Vol 20 - No 49 • Tidbits Clocks the Fastest & Slowest • (12-1-2024) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
By Kathy Wolfe
This week Tidbits invites you to either pick up the pace or slow it down as we show you some facts on the fastest and slowest of various categories, some of which may amaze you!
SPEEDSOLVING
• In 2023, a 21-year-old Californian set a world record for the fastest solving of a 3x3x3 Rubik’s cube, accomplishing the feat in just 3.13 seconds, smashing the previous record of 3.47 seconds. As a youth, Max Park was diagnosed at an early age with autism and lacked motor skills, struggling to even unscrew the cap of a water bottle. There are several sizes of Rubik’s cubes – 4x4x4, 5x5x5, 6x6x6, and 7x7x7 – and Max holds the world’s record for each and every one. The 3D puzzle was invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and architecture professor Erno Rubik.
TRACK RECORDS
• In 1954, British athlete and Oxford medical student Roger Bannister became the first runner to break the four-minute mile with the time of 3 minutes,
TRIVIA NEWSFRONT
1. What dog is the fastest on earth?
2. An anemometer is a device used for measuring the speed of _______.
3. What body part heals the slowest after an injury?
4. What was the original name of the Rubik's Cube?
5. If speed is how fast something moves, what is speed with direction called?
(Answers on page 16)
your body
"Fearfully
Antibiotics
• The word antibiotic translates from the Greek meaning “opposing life.” Antibiotics kill or stop the growth of the micro-organisms that cause infection. The term was first used in 1942 to describe those substances that are antagonistic to the growth of harmful micro-organisms in the body.
Today they are prescribed to treat IBS, UTIs, malaria, and skin, ear, and eye infections.
• Mecical researcher Selman Waksman received the 1952 Nobel Prize for medicine for his discovery of streptomycin, the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis. His research into decomposition of organisms living in the soil led to the discovery. This medication is also effective against endocarditis, plague, and brucellosis.
• Antibiotics revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections, but they are completely ineffective against viruses such as the common cold, influenza, or COVID-19. They also have no effect on fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.
• Antibiotics are not “one size fits all,” as there are many different classes based on their structural formula, specific for the type of bacteria being treated. They shouldn’t be interchanged from one infection to another. The antibiotics that work for an intestinal tract infection aren’t the same as the ones prescribed for strep throat.
1. GEOGRAPHY: In which country would you find the Angkor Wat temple?
2. SCIENCE: Which vitamin aids in blood clotting?
3. MUSIC: Which pop music icon has a Pantone color named after him?
4. TELEVISION: Which 1990s TV comedy series features the theme song “Cleveland Rocks”?
5. U.S. STATES: Which state is last alphabetically?
6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is an adult female turkey called?
7. MOVIES: Which popular 1994 movie features a character named Red?
8. AD SLOGANS: Which company’s advertising slogan is “Like a Good Neighbor”?
9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How long is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade route?
10. ANATOMY: What are beta cells? Answers
(Trivia Test answers page 16)
• Much of the time, the body’s immune system can kill bacteria before they can multiply and cause harmful symptoms. White blood cells attack the bacteria and fend off an infection. But if the bacteria numbers are excessive and the immune system can’t fight as hard as necessary, antibiotics are prescribed.
• Although we might think of the advent of antibiotics with the introduction of penicillin in 1941, they have actually been in use for centuries. The ancient civilizations of Egypt, China, Serbia, Greece, and Romans used moldy bread to treat infections. Of course, the ancients didn’t know that the infections were caused by bacteria, as it wasn’t until the last century that the cause of infection was finally learned.
• During the 17th century, English herbalist and botanist and apothecary to King James I, John Parkinson, was the first to document the use of molds to treat infections.
• Although Alexander Fleming discovered “Penicillium notatum” accidentally in 1928, it wasn’t until 1945 that the process of mass production was perfected by Oxford University scientists. Fleming discovered that a laboratory culture plate of Staphylococcus bacteria was cleared by the fungus penicillin wherever it grew on the plate.
• Many antibiotics are produced naturally, but some are fully synthetic. Sulfonamides, also known as “sulfa drugs” were first tested in the 1930s at Bayer Laboratories in Germany.
• Although penicillin is the most well-known class, there are at least nine others that treat bacteria. Tetracyclines treat acne, urinary and intestinal tract infections, eye infections, and gum disease. Macrolides effectively treat pneumonia and whooping cough.
• The most common infections treated by antibiotics are acne, bronchitis, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and ear infections. Strep throat, skin infections, and respiratory tract infections are also commonly treated by these medications.
• If antibiotics are overused, bacteria can become resistant to them, and deadly drug-resistant bacterial infections can result. Close to 3 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur every year in the United States, resulting in upwards of 35,000 deaths.
Week of December 1, 2024
Fastest/Slowest: (from page one)
59.4
seconds. His record lasted just 46 days until his rival, Finnish runner John Landy crossed the finish line with a time of 3 minutes, 57.9 seconds. Today, the record for the mile run is held by Moroccan runner Hicham El Guerrouj, who clocked the mile at 3:43.13 in 1999.
• In 2009, Jamaican runner Usain Bolt became the fastest man on Earth running the 100-meter sprint in 9.58 seconds, which translates to 23.35 mph (37.58 km/hr). Since Bolt left the starting line from zero speed then accelerated, his top speed was actually faster, clocked at 27.8 mph (44.72 km/hr).
• Some argue that American Justin Gatlin is the fastest man and broke Bolt’s record in 2011, running the 100 meters in 9.45 seconds, 0.13 seconds faster than Bolt. Gatlin’s record failed to stand, however, due to a 20 meter per second tail wind pushing him along, as well as the fact that he had been banned twice from competing for drug-related offenses.
MUSICAL RECORDS
• The longest officially-released song goes on for 138 hrs., 41 minutes, and 20 seconds, and required more than four years to record, edit, and mix. The feat was achieved by Dr. Jagadeesh Pillai of India in 2023 when he sang the entire book of
NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE
Baseball pitcher
Aroldis Chapman holds the Guiness record for the fastest pitch ever thrown. In 2010, Chapman pitched a ball 105.8 mph against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park. There have been only 10 pitches that have reached 105 mph, and Chapman has thrown the top eight of them. Chapman played the 2024 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
a 16th-century Indian poetic work consisting of more than 15,000 verses that tell of the deeds of Prince Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu. The longest classic rock song was recorded by Jethro Tull in 1972. “Thick as a Brick” was 43 minutes, 50 seconds long, and was a continuous piece of music divided onto two sides of an LP.
• The word “tempo” has its origins in the Latin word “tempus,” meaning “time.” In the world of music, tempo is the rate of speed of a musical piece or passage, often designated by a metronome marking. The tick of a metronome (the creation of German inventor Johann Maelzel in 1815), denotes a quarter note, with a metronome marking of 60 meaning 60 quarter notes, or beats, per minute. Tempo speeds are often written in Italian, beginning with “larghissimo,” meaning “very, very slow,” a metronome speed of 20 beats per minute or slower. “Lento” music is to be played slowly at 40 to 60 bpm. The fast tempo of “allegro” is 120 to 168 bpm, with tempos increasing to “presto” (168 to 200 bpm) and “prestissimo,” with 200+ bpm.
A1960s ad campaign for Heinz ketchup challenged all other catsups/ketchups to a race for the title of "Slowest Ketchup in the West." Heinz touted its slow pour from the glass bottle -- about 0.028 mph -- as a sign of their thick ingredients and superior quality.
AUTOS
• When Ford Motors introduced its Model T in 1908, the top speed was 40-45 mph, a spectacular speed for its time. The luxury cars of the 1920s really picked up the pace when the Rolls-Royce Phantom I exceeded speeds of 90 mph, and the Duesenberg Model J topped 100 mph.
• The first vehicle in production to break the 200 mph mark was the Ferrari F40 in 1987. Since then, the 300 mph target has been surpassed. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport has a speed exceeding 305 mph and the Swedish Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut has reached 330 mph, breaking the 0 to 250 mph record in June 2024 in 19.2 seconds.
• But the Devel Sixteen sports car, designed in United Arab Emirates by Devel Motors with a 5,007-horsepower, V16 engine, claims the title of fastest, with the manufacturer maintaining that the car can reach 347 mph, with a remarkable zero to 60 time of 1.8 seconds!
ROLLER COASTERS
• When we think of roller coasters, a high-speed, exhilarating ride comes to mind. But there is such a thing as an ultra-slow coaster, which has a maximum speed of about 10 mph (16.1 km/ hr) or less. These unusual rides keep a leisurely pace with gentle movements, giving riders the chance to appreciate the surrounding scenery in a relaxed experience. The slowest roller coaster in the world can be found at Australia’s Dreamworld Park, where the Magic Carpet Ride
coasts along at a top speed of just 5 mph.
• If a thrilling, adrenaline-pumping ride is more your style, the Formula Rossa, a hydraulic launch coaster located in Ferrari World, United Arab Emirates, reaches a breakneck speed of 149 mph at its fastest point. North America’s fastest coaster is in New Jersey’s Six Flags Great Adventure Park. The Kingda Ka Coaster sends riders to a 456-foot peak at a rate of 128 mph.
FASTEST ANIMALS
• The peregrine falcon is the fastest member of the animal kingdom, but only when diving. In its hunting dive, the peregrine hits speeds of over
Fastest/Slowest: Turn to page 15
By Lucie Winborne
* As part of David Hasselhoff’s divorce settlement, he kept possession of the nickname “Hoff” and the catchphrase “Don’t Hassle the Hoff.”
* The fuller your refrigerator, the more energy-efficient it is.
* Dr. Seuss coined the word “nerd.” The term originated in the 1950 book “If I Ran the Zoo.” The sentence goes: “And then, just to show them, I’ll sail to Ka-Troo. And bring back an IT-KUTCH, a PREEP and a PROO, a NERKLE, NERD, and a SEERSUCKER, too!”
* Nobel Prize winner Niels Bohr was given a perpetual supply of beer piped into his house.
* Between 1848 and 1850, the population of San Francisco grew from 900 to 35,000 people thanks to the Gold Rush.
* During his World War II service, LBJ was due to fly in the observation seat of the B-26 bomber Wabash Cannonball. However, he was replaced when he had to go to the toilet before takeoff. The Wabash Cannonball was shot down during that flight over New Guinea with no survivors.
* A Chinese millionaire sold canned air to people on the streets to raise awareness of air pollution and then donated the money to charity.
* Newborn babies can only see in black and white for a few months.
* In “The Empire Strikes Back,” an extra can be seen running with what appears to be an ice cream maker. The character became legendary among fans, and was eventually given a name (Willrow Hood) and a backstory.
* Some scientists believe that dogs can tell when you’re coming home by how much of your scent is left in the house. ***
Thought for the Day: “I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should just go ahead and be one.” -- Calamity Jane
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
Will I Be Taxed on My Son’s Generosity?
tion, provided the dispute meets certain criteria. Here’s the fine print:
The amount in question must exceed $50.
The transaction must have occurred in your home state or within 100 miles of your billing address (though online purchases are usually treated differently).
You must have attempted to resolve the issue with the merchant directly before disputing the charge.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
DEAR CHEAPSKATE: I am retired and my son wants to give me money to buy a house as a gift. Will I be taxed on the money? If so, are there ways to avoid or reduce the amount I will be taxed? -- Lucy
by Mary Hunt
Dear Lucy: Gifts between individuals are tax-free for the recipient. That means you, as the fortunate recipient of your son’s generosity, don’t have to worry about paying taxes on this gift. The responsibility for any potential gift tax falls squarely on the giver -- your son in this case. Now, let’s unpack the details.
How much can your son give without taxes? For 2024, the annual gift tax exclusion is $18,000 per recipient. This means your son can give you up to $18,000 in a year without having to report it to the IRS. If the gift exceeds that amount, the excess is applied to his lifetime gift tax exemption, which is $13.61 million for 2024.
That’s a pretty high bar, so unless your son has already been exceptionally generous in his lifetime, he likely won’t owe any taxes. However, he would need to file IRS Form 709 to report the gift.
State Gift Taxes: Connecticut is currently the only state that imposes its own gift tax, but it’s based on total taxable gifts over $9.1 million, so this isn’t likely to apply here.
Ways to Minimize Gift Tax Implications: If the amount your son wants to give exceeds the annual exclusion, he could spread the gift over multiple years or split the gift with his spouse (if he’s married). This way, he could gift you $36,000 in 2024 without affecting his lifetime exemption.
Keeping in mind that I am not a tax professional and these are my opinions, your son should consult a tax professional to ensure everything is handled correctly. ***
DEAR CHEAPSKATE: I had unsatisfactory work done by a painting contractor, so I disputed the credit card payment. However, the credit card company insists I must pay the bill. Isn’t this the same as stopping payment on a check? I used a credit card specifically to have this backup in case something went wrong. -- Phil
Dear Phil: Disputing a charge on a credit card is one of the protections that makes this form of payment appealing. Under federal law (the Fair Credit Billing Act), when you dispute a charge, the credit card issuer is required to investigate your claim. They must withhold payment or credit your account during the investiga-
It’s important to note that credit card disputes typically address billing errors or cases of fraud. Disputes related to quality or dissatisfaction with services are a bit trickier, as credit card issuers may require substantial evidence to rule in your favor.
From your description, this situation seems to be a matter of quality and customer satisfaction rather than a billing error. While continuing to work directly with the contractor may feel frustrating, it may still be your best path to a resolution. If you’re unable to resolve the issue, consider these next steps:
Contact your state’s consumer protection agency. They may be able to mediate or provide further guidance. Visit www.consumeraction. gov to find contact information for your state agency.
If you must pay the credit card bill to protect your credit score, you can file a claim against the contractor in your county’s small claims court for reimbursement. This is often a straightforward and low-cost process.
By taking these steps, you’ll have explored every possible avenue to resolve the situation.
Hope that helps!
* * *
This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate. com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
World Soil Day is commemorated every December 5th, and this week Tidbits has all the dirt on…what else? Dirt! So letʼs dive in and get our hands dirty with these remarkable facts about a subject we all take too much for granted.
• Is there a difference between dirt and soil? Scientists say yes. Dirt is an inorganic mix of broken rocks, minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium, and matter from living things that have died.
• Soil, which is the more scientific name, is dirt plus water, along with organic material. Soil is a living ecosystem of about 45% minerals, 25% water, 25% air, and 5% organic matter. Those percentages can vary widely based on different types of soil and the location.
• There are three main types of soil. Sandy soil has larger particles, but has fewer nutrients, and drains well. Clay soil’s smaller particles retain water, but it’s heavier as a result. Loamy soil is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay, and is the best for plant growth.
• Soil is so packed with organisms that just one tablespoon has more microorganisms in it than there are people on Earth, and include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes. Just a teaspoon of soil contains between 100 million to 1 billion bacteria, and as many as 75,000 species. There can be 25,000 species of fungi, 1,000 species of protozoa and hundreds of nematodes species. The top six inches of one acre of soil contain as much as 20,000 pounds of living matter.
• Soil erosion occurs at a rate up to 40 times faster than the rate of soil formation. A minimum of 500 years are required to form an inch of topsoil, which is formed through the process of weathering -- the process of breaking down rocks and minerals through physical, chemical, and biological processes.
• In the U.S., the most extensive type of soil is prairie soil, covering 21% of America’s land mass. Prairie soil is officially known as Mollisol, characterized by a considerable amount of humus living on its uppermost layer, formed under grass vegetation.
• Not all soil is brown! Mineral content, organic matter, and chemicals can give dirt a wide variety of colors from black to red to white and even pink and blue. Iron gives dirt a reddish hue. Blue soil found in New England is a silty soil from which iron has been leached. Pink soil is the result of different organic compounds interacting with clay.
• Earthworms love soil! There can be upwards of 1.4 million worms in just one acre of farmland. They love it because it’s packed with nutrients from decaying plants and animals. As they munch on the matter, they break it down even further, enriching the soil for better plant growth.
• The taste of wine can actually be influenced by the composition and characteristics of the soil where grapevines are grown. Fossilized creatures such as oysters whose cells have broken down in the soil give wine a unique taste, as do grapes grown in white clay soil with a layer of limestone. The soil affects the amount of water traveling to the roots, shaping the ripening process.
by Dana Jackson
Q: I watched the boxing match with Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. I didn’t know that Jake and Logan Paul were two different people. Did they both start out on YouTube? -- D.E.
A: Yes, Jake and Logan Paul are two blonde brothers who grew up in Ohio and became social media stars. They can be hard to tell apart.
author Helen Fielding. Renée Zellweger returns as the hilarious and relatable heroine, Bridget, who is newly widowed with two young children. The film also stars Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Sally Phillips and Isla Fisher.
Look for the movie in theaters and on Peacock just in time for Valentine’s Day, with a release date of Feb. 14, 2025. ***
Q: Who is the actress with the long brown hair featured in the commercials for the new Bob Dylan movie? She looks very familiar. Also, does Timothée Chalamet do his own singing in the movie? -- K.E.
who sports reddish-brown tresses in “A Complete Unknown.” She plays a character named Sylvie, who is loosely based on Dylan’s girlfriend at the time, Suze Rotolo.
“A Complete Unknown” is directed by the same person who directed the Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line.” Both of those stars did their own singing and learned to play instruments for their roles. Timothée Chalamet can definitely sing, as witnessed in the motion-picture musical “Wonka,” and he’s said to have done his own vocals in the Dylan film. * * *
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
Logan started up his YouTube channel 11 years ago and grew it to more than 23 million subscribers. He’s also a professional wrestler for the WWE and the owner of an extremely successful beverage company, Prime. Like his brother, Jake, he’s also headlined boxing events, including an exhibition match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2021.
Logan’s younger brother by two years, Jake, recently beat Mike Tyson in a boxing match on Netflix. Many feel it was staged, but both Paul and Tyson came out winners monetarily when they each took home a seven-figure payday.
Jake originally was a child actor on the Disney Channel series “Bizaardvark,” then became a YouTube star like his brother. In the years before facing Tyson, Jake won boxing matches against several MMA fighters, but lost to British pro boxer Tommy Fury.
Q: What is the new “Bridget Jones” project coming up on Peacock? Is it a TV series? -- S.G.
A: “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” is a film based on the fourth book in the series by
A: You’re probably thinking of Monica Barbaro, who is best recognized as Lt. Natasha “Phoenix” Trace in “Top Gun: Maverick.” She also co-starred in the Neflix series “FUBAR” opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and, prior to that, the ABC series “Splitting up Together” and Lifetime’s “Unreal.” In “A Complete Unknown,” Barbaro plays folk singer and political activist Joan Baez, who was influental in the success of Bob Dylan early in his career.
You could also be thinking of Elle Fanning,
Photo
Good Recipes from
Grilled Lobster Tails
A simply prepared dish that’s sure to impress, perfectly grilled lobster with a sweet, spicy, citrusy sauce makes a complexly flavored and delicious main dish.
1. In a food processor, puree nectarines, scallion, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and habanero pepper. Transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.
2. Heat grill to medium-high. In a small bowl, whisk remaining lime juice, olive oil and salt together.
3. Split lobster tails lengthwise, remove membrane if desired, and brush meat with the lime-oil glaze. Place lobsters on grill, meat side down, and roast for 4 minutes; turn over to shell side and grill until meat is opaque and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes more.
4. Transfer to a platter, garnish with lime wedges, and serve with reserved nectarine sauce. Serves 4.
Grilled Steak Salad
Enjoy delicious grilled toppings in this main-dish salad, like grilled steak, grilled tomatoes and grilled sweet potatoes.
4 medium sweet potatoes
4 pints cherry tomatoes
3 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 pound beef flank steak
2 bags romaine lettuce
1. Prepare outdoor grill for direct grilling on medium-high. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine sweet potatoes and 1/2 cup water. Cover with vented plastic wrap and microwave on high 10-12 minutes or until tender. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, fold 30- by 12-inch sheet of heavy-duty foil crosswise in half. Place tomatoes on double thickness of foil; bring long sides of foil up and fold several times to seal well. Fold over ends of foil to seal in juices.
3. In small bowl, whisk soy sauce, vinegar, syrup and 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
4. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper all over steak; place on hot grill grate with tomato packet and sweet potatoes. Grill steak
Young adults face an unprecedented range of threats today, from cyber dangers to physical violence. To help them navigate these risks, Dale Bendler, a former U.S. Marine and CIA officer, offers practical safety strategies grounded in decades of experience in some of the world’s most dangerous environments.
As a father of three, Bendler’s mission is personal: to equip teenagers and young adults with tools to stay safe in a complex world.
Key areas of focus in Bendler’s training include:
Cybersecurity
Bendler educates participants on risks like mobile phone theft, cyberbullying, sextortion, and unsafe online dating practices. He also addresses emerging threats, including AI-driven scams.
Active Shooter Scenarios
With active shooter incidents rising, particularly on college campuses, Bendler teaches the Run, Hide, Fight protocol to help young adults make life-saving decisions during emergencies.
tomatoes 10 minutes for medium-rare
(140 F), turning steak over once; grill
5. Toss one-third of dressing with lettuce. Divide lettuce among plates. Top with steak, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and remaining dressing. Makes 4 main-dish servings.
vides tips on spotting signs of unrest and staying safe in chaotic situations.
Transportation Safety
Whether using rideshare services or public transportation, Bendler advises on avoiding carjackings, road rage, and staged accidents.
Stalking
If someone suspects they are being followed, Bendler offers strategies to stay safe and respond effectively.
“I may never know if I’ve saved someone’s life,” Bendler says. “Maybe they avoided the wrong rideshare or left a party because of a bad feeling. Knowing I’ve made a difference is enough.”
The Stay Safe Digital Academy
After a distinguished 37-year career with the CIA, including 20 years overseas in high-risk environments, Bendler now chairs the Stay Safe Digital Academy, a veteran-owned organization in Miami.
The academy offers in-person training and an online course, YOUNG ADULT SAFETY, designed to help young people and their families avoid trouble both online and in the real world. The course focuses on proactive strategies to enhance safety awareness and empower individuals to respond confidently to challenges.
Physical Assaults
While avoidance is key, Bendler prepares participants to protect themselves and escape dangerous situations safely if necessary.
Drink Spiking
Bendler highlights the dangers of drink spiking, especially with fentanyl-laced substances, teaching young adults how to recognize and avoid these risks.
Demonstrations and Crowds
Protests can escalate quickly. Bendler pro-
About Dale Bendler
Bendler holds a BA from Rutgers University and an MA from the Naval War College. His military background includes graduating from elite programs such as Ranger and Airborne Schools. Throughout his CIA career, he earned numerous awards and held leadership roles.
Course Information
The one-hour YOUNG ADULT SAFETY course is available at StaySafeDigitalAcademy.com for $89, with a $10 discount using the coupon code TIDBITS.” Parents and grandparents can purchase the course for teens, college-bound students, or young adults living on their own. Recipients will receive immediate access to start learning and taking steps to protect themselves.
Don’t delay, give the gift of safety and peace of mind this holiday season, and empower the young adults in your life to face modern-day dangers with confidence.
By John Allen DIAMOND LIL by Brett Koth
NEXT WEEK in
TIDBITS TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT
12/1 Rosa Parks Day
12/2 National Mutt Day
12/3 Be a Blessing Day
12/4 World Wildlife ConservationDay
12/5 National Salesperson Day
12/6 St. Nicholas Day
12/7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
and Phobias
I spend a lot of time writing about dog aggression -- partly because it’s a big problem that keeps getting bigger and partly because there is such an air of confusion to it. At times, aggression seems to suddenly appear out of the blue. Take the following letter from a reader:
“I recently moved from Arkansas to Washington State with my 2-year-old puggle, Tankeray. I have had him since he was 4 weeks old. He has never shown any signs of aggression toward little children before, but since moving up here with him, he has tried to attack my 1-year-old niece numerous times. He has not been around a lot of children or other animals and has been going into hunching fits when confronted with them. I don’t want to get rid of him, as I have had him since he was a baby and he is my buddy. He has spent his entire life with only me and my husband. I need help to figure out what could be going on with him before he actually bites someone.”
Reading between the lines, it sounds like Tankeray was never properly socialized. He spent two blissful years with his owner and her husband, each day reinforcing that small unit and Tankeray’s comfort zone within it. New adults might not be so scary, as they at least appear in a familiar form. Little children are another story.
This is why full and proper socialization is so important. This is the process of introducing your dog, in a safe and friendly way, to all kinds of external stimuli -- big dogs, small dogs, big people, small people, bicycles, vacuum cleaners, cars, the noises of traffic, the noises of your home, the noises of life. By making these introductions and positively reinforcing to him that he is safe in the midst of all kinds of chaos, you are eliminating the kind of fear that, over time, breeds aggression.
Fear is often the culprit. Some fears can be mitigated; many are irrational. Not all fear becomes aggression toward people or other animals; sometimes the dog turns his fear on himself.
Like people, dogs suffer from phobias -- fear of thunder and lightning, fear of air compressors in the garage, fear of water, fear of shiny surfaces, fear of being alone, fear of women in hats, fear of
Some of the facts are scary: As we age, we lose muscle mass. The more inactive we are, the more we lose. The muscle loss began at age 30, but we probably didn’t really notice it until age 60 or later. Eventually the muscle loss can reach a point of severity where we cannot take care of our daily activities.
The good news -- and clinical trials have proven it -- is that we can get some of that muscle back and slow the decline.
Strength training, also called resistance training, involves using weights, machines or stretchy bands to build muscles. Whether it’s done in a gym or at home, building muscles helps us reduce the risk of falls, fractures and hospitalizations.
However, don’t do this on your own, especially if you have health conditions. Ask your doctor about any physical cautions. Ask about the amounts of muscle-building protein to add to your diet and specifically how to get that.
The Art of DESIGN
by Joseph Publillones
Santa Fe Style
Yee-Haw! During the 1990s and early '20s, there was a fascination with the architecture, interiors and designs inspired in the Southwest. The decor came in waves by travel and a rediscovery of places such as Sedona, Taos, Palm Springs and Santa Fe. The color palette was filled with earth tones born of the adobe architecture peppered by tones seen in the sky at dusk ranging from faint amethyst to cornflower blue. The desert flora and fauna are the inspiration for many of the interiors we saw during their original heyday.
This style is definitely historically significant to American culture. The Southwestern architecture and design spread widely beyond its geographic boundaries and made its way out towards California and southeast to Louisiana and in places such as Florida, where early developers and architects chose this style as a simpler alternative to the favored Mediterranean Revival.
If you live in a “no sun all winter” climate,” ask about taking a vitamin D supplement or using a sunlamp several times per week.
Check your Medicare Advantage Part C plan, if you have one, to see if it includes a membership in Silver Sneakers. If so, that will get you access to a gym and classes for seniors on yoga, weight training and others.
If you have an AARP/United Healthcare plan, investigate their Renew Active program. If don’t have an Advantage plan, ask your local gyms if they have special programs and discount fees for seniors.
If all those avenues are closed to you, there is always the internet and exercises you can do at home. “Senior strength workout” or “weight training for seniors” are good search terms on YouTube.
Again, don’t do this on your own. Get advice from your doctor before you embark on an exercise plan or a big change in your diet.
And don’t give up. Rebuilding lost muscle is well worth the minimal effort it takes.
* * *
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.
edge adobe walls, timbered or hand-framed ceilings and the clay tile that blanketed many of the homes south of the border, the saltillo were standard. Textiles and rugs were often the work of Natives of the area.
Some interior designers today are delighted, as it seems Santa Fe style interiors are coming to life again. Today’s Santa Fe interiors are more playful and less restrictive. In fact, they are melding as most other styles into an eclectic version of what they used to be, and integrating furniture pieces from every era covering from American mid-century modern pieces to sleek contemporary European-style seating.
In this new mix, Flame-stitch patterns have been replaced with Ikat fabrics, and the rough textures of leathers have been replaced with suede, micro-fibers and classic cottons and linens. Color ways have subdued into neutrals with splashes of color than the old vibrant chromatic colors expected of the Southwest.
In architecture, there has also been a merging of styles. Besides the traditional adobe constructions around courtyards, the Southwest was also influential in the architecture of the 1950s and 1960s ranch.
men with beards. I could go on.
Traditionally, the style that became known as Santa Fe was inspired by the architecture and furniture designs brought over to the missions by the Spanish clergymen. Heavily carved, husky dark wood furniture, mixed with naturally tanned leather seating and velvet upholstery were the norm. Accessories and artwork at the hands of local artists were filled with religious symbols and references such as saints and crosses. The architecture with its handcrafted and rounded
Today’s architecture while claiming some of the original traits of the courtyards, it has incorporated more glazed surfaces and less walls to view the dramatic landscapes. Large overhangs protect glass walls from overheating in the summer heat.
* * * Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Fla. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM
If you have a dog who suffers from a phobia, beware that he may hurt himself. A dog with a fear of thunder left alone in an empty house might panic and hurl himself through a glass window or attempt to chew his way through a door or wall. Either way, he will seriously injure himself in the process.
As the owner of a dog with a phobia, you have options. You could research the phobia and attempt to gradually desensitize the dog to that particular frightening stimulation. You could contact an animal behavior specialist for advice and assistance. At the very least, you could make sure he is safe and contained when you know he will be confronted with a situation he finds scary. This is why crate training is so effective. Your dog has a safe, comfy place that he loves and that is all his, and you can secure him inside when a storm’s brewing, so to speak.
When a dog turns his fear toward other people or animals, your best bet is to bring in a pro. Contact a professional dog trainer to work with you to better socialize your dog and determine whether he is trustworthy around strangers. If not, you’ll need to work out ways to keep him away from his triggers. This will keep you, your dog and everyone else safe. Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.
Estate Planning Attorney
ried her outside, handed her to Aunt Goldie, and kissed her goodbye forever!”
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Give Thanks for Social Security
I’m dusting off an old Thanksgivingthemed column I ran many years ago. I thought that now would be a good time to remind people what Social Security is all about.
I’m going to suggest that we Americans give thanks for the Social Security program. I know lots of people like to think that the “good old days” (before Social Security) were, well, the good old days. But many times, they were not. If you’d like to get a glimpse of what life was like before the Social Security program came along, I suggest you read a book called “Growing Up,” by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Russell Baker.
In it, Baker tells the story of what it was like to grow up in the 1920s and 1930s. For most of us, the Great Depression is the stuff of history books and hard luck stories revealed in an occasional documentary about the era. But Russell Baker lived one of those stories and writes eloquently about his life and those times.
His book brings the era into focus for people whose vision of history has been blurred by the good life. For me, it also illustrates the reason why we have and need a Social Security system in this country.
Many people have attempted to explain to me that America would be better off without Social Security. They point out that this nation was founded on the principles of personal freedom and that our pioneer spirit encourages people to make it on their own without government interference. As one recent letter writer told me: “If people could make it on their own in the good old days before we had Social Security, they ought to be able to make it on their own now without the government’s help!”
The problem with that argument, of course, is that many people were not “making it” before Social Security came into existence.
Case in point: Before Social Security, about 70% of senior citizens were living below the poverty level. In other words, those “good old days” were actually very bad for very many older people. Today, after more than 80 years of life with Social Security, less than 10% of seniors live in poverty.
In his book, Baker describes the period just after his father’s death. His father left a widow and three small children, including Russell, who was then about 10. Russell’s youngest sister, Audrey, was 18 months old. His newly widowed mother decided to leave their home in Virginia to move in with relatives in New Jersey. Immediately following the funeral, she had many tough decisions to make. One of them was giving up Audrey!
“The giving up of Audrey was done in a time of shock and depression for my mother,” Baker writes. “When the undertaker was paid, she was left with a few dollars of insurance money, a worthless Model T, several chairs, a table to eat from, a couple of mail-order beds, a crib, three small children, no way to earn a living, and no prospects for the future.”
A few days later, Baker’s Uncle Tom and Aunt Goldie arrived to pick up his little sister. “My mother helped them carry out the crib and boxes packed with baby clothes. When the car was loaded, my mother bundled Audrey into blankets, car-
That scene struck a nerve with me because my father also died when I was young. Like Baker’s father, my dad left a widow and small children. Also like Baker’s family, my mother was left with a little insurance, a few pieces of furniture and an old car. But unlike the Bakers, we had brighter prospects for the future because my father left behind something else: Social Security survivors’ insurance.
My mother, brothers, sister and myself each received a monthly check from Social Security based on my father’s earnings. My siblings and I were able to receive benefits up to the age of 22 if we stayed in school. And my mother received checks until my youngest brother turned 18. (The laws have changed slightly since I was a beneficiary. Today, benefits to children are generally cut off at age 18, and a widowed mother’s checks stop when the youngest child turns 16.)
Survivor benefits are a very important part of Social Security. They have been paid since 1940. Yet even today, many young workers are not aware of this protection they are guaranteed through their Social Security tax deductions.
Most young people complain about the amount of Social Security taxes they pay. But I think if they really consider why our society provides a comprehensive Social Security program, they might be more inclined to accept Social Security taxes so that no other young widowed mother has to give up her little Audrey and “kiss her goodbye forever.”
As I said earlier, I ran a column similar to this one several years ago. After that column ran, I heard from more than a few members of the government-bashing and Social Security-bashing crowd. I saved just one example. Here is what he wrote -- in part. (His rant went on for more than a page!)
“It’s the namby-pamby liberals like Baker and you who have ruined this country. Russell’s fa-
1. The book of Samaria is found in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither
2. When he had a vision, who said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean"? a) Adam b) Job c) Peter d) Benjamin
3. From Acts 7, who was the first person martyred for his belief in Jesus? a) Apollos b) John the Baptist c) Jehu d) Stephen
4. What is the fourth book of the Old Testament? a) Deuteronomy b) Numbers c) Leviticus d) Joshua
5. Besides Jonah, what other prophet ministered in Nineveh? a) Nahum b) Paul c) Nathan d) Philip
6. From 1 Kings 11, what was the number of wives of King Solomon? a) 3 b) 30 c) 70 d) 700
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
ther should have provided for his family, and your father should have provided for you. We don’t need the government to make up for slackers like your father. And don’t even get my started on widow’s benefits. These women should work and take care of themselves and not expect the government to show up each month with a widow’s dole!”
My goodness! I sure am glad I don’t live in that guy’s world. What a cold and uncaring and empathy-starved place it must be! My so-called “slacker” father served and was injured in World War II, and he struggled for the next 25 years at low-paying jobs to provide a modest life for his family. And maybe I should have pointed out to him that Russell Baker’s mom spent many years cleaning floors in tenement houses to help take care of her family. And my mom worked all her life to help pay the rent and put food on our table. Oh, well! I also wanted to point out that someone reading this column might conclude that Social Security is unique to the United States. As I will point out in next week’s column, just the opposite is true. The idea of Social Security is a worldwide phenomenon. Almost every country on the planet has a Social Security system in place for its citizens. And many countries had Social Security long before we got around to setting up our system. It’s just too bad our program came along too late to help Russell Baker’s mother and her children.
* * *
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
CLIP AND SAVE
Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient Should
Continue Biweekly Injections
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 67-year-old healthy male, but I do take Humira for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It does a wonderful job for me with no side effects. It does such a good job that I can periodically extend the time between injections, such as one every three weeks instead of the recommended dose every two weeks. I can even go as long as six months between injections without noticing much of the RA symptoms.
My rheumatologist is aware of this and encourages me to use the lesser amount if I still get relief. My quandary is that I was recently talking to my gastroenterologist about Humira, and he said that they use a very similar drug for gastrointestinal issues. But apparently, you aren’t supposed to stop taking it consecutively because the body will become immune to the drug, and the drug can lose its effectiveness.
Naturally, I don’t want to lose the great relief I am fortunate to be getting, but I also know it’s a strong drug. It seems that the less I take of it, the better. -- J.C.
ANSWER: I share your gastroenterologist’s concern. He may be thinking of a similar medication, vedolizumab (Entyvio). When this drug is stopped in someone with Crohn’s disease, it will cause a flare-up in about half of the cases within six months. In a third of them, the medication will no longer be effective.
The situation is similar with adalimumab (Humira), as there is the possibility of a relapse if you stop it entirely. Taking it every three weeks led to a flare-up in 36% of people who had their disease well-controlled for years. The researchers were unable to identify any way to predict who would flare up. Restarting Humira regained control for over half of the study participants -but not everybody.
As a medical student, I remember seeing what RA looked like before we had effective medications such as methotrexate and TNF inhibitors like Humira. Years of inflammation caused terrible hand deformities, mostly in the women I saw. Since you aren’t having any side effects, and it is working well, I don’t recommend the three-week dosing -- and certainly not six months between doses. ***
DR. ROACH WRITES: A recent column on hair loss and thyroid disease prompted many readers to write me with their experiences. One reader noted that increasing protein in their diet seemed to slow down hair loss and even cause some regrowth. Another reader recommended biotin. I often recommend this as a trial, despite a lack of good evidence that it works. Biotin is a B-type vitamin that is very safe, although it can interfere with a lab assay when it comes to thyroid levels and other hormone levels.
Note that both hair loss and thyroid disease are very common, and it is not always the case that thyroid disease causes hair loss.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu
(c) 2024 North America Synd., Inc.
All Rights Reserved
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I do understand that these are powerful medicines with side effects. Even if you aren’t noticing any, many people will, and there can be very serious side effects to many organs. Fortunately, these are uncommon, and in most cases, it is far better to stay on the medicine, as long as you are being monitored.
Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.
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Rolfing in the Desert 1/8 pg BW 6x disc. December 1, 2024 (2 of 6)
Low
Stand
a
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Expanded Telehealth Access
In an effort to get health care to veterans in communities that are medically underserved, the Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing to get rid of copayments for telehealth services. Additionally, it wants to create a grant program for VA telehealth access points in places that are not VA facilities.
The plan for the grant program, called ATLAS (Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations), is to provide locations where veterans can access their telehealth remotely in a place with high speed internet and privacy.
Telehealth can be accessed in several ways:
-- From home, using your computer or mobile device. By using the VA Video Connect app, you can have a video visit with your doctor, and your caregiver can be included if VA staff do an “invite” via the Caregiver Connect option. Use telehealth to send your data and vital signs to your doctor. (No “white coat syndrome” to make your BP go up if you’re sitting at home.)
by Freddie Groves
-- If you need a specialist (there are 50 types), you can connect with them via telehealth video while at any VA clinic location. While you’re talking to the specialist, your regular primary care doctor can listen in. Mental health care is available this way as well.
-- If you’re in the hospital, telehealth can be used to hook up your provider with specialists at other locations so they can come up with a plan for your care.
If you’ve never used the VA telehealth services, see telehealth.va.gov for all the info you need.
To download the mobile app, see mobile. va.gov/app/va-video-connect
To find ATLAS locations near you, go to telehealth.va.gov/atlas.
If you don’t have internet or any internetconnected devices, you might be eligible for help. Several companies, such as AT&T and others, will let you avoid data charges when doing video connections for telehealth. Check out mobile.va.gov/ cellular-data-program for info. To see if you qualify for help getting a device, contact Lifeline (lifelinesupport.org) at 800-234-9473 to ask about subsidies.
Whatever you need from the VA, the best first number to call is 800-698-2411. They’re available 24/7/365 for veterans, caregivers, survivors and families.
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
What You’ll Pay for Medicare in 2025
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I know there will be a small 2.5 percent cost-ofliving increase in Social Security benefits next year, but what about Medicare? What will the Medicare Part B monthly premiums be in 2025, and when do the surcharges kick in for higher income beneficiaries? -- Medicare Beneficiary
Dear Beneficiary: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced their cost adjustments for 2025 and the increases for premiums and out-ofpocket costs for most beneficiaries will be moderate. But if you’re a high earner, you’ll pay significantly more. Here’s what you can expect to pay in 2025.
Part B Premium
While Medicare Part A, which pays for hospital care, is premium-free for most beneficiaries, Part B, which covers doctor visits and outpatient services does have a monthly premium.
Starting in January, the standard monthly Part B premium will be $185, up from $174.70 in 2024. That $10.30 bump represents a 5.9 percent increase, which is more than double the most recent Social Security cost-of-living adjustment which was 2.5 percent.
But if you’re a high earning beneficiary, which makes up about 8 percent of all Medicare recipients, you’ll have to pay more. Medicare surcharges for high earners, known as the income-related monthly adjustment amount (or IRMAA), are based on adjusted gross income (AGI) from two years earlier, which means that your 2025 Part B premiums are determined by your 2023 AGI,
Here’s how it breaks down. If your 2023 income was above $106,000 up to $133,000 ($212,000 up to $266,000 for married couples filing jointly), your 2025 Part B monthly premium will be $259.
Monthly Part B premiums for singles with an income between $133,000 and $167,000 ($266,000 and $334,000 for joint filers) will rise to $370.
Individuals earning above $167,000 up to $200,000 ($334,000 to $400,000 for joint filers) will see their monthly Part B premium increase to $480.90.
Those with incomes above $200,000 up to $500,000 ($400,000 to $750,000 for joint filers), will pay $591.90 per month in 2025. And single filers with income of $500,000 or more ($750,000 or more for joint filers) will pay $628.90 per month.
Part D Premium
If you have a stand-alone Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan, the average premium in 2025 will be $46.50 per month for most beneficiaries, down from $53.95 in 2024. But again, for high earners with annual incomes above $106,000 ($212,000 for joint filers) you’ll pay a monthly surcharge of $13.70 to $85.80 (based on your income level) on top of your regular Part D premiums.
How to Contest Income
Beneficiaries that fall into any of the high-income categories and have experienced certain life-changing events that have reduced their income since 2023, such as
retirement, divorce or the death of a spouse, can contest the surcharge. For more information on how to do this, see “Medicare Premiums: Rules for Higher-Income Beneficiaries” at SSA.gov/benefits/medicare/ medicare-premiums.html
Other Medicare Increases
In addition to the Part B and Part D premium increases, there are other cost increases you should be aware of. For example, the annual deductible for Medicare Part B will be $257 in 2025, which is $17 more than the 2024 deductible of $240. And the deductible for Medicare Part A, which covers hospital services, will increase to $1,676 in 2025. That’s $44 more than the 2024 deductible of $1,632. There are no surcharges on Medicare deductibles for high earners.
For more information on all the Medicare costs for 2025 visit Medicare.gov/basics/costs or call 800-633-4227.
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ANTIQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Original Portrait Was Painted in 1537
Q: Can you tell me anything about this painting of a woman? It is 23-by-19 inches, and is on a very heavy corkwood surface. She is wearing a necklace with what looks like a family crest on it. The painting is not signed.
I would appreciate any information you can provide on who she is, who the artist was, when it was painted, and its possible value.
Q: I have enclosed the mark that is on the back of a metal ashtray that was given to me. The ashtray is decorated with ornate gold and turquoise hand-painted medallions. It is round and has a partial lid.
What can you tell me about the maker, age and value of my ashtray?
The Sascha Brastoff Studio was located in California.
A: Your “Sascha B”-signed ashtray was designed by the multitalented artist and designer, Sascha Brastoff. He opened his studio in West Los Angeles in 1953. Objects that were signed “Sascha B” were decorated by staff artists. Those signed “Sascha Brastoff” were personally crafted by him and are more desired by collectors, therefore commanding higher prices.
* On Dec. 2, 1972, the Temptations earned the last of their four chart-topping hits when “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” made it to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
* On Dec. 3, 1984, an explosion at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, marked the worst industrial accident in history. At least 5,000 people died immediately, according to official estimates, while approximately 20,000 died over time and another half-million were injured when toxic gas enveloped the city.
A: You have a reproduction of a portrait of Jane Seymour by the Renaissance artist Hans Holbein. The original painting is oil on a wood panel that was painted in 1537. It hangs in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Seymour was the third wife of King of England Henry the VIII. The letters are Greek and say, “IHS,” which signifies the name of Jesus. Holbein painted portraits of the king of England and his court. He was born in Germany and his father, Hans Holbein the Elder, was his teacher.
There are many reproductions of this portrait, but most are not valuable. Yours was made in the 20th century and would probably have a value of $50 to $75.
As a young man, Brastoff was encouraged by his immigrant parents to pursue a career in art. He studied at the Case Western Reserve School of Art in Cleveland. He was also a dancer, sculptor, jewelry designer and Hollywood costume designer.
His LA studio produced earthenware, decorative enameled metal pieces and fine china. When he retired in 1963, Gerald Schwartz took over the supervision of the business until 1973. The letter “H” is a model number, and the letter “R” in a circle signifies a registered trademark.
Your enameled metal ashtray is circa 1963 and would probably fetch $40 to $60 in an antiques shop.
*
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 Dec. 4, 1917, psychiatrist W.H.R. Rivers presented a report titled “The Repression of War Experience” to the Royal School of Medicine. The report was based on his work at the Craiglockhart War Hospital for Neurasthenic Officers, near Edinburgh, which was one of the most famous hospitals used to treat soldiers suffering psychological trauma after serving on the battlefield.
* On Dec. 5, 1776, five students at Williamsburg, Virginia’s College of William & Mary gathered at Raleigh’s Tavern to found a new fraternity they called Phi Beta Kappa, which was intended to follow strictly American principles rather than those espoused by England or Germany and in which members engaged in the kind of fervent political debate characteristic of the school’s student life.
* On Dec. 6, 1961, Syracuse running back Ernie Davis became the first African American player to win the Heisman Trophy, beating out Ohio State fullback Bob Ferguson. Earlier that day Davis had met John F. Kennedy at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, remarking that he’d “never thought I’d ever be shaking the hand of the U.S. president.”
* On Dec. 7, 2001, the blockbuster remake of the 1960 film “Ocean’s Eleven” opened in theaters. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, it spawned the profitable sequels “Ocean’s Twelve” in 2004 and “Ocean’s Thirteen” in 2007.
* On Dec. 8, 1942, Jeannette Rankin, a committed pacifist and the first woman elected to Congress, cast the sole congressional vote against America’s declaration of war on Japan.
"They
Bovine leather that has been somewhat mixed with metal to give it more strength: iron oxhide.
The picture is a reproduction of an original Renaissance painting.
Fastest/Slowest: from page 3
200 mph, but when soaring horizontally straight and level, its cruising speed is about 56 mph
• The cheetah is the fastest land animal, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in less than three seconds. However, it can only keep that up for about 60 seconds before it tires and slows down.
• The pronghorn antelope can hold a speed of 55 mph for half a mile and can run 3.7 miles at 35 mph.
• Changing to the slow lane, sloths barely move at all throughout the day, and when they do, it’s about one foot per minute. Their movement is so slow that algae grows on their coats.
• A garden snail, which only has one foot, has a top speed of ½ inch per second, but usually moves along at about 1/10 inch per second.
SPEAKING SPEEDS
• Which Americans talk the fastest? The average rate of speech is 5.09 syllables per second, but Minnesotans speak 5.34 SPS and Oregonians have a rate of 5.33. The city with the fastest rate is Portland, Oregon, at 5.38 SPS. Folks in the South just seem to take things slower. Louisiana has the slowest average speech rate, 4.78 SPS, followed by South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Peoria, Illinois residents are the slowest talkers at 4.71 SPS.
PLANETARY SPEEDS
• The speed at which a planet rotates in its orbit is dependent on its distance from the sun due to the sun’s gravitational force. Mercury, the closest to the sun, is the fastest, at a rate of 107,082 mph. The next planet from the sun, Venus has an orbital speed of 78,337 mph, while Earth’s rate is 66,615 mph. Neptune has the slowest orbital velocity of any planet, traveling around the sun at a much slower speed of 12,146 mph.
by Jason Jenkins
Pros Overlap
If there’s one area of the game of golf where the average golfer can copy some of the history’s best players, it’s in the putting grip. It doesn’t take years of practice, superhuman strength or flexibility, nor does it require a degree in engineering.
The Reverse Overlap putting grip has been around for decades, and the simplest version can be seen on many of today’s players. Great putters like Greg Norman, Brad Faxon, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy all use a form of this grip.
The basic adjustment for the Reverse Overlap is to allow the index of the left hand to overlay across the side of the right hand’s fingers. The hands should still connect closely, yet the left index finger is no longer on the club. The index does not simply overlap a top the pinky of the right, but goes across at least two to three fingers of the right hand.
The purpose of the overlap is to create a more stable wrist action with the left hand through the stroke
