December 2022 Wisconsin Bingo Bugle

Bingo Players Love Tower Chicken Farm Fresh Poultry, Specialty Meat and Friendly Staff

During the Holidays we’re all looking for food items to make our meals with family and friends extra special. We’ve heard from many area Bingo Players that they have their spe cial stores where they can purchase those items. One place we hear people rav ing about is Tower Chicken Farm conveniently lo cated at 4111 S. 6th St. Milwaukee 53221.

They’ve been a locally owned family business since 1948. When a busi ness is this popular, go ing on 75 years, you know they’re doing it right. “The Best Chicken in Town” is their slogan and they mean it. They serve cus tomers from the entire Milwaukee area including caterers and commercial food preparers, but that’s not all. Some of their cus tomers drive all the way from Illinois for Tower’s fresh poultry.

We talked to Greg and Dennis when we went to get the low down on Tower Chicken’s popularity. Greg said, “There’s no need to buy in bulk here, a small family just came in and bought a half turkey at about 7 lbs. They got white meat, dark meat and eve rybody was happy”. You can’t beat that for custom er service.

You can buy fresh poul try whole or cut up at no additional charge, just tell them how you want it. Boy ‘o boy, do they have a se lection to choose from: Frying Chickens, Soup Chickens, Roasting Chick ens, Capons, Turkey, Duck, Geese Pheasant, Cornish Game Hens and

Above: The front door leading to some of the finest and reasonably priced, food products money can buy.

Chicken Wings. There’s almost no end to the fresh food products they pro vide. We’re told they even sell rabbits if you want to make Hasenpfeffer. They have Stuffed, Marinated or Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts, Duck Breasts, Duck Legs or Goose Shanks.

There’s also prepared food products like their own Mother’s Best Brand soups, Czarnina, Piero gies, Clam Chowder and more. They make many varieties of Sausage, like

Polish, Cajun, Hungarian, Hot Dogs, Italian, Slova nian and Bratwurst.

Store Hours are Monday 10AM - 5:30PM, TuesdayFriday 8AM - 5:30PM, Sat urday 8AM - 4PM, Sunday -Closed.

Now we know why Tower Chicken Farm is so popu lar. Great products, prices and customer service. Stop in, see Greg, Dennis and the rest of the gang and find out for yourself. Tower Chicken is the best. Check out their website at www.towerchicken.com

New Years Eve Bingo - Where Is it At?

The best information we have is listed below. Times and specifics can change so if you have any questions please contact your favorite Bingo Hall.

GERMANTOWN - Amer ican Legion Post #1, N120 W15932 Freistadt Rd. New Year’s Eve doors open at 5 PM, Games start at 7PM $2,000 in prizes.

GREENDALE- Ameri can Legion Post #416, 6351 W. Grange Ave New Years Eve Bingo and Progressive game will be played. Special Bingo prices and great food. For more info call (414)4210314

MILWAUKEE - ELKS LODGE #46, 5555 W. Good Hope Rd. Doors open at 3 PM, 2 Sess sions of Bingo at 5:55PM & 7:15 PM. Huge New Years Event. SPECIAL AD Pg. 12. Guarantee yourself a good time - Get out and play New Years Eve Bin go

St. Francis Lions Bingo Bash Friday December 30th

See Special ad on Page 6. It will be a fantastic great time. Reservations Rec ommended.

Butler Bingo Is Back

Villiage of Butler Bingo Re turns on January 21, 2023. The exitement aboundsSee their ad on Page 12 of this Bingo Bugle for par ticulars. Don’t Miss Out!

Above: Greg (L) and Dennis (R) at Tower Chicken Farm serving customers for their Thanksgiving Meal. Located at 4111 S. 6th St. (Just South of 6th and Howard) Mil waukee. No doubt ”At Tower Chicken, Fresh Poultry is #1”. Tower has an A Health Dept. rating - The Best!

Horoscopes for December 2022

ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20): You’re regrouping and preparing to rally new reserves of energy to bring to a cause. Audacity has always served you well.

Lucky Days: 8 - 22

Lucky Numbers: 8 - 15

TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 21): Now is the time to take reevaluation seriously. Focus on the positive outcomes that have remained after a fairly tumultuous year.

Lucky Days: 23 - 24 Lucky Numbers: 9 - 60

GEMINI (MAY 22-JUN 21): Allow your love for experimentation to place you on firm ground. Curiosity is always your best guide.

Lucky Days: 12 - 15

Lucky Numbers: 7 - 36

CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 22): Find the sweet spot between imagination and the work it takes to bring a vision to fruition. Tenacity will succeed in the end.

Lucky Days: 3 - 9 Lucky Numbers: 11 - 18

LEO (JUL 23-AUG 23): The holiday season, with the Sun in a favorable aspect to your fiery nature, brings you a much-needed boost in spirits.

Lucky Days: 7 - 13 Lucky Numbers: 17 - 34

VIRGO (AUG 24-SEP 23): Share willingly with others but then carve out the private time you need to recharge your battery.

Lucky Days: 9 - 14 Lucky Numbers: 51 - 55

LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23): Align with the people in your circle that are willing to support your new creative direction

Lucky Days: 3 - 18 Lucky Numbers: 19 - 30

SCORPIO (OCT 24th-NOV 22nd): The full Moon on the 7th brings a blast of insight that might spin you into a surprising path at the start of the new year.

Lucky Days: 4 - 7 Lucky Numbers: 12 - 26

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23rd-DEC 21st): Listen to your muse and put time and effort into beautifying your world. Make and share art.

Lucky Days: 3 - 19

Lucky Numbers: 46 - 48

CAPRICORN (DEC 22nd-JAN 20th): It’s all about connections now—and aligning yourself with the magnetic draw of making new friends.

Lucky Days: 23 - 29 Lucky Numbers: 6 - 17

AQUARIUS (JAN 21st-FEB 19th): Make time to dive into the world of daydreams and free-form mental wandering, new insights await you in the nocturnal world.

Lucky Days: 6 - 30 Lucky Numbers: 52 - 56

PISCES (FEB 20th-MAR 20th): You’re attempting to reassert yourself in a way that pleases everyone, but right now the focus should be on what makes you feel secure.

Lucky Days: 8 - 18

Lucky Numbers: 7- 17

BINGO BUGLE

of Wisconsin

A Division of Paper Trails, Inc. P.O. Box 14141 Milwaukee, WI 53214 (414) 327-0705

on the web: on the on the web: on the www.bingobugleofwi.com www.bingobugleofwi.com www.bingobugleofwi.com www.bingobugleofwi.com

email: r r r r r obert@papertrailsinc.com obert@papertrailsinc.com obert@papertrailsinc.com obert@papertrailsinc.com

The Bingo Bugle is published monthly in major metro-markets throughout the United States and Canada. All contents Copyright© 1995 by Bingo Bugle, Inc. All rights reserved. Bingo Bugle is an international trademark of Bingo Bugle Inc. Sworn circulation statements are provided to Standard Rate & Data Service on a monthly basis. For further information, call the head office of the Bingo Bugle Group, (206) 463-5656.

Reproduction or use in whole or part of the contents, without the written permission of the publisher and copyright owners, is strictly prohibited. Advertisers may withdraw or alter any advertised offer without prior notice.

Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of Paper Trails, Inc. or its employees.

Not Playing Pays Off

Dear Aunt Bingo, I wanted to share with you a priceless exchange I recently had with another Bingo player.

I hollered “Bingo” five times in one session, and afterwards an 89-year-old lady who I don’t know personally approached me.

She handed me a piece of paper with her phone number on it. Confused as to why an 89-yearold woman is giving a 34-year-old guy her phone number, I explained to her that I see her all the time at Bingo and didn’t need her phone number. She replied, “Oh, honey, I need you to do me a big, big favor.

If you ever decide not to come to Bingo, I want you to telephone me that morning because I am coming! I just can’t seem to win when you are here, so let me know when you AREN’T going to be here!”

This lady plays one 6-on paper packet, while others like me play electronic machines with 25 packets in them.

Last week, as she requested, I called her to let her know that I wasn’t planning to go to Bingo that day. She went—and ended up winning a $500 Blackout!

The next day I saw her, she came over to me, handed me a $10 bill and thanked me for staying home. She also had one more request for me: “Now can you give me your Bingo schedule for the next month?”

—Jim M., Portland, Oregon

Dear Jim, Thanks for sharing; I enjoyed your story very much. But you may regret going public with it— especially after 100 more players read it then hand you their phone numbers and ask that you call them on your next “day off” as well!

—Aunt Bingo

Write to Aunt Bingo c/o Editor, Bingo Bugle, P.O. Box 527, Vashon WA 98070 or send email to: tara@ bingobugle.com.

Medical Scammers Caught

Thieves must think they’re smarter than the rest of us. Until they’re caught, that is, and have to give up all their ill-gotten gains and spend time behind bars. Here are a few examples:

The president of a medical testing company has been convicted of paying kickbacks, misleading investors and committing healthcare fraud for pushing an allergy test.

He made several outlandish claims to investors along the way: — That his company was valued at $4.5 billion and that his little test could show nearly any disease just using a few drops of blood when it wasn’t actually a diagnostic test at all.

— That Dr. Fauci had required testing for Covid and allergies at the same time, which was handy, because the scammer also claimed that his allergy test could test for Covid.

— That he was on the list to receive the Nobel Prize.

The scammer was convicted of a whole list of crimes and could face five to 20 years in prison on each of the scams. A back-of-theenvelope calculation shows 115 years in prison.

And another thief, this time a chiropractor, targeted health care in the durable medical equipment niche: crutches, hospital beds, canes, walkers, wheelchairs and more — all supposedly prescribed through telemedicine visits. It involved bribery of doctors who approved the medical equipment.

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) was just one of their targets, and the scammers collected over $10 million from that one source alone.

Unfortunately, the head thief in this scam only got four years in the slammer. He will, however, be minus $3 million he has to pay back and $10 million in restitution when he gets out.

PICKS OF THE MONTH

A Friend of the Family (TVMA) — While the kidnappings of Jan Broberg have been covered in the media before (a Netflix documentary titled Abducted in Plain Sight was a hot topic when it was released in 2017), Peacock has decided to adapt the true story into a miniseries starring Jake Lacy and Anna Paquin. Lacy portrays the perpetrator, Robert Berchtold, who nosed his way into the Broberg family with the intent of developing intimate relationships with not only the Broberg parents, but the children as well — specifically Jan, who was kidnapped by him two separate times in 1974 and in 1976. The series has been praised for its focus on the victims, rather than the abuser, which is no doubt influenced by Jan Broberg herself serving as executive producer for the show. Out now. (Peacock)

Luckiest Girl Alive (R) — Before Ani Fanelli was a 30-year-old hotshot writer living in New York, awaiting a grandiose wedding to the love of her life, she was a young girl named Tifani, who was just trying to find a place for herself in the world. Her first taste of luxury

only came after she received a scholarship to a prestigious private school, the turning point that would alter the course of her life. The dark events that took place at the school would come to follow and haunt her to the current day, and until she turns around to face her trauma in the eye, Tifani cannot truly become Ani. Mila Kunis plays the (un)luckiest girl alive in this mystery thriller film out now. (Netflix)

Run Sweetheart Run (R) — From horror powerhouse Blumhouse Productions, this psychological thriller stars Ella Balinska (Charlie’s Angels) and Pilou Asbaek (Game of Thrones). Balinska plays Cherie, a woman usually absorbed in her work, as she gets set up on a blind date with a man named Ethan. After Ethan charms her with a wonderful night out, she’s left swooning at the end of their date. Little does she know that as she accepts an invitation into his home, he has pulled her into a violent, deadly game of cat and mouse. Narrowly escaping his home, Cherie must run for her life around her city to run from Ethan, who somehow lurks at every corner. (Prime Video)

A Fine Christmas

Memory

We had thought and thought about Christmas that year. What will we do? Where should we go? Who should we celebrate with? Cliff and Rodney were, of course, part of our plans, but we didn’t know where to go from there. Then Rodney came up with a suggestion. “Why not let Cliff and I plan our holiday? From start to finish, we’ll do all the work and you ladies just sit back and enjoy.”

“That’s a great idea,” said Kate enthusiastically. “Go for it.”

“Oh, yes,” I chimed in. “I would love that.”

Here’s what happened: They picked us up for breakfast and then we drove to a casino a little out of our regular range where they advertised FIVE Bingo sessions in one day. I was thrilled and in spite of it being Christmas, the place was packed. We found

places to sit and played through the first two sessions without even a nibble, which didn’t even discourage us on our special day.

Then the boys took us to lunch where we had a great meal of enchiladas (!). We wandered around the gift shops for a bit then returned to claim our places for the next Bingo session. We were early and reserving seats is not allowed, so we sat talking with the people who sat down next to us.

“How come you’re here on Christmas Day?” I asked an older man.

“Oh, the house fills up with all the relatives,” he said with a twinkle. “I like to get out of their way, and nobody misses me. I’ve been coming to Christmas Bingo for three years.”

“It’s the first I’ve heard of it,” I said. “But I love it!”

We settled in for the next session and again our luck was not good. Nobody even got on and we were feeling discouraged when Cliff suggested we all switch places and cards and daubers. That got us laughing again and all was well going into the fourth session.

Again, no nibbles—even though the games were entertaining, and one was new—a cross in two corners and a square in the third. That was nearly impossible, and it seems you could have a blackout just as easily.

After the fourth session we took a dinner break. One restaurant was serving a special Christmas dinner and we opted for that, although

after the earlier enchiladas, none of us were very hungry and we took most of it home to enjoy the next day.

The fifth session was bound to be our lucky one, I thought, as I busily arranged my cards to take best advantage of my hunch. Rod bought us all extras, which increased the need to concentrate. I was on right away and loved the exhilaration. I kept chanting my number, but it didn’t do any good and someone else won.

Then came the Christmas special, which was an Indian cross (diagonals plus the N row), followed by a blackout. The prize was a trip to Florida, which seemed a dream and would get us out of this bleak weather. I thought I had won and was terribly excited, but someone else beat me to it and I was runnerup. What I won was a trip around Puget Sound, which was good, but not nearly as adventurous as a trip to Florida.

We concluded it had been a truly fine Christmas.

May 3rd

Allesandra reveals your lucky days for December 2022

GEMINI: May 21 to June 21

1st thru 6th…

Good to GO 2nd-3rd! 7th thru 12th… Itchin’ to win the 12th!$ 13th thru 18th…

Enjoy friends & $$ 17th! 19th thru 24th… Nah, I wouldn’t 25th thru 31st… Bet & WIN 25th & 30th!

CANCER: June 22 to July 22

Lucky Predictions for December 2022

ARIES: March 21 to April 19

1st thru 6th…

You’re RED hot 2nd-3rd!

7th thru 12th…

Lucky #s from brother 7th/11th 12th$$

13th thru 18th…

Throw in the towel (for now)

19th thru 24th…

Up the ante 21st$!

25th thru 31st…

Get busy & win 25th-26th$

TAURUS: April 20 to May 20

1st thru 6th…

Best shots on 1st & 5th$$

7th thru 12th…

Close to home the 10th$

13th thru 18th…

Common sense conquers, 14th!

19th thru 24th…

Bag it ‘til the 23rd

25th thru 31st…

Whimsy wins 27th-28th!$

1st thru 6th… No stopping you 1st & 5th$$ 7th thru 12th… Endless chances 10th$-11th$! 13th thru 18th…

Magic touch the 14th$!$ 19th thru 24th…

GREEN = win 19th! 25th thru 31st…

Yours to take 27th-28th$

LEO: July 23 to Aug. 22

1st thru 6th…

Revv’d up to WIN the 3rd$! 7th thru 12th…

Midas touch 7th & 12th$$ 13th thru 18th… Just ok the 16th 19th thru 24th…

Jump in 2 win the 21st! 25th thru 31st… Wait ‘til the 29th

VIRGO: Aug. 23 to Sept. 22

1st thru 6th…

Pleasure to win 4th-5th!

7th thru 12th…

Child’s play 9th-10th$

13th thru 18th…

Worth your time 14th$ 19th thru 24th…

Find a spot 19th & 23rd! 25th thru 31st…

Stay home, count cash

LIBRA: Sept. 23 to Oct. 23 1st thru 6th…

Better luck next time 7th thru 12th…

Magic #7 on the 7th$ 13th thru 18th…

Early 13th, then stop 19th thru 24th… Watch $$ grow 21st! 25th thru 31st…

You’ll be proud 25th-26th$$

SCORPIO: Oct. 24 to Nov. 21

1st thru 6th…

Go w/the flow the 1st$$ 7th thru 12th…

Deep pockets the 10th$!$ 13th thru 18th…

You, too, can win 14th! 19th thru 24th…

Totally natural the 19th$$ 25th thru 31st… Dream delivered 28th!$!

SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 to Dec. 21

1st thru 6th…

Multiple chances 2nd-3rd$$ 7th thru 12th…

RED’s da thang 11th-12th$! 13th thru 18th…

Accept advice 17th$ 19th thru 24th…

Onward & up! 21st-22nd$ 25th thru 31st…

Darn good luck the 25th!

CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 to Jan. 19

1st thru 6th…

Money bags 4th-5th$! 7th thru 12th…

Looks meh - wait 13th thru 18th… Stay on it 14th-15th$!$ 19th thru 24th…

Pay close attention 19th/23rd 25th thru 31st…

Pockets to pad 27th-28th$!

AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 to Feb. 18

1st thru 6th…

Very promising 2nd-3rd!

7th thru 12th…

Use every trick 7th-8th$$ 13th thru 18th…

Friend helps 16th-17th$ 19th thru 24th…

Take it home 21st-22nd! 25th thru 31st…

You’ve got it made 25th-26th$!

PISCES: Feb. 19 to March 20

1st thru 6th…

Make room for it 1st/5th$$ 7th thru 12th…

BLUE card luck 10th$ 13th thru 18th…

Lay low for now 19th thru 24th…

Just might work the 19th! 25th thru 31st…

Goodness abounds 27th-28th$$

Color associations refer to lucky objects, daubers, cards, machines, clothing/jewels you wear, or a dominant color in the room.

Why Do the Same People Always Win

During the years I lived in Las Vegas, I played Bingo nearly every night; and, because I went to the small, north side Bingo hall, I got to know the other players pretty well. One was named Reiner. He was an older man who had the funds to play all the time…and that is what he did. I always knew, no matter the day or the time, when I went to the hall, Reiner would be there. I also knew, that he would likely win at least one game during the session.

I started calling him MR. LUCKY.

Now, I should point out that even though I have written this column for more than twenty years and play Bingo as often as I can, I SELDOM WIN. Friends can’t

figure out why someone like me, who is a national columnist and an EXPERT on Bingo, is such a nonwinner. I can’t either.

You know, it’s easy—when you see the same people win all the time—to become soured on the game. I have come to the conclusion that some people just win more than others. As a matter of fact, when someone would win a second or third time at my hall in Vegas, many of us would yell: “Same winners! same winners!” It was great fun and the tourists from out of town could not figure out what was happening.

And, as I have said nearly every month for two decades: “You don’t play Bingo to win, you play to (1) get out of the house, (2) have some interesting food, (3) yell at your friends, (4) occasionally be on the edge of your seat, and (5) MAYBE win.”

And, of course, if you are playing at a non-profit hall, your buy-in is a nice charitable contribution.

And, Bingo IS important when you get older. Studies have shown that playing Bingo helps your concentration and your hand-eye coordination. So, the next time you hear someone say, “Bingo is for old people,” turn to that person and say, “Yes, and I love playing it. It keeps me young.” And, if Bingo is canceled at my favorite hall, I grieve. At this point in my life that going to Bingo is about the only fun I have.

So, if my old friend Reiner is looking down: “Thanks for bringing

me so much fun when I lived in Vegas. Thanks for letting me kid you for being such a consistent winner. How did you do it? Why were you MR. LUCKY?”

HAPPY HOLIDAYS. Stay well. Take a friend to Bingo as a gift. Write me at my new address: bingo@ earthlink.net. See you next year. Bob on Bingo.

* Using your fireplace? Try adding citrus peels to the logs for a nice aroma. They can be a good starter material as well.

* Those hide-a-key rocks can be a little obvious — at least they are to me. I have a spare key hidden outside too, but I sealed mine in a plastic baggie and buried it in a spot known to our family members. Also, it’s not right by the door. — I.E. in Mississippi

* When closing up our cabin for the season, we brought a box of mothballs and scattered them around the porch perimeter. This keeps the small animals like mice and skunks from setting up shop there while no one is around. — S.F. in Pennsylvania

* Now’s a great time to start weatherstripping! Check and recaulk windows. Caulk along baseboards to deter drafts. Add insulation to electrical outlets and under sinks around plumbing. Seal it up to stay toasty this winter. Send your tips to: Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

Germantown

American Legion Post #1 N120 W15932 Freistadt Rd. 7:00 pm 251-5470

1st, 3rd & 5th Thursdays Only Tichigan Lions Club 6710 Big Bend Rd. Waterford 6:30 pm (262) 895-6268

Heart’s Desire

With no idea why it was in my mind, I’ve always wanted a pair of Wooden Shoes, Authentic, direct from the land of Tulips.

Now I have them.

Swooped up from a thrift shop bin, I am a cute Dutch fashion plate Or would be, were it not for Senior Fear

The constant dread– the fatal fall.

Oh, Sweet Clogs, Why did I wait too long to make you a home, Bring you in from discardment ?

I might have clip-clopped my way through Bulbs and bulbs and bulbs

As splashes of flower hues stained my Thoughts and dirndl.

Alas, instead my cane Rackets its melody of age. Charlene James-Duguid Amissville, Virginia

Am Legion Post #416

6351 W. Grange Ave. 6:00 pm 421-3371

Elks Lodge #46 5555 W. Good Hope Rd. 12 Noon 353-2900

Moose Lodge #49 13th & Grange Ave. 12:30 pm 281-4444

SUNDAY BINGO

St. Bernadette Parish 8200 W. Denver Ave. 5:00 & 6:00 pm 358-4600

2nd & 4th Sundays Only Elks Lodge #400 2301 Springdale Rd., Waukesha 1:00 pm (262) 717-9488

All listings in the Bingo Bugle Player's Guide are for the normal schedule of any given bingo. If you have a question regarding the schedule of any particular game due to a special event, holi day, or weather condition, please call the number listed for that game. Players should also be aware that advertisers may with draw or alter any advertised offer without prior notice.

6th Pearl Harbor Remembrance 8th Full Moon

16th Last Quarter Moon 19th Hanukkah (first day) 21st December Solstice

New Moon 24th Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Hanukkah (last day) 26th Kwanzaa (first day) 30th First Quarter Moon 31st New Year’s Eve

MYTHOLOGY: What are the Nereids in Greek mythology?

LITERATURE: Which 19thcentury English novel has the subtitle, The Parish Boy’s Progress? 3. ACRONYMS: In printing, what does the acronym DPI stand for? 4. GEOGRAPHY: Which city lies near the largest natural harbor in the world?

5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How does a bat find its prey?

6. HISTORY: Who is the youngest person to win a Nobel Peace Prize? 7. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix “super-” mean in English? 8. LAW: What is double jeopardy? 9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Who founded the American Red Cross? 10. MEDICAL: What vitamin deficiency causes night blindness?

Cushion

Spy org.

Yon maiden

Picked up where you left off 34 Seamstress’ aid

Insult (Sl.) 39 Pirate’s refrain

Command to Fido 44 Duck down 45 Grate

Needle case 48 Portrayal 49 Verifiable 50 Holler 53 Coloration

Feet Furor at Bingo

Hi Guy,

I’m still trying to decide if the following experience is funny or cruel. Between you and me and your thousands of readers, I’m leaning toward funny.

There is a man at Bingo who is famous (maybe infamous is a better word) for taking his shoes off while he plays. He has been doing this for a while…and certainly long enough that other players began to notice and decided they were going to make a “thing” about it.

off his shoes and putting them back on when it was time to leave.

One night as the games were ending, the man went to put on his shoes but could only find one of them. He pulled out his chair and searched under the table—no shoe. He asked other people to look under their chairs—no shoe. He waited for the hall to clear out and searched all around and under the table again—still no shoe. Finally, he went to one of the workers and explained that his shoe had gone missing and would they keep a lookout for it. He then left the hall in his stocking feet with his single shoe in his hand.

The following week he went back

There

shoes on throughout the games.

He also has a new hobby— swiping sweaters and jackets and good luck charms from the people who used to complain about his shoes and tossing them in the Bingo paper bags. Let’s see how they like it. —Shoeless Joe, via email

for taking his shoes off while he plays

At first it was just one or two players making critical remarks to each other. Then the drama spread and the chatter got louder. Then people began criticizing him directly. They even said he was dirty, and they could smell him, which was not true.

Through it all, this man just shrugged it off and every time he showed up would continue kicking

to Bingo and was greeted by one of the workers who said they had found his shoe in one of the trash bags taped to the tables for people to throw away their used Bingo paper.

It was obvious that someone had done this intentionally. It was a good thing it was found because these weren’t cheap shoes. So, the guy decided not to tempt trouble further and he now keeps his

Hi Shoeless, I got the feeling about halfway through your letter that you might be talking about yourself. There was a little too much detail for a casual observer. I’m glad you got your shoe back; now please stop throwing other people’s belongings away! You may toss something valuable or get caught and banned from Bingo. I doubt you want either of those events to occur. And here’s an idea…if you don’t want to wear your shoes during the games, why don’t you bring a pair of slippers to put on instead? That way you’ll be comfy—and the crowd won’t get all bent out of shape. Think about it. —Guy

Hey guys! (And gals!) Write to: Guy’s Turn c/o The Bingo Bugle, P.O. Box 527, Vashon, WA 98070, or e-mail Guy directly at tara@ bingobugle.com. Be sure to include your name and address (you may request that your name not be published), as typically Guy will not include anonymous letters in his columns.

* A border collie named Saul took a leaf out of another (albeit fictional) canine’s book, being praised as a “real-life Lassie” when he led two members of a search party to his owner after the man was injured on a hike.

* It’s not just trees that help provide us humans with oxygen — about half of that in our atmosphere is a byproduct of photosynthesis from the microscopic sea algae known as phytoplankton.

* Rhubarb grows so fast you can actually hear it!

* Legend holds that when a pope dies, it’s the custom to strike him on the head three times with a silver hammer to ensure he’s really deceased.

* A survey revealed that nearly half of the unmarried gents polled washed their bedsheets a mere four times a year, instead of the recommended once per week. Singletons, there may be a lesson in there.

* Less than 14% of all M&Ms candies are brown.

is a man at Bingo who is famous (maybe infamous is a better word)

Video Poker Top Tips

No. 1. Play video poker games that have the highest Expected Return (ER).

Expected Return (ER) is a percentage that tells the theoretical amount of money you can expect to win in the long run assuming you play every hand perfectly. The most important variable that determines the ER is the game’s pay schedule. For example, a Jacks or Better game that returns 9 times the amount bet for a full house and 6 times for a flush (known as a 9/6 game) has an ER of 99.54%, meaning over time a skillful player can expect to get back 99.54% of the money bet, assuming the player is using basic strategy (i.e., is making no playing mistakes). You’ll often find Jacks or Better games that pay 8/5 or worse 7/5 for the full house/flush. The corresponding ERs for these games are 97.3% and 96.15% respectively and a skillful player would not play them.

The casino manager isn’t going to tell you which games have a high or low ER—that’s the player’s responsibility to figure out. However, that’s OK because it’s quite easy to learn what the ER is for any video poker game. Many video poker books and internet sites list the ERs for different video poker games. By studying, you’ll learn what the ER’s are for different video poker games based on their pay schedule. Two good video poker books that I can recommend are Frugal Video Poker by Jean Scott and Viktor Nacht, and Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner by Bob Dancer.

Once you decide which video poker game you want to play (presumably one with at least a 99% or higher ER), you need to check if the game is available at your local casino. To do this, go to www.vpfree2.com and check the region you are interested in (e.g., Las Vegas, Gulf Coast, East, etc.). You’ll get a listing of the video poker games with the highest ER’s for each casino in that region. If you don’t find a video poker game with a high ER in your favorite casino, check the listing for other nearby casinos. No. 2. Learn the basic playing strategy.

In order to achieve the high ERs, you have to learn the basic playing strategy. This is not as hard as you think. You’ll find the basic strategy for different video poker games in the above books or websites (e.g., www.wizardofodds.com). However, the best way to learn the strategy is by using a video poker computer software trainer. You purchase the commercial software, load it on your PC at home, and play video poker on your computer.

When you make a playing mistake, the software will alert you and show you what the correct play is. The software will also keep track of your playing accuracy and show you how much playing errors cost you. By practicing at home, in no time you will be able to get your playing accuracy to at least 99%.

Tip No. 3. You should bring a video poker strategy card that contains the playing strategy with you to the casino. These strategy cards are casino legal and you can refer to them if you not sure how to play a hand. By having them with you, you’ll always play with 100% accuracy. (See smartgaming.com store for a list of commercially available strategy cards.)

Tip No. 4. Always sign up for a casino’s player’s card and use it every time you play video poker. You’ll get cash back or free play, comps, and mailers from the casino that usually contain more free play offers. These benefits will boost your overall return from playing video poker to at or slightly above 100% (if you are over 100%, you’ll be playing with an edge).

What are you waiting for? Make a goal to get started learning how to be a smart video poker player. You’ll never look back once you do it.

What's News in Nevada

Seinfeld Set for Six Shows

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will headline six shows at Caesars, his long-time casino venue of choice; it will be the first time he’ll appear at the Colosseum since 2019. The shows will take place on April 14 and 15, June 9 and 10, and July 28 and 29.

Rooftop Brewpub Set to Open

A multinational brewery and pub chain founded in 2007 and based in Ellon, Scotland, that claims to be the number-one craft brewer in Europe has announced plans to open what it also claims will be the largest brewpub on the Las Vegas Strip. BrewDog is set to open on Friday December 2 on the third and fourth floors of the Showcase Mall on the south Strip. A 30,000-square-foot rooftop bar will have 360-degree views of the Strip, according to the press release. BrewDog Pub will have 96 beers on tap; the 10-barrel brewhouse on the premises will produce “exclusive small-batch” beer. Food offerings will include lobster, steaks, Wagyu beer burgers, and Scottish “favorites,” such as haggis and the “infamous” deep-fried Mars bars. It will also feature a retro game zone in what BrewDog is calling “one of our most epic creations.” The company has 113 locations worldwide with a few in the U.S.

Chicago Returns to the Venetian

The 10-member classic-rock band Chicago will play the Venetian Theater again on February 24 and 25 and March 1, 3, 4, 8, 10, and 11. It’s the sixth year in a row the band

has performed a mini-residency at the Venetian. Tickets will start at $50.

ARCADE Opens at Bally’s ARCADE has opened at Bally’s next to the food court in the space on the lower level previously occupied by the race and sports book. The 7,000-square-foot room has 80 games, including such classics as Skee-Ball, air hockey, and a claw machine that grabs prizes. All the machines are cashless, fed by an e-card, which is also used to redeem points for prizes at the redemption center. In more news about the transformation of Bally’s into the Horseshoe, work continues to remove Bally’s signs outside the property. The rebranding is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Two Big Jackpots Hit in One Week

A visitor from Hawaii who usually stays and plays at the California downtown switched to the Fremont this trip, where she fired up a $5 Buffalo Inferno machine last Friday with a $15 bet and lined up the three Inferno 3X symbols to take down the progressive jackpot of $717,738. Also, it seems she had an intuition about switching from the Cal to the Fremont; she goes home to Hawaii about $550,000 richer (after taxes). And a slot player at the Venetian, also playing a $5 machine, this one a Dancing Drums Explosion, got really lucky and hit the progressive for $2,835,768, when they matched three explosion symbols on the Fu Babies bonus bet.

Kiss Me Under the Birdlime!

Enjoy spiked eggnog, mistletoe smooches, tacky sweaters, and gaining five pounds this month without guilt. However, don’t get your tinsel in a tangle because alcohol, like milk, doesn’t solve problems. I see you when you’re sleeping as well as when you’re drinking. Have a safe holiday. –Santa, Rudolph, and the Elves

Kissing under the mistletoe is a sweet Christmas tradition and something to look forward to this month. Ancient Druids believed mistletoe was a sacred religious symbol that was medicinal and magical. It was removed from oak trees using a golden knife and was said to provide protection from witches and ghosts; if you have a golden knife, something to keep in mind next October. Mistletoe has other names, such as birdlime, drudenfuss, and devil’s fuge. I’ve never heard these terms, nor have I heard a song called I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Under the Birdlime. Well, that sounds disgusting!

Many times, though, I have listened to I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. Written by British songwriter Tommie Connor, it was first recorded in 1952 by Jimmy Boyd, age thirteen. Immediately, the song was condemned by the Catholic Church in Boston because it was wrongly believed to portray an adulterous encounter. The ban was lifted after Jimmy met with the church and explained the song was about a young boy who comes downstairs on Christmas Eve and sees his mother kissing his father, dressed as Santa Claus, underneath the mistletoe.

Recently, I found this hilarious tidbit as I was reading about

mistletoe. In 1975, Chicago’s mayor, Richard Daley, was fiercely protective of his family. He responded to criticism that he was funneling city business to a company that employed his son by responding, “There’s a mistletoe hanging from my coattail.” Think about it and you’ll figure out why that’s so funny.

In actuality, mistletoe is an evergreen parasite that attaches itself to trees, plants, and shrubs, stealing nutrients and water. This can weaken or disfigure the host plant, and eventually kill it.

It is poisonous and eating any part of it can cause drowsiness, blurred vision, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weakness and seizures. These symptoms are caused by phoratoxin, found in all parts of the plant including the berries, and especially concentrated in the leaves. Eating the plant raw or drinking it in tea can cause serious consequences or death. I repeat, mistletoe is a poisonous plant so keep it well away from all pets and humans with the exception being, standing under it, for kisses from your honey or honey wannabe. On the other hand, experimental research is being done in Europe on the medicinal properties of mistletoe in cancer treatment. How wonderful that a plant so deadly could end up being a blessing.

And speaking of blessings, Bingo can be just that for many this month. For those who are lonely, or depressed, or just need an evening out, away from the craziness of this season, Bingo is the answer. Playing Bingo is a fun thing to do whether you go alone or with others. Being in the midst of others who are having a good time is contagious and you can feel the love.

Until next month, may Lady Luck blow you kisses as you dance out the door with dollars. Win big. Contact nlpvzw6172@ gmail.com to wish this old gal a happy birthday; another reason December is my favorite month.

Rules for The Bingo Bugle Monthly Cash Sweepstakes

Each month the Bingo Bugle of Wisconsin conducts a month ly “Sweepstakes” featuring a $100.00 prize for the winner. What follows are the rules of the contest.

The Bingo Bugle Sweepstakes contest is open to everyone. It is a FREE contest. Entry forms are usually found on the next to last page of each monthly issue of the Bingo Bugle. Readers who are interested in entering the contest may cut or tear the entry from the paper, fill it out and officially en ter by dropping the entry into the plastic Sweepstakes Entries” jug located at most not for profit Bingo halls. Some Bingo halls do not have an entry jug, but usually one the game volunteers will take your entry and get it to us. You may submit a copy of the entry form if none are available to you. If you prefer, your entry may be mailed to:

Bingo Bugle Sweepstakes P.O. Box 371283 Milwaukee, WI 53237

If you mail in your entry, only one entry per envelope is accepted. Entry forms must be completely filled out to qualify. Entry forms

that are not completely filled out, do not qualify for the drawing. Enter as many times as you like, but please, take only one Bingo Bugle when you play. A random drawing is conducted each month from all entries received.

Winners are announced each month in the Bingo Bugle. Win ners must call 327-0705 prior to the 15th of the month in which their name is announced as the winner to claim their prize. Entries received after the draw ing are held for the next month’s contest.

Your chances of winning are determined by the total number of entries received prior to the draw ing.

By entering the contest, you grant the Bingo Bulge the exclusive right to use your name, photo and comments for publicity purposes. Winners not making themselves available for a photo will forfiet their prize.

The contest is not “progres sive,” that is to say, if the winner does not claim the prize prior to the deadline, the prize is not increased. The prize is always $100.00 payable via check.

Please, don’t call the Bingo Bugle office to find out who the winner is, we won’t tell you. And, if it is you, you will be disqualified.

Thanks for reading the Bingo Bu gle and for entering our monthly Sweepstakes. Maybe one day soon, you’ll be our lucky winner.

Sydney, Australia.

Echolocation (sending high-frequency sound waves). 6. Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan, who fights for children’s rights to education, was 17 when she won the award. 7. Above, over (supervise, etc.). 8. Prosecuting a person twice for the same offense. 9. Clara Barton. 10. Vitamin A.

Lynda Jones