Vol.20: #40 • CRAYONS • (9-29-2024) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
by Janet Spencer
The crayons that children (and adults!) use worldwide today were made possible through progressive discoveries over many years by a number of inventors. This week, Tidbits fills in a word picture for you of the history and development of these colorful drawing materials, and we'll do our best to stay inside the lines!
EARLY DEVELOPMENT
• History records go back as far as the 1400s, when Leonardo da Vinci experimented by adding powdered pigment to beeswax, thereby creating a primitive version of pastel chalk. His efforts were somewhat successful but left much room for improvement, and future progress was slow.
• Pencils were historically made of graphite. However, in 1795, French artist and pencil maker Nicolas-Jacques Conte was upset because the Napoleonic wars interfered with the supply chain. He stretched his limited stock by adding clay to powdered graphite to extend what he had on hand, vastly improving the pencil. He experimented by
TRIVIA NEWSFRONT
(Answers on page 16)
1. U.S. STATES: Which state’s nickname is The Hawkeye State?
2. MOVIES: What are the bad guys called in “Transformers”?
3. MYTHOLOGY: What happens to people when Medusa turns her gaze on them?
4. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of crocodiles in the water called?
5. FOOD & DRINK: What is the main ingredient in bouillabaisse (stew)?
6. ASTRONOMY: How old is our Sun?
7. TELEVISION: Where does Walter White live in “Breaking Bad”?
8. LITERATURE: The character named Ichabod Crane appears in which 19th-century story?
9. MEDICAL: What is a common name for onychocryptosis?
10. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of Nova Scotia?
your body
• In 1951, a researcher named Eugene Aserinsky wanted to test out a new machine his lab had recently acquired that was designed to measure brain waves. He tested it out on his 8-year-old brother, hooking him up just before he went to bed.
• Aserinsky was astonished when, while watching the brainwave read-out from the next room, the graph paper jerked into full action. Assuming his brother had awakened, he rushed to check on things only to find his brother sound asleep, although he noticed that his eyes were moving.
• This was the world’s first discovery of Rapid Eye Movement, or REM sleep. During this period of sleep, the eyes are the only part of the body that moves freely, while all other muscles are basically paralyzed.
• About two of every eight hours of sleep are spent in REM, with the cycles repeated four or five times each nighttime period, with each episode longer than the previous one. Therefore, the deepest REM sleep is just before awakening in the morning.
• Newborn babies spend about half of their sleep in a REM state.
• Even babies still in the womb sleep and dream, with 80% of their sleep spent in REM. Although about 95% of people dream during REM sleep, it’s also possible to dream when not in an REM cycle.
• The average person will change position 30 to 40 times per night while asleep.
• Studies have shown that people who are sound asleep will twitch or jerk when they hear their names, but not when they hear other names.
• Most people can make themselves wake up at a particular time even without the aid of an alarm clock.
• Teenagers need more sleep than adults, usually requiring about ten hours every night. This makes early starts to school days difficult for teens. When school days start later rather than
earlier, studies have shown that there is better attendance, higher attention spans, higher test scores, less depression, and even fewer car accidents among teens.
• About half of humans have a snoring problem. Sleep apnea, when breathing is completely obstructed for long moments during sleep, is experienced by about half of people who snore. The apnea name comes from a Greek word meaning “breathless.”
• Babies yawn while still in the womb. They also get the hiccups.
• People tend to yawn the most when arising in the morning when they are at their most refreshed, rather than at night when they are most fatigued. Yawning is often the bodyʼs way of responding to the need for more oxygen
• In an experiment, a test subject named Michel Siffre isolated himself in a cave in the Alps of France. He had no way to tell time, as he could not see daylight and had no clock, no radio, or any other way to gauge the passage of time. He only had electric lights which he controlled. He was to come out of the cave when he had gauged that 37 days had passed. When he emerged into the daylight it was the 58th day.
• All creatures sleep, though the amount they need varies. Horses and elephants need only two to three hours per night, while sloths need ten or more hours a day. Some birds as well as marine mammals switch off just half of their brain at a time while the other half remains alert.
• Good sleep supports your brain performance and mood, and can decrease your risk for many diseases and disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and dementia.
Crayons: (from page one)
adding clay to the beeswax-and-pigment pastel chalks, inventing the world’s first basic crayons. He sold them, calling them “Conte’s Crayons.” In French, the word “crayon” means “pencil.”
• In 1864, Joseph Binney founded the Peekskill Chemical Company in upstate New York, producing charcoal and a product called lampblack (also called carbon black), a pigment made from soot. It was used to make useful items like ink and shoe polish. He was later joined in business by his son, Edwin, and his cousin Harold Smith.
• In 1885, the company, now called Binney & Smith, began selling red paint colored with iron oxide, or rust. This became the most popular color for barns because it was the cheapest paint on the market. A new market for carbon black opened up when it was discovered that tires, which had previously been white, would last longer if carbon were added to the rubber mixing process. Business boomed.
• Schoolchildren throughout the country practiced writing using a smooth flat rock called slate because paper was rare and expensive. In 1900, Binney & Smith found that by crushing a soft form of slate into a powder and then compressing it into a thin rod, they could manufacture greycolored slate pencils for writing on black slates. They opened a factory in Easton, Pennsylvania.
29, 2024 Vol. 20 - No. 40 Sun, 9/22/2024
• In 1902, Binney & Smith released a new product called a marking crayon. Made of wax with carbon black added, it was used in industry to mark lumber, cardboard, bricks, packaging paper, and wooden boxes. Railroads used it to mark cargo freight because it wouldn’t wipe off or wash away.
• Teachers complained that the chalk they used on their blackboards filled the air with chalk
dust. Chalk was brittle and terribly squeaky. In response, Binney & Smith developed “dustless chalk” made of chalk crushed to powder, then mixed with crushed gypsum and melted paraffin wax, then poured into molds. The slightly heavier ingredients allowed the loose particles to fall to the floor rather than float in the air. This finally solved the chalk problems.
• Edwin Binney’s wife was a school teacher. She told him that kids needed something colorful to draw with. The only crayon-type implements available were expensive imports from France. Edwin Binney and his team experimented with clays, waxes, and minerals. By now, paper was cheaper and readily available.
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION
• Crayola Crayons were named after the French word for chalk, “craie,” plus “-ola,” meaning “oily,” while also being a popular suffix for things like the Victrola, Motorola, Pianola, etc. Binney’s wife suggested the name, and it was voted on unanimously.
• In 1903, the company released the first box of Crayola Crayons. They were non-toxic, not brittle, cost a nickel and contained eight colorful crayons that revolutionized art in classrooms.
Purple is one of the rarest colors in nature and has historically been the most difficult to produce. In ancient times, Mediterranean snails were the sole source
• By 1958, the 64-color box with a built-in crayon sharpener was released.
• An episode of “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood” aired in 1981 showed a video demonstrating how crayons are made.
• In 1996, Fred Rogers was invited to the Easton, Pennsylvania factory to pour the company’s 100 billionth crayon. The crayon, labeled “Blue Ribbon,” was the first of one million blue crayons included in the new specially designed 96-crayon box. Of those, just ten crayons sported a special all-white label entitling the lucky finder to enter a contest to be the grand prize winner. A granny from the state of Washington won the grand prize: a bond worth $100,000.
Crayons: Turn to page 15
1. The name for this deep red color comes from the French word meaning "chestnut."
2. What name for this deep pink color is the same in Spanish, French, and English?
• When the Crayola factory expanded during the 1920s, they employed people from the surrounding countryside to glue labels on each individual crayon. Horse-drawn wagons delivered crates full of crayons, packets of labels and glue. Each family was responsible for a single color. They would return the finished product to the factory for payment. In this way, it kept the Pennsylvania factory in business while supporting families in the area throughout the lean times of the Great Depression. Today, of course, labels are automatically applied by machinery.
MILESTONES
• In 1948, Crayola introduced the 48-count box arranged in “stadium seating” style.
• The Crayola Company struck a deal with Woolworths in 1949 to distribute crayons nationwide.
One Crayola color that received a new name was originally dubbed "Indian Red," although this had nothing to do with North American Indians. Instead, the name referred to the dark red color favored in India. Its name was changed to "Chestnut."
After
SURPRISING STAIN REMOVER
By Lucie Winborne
* Octopus wrestling was a popular sport in the 1960s. A diver would fight an octopus in shallow water and drag it to the surface.
* After an online vote in 2011, Toyota announced that the official plural of Prius is Prii.
* Each spacecraft sent to Mars is scrubbed and inspected before dispatch as part of a strict planetary protection protocol meant to prevent contamination from Earth.
* Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a parasitic fungus, effectively turns ants into zombies. The fungus compels the ant to bite onto the underside of a low-hanging leaf, where it dies, and the fungus then sends a fruiting body out through the ant’s head to disseminate spores.
* Geckos can turn the stickiness of their feet on and off at will.
* And speaking of feet, during World War II, the United States began rationing shoes. Citizens were allowed three pairs.
* When Leonardo DiCaprio smashed his hand on the dinner table in “Django Unchained,” he accidentally crushed a small stemmed glass with his palm and really began to bleed. He ignored it, stayed in character, and continued with the scene. Quentin Tarantino was so impressed that he used this take in the final print, and when he called cut, the room erupted in a standing ovation.
* Though they are often used as vegetables in cooking, eggplants are botanically classified as berries.
* Charles Richard Drew was a Black physician who developed blood banks for military personnel during World War II. He quit working for the Red Cross after he learned that the military separated blood donations by race.
* The Dr. Seuss classic children’s tale “Green Eggs and Ham” was banned in China from 1965 to 1991 for its “portrayal of early Marxism.” ***
Tell them you saw their ad in Tidbits! patronize advertisers,
Thought for the Day: “A good example has twice the value of good advice.”
-- Albert Schweitzer (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
Who Knew You Can Use This for That!
I use glycerin to remove tea, coffee and cocoa stains from fabric. I apply the glycerin to a fresh stain, then gently rub it into the stain. If the stain is old, I let the glycerin soak into the stain for a while. Glycerin is readily available in most drug stores, pharmacies and online.
-- Gloria, California
BABY ORAJEL NOT JUST FOR BABIES
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
One day as I was hurriedly putting groceries away, the fruit bowl was not within reach, so I put the fruit into the colander. It worked so well that I’ve been using the colander in that way ever since. And when I need a colander, no problem. I turn the fruit onto the counter, drain whatever I need to drain, then replace the fruit. Giving one kitchen tool two or even three jobs is a great way to simplify.
by Mary Hunt
BAMBOO STORAGE CONTAINER
Bamboo steamers are airtight by design to allow air to circulate while items are steaming. That makes a bamboo steamer an ideal storage container for onions, garlic and shallots, which need ventilation and should not be refrigerated. -- Brad, New Jersey
HANDY WASHRAGS
Worn-out socks make fantastic washrags for young children during bath time. Wash them by putting a cotton sock on your hand with a bar of soap inside. Neither the soap nor the washcloth gets lost in the water. -- Dolores, Iowa
MIRACLE CLEANING REMEDY
Use a dab of ketchup to remove tarnish from copper-bottom pots. Just wipe on with a paper towel, let stand a bit and wash. It sounds weird, but it works. -- Peggy, Nebraska
Our teenage daughter badly stubbed her toe, and we needed to clip the nail. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t let us near it because of the pain. My wife found a tube of Baby Orajel and covered the area using a cotton swab. It was like magic. It numbed the area well enough that I was able to take care of things. I would never have thought to use Baby Orajel this way. -- Randall, Texas
SHOUT OUT THOSE STAINS
I found the best cleaner for my dirty golf shoes: Shout laundry stain remover. It works like a charm, getting down in the creases and crevices to get out the ground-in dirt. My golf shoes are leather, and it has not hurt them or the color.
-- Brenda, Michigan
ERASE THE RED POLISH
Red fingernail polish accidentally spilled on my carpet, making a long red streak. A friend told me to use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. The polish had already dried, but with a little elbow grease and several erasers, it all came out of my carpet. This is a wonderful product!
-- Carolyn, Tennessee
LOOK OFFICIAL TO GET ATTENTION
Take a clipboard with you when you’re shopping. You’ll get waited on quickly, since sales associates will think you’re either a mystery shopper or you’re snooping for the competition. -- LaVonne, California
PEROXIDE CLEANUP
I use a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle to clean just about everything in my house. It works great on windows and freshens my wooden cutting boards. On the lip of my sink, it foamed and cleaned up what I thought was rust. And the best part: It’s cheap. -- Carol, Illinois
FOAMING BUBBLES AROUND THE HOUSE
Remember: You read it in tidbits!
DON’T FORGET!
Tell the advertisers you saw their ad in Tidbits! Remember to TELL OUR ADVERTISERS YOU SAW THEIR AD IN TIDBITS!
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I took my foaming bath cleaner out of the bathroom and started using it on my walls, floors, patio furniture, kitchen -- basically anything and everything. It cleans it all. When we removed the carpet in the hall, the old vinyl flooring underneath had seen better days. After using the foam on the floor, the dust and carpet fibers came up, and I didn’t have to replace the flooring right away. For most things, just spray, wait a few minutes and whip away the dirt. It disinfects too! -- Jennie, email
What’s your favorite “this for that” item? You can add it in the comments at EverydayCheapskate.com/use-this-for-that-in-kitchen. Who knows? It just might show up here in a future “this for that” column!
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Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https:// www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a
and the author of the book “Debt-Proof
• In 1848 an outbreak of cholera swept through England and Wales, killing some 50,000 people. Physician John Snow, well-known in the region for his skill with anesthesiology, began studying the outbreak to find its origin.
• At the time, common belief held that foul odors caused cholera, but Snow didn’t believe that theory. Instead, he suspected the cause may be an infectious agent. Entire neighborhoods would be struck down, but visiting doctors treating patients in their homes were never effected.
• When he found that 12 people who lived sideby-side in a neighborhood of row houses all got
sick while no one living in adjacent row houses did, he began to suspect the issue may lay in the water. He noted that the well where residents of the first row of homes drew their water was cracked, the well that the second row got their water was not. He surmised that the cracked well might be contaminated by a nearby sewer.
• He also reasoned that since both neighborhoods were equally adjacent to a nearby rendering plant and having to sometimes endure the same foul odors, why didn’t everyone get sick if a common odor was the cause?
• An area in south London also a suffered a cholera outbreak, but the air there was relatively clean. However, they did draw their water from a well near a contaminated area of the Thames. John Snow wrote a paper on his findings but his conclusions were dismissed as mere theory.
• Then, on August 28, 1854, a baby living at 40 Broad Street came down with cholera. Her mother threw the soiled diapers into the cesspool in front of the house. The Broad Street pump was famous for miles around because the quality of water it drew from the well was said to taste better than any other well in the area. People came from miles around to fill their containers at the Broad Street pump. But now there were cholera-contaminated diapers in the sewer water adjacent to this well.
• By September 3, 1854, 74 people who lived near the Broad Street pump were dead of cholera with hundreds more sick. A full ten percent of the neighborhood died.
• Snow lived nearby, so he made his way door to door, asking residents questions about their routines, and where they got their water. He made charts. He put pins in maps. What he found was that the closer you lived to the Broad Street pump, the more likely you were to get cholera. Those who did not get sick had their own private wells or got their water from sources other than the Broad Street pump.
• Another outbreak, nowhere near the Broad Street pump, seemed to contradict Snow’s theory. Probing deeper, he found that the one thing they all had in common was that they’d eaten sherbet from a street vendor, and the street vendor had gotten water to make his product from the Broad Street pump.
• Another head-scratcher was a lady who lived miles away, who never frequented the Broad Street pump, but who still got cholera. Questioning her family members, many of them admitted that she loved the taste of the Broad Street water so much that they would often
bottle it up and bring it to her as a gift.
• Snow then presented all of his now-compelling evidence to city officials, imploring them to remove the handle from the Broad Street pump at once, forcing people to draw their water only from more distant non-contaminated sources. The pump handle was removed the next day.
• The epidemic diminished immediately. When the next outbreak occurred in 1866, city officials quickly insisted that residents in the area boil their water. From then on, there was never another cholera outbreak in London. John Snow, who died in 1858, would have been proud.
by Dana Jackson
Q: I can’t believe that the scam artist from “Inventing Anna” is competing on “Dancing with the Stars.” How is she able to film in Los Angeles if she’s on house arrest in New York? -- S.C.
A: Anna Delvey (previously known as Anna Sorokin) served just a small portion of her sentence in federal prison before being released in 2021. She then served 18 months in an immigration detention facility and is now on house arrest, while her deportation back to Germany remains a possibility. Delvey, who impersonated an heiress and was later convicted of larceny, says that she was given permission by ICE to travel to California to compete in “Dancing with the Stars,” but she has to wear an ankle monitor.
Delvey and her partner, dance pro Ezra Sosa, face a formidable list of competitors on Tuesday nights this fall on ABC and Disney+ (the next day on Hulu), including Olympians Ilona Maher (rugby) and Stephen Nedoroscik (gymnastics); reality TV stars Jenn Tran (“The Bachelorette”), Joey Graziadei (“The Bachelor”) and Phaedra Parks (“The Traitors”); actors Eric Roberts, Tori Spelling, Reginald VelJohnson and Chandler Kinney; athletes Danny Amendola and Dwight Howard; and
model Brooks Nader.
Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are also back, as well as judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough. A date for the season finale hasn’t been announced yet, but expect it to run for 10 episodes and conclude at the end of the November sweeps.
***
Q: When does the new season of “Saturday Night Live” start? It’s always so funny during an election year. -- K.C.
A: The 50th(!) season premiere of “Saturday Night Live” is Sept. 28, but as of this writing, the host and musical guest haven’t been named. The iconic sketch-comedy show welcomes three new cast members -- Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim and Jane Wickline -- while bidding farewell to three others -- Punkie Johnson, Molly Kearney and Chloe Troast.
What we do know is that former “SNL” star Maya Rudolph will return as Vice President Kamala Harris, and there will also be a special threehour, live 50th anniversary show on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
Soon in theaters, you can also see the new scripted movie about the very first “SNL” live episode in 1974. Directed by Jason Reitman, the film “Saturday Night” earned rave reviews at its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival this past August. It will be available to see in wide release beginning Oct. 11.
Q: I saw that Kaitlin Olson is on another new TV show. Does this mean “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” isn’t coming back? -- L.V.
A: No, the long-running ensemble comedy series will return to FX for its 17th season ... at some point. Kaitlin Olson, who stars in the new crime procedural series “High Potential” on ABC, is ex-
pected to start filming the new season of “Sunny” this October. Hopefully, this means new episodes of the hilarious comedy will air by January 2025 at the latest. Olson also plays a supporting role on the award-winning HBO series “Hacks.”
* * *
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
(c)
Anna Delvey (Upcoming on “Dancing with the Stars”) Depositphotos
Good Recipes from
Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Satisfy your wing craving with this buffalo chicken sandwich.
Sandwiches
1/2 cup hot sauce
1/4 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoon ketchup
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Hamburger buns
1/2 cup ranch dressing
Blue Cheese-Apple Slaw
1 cup packed shredded savoy cabbage
1 small apple
2 celery ribs
1 1/2 ounces blue cheese
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 shallot
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Salt Pepper
1. Heat grill to medium-high.
2. Combine hot sauce, butter and ketchup in a bowl; reserve 1/4 cup mixture. Add chicken to remaining mixture and toss to coat. Marinate 20 minutes. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade.
3. Grill chicken, covered, until the internal temperature reaches 165 F, 5 to 7 minutes per side. Grill buns until lightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Spread dressing on buns.
4. Serve chicken topped with "Blue Cheese-Apple Slaw" and drizzled with reserved sauce between buns.
5. To make the slaw:Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
Syrupy Banana-Nut French Toast Bake
A great make-ahead brunch recipe. Serve with bacon or sausage and fruit salad.
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
5 large ripe bananas
1 long loaf French or Italian bread
6 large eggs
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup sliced almonds or coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
1. In microwave-safe small bowl, heat butter in microwave oven on High for 1 minute or until melted. Stir sugar into butter until moistened. With fingertips, press sugar mixture onto bottom of 13- by 9-inch glass baking dish. (It’s OK if mixture does not cover bottom.) Spread fruit over sugar mixture; top with bread slices, cut sides down.
2. In medium bowl, with whisk, beat eggs; whisk in milk, vanilla and cinnamon. Slowly pour milk mixture over bread; press bread down to absorb egg mixture. Sprinkle with nuts. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
3. Heat oven to 350 F. Remove plastic wrap from baking dish. Bake, uncovered, 45 to 50 minutes or until bread is golden brown and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
TIP: If you don’t have bananas, substitute 3 to 4 very ripe pears or peaches (about 1 1/2 pounds), sliced; or 1 cup dried cherries, cranberries or raisins.
NEXT WEEK in
TIDBITS CELEBRATES
Autumn
9/29 VFW Day
9/30 Ask a Stupid Question Day
10/1 Coffee With a Cop Day
10/2 Bring Your Bible to School Day
10/3 Rosh Hashanah
10/4 Blessing of the Animals Day
10/5 Disabled American Vets Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Trail Dogs
Taking your dog hiking is a great way to make him love you as much as you love him, if that’s possible. The two (or three or four...) of you out in nature, soaking up sunshine, watering trees, chasing chipmunks, sniffing snakes. What? OK, so hiking isn’t all soft breezes and wildflowers -- it’s also rattlers, poisonous plants, heatstroke and hypothermia. But with some solid planning, you and your trail dog can be ready for just about anything. Here are some tips to keep your pup safe on the trails:
--On-leash, all the time. I know some of you will ignore this, but in most places and in all national parks, it is the law, and violations are punishable by steep fine. If dogs are allowed on public trails, they are typically required to be on a 6-foot lead. This is for their safety, but it’s also out of respect for fellow hikers, as well as native wildlife.
--Harness up. If hiking in rocky areas, consider a body harness with a handle, particularly for smaller dogs. If your dog is small enough to slip between rocks or get stuck in a tight crevasse, your job of getting him out is going to be a lot easier if he’s wearing a handled harness, as opposed to a leash attached to a collar that could easily come off or strangle him.
--Hydrate. Just as you need ample water when hiking, so does your dog. Don’t rely on water from lakes, streams and ponds as it may contain giardia, toxic algae or some gnarly parasites. Bring bottled water and a collapsible bowl, or fit your dog with his very own hydration pack -- available online and at outdoor stores such as REI.
--Leaves of three, let it be. Learn to identify any poisonous plants in the area, and keep your dog away from them. If the oils from these leafy demons get onto your dog’s coat, they are very, very likely to find their way to your skin. This is, if not the best, the most selfish reason for you to keep your dog on a leash when hiking. I wouldn’t wish a case of poison oak on my worst enemy.
--Heed the bark. If your dog launches into a fixed and alert barking session, pay attention. He’ll sense the presence of a bear, mountain lion, coyote or snake well before you see anything.
The scams against seniors are getting worse, if that’s even possible, and the thieves are becoming sneakier and more creative by the minute. We have to up our game to stay one step ahead of them and not fall victim.
It's time for us to review some of the typical scams to keep us on our toes. While some of these might seem to be repeats of scams that have already gone on for years, the differences are in the clever tactics that the thieves are using now. Here are a few:
Romance scams -- If you have a new online friend you’ve never met and they at some point ask for money, it’s a scam. They'll wait until they feel they have your trust before they ask.
Computer repair -- You might get a sudden pop-up screen warning that your computer has a virus with warnings it can't be fixed until you call the number given to speak to a tech. The tech will demand you pay a service fee before it can be fixed (ransom). This is a scam. Do not call. Instead, you must shut down immediately and reboot your computer to get rid of it.
by Joseph Publillones
Home Style
With more people working remotely from home since the Covid lockdown, folks are taking a more critical look at their home decor than perhaps ever before. We've had time to check out every scratch, blemish and wrinkle we've never before noticed, and we're now more aware of what we like and what we don’t. Comfort, above all, is what we all want today. It is the ultimate luxury.
As we face an uncertain future, which may entail longer periods of cooking, playing, living and even working from home, everyone seems to have comfort at the top of their list for every room in their home. Comfort can mean different things to different consumers, but we can all agree to certain rules about the rooms in our home. Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, bathrooms and kitchens all have certain standards about what makes them comfortable.
Grandparent scams -- You’ll get a call that is allegedly from your grandchild who is in jail and needs bail money. It’s a scam. The advent of AI (artificial intelligence) allows them to speak to you in a familiar voice identical to a family member. It's frightening to know this is possible, but it is real. Before something like this ever happens, create a code word you can use with family members as proof of who they are. A scammer won’t know that secret word.
The government -- This one is all about fear, and you’re made to think the IRS or the police will arrest and jail you unless you send a payment, or that your Social Security number has been suspended. It’s a scam.
Banks and account fraud -- This one is also about fear. You’re told someone is trying to get into your account, and they need to verify your private information. Hang up. Call the bank and ask if they’re looking for you. It’s a scam.
Nowadays, you might not want to answer the phone if you don’t recognize the number. If it’s a legitimate call, they’ll leave a message.
Do an online search for “scams against seniors 2024” and learn all you can about the dozens of types of scams out there. The list is growing, and you need to stay alert.
* * *
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.
home style aesthetics are about creating an experience or a memory -- not just a beautiful room, but a room that is living and breathing.
And don’t get the idea this means messy. Home style doesn’t mean disheveled or unkept. Home style can channel any style, from traditional to contemporary to anything in between. Of course, there are things that bring comfort and the idea of home to almost any room. Here are 15 things you can do immediately.
No. 1: Decorative pillows to make a chair or sofa comfortable.
No. 2: Plants or floral arrangements, which help purify the air.
No. 3: Throws to make you warm on a cold night.
No. 4: Bookcases for visual interest and organization.
Some adults’ fondest memories are set in the homes they grew up in. When you ask someone to describe their idea of a comfortable home, they usually describe something resembling their childhood home, where they felt protected and warm and had good times with family and friends. Some of the time, these are idealized memories, but they define in our mind what we consider a comfortable home style.
Needless to say, home style also varies an enormous amount depending on your personal history or experience. Comfortable furniture is crucial. You don’t want a coffee table too precious to put your feet on or a dinner table too nice to play cards or assemble a puzzle. Remember that
No. 5: Books for a quick read.
No. 6: Ottomans to prop your feet on.
No. 7: Mood lighting.
No. 8: Framed family pictures.
No. 9: Area rugs, which are great for walking barefoot.
No. 10: Furniture arranged in a U shape or a circle to help create a conversation area.
No. 11: Display collections, which help facilitate conversation.
No. 12: Trays, which help collect random items and keep the room looking neat.
No. 13: Bookshelves accessorized with items other than books.
No. 14: A concentrated blast of color through five or six items in the same color family.
No. 15: An occasional table between a chair or at the end of a sofa for placing a drink or a dinner plate.
* * *
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.
Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
--Be alert and prepared. Wildlife is an awesome reality of hiking. It’s also unpredictable. The best you can do is know what kind of wildlife is native to the area you’re hiking and prepare for it: bear spray, a long stick, a loud whistle and a solid plan in the back of your head just in case. Most wild animals want nothing to do with us, so heeding your dog’s natural warning system and keeping him on a leash will help you maintain a respectable distance.
--Know your hunting seasons. Be aware of hunters and put yourself and your dog in bright colors to alert them to your presence. A dog pack in neon yellow, orange or red makes him stand out in the forest -- and allows him to carry his own stuff! --ID tags and microchips. No kidding. This needs no elaboration.
--First aid on the trail and after. Carry a small first aid kit -- one for humans should work for dogs, too. It should include bandages for cut or scraped paw pads, as well as disinfecting ointments and tweezers. And always check for ticks after hiking. These nasty buggers should be removed promptly to prevent potentially debilitating disease.
Happy trails!
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.
The Art of DESIGN
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
More About the Death of a Spouse
Sometimes I’ll include something in a column about a broader topic that I think is just a small, almost insignificant piece of the puzzle. But then that nugget ends up confusing many people, causing them to write to me for clarification.
That happened recently when I wrote about the measly $255 one-time benefit that Social Security pays when someone dies. One of the points I made in that column is that the benefit can only be paid to a spouse who was living in the same household with the deceased at the time of death.
Many readers wrote to me explaining that their spouse is living in a long-term care facility or other institution because he or she can no longer be taken care of at home. And they asked if that means they will not qualify for the death benefit when the spouse dies.
The good news is they will qualify for the death benefit. The Social Security rulebook says that the “living in the same household” law will apply if the couple is apart for medical reasons and would have otherwise been living together.
I griped in that column, as I have a hundred times in the past, that the $255 “death benefit” is a joke and that it should be raised. I suggested maybe $2,500. Coincidentally, a reader, who is a Canadian citizen, wrote to tell me that the Canadian Social Security system does pay a $2,500 one-time death benefit.
Anyway, since I’m talking about benefits for a deceased person, I’ll spend the rest of this column going over what to do when a spouse or relative dies.
The first issue I will cover is what to do with the final Social Security check for the deceased. I must start by making three points. First, Social Security checks are paid one month behind. So, for example, the check you get in September is the benefit payment for August.
Second, the law says you must be alive for an entire month to get a Social Security check for that month.
And third, Social Security benefits have never been prorated. People don’t like this rule because the Social Security check for the month of death must be returned. For example, let’s say Mary is a 72-year-old woman whose 78-year-old husband, Fred, dies on Sept. 28. Mary would not be due the proceeds of that September Social Security check (paid in October) even though Fred was alive for 28 days of the month.
But there is a flip side to this lack of proration rule. If Fred does die on Sept. 28, Mary would be due widow’s benefits for the whole month of September, even though she was a widow for only three days of the month.
As I’ve explained many times, the lack of proration can help out when someone first starts getting Social Security. For example, if Fred took benefits at age 66 and he turned 66 on April 30 of that year, he would have received a check for the whole month of April even though he was 66 for only one day of the month.
So when Mary’s husband dies, the Social Security check for the month of death (paid the following month) must be returned. But that’s only if
she gets the check in the first place. I added that qualifier because there is a very good chance the check won’t even show up in the person’s bank account. As you maybe have heard, there are all kinds of computer-matching operations that go on between various government agencies and banks. So if the Treasury Department learns of a person’s death in time, they won’t even issue the Social Security benefit. Or, if the check was issued, the bank will likely intercept the payment and return it to the government before it even hits their checking account. In other words, Mary usually doesn’t have to worry about returning any Social Security checks. It’s almost always done for her.
There can be a little twist to this scenario, though. For example, let’s say that your husband dies on Oct. 2. And let’s say that his Social Security check was normally sent to him on the third of each month. In other words, your husband died just before his Social Security check was deposited into his bank account. Because he was alive the whole month of September, that means he was due the money from that September check. And now you, as his widow, are due that money.
Sometimes, bank officials will sort of just wink at you and let you keep the proceeds of that last Social Security check. But if they follow the letter of the law, that September Social Security benefit (paid on Oct. 3) would have to be returned to the Social Security Administration. Then it would be reissued to you in your name. (There is a form that needs to be filled out to get that to happen. You’d have to talk to an SSA rep about that.)
So far, I’ve been talking about dealing with the last Social Security check that was sent to your husband. Now let’s talk about getting any Social Security widow’s benefits that will be due.
Because you said his benefit is more than yours, after he dies, your benefit will be bumped up to whatever he was getting at the time of death. For example, if he was getting $2,800 per month and
1. The book of Agamemnon is found in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither
2. In the book of Esther, what was Hegai "the keeper of" regarding King Ahasuerus? a) Annals and records b) The women c) Royal household d) Eunichs
3. What New Testament person was the "voice of one crying in the wilderness"? a) Jude b) Judas c) Woman at the Well d) John the Baptist
4. From Proverbs 22, what is bound up in the heart of a child? a) Foolishness b) Mischief c) Love d) Rebellion
5. In biblical times, what were small copper coins called? a) Pennies b) Shekles c) Mites d) Paschals
6. From Judges 10, who had 30 sons that rode 30 donkeys? a) Elijah b) Jair c) Job d) Ezekiel
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
you are getting $2,100, after he dies, you will start getting $700 in widow’s benefits to take your total benefits up to his $2,800 level.
You will have to contact the SSA at 800772-1213 to set up an appointment to file a widow’s claim. (For reasons too complicated to explain in this column, widow’s claims must be filed in person.) At the same time, you will file a claim for that measly little one-time death benefit of $255 I discussed at the beginning of this column. You will probably need to provide two bits of documentation: a copy of your marriage papers and a death certificate.
There may be some women reading this column who are not getting their own Social Security, but instead are getting only spousal benefits on their husband’s account. If that is you, when your husband dies, no widow’s application is required. You would simply notify the SSA that your husband died, and they switch you from wife’s benefits to widow’s benefits. As part of the process, you may have to provide a copy of the death certificate. I say “may have to provide” because there is a chance the SSA will already have some proof of death in their files. And you don’t need to provide a marriage certificate because you already did that back when you filed for spousal benefits.
Finally, let me make this point. In this column, I kept referring to a woman whose husband dies. The same rules would apply to a man whose wife dies or to a member of a same sex couple whose partner dies.
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
have a platelet count below 150,000, so a level of 135,000 may not represent any disease at all. Typically, the risk of spontaneous major bleeding becomes high when platelet levels drop below 30,000.
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
How to Recognize Normal Versus High Blood Pressure
Please
Please
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been confused about what normal blood pressure is for me (or anyone). I know there is some debate on what normal is today, but let us say that normal is 120/80 mm Hg. Does this mean that 110/90 mm Hg, 130/70 mm Hg, or 150/50 mm Hg is also normal? Is there any significance of the ratio between systolic and diastolic blood pressure? -- L.P.
The most common cause of low platelets in older adults is an immune-mediated condition called “immune thrombocytopenia,” but there are many possible causes, including medications, bone marrow diseases, and liver disease. For a 76-year-old, if repeat blood counts show that the platelet count is stable in the 100,000 range, most experts would not do further testing in absence of any symptoms.
* *
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
Venice Motorcars LLC c/o Jay Saukkonen 1/16 pg 1C Open Rate April 7, 2024 Vol. 20 - No. 15
(c)
Empty Alcohol Bottle in the Pocket?
A big thumbs-up to the whistleblower who ratted out a Department of Veterans Affairs surgeon who was carrying an empty alcohol bottle. Specifically, the bottle fell out of the scrubs in the surgical locker room.
ADVERTISING PROOF
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ANSWER: Because so many people have high blood pressure, and the consequences of untreated or poorly treated high blood pressure include a risk for heart attacks and strokes, it’s critically important to understand this thoroughly.
For a young, healthy person, the lower the blood pressure, the lower the risk of blood vessel damage that leads to these dreaded complications of heart attack and stroke. I routinely see people with blood pressures of 90/60 mm Hg who are just fine (although they are a bit more likely to faint).
But for middle-aged and older people, we define blood pressure as normal when the systolic (first or top number) pressure is less than 120 mm Hg and the diastolic (the second or bottom number) is less than 80 mm Hg.
Elevated blood pressure is when the sys tolic pressure is between 120-129 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure is less than 80 mm Hg. It’s considered hypertension when the systolic number is 130 mm Hg or greater, or the diastolic number is 80 mm Hg or greater.
So, all of the readings you proposed are hypertension -- not just elevated blood pressure. Of course, the higher the reading (in general), the higher the risk of damage to the blood ves sels and, after some years, the higher the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
It’s not the ratio of the systolic and dia stolic numbers that is of interest; it’s the differ ence between them (also called the pulse pres sure). So, with the numbers you gave, the pulse pressures are 20, 60 and 100 mm Hg. Indepen dent of blood pressure levels, a higher pulse pressure confers additional risk to the person, mostly because very stiff blood vessels cause a high pulse pressure. Different types of blood pressure medicines affect pulse pressure differ ently. ***
DEAR DR. ROACH: Is a platelet count of 135,000 low or in the normal range for a 76-year-old male in good health, with no signs of abnormal bruising or bleeding?
-- P.R.
ANSWER: The normal range for a plate let count is 150,000-450,000 per microliter, so 135,000 is just below the lower limit of normal. However, it’s quite rare to have abnormal bleed ing with a platelet count like this, even under stress like a surgical procedure.
About 2.5% of the healthy population will
The report by the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) is scary to read when it concerns somebody who is going to carve up human bodies with scalpels. The surgeon was reported and, no, just being in possession of an alcohol bottle doesn’t specifically mean the surgeon was drinking on the job. But really, do you know anyone who carries around an empty alcohol bottle in their pocket who wasn’t drinking? When nothing was done immediately, a whistleblower called the state licensing board as well as the OIG.
Meanwhile, the surgeon was transferred to a different medical function -- ordering prescriptions -- away from direct patient care and was told to keep away from patients. The head of the facility believed that placing medication orders did not constitute patient care, so it would be OK.
Except it was learned that the surgeon didn’t understand “stay away from patients” and did contact a surgical patient -- and was transferred again to a different function.
The OIG’s opinion was that yes, prescribing medications did constitute direct patient care, and finally the facility leader decided to go for suspension of the surgeon.
The OIG report is a lengthy exploration of how those in charge can take steps while not understanding the rules and, oh, by the way, the hospital indicated that the surgeon didn’t actually treat any patients while banned from doing so. Except the OIG discovered paperwork that indicated the surgeon did indeed perform surgery on the same day that an empty alcohol bottle fell out of the pocket of the scrubs. When asked why they didn’t report the multiple problems with patient care they witnessed at the surgeon’s hands, staff indicated that they feared retaliation.
Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to colum-
M.D.
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
-- by Jim Miller
How to Arrange Your Own Cremation Service
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I would like to arrange a simple cremation that doesn’t cost me, or my family, a lot of money. Can you offer any tips that can help me with this? -- Still Kicking
Dear Kicking: If you’re looking for a simple and affordable way to go, cremation is an excellent choice, and it's one that has become exceedingly popular in the United States. About 60 percent of Americans are now choosing cremation over traditional burial services, versus only around 20 percent in the mid-1990s.
Why the big shift? Price is a key reason. A basic cremation can cost as little as $700 to $1,200, depending on your location and provider, versus $7,500 or more for a traditional funeral and cemetery burial. Geography is another factor, as many families are spread across the country, making future gravesite visits less common.
Here are a few tips to help you arrange your cremation and ensure you get a good deal.
Shop Around
You can arrange a cremation through a funeral home or a cremation-only business, but it’s wise to shop around because prices vary widely. It’s not unusual for one funeral home to charge $1,000, while another charges $4,000 or more for the same service.
Call five or six funeral homes or cremation-only businesses in your area and ask them how much they charge for a “direct cremation,” which is the most affordable option there is. With direct cremation, there’s no embalming, viewing or memorial service. It only includes the essentials: transportation of the body; required paperwork such as death certificates; the cremation itself; and return of the ashes to the family,
usually within a week.
If you want a viewing, memorial service or anything beyond what a direct cremation provides, ask the funeral home for an itemized price list so you know exactly what you’re paying for. All funeral providers are required by law to provide this.
To locate nearby funeral homes, Google “cremation” or “funeral” followed by your city and state. You can also shop and compare prices from funeral homes in your area at Funeralocity. com.
Cheaper Urns
The urn is another item that can drive up your cremation costs. Funeral home urns usually cost around $100 to $350, but you aren’t required to get one.
After cremation, your family will receive your ashes in a thick plastic bag inside a cardboard box. This is all they need if you intend to have your ashes scattered, but if your family wants something to display, Amazon.com and Walmart.com both sell a wide variety of urns for under $50.
Green Cremation
If you’re an environmentally conscious person, there’s also a green cremation option you should know about called “alkaline hydrolysis” that chemically dissolves the body. This is a gentler, more eco-friendly process than traditional cremation, which uses combustion. It’s legal in more than 20 states, and costs around $2,000 to $3,500. Google search “alkaline hydrolysis” followed by your city or state to find for a provider.
Free Cremation
If you’re interested in a free final farewell, you may want to consider donating your body to a university medical facility. After using your body for medical research or surgical practice they will cremate your remains for free, and either bury or scatter your ashes in a local cemetery or return them to your family, usually within a year.
To find a medical school near you that accepts body donations, the University of Florida offers an online directory at Anatbd.acb.med. ufl.edu/usprograms
call after your death. Also, if you have a written agreement with any funeral/cremation provider, be sure to give them a copy to let them know if you’ve prepaid or not.
* * *
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
CLIP AND SAVE
Whatever arrangements you end up making, make sure you tell your family your wishes so they will know what to do and who to
FILLERPAGE2 2Q08-WEEK19 MAY4-MAY10
Q: Where to crayons go for a vacation trip?
A: To Color-ado!
ANTIQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Silver Cup Serves as Family Heirloom
Q: I have enclosed a photo of a cup that was given to me by my mother. She said it was my grandmother’s and it has her name, Olive, engraved in cursive on it.
On either side of the handle, are decorations of leaves, branches and flowers. The cup stands a little over 3-inches high. On the bottom are the words “Triple Plate -- Shelton, Conn. -- The Hard White Metal Co.” There is also the number “32” with the mark. The cup is a dark gray, except for the bottom, which is a light shiny metal.
My cup is a family heirloom, and I would like to know its age, composition and value. What does the “32” represent? Thank you for any information about my new treasure.
A: You have a cup that is silver plated. It was made by The Hard White Metal Co. that was located in Shelton, Conn., in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Your cup was made of white metal and then triple plated with silver. The number “32” represents the model or design. Silver plated objects tarnish and can be carefully polished, unless the silver plate has totally worn away.
Your cup was made around 1900, and it would probably be worth $25 to $35.
Q: Enclosed is the mark seen on the bottom of a vase that I have. I bought it at an antiques shop over 40 years ago. It is in excellent condition, stands about 11 inches tall and is decorated with raised lavender flowers, green leaves and embellished with gold. The background is a matte cream color.
Could you please tell about the maker and the vase’s age and value?
Amphora Works Reissner was founded in Bohemia in 1892.
A: Your vase was made by Amphora Works Reissner. Hans and Carl Reissner, Rudolf Kessel and Edwared Stellmacher founded the pottery in Turn-Teplitz, Bohemia, in 1892. They produced hand-decorated porcelain and earthenware that was popular in Europe and the United States. Your vase was made around 1910 and would probably be worth $250 to $375. ***
Q: I have two tickets to the “World’s Fair Columbian Exposition in Chicago.” They were in a box of miscellaneous things I bought at auction. Each is marked “1st May to 30th Oct. 1893.”
Do they have any value?
A: World’s fair memorabilia is collectible. The pair would probably be worth at least $50.
* * *
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. 30, 1962, African American student James H. Meredith was escorted onto the University of Mississippi campus by U.S. marshals, setting off a riot in which two men died before the violence was suppressed by federal soldiers. The next day, he successfully enrolled and began classes, though the disruption continued.
* On Oct. 1, 1920, Scientific American magazine reported that radio would soon be used to broadcast music, noting that “Experimental concerts are at present being conducted every Friday evening from 8:30 to 11:00 by the Radio Laboratory of the Bureau of Standards. The possibilities of such centralized radio concerts are great and extremely interesting.”
* On Oct. 2, 1780, British Major John Andre, an accomplice of Benedict Arnold, was hanged as a spy by U.S. military forces in New York. Andre had asked of both his commander and Gen. George Washington that he be executed by firing squad, which was considered a more “gentlemanly” death, but the request was denied.
* On Oct. 3, 1997, 69-year-old Gordie “Mr. Hockey” Howe skated the first shift with the Detroit Vipers in their International Hockey League opener, making him the only professional in the sport to have competed during six decades.
* On Oct. 4, 1988, televangelist Jim Bakker was indicted on federal charges of mail and wire fraud and conspiring to defraud the public. The case against him and three aides exploded into scandal after it was revealed he’d had a sexual tryst with former church secretary Jessica Hahn in a Florida hotel.
* On Oct. 5, 1974, Dave Kunst finished the first round-the-world journey on foot, which took him four years and 21 pairs of shoes. His reason for embarking upon the 14,500mile journey across four continents: “I was tired of Waseca [his home town], tired of my job, tired of a lot of little people who don’t want to think, and tired of my wife.”
* On Oct. 6, 1961, President John F. Kennedy recommended that American families build bomb shelters as protection from atomic fallout in case of a nuclear exchange with the Soviet Union. He also assured the public that the U.S. civil defense program would soon begin providing such security for every American.
"You've got no sympathy from me. Trying to play through a group of slow-playing sumo wrestlers calling them brain-dead idiots and big fat clowns is just straight-up stupid."
The Hard White Metal Co. was located in Shelton, Conn.
Crayons: from page 3
• In 2017 Crayola announced they were releasing a new blue hue, and requested people write in with their suggestions for the name of the new blue crayon. Top of the list were “Dreams Come Blue,” “Blue Moon Bliss,” and “Star Spangled Blue.” However, the winner chosen after all votes were cast was “Bluetiful.”
• In conjunction with National Crayon Day, Crayola created the world’s largest functional crayon to celebrate the new color. It weighs 1,352 pounds and is 15 feet long. It’s on display at the Crayola Experience crayon museum in Orlando, Florida, with a replica located at company headquarters in Easton, PA.
• Crayola now sports 120 different colors. In addition, there are special sets of unusual crayons, including shimmery pearlescent; confetti crayons with different colors embedded into each stick; glitter crayons made with real glitter; metallic, neon, and others.
• One set, released in 2020, is called “Colors of the World” and contains 24 different skin tones. The original crayon called “Flesh” was renamed “Peach” in 1962 to recognize that not everyone’s skin is the same color.
• Pictures created with the very first crayons in 1903 remain as vibrant today as the day they were created.
• One study identified the top 20 most recognizable odors to American adults. Top on the list were coffee and peanut butter, followed by Vicks VapoRub, baby powder, lemon, cinnamon, tuna, and beer. Ranking #18 on the list was the smell of Crayola crayons.
• Interestingly enough, that distinctive crayon odor is not present in specialty colors such as neon, fluorescent, or metallic-colored crayons because their manufacturing processes are different.
Game Changers
by Jason Jenkins
Real Head Turner
Many golfers have been told, “keep your head down” or “don’t look up” on many shots around the green in order to achieve good contact.
Skulls, blades, chunks, and chili dips have been blamed on what many consider faulty head movement. Following this advice leads golfers to glue their eyes and head down well after the shot has been struck.
Top golfers have a simple head movement principle that every level of golfer should follow: turn the head to follow the ball flight. By prompting the head to turn to the target in the early follow through, the body can turn allowing the arms and wrist to extend through the strike.
The head down syndrome prevents the body from turning which inhibits the arms from extending through impact.
The key in the practice strike is to watch a spot of the turf you want to hit but allow the body and head to turn toward the target as if watching the ball flight. Look for extended arms and the body weight to finish on the left side in the finish.
Next time you miss the grass through impact, blame your hands, arms, or a change in posture but not your head.
