. Is this legit or is it a scam? -- Suspicious Susan
Dear Susan: The Social Security Administration did indeed send out a legitimate email last month to notify recipients that they are making changes to the way you access Social Security’s online services, including your personal “my Social Security” account.
The changes will simplify your sign-in experience and align with federal authentication standards, while at the same time provide you safe and secure access to your account and other online services.
If you created an online my Social Security account before September 18, 2021, you’ll need to shift to a Login.gov account to be able to continue to access your account.
Online my Social Security accounts enable both beneficiaries and people who
are not yet receiving benefits to access services, including requesting Social Security card replacements, estimating future benefits, checking on the status of benefit applications and managing current benefits.
The online services aim to save time for both current and future beneficiaries, as well as the Social Security Administration, as the agency grapples with long wait times on its national 800 phone number. The average speed to answer those calls was about 36 minutes in the second quarter, according to the SSA. The agency is working to bring that average wait time down to 12 minutes by the end of September 2025.
Update Your Account
If you already have a my Social Security account, go to ssa.gov/myaccount and sign in with your Social Security username. You’ll then be guided through the process of creating a new account with Login.gov. Once you successfully link your personal my Social Security account with your new Login.gov account, you’ll get a confirmation screen and have immediate access to online services. In the future, you’ll sign into your account with Login.gov and not your Social Security username.
If you already have either a Login.gov or ID.me account, you do not have to take any action.
Beware of Scams
To be sure you’re taking the appropriate steps to update your account. It is important to verify any websites or links leading you to the Social Security website. Legitimate Social Security Administration website link is www.ssa.gov and the agency link to my Social Security account is www.ssa.gov/ myaccount.
It’s very important to be mindful of potential scam artists who may send you fraudulent websites pretending to direct you to Social Security. These sites will closely mimic the format of the agency’s links to try to lure you into entering your personal information. Always check the sender's email address to see if it is really from the Social Security Administration.
If you see a suspicious email or link,
the smart thing to do is not respond or click on it. Instead, you can report it to the website of the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General or call the fraud hotline at 800-2690271.
In today's uncertain world, it is wise to err on the side of caution, being always aware that scammers are out there with clever schemes to steal from the unwary, and, sadly, seniors are their easiest target.
by Anne McCollam
by Anne McCollam
Vintage Travel Poster Valuable Item
Q: This is a photo of a vintage 1930s travel poster that belonged to my husband’s great-aunt. She was a nurse on a cruise ship and collected the posters from her travels.
zentrale für den Deutschen Reiseverkehr, which was the German travel headquarters. It was established in 1928 to promote German travel through posters, film and the press.
The value of your poster would probably be in the neighborhood of $350 to $650.
Q: This mark is on the bottom of a pottery figure of a rooster that my grandmother had in the 1950s. As a child, I always liked it, and when I grew up my grandmother gave it to me. I have a granddaughter who also likes it.
Since I want to pass it along to her, I would like to know more about it. It stands about 20 inches tall and is decorated with an antique white finish and trimmed in gold. It is in excellent condition.
Anything you can tell me about this family piece will be appreciated.
* On Aug. 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan began firing 11,359 air-traffic controllers who’d gone on strike two days before, after negotiations with the federal government to raise their salaries and shorten their workweek failed. His action, which many regarded as extreme, significantly slowed air travel for months.
* On Aug. 6, 1930, New York Supreme Court Judge Joseph Force Crater vanished on the streets of Manhattan, setting off a massive investigation that captured the nation’s attention and earned him the notable title of “the missingest man in New York.” Crater was declared legally dead nine years later. But although evidence surfaced in 2005 that he may have been murdered, the case was never officially solved.
The poster measures 24 1/2 by 39 inches. At the lower part of the poster is the name “E. Glintzer - Berlin.” Also, along the bottom are the words “Information and Handbooks about Germany from all Tourist and Travel Agencies.” The poster has a mark with the words “Printed in Germany and Published by the Reichsbahnzentrale für den Deutschen Reiseverkehr, Berlin. There are the letters “R -D- V” in an oval at the lower left of the poster.
Thank you for any information you can provide about its history and value.
A: Original travel posters are collectible, especially those published in the first half of the 20th century. Many were lithographs and printed on linen. Condition, graphic design, subject, artist and rarity are determining factors of value.
The original scene, “Spring in Germany,” was made around 1935 by artist and graphic designer Emmy Glintzer. She studied art in Berlin and became a design consultant for the German Postal System. Many pieces of her art were lost in the bombing during World War II. She lived from 1901 to 1992. The letters “R - D - V” are the logo for the Reichsbahn-
A: Haeger Potteries made your rooster. He is often referred to as a “kitchen rooster.” Haeger Potteries has produced pottery in Dundee and Macomb, Illinois, since 1871.
The “Royal Pottery” mark was first used around 1938. “R 1762” is the design number. The finish you described is called “Gold Tweed.” The rooster was also available in other finishes.
Your circa 1955 rooster has been selling in the range of $100 to $150.
* * *
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
* On Aug. 7, 1782, Gen. George Washington created the “Badge for Military Merit,” today better known as the Purple Heart, a decoration consisting of a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk edged with a narrow binding of silver and the word “Merit” stitched in silver across the face, designed to be presented to soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action.”
* On Aug. 8, 1975, the term “global warming” appeared in print for the first time in Wallace Smith Broecker’s paper “Climatic Change: Are We on the Brink of a Pronounced Global Warming?”
* On Aug. 9, 2010, Steven Slater, a JetBlue flight attendant, bade his job goodbye in astonishing style by sliding down his plane’s emergency escape chute while the aircraft was stopped near the terminal gate at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Slater claimed his exit was prompted by a rude passenger’s behavior, and became a media sensation.
* On Aug. 10, 1957, Dr. W.E. Peterson was confident that the invention of “protective milk” could cure illnesses including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever and even the common cold. Peterson had been experimenting with injecting bacteria into cow’s udders to produce immunity in those who drank the milk, but it had not been tried out on large groups of people.
* On Aug. 11, 1984, South African runner Zola Budd collided with American favorite Mary Decker at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, causing Decker to fall and drop out of the race. The crowd began booing, and Budd, who many believed would be a medal winner with Decker, ended up in seventh place.
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
"After reviewing your case with my colleagues, we've all come to the same conclusion. You're not big-boned, you're straight-up fat."
North Carolina town with a freakishly high population of of particular baby birds of prey: Kiddy Hawk.
Vintage 1930s travel poster is a collectible
Haeger Potteries have been located in Illinois, since 1871.
The Flintstones: from page 3 Flintstones.” Jean Vander Pyl, the voice of Wilma, provided the voice of Rosie the Robot and Mrs. Spacely. In several cross-over episodes, the Flintstones were invited into the Jetson’s world and vice-versa.
MARKETING SUCCESS
• The arrival of Pebbles spurred lucrative marketing concepts, including Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles breakfast cereal, still available today.
• The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company was the first major sponsor of the show, advertising their Winston cigarette brand. This was written into the script, with Fred and Barney often sneaking a smoke. After the birth of Pebbles, Reynolds withdrew their sponsorship. Later it became illegal to advertise tobacco on TV and radio.
• Welch’s grape juice and jelly became the next advertising sponsor. In the show, Pebbles would often ask for grape juice, while Fred explained the superior methods that Welch’s used for making jelly. Welch’s released a line of jelly that came in reusable jars with each one depicting a character from the show.
• Miles Laboratories advertised their One-A-Day vitamin brand on the show. In 1968 they released chewable vitamins shaped like the Flintstone characters. Miles Laboratories was later acquired by Bayer, but Flintstone Chewable Vitamins are still available at most drugstores today. No one is quite sure why there was never a vitamin shaped like Betty Rubble. However, following the success of the first full-length Flintstone movie in 1994, Betty finally got her own vitamin.
• Since the original series ended, there have been many spin-off series, a dozen TV specials, five made-for-TV films, two live-action movies, video games, comic books, theme parks, a stage show and merchandise, all of which contributed to The Flintstones becoming a cultural entertainment phenomenon.
Changers
by Jason Jenkins
Steely Dan spoke of the “expanding man” in Deacon Blues as one who is “thinking of all the possibilities of life”. Golf, on the other hand, has another version of the expanding man. This refers to the change of distances in the arms and body as forces are pulling the club out away from them through impact. Golfers start in a given distance from the ball, yet by impact may feel the arms “expanding away” from them.
Centrifugal forces in golf are attempting to pull the club away from the body into impact. Players can combat this force in several common ways:
1. Start with the ball on the toe end of the club like Zach Johnson and others.
2. Back away from the ball through impact by standing up or away from the ball.
3. Try feeling the club swing through a space interior of the ball by impact.
Usually players prefer ideas one and three, but many golfers do back away from their address posture/position in order to hit the ball more centrally on the clubface. The key is understanding these forces are normal, and if you suffer heel hits, it’s a concern to address.
