UNUSUAL ISLANDS
by Patricia L. Cook
When islands are mentioned, many people think of Hawaii, the Bahamas, the Aleutians, or even Iceland. This week Tidbits explores a few of the more unfamiliar islands; some fictional and some that are not even surrounded by water!
• Sicily Island, Louisiana, is neither a tropical island nor is it surrounded by an ocean, sea or lake. It is surrounded by Deer Creek on the north, Bayou Macon and Tensas River swamp on the east, Bayou Louah and Lake Lovelace on the south and the Ouachita River to the west.
• Three exploring brothers, Richard, Thomas and George Lovelace, settled in the area in the 1760’s. They loved the beautiful scenery and lay of the land and named the area for the Mediterranean Island of Sicily.
• Popular Catahoula Curs were developed as a canine breed at Sicily Island. The dogs were bred from the Lovelace brothers’ Dalmations and Indian dogs in the area. They were named for
TRIV
(Answers on page 16)
1. SCIENCE: Which of the major oceans is the saltiest?
2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which two primary colors mix to make the color purple?
3. GEOGRAPHY: Where are the Falkland Islands located?
4. MOVIES: What are the villains in the movie “Transformers” called?
5. LITERATURE: Hercule Poirot is a detective featured in more than 30 of which author’s novels?
6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many olfactory receptors are in a dog’s nose on average?
7. MUSIC: When did the Woodstock Music and Art Fair take place in rural New York state?
8. PSYCHOLOGY: What is the fear of speaking in public called?
9. U.S. STATES: In which state is the Rocky Mountain National Park located?
10. LANGUAGE: What is the most commonly used letter in the English alphabet?
SPORTS GOOFS & OOPS
• In 1920, the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000 ($2 million today). 24-year-old Babe Ruth had already won three World Series with the Red Sox. With the New York Yankees, he went on to lead major league baseball in home runs ten times over the next 15 years, including the record-breaking year of 1927 when he hit 60 home runs. The Yankees won four World Series with Ruth. In the meantime, the Red Sox, suffering what became known as “the curse of the Bambino” didn’t win another World Series for 86 years.
• Swimmer Ryan Lochte was one of the world’s finest athletes, racking up world records, and bringing home six Olympic gold medals. But he ran into trouble during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Lochte and a few teammates took off one evening to blow off some steam. They got rowdy at a gas station convenience store, causing trouble and damaging goods.
• When they returned to the Olympic Village, they covered their tracks by claiming they had been jumped and robbed at gunpoint, a story that made headlines. The truth came out only when guards who had dealt with them at the convenience store told their side of the story. Lochte lost his sponsorships, was suspended, and never again qualified for the Olympics.
• U.S. snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis was the favorite to win gold in the 2006 Olympics women’s snowboardcross race in Turin, Italy. She was clearly in the lead as she approached the finish line. On the final jump, out of sheer joy, she grabbed her snowboard in mid-air, a standard snowboard move, just to add a little flourish to her impending win. Unfortunately, however, she lost her balance in a gust of wind, falling just short of the finish line. A Swiss snowboarder rushed past her to win, and Jacobellis had to settle for the silver medal.
• It was a snowy, cold game on Thanksgiving when the Miami Dolphins were up against the Dallas Cowboys. Leon Lett, a defensive tackle for Dallas, had helped them to three different Super Bowl wins in the 1990s. But on a rare snowy Thanksgiving Day in Dallas, Lett blundered. Dallas was leading 14-13 with just 15 seconds on the clock. Miami attempted a game-winning
field goal, but Dallas blocked the kick; the ball came to rest on Miami’s one-yard line.
• The rules state that a blocked ball belongs to the team that blocked it, so all Dallas needed to do was to let the ball rest on the ground for 15 seconds till the clock ran out and victory would be theirs.
• Then Leon Lett came running up through the snow in an attempt to recover a ball that absolutely did not need to be recovered. He slipped in the snow, but his foot kicked the ball, meaning the ball was now in play once again. Miami grabbed the opportunity for possession of the ball. They won the game with an easy field goal from the one-yard line. Lett later called it the absolute worst moment in his career.
• Jim Marshall has long been recognized as the Minnesota Vikings’ best defensive end. Yet he made an error that has gone down in the annals of NFL history. The Minnesota Vikings were playing the San Francisco 49ers on October 25, 1964. Marshall recovered the ball after a fumble. He got up with the ball securely tucked under his arm and ran an incredible 66 yards – in the wrong direction, as an incredulous announcer gave a play-by-play. He gave a victory leap in the end zone and only realized his error when a smiling 49er ran up to him, slapped him on the back and said, “Thank you!” Referees awarded two points to the 49ers for the effort. Although the Vikings went on to win the game, Marshall never lived it down.
Unusual Islands (from page one)
Catahoula Parish.
• Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, is home to what was once the world’s largest landfill. Freshkills Landfill was established by the City of New York in 1948. The area was mainly coastal marshland and tidal creeks before it was filled in with garbage from New York City. At its peak of use during 198687, the landfill had 680 employees and received up to 29,000 tons of trash every day!
• Freshkills Landfill received its last garbage delivery on March 22, 2001 and its transformation into a city park was begun in 2009. At 2,200 acres, Freshkills Park will be about three times the size of Central Park. As the development of the park continues in phases over the next 30 years, future generations will know Staten Island as a beautiful place to play and relax, and its garbage dump days will be long forgotten.
• A popular television series that ran for seven seasons on the ABC network was Fantasy Island. From 1978 to 1984, Mr. Roarke (Ricardo Montalban), the handsome and debonnaire host, greeted guests to the island and magically fulfilled requests for their wildest fantasies.
• The popular “little person,” Herve Villechaize, known on the show as “Tattoo,” would hasten up the island’s bell tower to ring the news that the guests were arriving. His call, “De plane! De plane!” was heard at the beginning of each episode for six seasons. After a heated salary dispute, Villechaize left the show and a butler took his place for the final season.
• In typical Hollywood fashion, Fantasy Island was not filmed on an island at all, but in various
locations in California and Hawaii. The cottage where Tattoo rang the bell is at the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Arcadia, California.
• Another place named “Island,” is Island Park, Idaho. Called the “Longest Main Street in America,” the narrow, 33-mile long community stretches from the Snake River north of Ashton, Idaho, to the Montana border. Island Park is popular for fishing, hunting, water sports and snowmobiling.
• Hegura Island, Japan, is known for its female free divers known as “Ama.” Free divers are swimmers who deep sea dive without the use of any breathing apparatus. Local families involved in the business of Ama rejoice over the births of baby girls. As a surprise to most visitors to this island, females are the ones chosen as the best free divers. They start learning the skill at a young age and are eventually able to dive to depths as great as 82 feet to harvest abalone. Over the years the divers have graduated to using goggles, flippers and wet suits, but have never used oxygen tanks. Among their skills are “visual acuity, high lung capacity and a hunter instinct.”
• Hereditary rights determine who can be a part of the Ama business. Historical records show the claim to dive for abalone was bestowed on “female ancestors” by Lord Maeda during the feudal Tokugawa era in Japan from 1603-1867. An Ama woman who was interviewed in 2014 on CBS Sunday Morning, was still actively diving at age 80!
• Ellesmere Island is only 497 miles from the North Pole and 15 miles from Greenland. It is a polar desert with an average annual precipitation of only 2 ¾ inches, making it drier than the Sahara Desert!
• On the southern coast of Ellesmere Island, Grise Fjord is the northernmost permanent community in Canada with a hardy but small population of 148.
byKaraKovalchik&SandyWood
• An island with a population at the other end of the population spectrum is Java, Indonesia. It is the thirteenth largest island in the world and is home to 136 million inhabitants.
• Known for its millions of peppers instead of people is Avery Island, Louisiana. The island is one of five salt domes that rise out of the marshes of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. This
1. What makes the Palm Islands off the coast of Dubai distinctively different?
2. In what body of water are these islands located?
• The fishing region of Thousand Islands that stretches along the St. Lawrence River region of New York and Canada, is where Thousand Island salad dressing was created. Clayton, New York, is considered the birthplace of the dressing, home of the Thousand Islands Inn.
• In the far northern part of Canada there is a chain of islands known as the Arctic Archipelago. There are 94 islands with Ellesmere Island being the farthest north and the tenth largest island in the world.
By Lucie Winborne
* Despite what you see when you gaze at the night sky, the moon is actually shaped more like a lemon, with flattened poles and bulges on its near and far sides around its equator.
* In Utah, birds have the right of way on a highway.
* What’s in a name? Well, a casket is a rectangular box with a lid, and a coffin is a six-sided box that’s wider at the shoulders and narrower at the feet. In America, caskets are more commonly used than coffins.
* On the Titanic, more than 700 thirdclass passengers had to share just two bathtubs.
* Black and orange are the traditional colors of Halloween because the ancient Celts believed black symbolized the “death” of summer and orange represented the fall harvest.
* For the film “A Star Is Born,” Bradley Cooper spent six months with a dialect coach trying to imitate Sam Elliott’s voice, before he knew Elliott would be cast as his brother.
* Some female sharks store sperm after mating, potentially holding on to it for years before they’re ready to reproduce.
* When trick-or-treating began gaining popularity in the 1930s, adults worried that kids “threatening” people with tricks if they didn’t get candy would encourage them to become criminals later in life.
* The first cigarette lighter was invented three years before the first friction match.
* In 1993, a Mexican zoo owner was arrested for illegally purchasing an FBI agent in a gorilla suit, thinking the agent was an actual gorilla.
* On his deathbed, Steve Jobs asked for five different oxygen masks so he could choose the one with the best design. ***
Thought for the Day: “To acquire knowledge, one must study, but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.”
-- Marilyn vos Savant
Inc.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
Meal Prep for People Who Hate Meal Prep
carrot sticks. Other days it’s last night’s leftover stir-fry. The goal is to avoid the “What’s for dinner?” panic that leads to overpriced drive-thru regret.
There is no award for doing everything from scratch. Buy the bagged salad. Use the pre-chopped onions. Let your slow cooker or sheet pan do the heavy lifting. Use frozen vegetables. Rely on that $5 rotisserie chicken like it’s your kitchen intern.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
Some people love meal prep. They plan every meal, color-code containers, and smile as they portion out grilled chicken and broccoli like a seasoned chef. This article is not for them.
by Mary Hunt
This week's column is for the rest of us. The folks who want dinner on the table but without surrendering their entire weekend to a week’s worth of meals all neatly loaded into labeled Tupperware.
If the words “meal prep” make you want to lie down with a bag of chips, keep reading. This is meal prep for people who hate meal prep.
Before you toss the whole idea out the window, let’s get practical. Eating out is expensive. The average restaurant meal in the U.S. now costs over $25 per person once you add tax and tip -- and that’s if you skip the appetizer, soda and dessert.
A fast-casual dinner for a family of four? Easily $75 or more. Do that a few times a week, and you’re spending like it’s vacation, only you’re still at home and now the dishwasher’s full.
On the flipside, making meals at home can bring your cost down to as little as $3 to $7 per person. Over the course of a month, that can translate into hundreds of dollars in savings -- enough to pay down debt or stash away for a rainy day.
Forget about prepping every bite of every meal for the entire week. Instead, think in terms of components. Cook up a few basic ingredients you can mix and match throughout the week:
-- Grains (rice, pasta, quinoa)
-- Protein (rotisserie chicken, beans, hardboiled eggs)
-- Vegetables (chopped, roasted or raw)
-- Extras like shredded cheese, salad dressing or tortillas
You don’t need a meal plan spreadsheet. Just a few building blocks to make your weeknights less frantic.
Batch while you cook. This means just double up while you’re already cooking. If you’re chopping onions for tonight’s dinner, chop a few extras and store them. Making chili? Freeze half for next week. Boiling eggs? Make six instead of two. It’s efficient, painless, and makes future you very happy.
Lunch doesn’t need to be a four-star experience. Some days it’s a sandwich and some
Take five minutes and make a list of meals your household likes and that you actually know how to cook: tacos, stir-fry, pasta and sauce, sheet pan chicken. Rotate those. Don’t try to become the Barefoot Contessa overnight.
You don’t need a label maker, but a Sharpie and masking tape can save your future self from defrosting something that turns out to be soup when you were hoping for enchiladas. Write what it is and the date you made it.
This isn’t a contest. Some weeks you’ll prep more. Some less. Some meals will be creative masterpieces. Others will be peanut butter toast with apple slices. It’s all OK.
The goal isn’t perfection -- it’s to stop dreading dinner and avoid feeling like the only options are expensive takeout or cereal.
Meal prep doesn’t need to be a lifestyle. It just needs to make your life a little easier. That’s a win in my book.
For even more info, links and the opportunity to make comments, I’d love to meet up with you at EverydayCheapskate.com/mealprep. See you there!
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
Marcy Cardenas
Have you ever wondered how certain words ever found their way into our vernacular? Whether you're an amateur etymologist or just plain curious, here's a few gems for your edification.
• When the Visigoths sacked Rome in 410 AD, the invaders were “sacking” the city because they were carrying away all the plunder they could fit in a sack.
• Every ship has a “fore” and “aft” with the “fore” being “before” because it is in front, and the “aft” in back because it comes “after.”
• Nigh / near / next mean close / closer / closest.
• “To follow suit” comes from card games where the next card played must belong to the same suit as the previous card.
• Someone dressing or acting “emo” is being “emotional” while a “goth” is being “Gothic.”
• Supper is when you sup soup, from the French “soupe” denoting bread sopping up broth.
• The many different meanings of “draft” all relate to the origin “to draw” meaning “to give motion to by the act of pulling.” A drafty window pulls in air from outside. The first draft of a drawing is refined into the final draft. A soldier who is drafted is pulled from a pool of people. A bank draft pulls money from an account. A draft beer is pulled from a cask.
• Dresser drawers are called drawers because they draw outward.
• A “creature” is something that has been “created” and an “animal” is “animated,” from the Latin “anima” meaning “drawing breath.”
• “Adios” is literally “to God” and “good-bye” is short for “God be with ye.” “Howdy” is short for “how do ye” or “how do you do.”
• Vinegar comes from the French “vin” (wine) plus “aigre” (sour).
• A fortnight is fourteen nights, or two weeks.
• Something that is “painstaking” literally means that it takes great pains to get right.
• The Norse phrase meaning “wind-eye” denoting a hole in the wall to let air in became our “window.”
• “Together” means “to gather.”
• “To pare” means to cut down, as in a paring knife. This is also the root of the word “separate” meaning to cut apart.
• A pen knife was originally used to cut quill feathers into ink pens.
• A common Latin phrase “caveat emptor” means “buyer beware” but the “-empt” is also present in “preempt” meaning “to buy before someone else has a chance.”
• The Roman name for the Moon, Luna, gave us “looney” and “lunatic” because of the belief that full moons affect human behavior, making them act strangely.
• A secretary is someone who is entrusted with “secrets” related to business that is considered proprietary or private.
• When milk curdles, it turns into curds.
• A pigeonhole is literally a home for pigeons; a space for their nests arranged in a series along a wall of small boxes, such as those found in a post office used for sorting mail. It's now referred to as a generic place for a preconceived notion of what category an item belongs in.
• Deluxe is simply “of luxury.”
• “Downtown” referred to the market stalls down by the river while “uptown” referred to the neighborhoods above the river where the view was good and risk of flooding was less.
• An oval is egg-shaped like the Latin “ovum” meaning egg.
• “Solstice” comes from the Latin “sol” meaning
sun and “sistere” meaning “to stop.” It’s the point at which the Sun stops moving in one direction and starts moving the other way. Similarly, “equinox” springs from the Latin meaning “equal night.”
• To be alone is a contraction of being “all one.”
by Dana Jackson
Q: Is it true that Michelle Pfeiffer is doing a TV series soon? Is it a comedy or a drama? I always thought she was really great at comedy. -- W.M.
A: According to Entertainment Weekly, “there’s no shortage of ‘Yellowstone’ spin-offs in the works,” and an upcoming one has lured three-time AcademyAward-nominated actress Michelle Pfeiffer out of semiretirement.
“The Madison,” which is the name of the series, has already filmed its premiere season but hasn’t aired the episodes yet. Paramount+ has already greenlit a second season, which is expected to start filming in Texas in September.
“Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan certainly has a lot on his plate. In addition to “The Madison,” two other upcoming “Yellowstone” sequel series, “Y: Marshals” and “Dutton Ranch,” are set to release soon.
“The Madison” will be set in the Madison River Valley of Montana, and it won’t be historical. It will take place in current times. Joining Pfeiffer
1. Weapons (R) Julia Garner, Josh Brolin 2. Jaws (PG) Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw 3. Caught Stealing (R) Austin Butler, Regina King 4. Freakier Friday (PG) Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan
5. The Roses (R) Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch
6.
is an impressive cast that includes Matthew Fox (“Lost”), Patrick J. Adams (“Suits”), and Beau Garrett (“The Good Doctor”).
According to its IMDb page, the series takes place after a “New York family’s life unravels after a tragedy,” and they process their grief while vacationing in rural Montana. Pfeiffer will also serve as an executive producer of the series in addition to being in front of the camera. ***
Q: When is “Chicago Med” returning with new episodes? It’s my mom’s favorite show, and she’s been asking. -- D.E.
A: Oct. 1 is the premiere date for the 11th season of “Chicago Med” and its two sister shows. “Chicago Med” will kick off the NBC lineup at 8 p.m. ET, followed by “Chicago Fire” at 9 p.m. and “Chicago PD” at 10 p.m.
However, there will be some casting changes. Original cast member Marlyne Barrett, who played nurse Maggie Lockwood, isn’t returning this season, but the door has been left open for her return.
Also absent from the cast are John Earl Jelks as Dr. Dennis Washington and Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut as Dr. Naomi Howard. But a familiar face in the form of actor Nick Gehlfuss will be returning as Dr. Will Halstead in a guest-starring capacity. S. Epatha Merkerson and Oliver Platt are the only original cast members of “Chicago Med” who will be back this season. ***
Q: Is it true that Karina Smirnoff is returning to “Dancing with the Stars”? Also, is she part of the family who owns Smirnoff vodka? -- S.T.
A: Ukranian-born pro dancer Karina Smirnoff is not related to Peter Smirnov (original
spelling), a Russian slave who launched Smirnoff vodka after his freedom. She’s also not returning to “Dancing with the Stars” for this upcoming season, but fans have been clamoring for her return for years.
The 47-year-old Smirnoff left “DWTS” about a decade ago and gave birth to her son in 2020. She’s won one Mirrorball trophy (in season 13 with soap actor J.R. Martinez), but in recent years, she’s been busy judging private dance competitions and coaching at camps.
* * *
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Pfeiffer (Upcoming in “The Madison’)
Good Recipes from
Peruvian Fish Soup
Seafood takes top honors in this throw-itin-the-pot Peruvian Fish Soup. The classic South American flavors of onion, chile pepper and lime blend beautifully with a rich combination of scallops, squid, cod and potatoes.
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 serrano or jalapeno chile, seeded and finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed with press
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 bottles (8 ounces each) clam juice
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained and juice discarded
2 cups water
1 pound red potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
Salt
2 limes
1 1/2 pounds cod fillet, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 pound medium scallops, each cut horizontally in half
1/2 pound cleaned squid, bodies sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide rings and tentacles cut into pieces if large
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1. In 6-quart saucepot, heat oil on medium until hot. Add onion and serrano; cook 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned and tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in garlic and cumin; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
2. Stir in clam juice, tomatoes, water, potatoes and 3/4 teaspoon salt; cover and heat to boiling on medium-high. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, 8 to 10 minutes or until potatoes are just fork-tender.
3. Meanwhile, cut 1 lime lengthwise in
half. Cut 1 lime half in half again and remaining lime into 6 wedges to make 8 wedges in all; set aside.
4. Add cod and remaining lime half to saucepot; cover and cook 5 minutes. Add scallops and squid; cover and cook 1 minute.
5. Remove saucepot from heat. With tongs, remove lime half, squeezing juice into soup. Stir in chopped cilantro, and serve with reserved lime wedges. Makes about 11 1/4 cups. Serves 8.
Each serving: About 205 calories, 3g total fat, 113mg cholesterol, 520mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate, 2g dietary fiber, 26g protein.
Mixed Grill
1/2 cups orange marmalade
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, chopped, crushed 3/4 teaspoon salt
6 fully cooked bratwurst, knockwurst or frankfurters
1 (3 1/2-pound) chicken, cut into quarters
Tomato wedges, for garnish
1. In small bowl, mix orange marmalade, lemon juice, rosemary and salt.
2. Cut a few slashes in each bratwurst to prevent them from bursting while cooking.
3. Place chicken quarters on grill over medium heat; cook until golden on both sides, about 10 minutes. Then to avoid charring, stand chicken pieces upright, leaning one against the other. Rearrange pieces from time to time and cook until fork-tender and juices run clear when pierced with knife, about 25 minutes longer. During last 10 minutes of cooking, place bratwurst on same grill. Brush chicken quarters and bratwurst frequently with orange-marmalade mixture.
4. Garnish with tomato wedges to serve. Serves 6.
Each serving without tomatoes: About 613 calories, 39g total fat (13g saturated), 162mg cholesterol, 875mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate, 41g protein.
GROW SALES. Save Money.
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By John Allen
DIAMOND LIL
by Brett Koth
Donald Duck by Walt
Holidays & Observances This Week
9/14 National Hug Your Hound Day
9/15 The Official "Someday" Day
9/16 National Voter Registration Day
9/17 National Constitution Day
9/18 U.S. Air Force Birthday
9/19 National Talk Like a Pirate Day
9/20 Look Up an Old Friend Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Dogs and Seniors
“I bought my mom a Yorkie for her birthday.”
“Yorkie, huh? Cute breed. How old is your mom?”
“She’s 92.”
And so began the story that, all told, included four trips to the hospital in five months for Mom, as she repeatedly tripped over, tangled with and stepped on her rambunctious gift.
Happy birthday!
The potential benefits to pairing the elderly with pets are immeasurable, but clearly there are risks to consider.
Large dogs can knock a frail person to the ground. Hyperactive or herding breeds require a lot of exercise and attention. Longhaired dogs tend to shed more, creating extra housework and requiring frequent grooming. Many purebreds and older dogs have health problems of their own, meaning frequent trips to the vet, medication and special care.
Basically, any dog can be a handful in the wrong hands. Or, as in the case of the birthday girl, under the wrong feet.
Small dogs tend to get underfoot. Remember Paula Abdul? Made famous by her talent as a dancer, Abdul lost her balance and fell on her face trying to avoid stepping on her Chihuahua.
Toy dogs send their senior owners to the emergency room with broken hips, broken arms, broken legs… And a broken bone can lead to major complications for an elderly person -- physical, psychological and financial complications that can take a lasting toll on the individual’s quality of life. This is why training and foresight are essential.
Foresight means you’ve considered the risks outlined above and reached the decision that you are able to successfully navigate them. In giving the gift of a dog to an elderly person, foresight means asking hard questions:
-- Will the dog outlive the person? Most dogs live about 15 years. If the recipient is 92, who will take care of the dog once that person is gone? A shelter should not be the answer.
Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10
Wuzzles
(CryptoQuip Solution on page 12)
SENIOR NEWS LINE
by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.
Expired Products at Home?
When the pandemic began over five years ago and our stores were keeping odd hours and sometimes the shelves were empty, many of us stocked up on food and supplies when we could get them. We chose canned goods and dry boxed foods like pasta, as well as staples like bleach and sanitizing wipes.
Where are those items now? Are some of them still on our shelves at home, maybe tucked in the back and kept for emergencies?
It’s time to check those items for expiration dates. Most are likely too old to be used, and many of them can make us sick if we do.
Here are a few hints as you go through your stash: You’ll likely need a magnifying glass as you look at each item because the dates are often very small.
The dilemma with foods is that the experts don’t agree. Some claim that an expiration date doesn’t really mean the food is no longer good, while some say to pay attention to the dates. Plus, there’s a difference between “best by,” “sell by” and “use by” dates. Confusing, isn’t it? I tend to go by the date that’s printed as the
Diplomacy by Design
Sometimes it’s a calculating client, an in-law, a boss or a significant other who stands in the way of a great design. Perhaps you have worked on your interior design for days or even hired a professional interior designer who has a vision for your home, and yet your reluctant party insists they want a particular piece of furniture or an atrocious work of art in a room. Think Frasier’s father’s worn and duct-taped recliner in the highstyle context of the radio psychiatrist’s airy penthouse.
The name of the game is how to convince your resisting subject that your professional advice or well thought-out design is better than their personal desire. How you treat this situation is important; it will impact the ultimate design of your room and home.
cutoff date.
Bleach really does expire and lose potency, and so do the sanitizing wipes, antibacterial hand soap and other cleaning products. Look on the product for a lot number and check the company’s website for dates of manufacture or how to decode the batch number.
Even your shampoo has a limit to the time it can sit unused in your bathroom cabinet, and so does toothpaste, deodorant, hand lotion, eye drops -- nearly everything you use. Go online to www.checkfresh.com. Click the brand of your item and type in the lot number. It will tell you when it was made.
When in doubt, call the manufacturer. It’s better to be safe than to use an expired product.
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.
EDITOR'S NOTE: See related Tidbits article in last week's "Everyday Cheapskate" column, week of Sept. 7th, Issue #37
This exercise may also make them think about the outcome of the overall design and sway them to your side -- or you to theirs.
When encountering such resistance, another strategy is to show them a particular furnishing or work of art that you consider an improvement on their selection. Explain to them why that item works so well. It might be the size, color or proportion that best fits the space. Your might follow your explanation by asking them what it is that they like about their particular item. Ask them to explain their design philosophy. A compromise could come from this conversation. Whether in the hands of a good designer or a significant other, the ultimate design should be reflective of those who live in the house.
More often than not, when a homeowner insists on a particular item or detail in a project, it is not because they feel their taste is superior. Often, it is psychology at play. At times it might be their way of taking ownership of the design or keeping some form of control over the project. It might even be a way to hold on to some idea or memory from their past. And why shouldn’t they? After all, this is their home.
The first step is to ask your design nemesis to show you pictures or images of a design element that is similar to what they are suggesting. This shows your spirit of cooperation and your willingness to understand their point of view. Your ability to listen may just be enough for them to feel they have contributed to the design process.
Standing your ground can be quite complex. When you are sure your ideas are absolutely superior, let it be known. Just make sure you don’t sound snotty or cocky. Justification should be made to the opposition with charm and with facts to support your design. If this is a client, document your choice in a friendly email, and if dealing with a spouse or family member, try working out a “what if” scenario, such as reupholstering an unsightly chair or shuffling some accessories around your home or out to a tag sale. This will allow you to tweak the design should the results be disastrous at a later date. Refrain from bragging or “I told you so” scenarios. This will make any future projects even harder. And remember that the ultimate goal for your home is a great design that everyone loves.
* * * 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 2024 CREATORS.COM
-- Can the recipient take care of the dog? Walk the dog? Remember to feed and water the dog? If not, who will?
-- Can the person drive the dog to the vet and take charge of any medical needs that arise? If not, who will?
-- Does the person want the responsibility of a dog? After all, the point of a gift is to bring joy, not stress, to the life of another.
After foresight comes training. Training prevents accidents -- for the person and the pooch. No dog enjoys being run over by a wheelchair. And a dog properly trained to sit and stay will not only be out of harm’s way, but will be the kind of calm, reassuring presence from which an elderly person might benefit.
And the benefits are many and not to be overlooked: companionship, protection, the establishment of a daily routine, the great feeling of having a purpose and being needed, not to mention the physical benefits of exercise, playfulness, the smile a dog brings to the face and the relaxation induced by stroking his fur.
But before you give the gift of canine companionship, make sure the hard questions are asked and answered. And don’t underestimate the need -- and value -- of professional training.
After suggesting to her well-meaning son that it makes no sense to give a 92-year-old woman an untrained puppy, he indignantly replied, “Who has the money for professional dog training?”
Answer me this: Who has the money for four hospital stays in almost as many months?
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.
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
SSI Is Not Social Security
I can tell it’s time for me to once again explain to people that SSI and Social Security are two entirely different programs.
Every single day, I get emails from readers who say something like this: “I am getting SSI, and I want to know if my wife might be due some of my SSI.” Or they will say, “I’m getting close to retirement. How do I file for my SSI benefits?”
I know from experience that these folks are talking about Social Security, not SSI. I’m guessing they think that SSI stands for “Social Security Insurance.” It does not. SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. It is a federal welfare program that really has nothing to do with Social Security, other than the fact that it is managed by the Social Security Administration.
And mixing up the programs is not just a matter of a semantic error. It could be problematic. For example, if you called the SSA and said you want to file for SSI (when you really meant to say you want to file for Social Security), you could be led down a very incorrect administrative path. To clarify things further, let’s start with some background.
Obviously, everybody knows what Social Security is. You get a Social Security number, you work, you pay Social Security taxes, and one day you, and possibly some of your dependents, collect Social Security retirement benefits. Or you become disabled before reaching retirement age and you, and possibly some of your dependents, get Social Security disability benefits. Or you die and your widow, or widower and/or minor children collect Social Security survivor benefits.
But only a small percentage of Americans really know what Supplemental Security Income is. To introduce it, here is just a short history lesson. Back before the early 1970s, there were hundreds of different welfare programs in the country. Sometimes states administered welfare programs. Other times, counties had their own welfare programs. And in some places, cities or other jurisdictions had their own welfare programs. And they all had different rules and eligibility factors. It was a mess.
Some officials in the Nixon administration had a good idea. They decided to federalize and standardize this hodgepodge of welfare programs into one national program. But then they had two bad ideas.
The first bad idea: They gave this new program to the Social Security Administration to run. On the one hand, I suppose it made sense. The SSA had a network of field offices around the country, and it had the computer infrastructure necessary to manage a big national government benefits program. On the other hand, they messed up a nice clean government operation used to deal mostly with grandpas and grandmas and saddled it with the task of running a big messy welfare system.
Their second bad idea was the name. Somebody somewhere in the Nixon administration decided to call the new program Supplemental Security Income. I understand what they were trying to do. They wanted to remove the negative connotations of the word “welfare” from the minds of potential program beneficiaries. But this act of political correctness has led to problems ever since. So, they called the new program Supple-
mental Security Income, and they gave the program to the Social Security Administration to run. And almost everyone back then in the 1970s, and almost everyone still today, thinks that Supplemental Security Income is some kind of supplemental Social Security benefit.
It’s not. To repeat, SSI is a federal welfare program that has nothing to do with Social Security other than the fact that it happens to be managed by the SSA. Also, SSI payments are funded out of general tax revenues -- NOT Social Security taxes.
Gosh, how I wish they would have called SSI something like the Federal Welfare Program. And gosh, how I wish they would have created a new federal agency to run it and called it something like the Federal Welfare Benefits Administration.
Anyway, here are some examples just from this week’s emails that give you an idea of all the confusion caused by the misnamed program.
Q: I am getting ready to retire. I called Social Security and told them I want to apply for my SSI benefits. They asked me a bunch of questions about my income and assets and about my house and car. And then they told me I have too much money to get SSI. I was so confused I just hung up. Can you help?
A: Yes, I can help. Call them back and tell them you want to file for Social Security retirement benefits. You do NOT want to file for SSI. To be fair, after a little more questioning, the Social Security agent you talked to should have realized you wanted to file for Social Security and not SSI. But maybe you hung up in frustration before he or she had a chance to figure that out.
Q: In a past column, you said that someone getting disability could inherit a million dollars and still be eligible for benefits. Well, I recently inherited a lot less than that (about $100,000), and it got me into all kinds of trouble with my SSI disability. I’m jumping through lots of hoops now trying to keep my benefits.
A: You misunderstood what I wrote. In that past column, I was referring to someone get-
1. The book of Samson is found in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither
2. From Genesis 19, who escaped to Zoar on hearing wicked cities were going to be destroyed? a) Gomorrah b) Elijah c) Lot d) Shimei
3. After beating his mule, who confessed to an angel that he had sinned? a) Balaam b) Samuel c) Elijah d) Ezekiel
4. From Job 4, who was so frightened by a dream that his hair stood on end? a) Ehud b) Eliphaz c) Elihu d) Job
5. Who had to parade his eight sons before a prophet as found in 1 Samuel? a) Jacob b) Abraham c) Naboth d) Jesse
6. From Exodus 14, whose chariots were lost in the Red Sea? a) Solomon b) Ahab c) Pharaoh d) Moses
on page 16)
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ting Social Security disability benefits. Social Security is not a welfare program. You could be a millionaire and still get Social Security, whether it’s a retirement benefit or a disability benefit or a survivor benefit.
But you are not getting Social Security disability. You are getting SSI disability. And to repeat, SSI is a welfare program. And as a general rule, someone who inherits $100,000 doesn’t need welfare. I’m not a real expert on the SSI program, but you may be able to set up something called a “special needs trust” that lets you keep your SSI checks. Those may be the “hoops” you are trying to jump through.
Here is an interesting tidbit that further shows how these two programs can get confused. The Social Security disability program is frequently referred to as SSDI, which stands for Social Security disability insurance. And the SSI disability program is usually called SSID.
So finally, repeat after me. SSI is a welfare program. It is not a Social Security program. SSI does not stand for Social Security Income. It stands for Supplemental Security Income.
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
Understanding the Assocation Between ‘The Pill’ and Cancer
DEAR DR. ROACH: I want to point out a serious health concern. My daughter turned 40 last year and got a mammogram that came back with a shocking diagnosis of stage 3 microinvasive carcinoma. She underwent three surgeries, the last of which was a double mastectomy.
I read that cancer incidence increases with hormone usage that is greater than five years in a row. My daughter’s doctor prescribed “the pill” to her for much greater than five years and never even warned her of the risk.
How many other women are unaware of the risks? In many cases, these women are busy, young professionals as my daughter is. They are using the pill because it is so easy. Please warn them and their parents. -- M.R.
ANSWER: The association of combined oral contraceptives with breast cancer is controversial. Many large studies, such as the Nurses’ Health Study, didn’t find an association between “the pill” with breast cancer, either while a woman is using it or after she stops.
There have been some studies that have shown an increase in risk, but the magnitude of the risk is small. In a large Danish study, the overall increase in risk was about one additional case of breast cancer in 8,000 women taking the pill for a year. For women under 35, the risk was one case in 50,000 women per year. The studies that showed a risk for breast cancer did not show an increased risk when women took them for longer.
Oral contraceptives certainly have risks. Blood clots are more common among users. They have side effects that can be very bothersome and sometimes prevent women from using them. However, there is an overall improvement in mortality risk among users because even in 2025, having a baby puts a mother’s life at risk, and oral contraceptives are effective at preventing pregnancy.
***
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a healthy
male, age 65. I get 7-8 hours of sleep most nights, but during the night, I typically wake up three to four times with a very full bladder. So, I use the bathroom, then return to bed.
My question is, where do my kidneys get all the water to make so much urine? I’m not drinking during the night, and I don’t drink anything before I go to sleep. Where is it coming from? This does not happen during my waking hours. -- B.F.
ANSWER: When you drink or even eat food with a high water content, this fluid will be absorbed into your blood, but it takes time. Once it’s in your blood, it will then be filtered by your kidneys to make urine, but this, too, takes time. In general, I tell my patients to stop drinking 4 hours or more before bedtime. People who have kidneys that aren’t at 100% function may need an even longer time so that they can urinate all the fluid out.
There are other considerations. Many men and women over 60 develop swollen legs during the day due to leaky blood vessels and valves in the veins. Taking in excess salt worsens this problem. The fluid will go back into the blood overnight, and it can easily be enough fluid to fill the bladder. Compression stockings can reduce the amount of fluid in the legs.
Finally, the body has a system for reducing urine output at night (the anti-diuretic hormone is secreted at night to prevent you from having to get up), and in some people, this system fails. The hormone can be given nasally in these cases, but since it can affect blood sodium levels, it needs to be used very judiciously.
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Recent Accomplishments at the VA
The headline said it all: The VA has processed more disability claims in one year than they’ve ever done before. They surpassed last year’s total months before the end of this fiscal year. Specifically, the backlog of veterans waiting for benefits is down over 37%.
And that’s not all the VA is accomplishing. In the last six months, the VA has opened 16 new health care clinics scattered around the country. Fredericksburg and North Battlefield Clinics in Virginia, Florence Clinic in South Carolina, and 13 more. Fingers crossed that the planned clinics for 2026 will happen as well.
They’re spending an additional $800 million to upgrade existing facilities. Elevators, sprinklers and fire alarms, boilers and air conditioning and more -- all in the name of making the facilities better for veterans and staff.
The VA has made it easier for veterans to access community health care, cutting out the middle steps that dragged things out. Additionally, there are 30 categories of care that only require an authorization once a year.
They’ve identified and saved $106 million from duplicate billings caused by cases where millions of veterans were enrolled in both VA health care and Medicare. Providers were double billing, raking in the cash, and now the VA is going after them to claw back that money.
(c) 2025 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved
Ten thousand workers have been brought back to the office, no longer able to telework. There are eligibility criteria to continue to work remotely, such as a disability or living more than 50 miles from work, but for the most part, they are back in the office where they should be.
The VA is phasing out treatment of gender dysphoria; in other words, stopping voice training, wigs, chest binders, hormone therapy and other sex change services. The saved money will instead go to helping amputees and paralyzed veterans.
Veterans at some locations say there is a shortage of physicians and other medical staff, but for the most part it looks like the VA is moving in the right direction now that things are finally getting done! * * * 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.
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 Get Help with Your Medicare Costs
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Does Medicare offer any financial assistance for struggling seniors? My mother lives primarily on her Social Security survivor benefit and is having a hard time paying her Medicare costs. Are there any government funds that might be available for her? -- Needs Assistance
Dear Needs: There are actually several different financial assistance programs that can help Medicare beneficiaries who are having a difficult time paying their out-of-pocket health care costs. Here’s what’s available, along with the eligibility requirements and how to apply:
Medicare Savings Programs
Let’s start with a program that helps pay premiums and out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Parts A and B. It’s called the “Medicare Savings Program,” and it has several different benefit levels for people based on their income and asset level. At its most generous the program will pay your Part A and B premiums and pretty much all your Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. At its least generous the program will pay just your Part B premium.
To qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, the minimum standard set by Medicare
is an income under 135 percent of the federal poverty level, which at the moment works out to around $1,715 a month for individuals (or $2,320 for married couples). Everything counts towards income, including payouts from 401(k) plans, pensions, Social Security, and help from family members.
Medicare also allows states to impose an asset test, which can be as little as $9,430 per individual ($14,130 for married couples), not counting your house, car or personal belongs, but counting retirement savings and bank accounts.
But some states have made their Medicare Savings Programs a lot more generous, with much higher income limits and in some cases no asset tests at all. And the program may be called something else in your state. To find out if you qualify or to apply, contact your state Medicaid program. Visit Medicaid.gov or call all 800-633-4227 for contact information.
Medication Assistance
For help with Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan costs, there is another completely separate low-income subsidy program she may be eligible for called “Extra Help.” To get it, your mom will need to apply through her Social Security office.
Depending on your mother’s income level, this program will pay part or all of her Part D prescription drug plan’s monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. In 2025, individuals with a yearly income below $23,475 ($31,725 for a married couple), and assets under $17,600 ($35,130 for a married couple) can qualify for Extra Help.
If she’s eligible to be in a Medicare Savings Program, she will automatically qualify for Extra Help. But because the requirements are slightly different, even if she doesn’t qualify for a Medicare Savings Program for Part B, she might be able to get Extra Help for Part D. For more information or to apply, visit SSA.gov/medicare/ part-d-extra-help or call Social Security at 800772-1213.
Other Programs
Depending on your mom’s income level, needs and location there are many other financial assistance programs that can help like Medicaid, SSI (Supplemental Security Income), PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly), SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), (LIHEAP) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and many others.
To help you find out what types of assistance programs she may be eligible for, and learn how to apply for them, go to BenefitsCheckUp.org. This is a free, confidential website designed for people age 55 and older that contains more than 2,500 programs.
It’s also possible to get help in person at one of the 87 Benefits Enrollment Centers scattered across 38 states. Visit NCOA.org/article/meet-our-benefits-enrollment-centers to locate a center in your area. Or call their helpline at 800-794-6559.
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.
-- OR -JUNQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Cabinet Is Sew Handy
Q: I have sent you a photo of a sewing basket. My husband found it at the dump around 1972. I always used it as a sewing basket, but I’m not sure that is what it was intended for. It is in very good condition. What can you tell me about its vintage and value?
Wood sewing cabinet was made in the early 1900s.
A: You have a wood sewing cabinet. Many were made in the early 1900s. They usually were made of wood, had handles for convenience, had turned legs and usually opened out to reveal shelves for storage. Seamstresses kept their sewing notions in the cabinets. They held threads, needles, scissors, tape measures, knitting and crocheting accessories. Sewing cabinets like yours were often placed next to a sewing chair or sewing rocker.
Similar circa 1920s--1930s sewing cabinets can be seen selling from $125 to $175 online.
Q: I have and still use a “Universal” kitchen meat grinder that belonged to my grandmother. The handle contains the words: “L.F. & C. New Britain -- Conn. -- U.S.A.” The mark includes several patent numbers from 1897 to 1900. There are four attachments that I also use to grind bread crumbs, nuts, meat and to shred potatoes.
I would appreciate all you can tell me about my grinder and its value.
A: Landers, Frary and Clark made your meat grinder. Founded in 1853 by George Landers, “Universal” was added to the name in 1890. Over the years, they produced a variety of household appliances from meat grinders to toasters. Their grinders were a boon to American homemakers. They could chop, grind and slice both meats and vegetables.
Universal grinders can be seen selling on the Internet for $85 and higher, depending on condition
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
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Game Changers
There might not be a more frustrating comment from golf analysts and commentators than, “He must have decelerated on that chip!” I simply cringe when I hear that being said because it typically has nothing to do with a mishit chip around the green. Worse yet, every member guest is full of the same comments when their buddy just cost them a hole.
To prove my point that acceleration and deceleration have little to do with effective chipping, try hitting a few chips with your bag about a couple feet in front of your ball. Hit the ball and ground but don’t hit the bag!
Impact needs a leaning shaft and a firm left wrist. You can literally stop the follow through and hit great little chips if impact was correct. Acceleration implies the need to apply increased force through the strike and a high finish. That’s what I see when a player has “stubbed” or “chili-dipped” one around the green. Put the brakes on a couple real chips around the green to see if they don’t perform just as well as normal techniques.
Unusual Islands (from page 3) island rises only 163 feet above sea level at its highest point.
• The McIlhenny Company and their acres of hot peppers and facilities for producing the famous TABASCO® products occupy most of Avery Island. The family-owned hot sauce company has been at the site since its founding in 1868.
• An island not known for hot peppers, but for beautiful flowers, red soil, shorelines, and a famous novel is Prince Edward Island (PEI). Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908 by Lucy Maud Montgomery, is famous all over the world. Thousands of tourists come to the island off the eastern coast of Canada annually to visit Green Gables Heritage Place and Montgomery’s home, both part of PEI National Park.
ISLAND TRIVIA
• Japan consists of the four large islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and about three thousand smaller islands.
• “Oceania” is a name for the thousands of islands in the central and southern Pacific Ocean. It is sometimes referred to as the South Seas.
• Fiji is not one land mass. It is an archipelago of more than 300 islands and 540 islets spread over 1,000,000 square miles.»
• Of the 3,000 islands of the Bahama chain in the Caribbean, only 20 are inhabited. The islands have no fresh water rivers or lakes, so inhabitants must collect rain for water.
• In 1917 the United States purchased St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and the other 65 islets that make up the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million.
10. LANGUAGE: What is the most commonly used letter in the English alphabet? Answers
by Linda Thistle
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. The Atlantic Ocean. 2. Red and blue. 3. South Atlantic Ocean. 4. Decepticons. 5. Agatha Christie. 6. 300 million. 7. August 1969. 8. Glossophobia. 9. Colorado. 10. The letter “e.”
