The Great TIDBITS EXPLORES
by Kathy Wolfe
Creating a significant portion of the U.S.-Canadian border, the Great Lakes make up the largest body of fresh water on Earth. This week Tidbits focuses on these five lakes – Superior, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Erie -- and presents some interesting facts about them that you likely never knew.
• The Great Lakes account for 84 percent of North America’s surface fresh water, and about 21% of the world’s supply. Their 95,160 square mile surface area is larger than the combined areas of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The shoreline of all of the Lakes combined is equal to nearly 44% of the Earth’s circumference.
• About 34 million people in the U.S. and Canada live in the Great Lakes Basin. That’s 8 percent of the U.S. population and 32 percent of Canada’s. The major cities of Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois, lie on the shores of Lake Michigan. Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio, Erie, Pennsylvania, and Buffalo, New York are all on the shores of Lake Erie, and the Canadian city of Toronto lies on Lake Ontario.
• Lake Superior is the largest of the lakes both in surface area and in water volume. It is also the
Lake Erie
Lake Ontario
TRIV
(Answers on page 16)
The pentathlon is a competition featuring five events, taking its name from the Greek word “pente” meaning “five” and “-athlon,” translating “competition.” This week Tidbitsʼ sports story centers the attention on this ancient contest.
• Swimming is the next segment, with a 200-meter freestyle race.
• For the horseback riding portion, athletes are assigned an unfamiliar horse in a random draw just 20 minutes before starting time, meaning riders must adapt quickly to a horse’s temperament and behavior.
• Show jumping involves a 450-meter course with up to 15 jumping obstacles. Show jumping will be removed from the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and replaced with an obstacle course race.
• During the Tokyo Olympics it was discovered that a coach punched a horse and advised the athlete to hit the horse in a struggle with a horse during the round, resulting in the elimination of this segment.
• The shooting and cross country race is a combined event. Traditionally, competitors could choose their pistol, with many choosing a .22 caliber pistol. The handguns have now been replaced with 4.5-mm air or laser pistols. Athletes alternate between three rounds of shooting at five targets at a 10-meter distance and three 1,000-meter cross country runs.
• The first documented pentathlon took place in Ancient Greece as part of history’s earliest Olympic Games. In those games in 708 B.C., the five events were long jump, javelin throwing, discus throwing, a short foot race, and wrestling. The training of these specialized athletes was part of their military service process, as all the segments were useful in battle.
• The modern pentathlon made its debut as an Olympic event at the 1906 Games in Athens, Greece, with the same five categories.
• Up until 2000, only male athletes competed in the pentathlon. It was added as a women’s event at the Sydney, Australia Summer Olympics.
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• The sport is dominated by European countries, including Germany, Sweden, Hungary, and Russia. The United States has never won a gold medal in the pentathlon.
• In 1912 for the Stockholm Olympics, a dramatic change was made to the sport by Pierre de Coubertin, the co-founder of the International Olympic Committee, considered the father of the modern Olympics. He modeled the event after the ancient idea of military training, but altered the events to a more modern soldier behind enemy lines.
• De Coubertin’s concept was that of a soldier being knocked off his horse and being forced to defend himself with a sword and pistol, then running from the enemy by swimming and running through the woods. Thus, the five sections of the pentathlon became fencing, show jumping on an unfamiliar horse, pistol shooting, freestyle swimming, and a cross country run.
• It was de Coubertin’s aim to test “a man’s moral qualities as much as his physical resources and skills, producing thereby the ideal, complete athlete.”
1. FOOD & DRINK: The Middle Eastern dish called falafel is made mostly of what ingredient?
2. GEOGRAPHY: Which country has the most UNESCO World Heritage sites?
3. TELEVISION: What is the name of Hawkeye’s living quarters in the “M*A*S*H” sitcom?
4. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a male swan called?
5. LITERATURE: Which Irish author wrote his last novel in crayon?
6. MEASUREMENTS: How many square feet are in a square yard?
7. SCIENCE: What’s the main function of red blood cells?
8. MOVIES: Streaming movies became eligible for the 2021 Oscar awards for what reason?
9. ANATOMY: What type of acid is found in the human stomach?
10. U.S. CITIES: Which city was named for a British prime minister? Answers
1. Chickpeas or fava beans.
3.
• The fencing event is the only one in which athletes face each other directly in a duel up to a minute long, until the first touch is scored. Competitors use an epee, a thrusting sword descended from the dueling sword. Any part of a fencer’s body is a valid target.
The Great Lakes (from page one)
deepest. Its name is derived from the French “lac supeneur,” translating “upper lake,” due to its location north of Lake Huron.
• Superior is so large and deep that it would take all of the other four Great Lakes, plus three more the size of Lake Erie to fill it. In fact, Superior contains enough water volume to submerge all of North and South America in water a foot deep! Lake Superior alone accounts for 10% of the world’s fresh surface water. An estimated 100 million trout live in Lake Superior.
• A large island 45 miles long and nine miles wide sits in the middle of Lake Superior. Called Isle Royale, the island contains several smaller lakes, literally making them lakes within a lake. Isle Royale, along with 450 smaller islands, make up Isle Royale National Park.
• The Wyandot Indians, or Hurons, who lived on its shores, lent their name to Lake Huron. As the second-largest Great Lake and the fifth largest lake in the world, Huron has the longest shoreline of any of the Great Lakes at 3,827 miles, which includes its many islands.
• The Ojibwa Indians originally named Lake Michigan “mishigami,” meaning ‘large lake.” Third largest, Lake Michigan, is the only one located entirely within the United States.
• Ships requiring passage through the Great Lakes from the Atlantic ocean enter from the St. Lawrence Seaway in Ontario, Canada, and navigate through the Welland Canal. Constructed in 1824, this narrow, 28-milelong waterway connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, enabling ships up to 740 feet in length to traverse the Niagara Falls peninsula.
• Huron was the first of the Great Lakes to be discovered by European explorers Samuel de Champlain and Etienne Brule, who travelled up the Ottawa and Mattawa rivers in 1615. They called it “La Mer Douce,” meaning the “sweet/ fresh-water sea.”
• A series of eight locks are used to raise and lower incoming and outgoing ships along the winding route from Port Weller at Lake Ontario to Port Colborne at Lake Erie. The southern terminus of the canal on Lake Erie is 326 feet higher than the northern terminus on Lake Ontario -- the height of Niagara Falls. The canal carries more than 3,000 cargo ships each year from ports as far west as Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin, to Montreal and Quebec City, where they are reloaded onto ocean-going vessels for international shipping.
incident, the ship was discovered upright on the bottom of a bay, 200 feet below the surface. To date, no discovery of gold has been reported.
• Another Lake Michigan disaster occurred in 1860, when a steamer carrying 600 people collided with a boat carrying timber to Chicago. The disastrous incident took 450 lives.
• More than 1,000 shipwrecks have been recorded in Lake Huron, with many still at the lake’s bottom. A particularly severe storm in 1913 produced wind gusts of 90 mph with huge waves exceeding 35 feet. This 16-hour storm sank 10 ships and killed 235 sailors.
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• Lake Erie’s name comes from the Iroquois language, derived from “erielhonan,” the word for long tail, a description of the lake’s shape. It is the fourth largest of the lakes in surface area, but the smallest by water volume. Erie,
2.Whofrontedthe
1. Who sang the 1976 hit "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"?
2. What city lies at the southernmost tip of Lake Michigan? byKaraKovalchik&SandyWood
• All of the Great Lakes have experienced a considerable amount of shipwrecks. On a frigid December day in 1854, the steamer Westmoreland, loaded with winter provisions for the troops on Mackinac Island, sprung a leak while in the middle of Lake Michigan. Within a short time, the boiler had flooded, extinguishing the fire, but ultimately the ship lost its power.
• With the added weight of a thick coating of ice from the lake’s waves, the floundering ship drifted helplessly until it eventually sank in the heavy seas. Half of its 34 crew and passengers perished, with the other half making their way to safety aboard life boats on the rolling waves. It was rumored that the steamer contained a shipment of gold coins, along with 280 barrels of whiskey. In 2010, over 155 years after the
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feet, through the Great Lakes chain and St. Lawerence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean.
By Lucie Winborne
* AI systems can simulate the language patterns and personality traits of the dead using their digital footprints, resulting in “deadbots” or “griefbots.” Researchers from the University of Cambridge have warned that this “afterlife industry” could cause psychological harm unless strict design safety standards are implemented.
* According to one study, most dogs reach peak cuteness between 6 and 8 weeks old.
* The American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 handbook classifies caffeine withdrawls as a mental disorder.
* A Canadian police officer named Ward Clapham created a program that gives “positive tickets” to people who do good deeds.
* “Baby,” “sport” and “waterproof” sunscreens don’t exist. They’re just an advertising copywriter's marketing tactics.
* In 2016, scientists measured pollution variation in Los Angeles and Chicago, and found that violent crime rose when pollution was worse.
* Michelle Pfeiffer was literally vacuumsealed into her Catwoman costume in “Batman Returns.”
* The Venus flytrap plant can count -- it waits for something to tap its pads twice before they shut.
* In 1864, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman captured Savannah, Georgia, and in a telegram to President Lincoln wrote, “I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, also about 25,000 bales of cotton.”
* The largest playable instrument in the world is the Great Stalacpipe Organ, located in the Luray Caverns in Virginia. It uses rubber mallets to tap on the cave’s natural stalactites. ***
Thought for the Day: “Life ought to be a struggle of desire toward adventures whose nobility will fertilize the soul.”
-- Rebecca West
by Mary Hunt
Groceries and the Dating Game:
What Expiration Dates Really Mean
older stock. A “sell by” date doesn’t mean the food becomes unsafe after that day. For example, milk is often good for five to seven days past its “sell by” if kept cold.
You can freeze milk, cheese or even bread just before the “sell by” and stretch your grocery dollar even further.
“BEST BEFORE” and “BEST IF USED BY”
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me about food expiration dates, I could afford to buy a lot of the milk that gets tossed each week just for being one day “past.”
These questions come in by the dozen -from readers, neighbors and once from a stranger in the dairy aisle holding a suspicious-looking yogurt cup like it was a ticking timebomb.
It’s no wonder. Between the “sell by,” “use by” and “best before” -- and “What the heck does this code mean?” -- food packaging labels have become their own dialect. Most of us are just trying to avoid food poisoning without wasting good money -- or a perfectly decent sleeve of saltines.
That brings me to Bob D., who wrote:
DEAR MARY: Can you clarify expiration dates on food products? When it says “sell by 8/01/25,” does that mean it has to be used or just sold by that date? Others show a date, for example - 2/01/26 on canned or packaged goods. Does that mean you need to use it by this date or what? Some canned or packaged products don’t seem to have any date that I can find. Why is that? It is just confusing! -- Bob D.
Dear Bob: Short question, long answer. Here’s a breakdown of what those dates really mean -- and when to toss or keep:
“SELL BY”
This date is mainly for stores. It helps with shelf rotation so newer stock ends up behind
These labels suggest when the food is at its best quality -- taste, texture and appearance -- not safety. That box of crackers or jar of peanut butter may taste a little stale afterward but is still perfectly safe to eat.
“USE BY” AND “EXPIRATION”
Now we’re getting serious. These labels -- especially on dairy, deli meat and refrigerated dough -- mean the manufacturer can’t guarantee safety after the printed date. Use your senses, but when in doubt, don’t risk it. This is the only date that typically implies a safety concern, especially with perishable items.
Infant formula and baby food are the only products legally required to carry and adhere to expiration dates. Those should always be used exactly as labeled.
“GUARANTEED FRESH”
You’ll see this on bakery goods. The donuts may still be edible after this date, but they may taste more like hockey pucks than baked treats. The label is about freshness, not safety.
“PACK DATE”
This is when the item was packaged, not when it should be eaten. On eggs and some canned goods, it might show up as a Julian date (001 for Jan. 1, 365 for Dec. 31). It’s not meant for consumers, but it can help you guesstimate freshness.
If you stumble across an item with no visible date, don’t panic. Not all foods are required to be labeled. Use your best judgment. If it smells weird, looks odd or feels slimy, toss it.
A WORD ABOUT WASTE
Here’s the bigger issue: Americans throw away billions of pounds of food each year, often because of misunderstood date labels. That’s not just sad -- it’s expensive. The average family of four wastes over $1,800 annually in uneaten food. It’s like buying groceries, driving them home and putting half directly in the trash.
A FEW SMART TIPS
-- Keep your fridge below 40 F and use airtight containers.
-- Use the “first in, first out” method to rotate pantry goods.
-- Freeze meat, cheese and bread near their “sell by” date.
-- Don’t fear “best by.” It’s about quality, not safety.
So Bob, you’re not alone in the confusion. But with a little savvy, you can keep more of your groceries out of the trash -- and more of your dollars in your wallet.
* * *
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
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
PEANUTS
September 13 is National Peanut Day, giving us a chance to focus on these tasty little nuts -- that actually aren’t even nuts at all!
• Although we call them peanuts, they’re really the seeds of a legume, related to beans, lentils, and peas. The peanut pods develop underground, with the plant above growing to a height of 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm) tall. Beautiful yellow flowers about 3/8 to 5/8 of an inch (1 to 1.5 cm) across bloom on the stem, with the blossoms lasting for just one day.
• The “goobers” nickname for peanuts comes from the Congo language, with their word “nguba” literally translating “peanut.”
• The state of Georgia is the leader in U.S. peanut production, producing about 49% of the nation’s supply. Other peanut-growing states include Alabama, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and the Carolinas. It’s the nation’s 18th most valuable crop, with production of about 3 million tons annually in the U.S.
• A 12-oz. jar of peanut butter contains well over 500 peanuts. By U.S. law, to be labeled peanut butter, the product must be at least 90% peanuts. One acre of peanuts can produce enough of the crop to make 30,000 to 35,000 peanut butter sandwiches.
• The average person consumes upwards of 6 lbs. of peanuts and its products in a year. About 3,000 peanut butter sandwiches are eaten over the course of that average person’s lifetime.
• Two U.S. presidents were peanut farmers; third president Thomas Jefferson from Virginia, and 39th president Jimmy Carter from Georgia.
• Peanuts went into space for the first time in 1961 when astronaut Alan Shepard brought a single peanut aboard his Mercury capsule Freedom 7. Peanuts were later grown aboard the International Space Station as part of a botanical experiment testing crop cultivation.
• Six U.S. communities have adopted the name of Peanut for their population – Peanut, California, Lower Peanut and Upper Peanut, Pennsylvania, Peanut, Tennessee, and Peanut, West Virginia.
• In the early 1900s, Tuskegee Institute professor and agricultural scientist and inventor George Washington Carver developed more than 300 products from peanuts. Carver used all parts of the plant to make a variety of items including oils, plastics, medicinal treatments, axle grease, soap, face creams, insecticides, glue, and charcoal. He used the fibers for producing a variety of papers, as well as an assortment of dyes for cloth, leather, wood stain, paint, and ink.
• Peanuts not only taste good – they’re really good for you! These little pods are rich in antioxidants, especially one that contributes
to a reduction in the risk of stomach cancer and diabetes. Peanuts are rich in Vitamins B6, niacin, thiamin, and E, as well as the minerals magnesium, potassium, manganese, zinc, iron, and selenium. They’re a good source of fiber and protein, with 19 grams of protein in a ½ cup serving. (That ½ cup is about 414 calories.)
• But they’re not good for everyone! Those with an allergy, an estimated 1.5 – 2% of the population, can experience severe reactions including anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal. Some allergies are so severe that even rubbing the eyes or face after coming in contact with peanuts can produce the reaction. Those afflicted with this allergic condition must carefully guard their social and dining experiences accordingly.
by Dana Jackson
Q: When is Ted Danson’s “A Man on the Inside” returning? Will it have the same cast as the first season? -- Y.B.
A: Netflix quickly renewed “A Man on the Inside” after its debut season but with a few changes to its supporting cast. Ted Danson, of course, will return, as will Mary Elizabeth Ellis as his daughter, Emily. According to TVLine, Danson’s character goes undercover this time as a professor when the college’s president (played by Max Greenfield of “The Neighborhood”) is blackmailed.
Gary Cole (“Veep”) has also joined the cast as a billionaire, and Mary Steenburgen (“The Last Man on Earth”), who is married to Danson in real life, will play a free-spirited music teacher. Other new additions include Jason Mantzoukas (“The Good Place”), Constance Marie (“George Lopez”),
1. KPop Demon Hunters (PG) Arden Cho, May Hong 2. Weapons (R) Julia Garner, Josh Brolin
3. Freakier Friday (PG) Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan
4. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (PG-13) Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby
5. The Bad Guys 2 (PG) Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron
6. Nobody 2
(R) Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen
7. Superman (PG-13) David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan
8. Honey Don’t! (R) Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza
9. The Naked Gun (PG-13) Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson
10. Jurassic World: Rebirth (PG-13) Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali
and David Strathairn (“Billions”).
All eight episodes of season two of “A Man on the Inside” will be available to binge on Netflix beginning on Nov. 20. ***
Q: What is this new series (I’m assuming a drama) about the NFL that Hulu is developing? Didn’t the NFL make ESPN cancel a similar series about 20 years ago because they didn’t like how the NFL was portrayed? -- A.K.
A: Back in 2004, ESPN canceled its hit drama series “Playmakers” after just one season reportedly for the reason you stated. NFL executives didn’t care for how the league and its fictional players were portrayed. Even though the show never mentioned the letters N, F or L in the script, the subject matter (drugs, sex and concussions) wasn’t well-received by the NFL commissioner at the time, Paul Tagliabue.
Now, 20 years later, Dan Fogelman, the creative mind behind the hit series “This Is Us” and “Paradise,” is in the midst of casting a new drama set in the world of pro football. The cast looks impressive with several Emmy Award winners and nominees in the mix. William H. Macy (“Shameless”) will play owner/patriarch Hank Durkin, opposite Chris Meloni’s (“Law & Order: Organized Crime”) head coach. Mandy Moore from “This Is Us” has also recently been cast.
Perhaps the as-yet-untitled Hulu series will find room for some of the cast of “Playmakers,” who prematurely and unfairly lost their jobs -- like Tony Denison (“Major Crimes”), who played Coach George, and Omar Gooding (“Deadwood”), who played a star running back in what is considered his breakout role.
Q: Is Kelly Clarkson’s daytime talk
show coming back soon? I hope it wasn’t canceled. -- M.M.
A: Yes, “The Kelly Clarkson Show” will return sometime this September with tapings before an audience beginning on Sept 10. However, the show isn’t live. Clarkson returns after the loss of her children’s father, Brandon Blackstock, to cancer in August. She stepped away from her residency in Las Vegas to care for her kids during this difficult time.
She’s also set to return to “The Voice” alongside fellow judges John Legend and Adam Levine. It premieres its new season on Sept. 22 on NBC.
* *
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Courtesy of Netflix
Ted Danson in “A Man on the Inside”
Good Recipes from
Best BBQ Chicken
This sauce has just the right balance of tangy sweetness and heat. Try it on ribs as well as chicken.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce
1 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup light molasses
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 chickens (3 1/2 pounds each), cut into quarters, skin removed if you like
1. In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add onion and cook about 10 minutes or until tender and golden, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato sauce, vinegar, molasses, Worcestershire, sugar and ground red pepper; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, 45 minutes or until sauce thickens slightly. If not using sauce right away, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
2. Reserve 1 1/2 cups sauce to serve with grilled chicken. Place chicken quarters on grill over medium heat; cook 20 to 25 minutes, turning over once. Generously brush chicken with some of the remaining barbecue sauce; cook 20 minutes longer, turning pieces often and brushing with sauce frequently, until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with tip of knife. Serve with reserved sauce. Makes 8 servings.
Each serving with skin: About 500 calories, 23g total fat (6g saturated), 42g protein, 34g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 158mg cholesterol, 755mg sodium.
Each serving without skin: About 395 calories, 13g total fat (3g saturated), 39g protein, 34g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 114mg cholesterol, 750mg sodium.
Cod and Vegetable Saute
This colorful fish saute is tasty and lowcarb. Serve with brown rice to round out the meal.
1 pound cod fillets
2 small (about 6 ounces each) zucchini
2 medium red peppers
1 large onion
1/2 pound large mushrooms
Salad oil
Salt
1. Cut cod, zucchini and red peppers into 1 1/2-inch chunks. Slice onion; cut each mushroom in half.
2. In nonstick 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, in 2 tablespoons hot salad oil, cook cod fillets with 1/4 teaspoon salt until browned on both sides and fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Remove from skillet; keep warm.
3. In same skillet in 2 more tablespoons hot salad oil, cook vegetables and 1/2 teaspoon salt until vegetables are tender-crisp and lightly browned. Stir in 1/4 cup water; heat through. Spoon vegetable mixture onto platter; carefully tuck in cod. Garnish with parsley sprigs if you like. Serves 4.
Each serving: About 265 calories, 15g total fat, 49mg cholesterol, 465mg sodium.
Sauteed Spinach and Garlic
In minutes, you’ll have a satisfying side dish. To save time, use bags of prewashed baby spinach.
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 clove garlic, crushed with side of chef’s knife
2 bunches (12 ounces each) spinach, washed and dried very well, tough stems trimmed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1. In 5-quart saucepot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until golden.
2. Add spinach in batches; add salt. Cover and cook, stirring once, just until spinach wilts, about 4 minutes. Discard garlic, if you like. Serves 4.
Each serving: About 57 calories, 4g total fat, 232mg sodium, 4g total carbs, 3g protein.
• Extensive valley-wide distribution in
•
• Your 14 week ad campaign gets over
• Survey results prove that 96.8% of readers notice and
By John Allen DIAMOND LIL
by Brett Koth
UNUSUAL ISLANDS
Holidays & Observances This Week
9/7 National Pastor's Spouses Day
9/8 Dog Walker Appreciation Day
9/9 National Teddy Bear Day
9/10 National TV Dinner Day
9/11 Appreciate Our Freedom Day
9/12 Hug and High Five Day
9/13 National Peanut Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Confessions of a Dog Abuser
What do the following comments have in common?
“I’ve given her tongue lashings that would wake the dead and ostracized her to the point of feeling guilty like an abusive jailer.”
“I’ve bitten her on the neck and stared her straight in the eyes.”
“I use a pronged training collar, which makes a world of difference.”
“When she goes after my hand, I push it farther into her mouth.”
“What can I do? I have scolded her, slapped her, isolated her, but nothing seems to work.”
Answer: They are all confessions of dog abusers.
These were nonchalant comments dropped by ignorant people in the course of explaining to me the problem with their dog. What they don’t realize is that the dog is not the problem.
Their dog does not obey. His behavior is embarrassing. They are frustrated. Exhausted. At their wits’ end. And on and on. But none of the dogs subjected to the abuse laid out above were ever trained. In all fairness, how high should the expectations be?
One woman said, “He won’t come to me.” I asked her whether he had been trained to “come.”
She said, “Well, I bought him. Shouldn’t he come to me?”
A signature on a check means nothing to a dog -- and neither do the words “come” and “no” unless you teach him.
None of the “techniques” quoted above constitute teaching or training. Most of them were bad ideas pulled from the Internet in a misguided attempt to fix a serious problem. If you were diagnosed with cancer, would you turn to the Internet to nail down a treatment plan? Would you heed the advice found on Orville’s Free Oncology blog? Of course not. You’d turn to a doctor, a professional, a specialist.
We’re not treating cancer here, but we are
Corner: Turn to Page 10
Cody's
(CryptoQuip Solution on page 14)
SENIOR NEWS LINE
by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.
Retirement Regrets?
I was eavesdropping on two senior ladies in a big box store, specifically in the furniture aisle. Being discussed was a very large TV cabinet with doors and shelving. While it was on sale, the price was apparently not enticing.
“I regret not buying a big television back when I had the money for one, before I went on Social Security,” said one.
“I hear that,” replied the other one. “But my regret is moving into a place that’s too small for me to even have a big TV cabinet like this.”
And there I was, enticed. What is it we all most regret now that we’re seniors? I posed the question to AI (artificial intelligence).
Our most common regret, says AI, is that we didn’t save enough for retirement. Or that we didn’t start saving early enough in our lives. Money was a major theme, according to AI, especially when it came to underestimating health
Only the Best for Our Kids
Decorating a bedroom for two is no easy task, especially when we are speaking of two siblings. If there is ample space, it’s easier, but in reduced quarters, it’s tough. Keeping peace and harmony is the goal for our kids and ourselves.
“This one is too hard! ... This one is too soft! ... This one is just right!!!”
We all remember Goldilocks’ glee when she finds the best bed for her. Determining which bed is best for your room will really depend on the size of the bedroom. Some of us grew up sleeping in a twin bed until we were on our own. Others moved on to full- or queen-size beds as our parents redecorated our rooms, often when an older sibling departed to college.
care expenses.
Probably true. But for a different take on things, I decided to turn to my local group of fellow seniors for an informal group poll. What is their biggest regret now that they're retired and living their Golden Years?
The replies ranged from “I regret moving into a community with no sidewalks” to “I regret not getting a cat because now I’ve passed the cutoff age and the animal shelter won’t let me adopt a young kitten because I might die before the cat does.” The third one chuckled, “Well, I regret encouraging my son to take that job across the country because now he’s not around to do heavy lifting for me.” Another was serious when he replied, “I wish I’d bought that 50-foot cabin cruiser. It would be paid for by now. I’d sail for the Bahamas and live on it!”
If you’re curious about what kinds of regrets seniors have about retirement (especially if you haven’t yet retired and have time to make a course correction in your retirement plans), do an online search for “biggest regrets of retirees,” or something similar. Maybe you'll be able to avoid some regrets in your later years.
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.
the storage areas are shared, as well, make sure to create some delineation for each occupant to avoid the blame game as to whose mess it is.
The same goes for the room. Try to create two clearly identifiable zones. You can separate them with color on the walls, a set of drapery panels, a bookcase or a shoji-style screen. This is great for times when each child is doing a different activity or when one wants to read while the other sleeps. If your room is irregular in shape, distribution issues might be better resolved if each child has his or her corner or end of a room.
Harder flooring selections such as tile or wood might be best for children who have allergies. They might be cold to step on in the morning, but they definitely are easier to keep clean and free of allergens such as dust and dirt. Of course, the benefits of carpeting are that they are better for acoustics and much softer on the feet than tile, laminate or wood.
If space is not an issue, you can create a suite-like feel by placing two beds next to each other with a nightstand in between. In rooms where space is tight, consider placing the beds in an “L” arrangement, without headboards and using a table to act as a nightstand in the corner. If your room is yet smaller and does not afford this kind of arrangement, then bunk beds (one bed above the other) or a trundle bed (a bed with a sliding bed underneath it) could be your solution.
What about the rest of the furniture? Scale is important. First and foremost, consider that this furniture should transition with your children’s rapid growth. No furniture should be too small or too large. When sharing a bedroom, kids’ furniture should also multitask so that seats and ottomans serve as storage for games, shoes, etc. If it is possible, both children should have their own storage spaces and wardrobes or closet areas. If
When it comes to decoration, every child or occupant of a room surely wants to have a say in the matter. And yes, their rooms should be representative of who they are. But overall, the sleeping areas should be painted in a color that produces or promotes good sleeping habits. These colors fall in the pastel range for sleeping areas and grays and blues for study areas where concentration is necessary. Leave vibrant and primary colors for play areas.
Finally, the texture or sheen of wall paint should vary according to the age of the occupants of the room. Generally, decorators prefer flat colors, but if you have small children, it is advisable to select a gloss or semi-gloss finish that is easily washable. Follow these simple guidelines to avoid conflicts, freeing your children to concentrate on the fun.
* * * Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
dealing with situations that do become dangerous when not properly managed.
In dealing with dogs, our voices and hands are tools to shower love, praise and affection. The voice should be pleasant; the hands, soothing. This is how we earn the trust of our canine companions, and it usually isn’t hard to do. They want to please us. They’re ready to trust us. They love to love us. Far and away it is we who do not readily know how to love.
Stepping on paws, pulling tails, whacking noses with newspaper, shoving fists down throats, yelling, shocking, isolating, kicking, hitting -- all abuse.
I can understand ignorance; not everyone knows how to raise and train a dog. That’s why I have a job.
What I can’t understand or condone is abuse disguised as dog training. The dog learns nothing except to fear you -- rightfully so. And you accomplish nothing except to destroy the beautiful spirit of an animal and let loose on the world yet another fearful dog.
Why so many dog bites in the United States? Why so many dogs in our shelters?
I’ll give you a hint: It's not the dog that's the problem.
Woof!
* * *
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.
COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM
Poland -- and they had so many memories to share. (I mean, how serendipitous was that?)
let me share just this one.
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
What Was I Doing in Poland for the Social Security Administration?
I was chatting with a new neighbor who recently moved into a house down the street from us. It turns out he was born in Warsaw, Poland, but moved to the United States with his family way back in the 1960s. He was surprised to learn that I had a small connection to his home country. It involved a trip I took to Poland for the Social Security Administration in 1994. He found it fascinating. I’ve shared this story with readers in the past. However, it’s been a long time, and since it is interesting, I thought I’d share it again.
First, I’ll explain how the trip came about in the first place. In early 1994, I was working at the SSA’s headquarters in Baltimore. I was the chief editor of all of the publications the agency produced for the public. In that role, I was asked to deliver a presentation to a group of visiting Social Security officials from Poland.
Let me pause right here to talk about that a bit. What were Polish Social Security representatives doing in the United States? As I’ve explained many times in my column, the concept of social insurance, or Social Security, as we call it, is certainly not unique to the United States. Almost every country on the planet has a social insurance system in place for its citizens. And many of those countries, especially in Europe, had such programs long before we ever got around to setting up our Social Security system in 1935. In fact, the first Polish Social Security laws were established in 1927.
And all these social insurance systems around the world are remarkably similar. They almost always provide benefits for retirees, for people with disabilities, and for the survivors of a worker who has died. And it is not uncommon for Social Security officials from around the world to get together to exchange ideas and to share common concerns and challenges, and to discuss possible solutions to those issues.
So anyway, that’s what Polish Social Security officials were doing at the SSA headquarters back in 1994. I was talking to them about the kinds of pamphlets and fact sheets that we produced and distributed to the American public to help our citizens understand the various Social Security programs in the United States.
When lunchtime rolled around, I got to chatting with one of the Polish visitors. On a whim, I asked him if he’d like to take a drive to see the “Little Poland” neighborhood of Baltimore. There is a much more well-known “Little Italy” part of the city that is near the famous Inner Harbor and is very popular with tourists. The almost unknown (except to locals) Little Poland is just a few blocks away from that area.
I really didn’t know the Little Poland neighborhood at all. But I figured we’d just drive around to see what we would find. So off we went. The first place that caught our eye was a small neighborhood meat market. We went in.
The butcher and my Polish Social Security official (his name was Jan) were talking to each other in Polish. After a minute or two, they were hugging each other and crying. It was very emotional. Jan explained to me that it turned out both of them came from the same small town in
Well, the butcher closed up the shop and got in my car with me and Jan and took us on a tour of the Little Poland area. We stopped at a couple of homes, a Polish church and a few other small businesses. Most memorably, we ended up at the neighborhood meeting place -- a Polish bar. Jan and all his newfound friends started doing some serious drinking of Polish vodka!
Jan was having a really good time. I kept telling him that we had to get back to the Social Security headquarters complex and to our meetings. But Jan and his friends just kept on drinking and talking (all in Polish) and hugging each other. Eventually, about 3 p.m. or so, I finally talked a rather tipsy Jan into going back to work.
When we got there, I was pulled aside by some of my superiors and chewed out. “Where the heck were you? “ they asked. “Do you know who you were with?” I had just assumed Jan was some mid-level management type like me. But it turns out he was the head of the entire Polish Social Security system and a top official in the Polish government. And I brought him back to the conference drunk!!
Long story short, for a while, I thought I was going to be in some serious trouble. But a few months later, the SSA got an invitation from the Polish government to send a representative to Poland to conduct training. Because of my friendship with Jan, they specifically asked for me. So my trip to Poland came about because I took a guy out drinking in Baltimore!
Anyway, a few months later I was in a small town outside of Warsaw at a Zaklad Ubezpieczen Spolecznych training facility. ZUS is the name of their Social Security agency. I was there to teach their public affairs officials about how we promoted our Social Security system to American citizens. This was new stuff to ZUS staff because Poland was just coming out from under decades of Soviet domination. They had to teach Polish citizens how their recently revamped social insurance system would work.
I have so many stories I could tell you about that experience. But I’m running out of space. So
1. The book of Romans is found in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither
2. From Acts 8, who tried to buy the Holy Spirit from the apostles after seeing the people receiving it with joy? a) Stephen b) Timothy c) Caiaphas d) Simon
3. With whom did Lot escape the city of Sodom before it rained down brimstone and fire? a) Wife b) Son c) Two daughters d) Two angels
4. In 2 Kings 9, who was thrown from a window and struck the ground dead? a) Hezekiah b) Jezebel c) Joash d) Zorh
5. From Genesis 2:12, which was good and found in Eden? a) Gold b) Sapphires c) Diamonds d) Rubies
6. Who was the wife of Joseph? a) Tamar b) Taphanes c) Rahab d) Asenath
(Answers on page 16)
or
go to www.TriviaGuy.com
The Polish currency is the zloty. I was there at a time of hyperinflation in the Polish economy. For example, a 100,000 zloty note was worth about $5. So, I was walking around Poland with millions of zlotys in my wallet! It was so strange to go out for a meal and pay half a million zlotys!
And I learned something very interesting about the Polish Social Security system. Like here, Polish senior citizens got their Social Security benefits once a month. But because at the time, the Polish banking system was essentially non-existent, Polish seniors didn’t get checks. They got cash. So once each month, Polish mail carriers, with armed guards accompanying them, would walk around cities and towns throughout Poland with literally trillions of zloty notes in their mailbags. They would knock on doors and hand seniors their ZUS benefits in cash! I’m sure that today, all these decades later, the Polish economy is back to normal and Polish seniors probably get their ZUS benefits via direct deposit just as we get Social Security benefits in our country.
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 www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
Physician Bills Patient for Exam But Wasn’t in the Room for It
DEAR DR. ROACH: When I have appointments with my physicians at our local, highly rated academic health system, they no longer do a physical exam. But the after-visit insurance report shows a complete physical exam was done, when it never happened. This is not a truthful statement. This has happened on all types of visits, including annual visits and preand post-surgery visits.
If I am examined by a resident, the attending physician will attest in the aftervisit report to having examined me alongside the resident when, in actual fact, the physician was never even in the room.
I find this appalling, but it seems to be common practice. These doctors are billing for services that they do not deliver. Do you see any evidence in the medical world that an effort is being made to address this practice? -- J.H.
ANSWER: The new electronic medical record systems make it easy to document a complete physical exam, sometimes with a single click. If this happens once, it’s a mistake. If it happens consistently, this is at least a system error, if not deliberate deception. The term used in the industry is “upcoding” because documentation of a complete examination allows for higher billing to the insurance company.
Physicians need to be very careful not to document a physical exam that they didn’t do. A less-kind word for consistently doing this practice is “fraud.” Penalties can be up to tens of thousands of dollars per false claim.
The rules for resident supervision are complicated. In general, billing can only be done for services that are provided by or are under the direct supervision of the attending physician. There are exceptions to this, such as resident physicians who provide primary care. However, once again, saying that you were there supervising the resident when indeed you were not is against the law.
Now if the attending physician comes in the room and asks questions to confirm the key findings of your medical history, they do not have to do a complete examination to fulfill the obligations for the primary care exemption.
Outside of primary care, the attending physician must be physically present for the key portions of the services that are being billed. ***
DEAR DR. ROACH: I saw your recent column about the wife with intractable depression. I can relate, but you barely glanced over what has been life-changing for me as a treatment: TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation).
It is quick, easy and painless, and most insurance companies (even Medicare) fully cover it.
To be frank, Doc, not nearly enough suffering people have ever even heard of TMS as an option. Would you illustrate to your readers just a tad more about how powerful it can be as a treatment option? -- R.F.W.
ANSWER: Most people with depression respond well to treatment with a combination of psychotherapy and one of the standard medications, but some people need to try several medications before they find one that works for them. Unfortunately, there are people who do not get good results with medication.
TMS is an option in these situations (but you don’t have to fail with multiple medications to try TMS). Even in people who have failed with multiple medications, about 30% will have a “marked” improvement or a resolution of their symptoms.
TMS doesn’t cure everybody, but I agree that it’s a therapy that needs to be more widely used. The biggest problem is that it isn’t available everywhere.
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.
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
When Claims Aren’t Checked 0ut
A veteran and wife duo have been indicted for a whole menu of crimes against the VA, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, theft of government funds and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Their scams brought in a lot of VA benefit cash because the husband claimed a variety of problems, including traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder and back issues, for which he was granted a 100% disability rating. By later getting a permanent and total disability rating, he no longer had to show up for any reevaluation of his condition.
The couple grabbed additional benefit cash because the wife said she was his caregiver -- since the husband claimed he couldn’t even go outside and needed his wife for everything, including feeding and bathing.
Over the years the wife alone had taken in over a quarter of a million dollars. The scam fell apart when an investigation revealed that he’d never been in a combat zone and surveillance showed him driving a vehicle, doing home maintenance up on a ladder, shoveling snow and more.
How, we want to know, was this veteran thief ever approved for a permanent disability rating before anybody even looked in his personnel file and talked to former unit members? At this point the pair could get 20 years each and a fine of $250,000. I hope this isn’t like so many of the crimes against the VA where the thieves are only sentenced to a fraction of what their total sentence could be.
For example, here’s another case where a scammer could have been sentenced to up to five years and a $250,000 fine, yet he ended up with a year of supervised release. In this one, the founder of a medical device company offered doctors a way to make a bit of money in the form of product development consulting fees -- for which they never actually did any work at all. By law those transactions should have been reported.
* * *
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.
-- by Jim Miller
How to Prevent Falls at Home
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: My 84-year-old father lives alone and has fallen several times over the past few months. I am more than a little concerned for his welfare. Are there any tips or precautions you recommend that I can implement to help ensure his safety? He doesn't see it as a problem, but it has me worried. --Concerned Son
Dear Concerned: This is a common concern for millions of elderly seniors and their families. Each year more than 1-in-4 older Americans fall, making it the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for those age 65 and older. But many falls can be prevented. Depending on what’s causing your dad to fall, here are some tips that can help keep him steady on his feet.
Get him exercising: Weak leg muscles and poor balance are two of the biggest risk factors that cause seniors to fall. Walking, strength training and tai chi are all good for improving balance and strength, as are a number of simple exercises your dad can do anytime like sit-tostand exercises (sitting down and standing up from a seat without using his hands for assistance), standing on one foot for 30 seconds then switching to the other foot, and walking heel-totoe across the room.
Check his meds: Does your dad take any medicine, or combination of medicines, that make him dizzy, sleepy or lightheaded? If so, make a list or gather up all the drugs he takes –prescriptions and over the counter – and contact his doctor or pharmacist for a drug review and adjustment.
Many blood pressure medications, antianxiety drugs, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, antipsychotic drugs, diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, some painkillers and over-thecounter drugs that cause drowsiness are common culprits in medication-related falls.
Get a vision and hearing test: Even small changes in sight and hearing can increase your dad’s risk of falling, so get his eyes checked every year to be sure his vison and eyeglasses (if used) are to up to par. Hearing loss can also double the risk of falling, so have your dad’s hearing checked too, and if he uses a hearing aid, be sure it fits well, and that he wears it.
Fall-proof his home: There are a number of simple household modifications you can do to make your dad’s living area safer. Start by helping him arrange or move the furniture so there are clear pathways to walk through and pick-up items on the floor that could cause him to trip like newspapers, shoes, clothes, electrical or phone cords.
If he has throw rugs, remove them or use double-sided tape to secure them.
In the bathroom buy some non-skid rugs for the floors and a rubber suction-grip mat or adhesive non-skid tape for the floor of the tub or shower, and definitely have a carpenter install grab bars in and around the tub/shower and toilet commode for support, making certain the bars are securely attached to a wall stud and sturdy enough to bear heavy weight.
Also, make sure the lighting throughout the house is good. Purchase some inexpensive plug-in automatic nightlights for the bathrooms and hallways. And if he has stairs, have handrails installed on both sides.
of mind, consider getting him a medical alert system that comes with a wearable emergency help button (some systems are voice-activated) that would allow him to call for help if he did fall or need assistance.
To help you evaluate your dad’s future risk of falling, use the National Council on Aging’s “Falls Free Checkup” tool at NCOA.org/ tools/falls-free-checkup
or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
ADVERTISING PROOF
For more tips, see the NIA “Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room” web page at NIA.NIH.gov/health/fall-proofing-your-home
Choose safe footwear: Going barefoot or wearing slippers or socks at home can also cause falls, as can wearing backless shoes, and shoes with heels or smooth leather soles. The safest option is rubber-sole, low-heel shoes.
Purchase some helpful aids: If your dad needs some help with his balance or walking, get him a cane or walker. Also, to help ensure your dad’s safety, and provide you some peace
Estate Planning Attorney
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Cast Iron Hatchet Commemorated Wash-
ington’s Inauguration
Q: Enclosed is a photo of a memorial hatchet that is 12 inches long by 4 inches high. On the side are the words “Washington Inaugurated President 1789 of the US.” There is a date before “1789” that is no longer readable. The hatchet appears to be made of wrought iron and “braised” with copper.
It was passed down to me from my grandfather, Theodore Weber, who lived August 1870 to January 1966. He said it was made for the 100th anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration.
I have had the hatchet in my possession for approximately 35 years, and I know our family would love to learn the authenticity and value of the mainstay of my grandfather’s memorabilia.
A: You are correct. Your cast-iron hatchet was made in 1889 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Washington’s inauguration. The date that is illegible is “April 30.” Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789, in Federal Hall, New York City, the first national capitol. These hatchets were made in cast iron, copper, bronze and glass. The holes at the top are for hanging.
Your hatchet would probably be worth $100 to $150.
Q: I took a photo of the mark that is on the bottom of my Roseville vase. It is a small
jardiniere and is decorated with leaves and berries against a textured green background. It has small handles and is in mint condition. The diameter is approximately 4 inches, and the height is 3 inches.
The jardiniere was given to me by a friend who is an antiques collector, and I would like to know more about its age and value.
“Bushberry” pattern introduced by Roseville in 1941.
A: Your jardiniere is an example of Roseville’s “Bushberry” pattern. Roseville Pottery started out in 1892 in Roseville, Ohio, making flowerpots and cuspidors. Around 1898 they expanded their lines to include decorative pottery and moved to Zanesville, Ohio. The area was teeming with natural gas deposits and clay, making it a natural for potteries. Zanesville became known as “Clay City.”
“Bushberry” was introduced in 1941. It was decorated with three-section leaves with sawtoothed edges and clusters of small berries in relief. All pieces had ribbed textured backgrounds and were available in tan, green, blue and brown matte glazes. The number “657” on the bottom is the design number, and the “3” is the height.
Your jardiniere can be seen selling online from $100 to $150.
* * *
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 COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
* On Sept. 8, 2012, a pair of Elvis Presley’s undershorts, which had been framed under glass, failed to sell at a British auction, though they’d been optimistically expected to go for more than $10,000.
* On Sept. 9, 1942, a Japanese seaplane dropped incendiary bombs near Brookings, Oregon, in the first such attack on the U.S. mainland. The bombs were intended to start a forest fire, but fortunately caused little damage, due to wet conditions. Twenty years later, the pilot, Nobuo Fujita, visited Brookings in a gesture of reconciliation and friendship.
* On Sept. 10, 1920, F. Scott Fitzgerald published his first short story collection, “Flappers and Philosophers.” In a copy he sent to editor and critic H.L. Mencken, Fitzgerald labeled four of the stories “worth reading,” one “amusing” and the remaining three “trash.”
* On Sept. 11, 1841, American portrait painter John Goffe Rand received a patent for the first collapsible tin paint tube. Until then, artists had to mix their own oil paints, storing leftover supplies in animal bladders tied with string. French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir later declared that “without paints in tubes there would have been no Monet, no Sisley or Pissarro, nothing of ... Impressionism.”
* On Sept. 12, 1972, cowboy actor William Boyd, best known for his role as Hopalong Cassidy, died at the age of 77. He was the first cowboy actor to make the transition from movies to television, after more than 50 successful B-grade Westerns in which he was accompanied by his faithful and exceptionally intelligent horse, Topper,
* On Sept. 13, 1940, Benito Mussolini’s forces crossed the Libyan border into Egypt, achieving what “Il Duce” described as the glory Italy had been seeking for 300 years.
* On Sept. 14, 1975, Elizabeth Ann Seton (nee Bayley), who was raised Episcopalian but later converted to Catholicism after being left a widow with five children, was canonized by Pope Paul VI at the Vatican in Rome, becoming one of the first Americanborn Catholic saints.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
"We normally charge by the hour, but after watching your horrendously atrocious swing, we'll need to charge you $750. -- up front."
Hatchet commemorates George Washington’s inauguration.
Week of September 7, 2025
The Great Lakes (from page 3)
however, is surrounded by the most industry of the five lakes. Seventeen large metropolitan areas border the Lake Erie basin.
• Lake Erie is reportedly home to a 40-foot-long snakelike sea monster named Bessie. First sighted in 1793, more recent been reported in 1960 and 1969, and four separate times in the 1980s. two Huron firefighters claim to have seen the formidible creature in 1990. However, one Ohio marine biologist says Bessie might simply be an exceptionally large specimen of a lake sturgeon, which can live up to 150 years, reach lengths in excess of seven pounds. The sturgeon's features also give it a somewhat prehistoric appearance.
• During the 1800s, known as the as the source of caviar is sturgeon eggs. More than five million pounds of sturgeon were pulled from harvest. Due to years of overharvesting, the sturgeon population experienced a dramatic decline, but is 250-lb. sturgeon was caught in Lake Erie in 1998.
• Lake Ontario Indian word, The lake was not named after the Canadian province Ontario. Rather, it was the other way around; the province was named after the lake.
• Lake Ontario of the five Great Lakes. Although smaller than Lake Erie, it is much deeper and holds four times the volume of water. Lake Ontario is located east of Lake Erie, and is at the base of Niagara Falls.
• Baseball great home run in Stadium. Hanlan’s Point at that time was the biggest ballpark in the minor leagues, a 17,000seat facility that was the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In September of 1914, the Babe slammed a towering home run over the outfield bleachers and into Lake Ontario on the fly. It’s believed the ball still rests at the bottom.
Game Changers
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.
SMITH'S TENNIS CLASS
Thistle
