tidbitsvol12#28 by Sandy Sammons

Of North Idaho Issue #28

Distributed by TBNI

Volume 2012-28

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TIDBITS® VISITS SOME INTERESTING

LANDMARKS by Kathy Wolfe

Across the continent, travelers can visit varied sights, from the beautiful to the unusual to the downright strange. This week, Tidbits focuses on a few of each. • Towering 605 feet (185 m) above Seattle is the Space Needle, built for the 1962 World’s Fair. With a foundation 30 feet (9.1 m) deep and 120 feet (36.5 m) across, 467 cement trucks worked an entire day to fill the hole. The paint colors were named to relate to the Fair’s theme of “Century 21” — The legs of the Needle were Astronaut White, the core painted Orbital Olive, Re-entry Red for the halo and Galaxy Gold for the sunburst and pagoda roof. At the time of its construction, the Space Needle was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. It cost $4.5 million to build, but underwent a $20 million renovation in 2000. • Bemidji, Minnesota, is home to the 18-foot-tall (5.5 m), 2.5-ton Paul Bunyan and his companion Babe the Blue Ox, built in 1937. The pair greets visitors near the Chamber of Commerce building on the shore of Lake Bemidji, which is said to be Paul Bunyan’s birthplace. The building also features the “Fireplace of States” built during the Great Depression, which includes stones from every American state and every Canadian province. turn to page 13 for more Landmarks!

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OVERCOMING THE ODDS:

OPRAH WINFREY

• Oprah Winfrey celebrates her 57th birthday this month. How did she go from poverty to becoming one of the most influential women in the world? Take a look at the life of this broadcaster, author, publisher, actress, producer andphilanthropist. • When Winfrey was born to unmarried teenage parents in rural Mississippi, she was quickly handed off to her grandmother, where she lived her first six years. Although they didn’t have much money (Winfrey wore dresses fashioned from potato sacks), Hattie Mae Lee made sure her granddaughter’s life was enriched in other areas. Hattie taught Winfrey to read before she was three, brought her to church regularly and taught her Bible verses. • Winfrey’s life took a bad turn after those first six years when her young mother moved her to inner-city Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Winfrey endured sexual abuse by family members beginning at age nine. She ran away at 13, became pregnant at 14, and suffered through the death of her son shortly after his birth. Her next stop in life was with her father, a Nashville barber, who continually spurred her on to educational excellence. Her life turned around as she became an honors student and earned second place in a national high school speech meet. She won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant at age 17, which was followed by a job with a radio station. By age 19, she was co-anchoring the local evening news. • At 22, Winfrey moved to Baltimore to co-anchor WJZ-TV’s six o’clock news and began hosting a local talk show two years later. It was on to Chicago in 1983 when she was 29 to take over a morning talk show that was last place in the ratings. The program quickly rose in popularity to beat Phil Donahue’s ratings. • When Winfrey’s Chicago talk show went national in 1986, she became a millionaire at 32. By age 41, she was worth $340 million. Five years later that figure was $800 million. By September, 2010, her net worth was in excess of $2.7 billion. • Winfrey began her acting career in 1985 when she co-starred in “The Color Purple,” a performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She went on to produce and star in the movie “Beloved.” • The most-watched interview in television history was hosted by Winfrey in 1993. More than 36 million people watched her interview Michael Jackson. • A new feature was added to “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 1996, Oprah’s Book Club. Viewers are asked to read a variety of new books as well as the classics for discussion on her program. Her interest in many unheard-of books has caused a skyrocket in their sales, making them bestsellers in most cases. She has also initiated “Oprah’s Child Predator Watch List” to hunt accused child molesters. • In 2007, Winfrey invested $40 million to establish the private Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls near Johannesburg, South Africa, a 28-building campus that stresses academic achievement and service leadership. Winfrey personally hand-selected the first 152 students out of more than 3,000 applications.

Good Luck Readers

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New Online Banking Dangers

Leak Stop in a Can?

Stand Downs: Help for Homeless Vets

It’s been trickling out in the news: International thieves have been siphoning millions of dollars out of bank accounts all over the world using methods that haven’t been seen before. What’s different this time? First, the thefts are automated by a highly sophisticated process, and viruses are able to get around typical online security measures. Second, these thefts appear to be beyond the ability of banks’ security systems to handle. Now, more than ever, it’s important to be cautious when you do your banking online. If you don’t bank online, and never have, don’t start now. If you open an account or your bank wants to update your information and it asks for an email address, say that you don’t have one. That way you won’t expect to ever get email from the bank. If email does show up, it will be from a scammer who is hoping you’ll type in your personal information.

Q: I’ve seen ads for a spray-on leak fixer that’s advertised for leaky gutters, damaged shingles and other problem areas. What’s your take on this? Should I order a can? -- Jerry in Sedona, Ariz.

Homeless veterans are frequently at a disadvantage when it comes to getting services and help. Stand Down events are held specifically to assist homeless veterans. While Stand Downs can be held almost year-round, most communities and organizations host events during the summer. If you or someone you know is a homeless veteran in need of any services, now is the time. Services provided at Stand Downs include assistance with food, shelter, clothing, health screenings and benefits counseling for both VA and Social Security. If a veteran needs referrals for jobs, drug- or alcohol abuse or housing, they can find that, too. Events run from one to three days, depending on location. Many people, volunteers and groups step forward to host the Stand Downs -- community homeless agencies, the Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans service organizations -- all for one purpose: to help homeless veterans. If you’re homeless (or you know someone who is) and can get to a computer, go online to the list of Stand Downs held in conjunction with the VA: www.va.gov/HOMELESS/standdown. asp. The listings include a contact telephone number in your area. If you can’t get online, call the Homeless Veterans Programs Office at 202-461-1857. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans also sponsors Stand Downs. Find it online at http://nchv.org/index.cfm. Click “Stand Down” on the left column. The NCHV site includes resource, health and job fairs. As with the VA list, each listing includes a local contact number, or call NCHV at 1-800-VET-HELP. Don’t let a lack of transportation keep you from getting the help you need at a Stand Down. If you inquire in advance, it’s likely that you’ll be given a ride to and from the event.

If you have been routinely checking your balances online or doing any online banking, take extra precautions now. If anything at all looks different on the screen (even if it has an explanation, such as “We have a new look!”), do not click any icons or type in any information. If you receive an email from your bank that includes a link, do not click. It might be a phishing email designed to intercept your information as you type it in. Your money can be transferred out while you’re sitting at the computer, with you none the wiser. If it’s necessary to access your account, type in the URL you usually use. Be careful where you wander on the Internet. Many sites are compromised and will automatically download a virus into your computer. Set your virus software to automatically update. If you have Java or Adobe Reader, keep them updated as well. Visit the website of your virus-software manufacturer. In the past you’ve likely only gone to the site to get answers to problems, or to upgrade your software. Now you need to read the latest news about the online thefts and learn as much as you can about how to protect yourself. David Uffington regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Write to him in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475, or send email to columnreply@gmail. com. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

A: My first thought about this kind of fix-all product is that it may be a great help as a temporary patch, but a damaged gutter or shingle eventually will need to be fixed properly. And major damage, such as a ripped or cracked gutter, probably won’t hold up long with a spray-on patch. I haven’t tried the product in question, so I could, of course, be wrong about its capabilities. However, there are other spray-on rubber brands available at hardware and home-improvement stores. None that I’ve seen claim to fix leaks and large cracks; they’re advertised as sealants and as spray-on nonslip surfacing. They also cost much less, on average, than the product being advertised on television, especially with the cost of shipping and handling removed. If you decide to purchase the product, I’d say it would likely work best as a sealant for gaps around things like air conditioning ducts and where pipes emerge from the wall. Using it to patch areas or objects that bear weight -- like the joints between gutter sections, cracks in a deck’s wood flooring and so on -- is probably not a good use for the product. For patching the roof, I’d be very careful about using it: Eventually, a leaky area of the roof will need more permanent repairs. Replacement of damaged shingles or flashing, as well as repair of the damaged area, could be hindered, not helped, by the presence of spray-on rubber. HOME TIP: Need to mark the location of a leak so you can find it while on the rooftop? In the attic, locate where the water is coming in a drive a 10-penny nail upward so that it pushes up the shingle above. Send your questions or tips to ask@thisisahammer.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.Send your questions or tips to ask@thisisahammer.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

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TRIVIA PAGE 1. GEOGRAPHY: What state is home to the most of the Yellowstone National Park? 2. TELEVISION: What was Norm’s wife’s name in the sitcom “Cheers”? 3. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of toads called? 4. PERSONALITIES: What 1950s television newsman signed off his broadcasts with the words, “Good night and good luck”? 5. LANGUAGE: What does recalcitrant mean? 6. MUSIC: What famous duo performed “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”? 7. MEDICAL: What common condition is known as cephalalgia? 8. INVENTIONS: Where were cross-bladed scissors invented? 9. LITERATURE: Who wrote the novel “Dracula”? 10. MOVIES: What famous actress played an uncredited bit part as a Halloween ghoul in the movie “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial”?

¥ On July 28, 1868, following its ratification by the necessary three-quarters of U.S. states, the 14th Amendment, guaranteeing black Americans citizenship and all its privileges, is officially adopted into the U.S. Constitution. ¥ On July 24, 1911, American archeologist Hiram Bingham gets his first look at Machu Picchu, an ancient Inca settlement in Peru. Machu Picchu is believed to have been a summer retreat for Inca leaders, whose civilization was wiped out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. The site itself stretches an impressive 5 miles. ¥ On July 26, 1931, a swarm of grasshoppers descends on crops throughout Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, devastating millions of acres. The swarm was said to be so thick that it blocked out the sun and that grasshoppers could be could shoveled with a scoop. Cornstalks were eaten to the ground and fields left completely denuded. ¥ On July 27, 1943, Joseph Stalin, premier and dicttor of the Soviet Union, issues Order No. 227, which came to be known as the “Not one step backward” order, in light of German advances into Russian territory. The order declared, “Panic makers and cowards must be liquidated on the spot. Not one step backward without orders from higher headquarters!” ¥ On July 29, 1967, a fire on the USS Forrestal stationed off the coast of Vietnam kills 134 service members, injures hundreds and destroys 20 planes. The deadly fire on the U.S. Navy carrier began with the accidental launch of a F-4 Phantom jet rocket, which hit a parked A-4 Skyhawk jet. ¥ On July 23, 1976, members of the American Legion arrive in Philadelphia to celebrate the bicentennial of U.S. independence. Soon after returning home, many began suffering from a mysterious form of pneumonia, which would become known as Legionnaires’ disease. The final tally was 221 cases, including 34 deaths.

Answers on Page 14

¥ It was double Nobel Prize-winning chemist and peace activist Linus Pauling who made the following sage observation: “The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.” ¥ The acre as a unit of measurement has been with us for quite some time. Originally, an acre was considered to be the amount of land that could be tilled in a single day by one man behind one ox. ¥ If you’ve seen the movie “The Wizard of Oz,” you might remember that in the Emerald City, the horses were a variety of bright colors. No special effects there -- the set designers simply rubbed the animals with JellO powder to achieve the bright hues. Those scenes had to be shot very quickly, though, since the horses had a tendency to lick off their colors. ¥ If you spent some part of the 1980s trying to puzzle out a solution to a Rubik’s Cube, you may be surprised to learn that the world record, held by Frenchman Edouard Chambon, is just 9.18 seconds. And it was set in 2008. ¥ You may not have learned about it in school, but during the summer and early autumn of 1859, the United States and the British became involved in a conflict known as The Pig War. In June of that year, a pig on American soil was shot by a British infantryman in Canada. In response to the provocation, the American militia camped out on the border for four months, until the British finally apologized. No lives were lost (other than the pig’s).

1. Is the book of Micah in the Old or New Testament or neither? 2. From Judges 13, to whose wife did an angel appear telling she’d conceive a son? Samson, Manoah, Josiah, Cain 3. Who was thrown out a window, trampled by horses and eaten by dogs? Deborah, Vashti, Candace, Jezebel 4. What godly son was born to Hannah and Elkanah in answer to prayer? Ezekiel, Paul, Samuel, Hosea 5. How many times was Naaman dipped into the Jordan River when healed of leprosy? 1, 2, 4, 7

1. Name the five members of the 1960s Rat Pack.2. Which all-girl group originally recorded “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”? 3. Name the group that released “Gimme Some Lovin’” and “I’m a Man.” 4. Which early rock ‘n’ roller wrote and released “Rumble,” and when? 5. What was the only No. 1 R&amp;B hit recorded by Bootsy’s Rubber Band? 6. When did Billboard Magazine first begin tracking music?

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Brain Bleeding From Aneurysm

Reverse Mortgages Under Fire Again

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: A friend of mine, 46 years old, with a wife and two children, died of a stroke. I also heard he died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Are they the same? He was the picture of health and was devoted to exercise. Could his exercise be responsible? He was almost a fanatic about it. -- P.M.

Last year the AARP sued the Department of Housing and Urban Development because of tactics that were being used to scam seniors in reverse mortgages. Now Consumers Union, the group that brings us Consumer Reports magazine, is asking for stricter oversight of reverse mortgages. While reverse mortgages can be a lifesaver in certain situations, for most senior homeowners that particular route is full of potential danger. Mortgage origination costs can be astronomical, draining away the equity. Scammers tie home-equity mortgages to other financial products. And, it learned, homeowners were found in default if they failed to pay property taxes or homeowners insurance. The biggest concern, however, is if only one spouse’s name is on the paperwork. You can’t take a reverse mortgage unless you’re age 62. If only one spouse is that age, then only that person’s name goes on the paperwork. If that older spouse dies, the younger spouse can be evicted from the home if he or she can’t come up with all the money to immediately pay off the mortgage. Consumers Union is asking for a number of safeguards: ¥ Ensure that the loan is suitable for borrowers and won’t put them at risk. ¥ Establish a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interest of the homeowner. ¥ Outlaw deceptive marketing. ¥ Prohibit mingling a reverse mortgage with other financial products. ¥ Strengthen the pre-mortgage counseling that homeowners are required to have. ¥ And the big one: protect the non-borrowing spouse. TIP: Did you know you can get an online subscription to Consumer Reports? It’s much handier than trying to store back copies of the magazine. Visit consumerreports.org to decide if you’re interested.

ANSWER: A subarachnoid hemorrhage is a special kind of stroke. It’s due to the bursting of an aneurysm on one of the brain arteries. Aneurysms are small, balloon-like protrusions of a brain artery. They’re weak spots. “Subarachnoid” indicates that the artery is below one of the brain’s coverings -- the arachnoid. It’s the same place where cerebrospinal fluid circulates. A rush of a large volume of blood into this space compresses the brain and compromises its function. The increased pressure on the brain adds to the threat of death. Sometimes these weak bulges have been there from birth. In most instances, they arise during life. High blood pressure, smoking and excessive intake of alcohol contribute to their development. From 10 million to 15 million Americans have a cerebral aneurysm. Only a small percentage of these people die from it. At the onset of bleeding, the involved person complains of a terrible headache, the worst he or she has ever had. The person then becomes unresponsive and slips into a coma. This sort of stroke has a high fatality rate, around 50 percent. Answering your question about your friend’s devotion to exercise and its influence on his death is hard. Exercise did not cause the aneurysm to form. In unusual circumstances, it might have caused the aneurysm to break. Straining to lift a very heavy load while simultaneously holding the breath has been described as a possible reason for rupture of this kind of artery problem. The booklet on strokes describes the more common stroke causes and their treatment. People can order a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 902W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

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Answers on page 14

¥ When traveling this summer, bring a chip clip or other hinged clip with you. You can use it to keep the curtains closed in your hotel room. ¥ “To keep my car looking nice, I keep it clean inside and out. One trick I have is to keep a few paper towels dampened with window cleaner in a resealable plastic baggie. I’m ready as soon as something needs to be cleaned up.” -- B.U. in South Carolina ¥ “If you have an empty non-aerosol hairspray bottle, you can add some rubbing alcohol to it for cleaning purposes. You also can spray your hands, using it like a hand sanitizer.” -- A.A. in Pennsylvania ¥ “When you need to rescrew something and find the hole is stripped out, sharpen a pencil to a point, stick it in the hole and snap the end off. You’ll have new wood to screw into.” -- C.A. in Florida ¥ Want beachy highlights? Do them the old-fashioned way. Get lemon or lime juice, splash it on your hands and run your hands over your hair. If you’re out in the sun, those areas will lighten. ¥ Line your vegetable bin with clean newspaper to keep moisture down. Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or email JoAnn at heresatip@yahoo. com. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

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SPORTS OF SORTS

Being First PHOTO CUTLINE: With Matt Kenseth leaving Roush Fenway Racing at the end of the year, 24-year-old Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will step into Kenseth’s ride. (John Clark/NASCAR This Week photo)Stenhouse Ready for Starring Role Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will begin the 2012 season exactly where he wants to be. This year Roush Fenway Racing couldn’t come up with enough sponsorship to put Stenhouse, the reigning Nationwide Series champion, in Sprint Cup. Owner Jack Roush cut his Cup operation from four to three, leaving Stenhouse to defend his title in NASCAR’s leading support series.Things change.Matt Kenseth recently announced he would be leaving Roush Fenway Racing at year’s end. Kenseth gave Roush its first Cup championship in 2003 and is a veteran of 13 years at the sport’s premier level.The move, which won’t be effective until season’s end, opens a spot for Stenhouse, a 24-year-old from Olive Branch, Miss.“I was kind of shocked when I heard the news,” Stenhouse said. “I thought for sure that we would have a fourth car (again) and definitely didn’t see Matt (Kenseth) going anywhere, but you have to take advantage

of each situation you’re in, and we have to go into next year ready to go and learn as much as we can, and try to finish this year off on a strong note.”Stenhouse, who once competed for Tony Stewart’s USAC sprint and midget teams, doesn’t think the impending move will do anything but help his bid for a second consecutive Nationwide Series title. “I think I can go into it with more confidence and more pep in my step,” he said. “I think the team is pumped about it and excited for me.” Roush expressed disappointment at Kenseth’s decision to leave, but confidence that Stenhouse is ready to fill the void. “His (Kenseth) leaving the team creates a window, a hole if you like, for which we have very capable, able, ready, enthusiastic, motivated and ambitious drivers,” Roush said. “We actually have two of them ready to fill voids. One of them is Ricky Stenhouse, and of course, the other is Trevor (Bayne). The plan is for Trevor to be in some kind of a full-time ride next year, and of course, Ricky is the heir apparent to the (No.) 17 program.”

1. Since 1988, only two players have stolen as many as 78 bases in a season. Name either one. 2. Who was the last player before Toronto’s Jose Bautista in 2011 to have the most home runs in a month for five consecutive months? 3. Name the last year before 2011 in which there were fewer than two running backs selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. 4. Three men’s basketball players have been named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team three times each. Name two of them. 5. The Detroit Red Wings set an NHL record in 2011-12 with a 23-game home winning streak. Who had held the mark? 6. Who was the oldest driver to win a season championship in NASCAR’s Cup series? 1. Montreal’s Marquis Grissom in 1992 and Jose Reyes of the New York Mets in 2007.

2. Philadelphia’s Jimmie Foxx in 1933-34. 3. It was 1984. 4. Lew Alcindor, Bill Walton and Patrick

Ewing. 5. The 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers and the 1929-30 Boston Bruins each had a

20-game home winning streak. 6. Bobby Allison was 45 when he won the title in 1983.

There is a peculiar desire in all of us to be first in something, and there are very few activities we can engage in that exemplify that characteristic more than in sports or journalism. (Even politicians don’t want to win all the time ... there are some jobs you just don’t want.) Through the centuries, numerous maxims have been handed down regarding this unceasing need to be first. “First come, first served,” “There can only be one,” “If you’re not the lead dog, the view never changes,” are but a few that immediately come to mind. Often, being first is associated with winning. “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” That comment, of course, gets challenged by many deep thinkers who would like to see people evolve a little bit. In many situations, the drive to be first can lead to lots of collateral damage, such as a stampede. A few weeks ago, the mediaverse was all atwitter when CNN announced, wrongly, that the federal healthcare bill had been repealed by the U.S. States Supreme Court when, in fact, it did just the opposite. Instead of being first with the news, CNN lost credibility and are last in the cable news game. Being second really has little worth in our society. Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon. Who was the second guy? But it’s better to be right than first in something. If Neil Armstrong and the moon crew were off on their calculations by just a fraction, they would have ended up hurtling into space, lost forever. Charles Lindbergh became the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and he did it without a front windshield (the term “flying blind” applies here). Amelia Earhart attempted to fly around the world, and we all know how that ended ... uhh, actually, we don’t. In June we watched Nik Wallenda walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. Some thought he was the first to do so, but we know he was not. Popular theory has Emile Gravelet doing the stunt first in 1859, but nobody can really be sure. What we do know is that he was the first (and only) tightrope walker to cook an omelet on a wheelbarrow filled with hot stones and then lower the frying pan to passengers floating on the “Maid of the Mist” below him. The first person to win a marathon was a Greek soldier, but it wasn’t a game for him he was delivering a message from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens -- 26.2 miles. Upon delivery, legend has it, he died.

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COMICS

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November Advertise Call 704-9972 www.tidbitsinc.com www.tidbitsinc.com PAGE PAGE 11 11 July 2012 2011 ToTo Advertise Call 704-9972

boarding facilities. The really depressing fact about this flu is that almost every dog exposed to it will become ill unless they’re vaccinated, because it’s such a new virus that dogs have no immunity to it. The best way to prevent the spread of canine influenza is to get your dog vaccinated. Contact your veterinarian about the availability and cost of this vaccination. Learn more about this illness at http://www.doginfluenza.com.

Catalina Vase Q: I inherited a vase from a distant relative. It is marked “Catalina Pottery,” but I have been unable to find the company listed in any of my reference books. -- Betty, Ramona, Calif. A: The Catalina Pottery Company was founded in 1927 on Santa Catalina Island. The pottery didn’t really attract the attention of serious collectors until about 10 years ago. The small company produced vases, trinket boxes and bowls for several years, adding dinnerware in 1931. In 1937, production ended when the operation was purchased by Gladden, McBean &amp; Company. Especially desirable are the Head Vases produced by Catalina. Many are selling for well above the $250 mark. Since you didn’t give me any details about your vase, I can’t give you an idea of value. I recently saw a fan-shaped vase made in 1935 by the Catalina Pottery Company in an antique shop and priced for $175. Q: I have a picture that was made by the F.W. Deval Company, manufacturers of tube colors, paints and varnishes. The material feels like plaster, but the picture is hand-painted. Whom can I contact to find out more about it? -- Irene, North Chili, N.Y. A: With any piece of art, it is always a good idea to get the opinion of an expert. That means hiring the services of a good art appraiser. There are two types of appraisals, verbal and written. The verbal appraisal is an oral opinion and usually less expensive. A written appraisal is generally required for insurance purposes. To find a certified appraiser, contact the Appraisers Association of America, http://appraisersassoc. org, 212-889-5404; the American Society of Appraisers, http://www.appraisers.org,

Send your questions or comments to ask@ pawscorner.com, or write to Paw’s Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. For more pet care-related advice and information, visit www.pawscorner.com. Canine Influenza Is Very Contagious DEAR PAW’S CORNER: What is dog flu? A friend at the dog park told me that I need to ask the veterinarian about getting my dog vaccinated against it. -- Gladys in Dallas DEAR GLADYS: Canine influenza, or dog flu, is a new illness that was first documented in 2004. Since then, it has been found in dogs in 38 states, with more than 100 cases recorded in Texas.Dogs that become ill with canine influenza have symptoms that include runny nose, coughing and a fever. Just as in humans, the illness can become very serious because dogs can get dehydrated, or can develop a secondary infection like pneumonia -- conditions that can be deadly. Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, canine influenza is highly contagious and can be easily transmitted between dogs. (It can’t be transmitted to humans.) An information release from Jefferson Animal Hospital in Baton Rouge, La. says that many infected dogs appear healthy at first, meaning it’s more likely that an ill dog will spread influenza to other dogs at meeting places like dog parks, doggie daycare, and grooming and

Many vets will recommend a twice-yearly exam once a pet reaches an age considered senior. (This varies a bit for dogs. Larger dogs WANTconsidered TO RUN YOUR OWN BUSI NESS? are often senior pets after age 8

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JUST FOR KIDS?

July 2012 To Advertise Call 704-9972 www.tidbitsinc.com PAGE 13 LANDMARKS (continued):

Go Crazy About Books at Your Town Library Some things in life are still free -- like your neighborhood library. If you haven’t dusted off your library card in awhile, put it into action this summer, step inside a local branch and be amazed by the innovative activities and services you’ll find. You’ll likely discover that frequenting your library as part of your weekly routine is a healthy habit that will keep minds of all ages sharp all summer long. Check out these “free of charge” ideas: Storytime Contact your library for dates and times when you and your preschoolers or grandkids can gather with neighbors to enjoy readings of engaging picture books. Singing, acting and crafts often are included. “Afterward, look for books based on a particular theme,” suggests Jeanne O’Grady, program librarian for Santa Cruz, Calif., public libraries. “For example, choose a topic such as ‘food’ and check out a menu of fun, nutrition-related books with appetizing titles such as ‘Cucumber Soup’ by Vicki Leigh Krudwig, ‘Little Pea’ by Amy Rosenthal and ‘Rah, Rah, Radishes!: A Vegetable Chant’ by April Pulley Sayre.” Once you read one of the books, enjoy preparing a snack or meal using the book for inspiration. “Reinforce new vocabulary you have just read by narrating what you are actually doing as you prep the ingredients and eat the food,” she says. “Kids simply can’t resist the sounds of fun words like asparagus, artichoke and macaroni.” E-books The list of library e-book titles for iPads, Nook and other readers is growing. Go online, check out your choice and download free of charge. Pre-trip prepBefore you leave on vacation, find useful travel books, maps, magazines and conversational language-learning CDs to enrich your travel experience. For long, cross-country car trips, don’t forget to check out audio books before you hit the road. Volunteer! Inquire about volunteer opportunities at the library for your preteen or teenage children. They may be asked to assist with crafts and puppet shows, monitor summer reading programs and assist in searching for titles on the computer. 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.”

• Back in 1859, an Arkansas farmer found a 1,000-pound (453 kg) rock in the Black River and quickly spread the word that he had found a meteorite. It was moved to the county courthouse in nearby Pocahontas, where it can still be seen today. Years later, geologists from the University of Arkansas gave the community the bad news that the rock is not a meteorite, but it remains quite the tourist attraction just the same. • And speaking of Pocahontas, when driving through Pocahontas, Iowa, you can stop at the east end of town and see a 25-foot- (7.6-m) tall concrete statue of the famous Indian princess for whom the town is named. • Perched atop the Continental Divide and overlooking the city of Butte, Montana, is Our Lady of the Rockies, the largest Virgin Mary statue in North America. This 90-foot (27.4-m), 16-gauge steel statue weighs 80 tons and sits atop a 425ton base. It took six years to complete and was installed in 1985. The original plan was for the Lady to be 120 feet (36.6 m) tall, but those plans were scrapped when the FAA told the city that if the Lady were any taller than 90 feet, it would necessitate a blinking light on the head. • In 1846, a party of 87 emigrants set out along the Oregon Trail too close to winter and were trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains by heavy snowfall. Their food supplies dwindled, and some of the party turned to cannibalism for survival, eating those who had passed away. It took four months until the first rescue party arrived. Forty-eight members of the party survived. Since 1918, bronze figures of a pioneer family have stood atop a 22-foot (6.7 m) pedestal at Donner State Park near Truckee, California. Because the snow had been 22 feet deep near their camp, the pedestal was made the same height to show visitors its depth. • Pink elephants must be a popular item since there seem to be so many scattered across the United States. You can see these giant pachyderms in Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, New York and Missouri. Some wear glasses, while others have a martini glass wrapped in their trunk. • As you pass through Chico, California, you may want to stop and view the world’s largest yo-yo. The wooden toy weighs 256 pounds (116 kg) and can be seen at the National Yo-Yo Museum, which houses 80 years of yo-yo artifacts.

• Blue Hubbards and blue bananas as well as Queensland blue and other pumpkins are enjoyed in Australia. A couple of popular treats for Aussies are Queensland blue scones at teatime and the rather odd “Grabben Gullen Pie.” The pie is made by hollowing out a pumpkin, filling it with possum joints and baking it in a bed of hot coals. Doesn’t that sound appetizing?!

Pork Chops with Glazed Peaches 1/3 cup Dijon mustard 1/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon bottled steak sauce 4 pork loin chops, each 3/4-inch thick Parsley sprigs, for garnish Glazed Peaches (below) 1. In medium bowl, with fork, mix Dijon mustard, brown sugar and steak sauce. Add pork chops, turning to coat chops with mustard mixture. 2. Place pork chops on grill over medium heat. Cook pork chops until lightly browned on both sides and chops just lose their pink color throughout, about 10 to 12 minutes, brushing with mustard sauce remaining in bowl and turning them occasionally. Place pork chops on 4 dinner plates; garnish with parsley sprigs. Serve with Glazed Peaches, if you like. Serves 4. 3. Glazed Peaches: About 10 minutes before serving, cut each of 4 medium-size peaches in half; remove pits. In small bowl, with spoon, mix 2 tablespoons light or dark brown sugar with 1 tablespoon water. Place peach halves on grill over medium heat and cook 5 to 8 minutes, brushing peaches with brown-sugar mixture and turning peaches occasionally, until hot and lightly browned. ¥ Each serving (without peaches): About 280 calories, 12g total fat (4g saturated), 54mg cholesterol, 630mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate, 26g protein. ¥ Each serving of peaches: About 65 calories, 0g total fat (0g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 5mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate, 1g protein. Lemony Bean Duo Wax beans and green beans are tossed in a simple dressing and garnished with lemon and mint. 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves 1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed 1 1/2 pounds wax beans, trimmed Salt Pepper 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 lemon 1. Heat 7- to 8-quart covered saucepot of water to boiling on high. Meanwhile, finely chop half of mint. 2. To saucepot, add beans and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook 7 to 8 minutes or until just crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Drain well. 3. While beans are still warm, in large bowl, toss with oil, chopped mint, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Transfer to large shallow serving bowl. Grate lemon peel directly over beans, then tear remaining mint leaves and scatter over beans.

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Puzzle and Game Answers ALCATRAZ Although most famous for the 29 years it was a maximum security penitentiary for some of America’s most hardened criminals, Alcatraz was first a military fortress. Tidbits explores this San Franciso landmark, which receives over a million visitors each year. • Alcatraz Island was named by Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775, when he was on a landmark-mapping mission. He called the rocky mass “Isla de los Alcatraces,” which translates “Island of the Pelicans,” because they were its only inhabitants and in great number. • U.S. military troops began using the island in 1850, a fort was built, and by 1859, there were permanent troops stationed there to defend the San Francisco Bay area. In 1854, the island’s lighthouse went into service as the first on the Pacific coast.

Trivia Test Answers

1. Wyoming 2. Vera 3. A knot 4. Edward R. Murrow 5. Resistant to authority 6. Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs 7. Headache 8. Early Rome, about 100 A.D. 9. Bram Stoker 10. Debra Winger (Nurse Zombie carrying a Poodle Bible Trivia Answers:

1) Old; 2) Manoah; 3) Jezebel; 4) Samuel; 5) 7; 6) Isaiah

• In 1861, Alcatraz became the official military prison for the Department of the Pacific and confined military deserters, thieves and drunkards. Civilians accused of treason were imprisoned there during the Civil War, as well as a crew of Confederate privateers whose ship had been seized in the Bay. In 1915, The Rock was designated the “United States Disciplinary Barracks” and remained a military prison until 1934. • In 1934, Alcatraz became part of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and until 1963, housed the nation’s worst offenders. One of its most famous inmates was racketeer Al Capone, who earned an estimated $100,000 weekly from smuggling, bootlegging and gambling establishments. Although Capone was believed to have orchestrated the gangland St. Valentine’s Day massacre in 1929, when seven were killed on Chicago’s north side, he was never brought to trial for the killings. It was 1931 before Capone was finally indicted for income tax evasion and violating the Prohibition laws. In 1929, his estimated worth was $62 million. • The 1962 movie “Birdman of Alcatraz” starred Burt Lancaster in his Oscar-winning role as Robert F. Stroud. It was a fictionalized account of a convicted murderer who took an interest in canaries during his imprisonment. Although he was referred to as the Birdman of Alcatraz, his ornithological activities actually took place at Leavenworth, where he was incarcerated for 30 years. An injured bird in the prison yard was the source of his interest, and caring for birds became his passion. He raised nearly 30 birds, which he sold to support his mother during the Great Depression. After studying their anatomy, habits and illnesses, he authored two books on canaries and gained the respect of bird-lovers worldwide. However, former inmates claimed he was not the gentle person that Lancaster depicted, but a “vicious killer,” one who had killed a Leavenworth guard after his imprisonment. Stroud was transferred to Alcatraz in 1942, where his bird-keeping privileges were removed, and he spent the next 17 years without them. He also was not permitted to view the movie. When he died at age 73, he had spent 54 of those years behind bars.

Flash Back Answers: 1. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. All were singers and actors, appearing in films and entertaining in Las Vegas. 2. The Supremes, in 1966 on the Motown label. The song topped the charts for two weeks. 3. Spencer Davis Group, in 1966 and 1967. They originally called themselves the Rhythm and Blues Quartette. 4. “Link” Wray, in 1958. Wray was one of the first musicians to get new sounds out of electric guitars, including distortion and reverb. 5. “Bootzilla” in 1978. “The Pinocchio Theory,” at No. 6, was the only other Top 10 song for the band, an offshoot act of Parliament-Funkadelic. 6. Billboard was first published in 1894, but didn’t begin to chart music until the 1930s, when jukeboxes became popular.

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ShowBiz Weekly JILL JACKSON’S HOLLYWOOD By Tony Rizzo

PHOTO: Bret Michaels

PHOTO: Susan Lucci

Q: One of my favorite shows this season, “Pan Am,” was canceled. Is it on DVD? -- Pat S., via email

HOLLYWOOD -- When “All My Children” was canceled, we reported that its biggest star, Susan Lucci, was headed for “Desperate Housewives,” but we were proven wrong ... sort of. Producer Marc Cherry had other plans for Lucci. Now we know what they were. Lucci will topline the new Lifetime series “Devious Maids,” originally made as a pilot for ABC, about five maids who work for rich Beverly Hills families. The Lifetime Network said it would be interested if ABC wasn’t.If only we could’ve been a fly on the wall when Lucci was told, “You know how you had to relocate to Los Angeles when “All My Children” moved from New York to Hollywood ... well, now you’ve got to relocate to Atlanta for this one!” ABC would have paid top dollar for the show, which Cherry is producing with “Desperate Housewives” star Eva Longoria, but Lifetime is a cable network and the show had to scale down and shoot in Georgia to cut costs. Former “Melrose Place” hunk Grant Show also is on board. “Devious Maids” will debut sometime in 2013. A primetime show, even on cable, is a step up for Lucci -- if she can keep her career from going south!Cheyenne Jackson, who had a recurring role on “30 Rock,” has joined Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in the HBO Liberace biopic “Behind the Candelabra,” which starts filming this month. The “out” actor, who married his physicist partner of 10 years, recently admitted, “I’m not allowed to say who I’m playing, but it’s pretty exciting.” Gee, let’s see ... I don’t know, could he be one of Liberace’s former boyfriends? A source close to Dennis Wilson and the biopic “Drummer” tells me that Aaron Eckhart has bowed out of playing the late Beach Boy. Eckhart suddenly decided to do “Olympus Has Fallen,” in which he plays the president.

A: “Pan Am” is not yet available on DVD; however, you can own all the episodes via Amazon. The show is available for instant viewing on your PC, Mac, compatible TV or other device. Simply go to Amazon.com and search “Pan Am” to learn more. *** Q: Can you tell me what one of my favorite rock stars, Bret Michaels, has been up to lately? -- Rhiannon G., via email A: The Poison frontman has been touring with Def Leppard and Lita Ford this summer, as well as promoting his new line of pet clothes, toys and accessories. Bret Michaels’ Pets Rock collection is available only through PetSmart (in stores and online at petsmart. com). As the owner of the cutest Boston terrier in the world, I couldn’t wait to speak with Bret about his new line of doggie-wear. Bret explained the collaboration between himself and PetSmart: “They’d all come up to my house (in Arizona, where PetSmart is based), and I would show them a design, and I’d show them the stuff my pets were playing with. We would talk about it and we would draw some stuff up, and then they would take it back and work on it. It was very collaborative. As you know, safety is a huge factor, along with durability.” But just because Bret had a hand in designing a doggie tutu, it doesn’t mean he’s gone soft. He told me: “In the music business, you might get lucky for a record or two, but you’re not going to survive 25, 26 years unless you know the business side of the entertainment business, which is really tough. It really gave me a thick skin. I’ll say this about any musician who’s lasted more than two years: You’ve really gotta be on your game. It’s tough to get into the business -- to get that break -- but it’s way tougher to stay there.” Q: Is it true that a movie is in the works based on the “Shattered Union” video game? -- Vinnie P., Springfield, Ohio A: Jerry Bruckheimer is in the very early stages of development. He has joined with Disney and screenwriter J. Michael Straczynski (creator of “Babylon 5”) to bring the video game to life, perhaps sometime in 2013.

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