Vol. 20: #19 • Animals of Australia • (5-5-2024) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

"The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read"

by Kathy Wolfe

Did you know that more than 80% of the plants, mammals and reptiles found in Australia are unique to that country and found nowhere else in the world? Some Australian animals are very well known, like kangaroos, dingos, wallabies, the platypus, and of course the koala. This week Tidbits looks at these unique creatures plus others to learn more, and to see what else we might find down under.

• Of the estimated 330 species of marsupials in the world, about two-thirds live in Australia. This order of mammals has a pouch on the female’s abdomen to carry the young. The females give birth just a month after conception.

• The endangered marsupial Tasmanian Devil is only found in Australia’s Tasmanian wilderness and national parks. The Looney Tunes Tasmanian Devil gives us the impression that they are wild and vicious creatures ready to tear apart anything in their path, but they’re not really dangerous. They will attack only when trapped or defending themselves, but their chilling growls, terrifying screeches and screams give the impression of a Australian Animals: Turn to page 3

TRIVIA NEWSFRONT

(Answers on page 16)

1. GEOGRAPHY: Which of the Great Lakes is smallest in surface area?

2. TELEVISION: Which sitcom has the theme song, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”?

3. ANATOMY: Which part of the human body is involved with ACL surgery?

4. GAMES: What is the victim’s name in the U.S. version of the board game “Clue”?

5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the world’s largest species of frog?

6. SCIENCE: What do isobars indicate?

7. LITERATURE: In the novel “Don Quixote,” who is the human companion to the title character?

8. MOVIES: In which movie did actor Bill Murray live the same day over and over?

9. THEATER: Who is believed to be the first actor in a Greek drama?

10. MUSIC: What is the name of Beyonce’s 2024 country album? Answers

(Trivia Test answers page 16)

The LUNGS

your body

"Fearfully

Take a deep breath and soak up these facts on the human body’s lungs, the most important organs in the respiratory system.

• The lungs are responsible for extracting oxygen from the air we breathe and transferring it to the bloodstream, where it is sent to the cells. The lungs also remove carbon dioxide as a waste gas through exhaling. When we inhale, air travels down the throat, through the larynx, and into the trachea. The trachea has two air passages, or bronchial tubes, with one leading to the left lung and one to the right.

• Lungs are composed of a spongy material that stretches easily, but can still keep its shape without damage. They’re covered with a protective lining known as the pleural tissue.

• Lungs are not mirror images of each other, nor are they even the same size. The right lung is slightly larger than the left, with three lobes, while the left lung has just two lobes. The heart is where the middle lobe of the left lung would be, designed with a “cardiac notch” for the heart to perfectly fit in. Each lobe expands like a balloon when inhaling, deflating when the body exhales. Together, the lungs weigh about 2.9 lbs. They’re located within the rib cage for protection, and are connected to the spinal cord at the back and the chest bone at the front.

• Your body’s respiration rate is defined as the number of breaths your lungs take per minute. Normal range is between 12 and 20 breaths per minute, about 20,000 or so breaths a day. The average 50-year-old has taken around 400 million breaths. The average person breathes in about 13 pints of air per minute, yet the body uses just 5% of the oxygen that’s inhaled. The rest is exhaled and the cycle starts again.

• Healthy lungs are pinkish-gray, while damaged lungs are darker gray, frequently with black spots. Smoke from tobacco and other sources is not healthy for lung tissue because of the high amounts of tar that smoke contains.

• When a baby is still in the womb, the lungs are filled with fluid. About ten seconds after birth, a baby takes its first breath, with the lungs adapting in a matter of seconds, breathing in oxygen for the first time.

• As the cells use oxygen, they produce carbon dioxide, which transfers to the blood. The bloodstream carries it back to the lungs, which remove the CO2 when exhaling. Hypercapnia occurs when a person has too much carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. It can cause dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath, as well as an irregular heartbeat, fainting, panic attacks, and seizures. Contributors to this condition include sleep apnea, obesity, and shallow breathing.

• Taking deep breaths is very beneficial to the body, helping the body to relax, to ease stress and anxiety or pain, improve focus, lower blood pressure, and reduce muscle tension.

• Bronchitis occurs when the lungs’ large and medium-size airways become inflamed, usually as the result of an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses, one that makes its way to the airways. The difference between bronchitis and pneumonia is which part of the respiratory system is affected. While bronchitis affects the tubes that carry air to the lungs, pneumonia affects the air sacs, where oxygen passes into the blood, with those sacs filling with fluid.

4.

Lake Ontario.

“Cheers.”

The knee.

Mr. Boddy.

vicious devil. It’s their appearance that gives them their name, with their red ears and extremely wide jaws lined with rows of menacing sharp teeth.

• The largest marsupial on Earth is the red kangaroo, reaching heights of over six feet, although the largest on record stood 6.9 feet tall and weighed 201 lbs. The red kangaroo hops along at 35 mph. The term “red” only applies to the males, who have short, red-brown fur. The females’ coloring is blue-grey with a brown tinge and pale grey on their lower bodies.

• Kangaroos hang out together in groups of about ten, known as “mobs.” The mobs are mostly females and their young, with only a male or two. They’re always on the lookout for danger, and if spotted, they stamp their feet to warn the others. Oddly enough, red kangaroos are good swimmers, and escape to water when threatened, defending themselves by holding a predator underwater with their front legs.

• A baby kangaroo, known as a joey, climbs into its mother’s pouch immediately after birth, and doesn’t stick its head out for 150 days. After 190 days, the joey comes out for short periods, but will remain in the pouch for the most part of about 235 days. Grey kangaroos are smaller than their red counterparts, with males weighing about 145 lbs., and are also tamer.

Mon.,

• Kangaroos and wallabies are often mistaken for each other, unless they can be seen side by side. The two come from the same scientific family, but kangaroos are much larger, with the wallaby almost an exact miniature. A typical wallaby weighs about 45 lbs, and stands just 3.2 feet tall. Kangaroos have much more length between their ankles and knees, while wallaby legs are more compact. A wallaby’s coloring is much different, too, with splashes of different colors

Mike

on their coat. A kangaroo might live to age 25, while the lifespan of the wallaby is just 14 years.

• Most marsupials belong to the classification family called macropods. The word macropod translates from the Greek, meaning “large foot.”

• The smallest marsupial is just 0.12 to 0.16 inches long. The mouse-like planigale weighs about as much as a teaspoon of sugar

• The koala bear isn’t a bear at all, but another species of marsupial that spends its first seven months in its mother’s pouch. The cuddly little koalas measure about 2.5 feet long and weigh 30 lbs. They feed only on eucalyptus trees, spending four hours a day eating. Because the leaves of the eucalyptus are low on nutrition and difficult to digest, the koala spends the remaining 18 hours of the day sleeping.

• The word “koala” is from an Aboriginal term meaning “no drink,” because the koala gets all its moisture from the eucalyptus leaves, and rarely drinks water.

• The wombat looks like a little bear with chubby cheeks. They’re pudgy and waddle when they walk, but don’t be deceived – they can run up to 25 mph. This marsupial is about 40 inches tall, and can reach 77 lbs. Their endearing appearance leads a person to think they’re cuddly and affectionate, but if threatened, wombats will attack humans with their sharp claws and large teeth, and have actually been responsible for human deaths.

The Emu is

necessary can sprint at 50 km/h (31 mph).

• Australia is home to the world’s most dangerous bird, the southern cassowary. This flightless bird reaches a height of 5 feet, 6 inches and can weigh up to a hefty 160 lbs. Its danger is the five-inch claw on each foot, which is used to kick out at fast speeds, as well as having the ability to jump five feet off the ground, and a running speed of 30 mph. Although there have been scores of injuries to humans, there have been just two known fatalities, one in 1926 and one in 2019. However, the cassowary just likes to be left alone, and won’t attack unless it feels threatened.

• Australia’s rainforests are the environment of the lyrebird, a unique bird that picks up sounds from its surroundings and mimics them. It has the ability to copy the sound of a chainsaw, camera shutters, car alarms, music, ring tones, crying babies, and even human speech. The lyrebird also vocalizes the call of other birds. Australia is so

fond of lyrebirds, the bird’s image is included on the country’s 10-cent coin and the 100-dollar note.

• Watch where you step! Australia has more species of venomous snakes than any other continent. Twenty-one of the world’s 25 deadliest snakes can be found there, including the tiger snake, brown snake, taipan, the copperhead, and the death adder. About 12 species have venom strong enough to kill a human.

• The unusual platypus is only found in the waters off the coast of Australia. Its appearance is baffling. Measuring 20 inches from the tip of its bill to the tip of its tail, it has the broad flat bill of

1. What is the official name for a kangaroo's pouch?

2. What is the main predator of the koala? The

Answers page 16

Australia's national bird. It is the second-largest living bird by height. Emus are soft-feathered, brown, flightless birds with long necks and legs, and can reach up to 1.9 meters (6.2 ft) in height. Emus can travel great distances, and when

could set it permanently.

By Lucie Winborne

* Pass the Beano! In Japan, they used to hold contests to see who could fart the longest and loudest. The winner received a prize and high honors.

* Leeches have 32 brains.

* In June 2017, a tire shop in Fort Worth, Texas, was robbed so often that the owner bought a guard dog. But that didn’t solve the problem -- the next time the shop was robbed, the intruders stole the dog!

* Native Americans planted “Three Sisters”-- corn, beans and squash -- together for their mutual benefit. Corn provided a structure for the beans to climb, beans provided nitrogen to the soil, and squash spread along the ground, preventing the growth of weeds.

* PayPal once accidentally credited a man with $92 quadrillion.

* “Highway hypnosis” is a mental state where a person can drive a vehicle great distances while responding to external events in a safe and correct manner, but with no recollection of having consciously done so.

* Andrew Myrick, a storekeeper on a Minnesota Native American reservation, allegedly suggested that starving natives eat grass. While the quote’s validity has been debated, he was notably found dead on the first day of the Dakota War of 1862 with grass stuffed in his mouth.

* The average man spends about one year of his life staring at women.

* A tattoo needle doesn’t actually inject ink. It’s just coated with pigment and your skin absorbs the color via capillary action.

* In 2014, 13-year-old Danielle Lei, a Girl Scout in San Francisco, became the first Girl Scout to make news by selling cookies outside a marijuana dispensary, unloading an impressive 117 boxes in just two hours.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

Tough Love for Financially Irresponsible Parents of Adult Children

You need a leather expert. Call a local dry cleaner to get a referral. Leather upholstery is not something you can easily (or cheaply) replace, but you need to get this stain removed to protect the resale value of your car. Good luck! * * *

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

DEAR CHEAPSKATE: I've read stories about parents with grown children who constantly need bailouts. What do you do when it’s your 62-year-old mother who has the money problem? My mom has a job and makes enough money to support herself. In 2003, she bought a house for $95,000. She had little debt at the time. Since then, she’s refinanced her home multiple times and now owes $227,000 on top of extensive credit card debt.

Recently, she called me saying she was $3,000 in the red. My husband and I sent her the money. This isn’t the first time we’ve bailed her out. My brother and I are at our wits’ ends. She is hanging on by a thread. I can’t make her get a roommate or a second job, or take away her checkbook.

What do you do with a person you've no control over who cannot make good financial decisions? We don’t want her to be homeless and live in her car, but we don’t want her to move in with us, either. We need advice. Please help! -- Anonymous, Idaho

Dear Anon: You are definitely in a difficult situation. Giving her money is about the worst thing you can do. That only exacerbates the problem. You have already discovered that you cannot control her.

Here’s the problem, which I only know from having lived through my own dark financial past. Until the pain of her actions becomes greater than the pleasure she receives from spending -- nothing will change. You are now serving as enablers by shielding her from that kind of financial pain. If she will not agree to see a qualified family counselor with you and your brother, the two of you should speak with a licensed financial advisor, someone who will help you lay down solid ground rules. Then you both need to become united on how you will respond to her in the future.

DEAR CHEAPSKATE: I have a 3-yearold daughter. Eventually, my husband and I plan to have more children. I have saved lots of baby things, clothing, toys and other items, but I am having trouble storing all of these things. They have taken over my guest room closet. I cannot take up any more space with these things.

I have begun bags for donation and garage sales, but there are some things I need to keep for future children. I do not like the idea of paying for storage space elsewhere, but I am not sure what to do with these quickly accumulating things. Suggestions? -- Becky, Wisconsin

Dear Becky: Do you have friends or relatives with garage, basement or attic space you could use for a few years? If not, I suggest you decide what items you really need to retain. For all the clothes, blankets and other soft items, get a few vacuum storage bags that are easily filled and compressed using your vacuum cleaner with a hose to suck out all the air. You can stash these under beds or in the tops of closets. As for equipment, get out your tools and disassemble them. Put all the pieces into compact boxes that you can tuck away. Take photos during the process so you’ll remember how to put these items back together when the new babies arrive.

* * *

DEAR MARY: I have been a faithful reader of your columns for the last two years. Though I live in India, it has helped me a lot. I paid off my credit card completely, and I have not touched it in nearly 18 months! You are a great motivator for me. I thank God for you. I recently received one of your books from the USA through a relative of mine. Every day, I eagerly look forward to reading your articles. God bless you. Thank you once again. Keep it going. -- Laly, South India

You and your brother will need to be in total agreement to exercise tough love with your mom. In the future, if she is truly in need of food, has the electricity turned off, or her personal safety is at risk, do not give her the money directly. That would be like handing a bottle of whiskey to an alcoholic. Instead, pay the bill or supply the meal yourself. Do not let her send you on a guilt trip accusing you of her self-inflicted problems.

DEAR CHEAPSKATE: Last summer, heat from the sun caused the red lettering from a plastic shopping bag to melt onto the gray leather front passenger seat in my car. I have been unable to remove the stain and hope you may have a solution. -- Toni, Florida

Dear Toni: This is a problem I wouldn’t mess around with, because it will affect the resale value of your car. Because we don’t know the content or type of ink that penetrated the leather, any attempts you make to remove it

Dear Laly: How wonderful to hear from you across the miles. I am so proud of you to have paid off that credit card! Sadly, I believe credit card debt has become a globally unifying concept. It affects us in similar ways even though our cultures might be vastly different. I hope you enjoy that book. I look forward to hearing from you again.

* * *

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 2024 CREATORS.COM

THE HINDENBURG

It was floating over Manhattan just minutes before it burst into flames and crashed to the ground. This week, Tidbits focuses on the Hindenburg, the massive airship that met a fiery end 87 years ago this week.

• Construction on the Hindenburg began in 1931 by the German-based Zeppelin Company. Some of the airship’s parts were salvaged from a British airship that had crashed a year earlier.

• The airship was named for the late Paul von Hindenburg, who had been Germany’s president from 1925 to 1934. The Nazis had wanted to name the ship after Hitler, but the Zeppelin Company’s president refused the request, due to his disagreements with the Nazi Party.

• The Hindenburg was the largest craft to ever fly. At 804 feet long, it was three times longer than today’s Boeing 747. Its top airspeed was 84 mph with a cruising speed of 78 mph. Its speed over the ground was dependent upon the speed of the air mass it was moving through.

• The Hindenburg was launched on its first public flight on March 4, 1936, part of an aerial tour of Germany ordered by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. In August of that year, the ship flew over the Olympic complex in Berlin as part of the Summer Games’ opening ceremony.

• During 1936, the Hindenburg made 17 round trips across the Atlantic Ocean, including ten trips to the United States, with one of the trips setting a new record by flying across the Atlantic and back in five days, 19 hours, and 51 minutes. The day of the disaster, May 6, 1937, was the first of its scheduled transAtlantic crossings that year, with a destination of Lakehurst, New Jersey.

• The airship was capable of carrying 70 passengers, but only 36 were on board on that May day in 1937, along with 61 crewmen.

• The return flight to Germany was fully booked. It was the choice of travel for many passengers who planned to attend the coronation of British monarch King George VI. A one-way ticket was about $450, or about $9,700 in today’s dollars.

• Because hydrogen-powered airships didn’t have a very favorable safety record, the

designers intended to fill it with non-flammable helium gas. However, because the United States had a monopoly on the world’s supply of helium and feared that Germany might use it for military purposes, they prohibited its export. Consequently, the Hindenburg was filled with 7 million cubic feet of flammable hydrogen.

• At 7:25 PM as the airship came in for landing at about 180 feet off the ground, a fire suddenly erupted in a burst at its aft end and quickly engulfed the entire craft in flames. In less than 40 seconds it had crashed to the ground completely consumed by massive flames as spectators watched in horrified disbelief. Many passengers and crew leapt out of the windows. Of the 97 total people on board, 62 miraculously survived. Thirteen passengers and 22 crew members perished, along with one worker on the ground.

• Even today, the cause of the disaster remains a mystery, although varying theories have been suggested. Some say it was due to a leak of hydrogen into the electrically-charged atmosphere, creating an electrostatic discharge which ignited the gas on the craft’s outer skin. Others speculate that the ship’s paints resembled

rocket fuel and caused the fire. Because thunderstorms were present in the New York area, some have mentioned a lightning strike, but the airship had been struck by lightning several times during its many flights with no effect. Sabotage was also suggested.

• Fragments of the Hindenburg are on display today at the Smithsonian Institute, including a chunk of a support girder and a piece of a drive propeller. The collection also includes a demitasse cup and saucer and postcards from a mailbag that survived the fire. 

As Your Seasoned Real Estate Professionals with a knack for negotiation, we’re here to share some insider tips to empower you in your real estate endeavors.

1. Know Your Worth: Before diving into negotiations, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your property’s value and market dynamics. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be better equipped to advocate for your best interests.

2. Play the Long Game: Negotiation is not just about securing a win in the moment but also about fostering long-term relationships and mutual respect. Approach negotiations with a spirit of collaboration and openness to finding win-win solutions.

3. Listen and Learn: Effective negotiation is as much about listening as it is about speaking. Take the time to understand the other party’s motivations, concerns, and priorities. This insight will inform your negotiation strategy and help you craft compelling offers.

4. Be Creative: Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and explore creative solutions to bridge gaps and overcome obstacles. Whether it’s structuring a unique financing arrangement or sweetening the deal with incentives, creativity can be a powerful negotiation tool.

5. Stay Cool and Confident: Negotiation can be intense, but maintaining a cool and confident demeanor is key to success. Trust in your experienced Real Estate Professional’s knowledge, experience, track record, and professionalism to shine through in every interaction.

With these proven negotiation tips in your arsenal, you can approach real estate deals with confidence and poise. Trust in our expertise and track record as your trusted real estate pros, and together, we’ll make Smart Moves to unlock the door to your real estate goals. Let’s negotiate our way to success. Call or email us today.

by Dana Jackson

Q: How is Celine Dion doing since she was diagnosed with a neurological disorder? Will she ever sing in front of an audience again? -- N.G.

A: Two years ago, Celine Dion was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a neurological disorder with an unknown cause and an uncertain prognosis. In an interview with Vogue France, she said that she undergoes physical and vocal therapy five days a week and hopes to sing again.

In February of this year, Dion presented a Grammy Award to Taylor Swift. She looked happy and radiant, leaving her fans hopeful that they’ll hear her angelic voice on stage again someday.

Q: Is it true that Garcelle Beauvais is leaving “Real Housewives” because her acting career has taken off? She’s the only levelheaded one in the bunch, so I wouldn’t blame her if she quit. -- T.S.

A: There have been several firings and voluntary exits among Bravo’s “Real Housewives” lately, but Garcelle Beauvais is not one of them -- at least not yet. The popular cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” began her career in front of the cameras as a model for the Ford agency before getting bit by the acting bug. She appeared in the Eddie Murphy film “Coming to America” and its sequel, as well as “The Jamie Foxx Show”

and the short-lived Aaron Spelling primetime soap “Models Inc.”

After her career lagged a bit, she joined “Real Housewives” in 2020. While most actors look at reality television as a step down, this had the opposite effect on Beauvais’ career. Viewers were charmed by her wit, levelheadedness and beauty, and her career in Hollywood was reborn.

In 2023, Beauvais produced and starred in a hit movie for the Lifetime network called “Black Girl Missing.” She recently inked a deal to produce two more telefilms under this franchise, which will “continue the imperative conversations about systemic inequalities where missing girls and women of color are ignored.”

She’ll also star in another Lifetime movie, the first of what hopes to be many with the introductory title “Terry McMillan Presents.” If that name sounds familiar, McMillan is the novelist behind some bestselling books that were adapted into hit movies, like “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” and “Waiting to Exhale.”

With all this success, don’t be surprised if

Beauvais does leave the bickering “Housewives” behind her, but as of now, she’s expected to return next season.

Q: Is “Russian Doll” ever coming back to Netflix, or has it been canceled? -- K.S.

A: According to TVLine, the Netflix drama “Russian Doll” was originally intended to take three seasons to tell its story. However, it’s been two years since the second chapter ended, but the writers’ and actors’ strikes last year played a role in its delay.

In the meantime, the show’s star Natasha Lyonne found herself with a new hit show on her hands, “Poker Face,” which streams on Peacock. Will she have time to star in both shows? According to Lyonne, there are “potentially more adventures” for “Russian Doll’s” Nadia, but “it’s gonna take some time.”

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

1. Civil War

(R) Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura

1. Split ................................ (PG-13)

2. Abigail

James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy

2. Rings ............................... (PG-13)

(R) Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens

Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe

3. A Dog’s Purpose (PG)

Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid

4. Hidden Figures (PG)

3. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (PG-13) Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer

Tell them you saw their ad in Tidbits!

5. La La Land (PG-13)

Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

4. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (R) Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson

When you patronize Tidbits advertisers, You help support The tidbits paper!

6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (R)

5. Spy x Family Code: White (PG-13) Takuya Eguchi, Atsumi Tanezaki

Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen

6. Kung Fu Panda 4 (PG) Jack Black, Awkwafina

7. Sing (PG) animated

Remember: You read

DON’T FORGET!

8. Lion ................................ (PG-13)

7. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (PG-13) Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon

Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman

9. The Space Between Us .. (PG-13)

Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield

8. Dune: Part Two (PG-13) Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya

10. xXx: Return of Xander

Tell the advertisers you saw their ad in Tidbits! Remember to TELL OUR ADVERTISERS YOU SAW THEIR AD IN TIDBITS!

9. Monkey Man (R) Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley

Cage .................................... (PG-13)

Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen ©

10. The First Omen (R) Nell Tiger Free, Ralph Ineson © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

(Tidbits wouldn't be possible without them)

(You wouldn’t have Tidbits without them)

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Singer Celine Dion

in tidbits!

Good Recipes from Easy Pasta Bolognese

At its most basic, Bolognese means “meat sauce.” Although some recipes call for hours of cook time, we’ve boiled it down to 40 minutes flat. The result? A rich tomato-based sauce spiked with heavy cream that’s fantastic on any long pasta.

1 medium carrot

1 clove garlic

1 can whole plum tomatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt and pepper

1 pound pasta

1 stalk celery

1 onion

3/4 pound lean ground beef

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

1. Pulse the carrot and garlic in a food processor until the garlic is finely chopped. Add the tomatoes and their juices, 2 tablespoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper, and pulse until finely chopped.

2. Transfer the tomato mixture to a medium saucepan and simmer until thickened, 20 to 25 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and return to pot.

4. While the pasta is cooking, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery and onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Add wine and bring to a simmer.

5. Stir the tomato sauce and cream into the meat mixture and simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the parsley and oregano.

Toss the pasta with the sauce. Serves 6.

TIP: Make the sauce omitting cream and herbs. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. If frozen, thaw overnight in refrigerator. Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in cream and simmer for 3 minutes, then stir in herbs.

Three-C Slaw

This refreshing slaw has the unexpected zip of celeriac along with cabbage and just enough carrot to add a hint of sweetness.

1 cup low-fat mayonnaise dressing

1/2 cup Dijon mustard with seeds

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1 medium-size head green cabbage (3 pounds), thinly sliced

3 medium-size bulbs celeriac (celery root), about 10 ounces each, peeled and finely shredded*

One 16-ounce bag carrots, peeled and finely shredded

1. In a small bowl, with wire whisk or fork, mix mayonnaise dressing, mustard, lemon juice, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper.

2. Place cabbage, celeriac and carrots in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss to coat well.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 1/2 hours to allow flavors to blend. Makes 20 servings.

*NOTE: If you can’t find celeriac, substitute an additional pound of carrots and 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds.

 Each serving: About 200 calories, 2g total fat (0g saturated), 5g protein, 44g carb., 0mg cholesterol, 475 mg sodium.

By John Allen

DIAMOND LIL

by Brett Koth

Donald Duck by Walt

5/5 Chanel No. 5 Day

5/6 National Nurses Recognition Day

5/7 World Asthma Day

5/8 V.E. Day

5/9 Home Front Heroes Day

5/10 World Lupus Day

5/11 National Archery Day

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis

Good Don’ts and the Five P’s for Dog Training

I heard some simple words for dog owners to live by on the radio recently, and they are paraphrased here:

Don’t ask: “What did you do?” He’ll never answer you.

Don’t say his name with the word “no.” He’ll never come to you.

Don’t point your finger at him. He’ll never trust your hands.

Don’t say “no” over and over and over again. It’s only a word.

Don’t tell him he’s a bad dog. Why is he a bad dog? Maybe it’s you!

“Don’ts” are often thought of as negative speak, especially on the West Coast. But these are the good don’ts, the important ones, the ones that will keep your relationship with your dog strong and healthy as the two of you navigate the challenges of interspecies communication.

With the right approach to training, canine behavior can be modified from as early on as 8 weeks to as late in life as 12 to 14 years. The “right” approach is determined by the dog -- or, rather, his personality or temperament. For example, a hardheaded dog will require a firm voice and technique; whereas, a timid dog would only be made more fearful by the same treatment.

Bottom line: In order to train your dog, you have to know your dog. And part of knowing your dog is knowing dogs in general and what to expect.

Dogs bark. They chew. They jump, dig, nip, teethe, whine, wiggle and bark some more. None of this is bad -- it’s just dogs being dogs. But some of these behaviors may not align with your expectations.

Consider yourself warned: Expect these behaviors. When your expectations are realistic, you can prepare.

Ever heard of the Five P’s? Purpose, Prepa-

Wuzzles solution Page 16

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

Solution on page 14)

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

Aftermath of the Storms

Just about the time that I’d decided I needed a major shopping trip to replenish food and supplies, along came two back-to-back latewinter storms. These were big ones that packed a double-whammy.

The vicious winds knocked out power, which took out the freezer and dairy sections of all the local food stores. This meant they had to throw away all the frozen and cold foods: milk, eggs, butter, cheeses, everything.

Then, of course, trucks struggled to get through all the downed limbs and damage on the roads and therefore were slow to restock the stores.

We haven’t seen eggs for nearly two weeks at our local store, for example. Today, miracle of miracles, they managed to get a case -- that’s one case -- of 24 cartons of eggs. The ensuing crush of excited people pressing forward to the dairy section could have been deadly to seniors who aren’t exactly sturdy or steady on their feet.

But I ended up very proud of the folks in this town. A handful of college kids saw what was happening and blocked the mass of people who surged forward, carefully escorting one very elderly lady forward and handing her a carton of eggs.

That act of kindness changed the urgent

mood of the crowd. It made them realize what they were doing, how unruly they'd become, and to stop and think.

People eased away, no longer in a panic about getting eggs, realizing there just weren’t enough for everyone, and the college kids stayed there taking it upon themselves to distribute the eggs. And I noticed that most of them were going to seniors. I was impressed.

Afterward, no matter where I walked in the store, it seemed that there was one item left in the sections where stocks were low, as though people were intentionally leaving the last item for someone else who might need it more.

Could those young college kids have started a trend of kindness? Is that possible in this day and age? I sure hope so.

* * *

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.

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

ration, Planning, Practice and Performance. They serve as good guidance in the business world, and they apply to dog training, too.

Let’s apply the five P’s to the No. 1 headache for dog owners: housebreaking. Ironically, housebreaking is also one of the easiest problems to prevent or solve. It’s all in the approach and those five P’s.

Purpose: You want to housebreak your dog.

Prepare: Determine your dog’s personality (via temperament testing), and educate yourself on housebreaking techniques or solicit the services of a reputable dog trainer, one whose philosophy on the care and treatment of dogs aligns with yours.

Plan: Establishing a Feed-Water-Walk schedule that accommodates your dog’s digestive cycle and your lifestyle. One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that you have to first paper train your dog, and then housebreak him. Those are two separate and mutually exclusive goals, or purposes. Paper training teaches your dog to go inside. Housebreaking teaches him to go outside.

Practice: Live by the schedule you set up. Be diligent and faithful. Do not stray.

Perform: If you do all of the above, you will have performed beautifully and your pooch will follow suit.

Apply the five P’s to any behavior your dog engages in that you wish to eliminate or modify, keeping in mind the good “don’ts,” and you’ll be amazed at the results. For detailed instructions on temperament testing, the Feed-Water-Walk schedule and housebreaking your dog, check out “I Just Got a Puppy. What Do I Do?” or visit www.unclematty.com.

Woof!

* * *

Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.

COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM

(the middle class) generally get a 40% replacement rate. Higher income people get a rate around 30%.

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Public Employees Are NOT Being Cheated by Offsets

A month or so ago, I wrote a column about people who mistakenly think they are being cheated by the Social Security Administration out of benefits they believe they are due.

But one group I didn’t mention in that column are the biggest complainers of all: public employees such as teachers and police officers in certain states, many of whom don’t even pay into Social Security in the first place. (The rules about which public employees pay into Social Security can change from one state to another.) Some gripe that they are being cheated out of spousal benefits on a husband’s or wife’s Social Security account. Others complain that any Social Security benefits they earn from a side job are reduced unfairly.

Their complaints center around two laws. One is called the “government pension offset,” or GPO. The other is called the “windfall elimination provision,” or WEP. Before I explain what these rules are all about, I’ve got to give some background.

When Social Security laws were enacted in the 1930s, Congress felt that they could not force a federal pension plan (Social Security) on state and local governments. So they gave them the option of joining Social Security or not. Most did. But some did not. And still today, about 10% of all workers, mostly in state and local jobs in the public sector, are not covered by Social Security. (Those are the teachers and police officers -- along with other state and local employees -- I mentioned earlier.)

Also, federal government employees were initially not covered by Social Security because they had their own pension system in place before Social Security came along. All federal employees hired since 1983 pay into Social Security. However, there are still some old feds out there (hired before 1983) who are not in Social Security.

Folks who spend the bulk of their careers in jobs not covered by Social Security are potentially subject to a couple of offsets that impact either their own Social Security benefit (based on Social Security-covered work they did outside of their regular job) or any benefits they potentially might be due from their spouse’s Social Security record. There always has been a great deal of confusion and an awful lot of misinformation about those offsets.

As I mentioned above, one offset is the WEP. This is the one that impacts your own Social Security benefit. The other is the GPO, and it reduces any spousal benefits you might be due.

The key to understanding WEP is to realize that the word “social” in Social Security means something. Unlike private and other public sector pension plans, there are social goals built into the Social Security program. One of those goals is to raise the standard of living of lower-income workers in retirement. This is accomplished through a benefit formula that is designed to give lower paid workers a better deal than their more highly paid counterparts. Very low-paid workers could get a Social Security benefit that represents up to 90% of their earnings. This percentage is known as a “replacement rate.” People with average incomes

The problem is that people who spend the bulk of their working lives not paying into Social Security are automatically treated as low-income people by the Social Security Administration’s computers. That’s because there are “zeros” on their Social Security earnings record for every year they spent in their non-Social Security job. SSA’s records won’t show they were actually working at the other job and earning another pension. Instead, their Social Security earnings record simply shows gaps in their work history. So when figuring their Social Security retirement benefit, SSA’s computers automatically use the formula intended to compensate a lower-income person.

But teachers, police officers, firefighters and other government employees generally can be classified as people with average incomes, so they should get the same Social Security replacement rate paid to all middle-class workers. That’s why a modified formula is used to refigure their benefits and give them the proper -- and fair -- replacement rate. If you’re an employee affected by this law, that modified formula takes you from the 90% (poor person’s) replacement rate to the 40% (middle-class person’s) replacement rate, thus usually reducing estimated benefits by about half.

Most career teachers and government employees generally have just barely over the qualifying 40 quarters (10 years) of Social Securitycovered work. But if you have 30 or more years of “substantial” Social Security earnings, the windfall provision won’t apply, and your benefit will not be reduced. If you have between 20 and 29 years of substantial earnings, your Social Security benefit will be only partially reduced. A chart giving a yearby-year breakdown of what the government considers substantial earnings is in my book, “Social Security: Simple and Smart.”

The other rule that so many people misunderstand is the GPO. In a nutshell, that law says that an amount equal to two-thirds of a non-Social

1. The book of Simon is found in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither

2. How many chosen men of Israel did Saul take with him to the wilderness of Ziph to search for David? a) 12 b) 100 c) 200 d) 3,000

3. From 1 Samuel 3, whose voice did Samuel think it was when he first heard God calling him as he slept? a) Johathan b) Saul c) Ahiah d) Eli

4. The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any ... ? a) Tongue b) Knife c) Two-edged sword d) Lie

5. In Genesis 26,where did Isaac stay when there was a famine in the land? a) Gerar b) Endor c) Sychar d) Lydda

6. What insect did God send as a plague on the Egyptians? a) Wasps b) Fleas c) Locust d) Spiders

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(Answers on page 16) For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com

Security-covered pension must be deducted from any Social Security dependent’s benefits a person might be due. In effect, the law prevents most folks who work at jobs not covered by Social Security from collecting benefits as a wife, widow, husband or widower from a spouse’s Social Security record.

What these people don’t realize is that the government pension offset law simply treats them in the same way that all other working people have always been treated. For example, if a woman who worked at a job that was covered by Social Security gets a Social Security retirement pension, that pension has always offset any spousal benefits she might have been due. Before the GPO law went into effect, people getting a non-Social Security pension were the only working people in this country who could get their own retirement pension AND a full dependent’s benefit from Social Security.

And the GPO law actually gives these people a bit of a break. Social Security retirement pensions offset spousal benefits dollar for dollar. But a non-Social Security retirement pension causes only a three-for-two offset. In other words, for each $3 you get in a teacher’s or other noncovered pension, you lose only $2 from Social Security spousal benefits.

Due to the space constraints of my column, this has been a very simplified explanation of some very complicated laws. To learn more about the WEP and GPO, I have an entire chapter devoted to these provisions in my guidebook.

* * *

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 2024 CREATORS.COM

die without it!”

josh@jarthurlaw.com

Apple Cider Vinegar Is a Surprising Help for Blood in Urine

DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently, I had anal cancer and was treated with chemo and radiation. The radiation burned my insides and severely damaged most of my internal organs. One of the aftereffects was occasional blood and small clots in my urine. A few months ago, both the frequency and amount of blood, especially the clots, increased dramatically. The size and number of the clots got so large that they blocked my urethra.

During a visit to my urologist, he looked into my bladder and declared it “angry.” Then he told me the same thing every doctor has told me about every problem caused by my treatment: “It was caused by the radiation, and there is nothing that can be done.”

Shortly after this, I began to take unfiltered apple cider vinegar in hopes that it would improve my digestive problems. It helped a little, but the big difference was that I have not had a single recurrence of either blood or clots in my urine. Can you tell me if this is due to the vinegar or if it is just a coincidence? -- A.G.

ANSWER: No, I can’t definitively tell you whether the vinegar helped. It was probably by chance, but let me explain a little about it.

Rectal cancer is often treated with radiation, or combined chemotherapy and radiation, either prior to or after surgery. The dose of radiation is quite high compared to some other cancers, and the complications can be significant.

In addition to damage to the bowel and bladder, radiation treatment can damage the bones and bone marrow, leading to poor bloodcell production, infertility, premature menopause, and more cancer years later. On the other hand, radiation is used when it is expected to improve the cure rate of cancer. Still, the side effects can be challenging.

Hemorrhagic cystitis (bleeding from the bladder) can be caused by chemotherapy or radiation. It may start within a few months or as long as 20 years after radiation.

I am surprised your urologist did not offer any treatments, as there are certainly ones available. Although none of the currently available systemic drugs are proven to be very effective, hyperbaric oxygen is one treatment that is, at least, moderately effective. Medicines placed into the bladder and laser bladder treatments are sometimes tried as well.

I was unable to find any study that evaluated the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar. I am skeptical, but reports like yours of apparent improvement associated with its use might convince a researcher to conduct a study to determine whether it really is effective.

***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am presently taking 300 mg of gabapentin once daily for neuropathy, which had become increasingly severe with burning, itching, and pins and

needles. It is helping, but not 100%. I still need ice packs at night for relief sometimes. Do you have any suggestions for alternative treatment? -- B.R.

ANSWER: Gabapentin is an effective drug for painful neuropathy, whether the cause is known or not. However, its side effect of sedation limits its use, and the medicine needs to be advanced slowly to be tolerated.

In my experience, 300 mg once daily is not adequate for most people, but 300 mg three times daily is effective for many. The recommended dose in one type of severe neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, is 1,200 mg three times daily. It may take months to be able to get to this dose.

I have also had some success with anti-inflammatory medicines as an adjunctive treatment.

* * *

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to ianswer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

VETERANS POST 

by Freddie Groves

Avoiding Foreclosure With VA Help

At the end of May, the Department of Veterans Affairs will start a new program called VASP, Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase, to help over 40,000 veterans stay in their homes when facing foreclosure.

If you have a VA home loan, and if you’re active duty, a veteran or a surviving spouse, you could be eligible for help through VASP if you’re in serious financial trouble. VASP will come in and buy out your loan, modify it and then handle it as a direct VA loan. One of the best parts is that you’ll get a fixed 2.5% interest rate. (As of this writing, a standard 30-fixed mortgage rate is 7.9%.)

VASP is not something you apply for. Instead, the mortgage companies will put in requests to the VA to help veterans they’ve identified as having problems with their loans. You’ll have to do your part by being in touch with your lender. If VASP is the best option, they will be responsible for submitting your name to the VA. If you have a problem with your lender, call the VA at 877-8273702 and press 4.

For the specifics of VASP, go to benefits. va.gov/WARMS/M26_4.asp and select Chapter 9, VA Purchase.

For general information about VA home loans, if you’ve never had a VA home loan, download the buyer handbook at www.benefits.va.gov/ homeloans/index.asp. Start with the Eligibility section.

If you’re just starting the process of buying a home, you’ll need your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), which will tell a lender that you have that benefit either for the first time or again after you’ve paid off a previous VA home loan.

Then send for your credit reports either at AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 877-3228228. If there are any errors in your credit history, the time to get them resolved is at the beginning of your home buying experience, not after you’ve already picked out a home and have mentally moved in. Get your ducks in a row first.

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.

M.D.

(c) 2024 North America Synd., Inc.

-- by Jim Miller

How to Find Affordable Internet Services?

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I was recently notified that the Affordable Connectivity Program, which subsidizes my monthly internet bill, is about to end. This is terrible news! What are my options for finding affordable home internet services now? I’m 71 years old and live primarily on my meager Social Security benefits. -- Barely Getting By

Dear Barely: It’s unfortunate, but without additional funding from Congress, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is winding down and will end in mid-May.

For those that aren’t familiar with this program, the ACP is a government benefit that has provided millions of financially eligible households with a discount of up to $30 per month toward their home internet service, or up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.

The ACP was initially born out of a pandemic-era program called the Emergency Broadband Benefit in 2021 and replaced six months later by the longer-term ACP when Congress

devoted $14.2 billion to the program as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

More than 23 million households are currently enrolled in the ACP which has significantly helped close the digital divide, as affordability has been the primary barrier that has kept most ACP beneficiaries from getting home internet services. But funds are almost out, and a sharply divided Congress has chosen not to continue funding the program, unless they change their mind in the 11th hour.

What to Do Now?

A good first step in securing affordable home internet services is to contact your current provider to find out if they offer any other discounts or low-cost services that fit your budget.

If not, you should shop around. The nonprofit organization EveryoneOn has a National Offer Locator Tool that can help you find lowincome discounted internet services from providers in your area. Just go to EveryoneOn.org/ find-offers, type in your ZIP code and answer a few questions regarding your household financial situation so the internet services you’re eligible for can be located.

Some cities and states across the country are also offering their own local versions of the ACP to help low-income households pay their internet. The best way to look for these services is by going to Google and searching for “(location) internet resources.”

Check Lifeline Benefit

If you haven’t already done so, you also need to find out if you’re eligible for the Lifeline program. Unlike the ACP, Lifeline is a permanently funded federal assistance program that provides a $9.25 monthly subsidy that can help pay your home internet, phone or bundled services (up to $34.25 if you live on Tribal lands). Only one benefit is available per household.

To qualify, your annual household income must be at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, which is $19,683 for one person or $26,622 for two. Or, if you’re receiving certain types of government benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, public housing assistance, veterans’ pension or survivors pension benefit, or live on federally recognized Tribal lands.

You can apply for Lifeline online at Life, via mail or through your internet or phone provider. Or, if you need assistance

Other Options

If you find that you aren’t eligible for any of the lower-income services, you may still be able to save on your internet by shopping and comparing. The best way to do this is at websites like InMyArea.com, which provides a list of internet providers in your area, along with pricing and download speeds. Most providers offer plans under $50 monthly, and you can often find additional discounts for things like bundling with a cellphone plan or signing an annual contract.

Another way to save some money is to buy your own equipment. Most internet service providers charge around $15 per month to rent a modem and router from them. But you can buy your own for as little as $100, which will pay for itself within the first year.

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.

ron Pink, Persian Cream, Surf Green, Chatham Gray and Windsor Blue.

ANTIQUE

ANTIQUE

by Anne McCollam

Windmill Mark Identifies Maker

Q: Enclosed is a photo of a vase that I have. I believe it is silver and stands over 7 inches tall. Marked on the bottom is a windmill with a smoking pipe on both sides. Also there is the number 3836. It is decorated with a raised ornate pattern of scrolls, flowers and cherubs. Even though it is tarnished and badly in need of polishing, it is in very good condition.

Anything you can tell me would be appreciated.

A: You have a silver plate vase that was made by Barbour Silver Company. Samuel L. Barbour and his brother, Charles Barbour, founded their silver company in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1889.

The number is the design number. The ornate pattern is repousse, a method of hammering a design from the reverse side of an object.

Barbour Silver Company became part of International Silver Company in 1898.

Your vase was made around 1900, and it would probably be worth $200 to $250.

Q: I have enclosed the mark that is on the bottom of a pink teapot that I bought at a garage sale last summer. It stands about 4 inches high, has a flower-shaped handle on the lid, and is in mint condition.

I hope you can tell me about its history, vintage and value.

A: Your teapot was made by Taylor, Smith & Taylor Co. in East Liverpool, Ohio. Lu-Ray was one of their lines of dinnerware. Complete dinnerware sets were available in pastel colors like Sha-

John Taylor and Charles Smith founded their company in 1899 and produced semi-porcelain. They were joined by Taylor’s son and built a factory in Chester, Ohio. Around 1906, Smith bought out the Taylors, but kept the name.

Lu-Ray-ware was manufactured in plain, soft pastel colors and can be recognized by simple streamlined shapes that were representative of mid-20th century design.

Through the years, Taylor, Smith and Taylor made dinnerware for hotels and restaurants, as well as kitchenware and ovenware. The factory was bought by Anchor Hocking Corporation in 1972. By 1981, due to a decline in profits, they were forced to close.

Your teapot is an example of the Lu-Ray’s Sharon Pink and was made sometime between 1930 and 1950. One similar to yours can be seen selling on eBay in the range of $250 to $300.

* * *

Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has since 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

* On May 6, 1979, more than 65,000 anti-nuclear power demonstrators marched on the U.S. Capitol in protest against more nuclear power plants. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader had described nuclear power as “our country’s technological Vietnam.” The group was formed after the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant.

* On May 7, 1934, the Pearl of Lao Tzu, almost 10 inches around and weighing about 14 pounds, was found by a diver in a giant clam in the Palawan Sea. Gemologists did not consider it to be a true pearl, however, as it did not have the iridescence of true pearls.

* On May 8, 1988, Stella Nickell, who put cyanide in Excedrin capsules, including her husband’s, as well as five additional bottles she placed on store shelves in the Seattle area, was convicted of her husband’s murder and that of Susan Snow, who had ingested one of the capsules and died instantly.

* On May 9, 2005, the Thorp processing plant in Sellafield, U.K., experienced a leakage of about 20 tons of nuclear material via a cracked pipe. While the leak was contained and didn’t impose a risk to the public, the estimated cost to repair the damage was expected to fall heavily on taxpayers.

* On May 10, 1899, singer/actor/dancer Fred Astaire was born in Omaha, NE. Widely considered the most influential dancer in the history of film, his stage and subsequent movie and television careers spanned a total of 76 years.

* On May 11, 2006, a Chinese website called Baidupedia was launched in China. The American website Wikipedia had been growing in popularity in China until the government banned it in 2005. Baidupedia was set to feature a similar format of a user-created encyclopedia, though it would be subjected to far heavier self-censorship in order to remain in good standing with the country’s government.

* On May 12, 1981, following the death of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands on May 5, a second striker, 25-year-old Francis Hughes, died of starvation in Northern Ireland’s Maze Prison.

waiter because it's probably for me."

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

"Excuse me everyone - I've lost my cell phone in the kitchen, so if you hear your food ringing give your plate to the

Lu-Ray dinnerware was made by Taylor, Smith, & Taylor Co.

Vase made by Barbour Silver Company.

a duck, the flat tail of a beaver, and webbed feet like an otter. Platypuses are excellent swimmers that are able to stay underwater for more than two minutes. Their thick, dense silvery brown fur keeps this mammal warm under water. Its method of defense is a spur on the hind feet, which produces a toxic venom fatal to other animals and severely painful to humans.

• In 1798, British Naval Officer and explorer, Captain John Hunter was on an expedition to the Australia and Tasmania region when he and his crew first saw a platypus. They found it so unusual, they made a sketch and brought it back to England. Scientists there claimed it was a hoax and refused to believe the bizarre story, even after a live specimen was brought to them. They argued that it had been created by a taxidermist who had sewn a duck’s beak and feet onto another animal. 

your golf-related advertising message targeted visibility in full color in this weekly 2” x 6” fixed location $153 per insertion reaches 70,000+ readers each

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

Hybrid Wins

When I’m on the course with a student who’s facing a long shot from the rough, they typically reach for their 3 wood without hesitation. This particular problem is magnified when trying to carry a water hazard or bunker. It seems that the yardage takes precedence over the lie in most of the decisions.

Unfortunately, when it comes to a battle between the 3 wood and a hybrid…. the hybrid wins.

Due to a poor lie in most of these cases, a low lofted (14 degrees), long shafted, high center of gravity clubhead makes it difficult to get a clean hit or much height on the shot. The hybrid, with its shorter shaft, higher loft (17 degrees), and lower center of gravity, gives average swing speeds a chance to hit pro-like shots.

1. GEOGRAPHY: Which of the Great Lakes is smallest in surface area?

2. TELEVISION: Which sitcom has the theme song, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”?

3. ANATOMY: Which part of the human body is involved with ACL surgery?

4. GAMES: What is the victim’s name in the U.S. version of the board game “Clue”?

5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the world’s largest species of frog?

6. SCIENCE: What do isobars indicate?

7. LITERATURE: In the novel “Don Quixote,” who is the human companion to the title character?

8. MOVIES: In which movie did actor Bill Murray live the same day over and over?

9. THEATER: Who is believed to be the first actor in a Greek drama?

GO FIGURE!

by Linda Thistle

10. MUSIC: What is the name of Beyonce’s 2024 country album? Answers

TRIVIA TEST Answers Answers

1. Lake Ontario.

2. “Cheers.”

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.

3. The knee. 4. Mr. Boddy. 5. Goliath frog. 6. Atmospheric pressure.

7. Sancho Panza.

DIFFICULTY:

8. “Groundhog Day.”

9. Thespis, 6th-century poet

10. “Cowboy Carter.”