OVER 4 MILLION
Readers Weekly Nationwide!
November 26 2013 Published by PTK Corp.
of the River Region
The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read® To place an Ad, call: (334) 202-7285 TIDBITS® TALKS
TURKEY by Janet Spencer The average annual consumption of turkey has increased from 8.3 pounds (3.5 kg) in 1975 to 18.5 pounds (8 kg) today. Come along with Tidbits as we talk turkey! TASTY TURKEY • Turkey meat is higher in protein and lower in fat and calories than many other meats, averaging 26 percent protein and 11 percent fat. It has 25 percent less fat than roast beef, and 46 percent less than pork loin. Skin accounts for six percent of the bird’s weight. The highest concentrations of fat are found in the skin and the pan drippings, which is why you should avoid both. TURKEY FACTS • The size of an average turkey breast has increased 22 percent since 1979. • A typical turkey will consume 110,000 calories in its lifetime. • It takes 3 lbs (1.3 kg) of feed to produce one pound of turkey, but it takes 7 lbs (3 kg) of feed to produce one pound (.4 kg) of beef. • A typical 15-pound (6.8 kg) bird will have 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat. • The first meal eaten on the moon by Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin in 1969 consisted of a foil packet full of turkey with trimmings. TURKEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED • You go to buy a turkey, and wonder how big a bird you should get. An 11 lb. (5 kg) turkey will yield 5 to 6 lbs. (2.2 kg) of meat. The bigger the bird, the greater the ratio of meat to bones, so the cheaper the serving. You wonder if it would be more economical to get a turkey breast, roast, or roll. Whole turkeys are cheaper per serving. Sometimes turkeys are so cheap that you wonder if you should stock up. A frozen turkey will keep for up to a year if stored at zero degrees (-18 c). You wonder if you should get a self-basting bird. According to taste tests, there is no reason to choose a self-basting bird over one that is not self-basted. Basted birds have more salt. You wonder how long it will take to thaw. It should be thawed in the fridge for 24 hours for each 5 lbs. (2.2 kg) of weight. You debate between homemade or Stove-Top. Stuff the bird at the very last minute before cooking to cut down on bacteria, or cook it unstuffed. SMOKED TURKEY (Continued next page)
Vol 2 Issue 48 paul@riverregiontidbits.com
Page 2
Tidbits® of the River Region • To celebrate the wealth of turkey farms in the area, the town of Frazee, Minnesota erected a gigantic turkey statue. Standing 22 feet (6.7 m) tall, it was billed as the world’s largest turkey. On July 1, 1998, city workers wanted to spiff up Big Tom (as he was called) in preparation for the annual Turkey Days Festival. However, they decided to clean the fiberglass and paper maché statue with blow torches. Big Tom caught fire and burned to the ground. But civic pride kicked in and by September, another equally impressive Big Tom was installed in its place. WHITE vs DARK • Myoglobin is the dark-colored protein that stores oxygen in muscles of some animals, just like hemoglobin stores oxygen in red blood cells. The oxygen stored by myoglobin is used for power to drive muscles, and is present in large amounts in muscles that do a lot of work, such as the legs. Muscles that do little work, such as the breast, have less myoglobin. THE INVALUABLE SNOOD • Besides the fleshy wattle that hangs below a turkey’s chin, a male turkey also has a fleshy appendage that hangs over its beak called a snood. The snood indicates virility and stretches to twice its length during the macho strutting preceding mating. The ladies prefer a long snood. The snood also plays an important role in the rivalry between males. Males will access the length of a rival’s snood before engaging in battle. One researcher wanted to find out just how important the snood is. He constructed two turkey decoys and placed them three feet apart in a small arena. Each of the decoys stood next to a pile of birdseed. The decoys were identical except that one had a large snood and the other’s snood was small. One at a time, the researcher placed 28 young male turkeys into the yard and waited to see what would happen. Only four of the 28 turkeys took birdseed from the pile in front of the decoy with a huge snood, while 17 stole seed from the decoy with the smaller snood. Seven of the real turkeys stole birdseed from both decoys. The researcher theorized that the length of the snood may be determined by the bird’s testosterone level. WILD vs DOMESTIC • One difference between wild and domestic turkeys is that the domestic variety is unable to fly, whereas wild birds are extremely good fliers. They need no runway for takeoff, can climb vertically, are capable of attaining speeds of 40 m.p.h. (64 km) in the air, and can glide for a mile (1.6 km) without fluttering a wing. TURKEY HISTORY • Turkeys originated in Central and North America. Archeologists have found turkey fossils over 10 million years old. They’re the only breed of poultry native to the Western Hemisphere. There are two species of wild turkey: the Yucatan turkey inhabits Central America, and the North American turkey lives in the U.S. TURKEY TALK • No one is sure where the word “turkey” came from. Some claim that when Columbus saw them, he thought they were related to the peacock. Because he thought he was in India, and because the word for peacock in India is “tuka,” he named them thusly. Others say that it got its name because it was imported through the country of Turkey. Still others swear it was because the bird’s head resembles the helmet of Turkish soldiers. Some think it’s because the call of the bird sounds like “turk-turk-turk.” ACCORDING TO GUINNESS: • Vincent Pilkington of Ireland plucked a turkey bald in one minute, 30 seconds on November 17, 1980, making him the world’s fastest turkey plucker. • One of the world’s largest turkey farms is located in Norfolk, Britain and is owned by Bernard Matthews. Over a million birds per year are raised there. • One of the heaviest turkeys ever raised weighed 86 pounds (39 kg) dressed out, which is about the size of a large German shepherd dog. It won the annual Heaviest Turkey competition in London in 1989. GOOD GIZZARDS! • On the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, dodo birds lived under the calvaria tree. The tree’s seeds were unable to sprout until they had been ground down by the dodo’s digestive tract. The dodo had no natural enemies and therefore had developed no defenses. When man came accompanied by rats, dogs, and guns, the dodo died off, and it looked like the calvaria tree was soon to follow. At one point there were only 13 of the trees left in the world, some of them more than 300 years old. Then a professor from Wisconsin fed the seeds to turkeys, whose gizzards did the job that the dodo used to do. Just in the nick of time, the calvaria tree was saved from the dodo’s fate.
“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285
by Samantha Weaver * It was noted German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who made the following sage observation: “The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.” * A scorpion can live for an entire year without eating. * If you lack a belief in ghosts, UFOs, telepathy or other paranormal phenomena, you are in rare company; only 7 percent of Americans share your lack of belief. * If you traveled along Highway 50 east of Reno, Nev., in recent decades, you may have had the opportunity to see -- and perhaps even contribute to -- the world’s largest shoe tree. It’s claimed that the cottonwood got its start as a landmark when a quarreling couple, on their wedding night, threw each other’s shoes into the branches. This shoe-tossing (for reasons unclear) became a tradition, and the tree gradually became laden with the odd offerings. Travelers these days, though, miss out on the attraction; in late 2010, vandals cut down the tree. But take heart, seekers of the unusual! Shoe trees can be found in 18 other states, ranging from California to New York. * During the entire presidency of Bill Clinton, he sent two emails. * The Bronx Zoo is a well-respected institution these days, but some moments of its history show that it didn’t always deserve such respect. For instance, in 1906, a man named Oto Benga was placed as an exhibit in the monkey house. He was a pygmy from Congo. * It seems that the Germans have a word for everything. For instance, “waldeinsamkeit” describes the feeling of being alone in the woods. *** Thought for the Day: “Until you’ve lost your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was or what freedom really is.” -- Margaret Mitchell (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.
Page 3
Page 4
Tidbits® of the River Region
* On Dec. 13, 1642, Dutch navigator Abel Tasman becomes the first European explorer to sight the South Pacific island group now known as New Zealand. In his sole attempt to land, several of Tasman’s crew were killed by warriors from a South Island tribe, who interpreted the Europeans’ exchange of trumpet signals as a prelude to battle. * On Dec. 9, 1775, the Virginia and North Carolina militias defeat 800 slaves and 200 redcoats serving John Murray, earl of Dunmore and governor of Virginia, at Great Bridge outside Norfolk, ending British royal control of Virginia. * On Dec. 11, 1872, already appearing as a well-known figure of the Wild West in popular dime novels, Buffalo Bill Cody makes his first stage appearance in a Chicago-based production of “The Scouts of the Prairie.” * On Dec. 12, 1901, Italian physicist and radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi succeeds in sending the first radio transmission across the Atlantic Ocean, disproving detractors who told him that the curvature of the earth would limit transmission to 200 miles or less. * On Dec. 14, 1946, American tennis champion Stan Smith is born in Pasadena, Calif. A three-time All-American at the University of Southern California, Smith captured the NCAA singles title in 1968 and the doubles title in 1967 and 1968. * On Dec. 10, 1967, a plane carrying soul-music legend Otis Redding crashes into the frigid waters of a small Wisconsin lake 3 miles short of the runway, killing seven of the eight men aboard, including Redding. His classic song (“Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” would be released in its “unfinished” form several weeks later.
Stephanie Pryor Black/Female 5’2” 200 lbs Hair: Black Eyes: Brown
* On Dec. 15, 1988, legendary singer James Brown, also known as the “Godfather of Soul” and the “Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” becomes inmate number 155413 at the State Park Correctional Institute in South Carolina. Already no stranger to law enforcement, Brown’s reckless spree on Sept. 24 had resulted in numerous criminal charges, including assault and battery with intent to kill. (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.
Outstanding Warrants: Possession of Forged Instrument 2nd (7 counts) Theft of Property 1st
Curtis Alan Atkins White/Male 5’9” 160 lbs Hair: Black Eyes: Blue Outstanding Warrants: Failure to Appear for Public Intoxication
“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285
Page 5
Lindsey Hartley
Tommy Count ______ This week’s winner receives 1 tree up to $55 from
Wadsworth Christmas Tree Farm Register to win at www.riverregiontidbits.com and click on “Tommy Tidbits” or click the QRCode above. Fill out the registration information and tell us how many times Tommy appears in ads in the paper for this week. From the correct entries, a winner will be selected. You must be 18 years of age to qualify. The gift certificates will range in value from $25 to $50 each week. Entries must be received at the website by midnight each Saturday evening or at PTK Corp, PO Box 264, Wetumpka, AL 36092.
Last Week’s Ads where Tommy was hiding: 1. Hart Chiropratic, p. 3 2. Copy Copy, p. 5 3. Wadsworth Tree Farm, p. 5
Page 6
Tidbits® of the River Region
1. Name two of the three major-league players to be Rookie of the Year one season and a Most Valuable Player the next. 2. The New York Yankees have won the most World Series titles. What is the second-highest-ranking A.L. team when it comes to World Series crowns? 3. Who was the last linebacker to be taken No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft? 4. When was the last time a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball team secured an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament? 5. Which was the first American franchise in the NHL? 6. Of the past 40 men’s tennis grand slam singles events (2004 to 2013), how many have NOT been won by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic? 7. In the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans race, what was the highest finish by a car other than a Porsche?
1. Is the book of Joshua in the Old or New Testament or neither? 2. According to James, the effective prayers of “what” type man availest much? Patient, Holy, Righteous, Elderly 3. What did Moses command should be done to a woman caught in adultery? Forgiven, Stoned, Beheaded, Loved 4. According to Colossians, what do we have through Jesus’ blood? Love, Eternity, Hope, Redemption 5. Which has the fewest words of any book in the Bible (KJV)? Titus, Jude, III John, Amos 6. In Isaiah 53, we hid our “what” from Jesus? Faces, Sins, Grief, Hands
Page 7
“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285
“Hand” Made Rudolph Holiday Gift Bags Rudolph will show up in unsuspecting places this holiday season when your preschoolers or young school-age children create his sweet image on gift bags made with simple, inexpensive paper lunch bags. The secret charm in this family-time DIY craft is that your kids’ hands create the personalized design for the antlers. Here’s how in five easy steps: 1. Trace your child’s hands on brown construction paper, cardboard or craft foam. Cut out each hand shape. If you are making several Rudolph gift bags, trace your child’s hands on a sheet of paper, cut it out, and use it over and over as a pattern. 2. Close the top of a brown paper lunch bag by folding it forward 2 inches. Punch two holes through the folded top of the bag, about 1 inch apart. 3. Use double-stick tape or glue to attach the hand-shaped “antlers” (at the wrist) to the top corners of the folded bag. The fingers and thumbs will extend beyond the top fold of the bag. 4. Cut two small oval ear shapes from lightbrown paper, cardboard or craft foam, and glue one ear onto each reindeer antler (at the palm of the hand shape). 5. Use markers or crayons to draw a reindeer face on the bag. Googly eyes or buttons are cute for eyes, and a red pompom or small red ball ornament is perfect for Rudolph’s “nose so bright.” To use, unfold the top, place a gift inside the decorated bag and refold it. Run ribbon through the left hole, across the back and out the right hole. String a jingle bell and tie a bow to close. Tie on a gift tag, if you wish. Extra idea: If you cut out the bottom, these gift bags (minus the gift, of course!) make great holiday puppets. *** 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 NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” (c) 2013 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.
1. Cal Ripken Jr. (198283), Ryan Howard (200506) and Dustin Pedroia (2007-08). 2. The Oakland Athletics franchise, with nine.
BIBLE TRIVIA ANSWERS:
1) Old; 2) Righteous; 3) Stoned; 4) Redemption; 5) III John; 6) Faces
3. Aundray Bruce, by Atlanta in 1988. 4. Miami of Ohio, in 1999. 5. The Boston Bruins, in 1924. 6. Five.
Page 8
Tidbits® of the River Region
By Samantha Mazzotta
Get Outdoor Plants Ready for Winter Q: What outdoor plants should I protect during the winter? Which can be left alone? -- Seth in New Jersey A: For exact information on which plants to protect and how, you’ll want to ask at your local garden center. Each plant is different, but most are classified in the U.S. based on the growing zone in which they do best. If a plant is classed as “hardy” for your zone, it should do all right in the cold weather, with a few precautions. If not, or if it is a potted plant, consider bringing it inside, or wrap the plant or shrub in burlap tied with string to protect it from frosts and freezes. Many perennials need just a fresh layer of mulch, applied before the first hard frost. Again, check with your garden center or research your type of plant on the Internet to determine which mulch is best to use -- bark, hay, straw or leaves -- and how deep to mulch. Other ways to prepare your yard for winter include clearing away any loose debris, such as leaves and fallen branches, to prevent them from blowing around in the winter. If your garden has been harvested, now’s the time to turn the soil and remove any stalks and dead vines before the ground freezes. It’s also a good time to start a compost heap, if you haven’t got one already. By spring, you should have some good compost to start the next garden. HOME TIP: Trouble with squirrels invading a bird feeder? Set the feeder at least 6 feet from tree branches or roof eaves and mount it on a metal pole, which is harder to climb. Send your questions or home tips to ask@ thisisahammer.com. My new e-book, “101 Best Home Tips,” is available to download on Amazon Kindle! Pick it up it today for just 99 cents. (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.