Vol. 20: #36 • Television Advancements Through the Years • (9-1-2024) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
by Janet Spencer
For those who can remember back to the early 50s it was a novel and exciting addition to our living room furniture, and a marvelous attraction for curious neighbors to visit for an evening watching fuzzy black and white images on a rabbit-eared small screen. Television has come a long, long way since those days, and this week Tidbits zips us on a FFWD trip through the years for a look at the history and remarkable development of this information and entertainment medium thatʼs since become an indespensible part of our everyday lives!
EXPERIMENTAL FIRSTS
• 1922: The first electronic image transferred by wire occurs, accomplished by the U.S. Navy in Washington, D.C. It is a still image.
• 1923: The first moving image is transferred by wire, also by the Navy in Washington, D.C.
• 1925: An office boy in a laboratory becomes the first human face depicted on TV during a test demonstration of the technology.
• 1932: The BBC issues its first broadcast in the U.K.
TRIVIA NEWSFRONT
(Answers on page 16)
1. TELEVISION: Who was host of the “Good Eats” cooking show?
2. GEOGRAPHY: Which nation’s nickname is “Land of Fire and Ice”?
3. MUSIC: What was the title of Madonna’s first Top 10 hit?
4. MOVIES: What does the acronym AT-AT refer to in the “Star Wars” movie series?
5. LITERATURE: Which famous entertainer started a children’s book-giving program called the Imagination Library?
6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: Which bird’s eye is larger than its brain?
7. U.S. CITIES: Which U.S. city’s nickname is The District?
8. HISTORY: In which modern country is the ancient civilization of Babylon located?
9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many articles are in the U.S. Constitution?
10. AD SLOGANS: Which rental platform’s slogan is “Belong anywhere”?
your body
• Number of times you will blink per day: 14,000.
• Minutes your eyes will be closed due to blinking per day: 23.
• Number of times your eyeballs will move in a single day: 250,000.
• Percentage of the eyeball that can be seen: 1/6th.
• Number of times you will swallow today: 2,000.
• Number of blood cells your body has manufactured in the time it takes to read this sentence: 1 million.
• Number of red blood cells in a single teaspoon of blood: 25 billion.
• Number of weeks a red blood cell will live: 16 weeks.
• Number of trips around the body that red blood cell will make before dying: 150,000.
• Distance it will travel in that time: 100 miles.
• Number of strands of DNA it would take to equal the width of one human hair: 20 billion.
• Number of individual cells in the average body each operating in cooperation with the others: 37 trillion.
• Number of species of microbes living on human skin on average: 200.
• Number of different digestive enzymes the human gut can produce on its own: 20
• Number of different digestive enzymes the bacteria in the human gut can produce: Thousands.
• Amount of time the average bacteria in the gut lives before dying of old age: 20 minutes.
• Average weight of food a typical human will eat over a lifetime: 60 tons.
• Weight of a typical small car: 1 ton.
• Number of muscles in the body: 600.
• Number of muscles it takes to read this sentence: 12 different muscles.
• Number of steps an average human will take in a lifetime: 200 million.
• Percent of its body weight a mouse must eat daily to survive: 50 percent.
• Percent of body weight a human must eat daily to survive: 2 percent.
• Percent of body weight that is composed of muscle mass: 40 percent.
• Percent of the body’s energy used by muscles: 40 percent.
• Number of times you will inhale and exhale in a 24-hour period: 20,000.
• Surface area of your skin if spread out flat: 20 sq. ft.
• Surface area of all components of your lungs if spread out flat: 1,500 sq. ft.
• Miles of airways in the lungs: 1,500.
• Number of cycles of cell division it takes to get from conception to birth: 41 cycles.
• Number of miles a fit and fully hydrated human can walk nonstop at 80°F before collapsing: 45 miles.
• Number of miles they can walk at 110°F: 15 miles.
• Number of miles they can walk at 120°F: 7 miles.
• Number of people who choke to death in the U.S. each year: 5,000.
• Percent of children who struggle with stuttering: 4 percent.
• Percent of adults who struggle with stuttering: 1 percent.
as a test. The program, featuring dancing girls, runs for four minutes and is the oldest surviving recording of broadcast television.
• 1936: The Summer Olympics in Berlin become the first sporting event on TV.
• 1938: The first commercially available television sets go on sale to the public for $433, equal to about $9,600 today.
• 1941: In the world’s first TV commercial, Bulova airs a ten-second ad for its watches during a baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies. It features a Bulova watch over a map of the U.S., and the announcer states, “America runs on Bulova time!” Bulova paid $9 for the ad.
ADVERTISING PROOF
• 1942: Production of TV sets is suspended until 1945 due to World War II. The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) experiments with the first attempts at transmitting TV images in color.
PROGRAMMING DEVELOPMENT
• 1946: NBC becomes the first network service in the U.S. with regularly scheduled programming.
• 1947: The first sitcom in the U.S. airs with “Mary Kay and Johnny” starring real-life couple Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns. The first kid’s show is “Kukla, Fran and Ollie” quickly followed by “Howdy Doody.” “Meet the Press” hits the airwaves and becomes the longest-running TV program in history.
• 1950: Nielsen Media Research begins providing television ratings data, providing viewership numbers for establishing TV ad rates.
• 1951: The first transcontinental TV broadcast across the U.S. takes place, originating in San Francisco during the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference. “Dragnet.” “Hallmark Hall of Fame,” “Search for Tomorrow,” and “The Roy Rogers Show” begin broadcasting. The “I Love Lucy” show is the first to be filmed in front of a live studio audience.
VIEWERSHIP GROWTH
• 1950: Six million TV sets are now in use in the U.S. Zenith releases the first TV remote control, called “Lazy Bones.” It connects to the TV via cable. “The Hank McCune Show” is the first to use a pre-recorded laugh track.
• 1952: “The Today Show” begins its run as the nation’s longest-running early morning show. Host Dave Garroway was featured with show mascot chimpanzee J. Fred Muggs.
• 1953: Lucille Ball gives “birth” to her son “Little Ricky” in an episode of “I Love Lucy,” paralleling her real-life pregnancy with her son Desi Arnez, Jr. The word “pregnant” is never mentioned; she is always “expecting.” 74% of all Americans who had a TV tuned in, a record not broken until 1956, when Elvis appeared on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” with 83% of viewership.
• 1953: The first national issue of “TV Guide” hits the stands, featuring baby Desi Arnez, Jr., “Little Ricky”. About 53% of American households now have a TV.
• 1954: The first color TVs go on sale. The first color broadcast aired nationwide is the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on New Year’s Day. NBC’s sitcom “The Marriage,” starring real-life couple Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, becomes the first prime-time series produced in color. The high expense of color sets prevents most homes from owning one. Color quality is not yet perfected PROGRAMS INCREASE
• 1954: “The Tonight Show” airs, becoming the second longest-running show on TV.
• 1955: The first game show, “The $64,000 Question” is aired.
• 1956: Zenith introduces the “Space Command” remote control, using ultrasound to control channel and volume.
• 1960: The presidential debate between Nixon and Kennedy is the first ever shown on TV.
• 1961: Walt Disney’s “Wonderful World of Color” spurs sales of color TVs. JFK gives the first live televised press conference.
NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE
Nearly all of the top 30 most viewed TV shows in history are Super Bowl games. Included in the mix are the first Moon landing, the last episode of M*A*S*H, Nixon's resignation, the OJ Simpson pursuit, the final episode of "Roots," the film "The Day After," the Seinfeld finale, the "Who shot J.R.?" episode of "Dallas," the Live Aid concert, and the Leon Spinks vs Muhammad Ali fight.
• 1962: The launch of the communications satellite “Telstar I” makes global transmissions possible.
• 1964: A controversial ad called “Daisy” aired Week of September 1, 2024 Television: (from page one)
by the Johnson campaign depicts a young girl obliterated by a nuke in TV’s first political ad.
• 1964: The first made-for-TV movie, “See How They Run,” starring Leslie Nielsen, Jane Wyatt, and John Forsythe, airs on NBC.
• 1965: Half of all programming is now in color.
• 1966: 100% of prime-time shows are in color.
• 1970: RCA introduces the first electronic remote control that uses digital signals.
• 1972: Home Box Office (HBO) becomes the first paid television channel.
1. Who was the first host of "The Tonight Show"?
2. Who is the current host of "The Tonight Show"?
By Lucie Winborne
* Ever thought your dog's feet smell like corn chips? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, the term “Frito Feet” was coined to describe the scent!
* The fastest knockout in pro boxing history occurred when Mike Collins floored Pat Brownson with his first punch and the match ended a mere four seconds after the bell.
* A person who enjoys doing crossword puzzles is called a cruciverbalist.
* Nestor Carbonell’s portrayal of Richard Alpert on the hit TV series “Lost” led to an internet debate as to whether the actor was wearing eyeliner.
* During the Gemini IV missions in 1965, James McDivitt and Edward H. White were the first astronauts to have reportedly smuggled chewing gum into space without permission.
* On average, people in India spend 10 hours and 42 minutes a week reading, the most time of any country on Earth.
* Thumbs have their own pulse.
* The ringing of church bells at weddings can be traced to the Celtic heritage of Scotland and Ireland, when they were used to ward off evil spirits and grant wishes to the newlyweds.
* In 1965, Johnny Cash’s younger brother, Tommy Cash, released a song titled “I Didn’t Walk the Line.”
* Upon hearing that the Great Fire of London might destroy his house, English diarist Samuel Pepys took care to bury his most prized possessions in his garden -including a wheel of Parmesan cheese.
* Ravens in captivity can learn to talk better than parrots.
* When your “inner voice” speaks in your head, it triggers small muscle movements in your larynx.
* Each year, 40,000 tons of space dust settles on Earth. ***
Thought for the Day: “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” -- Marcel Proust (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
DON’T FORGET!
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
Lions, Tigers and Predatory Lenders: Oh My!
Don’t worry, a new lender is here to save the day with a lower monthly payment! But before you start planning your victory parade, check the fine print. Those lower payments might just be the interest, with the principal payment looming ahead like a financial tsunami.
Red flag: Payments that seem too good to be true. They are.
LOAN CHURNING
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
Homeowners, gather ‘round and clutch your wallets. These days, home loan scam artists are lurking in the shadows like that weird neighbor who’s always “just checking in.” They’re hungry, they’re relentless and they’ve got their beady little eyes on your home equity.
Meet the loan sharks -- or as I prefer to call them, predatory lenders. They’ve earned this charming nickname because they circle your finances with all the grace of vultures at an allyou-can-eat roadkill buffet. Their pitch? Consolidate your debts! Simplify your life! Pay off all your credit card debt! It’s almost as if they’re trying to sound helpful, which is exactly when you should start clutching your pearls.
These folks don’t care if you can actually pay back the loan. They’re more interested in the size of your home equity -- because that’s where the real meat is. This little game they play is called asset-based lending, and it’s the financial equivalent of selling you a bridge in Brooklyn.
DECEPTIVE MARKETING
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of receiving a relentless flood of phone calls and letters from brokers, congratulations! You’ve been targeted by predatory lenders. They’ll encourage you to take out a home equity loan with all the subtlety of a used car salesman who’s behind on his alimony.
Red flag: High-pressure tactics, telemarketing calls that make you want to change your number, and advertisements that seem too good to be true. Because they are.
EXCESSIVE FEES
Predatory lenders have a special talent for charging fees so astronomical, NASA should be concerned. We’re talking fees that could eat up 15% to 20% of the loan amount. By the time they’re done, your equity has been whittled down to something that looks like the contents of your couch cushions. And don’t even get me started on the prepayment penalties that’ll keep you tied to this financial disaster like an anchor.
(You wouldn’t have Tidbits without them) Remember: You read it in tidbits! Tell them you saw their ad in Tidbits! patronize advertisers, Tell the advertisers you saw their ad in Tidbits! Remember to TELL OUR ADVERTISERS YOU SAW THEIR AD IN TIDBITS!
(Tidbits wouldn't be possible without them)
Red flag: If you ask about fees and the answer is as clear as mud, run. And don’t look back.
EQUITY STRIPPING
So, you need cash. You’re short on funds but have equity in your home. A lender comes along and says, “Sure, we can get you a loan.” You know in your heart of hearts that paying it back will be like trying to get a teenager to clean their room, but the lender encourages you to “adjust” your income on the application. It’s like suggesting you lie on a resume -- except this lie could cost you your home.
Red flag: If a lender suggests you can afford a loan that you know you can’t, it’s time to bail. Fast.
BALLOON PAYMENT
Falling behind on mortgage payments?
If you’re elderly and happen to own your home, you’re like catnip for predatory lenders. They’ll offer to refinance your mortgage and even throw in some extra cash. But every time you refinance, those sneaky fees and most likely interest rates go up. It’s like running in place on an incline so you are never making progress but instead falling backward.
Red flag: Alarms should sound when lenders contact you out of the blue, or make any mention of making your equity “work” for you. Newsflash: Your equity isn’t lazy. It doesn’t need a job.
Not all lenders are out to get you, but the best defense against those who are is a healthy dose of suspicion and a sharp eye for the red flags. Before you sign on any dotted line, get advice from someone who won’t profit from your decision. Then, take a deep breath, consider all the costs, and maybe sleep on it. After all, your home is your castle -- don’t let the vultures turn it into a lucrative source of income for them to fill their coffers -- at your expense! * * *
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
• Ellen Cohen was born in Baltimore in 1941. Her family was generally always under financial stress and uncertainties during her childhood years. She left high school to go to New York City to be an actress. She changed her name to Cass Elliot, after singer Peggy Cass and a friend who had died named Elliot.
• She had trouble finding roles. She auditioned for the play “I Can Get It For You Wholesale” but the role went to an unknown actress named Barbra Streisand instead. She decided she might have better luck as a singer.
• Her career started with the trio Triumvirate in 1962. Then there was a group called The Big 3. Next she met musician Denny Doherty and fell in love. They formed a group with Zal Yanovsky called the Mugwumps. When they broke up, Yanovsky formed the Lovin’ Spoonful. Doherty joined John and Michelle Phillips in a trio called The New Journeymen.
• Cass wanted to join Doherty and the Phillips’ but it was a tough sell, due to her weight. Finally, in 1965, Cass was invited to join their group.
Needing a new name, Cass suggested “The Mamas and the Papas” never anticipating that she would forever be known as “Mama Cass,” a nickname she hated.
• Cass loved Doherty, but Doherty loved Michelle and had an affair with her. When it was discovered, Michelle was kicked out of the band, but returned a few months later. Despite a string of hit singles including “Monday Monday” and “California Dreaming” the band broke up in 1968. They made 5 albums and released 17 singles. Six of their songs hit the Top Ten.
death on a ham sandwich, a false rumor that was widely circulated.
• Her net worth at the time of her death was $20,000 (about $135,000 today), with the proceeds from her estate distributed to her then 7-year-old daughter, in accordance with California intestate law.
• Her remains were interred at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, but were later moved to nearby Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery.
• In 1967, Cass gave birth to a daughter, Owen Vanessa Elliot. She refused to name the father who was not publicly identified until after he died in 2008. His name was Brian Day and he was a session guitarist who played on several “Mamas and Papas” albums.
• Cass Elliot moved on to a solo career. Her first big gig was a three-week contract with Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas for two shows per day, for $40,000/week (about $364,000 today).
• Cass went on a crash diet to lose weight that left her sick. She came down with tonsillitis, hepatitis, and mono just before the show opened. The first two shows, attended by a starstudded audience, were major failures that were mercilessly criticized by the press. Her contract was abruptly cancelled.
• Still, over the next five years, she went on to star in her own musical specials while also appearing on game shows, talk shows, and variety shows. She cut five solo albums and had a number of hits including “Dream a Little Dream of Me” and “Make Your Own Kind of Music.”
• The final album before her death, “Don’t Call Me Mama Anymore” was a dig at her old band while expressing her frustration at still being called Mama Cass when she just wanted to be called Cass Elliot.
• Cass reached the peak of her career with a 14day run of solo performances at the London Palladium. Following her final show on July 29, 1974, she went out to celebrate. She attended Mick Jagger’s 31st birthday bash, followed by brunch hosted by an English singer, ending with a party thrown by an entertainment writer. Only then did she retire to her room at Mayfair, Flat 12, at 9 Curzon Square. The room had generously been offered for her use by owner Harry Nilsson.
• In 1998 “Mama Cass” was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with the other Mamas and Papas. She got a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2022.
Final Changes
• At some point in the night, Cass Elliot suffered a heart attack and died. She was 32. No drugs were found in her system. She did not choke to
by Dana Jackson
Q: Was Keke Palmer ever a child actress? I know she had a music career when she was younger, but what about acting? -- B.Y.
A: Yes, Keke Palmer, who was born in 1993, started out with a very successful acting career by the time she was just 13 years old. She first had a role in the movie “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” before landing Tyler Perry projects like “Madea’s Family Reunion” and “House of Payne.” However, it was a starring role in the film “Akeelah and the Bee,” opposite Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne, that earned her the respect of critics.
She’s also gone the traditional child-actor route on Nickelodeon, with shows like “True Jackson, VP,” but she eventually graduated into a successful movie career as an adult (“Hustlers” and “Nope”).
Q: Is it true that “The Librarians” is returning as a series? Will Noah Wyle star in it again? -- J.C.
A: Noah Wyle’s best-known role outside of
playing Dr. Carter on the massive hit “ER” is the role of Flynn Carsen in a series of movies and, subsequently, a TV series called “The Librarians.” In addition to Wyle, the series also starred Rebecca Romijn (“X-Men”) and Christian Kane (“Angel”), as well as beloved television veterans John Larroquette (“Night Court”), Bob Newhart (“Newhart”) and Jane Curtin (“Kate & Allie”).
Their fans haven’t forgotten the franchise, so when it was announced last year that the CW network was reviving it in a new sequel series, they were thrilled. However, “The Librarians: The Next Chapter,” which features a new, young cast (alas, minus Wyle), was originally picked up for the upcoming fall season with a premiere date of Oct. 24. But recently, a report came out that it will not be part of the CW’s fall schedule.
Instead, according to “Deadline,” an eightpart reality series called “The Wranglers” that explores “the world of professional cowboys and cowgirls on a Montana dude ranch” will debut in its place. Heather Olander, head of unscripted programming for the CW Network, explained what inspired the show: “Fans love the drama of the bunkhouse on the scripted hit ‘Yellowstone,’ and now we’re bringing it to life in this series.”
As for “The Librarians: The Next Chapter,” hopefully, it will find a spot on the network’s winter schedule in 2025. Fortunately, Wyle has a new project up his sleeve. He’s set to produce and star in a new medical drama series on Max titled “The Pitt,” which reunites him with “ER” showrunner John Wells.
Q: I’m happy that “Good Morning Football” is back on weekday mornings, but why isn’t Jason McCourty back? -- K.E.
A: The NFL Network’s highly entertaining morning sports show “Good Morning Football” re-
located from the Big Apple to Inglewood, California -- home of the SoFi Stadium. Its four hosts had to make a choice whether to uproot their families to the West Coast, and all but Jason McCourty accepted the move. Meanwhile, McCourty and his twin brother, Devin, who is also a former NFL player, are part of the preseason broadcast team for the New England Patriots.
* * *
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.
Depositphotos
Actress Keke Palmer (“Hustlers” and “Nope”)
Ham and Cheddar Strata
Whatever the cause for celebration -Labor Day, a graduation, the fact that it’s (finally!) the weekend -- this ham and cheddar breakfast strata will start the day off with deliciousness. Serve it with a light salad.
8 ounces thinly sliced deli ham
3 cups reduced-fat (2 percent) milk
7 large eggs
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves Salt Pepper
1 loaf French bread, sliced
8 ounces Cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives
1. Spray 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Line dish with ham.
2. In large bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, mustard, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper until wellblended.
3. Arrange half of bread slices, overlap ping slightly, on bottom of prepared dish. Pour half of milk mixture over bread. Sprinkle with half of Cheddar. Repeat layering. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
Orange-Glazed Steak
We marinated the beef in a soy and garlic mixture, then brushed it with orange marmalade on the grill.
1. In 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish, mix soy sauce, garlic and pepper. Trim fat from round steak; add steak to soy sauce mixture, turning to coat. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes, turning once.
2. Place steak on grill over medium heat; spoon remaining marinade over steak. Cook steak 25 minutes for medium-rare or to desired doneness, brushing with orange marmalade
during last 10 minutes of cooking, turning steak occasionally. Serves 6.
Each serving: About 400 calories, 7g total fat (3g saturated), 36g protein, 13g carbohydrate, 95mg cholesterol, 415mg sodium.
For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/.
(c) 2024 Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved
4. Heat oven to 350 F. Remove plastic wrap and bake strata 50 to 55 minutes or until golden and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes. Garnish with chives. Serves 6.
“My husband and I took in a male Chihuahua a couple of months ago. We were told that Lucky was pretty good-natured, but did have a history of biting. He came from a home that included a girl with Down syndrome, who apparently hit and kicked him. He reportedly bit this girl and also her mother.
“Lucky warmed up to my husband by day two and to me by day five. When he is around my father and son-in-laws, he will climb up into their laps. But they have to use caution when petting him, or he will attempt to bite them. He will have nothing to do with my daughter or with any other females who come into the home. Usually, he just barks and growls at them. One of my daughters, though, has to be careful if she gets too close. He will attempt to bite her.
“Just last week, he began charging at her and anyone else who entered the house. Because of his assertive aggression, my husband or I have to hold him or put him in his pen when others are around. He bit me yesterday when I picked him up to answer the front door. We now tell him to ‘go lie down.’ He will still attempt to bite, though, before going to his pen.
“Last weekend when my niece was visiting, Lucky walked out of my bedroom with me, saw her standing in the dining room, and ran and bit her. We have a 10-month-old granddaughter, and now we are thinking we can’t trust him around her.
“We also have a 6-year-old female Chihuahua, as adorable as can be, and Lucky has started showing aggression toward her. She defends herself, but I can tell she’s getting tired of it. Can we break him of this behavior, or should we give him up?”
Three things come to mind when I read this letter:
1) People will tolerate almost anything from a little dog.
2) These people knew Lucky was aggressive and adopted him anyway.
I was recently asked to complete an anonymous survey about income. The survey would be used to collect information about how many seniors in our area fall into the low and moderate income ranges.
Curious about what those dollar ranges are, I went on an internet hunt for incomes in our area. Color me shocked to discover how low “low income” really is.
I then went on a hunt of other websites to compare and contrast this area with others across the country.
MIT has developed what they’re calling the Living Wage Calculator, and it’s quite the eye-opener when it comes to what they claim are “livable” wages.
Another site has costs of living for towns and cities across the U.S. Mine is five percent
The Art of DESIGN
by Joseph Publillones
Visual Menagerie
An insider secret to creating a room that takes your breath away is layering. The most interesting rooms always have layers upon layers of detail, no matter what the style. This, of course, is visible in traditional interiors, where an accumulation of furnishings and collections is the norm.
But what about more modern interiors? Even in contemporary architecture and interiors where minimalism reigns, there are layers of details, albeit restrained. In my book, all rooms are full of potential and can have the required layers to make the room interesting.
Understanding the layers of a room is a bit like peeling the layers of a fruit. The skin or outer layer contains art and accessories, which can encompass everything from objets d’art, vases, lamps, family pictures, books, decorative pillows and throws. These are the most revealing items of the inhabitants of any home. Also, in terms of quantity, this layer is likely to have the most items of the room.
higher than the national average.
I found yet another site that calculates the maximum I should be paying for rent plus utilities based on my income. It’s a good thing I own my home and it’s paid for, because there is no way I could afford to rent anything in my town. And never mind trying to buy -- Best Places calculates the cost of buying a home in my town as being 130% of the national average.
My goodness.
There really are people here in town who are paying those sky-high prices. And it casts a new light on the sheer volume of people who line up at the food bank each week.
I’ve cut back this past year on donating to the food bank, but I need to start again. It might not be much, but I can help a little. When I buy something on sale at the grocery store, perhaps I can buy two. Or maybe three. Once I accumulate a full bag of canned and dry foods, I’ll run it to the food bank.
How about you?
* * * 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
Flooring in and of itself can have layers of its own, such as when you have an area rug.
Regardless of your decorating style, furnishings are the most evident of the layers. Every soft or upholstered good, such as a sofa or club chair, adds a little bit of flavor to the room. In this category, case goods or items made of wood, such as tables, chairs and desks, help define the style of your room. Invariably, as the materials vary, so does the style of the room.
Wall treatments are the next layer. Within this category, there are many different roads one can travel. The simplest way to treat a wall is with paint. Your intent can be to use a color to enhance the overall color palette of your room or to accentuate a wall in a contrasting color to the furnishings in your room.
Similarly, decorative paint finishes, also known as faux finishes, can be used to have similar design effects as paints, with the added benefit of a pattern for contrast or architectural enhancement. This category also covers wall treatments such as wallpapers, fabric-upholstered walls and harder finishes such as glass, mirror, stone and tile.
The next layer is composed of window treatments and flooring. Both of these ingredients are visually impactful, because they dictate the stylistic direction of a room. These can be elaborate and have patterns that add interest to a room, or they can be plain and subdued and act just as background for the furnishings.
Depending on the materials selected, flooring can also have a great design impact on the room. Stone or wood floors are still the most venerated materials. They can be intricate and have a lot of patterns, or they can be simple.
By far the most impactful of the layers is the architecture of the room itself. The size, scale and proportions of the room, including the ceiling height, are all layers. The architectural elements encompass details and focal points such as fireplaces, mantelpieces, built-in bookcases, windows and all the millwork, from baseboard to crown moldings. When all these layers come together naturally and present a coherent visual menagerie, you have the recipe for a great room. * * *
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
love to this kind of treatment? What is it about people that makes them believe they deserve to live like this?
Recently, I spoke with a woman who had taken to walking her dog while pushing her baby in its stroller. The dog, however, lunges at everybody who walks by. This is fear aggression, and it’s a problem. Sooner or later, that stroller will be tipped over. And dog aggression, left unchecked, gets worse, not better.
After talking for a while, the woman confessed that she felt the dog’s behavior problems were a reflection of her. She said, “It means I’m a bad person.”
Why can’t it simply be a dog with a problem? Why can’t we see these situations for what they are? In both of these cases, the safety of a child is being threatened by the presence of a dog with a behavior problem.
When baby’s on the way, most parents make a big to-do of baby-proofing the home. By the time the kid’s on the verge of crawling, every room is thoroughly childproofed. Yet in too many of these same households, a little dog with a big problem is given free reign to terrorize the inhabitants.
Sometimes bad people create bad dogs. But many times good people just need to admit that their dog needs professional help or a more appropriate home.
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.
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Myths About Benefits for Spouses
As I’ve pointed out over and over again in this column, there are thousands of myths about Social Security benefits. Those myths are usually started online, but then they get picked up by uninformed people and spread from one nattering novice to another. I couldn’t squeeze a thousand myths into a book, but I have written one called “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” I recommend you get it at Amazon.com or other booksellers and read it.
But in today’s column, I’m just going to concentrate on myths about benefits for spouses. And by “spouses,” I almost always mean women -- because 95% of all spousal benefits are paid to women. But if you happen to be in a marriage where the wife is the primary breadwinner, meaning the husband might potentially be due spousal benefits on his wife’s Social Security account, then you should know that the same rules apply to a dependent husband.
Q: After reading your article entitled, “There are No Social Security Marriage Penalties,” I have a question. I have been a pastor for 40 years. Many widows have told me that they are not going to remarry because they’ve heard their Social Security benefits will be reduced or eliminated. That sounds a lot like a marriage penalty to me. In too many cases, these women have chosen to cohabit with their new “boyfriend.” Some of them have asked me to perform a wedding ceremony, but they refuse to get a marriage license because they don’t want the government to know. Isn’t this a marriage penalty?
A: These women you have talked to have been duped by myths and rumors. The law says that a widow who remarries after age 60 will not lose the benefits from her first husband. And since age 60 is the earliest a woman can usually get widow’s benefits, that essentially means that any widow who remarries will never lose any of her former husband’s Social Security benefits.
And just FYI: Many widows are getting their own Social Security benefits, and a new marriage will never end her entitlement to her own benefits.
Q: I am 62. My husband is 57. I was a homemaker most of my life and have no Social Security record. Someone told me I won’t get any of his Social Security until he starts drawing benefits himself. Is this true? I hope it’s one of the myths you keep writing about!
A: I’m afraid that’s not a myth. You made the same mistake my wife did: You married a younger man! And the rules say you can’t collect on his Social Security account until he signs up for his own benefits.
Q: My husband and I are in our 70s. He started his benefits at age 66. I never worked outside the home, so I get spousal benefits on his record, which I took when I was 62. He gets $2,800 per month, and I get
just a little more than $900. But according to all of my friends, I am being paid incorrectly. I am supposed to get half of his benefits, so I should be getting $1,400. How do I fix this?
A: There is nothing to fix. And I can tell you from 50 years of experience that “friends” are pretty good at spreading myths, so they are a bad source of Social Security information. Anyway, you would be getting 50% of your husband’s benefits if you had waited until your full retirement age to start your spousal benefits. But you said you took them at age 62, and the rate for a woman who does that is more like 35%. You are being paid correctly.
Q: My husband took his Social Security at age 70. He gets $4,200 per month. I took my own benefits at my full retirement age of 66. I get $1,900 per month. I don’t get any extra benefits on his account. But everything I’ve read online says I should be getting a “spousal bump” of $300 to take my total benefits up to $2,100, or half of his benefit. So where is my bump?
A: Sorry, no bump for you. Either you were misled by something you saw online or you misread it. A spouse’s benefit is based on her husband’s full retirement age rate, not on his augmented benefit amount if he waited until age 70 to file.
If he is getting $4,200 per month, I’m guessing his full retirement age benefit is about $3,200. Half of that is $1,600, and you’re already getting more than that in your own retirement benefits. So again, no spousal bump -- at least while he is alive. If he dies before you do, your widow’s rate is based on his full age 70 benefit rate. If, God forbid, he died tomorrow, you’d keep getting your $1,900 retirement check, and then you’d get an extra $2,300 in widow’s benefits to take you up to his $4,200 level.
1. The book of Galatians is found in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither
2. From Joshua 6, on the seventh day, how many times did the men of war march around Jericho? a) One b) Three c) Five d) Seven
3. In his first recorded miracle, what did Jesus turn into wine? a) Grape juice b) Water c) Fig juice d) Lemon juice
4. From 1 Chronicles, what king was buried with his sons under an oak tree? a) Saul b) Jehoash c) Neco d) Rezin
5. In the story of creation, what did God call the absence of light? a) Abyss b) Night c) Darkness d) Blackness
6. In Exodus 17:15, who built an altar and called it Jehovah-Nissi? a) Joshua b) Jacob c) Aaron d) Moses
Sharpen your understanding of scripture with Wilson Casey's latest book, "Test Your Bible Knowledge," now available in stores and online.
(Answers on page 16) For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com
What’s the takeaway? A wife doesn’t share in her husband’s augmented benefits. But a widow does.
Q: I am 62 years old and got divorced about a year ago. I tried to claim benefits on my ex-husband’s record and was told I have to be divorced for two years before I can collect. But I have a friend who also is recently divorced, and she was able to get her ex’s Social Security. What’s going on?
A: My educated guess is your friend’s ex is already getting Social Security benefits. In that case, the two-year rule doesn’t apply. But a divorcee can claim spousal benefits even if her ex (who is at least age 62) hasn’t filed for benefits yet. If your ex is at least 62 but hasn’t applied for his own Social Security yet, the law imposes that two-year waiting period. Why? I’m guessing Congress wanted to make sure disgruntled wives don’t dump a guy just to get his Social Security.
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
Vomiting and Difficulty Eating Could Signify Gastroparesis
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old healthy, active woman. I normally work out six days a week and used to be in very good shape. I’m having stomach issues, which caused me to lose 20 pounds since the end of last year. I was thin to begin with and have lost a significant amount of muscle and most of my body fat.
I was diagnosed with gastric intestinal metaplasia in 2019 and had trouble eating, but I didn’t lose any significant weight at that time. No treatment was recommended beyond a suggested follow-up in a year or two.
I have difficulty eating anything but a small amount of food, and if I do “overeat,” I vomit. Eating is beyond a chore, and I continue to lose weight. I have been worked up with no conclusions in sight.
I had a colonoscopy two years ago that was normal. I had an abdominal CT scan with and without contrast, an endoscopy, an MR enterography, and a brain scan this year, with no results that explained my problem.
I am seeing another GI doctor soon, but I’m not particularly hopeful. I am 5 feet, 11 inches tall, and now weigh 129 pounds. I am feeling desperate. Do you have any ideas? -- L.W.
ANSWER: Weight loss can have many different causes, and it seems like your doctors have carefully looked for many of the concerning ones. Key features of your story are that you are vomiting and losing weight.
Intestinal metaplasia is when the lining of the stomach develops a microscopic appearance, similar to the intestines. This can predispose people to stomach cancer, but intestinal metaplasia can also be associated with low acid in the stomach.
Vomiting after eating normal amounts of food is a concern for a stomach mass, but between the endoscopy and the CT scan, it should have shown up.
I would be concerned about gastroparesis, where the stomach doesn’t squeeze properly. Vomiting after eating is a hallmark symptom, as is feeling very full after a little food. A gastric
emptying study can confirm the diagnosis.
DEAR DR. ROACH: Why would I want to drink an electrolyte sports drink? The electrolytes seem minimal. Are my electrolytes lowered during an hour of exercise? I am a 90-year-old female in good health who goes to the gym with a trainer for strengthening muscles and improving balance. I don’t have any health issues. -- R.P.
ANSWER: It’s great that you are exercising at 90. This will help you avoid falls, live longer and feel better. Having a trainer is also a great way of making sure that you are performing the exercises safely and correctly.
As far as electrolyte sports drinks are concerned, there is no reason that you need them. You are not likely to lose significant amounts of electrolytes during an hour at the gym. Endurance athletes who exercise for multiple hours outside need to be mindful of electrolyte and fluid replacement, but plain old water is just fine for almost everyone else.
For older adults taking medications (especially diuretics) that might affect the body’s electrolyte balance, it’s probably worth having a discussion with their doctor about what fluids to use while exercising.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu
(c) 2024 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Turning Off Monitoring Machines?
Telemetry medicine is a huge benefit for surgery or cardiac patients. Using fancy high-tech equipment, these patients can be monitored while they recover and their vital signs are continuously transmitted to medical staff. So it’s great ... except when it’s not.
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General recently investigated two cases where the whole system failed because of human actions.
In one case, the technician changed the alarm on the device and put it on “Do Not Disturb.” That technician didn’t complete a required Patient Safety Report, and a nurse didn’t document the patient’s condition (another required Patient Safety Report) after finding the patient unresponsive and without a pulse.
In another case, the patient himself reported cardiac symptoms but there was a delay in anyone knowing because the technician had turned off the monitoring alarms. Although a Patient Safety Report was done later, a manager rejected it, which apparently meant that the OIG couldn’t talk to staff about the incident.
The OIG, of course, had recommendations. TITLE: None of those recommendations, unfortunately, involved firing the technicians that actually turned off patients’ alarms on the equipment.
In another investigation, medical staff didn’t give the required informed consent information to a patient who was held involuntarily in a locked mental health unit for 48 hours. The patient had gone to the ER and asked for help with substance withdrawal. He was admitted and was apparently surprised it was a locked mental health unit that he was put in (he was concerned about the behavior of those around him) and wanted to leave. The next day the patient put his request to leave in writing and was finally let out the following day. Problem was, according to state law, he should have been released immediately after filing that request.
Again the OIG had recommendations, one being that the policies need to align with state laws. Sometimes the VA does this well, and then there are incidents like these. * * *
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.
-- by Jim Miller
What are the Early Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes?
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Can you tell me what the early indicators of diabetes can be? I am 63 years old and in pretty good shape, but was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I was completely blindsided by this news. What did I miss that could have been a warning that I had this condition?
-- Uninformed Edward
Dear Edward: The signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be so mild that many people miss them. That’s why testing is so important. Here’s what you should know:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 38 million Americans have diabetes today, and another 97 million have prediabetes, but most of them don’t even know they have it.
Type 2 diabetes is a disease that develops slowly over decades. Most people have prediabetes for a long time before the disease becomes full-blown diabetes, and even then, it progresses gradually.
Diabetes occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. This excess blood sugar damages blood vessels and affects circulation, putting you at risk for a host of ailments, from heart attack and stroke to blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage.
Signs and Symptoms
So how can you tell if you have diabetes? The earliest signs, which are usually subtle, including urinating more frequently (often at night), being thirstier and hungrier than usual, weight loss without trying, feeling very tired, having dry itchy skin and blurry vision.
And the symptoms that can indicate
advanced diabetes and long-term damage has occurred includes cuts or sores that heal slowly, having more infections than usual, and pain or numbness in your feet or legs.
Who Should Get Tested?
Because prediabetes typically causes no outward symptoms and the signs of early type 2 diabetes can easily be missed, the only way to know for sure if you have it is through blood testing.
Everyone age 45 years or older should consider getting tested for diabetes, especially if you are overweight with a body mass index (BMI) above 25. See CDC.gov/bmi to calculate your BMI.
If you are younger than 45 but are overweight, or have high blood pressure, a family history of diabetes, or belong to an ethnic group (Latino, Asian, African or Native American) at high risk for diabetes, you should get checked as well.
To help you determine your risk for diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has a quick, online risk test you can take for free at Diabetes.org/risk-test
Diabetes Tests
There are three different tests your doctor can give you to diagnosis diabetes. The most common is the “fasting plasma glucose test,” which requires an eight-hour fast before you take it. There’s also the “oral glucose tolerance test” to see how your body processes sugar, and the “hemoglobin A1C test” that measures your average blood sugar over the past three months. It can be taken anytime regardless of when you ate.
Most private health insurance plans and Medicare cover diabetes tests. However, if you’re reluctant to visit your doctor to get tested, an alternative is to go to the drug store, buy a blood glucose meter and test yourself at home. They cost around $20.
If you find that you are prediabetic or diabetic, you need to see your doctor to develop a plan to get it under control as early as possible. In many cases lifestyle changes like losing weight, exercising, eating a healthy diet and cutting back on carbohydrates may be all you need to do to get your diabetes under control. For others who need more help, many medications are available. For more information on diabetes and prediabetes or to find help, join a lifestyle change program recognized by the CDC (CDC. gov/diabetes-prevention). These programs offer in-person and online classes in more than 1,500 locations throughout the U.S.
ANTIQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Best Built Sewing Machine Is Built to Last
Q: Enclosed is a photo of an old portable sewing machine. It is electric, has a hard plastic carrying case and is in good working condition. On the top are the words in gold “Best Built Sewing Machine Supply Co., Inc.” It has been in storage for over 30 years.
I would like to know if it has any value as a collectible, where it was made and how old it is.
A: Your sewing machine was made in Japan around 1960. Between the 1940s and 1960s, a dozen or so Japanese companies produced a plethora of sewing machines based on the popular Singer Model 15. They gave them a variety of names that appealed to the United States’ market that included “Sanger” and “Happy Lite.” The Japanese factories also made sewing machines for large American retailers such as Sears, Wards and other large department stores. Additionally, they made them in colors from pink to red.
Even though they were sturdy and operated as well as the American Singers, there is not a demand for these sewing machines as collectibles. In most cases, their value is low and can be found
selling from $25 to $125. Occasionally, one pops up on the Internet in the $150 to $500 range. Those sellers are very optimistic, and I can’t document any actually selling that high. ***
Q: I have enclosed the mark that is on the bottom of a porcelain chocolate pot set that I have. It was a gift from my godmother. She always had it in her antique china cabinet, and I admired it whenever I visited her.
She told me it had been her grandmother’s and she wanted me to have it. The set included a pot, six cups and six saucers. It is decorated with pastel colored flowers, green leaves, gold trim against a white background, and it is in perfect condition.
I would never part with it, but I would like to know more about its history. Who was the manufacturer; what is its age; and what is its value?
A: You have a fine example of R.S. Prussia porcelain that is highly desirable. This mark was used by Reinhold Schlegelmilch in Tillowitz, Silesia, Germany. They were in business from the 1870s to 1956. Your chocolate pot set was made around 1880 and would probably be worth $350 to $475.
* * * 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 Sept. 2, 1945, Vietnamese communist Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence from France following Japan’s World War II surrender, in a proclamation stating, “All men are born equal: the Creator has given us inviolable rights, life, liberty, and happiness!” It would take another 30 years for his vision of a united communist Vietnam to become a reality, however.
* On Sept. 3, 2004, a hostage crisis at School No. 1 in Beslan, Russia ended in a gun battle between Chechen terrorists and Russian security forces. More than 300 people were killed, many of them children, and hundreds more were injured. The terrorists’ demands included the withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya.
* On Sept. 4, 2014, comedian Joan Rivers died at the age of 81 in a New York City hospital a week after she went into cardiac arrest while undergoing a medical procedure on her vocal cords at a Manhattan clinic. In a career that lasted more than 50 years, Rivers fearlessly tackled any subject she chose, remarking that she “succeeded by saying what everyone else is thinking.”
* On Sept. 5, 1991, a group of activists made their way to the roof of Sen. Jesse Helms’ home and unrolled a giant piece of fabric that was then inflated by their companions on the front lawn. Their message? “A CONDOM TO STOP UNSAFE POLITICS: HELMS IS DEADLIER THAN A VIRUS”-- a decidedly innovative response to the senator’s strong opposition to gay rights and the funding of AIDS research and treatment.
* On Sept. 6, 1975, 18-year-old Martina Navratilova, today regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in history, sought political asylum in the United States after defecting from communist Czechoslovakia.
* On Sept. 7, 1876, the Jesse James-Cole Younger gang was nearly wiped out by angry citizens after attempting a daytime robbery of the Northfield Minnesota bank. For the next two weeks, a posse pursued the surviving members, eventually killing or capturing four more, but Frank and Jesse James ended up in Nashville, TN, where they began rebuilding the gang and planning more robberies.
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
Best Built Sewing Machines were made in Japan between the 1940s and 1960s.
Mark of Reinhold Schlegelmilch company on R.S. Prussia chocolate pot made around 1880.
“You keep complaining that you want a position atthetop,sowe’rehavingyourdeskmovedup here on Monday.”
Television: from page 3
• 1973: The first partial male nudity is depicted in an episode of “M*A*S*H as Radar is in the shower when a sniper attack sends him running for cover, losing his towel. There is a brief glimpse of his rear end.
• 1975: The sitcom “Hot L Baltimore” is the first to run a “mature themes” warning. Two characters are ladies of the evening, one is an illegal immigrant, and two are gay lovers, the first gay couple ever depicted on TV.
• 1975: The first navel on TV belongs to Cher, during “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.”
• 1977: The first VCRs and VHS tapes go on sale.
• 1979: ESPN launches the first all-sports channel and Nickelodeon is the first channel devoted to kid’s programming.
• 1980: CNN becomes the first 24-hour news channel. The first remotes using infrared technology go on sale.
• 1981: MTV debuts.
• 1987: The first universal remote, designed by Steve Wozniak, hits the market.
• 1990: Primestar becomes the first North American direct-broadcast satellite service.
• 1994: By now 99% of all American households own a TV.
• 1996: DVD players and DVD movies are introduced. The first movie ever commercially released on DVD is “Twister.”
• 1997: Netflix is founded. The first plasma TVs are introduced.
• 2006: The Hollywood movie “The History of Violence” starring Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, and William Hurt becomes the final movie ever released on VHS.
• 2016: The last company to manufacture VCRs goes out of business.
• 2024: 79% of U.S. homes now own a smart TV, a sharp increase from four years ago when in 2020 that number was 66%
Game Changers
by Jason Jenkins
One of the swing’s power leaks that I often see, particularly with a lot of adult male golfers, is a restricted release of the hands or wrists in the follow through. These players have a tightening of the left arm and hand in such a way that the club rarely makes its way behind the player’s neck. It should be considered a fundamental that the left wrist re-hinges in the follow through so that by the finish position it’s noticeably bent.
Most of the problem stems from excessive grip pressure and a “controlling” effort to guide the ball to the target. The correction usually rests in finishing the swing with a note to the left wrist’s bent orientation. These players shouldn’t worry so much about when and where to think about the proper wrist action through impact, but simply finishing in the correct orientation. This usually is a progressive fight through the course of ball striking on the range, so continue to
