Vol. 21: #34 • Stories Behind the Songs • (8-17-2025) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
STORIES BEHIND THE
by Janet Spencer
From epic romances to devastating events to chance meetings, musicians often look to their own lives for songwriting inspiration. This week Tidbits looks into some of these familiar songs and reveals the personal stories behind them.
• Porter Wagoner was the star of “The Porter Wagoner Show” from 1960 until 1981. In 1967, Wagoner asked a friend of his named Dolly Parton to co-host the show. She and Wagoner opened every show with a duet.
• By 1974, Parton wanted to break away from Porter Wagoner in order to move into her own spotlight. Wagoner didn’t want her to go. Dolly penned a song herself and sang a heartfelt version to Wagoner just before she left to venture out on her own.
• The song, “I Will Always Love You” was her tribute to him, expressing how deeply she appreciated all he had done for her over the years while also underscoring the fact that they would no longer be together. The song appeared on her 1974 album “Jolene.”
TRIV
(Answers on page 16)
1. U.S. STATES: Which state is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
2. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of Saudi Arabia?
3. TELEVISION: Ron Swanson is a character on which sitcom?
4. MOVIES: Who is the villain in the animated film “The Little Mermaid”?
5. SCIENCE: What part of the cell contains genetic material?
6. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president established the Peace Corps?
7. HISTORY: Which country is home to Botany Bay, an early British colony?
8. MATH: Who is known as the father of geometry?
9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: When did the Great Smoky Mountains National Park open?
10. MYTHOLOGY: What animal did Zeus turn into to kidnap Europa? Answers
• Cyclist Lance Armstrong came back from a cancer diagnosis to win seven Tour de France titles between 1998 and 2005. However, he was accused not only of doping, but of being the ringleader of “the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that the sport has ever seen” according to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency investigation in 2012.
• After a teammate came forward with enough evidence to make the case, Armstrong chose not to contest the charges. He subsequently received a lifetime ban, and was stripped of his titles. Armstrong later admitted to doping and paid a $5 million fine.
***
• Luis Resto was born in Puerto Rico in 1955 and moved to the Bronx when he was nine where he took up boxing. By 1975, he was winning championships. He went pro and rose to the rank of 10th in the world.
• All that changed in 1983 when he went up against undefeated Billy Collins at Madison Square Garden. By the end of the match, Collins’ face was badly battered. When Collins’ father went to congratulate Resto on his win, he shook hands with Resto and noted that his boxing glove seemed oddly off. He immediately demanded that Resto’s boxing gloves be impounded. Examination showed that Resto had removed the padding from the gloves and replaced it with chalk. He had wrapped his hands with gauze soaked in plaster which hardened into a cast.
• Collins ended up with a torn iris, which permanently blurred his vision and ended his boxing career. Not only were Resto and his trainer banned from boxing, but Resto was convicted of assault, serving over 2 years in prison. He later admitted he and his trainer conspired to win due to large bets placed on the match. ***
• Joseph Jackson, now remembered as “Shoeless Joe,” was an American outfielder whose .356 career batting average is the fourth highest in the history of Major League Baseball. He got his nickname for running the bases in his
stocking feet due to blisters caused by a new pair of cleats. He was outfielder for the White Sox when his team lost the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. Afterward, Jackson and 7 other White Sox teammates were accused of accepting bribes of $5,000 each (equal to $91,000 today) for throwing the Series.
• A grand jury convened in 1920 found no clear evidence; the case was dismissed. However, the Commissioner of Baseball placed lifetime bans on all 8 accused players. Shoeless Joe protested his innocence until his death in 1951. Decades after his death, the ban was rescinded, and his records were entered into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Danny Almonte was born in the Dominican Republic but moved to New York City with his family in 2000. His dad encouraged Danny to play on the local Little League team. He was a superior pitcher, throwing a no-hitter in 2001 that sent his team to the Little League World Series. There, he threw another no-hitter. This was the first no-hitter in the Little League World Series since 1979.
• At the time, Almonte stood 5 feet, 8 inches, which is tall for a 12-year-old, and 12 is the cut-off age for playing in the Little League. Curious investigators looked into allegations that Almonte was older than 12, going all the way to the Dominican Republic to look up his birth certificate. This showed that he was actually born in 1987 rather than his claim of 1989, making him 14 instead of 12. This revelation stripped him and his team of their title, and Almonte was banned from ever being involved in Little League again.
Week of August 17, 2025
Song Stories: (from page one)
• While the song was a solid commercial success for Dolly, Whitney Houston’s version made for the 1992 movie “The Bodyguard” stayed at the top of the charts for an astonishing 14 weeks, becoming the best-selling single of all time for a female solo artist, and winning her a Grammy.
• Interestingly enough, Elvis Presley had expressed interest in recording the song, but the contract Dolly was asked to sign asked for too much. She refused, while her friends called her crazy. She later said that after the Whitney Houston hit, she earned enough that she could have purchased Graceland with the profits of the song she wrote for Porter. Her song says in part, “If I should stay / I would only be in your way / So I’ll go, but I know / I’ll think of you every step of the way / And I will always love you.”
• Paul Simon was sitting in a Chinese restaurant looking at the menu when one item caught his eye. The dish was called “mother and child reunion” and consisted of chicken served with eggs. The phrase stuck in his head and turned into a song: “No, I would not give you false hope / On this strange and mournful day / But the mother and child reunion / Is only a motion away.”
• The seaside town of Ryde on Englandʼs Isle of Wight is a tourist hotspot where Paul McCartney’s cousin owned a local pub. A ticket to Ryde was literally a British Railways ticket to the resort destination. The Lennon/McCartney song “Ticket to Ride” became the Beatles’ third #1 hit in the U.S. and appeared on their 1965 album “Help!” “She said that living with me / Is bringing her down, yeah / For she would never
NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE
People have been writing and singing songs for thousands of years, even before written history. Effective song-writing involves both technical skills and emotional connection, where writers can connect with the listener and with the song itself. The process is enhanced by quantity, with more frequent writing leading to improved quality.
be free / When I was around / Ah, she’s got a ticket to ride / And she don’t care.”
• “Blinded by the Light” was an exercise by Bruce Springsteen, who needed more songs for his 1973 album “Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.” He sat down with a rhyming guide to see how many rhymes he could fit into a nonsensical song: “Madman drummers bummers and Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat / In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat / With a boulder on my shoulder feelin’ kinda older I tripped the merry-go-round / With this very unpleasing sneezing and wheezing the calliope crashed to the ground.” The song didn’t do much for Springsteen, but Manfred Mann’s Earth Band turned it into a hit, reaching #1 in 1977.
The hit song "(Just Another) Manic Monday" was a huge success for the rock group The Bangles in 1986, but the song was actually written for them by Prince.
• Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson set up a rock band called Heart in Seattle in 1973. The band grew in popularity with hit songs such as “Magic Man” “Dreamboat Annie” and “Dog & Butterfly” They signed to a record label and were well on their way to mega-success.
Honor, that you can’t make a woman love you if she don’t.”
• This inspiration spawned the melancholy ballad “I Can’t Make You Love Me (If You Don’t)” which turned out to be a major hit for Bonnie Raitt in 1991: “’Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t / You can’t make your heart feel somethin’ it won’t / Here in the dark, in these final hours / I will lay down my heart and I’ll feel the power / But you won’t, no you won’t / ’Cause I can’t make you love me, if you don’t.”
• “Nothing Compares 2 U” was a huge hit for Sinead O’Connor, recorded for her album “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” and becoming the top song of 1990. The tune is a heart-rending
• Then a head honcho at their record label thought they could sell more records if only they could drum up some drama surrounding the band. They ran a full-page advertisement featuring Ann and Nancy in a suggestive pose, with a caption implying they were lovers. The duo, blindsided by this betrayal, were furious, and their mutual anger inspired their next big hit.
• They quit that label immediately, signed with a different label, and released their next album in 1977 featuring their hard-driving revenge song, “Barracuda”: “You lying so low in the weeds / I bet you gonna ambush me / You’d have me down, down, down, down on my knees / Now wouldn’t you, Barracuda.”
• Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin were a songwriting team in Nashville when their attention turned to a news clipping. The article recounted a recent trial where a man was being prosecuted for getting drunk and shooting up his ex-girlfriend’s car. The judge asked the defendant, “Did you learn anything from this experience?” He answered, “I learned, Your
1.ROSAPARKS 2.FRANKZAPPA “Youaregoingtogetit
1. What pop star never wrote a single line in any one of his songs?
2. The words to the Johnny Cash song "A Boy Named Sue" were penned by what chidren's poet? byKaraKovalchik&SandyWood
* Beef and liver paste, squeezed from a tube, was the first meal eaten in space, consumed by Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, who chose it because it was space-friendly.
* Cigarettes were once advertised as a source of relief for asthma and hay fever.
* September is the only month to have the same number of letters in its name as its number in the calendar year.
* The original recipe for Oreos, which were originally called Oreo Biscuits (though it’s not clear where “Oreo” came from), included pork fat for the cookie’s creamy center.
* Ninety-five percent of books that are submitted to traditional publishers are rejected.
* Senet, or senet net hab (“game of passing through”), the oldest known board game, dates back more than 5,000 years and has been found in the tombs of Egyptian royalty, including King Tut.
* Canada’s Parliament once argued about the appropriateness of using the word “fart” on the chamber floor.
* In medieval Europe, animals, especially pigs, were put on trial for crimes, with prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges.
* Oct. 31, 2000, was the last day all humans were together on Earth. Since that time, there has always been at least one person in space.
* In early 2019, an 18-karat gold toilet named “America,” made by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and valued at $6 million, was stolen from Blenheim Palace in England. The four thieves responsible were captured, but the toilet’s ultimate fate remains a mystery, though authorities suspected it may have been melted down.
* The bite of a mountain gorilla is twice as strong as a lion’s.
***
Thought for the Day: “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
-- Abraham Lincoln
by Mary Hunt
Smart Thrift Store Shopping in Today’s Economy
skip anything that looks chewed on.
WHAT TO SKIP
-- Cracked kitchenware: can harbor bacteria.
-- Old electronics: unless you’re a tech whisperer.
-- Mattresses and pillows: too risky, bedbug-wise.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
If you think thrift stores are musty graveyards for shoulder pads and shag carpets, allow me to change your mind. Because in this economy, thrift shopping isn’t just a hobby -- it’s survival with style.
by Mary Hunt
Gone are the days when “secondhand” meant sad and saggy. Today, thrift stores are packed with quality finds if you know how (and where) to look.
Let’s tackle a few myths.
“IT’S ALL JUNK”
Not true. Thrift stores often carry highend items for pennies on the dollar. Designer jeans? Found them. Name-brand blenders? Yep. Vintage books, kitchenware, even furniture that doesn’t smell like regret -- you’ll be surprised at what you can score.
Focus on reputable thrift chains like Goodwill or Salvation Army, or check out locally run charity shops. Many now organize by category and color-code discounts. Monday and Friday are usually best for new stock and sales.
“I DON’T HAVE TIME TO HUNT”
You don’t need to spend hours combing through chaos. Go in with a plan. Need a sweater? Head to outerwear. Looking for a muffin tin? Skip the knickknacks and make a beeline for housewares.
Also, more stores are online now. Some let you browse featured inventory or reserve items for pickup. You can thrift in your PJs.
“IT’S GROSS”
You already reuse silverware at restaurants. You’ll survive a pre-loved cardigan. Most items just need a quick wash or wipe. A little vinegar and sunshine go a long way.
And remember: You can donate too. Many stores offer coupons in return. You clear clutter and save cash? Win-win.
WHAT TO SNAG
-- Clothes: especially for kids. Look for brands, check seams and wash before wearing.
-- Books: novels, cookbooks, children’s titles -- many still look new.
-- Kitchen items: mason jars, bakeware, even appliances.
-- Games and toys: Clean them well, and
-- Bike helmets and car seats: Safety standards change, and you never know their history.
WELCOME TO THE AGE OF UPSCALE
THRIFTING
Thrift stores are getting a glow-up -- and no, you don’t need to squint and pretend. All across the country, curated, boutique-style thrift shops are redefining secondhand shopping. Let’s start with the familiar: Goodwill. Yes, that Goodwill. In select cities, they’ve launched GW, or Goodwill Boutique, stores -- sleek, modern spaces that look more like Anthropologie than the donation drop-off zone. These boutiques focus on higher-end brands and designer finds, carefully curated and often arranged by style or color.
Locations have been popping up in places like San Francisco, Phoenix and Charlotte, North Carolina, offering shoppers everything from J.Crew blazers to Michael Kors handbags -- without the “dig and hope” experience. And prices? Still thrift-level.
Smart thrift store shopping isn’t about being cheap -- it’s about being clever. It’s a little bit of luck, a little bit of patience and a whole lot of satisfaction when you find a $5 treasure that makes you feel like a million bucks.
Who knew frugality could feel this fabulous?
For even more budget-friendly ideas and clever summer tips, check out the full version of this post at EverydayCheapskate.com/thrifting.
Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate. com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
King Features Synd., Inc.
NUMBERS TRIVIA
Here for your edification and idle curiosity is a trove of information you likely never knew that lies hidden within our system of digits. And whether youʼre a numbers person or not, you should at least find them... interesting. Perhaps he most profound fact about these discoveries is that some brainiacs have actually taken the time to sit down and figure all this stuff out!
• The number one is the only number with its letters in reverse alphabetical order.
• In the word forty, the letters are arranged in alphabetical order.
• The number 4 is the only number that has the same number of letters as the number itself.
One
• When writing numbers out, you’ll get to “thousand” before you find a number that has the letter “A” in it.
• All odd numbers when spelled out contain the letter “E.”
• The word “hundred” comes from the old Norse “hundrath,” which actually meant 120.
• Zero is the only number without a Roman numeral equivalent.
• Numbers on opposite sides of dice always add up to seven.
• A prime number is a whole number that is divisible only by itself and 1.
• Neither zero nor one are prime numbers. The smallest prime number is 2, and that’s the only time you’ll ever find a prime number that ends in 2. The same is true for the prime number 5; no other prime number ends in a five. All prime numbers above 5 end in one, three, seven, or nine.
• The largest prime number ever discovered (by a computer) has over 23 million digits.
• If you ask someone to name their favorite number between one and a hundred, almost ten percent of the time they will choose seven.
• In Thailand, the word for the number five sounds like “hah” so teenagers texting each other will write “555” in the same way Americans write “LOL.”
• The value of pi has been configured to over 200 trillion decimal points.
• The word for four sounds similar to the word for death in many Asian languages. Many Asian hotels and high-rises skip the number four altogether, in the same way that American highrise buildings skip the 13th floor, considering it bad luck.
• The number nine in Japanese sounds like their word for torture or suffering and is considered unlucky because of it.
• A “score”
in “four
ago” is twenty.
• A standard Rubik’s cube can be arranged in 43 quintillion different combinations. However, regardless of how it’s arranged, it can always be solved in 20 moves or less by someone who knows what they are doing.
• Jeremy Harper of Alabama holds the Guinness World Record for counting to one million. He live-streamed the entire process, which took him 89 days. He spent 16 hours per day counting out loud, while 8 hours were spent eating and sleeping. He started the project on June 18, 2007, and finished on September 14. In the process, he raised over $10,000 for his favorite charity.
• The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers where each number is the sum of the two numbers that came before. For example: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 and so on. It’s named after Leonardo Fibonacci, a mathematician from Tuscany, Italy.
• For every multiple of 9 up to 50, if you add the digits, it equals 9. Example: 9 x 50 = 450 and the sum of the numbers in 450 = 9.
• A single 17-inch pizza offers more pizza than two 12-inch pizzas.
• The numbers appearing on a roulette wheel add up to 666.
move forward with the life you deserve.
Marcy Cardenas
by Dana Jackson
Q: Are they really filming a sequel to the movie “Bend It Like Beckham”? Will the original stars be in it as coaches or something? -- D.E.
A: Yes, a sequel to the 2002 independentmovie-turned-smash-hit “Bend it Like Beckham” is in the early stages of development. It’s aiming for a 2027 release, which would coincide with the original’s film 25th anniversary.
According to Entertainment Weekly, stars Keira Knightley, Parminder Nagra, Archie Panjabi and Juliet Stevenson are all interested in reprising their roles. Whether some will be coaches or parents of a new team remains to be seen.
The movie launched the careers of Knightley and Nagra. Knightley went on to star in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies and earned two Oscar nominations (“Pride & Prejudice” and “The
1. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (PG-13) Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby
2. The Bad Guys 2 (PG) Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron
3. The Naked Gun (PG-13) Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson
4. Superman (PG-13) David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan
5. Jurassic World: Rebirth (PG-13) Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali
6. Together (R) Dave Franco, Alison Brie
7. F1: The Movie (PG-13) Brad Pitt, Damson Idris
8. I Know What You Did Last Summer (R) Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders
9. Smurfs
(PG) Rihanna, James Corden
10. How to Train Your Dragon (PG) Mason Thames, Nico Parker
Imitation Game”). Meanwhile, Nagra starred on the hit series “ER” for six seasons and most recently starred in the crime drama “D.I. Ray,” which you can stream on Amazon Prime Video or PBS. ***
Q: Is it true that this coming season is the last one of “Law & Order: SVU”? How many years has it been in total? Has it been longer than the original “Law & Order”? -- N.C.
A: Season 27(!) of NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU” will premiere on Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. ET, but it’s certainly not the final one. The ratings for the show are solid, and I imagine they would want to continue until it reaches a milestone number like 30 before concluding.
For comparison, the animated comedy “The Simpsons” has been on Fox for 36 seasons and has been renewed through season 40. “SVU” is the longest-running live-action series. Its predecessor, the original “Law & Order,” was on for a total of 24 seasons but went on hiatus between 2010 and 2022.
Some familiar faces will be guests on “SVU” this fall, including Chris Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler. He currently stars in another spin-off “Law & Order: Organized Crime” as Stabler. Joining him for this special episode -- or possibly more -- will be Dann Florek as Capt. Cragen, who departed “SVU” in 2021.
It was also recently announced that franchise veterans B.D. Wong and Dean Winters will star in guest roles during the season. They played Dr. George Huang and Detective Brian Cassidy on various seasons since 2001.
Q: Is Cameron Diaz going to act in anything else again? I know she did a movie with Jamie Foxx after quitting acting for several years. -- S.S.
A: Movie star Cameron Diaz retired from acting for almost a decade before returning to film “Back in Action,” opposite Jamie Foxx. This didn’t go smoothly as Foxx was hospitalized for a stroke. He didn’t return for several months as he underwent physical rehabilitation. The film wasn’t wellreceived by critics but was a modest hit on Netflix.
As for Diaz, she’s not done yet as she has several projects in the works, including “Shrek 5,” the film “Outcome,” which is being directed by Jonah Hill (“Moneyball”), and another Netflix project, the action-comedy “Bad Day.”
* * *
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley in “Bend It Like Beckham”
Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
Good Recipes from
Jambalaya Sausage Kebabs
This bayou blast offers up smoky, savory flavor -- stacked with kielbasa, veggies and Cajun-spiced rice. Precooked sausage helps you get the meal on the table in about 30 minutes.
8 (12-inch) wooden or metalskewers
2 small zucchini, cut diagonally into 3/4-inch-thick slices
1 red pepper, cut into 1 1/4-inch pieces
1/2 small Vidalia onion, cut into 4 intact wedges
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 package (16 ounces) fully cooked kielbasa or other smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch diagonal chunks
1 large stalk celery, chopped
1 package (8.8 ounces) white rice, fully cooked
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 tablespoons water
1. Prepare outdoor grill for covered direct grilling over medium heat. (Pre-soak wooden skewers in water 15-20 minutes.)
2. In large bowl, toss zucchini, pepper, onion, 1 tablespoon oil and 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning. Alternately thread vegetables and kielbasa onto skewers.
3. Place skewers on hot grill rack. Cover grill and cook 10 to 12 minutes or until kielbasa browns and vegetables are tender-crisp, turning skewers occasionally. Remove skewers to platter; keep warm.
4. In nonstick 10-inch skillet, heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil over medium heat. Add celery and remaining 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning. Cook, covered, 5 minutes or until celery softens, stirring occasionally. Stir in rice, tomato and water. Cover and cook 3 minutes or until rice is hot. Serve rice with kebabs.
Each serving without rice: About 320 calories, 18g protein, 9g carbohydrate, 26g total fat (8g saturated), 2g fiber, 76mg cholesterol, 1,160mg sodium.
Each serving rice: About 85 calories, 2g protein, 17g carbohydrate, 1g total fat (0g saturated), 1g fiber, 0mg cholesterol, 150mg sodium.
Smoked Ham With Fresh Strawberry Sauce
We created this impressive glazed ham for winter entertaining, but it’s perfect for a summer buffet or any time of year.
1 (12-pound) smoked whole ham, fully cooked
3 pints strawberries
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 jar (10- to 12-ounce) orange marmalade Radish sprouts or watercress sprigs, for garnish
1. Remove skin and trim some fat from smoked whole ham, leaving about 1/4 inch fat. With knife, score fat covering on ham crosswise, just through to the meat, into 1-inch-wide strips.
Place ham on rack in large roasting pan (about 17 by 11 1/2 inches). Insert meat thermometer into center of ham, being careful that pointed end does not touch bone.
2. Bake ham in 325 F oven 3 to 3 1/2 hours until thermometer reaches 140 F (15 to 18 minutes per pound). If ham browns too quickly, cover with a tent of foil.
3. About 30 minutes before ham is done, prepare strawberry sauce: Reserve 1 pint strawberries for garnish. Hull remaining strawberries. In 3-quart saucepan with potato masher or back of slotted spoon, mash strawberries. Stir in brown sugar, cornstarch, salt and orange marmalade; cook over medium heat until mixture thickens slightly and boils, stirring frequently.
4. To serve, place ham on warm, large platter. Arrange radish sprouts and reserved whole strawberries around ham. Serve with strawberry sauce. Serves 24.
Each serving: About 250 calories, 12g total fat, 60mg cholesterol, 1,770mg sodium.
For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/foodrecipes/
(c) 2025 Hearst Communications, Inc.
All rights reserved
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By John Allen
DIAMOND LIL
by Brett Koth
Donald Duck by Walt
Holidays & Observances This Week
8/17 National Thrift Shop Day
8/18 Serendipity Day
8/19 National Aviation Day
8/20 National Radio Day
8/21 Senior Citizens Day
8/22 Be Someone's Angel Day
8/23 Find Your Inner Nerd Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
All the Time, Schmall the Time
In the United States, if one person, say, kills another person and the state has the evidence to convict beyond a reasonable doubt, the guilty party goes to jail. The guilty party is not allowed to cavort amongst the rest of us non-killers -- even if he doesn’t do it all the time.
Most of us prefer it that way.
So when it comes to dogs, why is it that this notion that he doesn’t do it all the time carries so much weight?
He growls, but not all the time…
He snaps, but not all the time…
He bites, but he doesn’t do it all the time…
Would you snuggle up on the couch with someone who had stabbed several people -- but over the course of 20 years? Would you invite a killer into your home and explain to your children that there is nothing to be afraid of because he doesn’t do it all the time?
The idea is laughable. It’s also reckless and irresponsible -- just like those mothers and fathers who insist on allowing an aggressive dog to cohabit with their small children.
A man called a few days ago because his newly adopted dog bit his niece and nephew. He’d had the dog for two days. And the clincher: His wife is expecting. His assessment of the situation: “He doesn’t do it all the time.”
This dog’s only been in his life for 48 hours. While I suppose technically an average of one bite a day isn’t “all the time,” that’s semantics. What about priorities?
I talked with a man last week whose dog is growling and snapping at his kids. When I broke the news that he has to find a new home for the dog, he asked, “What do I tell my kids?”
This is a concern for many parents, that their kids won’t understand why Mommy and Daddy are taking their dog away. They don’t want to be the heavy, but playing the heavy from time to time is a part of good parenting.
Here’s what you tell your kids: Our dog is not a safe animal. He can have a good home, but he can’t live with children. We’re going to find a better home for him.
How many of us are continuing to do things we feel we should do, even if we don’t want to?
A neighbor lady bemoaned the fact that her husband had signed them up for yet another line dancing class at the senior center. “And I don’t want to go,” she said. “I’m tired of learning new dances. I’d like to just enjoy the ones I already know.”
Like many of the people at the senior center, my neighbor and her husband were generally signed up for one or more classes being offered. And to the staff’s credit, there is a wide variety of classes to choose from on a rotating basis. We have tech classes, language classes, seated yoga, drawing and painting, Cooking for One, writing your memoir ... and another line dance class.
We’ve been through several different dances now, and there’s apparently another one called Cowboy Hustle. And my neighbor just didn’t care to go through the bother of learning it.
Curiosity got the better of me, and one recent day at the senior center I asked the group waiting for a class what they keep doing just because it’s the right thing to do. There was a variety of replies:
-- Attempting to walk thousands of steps per day.
-- Walking the neighbor’s dog so she doesn’t have to give it up.
-- Counting calories.
-- Sewing clothes for the grandchildren.
-- Eating vegetables every day.
-- Taking the mother-in-law out to lunch every Friday.
I saw my “no more line dancing” neighbor again. Maybe he just wants to keep both of you active and healthy, I suggested. And maybe he enjoys doing things with you, I added. She smiled and nodded, acknowledging that her husband was actually a good guy. And I knew that she’d be there learning the Cowboy Hustle alongside her good guy husband.
Sometimes you just have to sacrifice your own wishes just because your conscience tells you to.
How about you? What do you keep doing just because it’s the right thing to do?
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.
ing a warning: One more false move and I’m going to sink my teeth into something. Petting a growling dog is about as intelligent as approaching a rattling rattle snake. As with all things in nature, appreciate the warnings for what they are.
But there are those who would rather wait for the bite. For those parents who fall into this category, I offer these warnings:
1) That’s child endangerment and you could be prosecuted should something happen to your child.
2) If you wait until the dog bites your child, he or she is going to feel like it’s all their fault when the dog is subsequently removed from the home or, as they say in the news, “destroyed.”
It’s the strangest thing when I advise a parent to protect their child and they get mad at me. But it doesn’t always happen that way. From a reader:
“You called on Sunday morning and said we should not keep our dog (we have five kids, and our dog is showing aggression toward their friends). As difficult as this was to hear, you made a lot of sense and we are scheduling an appointment to take her back to ARF. Perhaps you could give us some guidance on how to select the appropriate dog/puppy for our family and how to train it properly so that we will have success next time. We don’t want to have our hearts broken again; we want to do it right. Thank you so much for caring enough to respond so quickly.”
The proof is in the pudding. The hard thing to hear is sometimes the right thing to do. Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Privatizing Social Security ... Yada Yada
Yada
Well, once again, the idea of privatizing Social Security is in the news. It’s a topic that delights some people, angers others, and confuses just about everyone. I’ve discussed it many times in the past. But I guess it’s time to clarify things once again.
One form of “privatizing” Social Security has to do with how the fund’s assets are invested. Some claim that Social Security should be managed more like other public pension funds. Most of those funds have a diversified portfolio, with a variety of investments. But every nickel of Social Security assets is invested, by law, in U.S. Treasury notes, considered by everyone the safest place to stash your cash.
What most folks who advocate putting Social Security funds into private markets can’t comprehend is the immense size of the Social Security trust funds. Compared to large public pension funds (like many teachers’ retirement funds or police and firefighter funds), Social Security is like Fort Knox, and these public funds are just big piggy banks. Those funds may have millions or even billions of dollars in assets. But Social Security has trillions. That’s a big difference, and you simply can’t compare them.
Or put it another way. Social Security accounts for approximately one-fourth of the entire federal budget of the United States. You just don’t take a quarter of our country’s budget and put it on Wall Street. After all, would you want the federal government, via the Social Security trust fund, to be the major owner of Chevron stock or the primary investor in Phillip Morris?
A more reasonable approach to “privatizing” Social Security would allow individual taxpayers to use private, or managed accounts, to supplement future Social Security benefits. And when you hear talk of such proposals, you must remember to ask this question: Is it a “carve out” plan or an “addon” plan? There is a huge difference.
Both plans involve requiring younger workers to contribute money to an IRA-type account that would offer several investment options. The worker could choose a safe but generally lowyielding account or a riskier but potentially more rewarding one. The investments from this account would then be used to augment Social Security retirement benefits.
But the difference lies in the funding details. In a carve-out plan (these are usually the plans touted by Republicans), the worker’s IRA investment would be funded with a portion of his or her Social Security payroll tax. For example, currently, 6.2% of a worker’s salary is deducted for Social Security taxes. A carve-out plan might specify that 4.2% continue to be used to fund Social Security, while 2% would be funneled into the private account. In other words, this plan gets its funding by carving it out of the current Social Security system.
On the other hand, an “add-on” plan (the plans usually touted by Democrats) would require a worker to contribute an extra amount to fund the private account investments. So, 6.2% of his or her
salary would still be deducted to finance Social Security benefits. But in addition, that worker would be required to chip in an extra percentage point or two of salary to fund the Social Security supplement. So this plan gets its funding by adding on to the current Social Security system.
Each plan has its pluses and minuses. The downside to an add-on plan is that more out-of-paycheck spending would be required from workers to fund their retirement portfolio. But the advantage of the plan is its greater rewards. Most “add-on” proposals are modeled after the highly successful “Thrift Savings Plan,” an add-on IRA that has been available to federal government workers for years and has given many of them the kind of financial security in retirement not usually associated with middle-class civil servants.
The upside to “carve out” proposals is that no extra financial burden would be placed on young workers to finance the supplemental benefits. But the often unexplained downside is that huge reductions would be necessary in future Social Security benefits. It’s just simple math. If you are going to carve out about one-third of the Social Security payroll tax to fund a worker’s private supplement, then obviously future Social Security benefits for that same worker are going to have to be cut by at least one-third.
But carve-out advocates always say they won’t cut benefits. And that leads to impossible transition costs. Remember: Social Security is a “pay-as-you-go” program, meaning the money deducted from today’s workers’ paychecks is used to fund benefits to current retirees. So, if you cut the amount of money going into the system, and say you will not cut benefits, you must somehow come up with the funds to pay those promised benefits to CURRENT AND FUTURE retirees. And if taxes aren’t raised to cover those costs, experts estimate the transition costs would add trillions of dollars to the federal debt. (That’s what sunk former Presi dent George W. Bush’s carve-out privatization plan in the 1990s.)
But here is the most important point I need to make about proposals for private accounts -- whether carve-out or add-on. Although they are
often mentioned in the same breath as other proposals to “save Social Security,” they do nothing of the sort. Social Security’s long-range financing problems are the result of baby boomers quickly turning into senior boomers. For years, Social Security has been working extremely well with a ratio of three workers supporting one retiree. But by the time all the boomers retire, there will be only two workers supporting each retiree. The system simply cannot work AS IT IS CURRENTLY STRUCTURED at a two-to-one ratio.
As I’ve pointed out many times to my readers, many relatively modest proposals for reform will keep the system running for many more generations. All those possible solutions involve either slight tax increases or moderate cuts in benefits. None of them involves the creation of private accounts for Social Security beneficiaries.
I am not saying the private accounts are a bad idea. I am saying that they have nothing to do with the future financial health of the program.
1. The book of 2 Thessalonians is found in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither
2. From Genesis 38, who was the first individual killed by God for being wicked? a) Cain b) Er c) Onan d) Gomorrah
3. How long had the woman been sick that touched the hem of Jesus' garment? a) Two years b) Seven years c) Ten years d) Twelve years
4. From 1 Kings 6, who constructed the first altar covered with gold? a) Gideon b) Josiah c) Hezekiah d) Solomon
5. The Year of Jubilee comes around every ___ years: a) Five b) Thirty c) Fifty d) Seventy
6. Which king ordered Daniel into the lion's den? a) Nebuchadnezzar b) Cyrus c) Darius d) Belshazzar
comments or more
to www.TriviaGuy.com
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at (Answers on page 16)
Understanding What Hyperbaric Oxygen Can Do for Hearing Loss
DEAR DR. ROACH: I was just diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss. They gave me a steroid injection into the ear and more steroids by mouth, but they say it’s up to me whether I want to try hyperbaric oxygen.
Final
Do you have any opinion on it? How does breathing pure oxygen at 2 atmospheres help anything? Is there some underlying theory to explain why people do this? It seems to me all this accomplishes is that it raises my blood oxygen level from 97% to 100%. How can this help anything? --
D.J.L.
should have gone over the risks and benefits, then given you a clear recommendation.
***
DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column, you stated that the body works to keep blood pH levels steady. My urologist has recommended that I drink baking soda in water to alkalinize my urine. Is it true that urine pH levels can be changed even though blood pH levels cannot? -- C.T.
ANSWER: This is true. Your urologist is taking advantage of the fact that your kidneys will excrete the bicarbonate ion into your urine very quickly after you take it in by mouth. (Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. We sometimes use potassium bicarbonate for this purpose, too.) Your blood pH will stay normal, but the urine pH will go up into the alkaline range.
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
When the
Punishment isn’t Enough
It’s most disturbing when one in a position of authority, someone tasked with the specific job of helping veterans, turns out to be a thief. This is what came to light recently when a Veterans Service Representative (VSR) pleaded guilty to stealing money from the very veterans he was supposed to help.
ADVERTISING PROOF
Changes
Kidney stone specialists use this to reduce formation of uric acid stones. Potassium citrate also has the same effect on urine pH levels. With a higher urine pH (even just to 6.5 or 7), uric acid cannot form stones. Long-term treatment with urinary alkalinization dramatically decreases stone formation.
DUE: 12:00 NOON
Please review carefully. Double check:
ANSWER: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is an uncommon condition. It can often be misdiagnosed, and since some people get better on their own, it is sometimes never diagnosed at all.
I suspect there isn’t one single cause in all cases as several causes have been proposed, including infections (especially viral), medications and recreational drugs, brain tumors, autoimmune diseases, head trauma, and associations with other diseases. But most cases have no clear underlying cause.
In addition to a careful exam, hearing tests and an MRI of the brain are generally recommended. Early treatment with steroids (either by injection, orally, or both) has been shown to enhance recovery.
In people with more severe hearing loss, hyperbaric oxygen has been shown to improve outcomes compared to steroids alone. It is thought that the high amount of oxygen delivered via the hyperbaric chamber may be able to deliver oxygen to areas of the cochlea that were damaged, but the mechanism of action isn’t completely clear.
Please
The benefit of hyperbaric oxygen isn’t that it gets your red blood cells more oxygenated. You can’t do better than 100%, and 97% is very close to 100%. With hyperbaric oxygen, the fluid of the blood itself carries much more oxygen, which is then dissolved in the plasma -- not in the red blood cells. The oxygen in the fluid is 60 times higher with 3 atmospheres of oxygen compared to room air, which is enough to deliver oxygen to your tissues without red blood cells.
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Carefully done, the risks of hyperbaric oxygen are small. The high pressure can cause pain and pressure in the ear and sinuses, which can be relieved by equalizing pressure through maneuvers that open the Eustachian tube (such as yawning or swallowing).
4.DannyDeVito
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5.CandyLightner
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5.CandyLightner
While I understand why physicians want to get your opinion on your treatment, it doesn’t sound like they gave you enough information to make an informed choice. In my opinion, they
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.
(c) 2025 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved
Estate Planning Attorney
● Wills
● Trusts
● Power of Attorney
● Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
● New to California? Update your existing Estate Planning Documents!
“Don’t die without it!”
J Arthur Law Firm 12th pg 4C 13x Dec. 15, 2024 Vol. 20 - No. 51 MON., DEC. 9 Joshua Arthur, Esq. Attorney at Law J. Arthur Law Firm 777 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Suite 200 Palm Springs, CA Tel: (760) 201-3215
The scammer broke a federal law when he solicited and accepted gratuities for helping veterans prepare their claims for retroactive disability benefits. He had his hand out for between 10 and 20% of each veteran’s benefits after their claims were approved -- while he was employed by the VA. He’s scheduled to be sentenced later this year and could get five years in prison, as well as a hefty fine.
Then we have the scammer nailed for identity theft and stalking. By stealing personal information, this thief was able to stalk victims online and in person, do transactions at their banks, change the routing information for their direct deposits, impersonate them at banks and other places, change their account information -- and have their benefits terminated. This criminal could have been given a sentence of 164 years. But no, five years it is. Why is that?
Then we have a former CEO of a Veteran Service Organization (VSO) who scammed money in federal grant funding that had been given to a nonprofit shelter for homeless veterans. He’d submitted multiple applications for the grant funding, claiming it was for counseling services that nobody ever got, and put over a million dollars in his pocket from the VA and a cool half million from the Department of Labor. His punishment could be only 10 years in prison.
Interestingly enough, there is a man with the exact same name in the same location who once claimed to be an investment counselor and had a radio talk show and who went to prison for scamming banks ...
Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 valleybits@msn.com All
TRIVIANEWSFRONT
Is he back? Is this what happens when the prison sentences are too short?
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.
What Kind of Help
How to Find a Good Handyman
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Can you tell me the best way to find a good, reliable handyman or tradesman that can help with small jobs around my house and my property? I live alone and don't want to invite just anyone with a toolbox into my home. I need to find someone who is experienced in many areas but is also honest, trustworthy and can provide good references. -- Senior Sally
Dear Sally: It’s a great question. Finding a good home repair/handyman can be a bit of a crapshoot. How do you find someone who will return your calls or texts, show up on time, do the job right and finish it, and all at a fair price? Here are a few tips and resources that can help you search.
While it may seem obvious, whom you call on for help will depend on what you need done. If, for example, you have an odd job or small home repair project that doesn’t require a lot of technical expertise, a handyman may be all you need. But if you have a job that involves complicated electrical, plumbing, or heating or cooling systems, you'll likely be better off going with a licensed and experienced tradesman. Bigger jobs like home renovations or remodeling may require a general contractor.
Where to Find a Pro
Whatever type of work you need, the best way to find it is through referrals from people you trust. If your family or friends don’t have any recommendations, turn to professionals in the field like local hardware or home improvement stores, or even real estate agents.
If you don’t have any luck here, there are a number of online resources you can turn to that can quickly connect you to a wide variety of skilled workers in your area.
If you need someone for a home chore or small job, a popular option is Taskrabbit (taskrabbit.com), which lists thousands of freelance workers (called Taskers) that have undergone background checks. Here you can get help with things like furniture assembly; lifting or moving heavy items; mounting or hanging TVs, shelfs or pictures; minor home repairs; cleaning services; yard work and more. Taskers set their own hourly rates, which are displayed on their website before you book.
Some other good options for locating handypeople are fix-it franchises like Ace Handyman (acehandymanservices. com) and Mr. Handyman (mrhandyman. com). These companies vet and insure their staff, but they may be more expensive than Taskrabbit. Or, if you use social networking sites, you could also post a request for a handyperson in your Facebook group or on Nextdoor (nextdoor.com).
If, however, you’re in the market for specialist like a plumber, electrician, painter, roofer or carpenter as well as a handyperson, try Angi (angi.com). They too, vet their independent contractors, and will let you request quotes from several candidates.
Thumbtack (thumbtack.com) is another good resource that’s similar to Angi, but they offer more details like average re-
sponse time, specifics about the work they do, and photos of past projects.
Things to Know
Once you’ve located a few candidates, here are some steps you can take to protect your money and ensure you’re satisfied with the results. First, get a handwritten estimate or digital contract that list the tasks and the hourly rate or project fee.
Also, ask to see their proof of insurance, which covers any damages they may cause while working on your home, and ask for several references from past jobs.
You should also pay after the work is done, not before. But it’s not unusual to be asked for a small deposit for material costs upfront.
And if possible, you should pay with a credit card, because you can dispute the payment if something goes wrong with the job. Checks and electronic payments like PayPay, Venmo and Zelle don’t offer the same level of protection.
* * *
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
-- by Jim Miller
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Satsuma Vases
Were Made in Japan
Q: Enclosed is a photo of a pair of Asian umbrella holders that I inherited from my aunt. Actually, I’m not sure if they are umbrella holders or what they are.
They are approximately 18.75 inches high and 8.5 inches at the widest part. Marked on the bottom of each are blue lines with curved lines. The scenes are against a cream-colored background and decorated with small white raised dots. The finish has a crazed appearance. Each is in very good condition. There are no cracks or chips.
Any help you could give me will be greatly appreciated.
A: Your have a pair of Satsuma vases. They are too small to be umbrella holders. Satsuma-ware is Japanese glazed pottery. It was usually cream-colored and decorated with raised enamels and often had a crackled finish.
Satsuma was first made in the Satsuma Province in Japan by Korean potters around 1600. There are four periods of design: Edo, Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods. Your vases were made during the Meiji period, which lasted from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
The raised dots are moriage, and the figures are Samurai officers.
Your circa 1900 vases would have an insurance value of $250 to $375 each.
Q: I have and still use a “Universal” kitchen meat grinder that belonged to my great-grandmother. It was given to her for her wedding in 1913.
The platter is decorated with a blue medallion in the center and a blue border against a white background. The edges are scalloped. It is in excellent condition.
What can you tell me about its history and value?
A: You have an ironstone Flow Blue platter that was made by WH Grindley & Co. It was founded in Tunstall, Staffordshire, England, in 1880, and they made both ironstone and earthenware. The firing process often caused designs to run and appear blurry, thus the name, Flow Blue.
Based on your description of the design, the platter is an example of Grindley’s “Lorne” pattern. The pattern is a transfer print. This mark was used from 1891 to 1914. Your platter would probably be worth $175 to $200.
Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has recently retired and no longer receives inquiries nor answers reader letters. Due to the popularity of her column, this publication will continue to reprint previous columns of interest to our readers.
To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com
* On Aug. 18, 1992, Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird retired at the age of 35, explaining that “the last couple of years have been very tough on me, on my back and on my body. It was very hard to deal with, day in and day out.” He has remained involved with the NBA in other roles, however, to the present day.
* On Aug. 19, 2011, the “West Memphis Three” -- Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley -- were released from prison after serving 18 years for the murders of three young Arkansas boys, under the rarely used Alford plea, which allowed them to maintain their innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors still possessed sufficient evidence to convict them.
* On Aug. 20, 2000, the peregrine falcon, known as the world’s fastest bird for its speed of up to 200 mph, was removed from America’s endangered species list after a little more than three decades. A ban on the pesticide DDT was widely credited for the bird’s resurgence.
* On Aug. 21, 1920, Christopher Robin Milne was born to author A.A. Milne and his wife, Daphne. The boy would later be immortalized in his father’s books “Winnie-thePooh” and “The House at Pooh Corner.”
* On Aug. 22, 1962, French president Charles de Gaulle, along with his wife, survived one of several assassination attempts against him thanks to the superior suspension system of the presidential automobile, known as “La Déesse” (The Goddess), which allowed de Gaulle’s chauffeur to accelerate out of a front-wheel skid to safety.
* On Aug. 23, 1945, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman, becoming the first Mexican national to receive it, for single-handedly clearing two German machine gun nests even after receiving multiple wounds.
* On Aug. 24, 1814, an iconic portrait (actually a copy) of George Washington was removed from its frame at the White House to prevent its theft by British troops. Later, first lady Dolley Madison would take somewhat dramatic credit for planning the act.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
When you're more amicable to people who look up facts in books, is that
"Whatever you do, don't hit into the rough on number 14!"
Satsuma-ware is Japanese glazed pottery made during the Meiji period in the late 1800s.
WH Grindley & Co. was founded in England in 1880.
Song Stories (from page 3)
ballad of love and loss, of grief, abandonment, and longing: “It’s been seven hours and fifteen days / Since you took your love away.”
• The song was actually written by Prince in 1985 when his favorite housekeeper had to quit her job working for Prince in order to attend to her ailing mother.
• On December 4, 1971, the rock band Deep Purple was in Switzerland getting ready to record some songs. That night, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Inventions were playing at a local casino. Toward the end of the concert, an inebriated patron with a flare gun thought it would be fun to fire off a shot. The flare hit the wooden roof of the casino, showering the crowd with flaming sparks and seting the building on fire.
• Everyone evacuated successfully, and members of Deep Purple sat in a nearby restaurant watching the conflagration. Smoke from the fire settled on the surface of Lake Geneva, inspiring a song whose opening riff is the first thing aspiring guitarists learn: “Smoke on the Water / And Fire in the Sky.”
• In 1986, Eric Clapton and his then-girlfriend, Italian actress Lory Del Santo, welcomed a son named Conor into their lives. Although the relationship with the mother ended, Clapton had a close, loving relationship with the boy.
• One spring day, Clapton was on his way to pick up the child, looking forward to a father-son day at the zoo. But a horrifying phone call came from Del Santo that shook him to the core and forever changed his life: A workman had left a window open following some maintenance work on her New York City apartment. Four-year-old Conor had climbed out through the open window and fallen 53 stories to his death.
• Crushed with grief, Clapton isolated himself and later channeled his grief into music, including his heartfelt song, “Tears In Heaven.” It was released later that year, winning three Grammys: “Would you know my name / If I saw you in heaven.” Clapton has spoken openly about the profound impact of Conor's death on his life and how the song helped him process his grief.
by Jason Jenkins
Center face contact should be the number one fundamental on any players’ list. When you mishit the center of the face, you’ll lose distance and direction control if the mishit is severe enough. If you’ve ever seen a top player’s set of irons, you’ll see a dime size wear spot in the center of the face. A swing’s effectiveness should be measured by its ability to consistently hit center face contacted shots.
The secret to gaining mastery of the center hit is creating awareness and feedback to the true space your clubhead is passing through.
By using two tees spaced a little over a clubhead apart, start by swinging through the open space until you’re aware of how you govern the space you pass through. Then hit shots with enough room to hit the ball, yet not hit the tees. Take note of where your consistent mishits tend to occur.
The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.
DIFFICULTY:
1. Ohio. 2. Riyadh. 3. “Parks and Recreation.” 4. Ursula. 5. Nucleus. 6. John F. Kennedy. 7. Australia. 8. Euclid. 9. 1940. 10. Bull.
