Issue 45 by Tidbits of Boise

TAKE ONE! December 26 - January 1, 2014

Vol. I - Issue XLV

Published by: Boise Media Group, Inc.

NEW YEAR’s EVE

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January 1st is National “Z” Day, whose purpose is to give recognition on the first day of the year to people and places whose name begins with the letter Z and are always listed or thought of last. Come along with Tidbits as we consider Z!

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Z FACTS

• Z is the most rarely used letter in the English language. However, it’s more common in American English than it is in British English because Americans use word endings such as “-ize” instead of “-ise” (realize vs realise) and “-ization” instead of “-isation” (civilization vs civilisation). The American method of spelling is derived from Greek origins whereas the British spelling comes from the French language. • Why do Americans pronounce the letter as “zee” while Brits, Canadians, and others say “zed”? It harks back to the original Greek letter, “zeta” which came from the Old French “zede.” After Americans split from the British, a lot of language was re-formed as regional dialects gained a foothold. According to the Concise Oxford Companion, “The modification of zed to zee appears to have been by analogy with bee, dee, vee, etc.” Lye’s New Spelling Book (published in 1677) was the first to list “zee” as the “correct” pronunciation, and Webster followed suit in his dictionary of 1827. (cont’d on next page)

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• During the Viet Nam war when young American men were defecting to Canada, they often betrayed their American origins when asked to recite the alphabet by border guards. “Zed” is the only letter of the alphabet that Canadians pronounce differently from Americans. Zink, Ziegler, Zeno, & Zarb etc. • Mr. T. M. Zink of Iowa died in 1930 and left his $100,000 fortune to fund a womanless library. He specified that his daughter should receive $5 and his widow a single penny. The rest of the fortune was to be held in trust for 75 years, until the year 2005 when Zink’s womanless library would be funded. Signs reading “No Women Admitted” were to be posted above the doors, and no books or art by women were to be allowed. Fortunately, Zink’s family successfully contested the will. • In 1974 the Doublespeak Award for outra-

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geous language went to Ron Ziegler, who was Pres. Nixon’s press secretary. When asked whether a certain bunch of Watergate tapes was still intact— a question that could have been answered with ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘I don’t know’— Ziegler used a colossal 99 word sentence that left everybody scratching their heads. During Watergate, Zielger said, “If my answers sound confusing, I think they are confusing because the questions are confusing, and the situation is confusing and I’m not in a position to clarify it.” • Greek philosopher Zeno in the year 264 B.C. suffered a broken toe and decided this was God’s sign that he had lived long enough. He killed himself, dying at age 98. • Florenz Ziegfeld of the Ziegfeld Follies once offered Gracie Allen $750 a week to appear in a show in London. Gracie asked how much the pay would be if her husband, George Burns, appeared too. “Five hundred,” was the answer. (continued on page 4)

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This is a lesson that cost Carolyn and Ray Thompson of Brewer, Maine, $30,000. Friends told them about a new and exciting green energy opportunity involving windmills small enough (cont’d on page 5)

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of resolutions to your children. Give examples, share one another’s ideas and then encourage your kids to draw each of their own 2014 resolutions on a sheet of paper. Instead of making original drawings, your child might prefer cutting out Picture Family Resolutions pictures from old magazines and catalogs to create an artistic collage of his or her New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for resolution. grownups. Setting goals is a great skill to learn at any age, and that means kids can get involved, too. Maybe your child would like to learn how to ride a twowheel bike, plant a small vegetable garden, take piano lessons or join a soccer or baseball team at the neighborhood park in 2014. Or, perhaps someone in your family needs encouragement to work on areas that are particularly challenging, such as including younger brothers or sisters in games, practicing the flute regularly or making the bed every day. Illustrating their New Year’s resolutions When the pictures are complete, write can make undertaking those 2014 im- each resolution at the bottom in large provements more fun. letters if you wish, and hang the papers Gather your markers, pens and crayons on a bulletin board or bedroom wall. The on the kitchen table and explain the idea drawings will reinforce the challenges

Top 10 Pop Singles This Week Last Week 1. Eminem feat. Rihanna No. 2 “The Monster” 2. Pitbull feat. Ke$ha No. 4 “Timber” 3. One Republic No. 5 “Counting Stars” 4. Lorde No. 3 “Royals” 5. Miley Cyrus No. 1 “Wrecking Ball” 6. Avicii No. 6 “Wake Me Up!” 7. Imagine Dragons No. 7 “Demons” 8. A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera No. 10 “Say Something” 9. Passenger No. 13 “Let Her Go” 10. Drake feat. Majid Jordan No. 11 “Hold On, We’re Going Home”

Top 10 Albums

1. Garth Brooks No. 3 “Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences” 2. One Direction No. 1 “Midnight Memories” 3. Kelly Clarkson No. 6 “Wrapped in Red” 4. Britney Spears new entry “Britney Jean” 5. The Robertsons No. 4 “Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas” 6. Eminem No. 2 “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” 7. Pentatonix No. 29 “PTXmas” 8. Michael Buble No. 16 “Christmas” 9. Katy Perry No. 5 “Prism” 10. Mary J. Blige No. 15 “A Mary Christmas”

your kids have set for themselves for the new year, and will serve as a reminder of their goals. Add your artwork to the project, too. Your kids will be interested in knowing and supporting you with your 2014 resolutions, such as: “I resolve to exercise 30 minutes every day.” Some families might like to create their own “Family Resolution” to focus on doing activities together and to serve neighbors and the community. With awesome support from each other, your resolutions just might be realized this year! *** Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the Top 10 Hot Country Singles NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Florida Georgia Line No. 1 Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s 1. “Stay” Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” 2. Luke Bryan No. 7 “Drink a Beer” (c) 2013 Donna Erickson 3. Eli Young Band No. 6 “Drunk Last Night” 4. Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert No. 2 “We Were Us” 5. Parmalee No. 6 “Carolina” 6. David Nail No. 9 “Whatever She’s Got” 7. Joe Nichols No. 4 “Sunny and 75” 8. Luke Bryan No. 3 “That’s My Kind of Night” 9. Cassadee Pope No. 11 “Wasting All These Tears” 10. Taylor Swift No. 8 “Red” Source: Billboard

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1. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG-13) Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman 2. Frozen (PG) animated 3. Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (PG-13) Tyler Perry, Chad Michael Murray 4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG-13) Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson 5. Thor: The Dark World (PG13) Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman 6. Out of the Furnace (R) Christian Bale, Casey Affleck 7. Delivery Man (PG-13) Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt 8. Philomena (PG-13) Judi Dench, Steve Coogan 9. The Book Thief (PG-13) Sophie Nelisse, Geoffrey Rush 10. Homefront (R) Jason Statham, James Franco (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Tidbits of Boise

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Scammers Never Stop

Z People, cont’d • The story goes that Greek painters Zeuxis and Parrhasius had a feud concerning who could produce the most realistic painting. Finally they agreed to a paint-off. Zeuxis painted a picture of a boy holding a bowl of grapes. It was so realistically done that birds came down to peck at the picture. Then Zeuxis asked Parrhasius to draw back the curtain covering the painting he had drawn. At this point Zeuxis realized that what he thought was a curtain covering a painting was actually a painting of a curtain covering a painting. Zeuxis had been able to fool the birds, but Parrhasius had been able to fool Zeuxis. • In 1975, Frank Zarb spent $25,000 and used 19,000 gallons (7,200 liters) of fuel flying around the U.S. to lecture on the need to conserve energy. He used a plush Air Force jet that burned enough fuel in one hour to supply the average American driver with enough gasoline to drive for an entire year. • A computer programmer working for a large bank wrote instructions to the main frame in which it was directed to deduct the odd cents below ten cents from every current account at the end of each month and credit it to the last account on record. The programmer then opened an account for himself under the assumed name of Mr. Zyglit. Things went fine for six months. Then a Polish immigrant legitimately named Mr. Zyzov opened a new account. When he went to the bank to ask them why so much money was being deposited in his account, an investigation was launched and the programmer arrested. • In a Greek myth, Zeus wanted to have an affair, so he convinced the nymph named Echo to divert his wife’s attention by involving her in conversation. When his wife found out about it, she confiscated Echo’s ability to talk and sentenced her to forever repeat the last words of whatever she heard.

It’s one thing to read about the scams that are aimed at seniors -and quite another to know someone who has been a victim. A good friend of mine recently learned that his very elderly mother had been giving money to scammers for a period of time. Needless to say, the whole family is in shock. How it began, no one is certain, but somehow scammers contacted his mother with enough of a sob story that she gave them money. Soon they called back, and

yes, she gave them more. Then the scammers apparently gave out her name and phone number, and very soon this elderly woman was being called day and night -- and giving money to multiple scammers. I imagine that she became fearful because of all the constant phone calls, and at some point she stopped answering the phone. Unable to reach her, one of her children called the police who went by on a welfare check. While the police were there, some of the scammers called. That’s when the whole story came out. By the time they were cut off, scammers had taken nearly $200,000 from this senior. The family will never get the money back and the scammers likely will never be found.

It’s far too easy to become a victim of scammers who want your money. All you have to do is say “yes” one time. If you give them money just once, hoping they’ll go away, the opposite will happen, and you’ll be called more frequently and the pressure to give more will increase. Your name will be given to others who will do the same. If you’ve been pulled in by scammers, call the police now. Don’t wait. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com. (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Get 26 ls Channe The average student loan debt is about $26,000 and not all careers generate enough income to pay that off easily-but a new app can help you plan.

To that end, there’s an app, for mobile phones and tablets with iOS or Android, designed to help teens explore potential future income from a desired career and assess the cost of education. Called JA Build Your Future(tm), it was created by PwC US and Junior Achievement USA(r) (JA), a (cont’d on page 9)

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Tom Hanks is a shoo-in for a Best Actor Oscar nod for “Captain Phillips.” Hanks, who won back-to-back Best Actor Oscars, for “Philadelphia” (1993) and “Forrest Gump” (1994), also was nominated for “Big,” “Saving Private Ryan” and “Cast Away.” Pitting him against the formidable Emma Thompson, who also will be nominated, was a stroke of

Tom Hanks

genius. Thompson won her two Oscars for “Howard’s End” (Best Actress) and “Sense and Sensibility” (Best Adapted Screenplay), and also had Best Actress nominations for “The Remains of the Day” and “Sense and Sensibility,” and as best Supporting Actress for “In the Name of the Father.” Hanks, a top-notch producer, usually hits gold at the box office, as he did with “Cast Away” ($90 million cost/$430 million gross), “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” ($5 million cost/$369 million gross), “Polar Express” ($165 million cost/$306 million gross), “Charlie Wilson’s War” ($75 million cost/$120 million gross) and “Mamma Mia” ($52 million cost/$610 million gross). He must have been very disappointed by

“Parkland” (about JFK’s assassination with Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden, Ron Livingston, Billy Bob Thornton and Colin Hanks), which cost $10 million to produce and only took in $654,000 at the box office. However “Captain Phillips,” which he only acted in, took in $200 million, and “Saving Mr. Banks, in which he plays Walt Disney, is sure to be a juggernaut at the box office. Emma Thompson has “Effie” with Dakota Fanning, James Fox and Claudia Cardinale out in May, and “The Love Punch” with Pierce Brosnan on deck. For the past 25 years, Los Angeles businessman Sam Leslie has hosted a holiday toy drive. This year, his toy-raiser benefited The Lauren Foundation, which helps families affected by HIV and AIDS. The event was held in Leslie’s home, formerly owned by Sandra Bullock. If you’d like to help this worthy cause, go to its website at http:// www.laurel-foundation.org/donate/. Everyone’s favorite “Nanny,” Fran Drescher, will play the wicked stepmother of “Cinderella” in the Rogers and Hammerstein Broadway musical of the same name, Feb. 4-April 13. Can you imagine that voice in song? Carrie Underwood’s “The Sound of Music Live!” triumph, which cost $9 million and brought in 19 million viewers, reminded us of Eleanor Parker, the film version’s Baroness Elsa, who coincidentally passed away Dec. 9 of pneumonia at 91. She received three Best Actress Oscar nominations for “Caged” (1950), “Detective Story” (1951) and “Interrupted Melody” (1955). NBC is planning another musical epic for next year. Critics who panned Carrie Underwood’s acting missed the point. She was young, naive and innocent in her acting, as Maria was at that time. Nevertheless, NBC turned a deaf ear to the reviews and only heard The Sound of Money! (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

DOLLARS AND SENSE

BY David Uffington

Financial Decisions

According to a recent poll by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, when it comes to marriage, health, job and money, a whopping 80 percent of us say we make our worst decisions when it comes to personal finances. The New Year is a great time to take a hard look at how we handle money. The first step is basic: You need to know where your money is going. Unfortunately, it’s this first step that many people avoid, because they fear that knowing the facts may force changes in spending. Without tracking it, however, you have no way of knowing where you stand. Keep a small notebook with you to write down each purchase, no matter how small. Knowing where each dime goes actually puts you more in control of your money. Do you know what you owe, where you owe it and the interest rate for each debt? Calculate how

Page 5

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Pigs can cover a mile in about 7.5 minutes when running at top speed. much in interest the debts cost you each month. Create a chart that you update each month as you make payments and ideally reduce those balances. Break the patterns. Small expenditures, such as morning coffee on the way to work, a few lottery tickets and snacks, can add up to significant amounts when totaled together. Take some “no money” days each week when you don’t spend on any incidentals, coffee, lunches out or snacks. Can you do it yourself? Consider what you spend on convenience, whether it’s ready-made foods, carryout meals, the kid who mows your lawn or shovels your walk and the maid once a week. How much would you save by making the effort to do things yourself? Calculate by both the month and the year for your total possible savings. Consider the times you hire others to do work for you, and decide if you can learn to do some of those things yourself, such as simple sewing, oil changes and computer software installation. Go back over your past credit-card statements, and think about your miscellaneous expenses over time. How much did they come to? In hindsight, were they worth it? According to the NGCC, being aware of poor financial decisions is often all that’s needed to encourage changes in habits. For more ideas, go to its website at www.nfcc.org. Don’t miss the MyMoneyCheckUp Online Financial Self-Assessment Tool. David Uffington regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com. (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

Bad Investments cont’d

to install on rooftops. Their investment would get them exclusive territories where the Thompsons could lease windmills to homeowners and businesses. Too Good To Be True It sounded like a good idea to the Thompsons, so they invested $30,000. They expected to receive shares in the windmill company, three territories where they could launch their business and three free windmills of their own. But after traveling to Las Vegas for the initial shareholder meeting in 2008, the Thompsons realized they had been scammed-there were no innovative new windmills. The Thompsons and about 200 other investors were shown a fullsize windmill, still being set up in the middle of the Nevada desert. “When I saw that windmill,” said Carolyn Thompson, “I couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks. It was nothing like what they were telling us.” The Basis Of Affinity Fraud Cons regularly rely on word of mouth to bring in new victims. Or they make their pitches to groups, knowing that subtle social pressure brings in more money. Psychologists call it “social consensus,” and it’s the foundation of affinity fraud. The thinking goes that if everyone is doing it, it must be okay. But the problem is that no one looks behind the curtain to question the person working the levers. In the Thompsons’ case, they heard about the investment through friends at church, and didn’t look into the investment or seller themselves. If they had, they would have found that he had a long history of alleged scams-and they might have been able to avoid this loss. “What we really feel bad about,” said Ray Thompson, “is that we talked to other people and got them into it, too. They lost $10,000 each. My losses are my fault, but when I bring other people into it, I’m really sorry about that.” To learn more, visit the FINRA Foundation’s website at www.SaveAndInvest.org/LearnMore.

Page 6

Tidbits of Boise

A New Flower

GearSkiing,UpSnowboarding, for Your Outdoor Adventures Snowshoeing, Hunting, Biking

Dec 26 - Jan 1, 2014 easy to start from seed. A long-stemmed flower with a single head, they come in many colors, re-seed easily, and attract butterflies. Today it is one of the most popular bedding plants. Can you guess the name of the flower that Johann named after himself? Answer at the bottom of the page.

• In the 1700s a botanist was exploring Mexico, looking for new plants. When he found an interesting new flower, he gathered a sack full of the dried-out seed heads. Suddenly he was seized by bandits who thought his sack must be full of gold. When they opened it and found only a bunch of dead flowers, they were Z Namesakes convinced he was an idiot, wandering through the desert with a bunch of dried • Karl von Zois was an Austrian botanist in the 1700s. He is the namesake of the grass plants. Because it was considered bad now called zoysia. Zoysia makes great luck to murder the feeble minded, they let lawns because it grows sideways along him go. the ground instead of up, so it needs less • The flower seeds he was collecting were mowing. It tolerates drought, so it needs sent to Europe where they were cultivatless watering. ed. Later the flower was examined by • An entomologist who had just discovered another botanist named Johann, who was a new species of moth was determined to the director of the Botanic Garden of the have the final word. He invented a name University of Göttingen in Germany. He for the insect that guaranteed it the final named the new flower after his last name, spot in every dictionary in the world: and they rapidly became a popular annuZyzzyx. al, cultivated in gardens worldwide. Johann died young, at the age of 32, but the Answer: flower spread quickly because they are Johann Zinn named the zinnia.

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10512 W. Fairview Ave, Boise • On Jan. 9, 1776, writer Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet “Common Sense,” setting forth his arguments in favor of American independence. Originally published anonymously, “Common Sense” is considered one of the most influential pamphlets in American history. • On Jan. 8, 1916, Rembrandt Bugatti, a sculptor and younger brother of Italian auto designer and manufacturer Ettore Bugatti, commits suicide at the age of 31. Bugatti’s sculpture of

(208) 401-6543 a dancing elephant was featured as a dies. Hammett left school at age 13, mercial interests offered a $10,000 hood ornament on a 1920s Bugatti eventually landing at Pinkerton’s award to whoever accomplished the Royale auto. detective agency. He worked as a flight first. The next day, after traveldetective for eight years and turned ing 2,400 miles in 18 hours, Earhart • On Jan. 12, 1926, the two-man radio his experiences into “hard-boiled” safely landed at Oakland Airport in comedy series “Sam ‘n’ Henry” (latcrime fiction. Oakland, Calif. er named “Amos ‘n’ Andy”) debuts in Chicago. Freeman Gosden and • On Jan. 7, 1959, just six days after • On Jan. 6, 1975, a crowd of 2,000plus lines up outside Boston Garthe fall of the Fulgencio Batista Charles Carrell, both white, played dictatorship in Cuba, U.S. officials characters who were two black men den to buy tickets to the rock band recognize the new provisional govfrom the Deep South. Over the next Led Zeppelin. Someone pried open 22 years, the show would become the Garden’s locked doors around ernment of the island nation. Despite the highest-rated comedy in radio midnight, and soon hundreds of fears that Fidel Castro might have history. beer-drinking, bottle-throwing Led communist leanings, the U.S. govZeppelin fans had the run of the areernment believed that it could work • On Jan. 11, 1935, American aviator with the new regime. na. Amelia Earhart departs Wheeler Field in Honolulu on a solo flight • On Jan. 10, 1961, Dashiell Hammett, (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc. to North America. Hawaiian comauthor of “The Maltese Falcon,”

Dec 26 - Jan 1, 2014

Tidbits of Boise

Famous Canadians

MORTIMER ZUCKERMAN

• Mortimor Zuckerman was born in Montreal, Quebec, on June 4, 1937.

Mortimer Zuckerman

His parents, Esther and Abraham Zuckerman, owned a local neighborhood tobacco and candy store. His grandfather was an orthodox Jewish rabbi. Young Mort suffered

a good deal of anti-Semitism as a child. From this humble beginning, however, he grew up to become a real estate tycoon, a media mogul, and one of the world’s richest men. • At the age of 16 he entered McGill University in Montreal, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957, followed by Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 1961. However, he never took the bar exam. He later declared, “I decided law was the exact opposite of sex; even when it was good, it was lousy.” He claims that the most important thing he learned in law school was “not to be afraid of lawyers.” • He transferred to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and then went on to Harvard Law School. He remained at Harvard for nine years as an associate professor before transferring to Yale. Next, he spent seven years at the real estate firm of Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, where he eventually became

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1111 S. Orchard St., Suite 156 Boise, ID 83705 • 208-416-2400 • Mon-Fri 10am-5pm senior vice president as well as chief ly twenty years. When he sold the financial officer. The company spemagazine for $20 million, while also selling the magazine Fast Company cializes in buying and developing for $365 million, he quipped, “I avtrophy properties. eraged out!” • In 1980 he broke into the world of publishing when he bought the mag- • He often airs his political opinions on the Sunday morning talk show The Mcazine The Atlantic Monthly where he served as chairman for nearLaughlin Group. (cont’d on page 8)

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7. RELIGION: What are the first four books of the Bible’s New Testament, in order? 8. COMICS: What is Catbert’s title in the “Dilbert” comic strip? 9. BUSINESS: What popular business did Judy Sheppard Missett create? 10. TELEVISION: What was Ray’s last name in the series “Everybody Loves Raymond”? Answers 1. Utah 2. Harpers Ferry, (West) Virginia 3. Rodney Dangerfield 4. O positive 5. Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII 6. Pong 7. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John 8. Evil Director of Human Resources 9. Jazzercise 10. Barone (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Tidbits of Boise

Dec 26 - Jan 1, 2014

MORTIMER ZUCKERMAN, cont’d. • Today, Zuckerman serves as the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of U.S. News & World Report and is also the publisher of the New York Daily News. In addition, he is the founder and Chairman of Boston Properties, Inc., which is one of the largest real estate investment trusts in the United States. His personal net worth is estimated at $2.4 billion, ranking him high on the Forbes list of the world’s richest citizens. • He once suggested that a sure-fire way to lift the failing newspaper business would be to allow newspapers to take sports bets via their websites, saying, “Plenty of British papers do this; for them it’s a crucial part of their net revenue stream. I know a major newspaper in London that makes $15 million a year from sports betting alone.” • Zuckerman’s charitable trust fund fell victim to Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, though he swore to uphold all charitable obligations. Speaking about Madoff, Zuckerman, (himself a Jew) remarked that no one since Julius and Ethel Rosenberg (executed in 1953 for giving atomic secrets to the Soviet Union) “has so damaged the image and self respect of American Jews.” • Zuckerman, a naturalized American citizen, considered running for a New York senate seat in the 2010 elections, but eventually decided against it. In December 2012, Zuckerman pledged $200 million to endow the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University. • He owns homes in New York City, East Hampton, New York, and Aspen, Colorado. He also keeps a 166-foot Oceanco Yacht called the Lazy Z and also has a personal jet, a helicopter, as well as an extensive art collection. • Barbara Walters once described him as one of the best dinner-party companions she’s ever known.

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“Closed Circuit” (R) -- After a fictional terrorist attack in London, the trial of the only surviving attacker stirs up a stinky aroma of government conspiracy and corruption. The key piece of evidence for the prosecution is so classified that the defense can’t see it. Only Claudia (Rebecca Hall) -- a special court person -- can view the top-secret evidence and advise the defense. The defense attorney (Eric Bana) turns out to be an ex-lover. With all of that plot-twisting, the film would have to be a taut, paranoia-inducing thriller to keep you engaged. Well it’s not, and it doesn’t. The gray-clad leads don’t bring a lot of chemistry to the screen. Every other piece of dialog is devoted to explaining the plot. “Tiger Eyes” (PG-13) -- Davey (Willa Holland) is a 17-year-old girl who’s been dealt a blow. She’s new to the town of Los Alamos, N.M. (birthplace of the atom bomb), her father’s murder still has some loose ends, her mother has withdrawn into grief and her pushy aunt is trying to fill the void. The film follows her journey to

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make sense of it all -- with help from Wolf (Tatanka Means), a mysterious local. This is the first novel by best-selling author Judy Blume to make it to film. Directed by her son, Lawrence Blume, the film preserves the book’s thoughtful pacing and quiet appreciation of the landscape. The story captures the drama of trying to grow up while dealing with loss. “The Act of Killing” -- During Indonesia’s violent revolution in 1965, Anwar Congo orchestrated the execution of as many as 1 million people. When this

documentary finds him, he’s a kindly old grandfather with plenty of money and no guilt about his past. The documentary director offers Congo a great opportunity: He and his friends can star in and direct campy Hollywood-style short films about their exploits in the ‘60s. Watch as a mass murderer faces his past crimes -- which he says bring him no remorse -- and gradually comes to realize what he is. “Birth of the Living Dead” -- Zombies have a cold, rigid grip on mankind’s collective imagination, and George A. Romero’s “The Night of the Living Dead” deserves a lot of the credit for that. It was a cheap flick in black and white (out of fashion for 1968), made in the backwoods and backyards of smalltown Pennsylvania. This documentary sits down with the filmmaker, who gets enthusiastic about the production stories like he’s back there with his makeshift crew all over again. The film also explores the social context, connecting the low-budget monster-movie phenomenon with the social tides of the time. (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

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1. Name the last brothers before Atlanta’s B.J. and Justin Upton in 2013 to hit backto-back homers in a major-league game. 2. Who holds the major-league record for most career major-league pinch-hit home runs? 3. In 2012, the New England Patriots ended a record run for most consecutive games played without their won-loss mark falling below .500. How many was it? 4. How many consecutive seasons has Gonzaga men’s basketball coach Mark Few notched at least 20 wins? 5. Who was the Washington Capitals’ career points leader entering the 2013-14 NHL season? 6. How many CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournaments has the U.S. men’s soccer team won? 7. Name the last filly to win the Kentucky Derby, and the year it was done. Answers

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1. Pittsburgh’s Lloyd and Paul Waner, in 1938. 2. Matt Stairs had 23 pinch-hit homers between 1992 and 2011. 3. It was 145 games. 4. Fourteen seasons, entering the 2013-14 campaign. 5. Peter Bondra, with 825 points. 6. Five (1991, 2002, ‘05, ‘07 and ‘13). 7. Winning Colors, in 1988. (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

Dec 26 - Jan 1, 2014

Tidbits of Boise

Page 9

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Benjamin St Consignment Furniture • It might be hard to get motivated to exercise with winter’s shorter days and lower temperatures. Exercise is important to your health, so get it any way you can. Did you know that a half-hour snowball fight can burn 100 calories? Get out there and enjoy the winter weather! -- JoAnn • If you face frequent snow in your area, invest in a pair of running shoes that are designed for trail running. They have deeper cleats for better traction. Some are even waterproof. This will encourage you to run when it’s been snowing! • “To help your sneakers dry faster, remove the laces and sock liner and hang separately. Stuff them with newspaper to draw out moisture. Hang them to dry on a sturdy hook or line, but not too close to a heater, as it’s possible to break down the support materials that way.” -- E.D. in Minnesota • “If you are outdoors on freezing days, you know to dress in layers. When you exercise outside, you do that too, but be prepared to strip off a layer if you get overheated. I have a carabiner clip on my waistband, and I can clip my outer light jacket to it, or even my fleece through a buttonhole.” -- P.S. in Virginia • “Here’s a tip about sledding in a pinch: A laundry basket can make a fine sled for a small, sturdy kid -- especially if you are blessed with surprise snow! If you attach a rope or belt to one side of the basket, it’s easy to pull the kids along.” -M.B. in Missouri Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or e-mail JoAnn at heresatip@yahoo.com. (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

In life, we're told to dream big. Reach for the stars. While I think everyone would agree that having big aspirations is admirable not to mention inspiring, you should take a more calculated approach when setting fitness goals. It may seem counterintuitive to start small, but remember that you want to set yourself up for success not burnout or injury. Think about it. How many times have you or someone you know set a huge goal to lose 50 or more pounds, or exercise for an hour six days a week, only to fall off the wagon a few weeks (or days) later? When you first set a goal, you're full of energy and completely motivated, but over time those feelings can wane and your overzealousness can push you to do too much too soon. The fix is to define a progressive set of fitness goals that build on one another to help propel you toward that big dream or aspiration. Breaking a big goal into smaller, realistic goals can help you both mentally and physically. The first step to setting realistic goals is to really think about your goal and write it down. Then, ask yourself two questions: (1) What does it take to achieve the goal? - This question addresses your goal's frequency. If reaching your goal requires five workouts a week, but you can only get a babysitter two days a week, then you need to scale back your goal. Be realistic about what time you have to devote to the goal and be honest about your fitness level. Building your fitness base takes time, and being smart about increasing it will help you stay injury-free. Slow and steady really does win the race! (2) Do you see yourself reaching the goal? You want a program that you can stick with for the long haul. Be completely honest with yourself and ask if you can realistically see yourself doing what it takes to achieve the goal at hand. If you can and it meets the above criteria, then you probably have a goal! Don't Forget to Reward Yourself Perhaps the most important component of setting an effective and realistic fitness goal is rewarding yourself when you reach your goals, even the small ones! The reward should be a time where you compliment yourself for your hard work and revel in your success. Now, start setting those goals! For more information contact Johnny’s Fit Club www.fitclubboise.com - 208-570-0413

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• It was noted wit Ambrose Bierce who defined an egotist as “a person more interested in himself than in me.” • If you could go back in time and sample a beer from the 1700s, you would find it to be significantly stronger than similar libations that are served today. The higher alcohol content helped the brew survive the long voyage from England to colonial India. • Those who study such things say that roughly half of American women remove hair from their bikini area. Perhaps unsurprisingly, as women age, they become less likely to keep up the shaving or waxing, with only 19 percent of women aged 50-plus doing so. In Brazil, though, the practice is far more widespread; there, 65 percent of women in the 50-plus age group reported bikini hair removal. • The average horse will produce 10 gallons of saliva every day. • Historians claim that President John Quincy Adams kept a pet alligator in a White House bathroom. He reportedly was amused when unsuspecting guests had to make a trip to the loo. • I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve never heard the word “pilgarlic” -- it’s not a term you hear every day. Its literal meaning is “peeled garlic,” but colloquially it was once used to describe a bald-headed person. • In the U.S. in 1900, imported perfume was taxed at a higher rate than imported opium. • If you are planning a trip to Hawaii, you might want to go to the Sea Life Park on Oahu. There you can see a rare creature: the wolphin. This cross between a killer whale and a bottle-nosed dolphin also reportedly exists in the wild, but I imagine they’re a bit more difficult to find.

Dec 26 - Jan 1, 2014

UNDER THE BIG AMERICAN FLAG

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) It’s a good time to take a much-needed break from your recent hectic schedule and spend some time in quieter surroundings. Important news could arrive early next week. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The Taurean traits of reliability and thoroughness could be well-tested when decision-makers consider your proposals and/ or requests. Be prepared to answer some probing questions. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A sudden attack of boredom leaves you with some tasks undone. It’s OK to take a short respite. But get back to work by week’s end so that you have time for other projects. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Avoid prejudging a situation just because it looks bad. Facts could emerge that would make your position uncomfortable, to say the least. A relative has interesting news to share with you. LEO (July 23 to August 22) This is a good time to begin reassessing some of your recent decisions about your long-range goals to see if they still have merit. Spend more time with loved ones this weekend. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) An unsettled situation at home or on the job early in the week could drain your energy levels, making it difficult to get your work done on schedule. But things improve by midweek. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A temporary setback could give you time to go over your plans to find weaknesses you might have overlooked before. A romantic getaway with that special person is favored this weekend. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Professional and personal situations benefit once you set a positive tone in getting things off to a good start. Honest dialogue smoothes over any occasional display of balkiness. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A problem with workplace colleagues or family members seems to defy even your sage counsel. But be patient. Your words eventually will lead to a resolution. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Don’t just wait out that unexpected and unexplained delay in your career move. You could gain added respect if you ask why it happened and what you can do to move things along. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Although your workplace strategies usually are accepted, you could be challenged by someone who isn’t so favorably impressed. Be prepared to defend your positions. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your friendship circle expands, with new people coming into your life at this time. Welcome them warmly. But don’t neglect those cherished longtime personal relationships. BORN THIS WEEK: You love to search for knowledge and share it with others. You would make an especially fine teacher. (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.

Dec 26 - Jan 1, 2014

An Ice Machine

Tidbits of Boise al model, which was completed in 1949. When renowned skater Sonja Henie saw it while practicing at his ice rink, she insisted on buying one to travel with her ice show. People everywhere were subsequently introduced to Frank’s invention, and ice rinks all over the country ordered their own. Frank wanted to name his firm the Paramount Engineering Company, but that name was taken, so he named it after his last name instead. By the time he died in 1988, his machines were being used all over the world. What’s it called?

• Raised in Idaho, Frank headed to California to seek his fortune. A skilled mechanic, he designed refrigerator units to keep milk from local dairies cold. Then he provided railroads with block ice to keep produce fresh during shipping. By the 1930s, refrigeration technology was expanding, block ice was obsolete, and Frank needed a new line of work. He had all this refrigeration equipment on hand, so he decided to build an ice rink next to his ice plant. With 20,000 square feet of ice and room Answer: Zamboni for 800 skaters, it was a hit. • But Frank dreaded resurfacing the • In the early days of the Zamboni, the inability of tires to get adequate ice. To smooth the ice, a tractor pulltraction on the ice was problematic. ing a planer would drive across the Frank Zamboni solved the problem ice. The planer scraped the ice; the by having tire casings re-treated with shavings were swept up; water was a mixture of rubber and crushed walsprayed, followed by a squeegee. nut shells. In the mid-1960s, the inFrank decided to design a machine to vention of steel-studded tires solved perform this tedious task. It took him the problem for good. (cont’d on page 12) ten years to come up with a function-

Page 11

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Q: It’s been only a few weeks, but I am going through some serious “Scandal” withdrawal! Please don’t tell me that it’s done for the year! I see that a new show has taken its place. -- Nicole D., via email A: Don’t worry, my little gladiJodie ator, “Scandal” Whittaker will be back with all-new episodes beginning Feb. 27. The show that’s been on in the meantime is an eight-part miniseries called “The Assets,”

which is based on real-life events surrounding CIA counterintelligence officer Sandy Grimes (played by Jodie Whittaker). The miniseries is set in 1985 and takes a look inside the true, personal stories of the conclusion of the Cold War as told by the CIA. Q: I know that KISS has been nominated again for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Did they make it this year? It’s long overdue, in my opinion. -- Brad L., Pittsburgh A: The makeup-wearing hardrock quartet did indeed make it into the Hall this go-round. Kiss, along with Nirvana, Hall and Oates, Peter Gabriel, Linda Ronstadt and Cat Stevens will be the 29th class inducted into the Hall of Fame on April 10. The ceremony will air on HBO in May. And I think now is a good time for me to start a petition to get Def Leppard their HOF nomination. Having sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, spawning numerous hits -- as well as scores of copycats -- the boys from Sheffield sell out arenas to this day. Q: When I went to see “Catching Fire” at the theater, they showed a preview for a movie called “Divergent,” and it looked pretty good. What can you tell me about it? -- Elizabeth F., via email

A: Like “The Hunger Games,” “Divergent” also is based on a trilogy of young-adult books (these are authored by Veronica Roth). The other two books, “Insurgent” and “Allegiant,” round out the “Divergent” trilogy. The sci-fi adventure film, which comes to theaters March 21, is set in Chicago sometime in the near future, when people are divided into factions according to their personality. If you don’t fit into any one faction, you are known as Divergent, which is how our heroine, Beatrice Prior, is classified. She soon discovers a sinister plot brewing in her seemingly perfect society. The movie stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James and Zoe Kravitz (and yes, she is the 25-year-old daughter of rocker Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet). Q: I was sad to hear that Joan Fontaine had passed away. Did she and her sister, Olivia de Havilland, ever make up? -- A Reader, via email A: The sisters had been feuding since 1941, when Joan won the Academy Award over sister Olivia (although sources say the animosity went all the way back to their childhood). They never did mend fences; however, Olivia issued a statement through her publicist that she was “shocked and saddened” by her sister’s death, and grateful for “the many kind expressions of sympathies.” Write to Cindy at King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475; or e-mail her at letters@cindyelavsky.com. (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

Page 12

Tidbits of Boise

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Tuesday December 31st

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Date: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 Welcome: 21+ Hosted by: 103.5 Kiss FM

Idaho Potato Drop Venue: U.S. Bank Building Address: 101 S Capitol Blvd #102, Boise, ID 83702 VIP Cost: $50/person Time: 6PM More Information: http://thisisboise.com

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Bulls & Broncs New Year's Eve Bash Venue: Canyon County Fair Building Address: 111 2nd Ave. S., Caldwell, ID 83605 Time: 8PM Phone: (208) 455-8500 Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at door; Children- $10

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Energy: New Year's Eve 2014 featuring DJ Kos/ Rubicon/ Deeveaux Venue: Knitting Factory Address: 416 S 9th St, Boise, ID 83702 Phone: (208) 367-1212 Time: 8PM More Information: http://thisisboise.com Tickets: $10-$20 2014 NYE CASH Party Venue: Fatty's Bar Address: 800 W Idaho St #200, Boise, ID 83702 Phone: (208) 629-6314 Time: 9PM Price: $20 at door

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Wednesday January 1st Make-a-Wish Idaho's 11th Annual Polar Bear Challenge Venue: Spring Shores Marina at Lucky Peak Address: 9725 Idaho 21, Boise, ID 83716 Time: 10AM Event is FREE but donations to Make-a-Wish are encouraged

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• Frank Zamboni also invented the “Grasshopper” (a machine to roll up artificial turf); the “Black Widow” (used to fill in dirt on top of cemetery vaults); the “Astro Zamboni” (designed to vacuum water from Astro-turf); and the “Vault Carrier” (built to lift and carry heavy cement burial vaults). • For his contributions to improving ice rinks, Frank J. Zamboni has been inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

Zany Zamboni Facts • Before Zambonis were invented, it took several men an hour to resurface an ice rink. • There are currently about 10,000 Zambonis in use around the world. • During the winter Olympic games in Salt Lake City in 2002, there were 20 Zambonis on hand. • A Zamboni travels an average of three miles (4.8 km) during each hockey game, covering about 2,000 miles (3,218 km) per year. • Road & Track magazine determined that the machine’s top speed was 9.7 mph (15.6 km/hr) and that the machine would go from 0 to ¼ mile per hour in 93.5 seconds flat. WANT TO RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS? • InPublish 2001, a Zamboni was driven the east coast a Paperfrom in Your Area of Canada (St. John’s, across to If You Can Provide: Sales Newfoundland) Experience · A Computer · Desktop Publishing · A Reasonable Financial Investment the West CoastSoftware (Victoria, B.C.). At about nine We(14 provide the opportunity success! m.p.h. km/hr), the 4,500 for mile (7,242 km) journeyCall took four months. 1.800.523.3096 www.tidbitsweekly.com • In 2000, the Zamboni was immortalized as an authentic Monopoly board game token in the NHL version of the game. • When a Zamboni machine operator in the Midwest passed away, his funeral procession was led by a Zamboni machine. Information in the Tidbits® Paper is gathered from sources considered to be reliable but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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