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of Rogue Valley July 7 - July 13, 2014
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There are lots of ways to make beautiful music on instruments other than the familiar ones. This week, Tidbits looks at some of the world’s more unusual instruments along with a few well-known ones. • Atlantic City, New Jersey, is home to the world’s largest pipe organ, with seven manuals, or keyboards, and 33,112 pipes. Credited as the largest musical instrument ever constructed, it was built between 1929 and 1932 by Long Island, New York’s Midmer-Losh Organ Company at a cost of $350,000, and weighs about 150 tons. It’s in the midst of a 10-year, $16 million restoration project. If you want to take a tour of the organ at that city’s Boardwalk Hall, you will need to notch out 4 ½ hours. • Another interesting organ is located deep in the Luray Caverns of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Its inventor Leland Sprinkle was a scientist and mathematician at the Pentagon who discovered that the cave’s stalactites produced deep resonating notes when struck. Over the course of three years in the early 1950s, Sprinkle tuned stalactites across 3 ½ acres to specific pitches using sandpaper. Rubber-tipped mallets were then wired to keys on the Great Stalacpipe Organ’s keyboard, so that they would strike the stalactites whenever the corresponding key was played. turn the page for more!
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INSTRUMENTS (continued): • The Fluegelhorn has its origins in the early 18th century, when it was a large semicircular hunting horn, essentially a bugle without valves, played by the “Fluegelmeister.” The modern instrument looks much like a trumpet, but with a much wider bell. It has a richer, mellower, darker sound than the trumpet, about halfway between the tones of a trumpet and a French horn. • Benjamin Franklin invented an instrument called the hydrocrystalophone, which in simpler terms is known as the glass armonica. His armonica consisted of a series of glass bowls of graduated size floating in a tray of water. The varying sizes produced different musical tones based on the size of the bowl. • A thin flat wooden frame with up to 50 strings stretched across its body is known as a zither. Five of the strings are used to play the melody with the remainder used for the harmony. The performer can pluck the strings with either his fingers or a special tool called a plectrum. The zither is common in Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, and southern Germany. An early form of the zither was found in the tomb of Chinese royalty dating back to 433 B.C. • The indigenous Australians of northern Australia developed the didgeridoo about 1,500 years ago, and it’s still in use today. The wooden cylinder measures anywhere from 3 to 10 ft. (1 to 3 m) in length. The longer the didgeridoo, the lower the pitch. Aboriginal craftsmen look for hollow live eucalyptus trees, usually ones that have been invaded by termites that have attacked only the heart of the tree. The tree is cleaned out and the bark removed, then shaped into an instrument, with a rim of beeswax added to the mouthpiece end. A British medical study indicates that playing the didgeridoo helps reduce snoring and sleep apnea by strengthening muscles in the upper airway. (continued on page 4)
July 7 - July 13, 2014
By Sam Mazzotta Old Aquarium Needs a Good Cleaning DEAR PAWS CORNER: A few days ago, my older brother found an empty fish aquarium on the side of the road. It’s a pretty nice one with a wooden cabinet and a big, dirty tank. Is it safe to reuse and fill with goldfish? -- Jackie in Tulsa, Okla. DEAR JACKIE: If the glass isn’t damaged and the aquarium equipment -- like the light or the aerator -is in good shape or can be replaced, then you should be able to reuse it. If you know someone with a lot of experience keeping larger fish aquariums, have him or her look at it and make sure it’s OK. If so, then do a really good cleaning on the tank and any equipment that will go into it. First, remove the equipment and any old gravel from the tank. Fill the tank with cool or warm water (don’t use hot water) and let it soak for a day. Pour out the water and scrub with a lint-free cloth or a sponge to clear away dirt, mold and mineral scale from the glass and bottom of the tank. Next, mix white vinegar with water, about half and half, and wash out the tank again to kill many of the
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microbes that may be in there. Vinegar also helps to loosen any mineral scale on the glass. Rinse well. Now you can begin slowly building your aquarium. Set it up as if fish are already in it, with gravel on the bottom. Fill with water, add water conditioner and special supplements like Bactria, and let the aerator run for at least two days. Meantime, read up on how to maintain a large aquarium, which takes much more work than a fishbowl, and decide what fish you want to keep in it. You should add them one at a time at first as you get used to managing the larger water system. Send your questions or comments to ask@pawscorner. com. (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Financial Review at Mid-Year How is your financial year going? Are you on target with your goals? Halfway through the year is a good time to assess where you are, and where you’re going. Here are some suggestions: Have you started putting money away for the holidays? No, it’s not too early to start. Saving money each month now can keep you from running up expenses in December and paying into next spring if you need to use credit cards. How is your rate of saving? Have you been able to keep up with your goal? Renew efforts to put money into savings and consider whether you can increase that amount, no matter how small. Where is your savings? Ideally, it’s in a place that’s
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not easy to access, such as your checking account or an online account. Review interest rates online and compare to what you’re getting. Look at rates for regular savings versus money-market accounts and certificates of deposit. Interest will vary by the amount deposited and the length of time. (Beware not to lock up your emergency stash in a long-term CD. You’ll pay early-withdrawal penalties to take out your money. Opt for a short-term CD with an automatic rollover.) Are you close to paying off one or more credit cards? Whether you choose to pay off the smallest balance first or the one with the highest interest rate, getting a card paid off completely will free up more funds to pay on other credit cards. If you made a vow to make use of grocery coupons, have you kept it up? At the bottom of each receipt you’ll find the amount you’ve saved by using coupons. Consider that extra money to pay off credit cards or put into savings.
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Have you made use of a computer software budgeting program? After inputting all your data, you can sort your types of expenses with the click of a few buttons. Check your 2013 tax return. Did you pay or did you get a refund? If you paid or got back thousands of dollars, you could need an adjustment to your deductions and exemptions. Some of the situations that might require a change are a birth or a child who moves out, working multiple jobs or a working spouse. The Internal Revenue Service has an online withholding calculator to help you come up with the right numbers. If there are changes, turn in a new W-4 form to your employer. David Uffington regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply3@gmail.com. (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
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July 7 - July 13, 2014 INSTRUMENTS (continued): • Oompah! Where would marching bands be without the sousaphone? Although many folks call it a tuba, this large 40-lb. (18.1 kg) brass instrument that wraps around the player (who supports most of the weight with his or her shoulder) is more accurately called a sousaphone after its designer. John Philip Sousa, conductor of the United States Marine Band in the 1890s, and composer of “Stars and Stripes Forever,” was looking for an improvement to the era’s helicon, a narrower version of the sousaphone. Sousa came up with a design that was submitted to Philadelphia’s J.W. Pepper Company, a design with the bell pointed upward. By the 1920s, the design had been changed to the bell pointing outward for better sound projection. In more recent years, the instruments have been manufactured from fiberglass to lighten the load. • The hurdy-gurdy has been around since about the 12th century when it was known as the organistrum or symphonia. It’s a three-stringed instrument with a wheel or circular bow that is turned by a crank. The strings are attached to keys and when the wheel rubs against the strings, it produces a sound similar to that of a violin. The large organistrum has a guitar-shaped body and long neck where the keys are set. The name hurdy-gurdy is often confused with the barrel organ or street piano played by street musicians. That instrument consists of barrels onto which perforated paper rolls are attached. Only a turning of the crank is required to play the barrel organ, with no musical skills required. It’s the instrument seen in illustrations of an organ grinder and his performing monkey. (continued on page 5)
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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Your Aries leadership qualities can help bring order out of all that confusion, whether it’s on the job or in the home. But be careful to guide, not goad, others into following you. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Applying a more personal view to a job-linked issue could help provide better insight into those persistent problems. Use your keen Taurean logic to cut through the double-talk. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Taking some time off could be the best way to get through that seemingly endless round of demands. You’ll return refreshed and ready to tackle things from a new perspective. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Restoring a sagging professional relationship takes a lot of effort. By all means, state your position. But also make sure you pay close attention to the other person’s point of view. LEO (July 23 to August 22) A hot prospect intrigues the Big Cat, who is always on the prowl for a promising investment. But be careful that this “promise” has a chance of being kept. Check it out more carefully. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A friend could use some of your compassion and concern. If he or she doesn’t ask for help, be sure you step up and make the first move. Also, check out a new career possibility. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You might have difficulty getting your opinions heard because of all the noise being made by the other side. But hang in there. Others should line up with you once they learn
the facts. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Offering to help a colleague is commendable. But before you commit your time and effort, check to see if that person’s situation is all that he or she has led you to believe it is. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You soon should be seeing positive results from your recent efforts on behalf of a family member. On another matter, check that you have all the facts regarding a job assignment. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your aspects favor closer family relationships this week. Take time for visits, whether in person, by phone, by mail or in cyberspace. Let them know how important they are to you. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A missed opportunity isn’t always a negative. Maybe your instincts are telling you not to rush into something you “thought” was worthwhile. Make time for family this weekend. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your sense of humor helps you get through a tricky situation. But some stick-in-the-muds might not be so willing to make the changes that you and others agree are necessary. BORN THIS WEEK: You have a gift for making everyone you know -- or even just met -- feel important and welcome in your life. (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
This Week Last Week 1. Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX ...........................No. 1 “Fancy” 2. Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea ............................No. 2 “Problem” 3. MAGIC! ............................No. 7 “Rude” 4. John Legend ......................No. 3 “All of Me” 5. Jason Derulo feat. Snoop Dogg ...........................No. 5 “Wiggle” 6. DJ Snake & Lil John........No. 4 “Turn Down for What” 7. Nico & Vinz .......................No. 8 “Am I Wrong?” 8. Pharrell Williams..............No. 6 “Happy” 9. Calvin Harris ....................No. 9 “Summer” 10. Sam Smith .....................No. 10 “In the Lonely Hour”
Top 10 Albums
1. Jack White..................new entry “Lazaretto” 2. Miranda Lambert .............No. 1 “Platinum” 3. Soundtrack ........................No. 2 “Frozen” 4. Brantley Gilbert................No. 3 “Just as I Am” 5. Soundtrack ........................No. 8 “The Fault in Our Stars” 6. Various Artists ..................No. 6 “Now 50” 7. Coldplay ............................No. 5 “Ghost Stories” 8. The Black Keys ...............No. 13 “Turn Blue” 9. Michael Jackson .............No. 12 “Xscape”
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10. Various Artists ..............No. 11 “Now That’s What I Call Country: Volume 7”
Jack White
Top 10 Hot Country Singles
1. Florida Georgia Line feat. Luke Bryan ...........................No. 2 “This Is How We Roll” 2. Luke Bryan .......................No. 1 “Play It Again” 3. Jake Owen .........................No. 3 “Beachin’” 4. Blake Shelton feat. Gwen Sebastian................................No. 9 “My Eyes” 5. Dierks Bentley ...................No. 6 “Drunk on a Plane” 6. Lee Brice..........................No. 10 “I Don’t Dance” 7. Justin Moore ................... No. 11 “Lettin’ the Night Roll” 8. Brett Eldredge...................No. 7 “Beat of the Music” 9. Chris Young.....................No. 14 “Who Am I With You” 10. Lady Antebellum ............No. 8 “Bartender” Source: Billboard © 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
July 7 - July 13, 2014
• On July 15, 1606, the Dutch master Rembrandt is born in Leiden. His portraits began to go out of style after the 1630s, when his human figures were criticized as being coarse and indecorous. • On July 19, 1779, Massachusetts launches a 4,000man naval expedition consisting of 19 warships, 24 transport ships and more than 1,000 militiamen to capture a 750-man British garrison on the Penobscot Peninsula. The failed expedition was considered the worst naval disaster in American history until the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. • On July 18, 1914, convicted on meager evidence of murdering two Salt Lake City policemen, Wobbly Joe Hill is sentenced to be executed in Utah. Hill was a member of the International Workers of the World, called Wobblies. Scholars have debated whether Hill was railroaded because of his radical politics. • On July 17, 1938, Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan, a glory-seeking flier, takes off from Brooklyn, pointed west. Twenty-eight hours later, Corrigan landed his plane in Dublin, Ireland, stepped out, and exclaimed, “Just got in from New York. Where am I?” • On July 20, 1948, President Harry Truman institutes a military draft calling for nearly 10 million men to register within the next two months. Truman’s decision underlined the urgency of his administration’s concern about a possible military confrontation with the Soviet Union. • On July 16, 1951, J.D. Salinger’s only novel, “The Catcher in the Rye,” is published by Little, Brown. The book, about a confused teenager disillusioned by the adult world, was an instant hit and was taught in high schools for half a century. The 31-year-old Salinger had worked on the novel for a decade. • On July 14, 1974, U.S. Army Gen. Carl Spaatz, fighter pilot, dies in Washington, D.C., at age 83. In September 1947, Spaatz, an illustrious combat career behind him, was named the first chief of staff of the independent U.S. Air Force, which previously had been a unit of the Army.
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frames dating back to the year 1400 have been found INSTRUMENTS (continued): in Germany. One of Beethoven’s music teachers, Aus• One of the world’s oldest musical instruments, the trian composer and organist Johann Alberchtsberger, harp, was developed from a hunting bow. Pictographs composed several concerti for the Jew’s Harp around of harps have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs 1765. dating back to 3000 B.C. The modern harp has a long hollow side called the column or pillar, in which are • Since 1998, folks across Europe and Asia have been situated the rods that control the instrument’s sevlistening to the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra, a group en pedals. The pedals allow for changing notes and of 11 musicians who play instruments carved from switching keys. Because there are no “black keys” to fresh vegetables. They make their instruments one help the harpist locate notes on the nearly 50 strings, hour before each performance from the freshest vegthe “C” strings are colored red and “F” strings are etables possible, and play music on cuke-o-phones, black. The harp’s strings are made of nylon, gut, wire, radish marimbas, carrot flutes, bell pepper trumpets, or silk. pumpkin basses, violins carved from leeks, and percussion instruments fashioned from eggplant. It takes • The Jew’s harp isn’t a harp and it isn’t Jewish! Its about 90 lbs. (40.8 kg) of fresh veggies to create the proper name is “plucked idiophone,” and its small orchestra, and following the performance, the group’s lyre-shaped metal frame is played by positioning it cook throws all of the instruments into a kettle of on the performer’s teeth. A bent metal tongue inside soup. the frame is plucked by the player’s finger. Ancient
VA Health-Care Fixes It was a depressing moment when I read a news release from the Department of Veterans Affairs that disclosed one of the steps being taken to fix the scheduling debacle. It hosted an Industry Day to meet with tech vendors about scheduling-system acquisitions. The VA is looking for an “innovative scheduling product” to add to the health records system. The meeting will let officials know what they need to include in an eventual solicitation for the product. How long will it take to solicit, buy, install and implement? Then a newer VA news release said it’s “now contacted approximately 70,000 veterans across the country to get them off of wait lists and into clinics for medical appointments.” Long pause here ... while I parse the careful phrase used. We want to know: Did all those 70,000 veterans get an appointment or just contact? Are the appointments soon? Were some referred out to non-VA medical care? Here are some new steps the VA is taking: • Visit sites once a month to review scheduling practices. • Establish a new patient measurement program to gauge by location the satisfaction of veterans, including
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ones trying to get health care for the first time. • Hold senior leaders accountable. • Order a hiring freeze at VA health’s central (VHA) and regional (VISN) offices. • Do away with the 14-day scheduling goal as part of employees’ performance plans. • Post data twice a month to update the health-care access info. As I scrolled down the list, I keep looking for the big step that would help prevent these scheduling shenanigans from happening again. And finally, at the bottom, there it was: Suspending Performance Awards -- VA has suspended all VHA senior executive performance awards for FY2014. Bingo. 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) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
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FAMOUS CANADIANS: LORNE GREENE For years we knew him as Pa Cartwright, the patriarch of the Ponderosa Ranch on television’s Bonanza. But there was more to this famous Canadian than running a fictional ranch. Take a look at the life of this noted actor. • Born Lyon Himan Green (without the “e”) to Russian Jewish immigrant parents in Ottawa, Ontario, he became interested in acting while a chemical engineering student at Queen’s University in Kingston. After graduation, he walked away from a career in engineering, finding a job as a radio broadcaster with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. With his rich, deep voice, before long he became known as “The Voice of Canada.” • After a stint as a flying officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, Greene returned to Canada to pursue an acting career. His authoritative bass voice lent itself well to the narration of documentary films. • His role in 1957’s Peyton Place led to a guest spot on television’s Wagon Train, which led to his most wellknown role, that of Ben Cartwright on the western Bonanza in 1959. Green modeled his character after his own father, a shoemaker. For the next 14 years, Greene played Cartwright on a series that became the second-longest running western series (after Gunsmoke). Within two years, Bonanza was the Number One show on TV, and in the mid-1960s, Greene was making $11,000 a week. • In a TV Guide survey of the “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time,” Ben Cartwright was ranked as #2 behind
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Bill Cosby. • During his Bonanza years, Greene also served as the co-host of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC from 1963 to 1972, beside Betty White. He also released several albums of country western and folk songs, achieving a #1 single on the music charts with his recording of “Ringo,” a spoken-word ballad about the Old West outlaw Johnny Ringo. • In 1973, after a 430-episode run, Bonanza was cancelled. Greene’s next role was that of a private detective in the crime drama Griff, but it was cancelled due to poor ratings after only 13 episodes. However, there was no lack of work for Greene. He immediately began hosting a nature series entitled Last of the Wild, as well as beginning a years-long job as spokesman for Alpo dog food. He also had a major role in the classic miniseries Roots as the master of slave Kunta Kinte. • In 1978, Lorne Green took on the role of Captain Adama in the popular sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica and its follow-up Galactica 1980. Following its cancellation, Greene turned back to nature, hosting a Canadian television documentary series Lorne Greene’s New Wilderness. • In 1987, a made-for-TV movie with a Bonanza reunion was planned, and Greene signed on to reprise his role of Ben Cartwright. Unfortunately, he passed away before the filming began from pneumonia that developed following ulcer surgery. The movie was still produced, with Greene’s daughter playing the role of the love interest of Little Joe Cartwright’s son. • Green left behind a tribute to his Canadian roots by his founding of Toronto’s Academy of Radio Arts, originally called the Lorne Greene School of Broadcasting.
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By Chris Richcreek
1. In 2013, Washington’s Bryce Harper became the second player in major-league history to have two 20-homer seasons before age 21. Who was the first? 2. Jason Bay of the Pittsburgh Pirates was the 2004 N.L. Rookie of the Year. But for which team did he play his first ma-
jor-league games? 3. When was the last time before the 2012 season that Vanderbilt’s football team won nine games in a season? 4. Which two players shared the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award in 1995? 5. Milan Hejduk finished his 14-season NHL career third in scoring among Czech-born players (805 points). Who are the top two? 6. Entering 2014, who had the only hat trick (three goals in one game) for U.S. men’s soccer in World Cup play? 7. In the past 20 years (1995-2014), only two Kentucky Derby-winning horses had a name of three words. Name the horses. (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
1. Is the book of Amos in the Old or New Testament or neither? 2. From Exodus 16, what wilderness did the Israelites come unto between Elim and Sinai? Nod, Lot, Dan,
Sin 3. In a letter to Christians at Corinth, what did Paul say was the greatest? Faith, Love, Charity, Tithes 4. What king wrote a letter to Hezekiah concerning surrender? Sennacherib, Artaxerxes, Belshazzar, Jabin 5. In Judges 1, who fed 70 kings at his table? Samson, Elisha, Adonibezek, Neco 6. Whom were Nadab and Abihu the sons of? Joshua, Aaron, Moses, Mordecai (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
You are your own raw material. When you know what you consist of and what you want to make of it, then you can invent yourself. ~Warren B. Bennis
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1. RELIGION: What are the first three words of the Old Testament? 2. MEDICAL: What is the common name for dentition? 3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many colors are in a rainbow? 4. GEOGRAPHY: How many countries make up Great Britain? 5. PSYCHOLOGY: What kind of fear is represented in heliophobia? 6. MOVIES: What do the seven dwarves do for a living in Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty”? 7. LANGUAGE: What letter of the alphabet doesn’t appear in any of the names of the U.S. states? 8. HISTORY: Which was the first of the 13 original colonies to be admitted to the United States? 9. MUSIC: What is Paul McCartney’s middle name? 10. MEASUREMENTS: What is the metric equivalent of a quart? (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
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By Samantha Mazzotta Outdoor Pest Control
Q: Some kind of animal -- I’m not sure if it’s a deer or a rabbit or what -- is nibbling away the leaves on many of my plants in the yard and garden. What’s the best way to keep these critters out of my yard? -- A Reader, via email A: Wildlife often can be an annoying (and sometimes dangerous) presence in your yard, and it can be quite difficult to keep them out. Deer, for example, can hop fences, and rabbits, moles and other mammals can tunnel underneath or squeeze between damaged or misaligned boards. Squirrels routinely raid bird feeders, and in some places, bears just meander through, searching for their favorite snack buffet -- the trash barrel. Here are some tips: To prevent bears and raccoons, keep household trash in tightly covered containers, ideally inside the garage or a shed.
CHOCOLATE-Y FACTS
In honor of Chocolate Day on July 7, Tidbits checks out the facts on this favorite confection. • A small evergreen tree ranging in height from 15 to 26 feet (4 to 8 m) is the source of cacao beans. The Theobroma cacao, native to Central and South America, produces seeds directly on its trunk rather than on branches. Each seed pod is about the size of a pineapple and holds between 30 and 50 seeds that have a very bitter taste until they undergo a seven-day fermentation process, which develops the flavor. In the ancient Mayan civilization, cacao beans were so valuable, they were used as currency. They were commonly counterfeited, with fakes fashioned out of painted clay. • Christopher Columbus brought cacao beans back from what is now Honduras, presenting them to the Spanish king and queen who had financed his journeys. The beans’ value was overlooked for years until fellow explorer Hernando Cortez also brought back a stash of the precious cargo. • Milton Hershey was already a candy manufacturer specializing in caramels when, in 1894, he decided to start producing sweet chocolate as a coating for the caramels. Soon Hershey was producing milk chocolate in 114 different bars and other shapes. He chose a location in south-central Pennsylvania for his operation, which has grown into the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. (continued on page 10)
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Turn your compost frequently and cover with dirt to minimize odors, so that rodents don’t start tunneling in. Deer sometimes can be dismayed by the smell of soap -- some homeowners recommend putting bars of soap into old pantyhose, and then tying the hose around tree branches near the areas you want deer to avoid. Set up bird feeders at least 5 feet away from trees and walls so it’s harder for squirrels to reach them. Raised garden beds can discourage rabbits and make it harder for moles to tunnel directly to vegetable roots. Also, intersperse naturally repellent vegetables like onion, garlic and chives throughout the garden, or edge it with flowers like lavender or marigold. Place firewood stacks or building materials several feet away from your house or shed, and make sure they’re stacked so that air and light can get through them. This will discourage rodents and insects from taking up residence. HOME TIP: Remove unnecessary debris, junk or excess lawn ornaments from around your yard. Squirrels and rabbits will have fewer perches and hiding places, so they’ll be much more reluctant to hang around. Send your questions or home tips to ask@thisisahammer.com. (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
July 7 - July 13, 2014
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• Check your mower to see if you’re cutting your lawn to the optimum height. Generally, cutting grass to 2-1/2 inches will allow it to retain more moisture, requiring less watering, and help shade out weeds, too. -- O.F. in Alabama • Got poison ivy? The maddening itch might find relief from coffee grounds or a cooled cuppa. It contains anti-inflammatories. • Here’s a workout tip: Rotate among a few pairs of running shoes to get the best life out of them. Rotating gives them a chance to dry out between wearings, and runners who practice this routine have a 39 percent lower chance of injury, according to a Luxembourg research firm. • Necklaces can be stored together without tangling if you thread each one through a straw. You can cut the straw to a shorter length for choker-length necklaces or bracelets. No knots! -- I.A. in Arizona • Polish wall tiles in the bathroom using car wax. They will repel water really well. Just be sure that you cover the floor before you apply any wax. You do not want to polish your tub, as that is a safety hazard for sure! -- M.W. in Missouri • If you need a long, straight line, never fear. Grab a ball of yarn or string, and cut what you need. Then rub the whole length over a piece of chalkboard chalk. With a partner, you can hold the string taut and snap it down, like a rubber band. It will leave a line of chalk behind! -- L.S. in Minnesota 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) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
HOLLYWOOD -- Jared Leto, who won an Oscar for playing a trans-sexual in “Dallas Buyers Club,” is changing his image with the science-fiction thriller “Brilliance.” (Will Smith, originally cast, had to bow out to star in Ridley Scott’s next film). The movie is about children born savants (aka “brilliant”), with special powers. Leto plays a government master hunter tracking down savant terrorists intending to start a civil war. Talk about irony! Colin Firth, an Oscar winner for “The King’s Speech,” has bowed out of providing the voice for “Paddington,” the accident-prone young bear. Firth admitted, “It’s been bittersweet to see this delightful creature take shape, and come to the sad realization that he simply doesn’t have a voice. I’ve had the joy of seeing most of the film, and it’s going to be quite wonderful.” Have no fear, though. Firth is in Woody Allen’s new comedy, “Magic in the Moonlight,” with Emma Stone and Marcia Gay
Harden, out July 25; the mystery thriller “Before I Go to Sleep,” with Nicole Kidman, out later this year; and the British spy-thriller “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” with Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Caine, out Oct 24. Jay Leno’s gone but not forgotten! He’ll be this year’s recipient of The Mark Twain Prize (won last year by Carol Burnett). Leno receives his prize at The Kennedy Center Oct. 19, and on PBS Nov. 23. Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein said, “Like Mark Twain, Jay Leno has offered us a lifetime’s worth of humorous commentary on American daily life. For both men, no one was too high or too low to escape their wit, and we are all the better for it.” “Harry Potter’s” Rupert Grint will make his Broadway debut in Terrance McNally’s 1982 comedy, “It’s Only a Play.” Grint, recently on the London stage in “Mojo,” will attract young “Potter” fans, while Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick’s reteaming after their Broadway mega-hit “The
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PHOTO: Colin Firth Producers” will be a huge draw. “It’s Only a Play” also will have “Will & Grace’s” Megan Mullally, “Grease’s” Stockard Channing (she played Betty Rizzo) and “Amadeus” Oscar-winner F. Murray Abraham. It will open Oct. 9 for a limited run; better plan your trip and order your tickets now. harlie Hunnam had to bow out of “50 Shades of Gray” because of commitments to “Sons of Anarchy” and Guillermo del Toro’s “Crimson Peak,” with Jessica Chastain and Tom Huddleston (out in October 2015). He explains, “When you put time into something like that and a character comes alive in your mind, it’s heartbreaking not to be able to play him.” To Hunnam fans hoping to see him in various stages of nudity, it’s more like 50 shades of disappointment! (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
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by Samantha Weaver • It was civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. who made the following sage observation: “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” • In 1811, London became the first city in the world to reach the milestone population of 1 million. • If you’re like one-third of American men, you’d like a shot at hosting “The Tonight Show.” • You might think that hot dogs are a relatively recent food offering, but you’d be wrong. The first sausages were created more than 3,500 years ago when ancient Babylonians began stuffing spiced meat into the intestines of animals. • If you hear the word “Bilbo” you might think of a famously adventurous hobbit, but a bilbo also is a finely tempered Spanish sword. • Elvis Presley reportedly was worth $10 million when he died in 1977. • In Western medicine in the 19th century, experts believed in a phenomenon called “maternal impressions,” which posited that what a pregnant woman looked at could influence the appearance of her child. This belief set off a rush of pregnant Parisian women heading to the Louvre to gaze at the lovely artworks, hoping to give birth to attractive babies. • If you were at a certain street corner in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on a certain day in 1962, you would have seen a startling thing: After plunging through the atmosphere, a 21-pound chunk of the Soviet Sputnik IV spacecraft made impact at the corner of Park Street and North 8th Street. • Half of first-time marriages in Kentucky involve teenagers. • Those who study such things say that after Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride, he billed the Massachusetts state house 10 pounds, 4 shillings to cover his expenses. *** Thought for the Day: “A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems.” -- Paul Erdos (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
CHOCOLATE (continued): • Hershey’s kisses came along in 1907, and today the company produces over 80 million kisses every single day. About one billion pounds of chocolate products are produced annually by Hershey’s. • The U.S. chocolate industry uses about 3.5 million pounds of whole milk every day to produce milk chocolate. They also use 40% of the world’s almonds and 20% of the world’s peanuts. About 400 cacao beans are needed to make one pound (450 g) of chocolate. • Research indicates that dark chocolate has many health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease by one-third. Its antioxidants seem to reduce blood pressure, widen arteries, and promote healthy blood flow. Some experts claim that it boosts memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills. Dark chocolate’s flavonoids, a type of plant chemical, have anti-inflammatory properties and cell-protecting effects. It doesn’t take much to reap the benefits – a 1.4 oz. (40 g) serving contains 536 mg of flavonoids, with research indicating that just 80 mg can produce a drop in blood pressure. But it’s only dark chocolate that has been shown to be beneficial, while milk chocolate, white chocolate, and other varieties are not. • Per capita, folks in Switzerland eat the most chocolate, about 22 lbs. (10 kg) per person per year. Australians consume 20 lbs. (9 kg) each annually, and the Irish eat 19 lbs. (8.6 kg) per person. Even though the United States produces the most chocolate worldwide, the average American consumes just 12 lbs. (5.4 kg) a year. Some eat more than others – those who feel depressed seem to eat about 55% more than those who aren’t depressed. • According to the Guinness Book of World Records, folks in Derbyshire, United Kingdom are responsible for producing the world’s largest chocolate bar in October, 2011. It measured more than 13 ft. square (4 m), was nearly 2 feet thick (0.35 m), and weighed more than 12,770 lbs. (5,792 kg).
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1. Think Like a Man Too .. (PG-13) Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union 2. 22 Jump Street ......................(R) Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill 3. How to Train Your Dragon 2 ..................................(PG) animated 4. Jersey Boys ............................(R) John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen 5. Maleficent ............................(PG) Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning 6. Edge of Tomorrow ........ (PG-13) Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt 7. The Fault in Our Stars . (PG-13) Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort 8. X-Men: Days of Future Past ..................................... (PG-13) Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen 9. Chef ........................................(R) Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr. 10. Godzilla ........................ (PG-13) Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen © 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
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ANSWERS 1. Tony Conigliaro, 1964-65. 2. He played three games with the San Diego Padres in 2003. 3. It was 1915. 4. Grant Hill and Jason Kidd. 5. Jaromir Jagr (1,755 points) and Patrik Elias (983). 6. Bert Patenaude, in 1930. 7. Mine That Bird in 2009 and I’ll Have Another in 2012.
1. “In the beginning ...” 2. Teething 3. Seven 4. Three (England, Wales and Scotland) 5. Fear of sunlight 6. They are miners. 7. Q 8. Delaware 9. Paul (His first name is James.) 10. A liter
1) Old 2) Sin 3) Charity 4) Sennacherib 5) Adonibezek 6) Aaron
July 7 - July 13, 2014
Italian Chicken Pasta Salad Summer days are hot, and the nights are long. The last thing on your mind is turning on the stove. Well, never fear; if you have some frozen rotini pasta in the freezer, you’ll have it made in the shade come supper time! 1/2 cup fat-free Italian dressing 1 cup diced cooked chicken breast 1 (2.5-ounce) jar sliced mushrooms, drained 1 (2-ounce) jar chopped pimiento, drained 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 2 cups cooked rotini pasta, rinsed and drained 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese In a large bowl, combine Italian dressing and chicken. Stir in mushrooms, pimiento, parsley and rotini pasta. Add mozzarella cheese. Mix well to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Gently stir again just before serving. Makes 4 (1 cup) servings. Each serving equals: 191 calories, 3g fat, 18g protein, 23g carb., 471mg sodium, 2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 1/2 Meat, 1 Starch, 1/2 Vegetable. (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
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DVDs reviewed in this column will be available in stores the week of July 14, 2014. PHOTO: Scarlett Johansson in “Under the Skin” PICKS OF THE WEEK “Rio 2” (G) -- This singing animated sequel revisits Rio to follow Blu and Jewel, the endangered blue birds who got together in the last movie, as they journey into the Amazon to meet Jewel’s family. Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg) still has his anxious city-slicker persona, which causes him to be the butt of much judgment and ridicule from the jungle birds, especially his father-inlaw (voiced by Andy Garcia). You also get some plots about an evil businessman, a vengeful cockatoo and a turf war with parrots. Expect more of the same stuff from the prequel, with more noise and color added. There are a few chuckles, but all of them from the easy and familiar brand of kids’ comedy. The brightest spots in the whole display are the musical numbers -- combining rich vocal talent, brilliant visuals and strong music direction. “Under the Skin” (R) -- A beautiful woman in a white van asks a young man on a street in Scotland if he wants a ride. One look in the window, and all he sees is Scarlett Johansson’s lovely visage. Of course he gets in. Too bad the gorgeous driver is an alien, gathering human victims for some unknown purpose. The alien never reveals much about her origin or what she’s doing, but eventually she shows signs of some internal development. Johansson’s sex appeal isn’t used as a blunt tool to subdue the audience, rather her performance is so good
Fortunately, this complication can be largely prevented with the use of the shingles vaccine, which most people over 60 should get, even if they have had shingles before. ***
Cut the Nerve, End the Pain? DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 85 and in fairly good health, but I am in my ninth year of extremely painful post-herpetic neuralgia. Instead of diminishing, the pain is increasing. It could be that the gabapentin (600 mg, three times daily) is wearing off. I tried Lyrica, but stopped when it hurt my eyes. The pain can be excruciating, even from the touch of a shirt. A relative suggested cutting the affected nerve. What would you recommend? -- F.S. ANSWER: Post-herpetic neuralgia is a syndrome of pain due to inflammation of the nerves after an infection with herpes zoster. The older you are, the more likely you are to get this complication, and the longer the pain tends to last -- but nine years is much longer than normal. Treatment for post-herpetic neuralgia is often with several medications. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is one, but the effective dose is sometimes quite high, as high as 1,200 mg three times daily. Many people get very fatigued at that high a dose. A much older medication, nortriptylene, is more effective in some people and may be worth a try. Capsaicin cream provides relief for many people, although it can cause some burning when first applied. I recommend starting with the regular, not high-potency, strength. Unfortunately, surgery -- at any level, from the end of the nerve to the brain -- has not been consistently effective and carries the risk of permanent nerve damage. A neurologist can advise you on other treatments, including injection of steroids around the spinal cord in extreme cases.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently heard on the news that eating nuts reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer. Is this true? -- Anon. ANSWER: The data is now pretty solid that all kinds of nuts not only reduce heart disease risk, but also cancer risk, including pancreatic cancer. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed a reduction in all cancers. I wouldn’t eat nuts just to reduce pancreatic cancer risk, but it’s a good way to improve overall health. Nuts have healthy fats, proteins and micronutrients that may be responsible for the lowered risk of disease. Nuts also make you feel full and less likely to eat snacks that are less healthy. ***
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have worn a sterling silver chain and cross for years. Over time, I have noticed that it’s gone from shiny to dark. I have never polished it. Right now it is almost black. Is it something in my body chemistry that does this? -- V.S. ANSWER: The black discoloration is tarnish, an oxidation of the metal. Even sterling silver can tarnish, and some people’s body chemistry can indeed make tarnishing more likely. Some people will complain of the dark discoloration if the tarnish rubs off on the skin. More-acidic sweat, and more traces of sulfur, will cause more tarnish. This is very different from nickel allergy, which can cause mild but occasionally more severe skin reactions. Sterling silver does not contain nickel. ***
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. To view and order health pamphlets, visit www. rbmamall.com, or write to P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2014 North America Synd., Inc.
Page 11 that you sense how uncomfortable she is with this weird contraption we call the human body. This is a unique and engaging movie experience that tends to leave folks scratching their heads -- in a good way. “The Face of Love” (PG-13) -- Several years after her husband drowned, Nikki (Annette Bening) believes that she has found the strength to move on. However, her facade starts to crumble when Nikki encounters Tom (Ed Harris), an art teacher who bears a striking resemblance to her late husband (also played by Harris). Suddenly, she’s confused, excited, depressed, infatuated -- all this and more, all at the same time. It’s a challenging role, and Bening handles it with stunning grace. However, the script and the pacing of the film are not as impressive. “Wrinkles” -- This animated movie for grownups looks in on a nursing home for the elderly, where a handful of tenants know how to keep things interesting. Emilio (voiced by Martin Sheen) is a former bank manager who gets put into a retirement home after his memory starts to fade and grumpiness takes over. Once on the inside, he meets up with Miguel (George Coe), a clever and rebellious old-timer who shows Emilio a few tricks and takes him on like a brother. The animation style is clean and hand-drawn, creating a different mood from today’s busy computer-generated fare. TV RELEASES “Hell on Wheels: Season 3” “Orphan Black: Season 2” “Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove: Season 1” “Case Histories Set 2” (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
Be Prepared Even if we don’t have caregivers now, it’s a good idea to look to the future. The Federal Citizen Information Center has a package of information that we -- and our caregivers -- need to have. The Family Caregivers Kit is free and was put together with an eye to gathering lots of information in one place. The kit comes with nine publications: the 2014 Consumer Action Handbook; how to spot health scams; money smarts for older adults; two pamphlets on medications; and four publications on handling someone else’s money. These four include power of attorney, court-appointed guardians, representative payees and Department of Veterans Affairs fiduciaries and trustees under a revocable living trust. All good stuff, with information we need now and when caregivers come into our lives. The 2014 Consumer Action Handbook is worth having all by itself. Its 152 pages contain solid information on insurance, banking, buying or leasing cars, privacy and identity theft, credit, travel, food, going green and much more. If you’re scammed or need to file a claim, there’s a section on that too, with contact information for companies as well as local, state and federal government agencies. While the Family Caregivers Kit is available online, it requires you to put your name and address on the Internet. Your best bet is to call the FCIC at 1-888878-3256 and ask for the kit to be sent to you. A representative will know all the parts and pieces that go into it. If you have a computer and want to read other free publications online, go to publications.usa.gov ... and have fun! You’re not limited to the categories listed. Put an interest you have (such as “seniors”) in the search box, and see what you get. 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) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Q:
Ivory Necklace
I have an ivory necklace that was given to me by my grandmother. It was originally purchased during the 1920s in Africa. Whom can I contact about it with the intent to possibly sell it? — Connie, Santa Fe, N.M. If you are motivated to sell your ivory necklace, you had better move quickly, since new U.S. laws and restrictions are being considered that would make the sale of ivory unlawful and a felony. This is futile action to save African elephants, as most of the poaching being done is triggered by Chinese demand. Robert Weisblut is founder and president of the International Ivory Society, and he might be able to advise you. Contact is 5001 Old Ocean Blvd., No. 1, Ocean Ridge, FL 33425; and rweisblut@yahoo.com. *** Recently while helping my mom do some spring cleaning, I found a shoebox containing five Avon bottles from the 1940s and ‘50s. I almost tossed them, but thought I would check with you first. — Beth, Chesterfield, Mo. Avon collecting reached its peak during the 1970s. Even though older and retired Avon bottles still are collectible, the level of activity has dropped off. You might want to contact the National Association of Avon Collectors, P.O. Box 7006, Kansas City, MO 64113. A second source is a fascinating website, ICol-
A:
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Tidbits of Rogue Valley
lectAvon.net, which features ads, a list of discontinued Avon products and much more. *** I have a pennant with an image of Dwight Eisenhower and the words “We Still Like Ike.” It is obviously from his re-election campaign in 1956. Is it collectible? — Sarah, Homestead, Fla. Your pennant would retail in the $25 to $40 range, according to “Warman’s Political Collectibles: Identification and Price Guide,” by Enoch L. Nappen and published by Krause Books. Collecting political memorabilia remains one of America’s favorite hobbies. *** I have a small collection of Coca-Cola items and would like to find a club so I can swap some of the duplicates that I have. Can you help me? — Steve, Ramona, Calif. The Coca-Cola Collectors Club is one of the most active. Contact is PMB 609, 4780 AshfordDunwoody Road, Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30338; cocacolaclub.org. Write to Larry Cox in care of KFWS, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475, or send e-mail to questionsforcox@aol.com. Due to the large volume of mail he receives, Mr. Cox cannot personally answer all reader questions, nor do appraisals. Do not send any materials requiring return mail.
Counseling
Q: A:
Q: A:
July 7 - July 13, 2014
Accepting New Clients Your new life begins this summer! Emotional and psychological suffering prevents you from reaching your full potential. Isn’t it time you discovered a healthier, happier you? Aetna • ChampVA • First Choice • Health Net • MHN • Optum PacifiCare • Providence • Tricare • United Behavioral Health
(541) 826-8282 7526 Crater Lake Hwy White City, OR 97503
www.AlexanderCounseling.org
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