"The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read"
TIDBITS GOES
ICE SKATING
by Janet Spencer
Around the same time pyramids were being built in Egypt, early Scandinavians were strapping things to their feet and sliding across ice. Ice skating evolved over the centuries, from primitive to space-age, and is now a recreational activity enjoyed by millions. So bind up those ankles and glide along with us as we journey through the interesting history of skating!
• It’s thought that a primitive form of skating first became common in Finland around 4,000 years ago. However, the oldest ice skates ever found were extracted from the bottom of a lake in Switzerland and carbon-dated to 3000 B.C., making them over 5,000 years old.
• The first skates were made of long animal bones cut flat on the bottom and polished smooth, with holes drilled for straps to attach them to the foot. Wooden poles were used to provide propulsion, similar to skiing.
• Skating was likely not so much for sport as it was a means of transportation, as Finland has over
TRIVIA NEWSFRONT
(Answers on page 16)
1. MOVIES: What was the name of the tournament in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”?
2. GEOGRAPHY: What was the name of the train service that started in 1883 between Paris and Constantinople (Istanbul)?
3. LITERATURE: Who did the pigs represent in the allegorical novel “Animal Farm”?
4. ART: Which European city houses the Reina Sofia museum?
5. TELEVISION: What is the product that Don Draper makes an ad for in the final episode of “Mad Men”?
6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of unicorns called?
7. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which presidential retreat is officially named the “Naval Support Facility Thurmont”?
8. MUSIC: Which composer is featured in the film “Immortal Beloved”?
9. HISTORY: The Great Wall of China was mostly built by which dynasty?
10. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of fruit is also known as the Chinese gooseberry?
(Trivia Test answers page 16)
your body
"Fearfully
SMALLPOX
Smallpox was one of the worst diseases ever to affect humanity. It was outrageously contagious and killed 30% of its victims. An estimated half a billion people died from the dreaded disease worldwide throughout the 1900s despite a vaccine being available.
• The Aztec and the Inca societies were all but wiped out after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors because of smallpox. Within the span of a single year, they were reduced from being the greatest civilizations on the planet to being a mere remnant.
• Hernán Cortés unintentionally brought smallpox when he arrived in 1519. One of his soldiers died during battle. He had been sick with smallpox before being killed. The Aztecs looted his body, became infected, and the disease spread. By the year 1580 the Aztec city of Texcoco, with a population of around 15,000 before the arrival of Cortés, was reduced to about 600 people, or just four percent of its original population. Smallpox killed about 90% of the native people throughout the Americas.
• After the Aztecs were nearly wiped out, the remaining few devised a new calendar, starting from the year of “The Great Leprosy”. The arrival of smallpox had split their history into “before” and “after.”
• Though smallpox was deadly for Europeans, they had been previously exposed to it for centuries. Every time a new wave swept through, survivors developed immunity, which could sometimes be passed on to their children. Europeans also lived in close proximity to their livestock including cows, pigs, goats, horses, and chickens. This exposed them to many less serious illnesses, including cowpox, which rendered immunity from smallpox. Populations throughout the Americas didn’t keep livestock, and had fewer chances to develop any kind of immunity.
• The last known case of smallpox occurred in 1978 at the University of Birmingham in England. Janet Parker was a medical photographer who worked in the labs. One floor below her, virologist Henry Bedson had been studying one
of the world’s few remaining smallpox virus samples. Bedson was one of only a handful of biochemists commissioned to research the disease. He was working quickly because the stockpile was scheduled for destruction, as the WHO worked to eliminate stashes of the virus.
• Some of the virus managed to escape into the air ducts, and Janet Parker inhaled them as they floated into her lab. Although she had been vaccinated against smallpox 12 years earlier, it by then had worn off. She died two weeks later, becoming the last human on earth ever to die of smallpox. Appalled and feeling responsible, Henry Bedson committed suicide. As a precautionary measure, the hospital ward where Parker had been treated was sealed for five years.
• In 1980, two years after Mrs. Parker’s death, smallpox was officially declared to have been eradicated. The disease had been defeated by medical science. It was the first infectious disease to have been fought on a global scale.
• Today there are only two known reservoirs of the smallpox virus. One is owned by the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia, and one is in a secure facility at a virology institute in Siberia.
• After the attack of September 11, 2001, the U.S. Government stockpiled enough smallpox vaccine to protect every citizen in the U.S. This vaccine takes only three days to render immunity, so if smallpox were ever used as a biological weapon, we would be prepared.
Inland Buyers
• With smallpox eradicated, the next deadliest disease that moved into the #1 position was tuberculosis, which is still widespread though vaccines prevent it and penicillin cures it.
Madrid, Spain.
187,000 lakes, and it’s easier to cross them in the winter on skates.
• The oldest known skates with metal blades, made of copper, were found in Scandinavia and date back to about 200 A.D. The next type of metal blades appeared in the 13th century, and were attached to wooden blocks that were strapped to the foot.
• By the 1500s, the blades were curved upwards at the toe to prevent the tip from getting stuck in the ice.
• In 1850, Philadelphia businessman Edward Bushnell was the first to craft blades out of steel. His new design allowed the blades to be clamped onto any shoe, which revolutionized the sport of skating. Now skates could be massproduced cheaply, and ice skating then began to gain popularity.
SKATING SOPHISICATION
• Around 1865, ballet dancer Jackson Haines was the first to introduce graceful moves and athletic jumps to skating. His demonstrations turned sport skating into an art form and layed the foundation for what would become figure skating. He improved his skates by screwing the blades directly to the thick soles of his boots and added the “toe pick,” a serrated edge that adds grip to the ice, giving the skater more options that were previously not possible.
• The world’s first commercially successful artificially frozen ice rink was installed in London in 1876. The innovative breakthrough was designed by a meat distributor who had invented a method of freezing meat to survive long sea journeys.
• The first rink in the U.S. opened in New York City in 1879, making skating a year-round activity. As the number of ice rinks grew, so did an interest competitive sport skating.
• The first organization designed to officially govern the rules of skating was the National
NUGGETS
Skating Association of Great Britain in 1879. The U.S. followed in 1886 with the National Amateur Skating Association.
• Together these groups joined with others to form the International Skating Union. The ISU remains the chief governing body for all forms of skating, including speed skating, figure skating, and ice dancing.
COMPETITIVE SKATING
• The first world championships for speed and figure skating were held in 1896. Only men were allowed to compete.
• But Madge Syers showed up at the World Championships in 1902. The judges wanted to ban her, but she challenged them to point out the place in the rulebook where women were prohibited from competing. No such rule existed. They had to let her compete.
• Madge Syers came in second place. The firstplace winner, Swedish skater Ulrich Salcho, offered Madge his gold medal, saying it was she who was the best skater. She refused it.
Salcho. The camel spin was likely developed by an Australian skater named Campbell.
music. Performance ice skating had taken on a bold new dimension, and the increasing crowds of spectators loved it.
• Henie became a media darling, headlining a traveling ice show and starring in ten Hollywood movies in the 1930s and 1940s.
• The popularity of ice rinks burgeoned, but the constant resurfacing the ice to keep it smooth was a tedious, time-consuming but necessary
Skating: Turn to page 15
• The ISU then re-wrote the rulebook to prohibit men and women from competing against each other, and instead formed the Ladies World Championship. At the 1908 London Olympics, Madge Syers won the gold. She later created somewhat of a scandal by skating in calf-length skirts, cut “appallingly short” so judges could see her fancy footwork.
• The term “figure skating” originated because competitions involved testing skaters to see how accurately they could carve designs on the ice, including figure 8s, roses, stars, and crosses. This exercise was boring for spectators and was eventually dropped, but the name stuck.
• The popularity of ice skating boomed due to Sonja Henie of Norway. It’s not just that she won more medals than any other skater before or since, racking up three Olympic gold medals, ten World Champion medals, and six European Champion medals. But also because Henie discarded the tradition of stiff and stuffy routines while wearing long black skirts and somber black skates.
• Instead, Henie’s thrilling routines incorporated short skirts, gleaming white skates, athletic jumps and spins, and ballet moves performed to
Ice
Tidbits of Coachella Valley
Many classic skating moves were named after those who invented them: Alois Lutz, Axel Paulsen, Ulrich
By Lucie Winborne
* The term “lawn mullet” means having a neatly manicured front yard and an unmowed mess in the back.
* Weird Al Yankovic wrote his parody song “The Saga Begins” before “Star Wars: Episode I” was released. Lucasfilm denied his request to see the film early, so he relied on internet spoilers for plot details.
* The acid in the human stomach can dissolve razor blades.
* In 1987, Steve Rothstein paid $250,000 for a lifetime unlimited first class American Airlines ticket. He even hopped on planes to get a sandwich or to go to a baseball game in other cities. It cost American Airlines around $21 million, and they ended his contract in 2008.
* In Italy, it’s considered bad luck to lay bread upside down -- either on a table or in a basket.
* Thanksgiving Eve is the biggest drinking and pizza night of the year.
* When the Italian writer Umberto Eco visited Paris for the first time, he only walked down streets surviving from the Middle Ages. He was studying medieval history at the University of Turin at the time and was obsessed with the era.
* In an emergency, coconut water can be used for blood plasma, due to its high levels of sodium and low levels of potassium.
* When pencils went into mass production in the 1890s, the finest available graphite to fill them came from China. Pencil manufacturers wanted everyone to know that they used only the best Chinese graphite, so they painted their pencils yellow, the traditional Chinese color of royalty. ***
Thought for the Day: “Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.” -- Samuel Ullman
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
A Nappy Solution for a Common Problem
Combine baking soda and cornstarch in a small bowl and mix with a fork. Add the coconut oil and continue stirring as you work it into a paste. Heat in microwave for about 20 seconds, then stir again to fully incorporate all the ingredients. Store in a small, airtight container. -- Sheri
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
I love to discover a second use for something most of us have around the house or can easily find. Today’s first tip may give you a big surprise but for sure a big laugh. By the way, this really works!
by Mary Hunt
Plant Potty Liner: Line the bottom of baskets and pots with a disposable diaper (yes, clean and unused!) before you put in the potting soil and plants. This keeps the soil from rushing out of the drainage hole and helps retain soil moisture while still allowing the plant to drain.
-- Stacy
Better Rug Gripper: Recently I purchased a product, Rug Gripper, for my 5-foot-by-3-foot kitchen rug, which was unsatisfactory because it didn’t work to keep the rug in place. I got the bright idea to use a roll of rubberized shelf liner, which I happened to have already. It worked great to keep the rug in place. I am very happy with the results. -- Florence
Security Compliant: My mom came to visit me recently. She lives in Texas and I live in Kansas City. When I took her to the airport to go home, I had this brilliant idea! I gave her an empty water bottle and told her to fill it up after she got through security so she wouldn’t have to spend $5 to buy water on the other side. My mom said, “No thanks, I have two empty bottles already in my purse.” HA! Why didn’t she tell ME that a long time ago? -- Amanda
The Last Dab: To get the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube, I use a pair of pliers to squeeze the end near the cap. I can get at least a week more out of the tube. -- Beverly
Handy Twine: To have garden twine handy when you need it, stick a ball of twine in a small clay pot, pull the end of the twine through the drainage hole, and set the pot upside down in the garden. Tuck a small pair of scissors in there as well, and you’ll be set and ready to go next time you need to tie up a vine or stake.
-- Greg
DIY Deodorant: Due to the heavy toxins in commercial deodorant, I’ve wanted to stop using it for years but didn’t know the alternatives. Recently, I stumbled on a recipe for homemade deodorant: 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup cornstarch and 5 tablespoons organic coconut oil.
Handy Measure: Turn a long-handled garden or another tool into a measuring stick. Just lay it on the ground, placing a measuring tape next to it. Using a permanent marker, write inch and foot marks on the handle. When you need to space plants a certain distance apart (from just an inch to several feet), you’ll have a handy measuring device right there in your hand. -- Jasmine
This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”
FLIGHT ENDURANCE
There are a lot of world records related to flight. One of them is for refueled, manned flight endurance. The current record of 64 days was set in 1958, by Robert Timm and John Cook. Here’s a look at the story behind it.
• Since the early days of aviation, airborne flight time has always been limited by how much fuel a plane could carry. This changed with the introduction of air-to-air refueling by the military, which greatly increased the length of time a wartime plane could continue flying.
• The first mid-air refueling between two planes occurred in 1923 and soon became a common practice. As more and more pilots vied for the top spot in the record books for multiple days aloft without landing, flight records were set and broken on a regular basis.
• In 1956, Doc Bailey built the “Hacienda Hotel,” a resort in Las Vegas. But business was slow because at the time it was too far from the main tourist attractions. He needed publicity.
• One of his slot machine repairman, Robert Timm, was a trained pilot who had flown bombers in
World War II. Timm suggested setting a world record for remaining aloft in a plane. Bailey provided financial backing, and Timm spent the next year heavily modifying a 1956 Cessna 172 for the venture.
• The plane was named the “Hacienda Hotel.” In order to avoid the feat being seen as a pure publicity stunt, a fundraiser was included. Participants could write down a guess as to how long they expected the flight to last, attach their entry to a monetary donation made out to a local cancer research group, and take a chance on winning the $10,000 first prize.
• John Wayne Cook was an airline mechanic and trained pilot who had helped Timm modify the Cessna, and was chosen as co-pilot for the stunt. Out came the interior, except for the pilot seats, and added was a four-inch-thick sleeping pad, a small sink to allow the pilots to wash up, and a retractable outside platform to assist with refueling and inflight engine maintenance.
• At the time they took off from McCarran Field in Las Vegas on December 4, 1958, the standing record for the longest time airborne without landing was 50 days. They would need to fly for at least 51 days.
• After take-off, men in a chase car on the runway painted white lines on the plane’s wheels. If any scuff marks appeared before landing after the stunt, it would reveal a tell-tale landing.
• Timm and Cook spent most of their time flying over California and Arizona, with many trips to large cities to participate in flyover TV and radio promotional events.
• They were refueled by a truck outfitted with a winch, fuel tank and hose. The plane would fly just above stall speed above the truck down a long straight stretch of road, hook the hose, attach it to the fuel tank, and turn on the pump. It took three minutes to fill the tank. This process was done twice a day, 128 times total, without mishap. All supplies, including food furnished by the hotel, were hauled up by rope from the truck to the plane. They worked out a schedule
that had them flying in four-hour shifts.
• On January 23, they broke the existing record but decided to keep on flying. By the time they landed on February 7, 1959, they had been in the air for 64 days, 22 hours, and 19 minutes. They had flown a little over 150,000 miles, equivalent to six times around the Earth. The white stripes on the tires were checked by a crew in a truck on the runway before they landed, confirming that no interim landings had been made.
• Along the way, they lost the generator, tachometer, autopilot, heater, landing and taxi lights, fuel gauge, fuel pump, and winch, but managed work-arounds allowing them to continue the flight.
• Afterwards, Timm returned to repairing slot machines, and Cook had a long career as a commercial pilot. Their plane now hangs suspended above the baggage claim at McCarren International Airport in Las Vegas. The Hacienda Hotel resort closed on December 10, 1996, and was imploded on New Year’s Eve that year to make way for the construction of the Mandalay Bay resort.
CLIP AND SAVE
by Dana Jackson
Q: Now that “The Great” is no longer running, what series or movie will Elle Fanning do next? Also, did she ever win an Emmy for “The Great”? She should have! -- K.W.
A: Elle Fanning has been nominated for an Emmy and three Golden Globes for her portrayal of Catherine the Great in the Hulu series “The Great,” but she never won. The series was critically acclaimed but canceled after three seasons, and she’s since moved on to other projects.
Next up for Fanning is the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” opposite Timothée Chalamet. (Perhaps an Oscar is in her future?) She’ll also star as the titular character in the upcoming Apple TV+ series “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” which is based on the novel of the same name by Rufi Thorpe. The all-star cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer (“The First Lady”), Nicole Kidman (“Bombshell”) and Nick Offerman (“The Last of Us”).
Pfeiffer’s husband, David E. Kelley, is the showrunner. Kelley last worked with Kidman in the HBO series “Big Little Lies.” He’s best known for “L.A. Law,” “Ally McBeal” and “The Practice,” which were all huge hits on network television. He’s most recently created shows for streaming services -- some hits, some not -- but “The Lincoln Lawyer” and “Presumed Innocent” were strong
showings for Netflix and Apple, respectively. ***
Q: I’ve been watching the Bruce Springsteen documentary on Hulu, but I could have sworn there was also a movie coming out with an actor playing him. Am I remembering correctly? -- D.D.
A: You didn’t dream it; it’s true. A motion picture about Springsteen’s life while recording his iconic acoustic album “Nebraska” in the early 1980s is currently in production. None other than Emmy-Award-winning actor Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”) will portray him and says that he would even like to try singing for the film, as opposed to being dubbed over.
Titled “Deliver Me from Nowhere,” the movie is based on the recent book of the same name by author Warren Zanes and will be directed by Scott Cooper (“Crazy Heart”). The film will also star two other actors who are no strangers to awards ceremonies: Jeremy Strong (“Succession”) and Paul Walter Hauser (“Black Bird”).
***
Q: Is Johnny Depp going to do any more “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, or is his career pretty much over since his trial with Amber Heard? -- L.L.
A: Even though Depp won his defamation trial in the United States against his ex-wife Amber Heard (“Aquaman”) and has done some independent films, he hasn’t quite made a comeback as a movie star. It’s doubtful that there will be another “Pirates” movie with Depp in the starring role, but he’s still planning to inch his way back onto our movie screens.
He’s recently been cast in his fourth film opposite Penelope Cruz, titled “Day Drinker.” The two previously appeared in the movies “Blow,” “Pi-
rates on the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” and most recently “Murder on the Orient Express.” It’ll be his first big studio project since his career went south.
* * *
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.
CLIP AND SAVE 11-15-24
Elle Fanning as Catherine the Great in “The Great” Courtesy of Hulu
King Charles III
Good Recipes from
Trattoria-Style Shrimp Fettuccine
Classic and quite simple to prepare, this shrimp and pasta dish can be served on its own thanks to the bag of fresh spinach that gets incorporated at the last minute.
12 ounces fettuccine or spaghetti
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium (6- to 8-ounce) onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 bottle (8-ounce) clam juice
Salt
1 pound shelled and deveined large shrimp, with tail part of shell left on if you like
1 bag (5- to 6-ounce) baby spinach
1/3 cup (loosely packed) fresh parsley leaves, chopped
1. Heat large covered saucepot of salted water to boiling on high. Add pasta and cook as label directs.
2. Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, heat oil on medium until hot. Add onion and garlic, and
cook 10 minutes or until golden and tender, stirring often. Add wine; increase heat to mediumhigh and cook 1 minute. Stir in clam juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt; heat to boiling. Stir in shrimp, and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp turn opaque throughout.
3. Drain pasta and add to skillet with spinach and parsley; toss to coat. Serves 6.
Each serving: About 350 calories, 7g total fat (1g saturated), 115mg cholesterol, 515mg sodium, 46g total carbs., 4g dietary fiber, 24g protein.
Sicilian Pasta Salad
This recipe brings Sicily right to your kitchen -- with only six ingredients!
1 pound dried penne, orecchiette or shell pasta
3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 pint mixed cherry tomatoes
1 medium head radicchio
1 cup mixed pitted olives
1 cup crumbled Ricotta Salata cheese
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 10 minutes.
2. While pasta is cooking, whisk 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil and vinegar in a large serving bowl. Add remaining ingredients and toss until coated.
3. Drain pasta and add to serving bowl. Season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Toss to combine. Serves 4.
After-Dinner Chocolates
These incredibly easy chocolates are a light and deliciously cool dessert to serve after your autumn dinner party.
1/2 cup mint leaves
3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1. On a paper-towel-lined plate, arrange leaves in single layer. Microwave on high 40 seconds or until brittle.
2. In a bowl, microwave chocolate on high in 30-second increments until melted, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly, then dip leaves in chocolate; transfer to a waxed paper-lined plate. Refrigerate to set. Makes 24 chocolates.
For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/.
By John Allen
DIAMOND LIL
by Brett Koth
Donald
VISITS
The LOUVRE
11/11 Veterans
11/12 National Donor
11/14 OR Nurses Day
11/15 National Philanthropy
11/16 Teddy
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Wrong Dog in the Doghouse
“Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.” -- Mark Twain
Usually, when I write of training, I’m referring to a dog. But there are times when only a coin flip can decide who -- dog or master -- is in greater need of education. This is one of those times.
“We got our Doberman, Sasha, from a breeder when she was 8 weeks old. She’s now 4.
“When she first came to live at our house, we had a male pug named Max and a female black Lab named Quincy, who stays outside in a kennel. Max and Sasha loved each other, but Sasha didn’t love Quincy. They got into a few fights when Quincy came inside on winter nights. Sasha always went after her neck, but Quincy was never hurt.
“A few weeks later, Max died from unknown diabetes. We tried to bring Sasha around other dogs, but she wouldn’t accept them.
“Then, when Sasha was a year old, we found kittens in a woodpile. She loved them! She thought they were her babies. So we kept a male cat we call Patch, and those two never had any problems, except for one time when Patch scratched Sasha. But Sasha didn’t fight back.
“We also have a parakeet that Sasha loves to stalk and chase around.
“So far, Sasha has bitten six people; three of them had to go to the hospital for stitches. Two of the people she bit live in the house, me being one and my mom the other. She bit me to the extent that I had to get plastic surgery on my cheek.
“She also has bitten my aunt and three friends who walked into my house without me accompanying them -- which is understandable but not tolerable.
“A few weeks ago, we brought a puppy that we wanted to keep home to see Sasha. He is a Box-
Corner: Turn to Page 10
Cody's
(CryptoQuip Solution on page 14)
SENIOR NEWS LINE
by Matilda Charles
What shall we do with the extra $50?
Social Security payments are going up 2.5% starting in January, which comes to an average $50 increase for the 72 million recipients. That’s less than the increase for 2024, and the previous year, and the previous year.
Your 2025 statement detailing your specific amount should arrive in the mail in early December. Read it carefully to be sure you don’t spot any mistakes.
Medicare cost is getting a bump, from $174 to $185. (Keep an eye out for your annual booklet “Medicare & You” to come in the mail.) Remember: Upon reaching age 65, you still need to sign up for Medicare within 3 months of your birthday.
Social Security fraud is still a big problem. If you suspect someone has tried to scam you, call the Inspector General’s Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271 and report it. Fraud schemes are a big business with crafty theives who are always looking for any possible way to get your private information and steal you blind. Always
The
Art of DESIGN
by Joseph Publillones
Animal Prints Gone Wild
Ever since the first caveman figured out the need for food, warmth and modesty, animal skins have been common textures inside dwellings. In caves, we have learned that in prehistoric times, the skins and furs of animals were used to cover bare earth floors for warmth and comfort. Since then, there has been no doubt that these patterned skins would become a classic in interior design all the way through today.
Of course, using skins immediately brings to mind Safari-like interiors. From very literal African style interiors to the uber-popular British colonial decor incorporate skins and animal patterns as a motif. Animal prints are used because of their exotic patterns and because they are good durable fabrics that can conceal most stains. Just open any design magazine today, and you will find leopard spots, zebra or tiger stripes, and even giraffe-esque squares.
be on the alert, and never give information to anyone contacting you asking for it.
If you’re scrambling and watching your savings dwindle because of the rising cost of, well, everything, you know that the Social Security increase won’t make but a small dent. Give your finances a good hard look and prioritize where you'll spend the little bump.
Some ideas: Put off buying a new winter coat for one more year. Buy food in bulk and split with a friend or neighbor. Look for community rabies/distemper shot events to lower the cost of vaccines for your pet. Put clear plastic on the windows to block chilly breezes. Ask for discounts everywhere you go and shop on seniors discount days. Apply for energy, phone and internet assistance money. Consider a part-time job one day per week. If you can pay for the whole year on your auto or homeowner insurance, you might get a significant discount. Review your subscriptions and cable TV extras and see if you can delete any of them. Try out cheaper store brands. Explore GoodRx and America’s Pharmacy for reduced prescription costs.
In short, look for spare dollars anywhere you can find them, because that extra $50 isn’t going to go very far.
* * *
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
or even wallpaper an entire room. This can be a playful and dramatic use all in one. Animal prints are wonderful to use if you want to create a room that stands out from the crowd due to its bold appearance, yet is inviting and comforting at the same time.
As with many elements in interior design, animal prints were used in fashion first from loin cloths of prehistoric men to fur trimmed royal garments for Empress Josephine and the fashion forward designs of Roberto Cavalli. While it remains an unknown which interior designer used animal prints first, there is a long list of designers including Elsie de Wolf, Madeleine Castaing, Billy Baldwin and Albert Hadley. There is a great variety of patterns from Antelope, Cheetah, Heifer, Leopard, Panther, Tiger or Zebra just to name a few. Animal prints are very adaptable. You can incorporate these prints in most decor, from traditional interiors paired with red lacquered walls a la Diana Vreeland to just a splash here and there in a minimalist interior with white walls.
Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
er-black Lab mix. Sasha loved him. It’s obvious that she always wanted to play with other dogs, but was just too scared.
“We’ve had the puppy for about four weeks now. The second week, Sasha bit him on the nose when he tried to walk over to her food bowl. She has growled at Patch a few times when he did this, but she never bit. The puppy wasn’t hurt.
“Today, though, Sasha clamped down on the puppy’s head when he jumped up onto the couch where Sasha was sitting. The puppy might not survive.
“We love our Sasha with everything in us, and nobody wants to get rid of her or put her down. She really is a great dog! She has never been abused, beaten or deprived of anything, and we don’t understand why she acts like this. Is she just jealous?”
The issues at hand are plentiful, but jealousy is not among them. Multiple female dogs in one house is not advisable -- they are prone to fighting over dominance and territory. Providing an aggressive dog a throne, such as a couch, bed or other piece of furniture usually reserved for humans, only elevates an already existing sense of entitlement. And failing to act at the first sign of aggression invites the unwanted behavior to stay.
But primary among them stands the issue of judgment. The wrong dog is in the doghouse. Until the owners recognize this, no person, dog, cat or parakeet in this house is safe.
Woof!
* * *
Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.
COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM
You have to know how to incorporate animal prints in the space. Take caution because there is a fine line between trendy and tacky. For a subtle touch, you can make an animal print an accent piece in the room. This means it can be shown in a pillow, a lampshade or perhaps on the pad of a chair. Alternatively, it can be a bold and aggressive move, becoming the focal point of your room. In the latter, you might choose to incorporate these patterns of nature in a wall-towall carpet, to cover a large sofa, a pair of chairs
It takes a certain confidence to decorate with animal prints. It is not for the faint of heart. Nonetheless, today, animal prints are mainstream in decor. I suggest sticking to one type of pattern per room. I find rooms that have multiple patterns can be loud and confusing. Use animal prints in unexpected places for that surprise element that most great interiors have. Finally, be specific where you are using the animal pattern so it doesn’t become ubiquitous, or it will feel like Animal Prints gone Wild.
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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.
You can tell a lot about a woman’s mood just by her hands. If she’s holding a gun, she’s probably angry.
I’m not saying let’s go kill all the stupid people. I’m just saying let’s remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out.
You know that tingly little feeling you get when you really like someone you’ve just met? That’s common sense leaving your body.
© King Features Synd., Inc.
zens. Cassius says: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.”
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Politics, Elections and Social Security
Because the presidential and congressional elections are on everyone’s mind, more than a few people have sent me emails saying something like this: “I’m afraid that this upcoming election will lead to dramatic changes to Social Security. So even though I didn’t want to file for Social Security for a few more years, I’m going to do it now so that I am grandfathered into the current system and no president or Congress will pull the rug out from under me!” And then they ask me if I think that’s a good idea.
And here is my answer: NEVER make a decision about when to start your Social Security benefits based on politics. Instead, make that decision based on your financial situation, your anticipated longevity, your marital status and other personal considerations discussed often in this column.
Why not politics? Well, consider this. For 50 years now, people have been making the same point to me. In other words, as far back as the 1970s and 1980s, people were telling me: “I’m afraid so and so (insert your political villain here) will be elected and he will ruin Social Security as we know it.” And of course, that never happened. Social Security keeps chugging along no matter who is sitting in the Oval Office.
To be sure, Social Security has been reformed over the years, and changes have been made to the laws affecting a person’s eligibility for benefits. But if those changes were major, they were almost always phased in over a long time.
Case in point: In 1983, Congress raised the retirement age from 65 to 67. But they did not do so overnight. They phased in the age increase over a period of more than four decades. In fact, it won’t be until 2027 that people born in 1960 will finally reach their full retirement age of 67.
If somewhere in the near future Congress raises the retirement age again (and I will bet my next 10 Social Security checks that will happen), it won’t be people currently in their 60s who will be affected by the change. Rather, it will be our children, and more likely our grandchildren, who will have to wait until a greater age before they can retire with full Social Security benefits.
Many readers have also complained to me that with 10,000 baby boomers retiring every single day, the Social Security system has been heading towards a financial cliff, yet nobody seems to be doing anything about it.
Well, there is plenty of blame to go around. Both Liberals and Democrats deserve their share of the blame, because so often they tend to put their heads in the sand and say: “What Social Security problem?” They run on a platform that essentially says, “I won’t let that nasty party mess around with your Social Security benefits!”
Some conservatives and Republicans deserve praise for at least being willing to discuss Social Security reform. But then they also deserve their share of the blame because they frequently propose outlandish and totally unworkable solutions to the problem -- such as “privatizing” the system or eliminating the taxation of Social Security benefits, which would drain $48 billion annually from an already underfunded program.
You may remember this line from Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” when Cassius is trying to convince Brutus that Caesar was not chosen by the gods to rule Rome, but rather by the actions of citi-
If I were the great bard today and I were writing a play about the lack of any progress on the Social Security reform front, I would say, “The fault, dear reader, is not in our politicians, but in ourselves.” In my humble opinion, the public deserves their share of the blame because they say they want reform, but they tend to vote otherwise. For example, if I ran for Congress on a platform of increasing the Social Security retirement age to 68; slightly reducing future cost-of-living increases; and raising the Social Security payroll tax by just a quarter of 1% (three very viable solutions to Social Security’s long-range fiscal problems), my opponent would run attack ads claiming that “If you vote for Tom Margenau, he’s going to increase your taxes and cut your grandma’s Social Security checks at the same time!” And guess what? Gullible people would fall for that argument, and I would lose the election in a landslide.
Not that long ago, as part of the ongoing budget negotiations between then-President Barack Obama and the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives, the president bucked the pressure he felt from many members of his own party and proposed a reduction in future cost-of-living increases for Social Security recipients as one way to trim government expenses.
You’d think that Republicans would have greeted that proposal with open arms. But what happened? Many of them immediately took to the airwaves and their Twitter accounts to blast the president for “trying to balance the budget on the backs of our poor, deserving senior citizens.” And that was the same thing Democrats said when the president proposed COLA reforms in the first place.
Do you see why Social Security reform can be so maddening and frustrating? Do you see why there is plenty of blame to go around for the lack of any meaningful changes? Do you see why Democrats should be ashamed of themselves? Do you see why Republicans should be ashamed of themselves? Do you see why the people and voters should be ashamed of themselves?
1. The book of Titus is found in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither
2. Job and which other Old Testament book mentions the constellation of Orion? a) Psalms b) Isaiah c) Daniel d) Amos
3. Which prophet took a wife of whoredoms named Gomer? a) Hosea b) Jonah c) Amos d) Micah
4. From Judges 14, what did Samson remove from the carcass of a lion? a) Manna b) Honey c) Berries d) Maggots
5. What sin against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven? a) Spreading discord among the saints b) Adultery c) Desecration of sacraments d) Blasphemy
6. Who was the father of Joshua? a) Nun b) Abraham c) Aaron d) Issac
Find expanded trivia online with Wilson Casey at www.patreon.com/triviaguy. FREE TRIAL.
(Answers on page 16) For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com
My guess is that everyone says they want reform, but what they mean is they want reforms that impact the other guy. They don’t want their Social Security checks reduced or their grandma’s benefits cut, but they wouldn’t mind if that other less deserving guy’s benefits are reduced. And they don’t want their Social Security taxes raised or their children’s taxes raised, but they wouldn’t mind if that other guy’s payroll taxes are raised. So what to do? Here is my suggestion. Go to Amazon.com and buy my book, “Social SecuritySimple and Smart.” There is a chapter in that book that explains Social Security financing and offers very workable and realistic proposals for reform. And the next time a candidate runs on a platform including one or more of those reforms, give him or her your vote.
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
How Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Affects Older Women
DEAR DR. ROACH: I had all the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) when I was younger. I could go six months without having my period. I had all the other symptoms, too, like oily skin and facial hair. It’s a terrible thing for a young teenage girl. I also had trouble getting pregnant; though, fortunately, Clomid worked well for me during both of my pregnancies.
My question is, how does PCOS affect older women? My doctor doesn’t know. Is this why my hair is thinning so badly? What else can I expect now that I’m older? (I’m 66 now, and I had menopause at 51.) What can I do about it? I still have hot flashes and thinning hair. -- L.L.P.
ANSWER: I’m sorry that you aren’t getting good advice. PCOS doesn’t go away after menopause, but it’s harder to diagnose. There aren’t good data to help guide treatment, so understanding what’s happening at a biochemical level is important.
Although cysts in the ovaries are usually seen with PCOS, the most important parts of the diagnosis have more to do with androgen excess (male hormones) and abnormal ovulation. Insulin resistance is also an important part of PCOS, with or without obesity.
The androgen excess is responsible for oily skin and facial hair, and it’s partially responsible for insulin resistance. As women age, most androgen levels tend to return to normal, but women still may have some residual symptoms. Although any woman can get female-pattern hair loss (overall thinning of the hair, often worst in the center part), women with PCOS are at a higher risk for developing this type.
However, women with PCOS may also occasionally develop male-pattern hair loss (a receding hairline and thinning on the crown) when the ovaries produce excess male hormones and fewer female hormones. Treatment with the antiandrogen medication finasteride seems particularly promising, and topical (or low-dose oral) minoxidil can be helpful. A dermatologist who specializes in hair loss should be the expert in the management of PCOS-associated femalepattern hair loss.
In addition, the excess male hormones may play a role in increasing a postmenopausal woman’s risk for heart disease. HDL cholesterol levels tend to be lower in postmenopausal women with PCOS. The standard calculators to help a clinician decide when to start medication (such as a statin) to reduce the risk of heart disease are likely to underestimate the risk. Thus, diet and exercise are very important for women with PCOS.
Hot flashes do not seem to be worsened by PCOS. Although hormone replacement can be used in women with hot flashes and PCOS, it is especially risky in a woman of 66 due to the increased risk of heart disease. Nonhormonal
treatment, such as venlafaxine or fezolinetant, is my recommendation.
Finally, insulin resistance is present in over half of all women with PCOS, so regular evaluations of blood sugar levels and A1C levels are important to diagnose prediabetes or overt diabetes as quickly as possible. Again, diet, exercise and sometimes medication are even more important for women with PCOS, to help reduce the risk for developing diabetes.
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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
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Operation Gratitude Still Going Strong
Since it began in 2003, Operation Gratitude has sent out in excess of 4 million care packages to deployed service members. Starting several years ago, OpGrat has expanded their range of giving to include first responders, wounded heroes, recruit graduates coming out of boot camp and veterans, saying thank you to those who serve.
The kids aren’t left out either. Over 20,000 Battalion Buddy teddy bears have been send out to military children in one year alone.
by Freddie Groves
The donated items in the boxes (ranging from expensive gadgets to snacks to games to necessities) come from corporations, small companies, community and civic groups, and individuals. Requesting a care package to be sent to someone is easy. Packages can be sent to Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel deployed overseas and National Guard serving domestically.
Volunteers are at the heart of OpGrat. They write letters to be included in the packages and volunteer at the packing events. Local groups create handmade items, scout troops and companies hold fundraisers and schoolchildren collect loose change.
If you doubt the value of this ongoing effort, look at the videos on the website (www.operationgratitude.com). And look for Carolyn Blashek, the woman who started OpGrat in her living room in 2003 after talking to an Iraq War soldier who doubted that anyone cared about whether he’d make it back. She decided to prove him wrong, and 4 million packages later, she has.
I first wrote about Operation Gratitude in 2008 and have been tracking them through the years. While other efforts have come and gone, OpGrat has only grown and expanded. One memorable highlight was the year founder Carolyn Blashek personally delivered a care package to a soldier in Iraq. That box contained the keys to a new vehicle, courtesy of the automaker.
Want to open your wallet and help? You can make a tax deductible donation on the website or send a check to Operation Gratitude, PO Box 260257, Encino, CA 91426-0257. For more information, call them at 818-960-7878.
Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
M.D.
-- by Jim Miller
How to Write a Living Will
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: What’s the best way to go about writing a living will? I’m approaching age 76 and now find myself in rather poor health. I know I need to have a will drawn up but would like to get this done without having to spend a lot of money on a lawyer. Can you give me some suggestions? -- Needs Help
Dear Needs: Preparing a living will now is a smart decision that gives you say in how you want to be treated at the end of your life. Here’s what you should know, along with some resources to help you write one.
What to Prepare
To adequately spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment you need two legal documents: A “living will” which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive should you become incapacitated, and a “health care power of attorney” (or health care proxy), which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to yourself.
These two documents are known as an “advance directive,” and will only be utilized if you are too ill to make medical decisions yourself. You can also change or update the directive whenever you please.
It isn’t necessary to hire a lawyer to prepare an advance directive. There are a number of free or low-cost do-it-yourself resources available today to help you create one, and it takes only a few minutes from start to finish. Some top options include:
CaringInfo.org: This is a program created by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization that provides free state-specific living will forms that you can download, print and fill out. Or you can call 800-658-8898 and they will mail them to you and answer any questions you may have.
MyDirectives.com: If you’d rather create a digital (online only) advance directive, MyDirectives is an online tool and mobile app that will help you create, store and share a detailed, customized digital advance directive.
FiveWishes.org: This is another top-rated resource for creating a comprehensive paper or digital advance directive. They charge $5 for the paper form and $15 for the digital version, which is stored on the website that you or your family can access anytime.
VA Advance Directive: If you’re a veteran, the VA also provides a free advance directive form specifically for you at VA.gov/find-forms/ about-form-10-0137.
Other Options
If you’re interested in making an entire estate plan that will include your will and/or trust, power of attorney and advance directive, there are many do-it-yourself online services that typically run between $100 and $250. Some top services include Quicken WillMaker & Trust software (WillMaker.com), Trust & Will (TrustandWill.com), and Legal Zoom (LegalZoom.com), which also makes basic living wills for only $39.
Or, if you’d rather have a professional do it for you, contact an estate planning attorney. See NAELA.org or NAEPC.org to help you locate someone in your area. Costs will vary depending on where you live, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $500 and $2,000 for a basic estate plan.
Add-ons
You should also consider getting a donot-resuscitate order (DNR) as part of your advance directive, since advanced directives do little to protect you from unwanted emergency care like CPR. To create a DNR, ask your doctor to fill out a state appropriate form and sign it.
Another tool you should know about that will complement your advance directive is the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or POLST (sometimes called Medical Orders for
Life-Sustaining Treatment, or MOLST). A POLST form translates your end-of-life wishes into medical orders to be honored by your doctors. To learn more about your state’s program or set one up, see POLST.org
Tell Your Family
To ensure your final wishes are followed, make sure to tell your family members, health care proxy and doctors so they all know what you want. You should also provide them copies of your advance directive or if you create a digital version, make sure you share it electronically.
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.
ANTIQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Nature-Inspired Majolica Ware
Q: I am enclosing a photo of a plate that once belonged to my grandmother. I am now 82, so it must be very old. It is decorated with leaves and vines against a cream background. The leaves and vines are raised from the surface of the plate. It measures over 11 inches in diameter and is in very good condition. Marked on the back are the words “Germany,” the number “176” and a clover shape impressed into the plate.
I am interested in finding out anything about the manufacturer, where it was made, its age, and if there is any value to it. Any information you can provide would be very much appreciated.
A: You have an example of majolica pottery that was made in Germany.
Majolica is tin glazed pottery that is decorated with brightly colored flowers and animals. It was extremely popular in Renaissance Italy in the 15th century. It was imported to Italy from the island of Majorca and eventually the brilliantly hand-
Puzzle Solutions
If only I could reverse the bad effects that aging is having on my body. I'm feeling so youthless.
painted wares were call majolica.
Majolica ware experienced a rebirth of interest and production during the Victorian Era in Europe and the Unites States. Pieces marked with an impressed clover and the word “Germany” were made in Zell, Harmersbach, Badenia, Germany, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The number “176” is a design number. Georg Schmider Ceramic Factory was one of the several majolica factories in the Zell region. Chances are your plate was made by Schmider after the turn of the 20th century.
Similar plates are in the range of $125 to $175. ***
Q: I have had a set of porcelain dishes for a number of years. It is a service for eight and includes an oval platter and round platter. They are decorated with brown and pink flowers. On the back of each dish is the name “Wildbriar.”
I’m pushing 80 years old and trying to let my daughter know the history and value of my set. Thank you for your assessment.
A: Your set of dinnerware was made by Josiah Wedgwood, which is located in Etruria and Barlaston, Staffordshire, England. Wedgwood has been in business since 1759 and is still in business. “Wildbriar” is the name of your pattern and it was introduced around 1957.
The value of your set would probably be $800 to $1200.
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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 Nov. 11, 1831, Nat Turner, an American slave and educated minister who believed that he’d been chosen by God to lead his people into freedom, was hanged in Jerusalem, Virginia, for leading a revolt with 75 followers through Southampton County, killing about 60 white people.
* On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed the extent of the U.S. Army’s charges against 1st Lt. William L. Calley at My Lai, Vietnam, in a cable picked up by more than 30 newspapers, saying that “The Army says he [Calley] deliberately murdered at least 109 Vietnamese civilians during a search-anddestroy mission in March 1968, in a Viet Cong stronghold known as ‘Pinkville.’”
* On Nov. 13, 1979, Philadelphia 76ers center Darryl Dawkins leaped over Kansas City Kings forward Bill Robinzine for a memorable slam dunk that shattered the fiberglass backboard. His equally memorable comment on the move, which was not his last and the sound of which spectators likened to a bomb going off: “It wasn’t really a safe thing to do, but it was a Darryl Dawkins thing to do.”
* On Nov. 14, 1882, outlaw Frank “Buckskin” Leslie shot and killed Billy “The Kid” Claiborne, who had publicly challenged him, in Tombstone, Arizona.
* On Nov. 15, 1984, Baby Fae, a month old infant who received the world’s first baboon heart transplant, died at California’s Loma Linda University 20 days after the operation. Three other people had received animal heart transplants, but none survived longer than a few days.
* On Nov. 16, 2001, British author J.K. Rowling’s most famous and beloved creation, the bespectacled boy wizard Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe in his first major role), made his silver-screen debut in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which went on to become one of the highest-grossing movies in history.
* On Nov. 17, 1903, the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party split into two factions: the majority Bolsheviks and minority Mensheviks. The Bolsheviks went on to become the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
"l'm sorry, but you can't include the street value of your organs as part of your total assets."
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
This Majolica plate was made in Zell, Germany.
Josiah Wedgwood established his pottery in 1759.
Ice Skating: from page 3 chore that workers hated. That is until a man by the name of Frank Zamboni came along and forever changed things.
• Zamboni was an innovative refrigeration genius who owned an ice plant in Paramount, California. In 1939, he built the Paramount Iceland skating rink next to his ice factory and subsequently invented the ice resurfacing machine, naming it after himself and patenting it in 1953.
• A Zamboni scrapes off the top layer of ice and then sprays a layer of hot water at 140 to 145°F The hotter the water, the smoother the ice.
• While rehearsing for an upcoming performance of the Hollywood Ice Revue, Sonja Henie was introduced to Frank Zamboni’s resurfacing machine. She was so impressed that she bought her own machine, taking it everywhere on tour. The publicity quickly increased its popularity. An estimated 12,000 Zambonis are in use worldwide today. And Zamboni’s Paramount Iceland skating rink is still open for business.
SKATING RECORDS
• The fastest recorded spin on ice skates is 342 revolutions per minute by Olivia Oliver of Canada in 2015. That’s almost 6 spins per second!
• Today, the world’s largest indoor ice rink is in the city of Nizhny Novgorod in Russia. It has a surface area of 135,625 sq. ft. and seats 15,000.
• The world’s longest ice skating trail is 18.63 miles (29.98 km) long. It’s formed by the freezing of the Lake Windermere Whiteway in Invermere, British Columbia, Canada.
• The record for the longest distance skated in 24 hours belongs to Martinus Kuiper of the Netherlands. He skated 339.67 miles (546.65 km) at Alkmaar, Netherlands, on December 12 and 13, 1988. That’s about 14 miles every hour.
• Whether you’re skating on a winter day, watching Olympic skating events from your recliner, or enjoying a hockey game, remember the long line of innovators who turned skating into not only a fun frolic on a winter’s day, but also a long list of fascinating and entertaining competitive sports.
by Jason Jenkins
Over Connected
One of the modern concepts in the golf swing has been to keep the upper left arm “connected” to the body throughout the golf swing. Many high level players have been seen hitting shots with towels under their arms, or training aids that keep the arm pinned to the body.
Connection is specifically meant for the upper left arm and the side of the body. The intention of connection is to promote assistance in coiling the upper body in the backswing, and releasing the arm in the follow through.
Unfortunately, many golfers trying to stay “connected” have super glued the arm swing to the body. This over connection can restrict a free arm swing to the top and to the finish.
The arms need respective freedom at each point in the swing. If a glove where placed in the armpit area of each arm at address, the gloves should fall out at specific time. The right arm glove falls out by the top of the swing, and the left arm glove falls out in the finish. Do not try to keep the gloves pinched in the entire swing.
Linda Thistle
