Good Ideas Gone PART 2 BAD
by Janet Spencer
Several months back we featured a story about the plight of some hapless individuals who managed to put their brilliant ideas into practice, only to discover too late that they hadn't quite thought their brainstorms all the way through. Since then, enough readers expressed appreciation for all the chuckles it produced that we decided to give you another dose in this issue. Enjoy.
LOOKY LOSERS
• In 2012, the Texas Department of Transportation, was alarmed at the number of accidents along the highway, so they decided on a plan. At various intervals they mounted warning messages on lighted reader boards that flashed the current number of fatalities on Texas highways. As traffic slowed down while drivers craned their necks to read the crawl line messages, the number of rearend traffic collisions increased by six percent.
AW RATS!
• When France colonized Indochina in 1900 (now Vietnam), one of the improvements they made in Hanoi was to install nine miles (14 km) of sewage Bad Ideas Turn to page 3
TRIV
(Answers on page 16)
RANDOM SPORTS FACTS
• Modern Olympic gold medals are not solid gold; they are 93% silver, 6% copper, and 1% gold. The last time they were made of solid gold was in 1912.
• The longest recorded tennis match lasted for 11 hours and 5 minutes, and was played in 2010.
• The oldest human sport was probably wrestling. Cave paintings in Lascaux, France, dating back 15,300 years, depict wrestlers.
• It’s been estimated that there are over 8,000 different sports in the world.
• The most popular sport worldwide is soccer.
• The most dangerous sport is mountaineering, with a risk of death around 1 percent per climb. Contact sports, including basketball, football, soccer, rugby, and hockey, all have high instances of injuries.
• A pro tennis player runs an average of 3 miles (5 km) during a typical match.
• There are 650 tennis matches during the Wimbledon Championship. Approximately 42,000 tennis balls will be used during the event.
• The average lifespan of a Major League baseball is five to seven pitches. It’s estimated that Major League Baseball uses about 850,000 balls per season. Every ball is first rubbed down with a special mud mixture to make it easier to pitch and for general handling.
• There are exactly 108 stitches on a baseball.
1. COMICS: What is Thor’s home planet?
2. LITERATURE: Which of Charles Dickens’ novels has a character named Miss Havisham?
3. ANATOMY: What is the largest muscle in the human body?
4. MOVIES: In the movie “Zombieland,” what sweet treat is Woody Harrelson’s character searching for?
5. ASTRONOMY: What is the largest moon of Jupiter?
6. TELEVISION: How does George Costanza’s fiancee die on “Seinfeld”?
7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a quahog?
8. GEOGRAPHY: How many countries does the Amazon River and its tributaries flow through?
9. ENTERTAINERS: Where is Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland?
10. SCIENCE: What is the study of clouds called?
• A microwaved baseball flies farther than a frozen one.
• A typical baseball game lasts around 2.5 hours, but it’s estimated that there are only 18 minutes of total action time during that time.
• Major League Baseball umpires are required to wear black underwear while on the job in case they split their pants open.
• Babe Ruth kept cool on hot days by placing a cold wet cabbage leaf on top of his head, under his baseball cap. He would exchange the leaf for a new one every other inning.
• The Dallas Cowboys hired the NFL’s first
professional cheerleading squad in 1972.
• Identifying players by jersey number was popularized by baseball.
• A forfeited baseball game goes into the record books with a score of 9-0, correlating to the number of innings.
• The longest Major League at-bat lasted 21 pitches by the San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Belt against the Los Angeles Angels’ pitcher Jaime Barria in 2018. Belt hit 16 consecutive foul balls before the session ended in a caught fly ball.
• NFL rules state the home team must provide 36 footballs for outdoor games and 24 for indoor games.
• The average NFL career lasts around 3 years.
• The Buffalo Bills appeared in four consecutive Super Bowls between 1991 and 1994 and lost them all.
• When the Boston Bruins won hockey’s Stanley Cup for the 1971/1972 season, the engraver misspelled the team’s name as BQSTQN BRUINS, mistakenly using the letter Q instead of the letter O.
• Michael Jordan failed in his bid to get on the high school basketball team when he was a 15-year-old sophomore.
• The average NBA player weighs 216 pounds (98 kg).
• Swimmer Michael Phelps holds the record for most Olympic medals won, with 28 (23 of which were gold). If Phelps were a nation, he would rank 35th in total medals won, ahead of 97 other countries.
• On May 25, 1935, track star Jesse Owens set five world records and tied a sixth within a single 45-minute timespan during a Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• British runner Roger Bannister became the first human in recorded history to run a mile in less than four minutes. In 1959, his time was 3:59.4. He held the record for just 46 days. The current record, set in 1999, is 3:43.13.
tunnels. Rats quickly began using this underground plumbing as a highway, giving them free access to every part of the city.
• The French government then reacted by placing a bounty on rats. But because they didnʼt want their officials dealing with piles of dead rats, they instructed people to instead bring in just the ratʼs tail as proof that it had been exterminated.
• The plan backfired. People began surrendering the tails but keeping the now tail-less rats for breeding purposes, allowing them to collect to even more rat tails. Long after the rat-tail bounty was repealed, the rat population continues to grow and still plagues the streets and structures of Hanoi to this day.
QIN QUANDARY
• During the Qin Dynasty in ancient China around 208 B.C., two officers named Chen Sheng and Wu Guang received government orders to take their 900 soldiers to defend a distant town against attack. However, they found it difficult to respond immediately due to severe storms and subsequent flooding.
• At the time, severe penalties were in place for military disobedience. The penalty for being late to respond to a government summons was death. However, rebelling against the government was also punishable by death.
• Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, knowing they couldn’t possibly respond in time and would be executed upon arrival, decided they might as well fight for their lives. They convinced their men to join forces with them and rebel against the government. The commoners supported them, and they amassed an impressive army.
• Still, however, they were overrun, captured, and eventually executed – but not before putting up a good fight and having their names and the
record of their revolt going down in Qin Dynasty history.
GOODYEARS IN THE GULF?
• In 1972, it was decided there were just too many old car tires piling up in the U.S., and government officials decided that a good idea would be to dump them in the ocean. Doing so would create artificial reefs and be a boon to the marine environment.
• Over two million tires were barged and dumped off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, between two large natural coral reefs. The expectation was that the result would certainly produce a vast, healthy habitat for marine life - right?
• However, the tires were tied together using metal and nylon bands that soon disintegrated in the salt water. The loose tires rolled around with the ocean currents, smashing into healthy and thriving coral reefs, destroying them. They slid across the ocean floor, scraping off all living organisms in their path. As they deteriorated, the rubber released toxic chemicals that contaminated the region’s aquatic life.
• In the end, it turned out that marine life doesn’t recognize used tires as a suitable habitat to begin with. Clean-up efforts began in 2007, and recent records show that only about one-third of the tires have so far been removed.
PREDATOR IN PARADISE
• Hawaii never had rodents until sailors and ships full of stowaway rats began arriving. It wasn't long before a rat infestation problem began to arise as they began eating the sugar cane crops.
• In 1893, a measure was passed declaring that if only the mongoose, native to India, were set free on the islands, the rat problem would be solved. Before long, crates of mongooses arrived and were released into the wild. It was soon discovered, however, rats are nocturnal creatures and active at night, while the diurnal mongoose is only a daytime predator. They never crossed paths.
• Once freed, the voracious mongooses quickly began feasting on native wildlife, including protected nesting birds, sea turtles and amphibians, ultimately devouring them into extinction. As an invasive species, the mongoose population remains a problem on the islands to this day, and rats are still eating the sugar cane.
FORD FLOP
• In the 1950s, Ford developed the Edsel to challenge General Motors' dominance in the
American car market. It was an ambitious project involving significant market research.
• The big idea was to create a sophisticated, midpriced car that could compete with brands like
1. In 2012 Mountain Dew offered to let the public choose the name for its new beverage. What name did internet voters send to the top of the list?
2. When Justin Bieber's managers allowed the public to vote on where he should perform next on his "My World" tour in 2010, where did they pick?
When Mexico City tried to cut road congestion in 1989 they instigated a law allowing only cars with even numbered plates be driven on even numbered days, and cars with odd numbered plates could be driven on odd numbered days. People ended up buying extra junker cars so they could have one even and one odd numbered plate. As a result, congestion only became worse than before.
By Lucie Winborne
* Assembling the International Space Station took more than 200 spacewalks to complete.
* The average freediver can hold their breath for approximately 10 minutes, much longer than the average healthy, fit human but well short of the Guinness World Record time of 22 minutes.
* During the Middle Ages, the majority of western maps placed east rather than north at the top.
* Diamonds are the only gem made of a single element, at nearly 99.95% carbon, the most commonly found element on Earth.
* The Great Pyramid at Giza has over 2 million stone blocks, each with an average weight of more than 2 tons.
* Two days after Alexander Graham Bell died at his summer home in Nova Scotia on Aug. 2, 1922, all telephone service in the United States and Canada was suspended for a full minute at the precise moment when he was lowered into his grave.
* Just 10% of an incandescent light bulb’s energy produces light. The remaining 90% produces heat.
* At the 2007 French Open, Venus Williams’ serve sent the ball flying at 129 miles per hour, the second fastest serve by a woman ever recorded. It was also the fastest recorded in a main draw match at that time.
* Most people think you gain 5 to 10 pounds over Thanksgiving, but you’ll be glad to know the average amount is really just a single pound.
***
Thought for the Day: “I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed.”
-- Robert H. Schuller
by Mary Hunt
A Remarkably Effective and Safe Do-It-Yourself Option for Pest Control
you say to be absolutely true.
However, I do need to make sure my readers understand that Taurus SC is NOT a substitute for Frontline for dogs, as it should NOT be sprayed on or ingested by animals or humans for any purpose.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE
by Mary Hunt
There is an old adage out there that promises, “Teaching teaches the teacher.” I believe that with all my heart. Never does a day go by that I don’t learn something from my readers. Most days those lessons are small, perhaps even insignificant. And then there are days like today when it’s just one big wow after another!
DEAR MARY: In response to your recent post on do-it-yourself pest control for home and garden, I wanted to let you know about another really cheap way to do your own pest control using Taurus SC Termiticide with 9.1% Fipronil, which contains the same active ingredient in Frontline for dogs but way, way cheaper.
You mix it up in a sprayer. I agree that $50 is a lot of money, however a 20-ounce container when properly mixed with water makes 25 gallons of product that will kill fleas, ants, cockroaches, spiders, bedbugs, houseflies and everything else. It’s harmless to humans, dogs, cats and birds and has a stable shelf life of years when stored in the dark.
For ants, it will kill the whole nest for good when sprayed around the nest, not directly in it. Under the sink and behind the toilet, it remains effective for a year minimum. You can spray your drapes or blinds without staining them and you won’t have any more houseflies indoors for the next six months because they always go to the windows where you’ve sprayed, and then they always die.
I may sound like I am a salesman for Taurus SC Termiticide with 9.1% Fipronil, but I am not. I have just used it for years and know for certain just how effective and inexpensive it is to do my own pest control. -- Doug
Dear Doug: I must admit that when I first read your message, it sounded too good to be true. Especially the part about 25 gallons. And the houseflies. I came this close to hitting delete, but decided to check it out because who doesn’t want this kind of safe and simple way to control the pests you describe? I am excited to let you and my readers know that I have determined all
Taurus SC Termiticide with 9.1% Fipronil should be used as you describe, to treat the areas that pesky insects frequent. My limited research affirms that the toxicity of Fipronil on humans has been tested in numerous studies with no adverse effects. That being said, I recommend that readers should always conduct their own due diligence before proceeding.
As for a resource, I suggest readers do an online search, as there are several distributors for this product, such as DoMyOwn. com (type “taurus” in the search box) where a 20-ounce bottle of Taurus SC Termiticide with 9.1% Fipronil is $44 with free shipping at this writing.
Like you, I am not a salesperson for Taurus SC. But the folks at DoMyOwn.com are, and I hope they get a big surprise when many orders come rolling in. Thanks so much, Doug.
DEAR MARY: When I saw a recent news report showing an “ethical” hacker breaking a seven-digit password in 37 seconds, I decided it was time to update all my passwords.
What better reminder to keep spending in check than to use your password as a personal goal reminder? For example: debtkilldreams or theborrowerisslavethelender. Or how about keepspendingincheck. Add in your personal choice of numbers or special characters, and you have a built-in reminder system every time you log into your account. The longer your password, the safer it is, too. -- Kimberly
Dear Kimberly: Brilliant, simply brilliant. I love this so much. I’m going to change some passwords right now.
* * *
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.
Death Valley National Park in southern California is the lowest, hottest, and driest place in the U.S. It has many unique features, one of which is called the Sailing Stones; rocks in the middle of a desert that mysteriously move. Read on as Tidbits gives you the facts behind this weird phenomenon.
• The Sailing Stones all start with a dry lake bed about 3 miles (4.8 km) long and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide, which dried up some 8,000 years ago. The surface of the dried lake bed is a vast expanse of cracked mud called playa, from the Spanish word for beach. During rare rainstorms, the water doesn’t forming a slick clay.
• Around the rim of which loose rocks periodically tumble down onto the surface. The rocks, made of dolomite and syenite, vary in size and shape.
• In 1915, a prospector Racetrack Playa and noticed that some rocks had long tracks stretching out behind them, indicating they had mysteriously been moved across the mud. Many including dust devils, algae, pranksters, and even aliens.
• It wasn’t until 2013, accurate time-lapse cameras combined with GPS technology, able to reveal how the rocks move.
• In 2011, geologists with GPS trackers and left them on the playa with solar-powered time-lapse cameras trained on them. Nearby, that constantly recorded conditions.
• It was known that would pass between movements, but in this case, the proof arrived fairly quickly. After just two years, researchers documented more than 60 rocks moving at speeds of 7 to 16 feet per minute for durations sometimes lasting 15 minutes. The circumstances were always identical.
• For stones to “sail rain enough to leave several inches of water on the playa. A cold night causes a thin layer of ice on the water. When temperatures rise in the morning, the ice breaks steady breeze pushes the panels of jumbled ice, and the rocks embedded among them.
• Movement is aided slippery clay, the buoyancy of the water, and the grasp of the ice. The length of the track and its direction sometimes it is straight, sometimes it curves, and sometimes it takes abrupt angles.
• Researchers released conditions only occur a few times per year. But when it does happen, large sheets of ice can push many rocks at a time, explaining why trails far apart are strikingly parallel.
• The ice need only thick enough to hold its shape, but thin enough to move freely. The wind speed only needed to be around 10 mph to move the rocks a few inches per minute.
• Stones with rough bottoms leave straight furrowed tracks while rocks with smooth bottoms can slide from side to side.
• Most tracks remain visible for three or four years.
• Some of these sailing stones weigh up to 700 pounds (320 kg). Some have left tracks stretching up to 1,500 feet (460 m) long.
• The playa itself is so flat that its elevation changes by no more than an inch or two along its entire length.
• When rangers found tracks that ended with no rock, they assumed a tourist had stolen the rock. However, it was shown that angular slabs of ice also leave tracks in the mud and eventually melt, leaving no other trace.
by Dana Jackson
Q: Who is the actress who plays Callie on “The Hunting Wives”? Was she ever on a daytime soap? I know I’ve seen her somewhere. -- A.K.
A: That’s Jaime Ray Newman playing the sheriff’s wife, Callie, in the hit Netflix series “The Hunting Wives,” which is about a group of East Texas socialites with deadly secrets. She’s known to daytime soap audiences for her role as Kristina Cassadine, whom she played from 2001-2003 on “General Hospital.”
She’s gone on to land one primetime role after another whether it’s in a recurring capacity or a contract player; she starred in “Veronica Mars” in 2006, followed by short-lived series like “Eastwick” and “Eureka.”
She played Vanessa Hemmings, one of Grayson’s love interests, for two seasons on “Drop Dead Diva,” one of the Sacklers in “Dopesick,” and
1. Tron: Ares (PG-13) Jared Leto, Greta Lee
2. Roofman
(R) Channing Tatum, Tony Revolori
3. One Battle After Another (R) Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn
4. Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie (G) Laila Lockhart Kraner, Kristen Wiig
5. The Conjuring: Last Rites (R) Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga
6. Soul on Fire
(PG) Joel Courtney, John Corbett
7. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie - Infinity Castle (R) Zach Aguilar, Ryan Bartley
8. The Smashing Machine
(R) Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt
9. The Strangers: Chapter 2 (R) Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso
10. Good Boy (PG-13) Indy, Shane Jensen
© 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
widow Sarah Lieberman in “The Punisher.” And this is just a small sample of her credits, but if “The Hunting Wives” remains a hit, it’ll be the series that makes Jaime Ray Newman a household name. ***
Q: I saw a commercial for a new “9-1-1” show that is set in Nashville. It looked like singer LeAnn Rimes is in it. Is she part of the permanent cast? -- B.I.
A: “9-1-1: Nashville” is the third series in the “9-1-1” franchise of shows, and it premiered on Oct. 9 on ABC. Just like its predecessors “9-1-1” and “9-1-1: Lone Star,” it follows a team of firefighters, paramedics and police officers who respond to emergency calls while also navigating the drama of their personal lives. The newest chapter stars a very familiar face to network TV audiences, Chris O’Donnell, who starred in the huge hit “NCIS: Los Angeles” for 14 seasons.
Joining O’Donnell on location in Nashville and the surrounding areas is Jessica Capshaw (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and Grammy-Award-winning artist LeAnn Rimes. Both are full-time cast members.
While she’s known more for her beautiful singing voice, Rimes has several acting credits. In fact, Rimes met her husband, actor Eddie Cibrian, on the set of their Lifetime movie “Northern Lights” about 15 years ago.
“9-1-1: Nashville” could be the hit Rimes needs to catapult herself into a full-time acting career. It’s not a sure bet, however. “9-1-1: Lone Star” with Rob Lowe was canceled after just five seasons because of budget reasons, but the original “9-1-1” starring Angela Bassett is still going strong with its ninth season, which premiered on Oct. 9.
Q: When do the Winter Olympics start, and which networks will it be on? I don’t want
to miss it. -- D.E.
A: The 2026 Olympic Winter Games will be held from Feb. 6-22, 2026, in Milan and Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy. NBC will be the main network to once again host the games and its numerous events, which are also streaming on Peacock. The “Today” show’s Savannah Guthrie and NBC Sports’ commentator Terry Gannon will host the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 6. They’ll also be joined by three-time Gold-Medal-winning snowboarder Shaun White in the booth. Be sure to visit NBC.com for further details as it gets closer to February.
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Jaime Ray Newman (“The Hunting Wives”) Courtesy of NBC
Ropa Vieja
The name of this Latin-style braised beef literally means “old clothes,” because the meat is cooked until it’s so tender it can be shredded into what resembles a pile of rags.
1/2 cup drained, sliced, pickled jalapeno chiles
3 red, orange and/or yellow peppers, cut into 1/4-inch-wide slices
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 large (12-ounce) onion, cut in half and sliced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
Salt
2 (1 3/4 pounds each) beef flank steaks
1 can (14 1/2-ounce) whole tomatoes in juice
Warm tortillas (optional)
1. In 6- to 6 1/2-quart slow-cooker bowl, stir together jalapenos, peppers, garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, bay leaf and 1 teaspoon salt. Top with flank steaks, cutting steaks if necessary to fit in slow cooker bowl. With kitchen shears, coarsely cut up tomatoes in can. Pour tomatoes with their juice over steaks in slowcooker; do not stir. Cover slow cooker with lid and cook as manufacturer directs on low setting 9 hours.
2. With slotted spoon, transfer steak and vegetables to large bowl. Discard bay leaf. With 2 forks, shred steak, with the grain, into fine strips. Skim and discard fat from cooking liquid. Stir cooking liquid into steak mixture. Spoon into serving bowls, and serve with warm tortillas if you like. Makes about 10 (1 cup) servings.
Each serving: About 200 calories, 13g total fat (5g saturated), 66mg cholesterol, 455mg sodium, 8g total carbohydrate, 2g dietary fiber, 36g protein.
Weeknight Barbecue Beans
These delicious stovetop “baked beans” are a perfect partner for a rotisserie chicken.
2 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2inch pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (15 to 19 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 to 19 ounces) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup bottled barbeque sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup
1. In 2-quart saucepan, cook bacon pieces over medium heat about 6 minutes or until bacon is browned. With slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain.
2. Discard all but 1 tablespoon bacon fat from pan. Add onion and cook 6 to 8 minutes or until tender and golden, stirring occasionally.
3. Return bacon to saucepan. Stir in beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup and 1/4 cup water; heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook 5 minutes longer to blend flavors, stirring often.
Each serving: About 175 calories, 4g total fat (1g saturated), 4mg cholesterol, 485mg sodium, 30g carb., 10g fiber, 10 g protein.
HEADS
By John Allen
DIAMOND LIL
by Brett Koth
Donald Duck by Walt
TIDBITS HELPS FIGHT CRIME WITH
Holidays & Observances This Week
9/26 Mule Day
9/27 Cranky Co-workers Day
9/28 National First Responders Day
9/29 National Cat Lovers Day
9/30 Candy Corn Day
10/31 Halloween 11/1 All Saints Day
By Matthew Margolis
Fraidy Cats and Hams on Fright Night
Fright Night, All Saints Eve, All Hallows Eve, Spooky Night. Whatever you call it, wherever you are, when it comes to the rituals and customs of Halloween, all dogs are not created equal.
Some dogs are hams -- the ASPCA said it first: “Please don’t put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their ‘birthday suits,’ however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.”
That’s not all a costume on the wrong pet -- or the wrong costume on a pet -- could cause. Allergic reaction, skin irritation, impaired mobility, obstructed breathing or any other form of sensory deprivation is good reason to skip the costume. And let’s not even get into the issue of damaged pride. Dress your dog as a cat? Those scars could last a lifetime.
On the other end of the personality spectrum is the fraidy cat. Fearful, shy, timid or nervous, these dogs are best kept safely away from the festivities. Your fraidy cat should spend Fright Night inside the house, in a secure room that’s a reassuring distance from the front door and all the action.
And a few tips apply across the board:
-- When answering the door to trick-ortreaters, take extra precaution to make sure your dog doesn’t pull a Houdini and escape. Keep him on a leash, or use a baby gate to secure him in an area of the house away from the door.
-- If your dog isn’t in the habit of wearing his ID tags, there’s no better night for him to sport that jewelry. See the bullet point above for further explanation.
-- Your dog may do tricks, but paws off the treats. Candy, particularly chocolate and that containing xylitol, is toxic to dogs. Ingestion of these sweets may lead to organ damage and lingering health problems, or even death. If you suspect your dog has eaten something toxic, immediately call your vet or the Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.
-- Beware the jack-o’-lantern. Wagging tails
SENIOR NEWS LINE
by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.
Food Recalls
It’s impossible to say exactly what’s going on, but lately there are problems with our food supply, one after the other. Listeria and salmonella are at the top of the list.
Listeria shows up in water, waste and the soil, and it ends up in our meat, fresh produce and dairy products.
Some say the rising number of cases of listeria are because we’re eager to grab readyto-eat foods like deli meats. Others point to better detection methods that find listeria during inspections. One big concern, however, is that cold doesn’t kill listeria. Even if it’s stored in the cold (or even frozen), it doesn’t die.
When it comes to salmonella, expert fingers want to point to climate change because warm temperatures help salmonella grow. But there is also the problem of large farming facilities where a single sick animal can infect the whole herd.
But no matter the reason for the in-
creases and their sources, we seniors need to be especially careful. A bad case of listeria or salmonella can put us in the hospital.
What can we do to avoid problems with food contamination?
With salmonella, wash your fruit and vegetables. Cook foods to the correct temperature, especially eggs, meat and poultry. Invest in a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature in the refrigerator.
Listeria is tougher. Unfortunately, hygiene is part of the problem. The contamination can start at the location where the food is produced -- and spread around the deli counter if slicers aren’t washed correctly. Once we have that lunch meat at home, we need to heat it to a high enough temperature. Which means it’s not safe to just grab a few slices of cold lunch meat to make a sandwich.
Besides being cautious, pay attention to food recalls. You can sign up for email alerts at www.FoodSafety.gov, www.recalls.gov, www. fda.gov and www.fsis.usda.gov (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
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. (c) KingFeaturesSyndicate2025
REGAINING INDEPENDENCE AFTER A STROKE
At Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern California, we’re committed to helping stroke patients maximize their recoveries so they can return to their homes with the highest level of independence possible.
We offer:
• Best practices through a patient-centered, rehabilitative approach
• Latest technology and equipment
• Individualized treatment plans
• Physician-led services provided through an interdisciplinary team
• Access to private patient rooms, therapy gym, therapeutic courtyard, daily living suite, and a transitional suite
• Home evaluations to ensure a safe return home
and candles don’t mix.
(from
-- Keep candy wrappers, decorations and cords out of reach.
-- And while I always advocate keeping dogs inside at night, I believe it to be of the utmost importance on Halloween weekend. Some people’s idea of a good time is truly scary. Don’t let your dog fall into the wrong hands. 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.
senior citizens!
on your full age 70 rate.
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Don’t Drop the Ball
Sometimes people will write to me complaining that the government, specifically, the Social Security Administration, has messed them up and cheated them out of benefits they might have been due. But many times (to use a sports analogy), the ball is in their hands. And if they drop it, they shouldn’t look around and try to blame others. Here are some examples of what I mean.
Q: I am 72 years old. I have been getting my own reduced Social Security retirement since age 62. I have chronic arthritis and fibromyalgia, and I just learned I could have been getting higher disability benefits all these years. So I called Social Security about this, and they said it’s too late! What? Why didn’t someone from Social Security ever tell me about this? They messed up, and they owe me 10 years’ worth of disability benefits.
A: I’m going to be rather blunt with you. They didn’t mess up. You did. It’s your job to educate yourself about the benefits you might be due from Social Security. I know if I had the kinds of problems you described, I would have said to myself: “I wonder if I might be eligible for disability benefits?” And then I would have checked into that. And the Social Security retirement application has a question on it that essentially asks something like this: “Are you unable to work because of a disabling condition?” Back when you were 62, you must have answered that question, “No,” because a “Yes” answer would have led you down the path to a claim for Social Security disability benefits.
Q: I am 62 years old and currently unmarried. I have always worked in low-paying jobs and my Social Security benefit will only be about $1,200 per month. I was married to a very wealthy man, but we divorced many years ago. We got the divorce just two weeks shy of our 10th anniversary. The Social Security rep I talked to said that because we were not married for 10 years, I can’t get any of his Social Security. Why was I never told about this before? The government has ripped me off!
A: Do you think a Social Security representative should be stationed at every divorce court in this country, ready to tell women to stay married for 10 years to be eligible for benefits from the ex?
I understand that at the time you divorced this guy, Social Security was probably the furthest thing from your mind. Still, the ball was in your court to educate yourself about this. With just a little bit of effort, you could have easily learned about the 10-year duration of marriage rule.
Q: When I was 65, I retired and took the free Part A Medicare. But I didn’t want to spend all that money the government was gouging us to take the Part B. However, five years later, when I was 70, I decided I needed the Part B, so I took it and started paying a penalty on top of my regular monthly premium. I’m now almost 80, and I’m still paying the penalty. This just proves my theory that the government is made up of a bunch of crooks who are just out to gouge all of us
A: Well, you didn’t really ask me a question. You just got up on your soapbox and blamed the government for the Part B penalty predicament you find yourself in.
But I think if you are looking for blame, you should check the nearest mirror. If you had done your homework when you were turning 65, you would have learned that your Part B Medicare monthly premium would increase by 10% for each year you opted not to participate in that part of Medicare. And you would have learned that the penalties are permanent.
So frankly, you messed up. You were trying to save a few bucks each month by foregoing Part B coverage all those years -- and now you’re paying for that mistake. And it sounds like you’re trying to put the blame for that mistake on someone else!
Q: I had done lots of research and lots of planning to make sure my wife and I maximize our Social Security benefits. I waited until 70 (just two months ago) to start my Social Security. My wife, who was always a homemaker and doesn’t have her own Social Security, is also 70 and filed for spousal benefits on my record. We were counting on her getting half of my Social Security. So imagine my shock when we learned that she is only getting about 40% of my benefit. Everything I’ve ever read says a wife gets 50%. So why is the government cheating us?
A: The government isn’t cheating you. You cheated yourself (and your wife) by not doing enough research. Had you done your homework (by reading my book, “Social Security: Simple and Smart,” for example), you would have learned that your wife’s spousal benefit is based on your full retirement age benefit, not on your augmented age 70 rate. So your wife is getting 50%, but again, it’s 50% of your FRA benefit, not your age 70 benefit. So that’s the bad news. A little bit of good news (for your wife) is this: if you should die before your wife does, her widow’s benefit will be based
1. The book of Ezra is found in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither
2. From Exodus 34, who was frightened of a man who came down a mountain with a shining face? a) Laban b) Jacob c) Caleb d) Aaron
3. During a famine, who set out with another man to find grass to feed his horses and mules? a) Abishag b) Ahab c) Abner d) Jacob
4. What Jew-hater met his death on the gallows that he had built for another man? a) Herod b) Ezekiel c) Haman d) Jehu
5. From John 3, who lifted up the serpent in the wilderness? a) Paul b) Joshua c) John the Baptist d) Moses
6. From Acts 5, who fell dead after lying about a property deal? a) Nehemiah b) Shimei c) Levi d) Ananias
(Answers on page 16)
Q: Something has been bugging me for years. I’m 74 years old and have been getting Social Security since I was 62. But I always felt they didn’t figure my benefits correctly. I think they are cheating me. How can I get them to correct this mistake?
A: You can’t. It’s too late. At the time your benefits first started, your “award letter” told you that if you disagreed with anything, you had 60 days to file an appeal. So why did you wait for over 10 years to bring this up? It may make you feel better to know that studies show that Social Security retirement benefit calculations have something like a 99.8% accuracy rate. So it is extremely likely that you are being paid correctly.
* * *
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 Easyto-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.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
Weight Loss Isn’t the Cause Behind Odd Globus Sensation
DEAR DR. ROACH: I was recently diagnosed with diabetes and immediately changed my diet and exercise regimen. I was able to lose 17 pounds in about two months but have started to experience a feeling of something being stuck in my throat.
Could the sudden weight loss have brought this on? I was sent to get an ultrasound on my thyroid, and it came back negative. --
V.J.
ANSWER: A sensation of something stuck in the throat is common in clinical practice and can have many causes. It is referred to as a “globus” sensation. An ultrasound is a very reasonable test as a large thyroid mass (goiter) can cause a mechanical effect on the esophagus, which then leads to this sensation. Similarly, abnormalities in the esophagus, oropharynx and larynx may also lead to this sensation.
Most experts recommend an evaluation with an endoscopy and a laryngoscopy for people with a persistent globus sensation.
Unintentional weight loss is a red flag in people with a globus sensation because if the cause behind the globus sensation is also leading people to lose weight, this means that it is more likely to be something serious. But this is not the case with you, so I can’t think of how losing weight could have been the cause behind your globus sensation.
If the sensation of something in your throat continues, I recommend further evaluation by an ENT physician.
***
DEAR DR. ROACH: My in-laws are being evaluated for infertility, and my brother-inlaw has a varicocele. They say that he needs an operation. Is this necessary in order for them to have children? -- C.F.
ANSWER: A varicocele is a common enlargement of the veins in the male scrotum. There is some evidence that a large varicocele could reduce fertility in men. However, the repair of a varicocele is usually indicated for fertility only when both the varicocele is large and the man has an abnormal semen analysis.
The benefit in fertility is thought to be small; it is estimated that 17 men need to be operated on to produce one pregnancy, so there’s roughly a 6% chance that the operation will help the couple conceive.
***
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have high liver enzymes and bilirubin, most likely due to Gilbert syndrome. I’ve had elevated numbers since at least 2006 when I started to track them. I was recently prescribed a low-dose statin after receiving a slightly elevated coronary calcium score (49).
The statin did great at lowering my cholesterol but seriously elevated my AST and ALT numbers. (My AST and ALT levels were 12 and 20 U/L respectively before treatment, then 41 and 32 U/L while on the statin. Normal is less than 35 U/L.) So, I discontinued its use. Are there any options other than
statins
to help reduce cholesterol? -- S.M.
ANSWER: Gilbert syndrome is a relatively common liver condition caused by abnormal bilirubin metabolism. People with this condition can get recurrent jaundice and high bilirubin levels.
Statin drugs are generally considered to be safe in people with Gilbert syndrome. Many people (with and without Gilbert’s) will have elevations in their liver enzymes (ALT and AST levels) due to statin drugs. Most authorities recommend reducing the dose or stopping the statin treatment if the liver enzymes go over three times the upper limit of normal -- above about 100 U/L -- which yours didn’t get close to. Since the risk to your liver from a statin is small, and the benefit of a statin in a person with even modest coronary calcium is relatively large, there is more benefit than harm for most people in your situation.
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
Claims Error Rate: 61%
It’s one thing to have a medical condition that neatly slots into the VA’s presumptive chart of toxic exposure-related illnesses. If you served at a location at a certain time, your illness is presumed to have been caused by that service under TERA, a toxic exposure risk activity.
As the list of presumptives grows (courtesy of the PACT Act), so do the number of veterans who quality automatically. Disability benefits soon follow -- if all goes well.
But what if you were there, at a certain time, and your toxic exposure illness isn’t on the list?
In 2022 when the PACT Act added so many presumptives, veterans submitted their claims, the how-to claims manual increased in size, and things became complicated. For one thing, those veterans without a presumptive (listed) illness were required to get a medical exam and a medical opinion. The claims people had to do extra work and request the specific exam as well as the opinion to verify that the veteran did have that illness, and that the exposure did indeed cause that illness.
And there the problems began with the denial of claims.
The VA’s Office of Inspector General stepped in and conducted a very long review to investigate whether processors handled those denials correctly.
The results of that investigation showed that 61% of denials for nonpresumptive TERA-related claims had processing errors. In some cases, there was no request for a medical exam and opinion. In other cases there was no research into whether the veteran actually participated in a toxic exposure activity.
It’s not surprising so many mistakes were made. Besides the standard 82-page how-to manual, processors needed to wade through eight policy documents, nine general information documents and 94 webpages of frequently asked questions.
The OIG’s recommendations, if followed by the VA, should ease the difficulties in accurately processing the exposure claims. We can only hope they’re listening.
Veterans, if you believe your illness was caused by toxic exposure, insist on a TERA exam and medical opinion to bolster your claim.
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.
Staving Off Cognitive Decline as You Age
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Are there any proven strategies to preventing cognitive decline? I have a family history of dementia and am a bit worried about my own memory and cognitive abilities as I grow older. -- Forgetful at 55
Dear Forgetful: For most people, starting in their fifties and sixties, the brain’s ability to remember names, multi-task or learn something new starts declining. While our genes (which we can’t control) play a key role in determining our cognitive aging, our general health (which we do have some control over) plays a big factor too.
Here are some healthy lifestyle strategies – recommended by medical experts, that you can employ that can help stave off cognitive loss and maybe even build a stronger brain.
Manage health problems:
Studies have shown that cognitive problems are related to health conditions, like diabetes, heart disease and even depression. So, if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes you need to treat them with lifestyle changes and medication (if necessary) and get them under control. And if you have a history of depression, talk to your doctor about treatment options.
Exercise:
Aerobic exercise increases blood flow to all parts of your body, including your brain, to keep the brain cells well nourished. So, choose an aerobic activity you enjoy like walking, cycling, dancing, swimming, etc.,
that elevates your heart rate, and do it for at least 30 to 40 minutes three times a week.
Eat healthy:
A heart-healthy diet, like the Mediterranean diet, will also help protect the brain. A Mediterranean diet includes relatively little red meat and emphasizes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish and shellfish, and nuts, olive oil and other healthy fats. Also keep processed foods and sweets to a minimum.
Get plenty of sleep:
Quality, restful sleep contributes to brain health too. Typically, adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep daily. If you have persistent problems sleeping, you need to identify and address the problem. Medications, late-night exercise and alcohol can interfere with sleep quality and length, as can arthritis pain, sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.
If you need help, make an appointment with a sleep specialist who will probably recommend an overnight diagnostic sleep test.
Challenge your mind:
Some research suggests that mind challenging activities can help improve memory, and slow age-related mental decline. But be aware that these activities consist of things you aren’t accustomed to doing. In other words, crossword puzzles aren’t enough to challenge your brain, if you’re already a regular puzzle doer. Instead, you need to pick up a new skill like learning to dance, play a musical instrument, study a new language or do math problems – something that’s challenging and even a little outside your comfort zone.
Brain-training websites like Lumosity, Elevate and Peak are good mind exercising tools because they continually adapt to your skill level to keep you challenged.
Socializing and interacting with other people is another important way to stimulate the brain. So, make a point to reach out and stay connected to friends, family and neighbors. Join a club, start attending a church, take a class or even volunteer – anything that helps to fill or enhance your social life.
Minimize alcohol use:
Regular alcohol consumption, espe-
cially in excess, effects the brain in a negative way, so kick the habitual drinking habit and do so only occasionally.
Check your eyes and ears:
A growing body of evidence shows that vision and hearing loss, which affects brain stimulation, can also increase the risk of cognitive decline. So, get your eyes and ears checked regularly and treat any issues promptly.
Reduce stress:
Some stress is good for the brain, but too much can be toxic. There’s evidence that things like stretching classes, tai chi, and regular prayer are all good ways to help reduce stress.
-- by Jim Miller
set would probably be $350 to $500.
JUNQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Dinnerware Is Vintage American Beauty
Q: Please help me out. I have sent you a photo of a coffee pot, a plate, and salt and pepper shakers. All I know is my mother got this when I was very young. Each piece is marked “American Beauty -- Stetson.” They are in mint condition, and I plan to hand the set down to my daughter.
I would like to have more information on the maker, vintage and value of my set.
Q: Stetson China Company began as a decorating and distributing firm in 1919. It was a family business, and they were located in Chicago, Illinois. In 1946, Joseph Stetson purchased the Illinois China Company that was located in Lincoln, Illinois, and the name became Stetson China Company.
Rather than using decals, they outlined designs and then finished it by hand painting. Many of their wares were sold in department stores, and some were made as premiums for the Procter and Gamble Company. They also made earthenware that was decorated with decals and used as premiums for grocery stores.
“American Beauty” is the name of the pattern of your set, which is trimmed in 22 karat gold. It was a very popular line and included dinnerware, coffee pots, salt and pepper shakers, grease pots and syrup pitchers. They couldn’t compete with less expensive imports, as did many other china factories. They closed in 1966.
An insurance value for your 1940s - 1950s
Q: This mark is on the bottom of a pottery vase that I have. The vase stands a little over 5 inches, is decorated with a matte blue glaze and has handles. Around the widest part of the vase are light blue flowers and green leaves with intertwining vines. Anything you can tell me about my vase will be greatly appreciated.
A: Julius B. Dressler made your vase around 1910. They made porcelain and earthenware in Biela, Bohemia, from 1900 to 1945. Much of Dressler’s work was influenced by the Art Nouveau and the Secessionist movements. It can be recognized by curvilinear lines and scrolling flowers and vines inspired by nature. Biela is now part of the Czech Republic.
Similar Dressler vases are selling in the range of $300 to $500. * * *
Q: I have a question about a Red Wing pottery vase my mother found in an old house in 1934. It was dirty, but in perfect condition. It stands 12 inches tall, 6 inches wide and is decorated with a branch that has 7 leaves against a white glazed background. The inside is blue-green.
How much do you think it’s worth?
A: Red Wing Pottery was founded in Red Wing, Minn., in 1878. In the beginning, they made utilitarian ware that included crocks, stoneware jugs and canning jars. In the 1920s they introduced their art pottery lines. They also produced dinnerware. Red Wing Pottery closed operations in 1967. Your vase would probably be worth $75 to $125.
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.
* On Oct. 27, 1873, Joseph Glidden, a farmer in DeKalb, Illinois, submitted an application to the U.S. Patent Office for his new design for a fencing wire with sharp barbs. His version, using two strands of wire twisted together, was an improvement on the single-strand version created by Henry Rose and became the best-selling such wire in the country.
* On Oct. 28, 1787, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart worked all night to complete the overture of his opera “Don Giovanni,” which was scheduled to debut in Prague the next day. The orchestra had no time to rehearse, but sight-read it in the concert hall to a most enthusiastic response from the crowd.
* On Oct. 29, 1618, Sir Walter Raleigh, an English adventurer, writer and favorite courtier of Queen Elizabeth I, was beheaded in London under a sentence brought against him 15 years earlier for conspiracy against King James I.
* On Oct. 30, 1905, George Bernard Shaw’s play “Mrs. Warren’s Profession,” which dealt frankly with prostitution and had already been banned in Britain, was staged at New York’s Garrick Theater, but was closed by authorities after a single performance. The next day the producer and players were arrested for obscenity, but no one (including Shaw) was convicted. The play would not be legally performed in Britain for another 21 years.
* On Oct. 31, 1950, 21-year-old Earl Lloyd became the first African American to play in an NBA game when he took to the court in the season opener for the Washington Capitols. While he would describe joining an all-white team as “intimidating,” his teammates were welcoming, though not all fans approved.
* On Nov. 1, 1800, President John Adams moved into the newly constructed President’s House, the original name for what we today call the White House.
* On Nov. 2, 2000, the first residential crew arrived aboard the International Space Station, marking both the beginning of a new era of international cooperation in space and the longest continuous human habitation in low Earth orbit, which continues to this day.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
"I think they've overwatered the greens again, so be careful, they're a bit on the soft side."
Antiques
Small cartoon superhero who reaches his most powerful form in the fall season: Autumn Ant.
Stetson China Company was founded in 1919.
Julius Dressler was located in Bohemia.
Bad Ideas (from page 3)
Buick and Oldsmobile, and fill a perceived gap in the automobile market.
• But Fordʼs crack research team didnʼt quite do enough homework and misread the actual consumer trends. By the time the Edsel launched, preferences were already shifting toward smaller, more fuel-efficient cars just opposite the expensive and distinctively styled Edsel.
• Production was halted after three model years of steadily-diminishing sales. The Edsel was a catastrophic failure, costing Ford Motor Company an estimated $350 million in losses, the equivalent of billions of dollars in today's money.
CASTLE CLIFFHANGER
• In 2003, officials in the California state government decided to survey erosion along the Pacific coastline. They hired a photographer to take pictures of every stretch of the beach so the rate of erosion could be measured over time. Along the way, the photographer snapped a picture of a grand mansion that sits on a bluff high above the coastline, directly over a cliff that is susceptible to erosion.
• As directed by his employers, the photographer then posted the pictures on a state government website, where the public was able view them.
• The grand mansion happened to belong to singer Barbra Streisand. Angered, she took exception to pictures of her very private, sprawling manor being posted on a public forum, even though the palatial abode was not identified as hers, and even though the only intent of the photo was to show the eroding cliff beneath the estate. She therefore sued the photographer for $50 million, and insisted the image be removed from the website and scrubbed from the internet.
• The wide publicity generated by her lawsuit sent the “view counter” of that internet page soaring, while the news media copied and pasted the picture to their own websites. She had intended to keep photos of her castle out of the public eye, but her uproar ensured that the entire population was now aware of it.
• She lost the case and was required to pay the legal fees. The phenomenon, now known as “The Streisand Effect,” is defined as “bringing unwanted attention to the very thing that is trying to be hidden.”
Give your golf-related advertising message targeted visibility in full color in this weekly 2” x 6” fixed location $159 per insertion reaches 70,000+ readers each week at the low cost of only $2.27 per 1,000 reader impressions!
Game Changers
by Jason Jenkins
Longer hitters have great lower body action, especially when it comes to the left hip and leg. This secret motion can be summarized into a “Shift and Rotate” sequence that all good throwing and striking motions employ.
Most golfers can shift their weight forward effectively, but lack the proper rotation of the leg and hip through impact.The left leg stays bent into impact but is in the process of turning in order to straighten the left leg.
This rotation of the left hip and leg is a speed element that gives players that game changing distance. The rotation causes the left foot to even spin out at times where the weight rolls to the outside of the foot and back toward the heel.
The hip does not rotate immediately in the downswing but should aggressively rotate through impact, thus the shift and rotate sequence.
STAN SMITH'S TENNIS CLASS
9. ENTERTAINERS: Where is Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland?
TRIVIA TEST Answers Answers
10. SCIENCE: What is the study of clouds called? Answers 1. Asgard. 2. “Great Expectations.” 3. Gluteus maximus. 4. Twinkies. 5. Ganymede. 6. Poisoned by licking cheap wedding invitation envelopes.
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: � � Moderate �� Difficult ��� GO FIGURE!
7. Type of clam. 8. Nine (Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana). 9. Memphis, Tennessee. 10. Nephology.
by Linda Thistle
