Vol. 20: #37 • Department Stores • (9/8/2024) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
by Kathy Wolfe
When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping! This week Tidbits takes a tour down the aisles and through the records of some of the world’s most famous department stores for a look at the history from their humble beginnings to the retail giants theyʼve become today. Follow along for the lowdown on what we found!
MACY'S
• When Rowland Macy opened a dry goods store on New York City’s Sixth Avenue in 1858, in his wildest dreams he couldn’t have predicted the $24 billion in global net sales of the chain today. Macy’s first-day sales totaled a mere $11.08 in 1858, about $390 in today’s dollars.
• Forty four years later in 1902, the company’s flagship store located in New Yorkʼs Herald Square, opened with one million square feet spread across ten floors. Later expansions brought the total to 2.5 million square feet. The flagship store still has its own in-store jail, Room 140, where apprehended shoplifters are detained.
TRIVIA NEWSFRONT
(Answers on page 16)
1. GEOGRAPHY: How many lakes are in the Great Lakes Basin?
2. MOVIES: What is the little girl’s last name in the film “Matilda”?
3. TELEVISION: What is the name of the teacher on the animated kids’ series “The Magic School Bus”?
4. LITERATURE: In which historic period is Jack London’s novel “Call of the Wild” set?
5. U.S. CITIES: Which city’s nickname is “City by the Bay”?
6. ANATOMY: How much of the human body is made up of water?
7. SCIENCE: What is heliology?
8. HISTORY: Which world leader’s birth name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?
9. ASTRONOMY: In what year did a U.S. astronaut land on the moon?
10. ENTERTAINERS: Which famous actor who starred in “The Notebook” was once a member of “The Mickey Mouse Club”?
your body
It’s the largest organ of the human body! This week, Tidbits directs our attention to your skin, which accounts for about 15% of your total body weight.
• Every inch of skin contains 19 million skin cells, 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels, and 1,000 nerve endings. Total body surface area is between 15 and 20 square feet. The skin on the forearm has a thickness of about 0.051 inches.
• The skin is made up of three primary layers –the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis. The epidermis is the waterproof layer that serves as a protective wrap over the body’s surface and as a barrier to infection. There are no blood vessels in the epidermis, which is as thin as a sheet of paper.
• The skin’s middle layer, the dermis, is a thicker, tougher connective tissue, containing hair follicles, nerve endings, millions of sweat glands, and more than 10.5 miles of blood vessels. It holds collagen and elastin that gives skin its shape and elasticity.
• The hypodermis is the innermost layer, consisting mostly of fat and connective tissue, which supports the skin’s structure and attaches it to muscles.
• Melanocytes are the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that determines skin color. These cells are located in the epidermis, with 60,000 found in a square inch of skin. The more melanin in the cells, the darker the skin. In the condition known as albinism, the melanocytes don’t produce any melanin.
• The number of sweat glands in the skin ranges between two and four million. Normal sweating in the average adult is about a quart of fluid per day.
• The deepest layer of the epidermis is constantly generating new cells called keratinocytes, made up of the strong protein keratin. These cells slowly move up in a layer, taking nearly a month to reach the surface as dead cells flake off, a process that might occur more than 1,000 times over the course of a person’s lifetime.
• Your skin is constantly shedding dead cells, about 30,000 to 40,000 cells every minute, nearly nine pounds per year! It has been estimated that more than half of the dust in your home is actually dead skin.
• Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, provides the skin’s youthful elasticity. When the body is under stress, it produces a high level of the hormone cortisol and other inflammatory molecules that break down the skin’s collagen molecules. Decreased collagen levels result in skin that’s “crepey,” wrinkled, or sagging, stiffer, less flexible tendons and ligaments, along with joint pain due to worn cartilage. In addition to stress, too much sugar and refined carbohydrates, and exposure to ultraviolet light all reduce collagen production.
• The skin on the soles of the feet is up to seven times thicker than the skin of the eyelids.
• The skin of the body’s lower legs is drier than other places because legs have fewer oil glands than any other area of the body. .
• Skin becomes thinner with age, is more easily damaged, bruises more easily, and decreases in its ability to heal itself along with decreasing in volume and elasticity. Aging skin receives less blood flow and the epidermis thins, making it easier to bruise.
• The skin condition known as psoriasis occurs when skin cells in the affected area grow rapidly, resulting in excess skin buildup and inflammation, producing a red, scaly rash. This autoimmune condition can lead to inflammation of other tissues and internal organs, and a greater risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Five.
Wormwood.
Ms. Frizzle.
• Macy’s inaugurated its annual Thanksgiving Day parade in 1924, a major event that has been held every year since, except during the period of World War II. The giant helium balloons made their debut in 1928.
Parade in 1920, which is the oldest holiday parade, ahead of Macy’s by four years. The Philadelphia store was the first department store in the world with an escalator for its customers.
Department Stores: (from page one) Department Stores: Turn to page 15
• Macy’s today has more than 94,000 employees in their nationwide chain of 512 stores. The flagship store held the title of world’s largest retail store until 2009, when the Shinsegae Centum City department store in Busan, South Korea, nabbed the record with 5.847 million square feet, nearly three times the size of Macy’s.
SAKS
• Also located in Manhattan’s Herald Square is the flagship location for Saks, a department store established by 20-year-old Andrew Saks in 1867. The original Saks store was in the shopping district of Washington, D.C. It later became a men’s clothing store in New York City in 1902. By 1896, Saks had stores in five cities.
• Andrew’s son Horace opened the 11-story Saks Fifth Avenue store in 1924. The previous year, Saks had been purchased by Gimbels, which was owned by Horace Saks’ cousin, Bernard Gimbel, for $8.1 million. After just a year of managing the luxury store for Gimbel, Horace Saks died suddenly, and the company was taken over by the Gimbels.
GIMBLES
• Gimbels operated for 145 years, founded by a German immigrant, with its first store opening its doors in Indiana in 1842, moving on to Milwaukee in 1887. Gimbel’s New York store opened in 1910, one block south of Macy’s with a building cost of $17 million ($500 million today), boasting a million square feet of space and 4,780 employees. Gimbels Philadelphia store originated the Gimbels Thanksgiving Day
NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE
After working at the family hardware store for several years and obtaining a business administration degree, William Dillard borrowed $8,000 from his father in1938 to found a retail store in Nashville, Arkansas. First-year sales topped $42,000. There are now more than 280 Dillard's stores n spread across 29 U.S. states.
• By 1930, there were 20 Gimbels stores, with sales of $123 million ($2.2 billion in today’s dollars), giving it boasting rights as the largest department store chain in the world. The total increased to 53 by 1965.
• However, by the 1980s Gimbels was falling behind the competition, perhaps because their efforts were focused on the Saks stores, which was the real money-maker for them. Management had failed to keep the stores upto-date and in 1987, the remaining 35 Gimbels stores were closed and the properties sold.
HARRODS
• In 1824, 25-year-old Charles Harrod opened a one-room shop in London as a seller of draperies, fabrics, and clothing. In 1834, he added a wholesale grocery and tea store. The store continued to expand until 1883, when it burned to the ground just before Christmas.
• A new and larger building was promptly built on the same site, and he changed his product lines to appeal to a more upscale consumer. Harrods then began serving prestigious customers, among them Oscar Wilde, Charlie Chaplin, Sigmund Freud, Beatrix Potter, and many members of the British royal family.
• The store featured one of the world’s very first escalators. Today’s million sq. ft. store is home to 330 departments, including a 42,000 sq. ft. shoe department offering upwards of 100,000 pairs of footwear, as well as 23 restaurants, a spa and salon, pharmacy, tailor, and a personal shopping service. On a peak day, up to 300,000 customers visit Harrods of London.
BLOOMINGDALE'S
• Brothers Joseph and Lyman Bloomingdale opened their doors in 1861 in New York City’s Lower East Side area, selling hoop skirts. They expanded to a new location and began carrying European women’s fashion in 1872, with first day sales of $3.68. By 1886, Bloomingdale’s covered an entire city block at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue. In order to survive the Great Depression, Bloomingdale’s merged with Federated Department Stores in 1930, the same conglomerate that acquired Macy’s in 1994. Today, there are 54 Bloomingdale’s stores.
MARSHALL FIELD
• Young Marshall Field came to Chicago in 1856, and began working at the city’s largest dry goods firm. By 1865, he was partners in Field, Leiter, & Co., and within two years was reporting
sales of $12 million, nearly $215 million in today’s money. The store burned to the ground in Chicago’s Great Fire of 1871, but reopened just a few weeks later, due to the brave efforts of the employees who loaded as much of the store’s expensive merchandise as possible onto wagons, and removed it all away from the fire’s path.
1. What department store owns the brand of clothing called Sonoma?
2. What department store uses the slogan "It's all inside"?
By Lucie Winborne
* When he’s not busy predicting the weather at Gobbler’s Knob, PA, America’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, lives in the town Library with his wife, Phyllis.
* LEGO keeps a set of every model ever made in an underground vault.
* Though he’s today regarded as one of history’s greatest orators, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. received a “C” in public speaking while a student at Crozer Theological Seminary.
* Prior to the invention of the internet, Nintendo employed game counselors whom players could ring for advice and assistance with navigating a game.
* Through the years, folks have come up with euphemisms for pooping, but surely Icelanders rank among the top contenders with “ad tefla vid pafann,” roughly translatable as “playing chess with the pope.”
* Kea parrots spread warbles when they’re in a good mood, making them the first known non-mammal species to communicate with infectious laughter.
* Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter Alice, who was generally known for being a bit of a handful, had a pet snake named Emily Spinach that she enjoyed toting about the White House in her purse and taking out at unexpected moments.
* Actor Bela Lugosi was buried in full Dracula costume.
* The White House Press Briefing Room was built over what used to be an indoor swimming pool, installed for Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.
* Female cicadas have been known to confuse the roar of power tools for mating calls, sometimes swarming people using lawn mowers.
* In 2016, a church in Colombo, Sri Lanka, accidentally printed the lyrics to Tupac Shakur’s rap hit “Hail Mary” instead of the Catholic prayer of the same name, in the booklet handed out for a Christmas carol service. ***
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!
Thought for the Day: “Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.” -- Will Rogers
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
8 Simple Steps to Practical Frugality
gym memberships -- and cancel the ones you can live without. If you’re hesitant to cut them completely, consider sharing with a friend or family member. Many services offer family plans that can be shared at a lower cost per person.
4. SHOP SMART
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
Given the challenges of these inflationary times in which we live, I can’t think of a better time than today to review practical ways to live more frugally. These eight steps are designed to help us save money and live more mindfully without sacrificing the things you love.
by Mary Hunt
1. CREATE A BUDGET YOU’LL STICK TO
A budget is your best friend when it comes to frugality. It’s not about restricting yourself; it’s about being aware of where your money goes. Start by pre-spending your paycheck on paper, then tracking every expense for a month to make sure your dollars go where you intended that they should. Categorize your spending (think groceries, utilities, entertainment) and see where you can make adjustments. Use apps like Mint or YNAB (You Need A Budget) to help you stay on track. The goal is to spend less than you earn and put the difference toward giving, savings or debt repayment.
2. EMBRACE MEAL PLANNING
Food can be a major expense, but with a little planning, you can save a lot. Start by perusing supermarket weekly flyers in your area. Make a shopping list based on only items on sale this week. Now make your meal plans based around those sales. Right there you can cut your food bill by at least 25%. This will also help avoid impulse buys and food waste. Never overlook the value of leftovers -- they can be a lifesaver!
3. CUT UNNECESSARY SUBSCRIPTIONS
We all have those subscriptions we don’t really use. Take a close look at your monthly subscriptions -- streaming services, magazines,
When it comes to shopping, a little savvy goes a long way. Start by making a list and sticking to it. Look for sales, use coupons and consider buying store brands, which are often just as good as name brands but cheaper. For bigger purchases, wait for sales events like Black Friday or end-of-season clearances. Also, check out thrift stores and online marketplaces for gently used items at a fraction of the cost.
5. DIY WHERE YOU CAN
Stop paying others for services you can do yourself. Whether it’s home repairs, cleaning products, or gifts, there’s likely a DIY option cheaper than buying. For example, instead of buying expensive cleaning supplies, you can make your own with vinegar, baking soda and essential oils. Or try your hand at making homemade gifts -- they’re often more meaningful and super cost-effective.
6. REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Lowering your energy usage is good for the planet and your wallet. Simple changes can make a big difference. Turn off lights when you leave a room, unplug electronics when they’re not in use, and consider energy-efficient appliances. You can also save by adjusting your thermostat -- keeping it a few degrees lower in the winter and higher in the summer can lead to significant savings.
7. USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR CARPOOL
Transportation is another big expense where you can save. If possible, use public transportation, bike or walk instead of driving. Not only will you save on gas and parking, but it’s also better for your health. If public transportation isn’t an option, consider carpooling with coworkers or friends. You can split the cost of gas and enjoy some company on your commute.
8. CULTIVATE A SAVINGS MINDSET
Remember: You read it in tidbits!
DON’T FORGET!
(You wouldn’t have Tidbits without them)
(Tidbits wouldn't be possible without them)
Finally, the key to lasting frugality is a mindset shift. Focus on the benefits of saving rather than what you’re giving up. Celebrate small wins, like making coffee at home instead of buying it out. Set savings goals and track your progress. Remember, frugality isn’t about deprivation; it’s about making thoughtful choices that align with your values and goals.
BONUS TIPS FOR EXTRA SAVINGS
Automate Savings: Set up automatic transfers to your savings account each payday. This way, you’re paying yourself first and building your savings without thinking about it.
Negotiate Bills: Don’t be afraid to call your service providers (like internet, phone or insurance) and ask for a better rate. You’d be surprised how often a simple phone call can result in lower bills.
Earn Extra Income: Look for ways to boost your income, whether it’s freelancing, selling unused items or taking on a side gig. Extra cash can accelerate your savings or debt repayment goals.
Embracing frugality doesn’t mean you have to give up the things you love. It’s about making smart choices, prioritizing what truly matters and finding joy in simplicity.
* * * This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of
What do the fax machine, cotton candy, electric typewriter, and Dr. Pepper have in common? They were all introduced at the World’s Fair held in St. Louis, Missouri in 1904. This week, Tidbits sets its sights on the new innovations that made their debut at this international exposition.
• Nearly 19.7 million people flocked to St. Louis during the seven-month period from April 30 to December 1, 1904 to view 70,000 exhibits from more than 60 countries and the then-45 U.S. States. It required $15 million to finance the fair, about $509 million in today’s dollars. The massive global attraction occupied 1,272 acres and contained more than 1,500 buildings.
• The Fair offered what is considered America’s first food court. A mile-long avenue offered up a variety of new and old creations at stand-up
kiosk booths and dine-in restaurants.
• Although ice cream cones had recently been popular in Europe, they were not yet seen in America. But that all changed when an ice cream vendor at the Fair ran out of serving dishes and his waffle-selling neighbor came to the rescue. That waffle concessionaire, Ernest Hamwi, rolled up his thin waffles into a cornucopia shape that could hold scoops of ice cream and, to everyone's delight, America’s version of the ice cream cone was born.
• Although the hamburger, hot dog, the club sandwich, and peanut butter had all existed before the Fair, the popularity of these snacks suddenly took off. With close to 20 million people consuming them in 1904, these items soon became American classics.
• Although Wilhelm Roentgen had discovered X-rays in 1895, and they had been in use on a limited basis since then, the X-ray machine didn’t have its public debut until the 1904 World’s Fair. It had taken several years to perfect the machine, and after the exposition its use became widespread and recognized as a useful medical device.
• Previously, the Dr. Pepper beverage had been sold only in local soda fountains and was not widely known, but it made its national debut at the Fair. Dr. Pepper has the distinction of America’s oldest major manufacturer of soft drink concentrates and syrups.
• The new sweet treat of cotton candy was also first introduced at the Fair, with the inventors calling their fluffy product “Fairy Floss.” It quickly caught the attention of curious Fair goers who were eager to try the strange new confection. By the close of the Fair, the gleeful vendor had experienced a total of 68,655 of them sold at a price of 25 cents each.
• Chicagoan Elisha Gray patented his telautograph invention in 1888, a device that enabled the transmission of handwritten messages and drawings over electrical signals, a precursor to the modern-day fax machine. At the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, his machine was publicly exhibited for the first time, but received little attention. Gray brought it back to St. Louis in 1904, where there was a little more notice, but it was several decades later before it was recognized as a useful device for use in business offices.
• The baby incubator first went on public display at the Fair, and premature babies were actually kept on site in the 24 incubators made of 14
metal-framed glass panes. Most of the babies came from orphanages or impoverished families. Fairgoers paid 25 cents per adult and 15 cents per child to view the exhibit housed in a building built especially for the purpose. The fees covered the cost of nurses who cared for the babies throughout the Fair.
• Household innovation debuts included the tabletop stove, coffeemaker, automatic potato masher, dough kneading machine, electric dishwasher, and a telephone answering machine known as the Poulson telegraphone.
• Most of the buildings built for the fair were temporary and either later moved or demolished. The few remaining structures are the Saint Louis Art Museum (http://www.slam.org), the World's Fair Pavillion, and the huge iron flight cage in the St. Louis zoo.
by Dana Jackson
Q: Why did Disney+ cancel “The Acolyte”? I thought it was supposed to be the next big thing. -- A.O.
A: You’re correct in that there was a lot of buzz surrounding the newest series in the “Star Wars” universe, but unfortunately, it didn’t translate into ratings. The people who did watch the show praised it, especially Manny Jacinto’s performance as the Stranger. Alas, the finale of the first season became its last when the numbers just weren’t up to Disney’s expectations.
Q: When does the new “Matlock” series that stars Kathy Bates release? Also, is her character related to the original Matlock, played by Andy Griffith? -- C.U.
A: In the original series, Andy Griffith played a sharp criminal defense attorney named Ben Matlock. The upcoming series of the same name, starring Kathy Bates, is a reboot with a twist. Her character, also an attorney, is named Madeline Matlock, but there’s no relation to Griffith’s character.
According to USA Today, the show’s executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman (“Jane the Virgin”) says that she wanted to “write about how older women are overlooked in society.” She explained, “I wanted the audience to enjoy being shocked by the underestimation.”
Also similar to the “Matlock” we loved back in the ‘80s, the 2024 series features a new case that keeps you guessing the whole week. Madeline Matlock is “a fish out of water [and] a mastermind,” according to Snyder Urman. “Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can’t be a bad b*tch,” she emphasized.
Supporting Bates is a stellar cast that includes Beau Bridges (“Lessons in Chemistry”), Skye P. Marshall (“Good Sam”), and Jason Ritter (“A Million Little Things”). “Matlock” will have a sneak preview of its first episode on Sept. 22 on CBS and will continue on in its regular time slot of Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET, beginning Oct. 17. ***
Q: When is the last episode of “The Talk”? I thought it was canceled, but I heard it’s coming back this fall with new episodes. -- S.I.
A: Yes, CBS announced that the daytime talk show was being canceled after 15 years, but fortunately, it will include one last season of new episodes this fall before its “celebratory send-off” in December.
These new live shows will air weekdays, beginning Sept. 9, with returning hosts Sheryl Underwood, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell, Akbar Gbajabiamila and Amanda Kloots. The show was created in 2010 by Sara Gilbert (“Roseanne”), and she hosted along with Leah Remini, Holly Robinson Peete, Julie Chen Moonves, and Sharon Osbourne.
In a surprising turn of events, it’s reported that a new daytime soap will take over the show’s time slot next January. (“The Talk” originally took the place of the long-running CBS soap “As the
David Arquette 9/8/71
Adam Sandler 9/9/66
Ryan Phillippe 9/10/74
Harry Connick, Jr. 9/11/67
Kelsea Ballerini 9/12/93
Tyler Perry 9/13/69
Ron Desantis 9/14/78
World Turns” after it was canceled in 2009.) Created by Michele Val Jean (who has written for “The Bold and the Beautiful”), “The Gates” will center around an upper-class African-American family living in a gated community.
* * *
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.
Manny Jacinto as the Stranger in “The Acolyte”
Courtesy of Disney+
Good Recipes from
Milan-Style Meatballs
It is so much simpler to make six oversize meatballs instead of 30 small ones! And we never tire of the light tomato sauce they’re cooked in, with diced vegetables and a touch of wine.
1. In large bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, pepper, egg, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/3 cup water. Shape meat mixture into 6 large meatballs.
2. In 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, in hot salad oil, cook meatballs until browned on all sides, removing meatballs to plate as they brown. In drippings remaining in skillet, over medium heat, cook onion, carrot and celery until lightly browned and tender, stirring occasionally.
3. Return meatballs to skillet. Stir in tomatoes with their liquid, white wine, basil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 cup water; over high heat, heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. When meatballs are done, skim fat from liquid in skillet. Spoon meatballs with their sauce into warm, deep platter. Sprinkle with parsley and lemon peel. Serves 6.
Each serving: About 425 calories, 22g total fat, 140mg cholesterol, 1210mg sodium.
Easy Seafood Stew
Low in fat and rich in protein, this speedy version of a classic fisherman’s stew also delivers an abundant serving of red tomatoes, which lower your risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 large yellow pepper, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed with press
1 can (14 1/2-ounce) stewed tomatoes
1 cup spicy tomato-vegetable juice 1 pound skinless cod fillet, cut into 1-inch chunks
8 ounces shelled and deveined medium shrimp
1. In 4-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add yellow pepper and onion, and cook 5 to 6 minutes or until softened and lightly browned, stirring frequently. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Each serving: About 245 calories, 4g total fat (1g saturated), 135mg cholesterol, 715mg sodium, 17g total carbohydrate, 3g dietary fiber, 34g protein.
For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/. (c) 2024 Hearst Communications, Inc.
All rights reserved
ACE Hardware Palm Springs
2. Stir in stewed tomatoes, vegetable juice, 1/2 cup water and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cover and heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, 10 minutes.
1/3 Page, Full Color, 6x September 8, 2024 • Vol. 20: Issue #37
3. Stir in cod and shrimp; cover and simmer 3 to 4 minutes or until cod and shrimp just turn opaque throughout, gently stirring once. Ladle stew into 4 large soup bowls. Makes about 7 cups.
NEXT WEEK in TIDBITS EXPLORES THE
HUMAN BODY
9/8 Grandparents
9/9 Opposite Day
9/10 World Suicide Prevention Day
9/11 Patriot Day/9-11 Remembrance
9/12 National Police Woman's Day
9/13 Bald is Beautiful Day
9/14 Aborted Children Remembrance
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
A Trend that Needs To End
In Shakespeare’s day, something was rotten in the state of Denmark. Nowadays, something’s rotten in the United States. That something in two words: disposable animals.
One of the saddest aspects of our citizenry is this sticky notion that animals are disposable. One of the ways that plays out is in the ongoing practice of dumping dogs of a certain age at the local shelter.
For most of us, this is unimaginable. But for too many others, it’s ridiculously justifiable: He’s sick, and I can’t afford to take him to the vet.
He’s high-maintenance.
He’s not as fast, not as much fun. He’s not as cute as he was as a puppy. And on and on.
Forgive the pun, but that dog don’t hunt. Older dogs make fantastic companion animals. They are typically more relaxed, more content, less rambunctious and far less inclined to cause trouble than their puppy counterparts. For many, this calm, cool and collected older dog is the reward of enduring puppyhood, with its housebreaking, teething, nipping and chewing challenges.
No one is more aware of this fact than shelter workers. And I happen to reside in a county that hosts some of the best.
The citizens of El Dorado (Calif.) County are blessed with an outstanding animal welfare organization: PAWED. People for Animal Welfare in El Dorado (of which my wife and I are members) is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of companion animals. Boy, do they see it all.
In addition to senior dumping, they see people go on vacation and leave their dog alone in the yard. Many of these dogs try to escape (who could blame them?), and when they do, PAWED picks them up and houses and cares for them.
They witness the consequences of “breed trends.” Paris Hilton gets a Chihuahua; everyone wants a Chihuahua. Puppy mills and breeders start pumping out Chihuahuas. Next thing you know,
The word going around is that hackers have stolen 2.9 billion records, including Social Security numbers -- which means everyone. And now it appears all that information, including other personal information, has been released on the internet. That batch of data can include not only Social Security numbers, but names, phone numbers, current and former addresses, lists of relatives and more.
It’s time to get very, very serious about protecting our personal data, our identity, our banking information and everything else. Although the horse is out of the barn when it comes to that information being released, there are still steps we can take to try to protect ourselves.
Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Leave it at home, perhaps in an envelope inside a cabinet where you can access it easily.
Change your passwords. Use not only letters but numbers and symbols in your new passwords.
When you get a Medicare statement about any medical treatment you’ve had, go over it carefully to be certain there’s nothing listed that you didn’t get.
Be more cautious than ever about answering the phone. It’s possible for thieves to fake the number they’re calling from, and they can appear to be from your bank or another company you know. Never, ever, answer any questions to anyone who calls you wanting your personal information.
Be suspicious about any email you receive that asks for personal information. Don’t click any links and just delete the email.
Send for your credit reports (or get them online) to check all your information. Put a freeze on all three credit bureaus at the same time. Those are TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. With a freeze, no one will be able to open a new account in your name because no one can check your credit. If necessary, you can do a temporary freeze lift if you’re applying for credit somewhere. All three credit bureaus have this option available by phone.
Of all the data breaches we’ve had, this is by far the worst.
* * * 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
Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
shelters are full of unwanted Chihuahuas. The thing about trends is they always come to an end. Who pays the price? The animals, organizations like PAWED and the people who want to adopt from them.
When a shelter is operating at beyond capacity -- and almost all are these days -- it is forced to raise adoption fees to cover costs. Higher fees, in turn, keep people from adopting. It’s a sickening cycle that demonstrates the high cost of careless behavior.
One way to stop or at least slow the cycle is for animal lovers who want to support the good work of their local shelters to make a donation to that shelter to subsidize adoption fees. Low adoption fees are key to keeping shelters an attractive alternative to buying from breeders, brokers and pet stores.
This year more than any other, I’d encourage animal lovers to consider giving the gift of a donation to their local shelter to all their animal-loving friends and family members.
If it’s true that all good things come to an end, why not all bad things? It’s high time this trend of disposing of our companion animals goes for good.
Woof!
Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
‘I’ll
Tell You What’s Wrong With Social Security!’
Every single day, more than a few of the emails I get from readers start out with this (or a similar) phrase: “I’ll tell you what’s wrong with Social Security!” They proceed to do just that. Sadly, their little rant is almost always wrong and based on a misunderstanding of Social Security rules or misinformation they picked up -- usually off the internet.
These diatribes are of two main types: either political or program-related. I’m not going to deal with the political ones today. I’ve concluded that it is not worth it. People will spout off the most ridiculous nonsense to me about the politics or financing of Social Security. And when I try to set the record straight, they almost always write back and tell me they don’t believe me. So I figure: Why bother?
But on the program and policy side, I still can help people understand the way Social Security works. Let’s go over some of them.
Q: I’ll tell you what’s wrong with Social Security. There are too many multiple wives getting benefits on one guy’s record. A guy can have three or four or even more wives, and all of them can collect on his account. No wonder the system is going broke!
A: I suppose anything is possible. But the situation you describe is highly unlikely. I worked for the Social Security Administration for 32 years. During that time, I probably saw 100,000 Social Security records. Only once do I remember a case where three wives were getting benefits from one guy’s account. I never saw four or more. Even two spouses on one record isn’t as common as you might think.
And why is that? It would be very rare for a guy to have multiple wives all of whom never worked and never remarried. In other words, lots of these ex-wives have worked. So they are much more likely to get their own retirement benefit than a much smaller spousal benefit. And most times, a divorced woman will remarry. Once she does that, she loses her eligibility for benefits from her ex-husband.
Q: I’ll tell you what’s wrong with Social Security. It’s all these benefits that are paid to women who never worked a day in their lives. Get rid of these welfare benefits and the system would be flush with cash!
A: I hear this a lot. And as I’ve pointed out before, many of the complaints I’ve heard about this issue come from working women. I’m not going to touch the social debate between working women and stay-at-home moms with a 10-foot pole. I will, however, comment on the Social Security angle.
Ever since 1939, the law has said that a retiree’s dependent wife should qualify for a partial spousal benefit. (Benefits to dependent husbands were added years later, but for today’s column, I’m sticking with the issue of wives.) The law is essentially saying that because a guy with a stay-at-home wife supported that wife with his income while he
was working, the Social Security taxes he paid on that income should support his wife after he retires with spousal benefits.
Q: I’ll tell you what’s wrong with Social Security. I always knew that children of a parent who dies can get Social Security survivor benefits. That makes sense. But I just learned that they recently added benefits to the children of a living retiree. And that makes no sense. No wonder the system is in trouble!
A: Benefits to the children of retirees have been around since 1939; they were not “recently added.” Anyway, those benefits are based on the same concept discussed in the last answer: dependency. Once again, the law assumes the guy was supporting those kids while he was working, and now that he’s retired, the Social Security taxes he paid should go toward supporting his kids with dependent benefits.
Two more quick points: I wasn’t being sexist by referring to a “guy.” Due to obvious biological reasons, it would be very unusual for a woman in her 60s to have a minor child still living at home. Also, even if you still think the children of retirees should not get benefits, you are not going to save Social Security by eliminating them. Those benefits are a tiny drop in Social Security’s big bucket.
Q: I’ll tell you what’s wrong with Social Security. Most people might not know this, but Social Security benefit calculations are always rounded down. This is a sneaky process the bureaucrats invented to cheat senior citizens out of the money they are rightfully due!
A: Government employees don’t have the authority to do things like this, but Congress does. Back in the 1980s, they were looking for ways to cut down on government spending. They came up with the idea of rounding down the “cents” part of all
1. The book of Joshua is found in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither
2. In the parable of the ten female virgins, five were called "wise," but why were the other five called "foolish"? a) Were caught sleeping b) Failed to keep their lamps filled with oil c) Busy with daily chores d) Failed to keep watch
3. From 2 Kings 9, what creatures ate the carcass of Jezebel? a) Worms b) Vultures c) Dogs d) Wolves
4. What was the first bird released from Noah's Ark? a) Raven b) Pigeon c) Sparrow d) Dove
5. In Proverbs 15, what does "a soft answer turneth away"? a) Scorn b) Wrath c) Fear d) Foolishness
6. From Joshua 2, who hid two spies on a roof? a) Rahab b) Ezra c) Aaron d) Moab
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
Social Security calculations. For example, if your actual benefit amount comes out to $2,854.32, that will be rounded down to $2,854. Those pennies add up to millions of dollars in savings for the government every year.
I said the myths I tackle in today’s column wouldn’t be political, but I just have to include this final one. It’s not really about politics; it’s about politicians and Social Security.
Q: I’ll tell you what’s wrong with Social Security. It’s the fact that Social Security rules are made by people who have no stake in the system. Congress, and all federal employees for that matter, have their own cushy retirement system that none of us normal people have access to. We are stuck with a failing Social Security system. If we could force Congress to become part of Social Security, they would fix the program tomorrow!
A: Your idea perpetuates a common myth about Social Security. In fact, since 1984, all federal government employees, including the president and all members of Congress, have paid into Social Security. Now it is true that if they want, they can have extra taxes withheld from their paycheck that can be directed into a savings plan intended to augment their Social Security benefits. But this is no different than 401(k) and 403(b) plans available to many folks in the private sector.
* * *
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
DVT Patient Switches to Aspirin With Good Results
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 81-year-old female who has been on Xarelto for years due to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I also have an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. I read that lowdose aspirin (325 mg) is just as effective in preventing clots in the legs as Xarelto, which is very expensive. My doctor advises against changing to aspirin, but won’t give me an explanation as to why.
I switched anyway, and the redness in my foot disappeared. After one month of taking 325 mg of coated aspirin daily, I have no symptoms and actually feel better. What are your thoughts? -- A.B.
ANSWER: Although aspirin is better than nothing, it has been proven to be less effective than Xarelto and similar medicines in people who are at risk for blood clots. In a yearlong trial comparing the two, recurrences of DVT (a blood clot in the deep veins of the leg) occurred in just over 1% of people taking Xarelto and in 4.4% of people taking aspirin. (This study used low-dose aspirin -- 100 mg -- rather than the full-dose of 325 mg that you are taking.) The risk of bleeding was about the same among the aspirin group and the Xarelto group.
Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory, which may be why the redness in your foot disappeared. I doubt it had anything to do with a blood clot.
For people at a high risk, I recommend against changing from a more-effective medicine like Xarelto to aspirin. In your case, you are protected against a blood clot in the lung by your filter, which is designed to catch any clot before it can get to the lung. Unfortunately, the IVC filter slightly increases the risk of a recurrence of a blood clot in the legs, so it’s important to keep taking medication to reduce your risk.
Given the serious nature of a blood clot, I can’t recommend disregarding your doctor’s advice, although you deserve a thorough explanation from your doctor. If the main issue for your wanting to change medications is the expense, you might ask your doctor if there are less-expensive alternatives that would still be as effective as Xarelto. The manufacturer also offers a program to help with expenses.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 67-year-old woman in good health. I have been taking omeprazole for at least 10 years, and it was originally prescribed to help chronic cough. With all the talk of an increased dementia risk from this medication, what is the safest way to wean off of it? -- C.H.
ANSWER: There is some evidence that proton-pump inhibitors like omeprazole increase dementia risk. But the evidence isn’t strong, and there are studies that haven’t shown a risk. Still, omeprazole and similar drugs do have the potential for long-term side effects, and it is always worth a periodic trial off of the medicine to see whether it is still needed.
If you and your physician agree to stop the medication, my usual recommendation is to cut the dose in half for a week, then take it every other day for another week before stopping. People on a high dose may need to cut the dose in half twice.
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
K2 presumptives: Too late for too many
Sixteen thousand veterans who served at K2 are now eligible for expanded Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. This will be welcome (and overdue) news for many.
K2, also known as Karshi-Khanabad and Camp Stronghold Freedom, was an Uzbekistan airbase used from 2001 to 2005 during Operation Enduring Freedom after the Sept. 11 attacks.
The VA is now making Gulf War illnesses a presumptive in those who served at K2, recognizing that those who served there were exposed to “several contaminants of concern” and ensuring that exposures to those toxins are taken into account for K2 veteran claims -- all good steps forward.
But it wasn’t always so. A 2015 study detailed all the multiple types of cancer among those who’d served at K2. The VA rejected the information and claimed there was no high rate of cancer even though there had been many documented cases.
A 2020 congressional study, however, opened up some previously classified documents that showed the toxins and hazards were very real and so were the health consequences:
Kerosene, jet fuel, contaminated soils that could “cause adverse health effects,” particulate matter, uranium, elevated levels of tetrachloroethylene, burn pits, jet fuel plumes, radiation exposure, asbestos in the soil and more.
One of the veterans who testified before the committee said that they’d constantly been told there was no risk from the toxic exposures. Further, any high environmental readings were blamed on faulty test equipment.
A Deployment Health Clinical Center (now the Psychological Health Center of Excellence) advice sheet instructed medical staff to “listen actively” when returning service members expressed concerns about exposure to toxins at K2. “It often helps rapport if you thank them” for their service, it says. But meanwhile, yeah, they tried to abate radiation in the soil with more soil dumped on top, and you walked around in glowing green water and breathed in jet fuel fumes. But hey, the protective measures were effective, and would you like a mental health consultation?
If you’re an ill K2 veteran or a surviving family member, call the VA. Don’t wait until they call you.
Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.
M.D.
-- by Jim Miller
How to Find Legal Help When You Can’t Afford a Lawyer
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I am a senior on a limited income and need legal help but I cannot afford the high fees that lawyers charge. Can you recommend any programs or organizations that provide free or low-cost legal services to those of us who don't have very deep pockets?
-- Limited Lawrence
Dear Lawrence: Whether you need help drawing up a will or a contract, or you’re facing some sort of legal jeopardy or dilemma, hiring an attorney can be expensive. Most lawyers today charge anywhere between $100 and $400 an hour. Fortunately, there are a number of different programs and organizations that offer free legal advice and may help you find a free or low-cost attorney. Here’s where look for help in your area.
Legal Aid:
Directed by the Legal Services Corporation, legal aid provides free legal assistance to low-income people of all ages. Each community program will differ slightly in the services they offer and income qualifications. Visit LSC.gov/find-legal-aid to locate a program near you.
LawHelp:
Powered by Pro Bono Net, a national nonprofit organization, LawHelp.org is a terrific resource that will help you locate free legal aid near you, get answers to your legal questions and even fill out legal documents. These free services are for people with low to moderate incomes.
Free Legal Answers:
This is an online program created by the American Bar Association that matches low-income clients with volunteer lawyers who agree to provide brief answers online for free. This service will not answer criminal law questions and it’s not available in every state. See ABAfreelegalanswers.org to look for a program in your state.
Senior Legal Hotlines:
There are around 30 states that offer
PonderBits
senior legal hotlines, where all seniors over age 60 have access to free legal advice over the telephone. To find out if this service is available in your state, go to ProSeniors.org and click on “Resources,” followed by “U.S. Senior Legal Hotline Directory.”
Senior Legal Services:
Coordinated by the Administration on Aging, this service may offer free or low-cost legal advice, legal assistance or access to legal representation to people over the age of 60. Your Area Agency on Aging can tell you what’s available in your community. Call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 to get your local number.
Local Law Schools:
More than 200 university law schools across the country have pro bono programs that offer free legal assistance provided by law students, who are supervised by their professors. See AmericanBar.org/groups/ center-pro-bono – scroll down and click on “Directory of Law School Public Interest and Pro Bono Programs” to locate a program near you.
Pension Rights Center:
This is a nonprofit consumer organization that provides free legal assistance for problems with pension, 401(k) or other retirement plans. Go to PensionRights.org/ find-help to search for help in your state.
Stateside Legal:
For military members, veterans, and their families, StatesideLegal.org provides access to free legal information and legal assistance in your area.
National Disability Rights Network:
This is a nonprofit membership organization that provides legal assistance to people with disabilities through their Protection and Advocacy System and Client Assistance Program. If you are disabled, visit NDRN.org to find help in your state.
Other Options:
If you can’t get help from one of these programs, or find that you aren’t eligible, another option is to contact your state or local bar association to see if there are any volunteer lawyer projects in your area or if they
can refer you to a low-fee lawyer. To contact your state or local bar association, go to FindLegalHelp.org
and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
set was made for the C. Heurick Brewery located in Washington D.C., thus the “C. Heurick” signature.
Your tankard set was made around 1917 and the insurance value would probably be $1200 to $1800.
***
ANTIQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Beer Set Made For Brewery
Q: I have enclosed a photo of a tankard and two matching mugs that I have owned for a long time. Each piece is marked with a crown and the words “Sterling China.” They are also marked with the name “C. Heurick.” All three pieces are decorated with the same image of a man with a feather in his hat, a pipe and a tankard in his hand. The background shades a pale yellow at the top to a reddish-brown at the bottom. The tankard is approximately 14-inches tall and each mug is 6-inches tall. They are all in mint condition.
I am curious about their provenance and value for insurance purposes.
A: Sterling China Company made your ironstone beer tankard set. They have been located in East Liverpool and Wellsville, Ohio, since 1917. They have made hotel china, dinnerware for the United States Armed Forces and commercial china for airlines, restaurants, steamship and railroads.
In the early 1900s, beer tankard sets were popular and were often decorated with transfer prints of monks and men drinking. Your tankard
Q: This mark is on the bottom of a bone china teapot that I recently inherited from my mother-in-law. The teapot is decorated with tiny pastel flowers and trimmed in gold.
Anything you can tell me about the maker, age and value of my teapot will be greatly appreciated.
A: Adderley Ltd., made your teapot. They have made porcelain in Longton, Staffordshire, England, since 1906. Bone china is a term for a mixture of feldspar, kaolin and bone ash. Adding bone ash to the formula creates a snow-white body. English potters discovered the formula around 1800. They were searching for a way to produce china similar to hard paste porcelain made in China and the European Continent.
At one time, all porcelain was made in China, thus the name “china.” Bone ash was the byproduct of animal bones, usually from cattle. Bone china and English china are interchangeable terms. As a rule, porcelain marked “Made in England” was made after 1921.
Your teapot is circa 1921 and would probably be worth $50 to $75.
* * *
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. 9, 2021, Tom Brady became the first player in NFL history to start 300 regular season games as he guided the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to an opening day 31-29 win at home over the Dallas Cowboys.
* On Sept. 10, 1813, U.S. Captain Oliver Hazard Perry led a fleet of nine American ships to victory over a squadron of six British warships at the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, in the first unqualified defeat of a British naval squadron in history.
* On Sept. 11, 1941, Charles Lindbergh’s Des Moines speech, which advocated a position of nonintervention and was met with outrage in many quarters, accused the British, Jews and FDR’s administration of pressing for war with Germany.
* On Sept. 12, 1977, Steve Biko, a strong anti-apartheid activist and founder of the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa, was killed in an African prison while in police custody. Two decades later, five former police officers confessed to the murder and applied to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for amnesty, but their request was denied in 1999.
* On Sept. 13, 1926, the Post Office Department sent a memo to its 25,000 railway mail clerks containing an order to shoot to kill any bandits attempting to rob the mail, following an ever-increasing number of thefts. They also issued a statement saying that if the robberies continued, the Marines would be again called in to protect the mail.
* On Sept. 14, 1741, George Frideric Handel completed his oratorio “Messiah,” which was originally an Easter offering. Mesmerizing audiences ever since its first performance in Dublin, Ireland’s Musick Hall the following April, it remains a beloved feature of the Christmas season more than two centuries later.
* On Sept. 15, 1830, William Huskisson, a British statesman, financier and member of Parliament, was run over and fatally injured by Robert Stephenson’s pioneering locomotive Rocket. Though he’s commonly known as the world’s first widely reported railway passenger casualty, the actual first such death had occurred nine years earlier.
Bone china teapot was made by Adderley, Ltd.
Sterling China Company is located in East Liverpool, and Wellsville, Ohio.
Department Stores: from page 3
KOHL'S
• Kohl’s didn’t start out as a department store, but rather as a corner grocery store in Milwaukee, founded by Polish immigrant Maxwell Kohl in 1927. Kohl expanded his operation to a supermarket in 1946, and by 1962 his chain was the largest in the Milwaukee area, paving the way for Kohl to branch out into the department store business.
• Today, there are more than 1,100 Kohl’s stores located in 49 states, with annual sales exceeding $16 billion.
NORDSTROM'S
• When 16-year-old Johan Nordstrom landed in America in 1887, he had $5 in his pocket. He was a Swedish immigrant who spoke not a word of English. After ten years of working in mines, lumber camps, sawmills, and shipyards, he headed north to the Klondike to seek his fortune in gold. Two years later, Nordstrom was in Seattle, $13,000 richer.
• He and a shoemaker he had met in Alaska pooled their money and opened a shoe store, Wallin & Nordstrom, in 1901, selling $12.50 worth of merchandise on their first day in business. By 1905, annual sales were $80,000.
• The men opened a second Seattle store in 1923, and in 1929, both retired and sold their shares to Nordstrom’s sons. In 1960, Nordstrom’s had eight shoe stores, with the downtown Seattle store holding the honor of largest shoe store in America.
• The stores were strictly shoes until 1963 when they expanded to include women’s clothing, with men’s and children’s clothing added soon afterward. By 1967, annual sales exceeded $40 million. There were no Nordstrom stores on the East Coast until 1988, and none in New York until 1995.
• Although 16 stores had to be closed during the Covid pandemic, the company has grown from a single shoe store to 362 stores in the U.S., located in 42 different states and U.S. territories, with annual sales exceeding $15 billion. The fourth generation of the Nordstrom family still heads up the company.
Changers
by Jason Jenkins
Penny Pinchers
Unfortunately this article is not about ways to save yourself coin by finding the best online golf rate, but more about the little secrets of grip techniques that top players used to win a lot of money. Steve Elkington was considered by many of his peers at the time to have carried the title of “best looking swing on tour” through much of the nineties. His set up was beautiful and his motion looked poetic. For Steve it all started with a great looking grip that his coach Alex Mercer had taught him while a young boy in Australia.
Steve was taught to pinch together his thumbs and forefinger like he was holding a few coins in place. He even recollects walking to school in this fashion. By pinching the thumbs and forefinger together, he had to hold the club more in the fingers and his hands fit together quite beautifully. It takes a little training to use these small muscles of the hand, but it’s well worth it if you’re looking for a top grade grip to emulate.
