Vol. 20: #10 • "Heat Wave" • (3-3-2024) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

TIDBITS GOES FAHRENHEIT

by Janet Spencer

Did you know that heat waves are the single deadliest weather phenomena in the U.S., killing more people than hurricanes, wildfire, blizzards, or floods? So letʼs put on our sunnies and grab a Kool Aid as Tidbits takes us through some really hot subjects!

SWELTERING STUFF

• In 2003, Europe’s worst heat wave in 500 years afflicted the continent with temperatures in some places reaching highs of 115°F (46°C). Throughout August that year, temperatures averaged from 20% to 30% higher than normal. The unwary populace was not at all prepared to deal with such hot conditions never before experienced in their lifetimes, and with no prior warning there was little or nothing they could do to prepare themselves on short notice. Tragically, more than 30,000 people died across the continent as they dealt night and day with the relentless heat. Most vulnerable were elderly childless women who lived alone.

• Particularly hard hit was France, which alone suffered Heat Wave: Turn to page 3

TRIVIA NEWSFRONT

(Answers on page 16)

1. LITERATURE: In the children’s book, what is Doctor Dolittle’s special talent?

2. ART: Who painted the work titled “Starry Night”?

3. FOOD & DRINK: Which vegetable is commonly used to make pickles?

4. MUSIC: What is pop singer Taylor Swift’s favorite number?

5. MEDICAL: What is a common name for lachrymation?

6. BUSINESS: When was the Chia Pet invented?

7. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the first American to win a Nobel Prize?

8. HISTORY: The Aztec civilization emerged in which modern-day country?

9. TELEVISION: Who played the character Michael Scott on TV’s “The Office’’?

10. GEOGRAPHY: The volcano Mount Vesuvius overlooks which modern-day Italian city?

Answers

1. He can talk with animals.

2. Vincent van Gogh.

3. Cucumbers.

• Humans are born with between two million and four million sweat glands located all over our bodies -- except in a few places, like the lips, nails, nipples, eyeballs, and ear canals.

• The primary purpose of sweat is to help your body cool down. Sweat glands release moisture onto the skin, which then evaporates and helps reduce the body's internal temperature. If the body does not perspire and remove these impurities, it can cause accumulation of pathogens which can endanger your health.

• Sweating is triggered by various things: physical activity that raises body temperature, environmental heat, emotions, fever, hormones, pregnancy, toxins, and food. Sweating because of the heat, sweating due to exercise, and sweating from stress are all slightly chemically different.

• Sweat itself is a clear, odorless liquid made of of water, salt, proteins, and oils. However, there are two different types of sweat glands.

• Eccrine glands, which are located all over the body, produce sweat that cools the skin through evaporation. This type of sweat is 99% water combined with trace amounts of potassium, chloride, and sodium.

• Apocrine glands, dormant until puberty, are located only in the hairiest parts of the body: armpit, groin, and scalp. This kind of sweat is thicker (and smellier) because it contains fatty acids and proteins that provide a feast for the bacteria that live on the skin. The bacteria break it down into a by-product called propionic acid, which comes from the same family as ordinary

vinegar. However, these microbes are not all bad because they protect the skin from invading germs.

• Some factors can affect the smell of sweat, including humidity, caffeine, alcohol, and various medications. Diet also contributes to the odor, particularly things like onions, curry, cumin, garlic, fatty foods, and red meat. Spicy hot foods irritate the nerves leading to the sweat glands, activating them. Sportswear is often made from synthetics such as Lycra or polyester, materials that wick away sweat but tend to retain body odor.

• For sweat to cool us down, it must be able to evaporate. Humidity makes it more difficult. Thus the sayings, “It’s not the heat; it’s the humidity!,” and “At least it’s a dry heat!”

• When water evaporates from the skin, turning from a liquid into a gas, it removes heat from the blood. The cooler blood then travels around the body, keeping organs the correct temperature.

• Sweat glands are coiled loops just below the skin’s surface, leading to a duct, which lead to the pores. The sweat is water pulled from the blood and surrounding tissues. The more you sweat, the saltier the sweat; the less you sweat, the less salty. This is because the longer the liquid remains in the coil, the more time the body has to reabsorb the potassium, chloride, and sodium. If you’re sweating up a storm, there isn’t enough time to do that as the sweat moves through the coil quickly. This is why the skin tastes saltier the more you sweat. Sports drinks like Gatorade are formulated to replace the salts lost due to heavy sweating.

• We are born with all the sweat glands that we will ever have. It takes about two years after birth for sweat glands to mature. Babies are less able to regulate their body temperature than adults, and are more susceptible to heat.

• Babies born and raised in warm climates develop more active sweat glands than those born in cool climates. If you move to a hotter climate than you’re accustomed to, it takes your body about six weeks to adjust.

• People of East Asian descent often have a particular gene that makes their sweat less odiferous than others.

• There are not very many species of animal that sweat. Humans have ten times more sweat glands than chimpanzees, who mainly sweat from their armpits. A thick layer of hair prevents the rapid evaporation than a human’s thin layer of hair promotes.

• The chemical composition of sweat between men and women is discernably different. Men have more apocrine sweat glands than women do.

• The hand, feet, and head have the most sweat glands; the back and butt have the least. 

Week of March 3, 2024

Heat Wave (from page one)

an estimated 15,000 casualties. Densely populated Paris was severely affected as hospitals and morgues were so overwhelmed that they borrowed refrigerated semi trucks and a refrigeration warehouse to store the bodies until they could be buried.

• About 80 percent of structures in Paris have zinc roofs, numbering over 100,000 such buildings harboring homes and businesses. While zinc roofs are picturesque and quite Parisienne, they also heat up like a sizzling griddle on hot days. People living on the top floors of zinc-roofed buildings bore an unbearable brunt of the heat.

NATURE'S COOLING

• Contributing to the high death rate in Paris was that the city has very few urban trees, with only nine percent of its city streets shaded by this natural canopy. This is very few in number compared to 18 percent in Boston, Massachusetts, and 29 percent in Oslo, Norway.

• In Austin, Texas, “tree inequality” is more prevalent than in most cities, with most wealthy neighborhoods having many large shady trees, and poorer neighborhoods having very few.

• During a Texas heat wave in 2011, both drought and heat together killed off an estimated ten percent of all urban trees statewide.

• When officials in Seoul, South Korea restored a stream that ran through the middle of the city, and planted numerous shade trees, the measured temperature of the surrounding neighborhoods dropped by a full ten degrees.

• The city of Curitiba, Brazil, (pop. 3.8 million) is known as “the greenest city on Earth.” Curitiba has dedicated over 24 square yards (20 sq. m) of green space per citizen. In contrast, Buenos Aries, Argentina, has only two square yards dedicated to this ratio. Many other cities have virtually none.

• It’s estimated that 30 million people in the U.S. live in areas of extreme heat, defined as a mean annual temperature above 85°F (29°C). Unprotected humans (those who have no air conditioning) often die if the temperature fails to fall below 104°F (40°C) at night, which would otherwise provide some period of relief and a chance to recover.

COPING CREATURES

• A camel can go eight to ten days without water during hot seasons, losing up to a third of its weight by dehydration. Their specially designed digestive systems also enable them to drink salt water that’s even saltier than sea water, and to eat salty plants other animals ignore, while doing no harm to their health.

• An ant that lives in the Sahara desert has specialized skills enabling them to survive the scorching heat. The ant only ventures out of its underground nest when it’s too hot for ant-eating lizards to be out, which means temperatures of 122°F (50°C) and higher. They have long legs and run amazingly fast over super-heated sand, covering up to a yard per second. This speed is equal to a human running at about 450 mph! The ant also sports silver-colored hairs on its body, which reflect heat away. The ant can only be exposed to the heat for a few minutes before returning to the cooler relief of its underground burrows.

In 2022, calamitous floods hit Pakistan, largely driven by the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas driven by a severe heat wave. About 15 percent of the total population, amounting

some 33 million people, were displaced by widespead flooding, with many lives lost.

• Pacific salmon require cold water in mountain streams, and cool ocean water. They prefer water that is 58°F (14°C) or less. When the water temperature rises above 59°F, they begin to struggle. Diseases become more prevalent and they succumb to predation at higher rates. If the water temperature tops 70°F (21°C), it forms an impenetrable barrier that salmon cannot navigate through. When heat waves in California in 2011 raised the temperature of salmon-filled rivers beyond their ability to survive, wildlife officials netted the fish and taxied them upstream to their spawning grounds in chilled water contained in tanker trucks.

• Many arctic birds have black feathers, the better to absorb heat from the sun. However, when temperatures rise, they easily become overheated.

• Rising temperatures in areas can cause a bumblebee population to diminish eight times faster than they are reproducing, due to the heat.

HOT PLANTS

• Although carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is

beneficial to plants, the excess of carbon dioxide caused by excessive heat is detrimental. Leaves are unable to photosynthesize at temperatures of 116°F (47°C) or above, and the plant dies.

• Most plants are about 97 percent water, compared to humans which are about 60% water. When plants are subjected to inordinate heat, it messes

Heat Wave: Turn to page 15

1. Do caterpillars mature faster or slower as the temperature rises?

2. Which is most urgent: Heat watches, warnings, or advisories?

Tidbits of Coachella Valley Page

QUALITY AND SELECTION

By Lucie Winborne

* A double rainbow occurs when sunlight is reflected twice inside a raindrop. Look closely, and you’ll see that the colors of the secondary rainbow appear in reverse order.

* In an 897 A.D. event known as the Cadaver Synod, Pope Stephen VI had the corpse of a previous pontiff, Formosus, exhumed, perched on a throne and questioned about his “crimes,” which were mostly about being on the wrong side of a political struggle.

* Blood makes up about 8% of your total body weight.

* Floccinaucinihilipilification -- one of the longest words in the English language -- is the act of estimating that something is worthless.

* According to a Japanese study, looking at cute animal pictures can boost your focus.

* We hate to break it to you, but Wendy’s chocolate Frosty is actually half chocolate and half vanilla, because owner Dave Thomas thought an all-chocolate treat would be too overpowering when paired with the chain’s burgers and fries.

* At the Gettysburg reunion in 1913, two men purchased a hatchet, walked to the site where their regiments had fought, and buried it.

* An Oscar trophy has a raw value of about $600.

* In a move that many may appreciate, but not take the trouble to emulate, a British man changed his name to Tim Pppppppppprice to make it harder for telemarketers to pronounce.

* A 1907 ad campaign for Kellogg’s Corn Flakes offered a free sample of cereal to any customer who would wink at their grocer.

* The cubicle derives its name not from its shape, but from the Latin “cubiculum,” meaning bedchamber.

* It once took 27 hours to create a single Peeps Marshmallow Chick. Today, it takes six minutes.

***

Thought for the Day: “Very often, a change of self is needed more than a change of scene.” -- A.C. Benson

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

by Mary Hunt

The Art of Consignment Shopping

Thrift stores offer a wide variety of items, often with varying quality and condition.

Consignment shops may have a more curated selection of items, often with a focus on quality or specific categories like fashion, furniture or home goods.

PROFIT MODEL

Many thrift stores operate as nonprofit organizations, with proceeds often going to support charitable causes or community programs.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

Everything I know about buying and selling clothes on consignment I owe to my friend Kathleen, a remarkably well-dressed woman. She shops for clothing exclusively in consignment stores, but only those that are located in upscale areas. And boy, can she dress!

by Mary Hunt

Kathleen is a consignment seller, too. In fact, I’ve known her to buy an outfit from one of her favorite consignment stores for some special occasion, then turn around and sell it back into consignment to another of her favorite shops the next week -- often for more than she bought it. See what I mean? She’s very clever.

The consignment process is simple. The store sets its criteria for accepting merchandise and sets the target price -- usually 50% of the perceived new retail price.

Expect a consignment shop to have strict standards for what they will accept. That’s good because standards like that keep a shop reliable, reputable and promotes loyal customers. Expect rules to include that all merchandise must be a current style, must be brought in clean (I’ve seen some shops that required merchandise arrive in fresh dry-cleaner bags) and must have no visible wear, holes or stains.

If you are a seller and your items meet the store’s criteria, your items will be put on the sales floor and displayed for 30 to 60 days. Once sold, you will receive 30% to 50% of the purchase price depending on that store’s policy. During that time, the shop and you, the seller, will agree to periodic price drops until the items sells. At the end of the period (usually 60 days), you can either pick up your items or the shop will donate to a local charity.

If you are a buyer, prepare to be amazed not only by the inventory but pricing as well. You may also learn how to read the tags to learn how long an item has been on the rack by how many times it has been marked down. I’ve known Kathleen to have her eye on a particular item, then wait it out until it drops to the target price she has in mind.

The main difference between a thrift store and a consignment shop lies in how they acquire their inventory and their business models:

INVENTORY

Thrift stores typically rely on donations from the public or charitable organizations such as Salvation Army. The items sold in thrift stores are mostly used (secondhand) goods.

Consignment shops accept items from individuals to sell on their behalf. The original owners receive a percentage of the sale price if and when the item sells.

PRICING

Prices at thrift stores are generally lower and more variable, as they are often set by the store itself.

Prices in consignment shops might be higher, as the original owner sets the price or agrees upon it with the shop, and the shop takes a commission from the sale.

Consignment shops are typically for-profit businesses, with profits shared between the shop and the original owners of the consigned items.

Overall, while both thrift stores and consignment shops offer secondhand items for sale, their sourcing methods, pricing structures and business models distinguish them from each other.

Interested in finding shops in your area?

Check out the interactive locator at ConsignmentShopper.com using your city, state and zip code to find the consignment shops near you.

* * *

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

For most of us, caffeine in one form or another is the go-to picker-upper that wakes us up each morning and helps kickstart our brain function!

Since March is National Caffeine Awareness Month, we thought we’d say a few words about it and look at a few facts you probably never knew. So pour yourself a cuppa Joe, read on -- and learn.

• Caffeine is a naturally-occurring stimulant found in the leaves, beans, or fruits of more than 60 different types of plants across the globe, including the coffee plant, tea bush, kola nut, and guarana berries. Caffeine is also produced synthetically and added to many products.

• Everyone knows that caffeine can give you a temporary boost during the day, fighting off drowsiness, boosting energy, and improving mental alertness. It does this by stimulating the central nervous system, the heart, muscles, and controllers of blood pressure.

• Caffeine is completely absorbed by the small intestine within 30 to 45 minutes after consumption. It is then distributed throughout

the body’s tissues. The greatest blood concentration is reached within one to two hours, and its effects diminish in three to five hours.

Bull contains 80 mg. and the 16 oz. Monster Energy drink packs a punch of 160 mg.

Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling

• This isn’t true of all folks, since body weight and frequency of consumption can affect absorption. Those who don’t consume caffeine on a regular basis are more sensitive to its effects after ingesting some.

Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax:

• Did you know that besides improving alertness, caffeine is also used to treat asthma, low blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes? For some suffering from migraines, combining caffeine with aspirin or acetaminophen has proven beneficial. In fact, caffeine can improve the effectiveness of a painkiller by 40%, and can help the body absorb the medication more quickly.

• Caffeine is even added to creams applied to skin, which can reduce the itching and redness associated with dermatitis. Research also indicates that caffeine can offer a fair amount of protection against Parkinson’s Disease, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

• It’s estimated that 90% of North Americans consume caffeine on a daily basis, averaging about 280 mg/day. A low to moderate intake is between 130 mg. and 300 mg. per day. An 8-oz. cup of coffee varies from about 95 mg. to 200 mg. per cup, depending on type of coffee and brewing time.

• It would seem to make sense that dark roast coffees would be higher in caffeine, but they actually have less than lighter roasts. Thatʼs because the longer roasting process needed for darkening the bean burns off more caffeine. The dark roasted beans therefore have a lower caffeine content as a result.

• The average cup of black tea contains between 40 and 120 mg. of caffeine, with green tea totaling 60 mg., depending on how long the bag is steeped.

• In the soda department, Pepsi and Coke deliver around 35 mg. of caffeine in a 12-oz. serving, while Mountain Dew has 54 mg., and Barq’s root beer has 22 mg. The energy drink Red

I didn't sleep well last night, so I made my coffee this morning with Red Bull instead of water. I got half way to work before I realized I forgot my car.

• While most folks can handle the caffeine in 2 to 4 cups of coffee, too much can cause headaches or dizziness, abnormal heart rhythms, dehydration, insomnia, irritability, and the jitters. In fact, there have actually been instances of caffeine overload resulting in death. The amount necessary to be fatal would be equal to about 80 to 100 cups of coffee, but such rare incidents are more likely the result of an overdose of caffeine pills or powders. 

by Dana Jackson

Q: Is it true that Sam Waterston is leaving “Law & Order”? Who is going to replace him? -- K.J.

A: ”Law & Order” was resurrected in February 2022 after an 11-year hiatus. It spawned several successful spinoffs, including “Law & Order: SVU,” which has surpassed the original “L&O” in terms of seasons. While he wasn’t an original cast member, Sam Waterston left a prestigious film career to play District Attorney Jack McCoy, starting with the show’s fifth season. He rejoined the show at the age of 81 when it returned two years ago.

He’s since made the decision to exit once again. However, he doesn’t appear to be retiring as he recently stated, “There’s sadness in leaving, but I’m just too curious about what’s next.” Tony Goldwyn (“Scandal”) has been cast as the new DA. ***

Q: Who are the new coaches I saw on a commercial for “The Voice”? I don’t recognize them. Also, have there been any winners of “The Voice” who have had successful careers on par with “American Idol” winners like Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson? -- H.A.

A: The 25th season of the singing competition show “The Voice” premiered on NBC in February with returning judges John Legend, Reba McEntire and Chance the Rapper. Joining them this season is the Grammy-winning country/pop duo Dan + Shay, who met when they moved to Nashville, Tennessee, separately.

Dan + Shay hit it big in 2018 with their single “Tequila” and followed that with the crossover hit song “10,000 Hours,” which they recorded with Justin Bieber. The twosome actually isn’t new to

“The Voice” -- they appeared in season 20 as “battle advisors” for former judge Blake Shelton.

In terms of Billboard rankings, the most successful winners from “The Voice” include Cas sadee Pope from season three. She climbed to the top-five spot of the country music chart with the song “Wasting All These Tears.” According to TV Line, she’s since left the genre to return to her poppunk roots. Season nine’s Jordan Smith had the most successful debut album of the winners so far and also found success as a songwriter. He penned “Ashes” for the “Deadpool 2” soundtrack, which was recorded by none other than Celine Dion. Last season’s winner who goes by one name -- Huntley -- has yet to release a single, but he did sing the National Anthem at an NFL game.

***

Q: When are the Oscars this year? I remember when they used to be in February, but they seem to have been pushed back later and later. -- I.E.

A: The 96th(!) Annual Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 10. Jimmy Kimmel will host the ceremony for the second year in a row, and it’ll begin an hour earlier than in past years (7 p.m. ET instead of 8 p.m.). There will also be a 30-minute live pre-show on the red carpet.

The earlier time slot is an attempt to boost ratings. With the ceremony expected to end by

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

James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy

1. Bob Marley: One Love (PG-13) Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch

2. Rings (PG-13)

Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe

2. Madame Web (PG-13) Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney

3. A Dog’s Purpose ..................(PG)

Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid

3. Argylle (PG-13) Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard

4. Hidden Figures (PG)

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer

5. La La Land .................... (PG-13)

4. Migration (PG) Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks

Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

5. The Chosen: S4.E4 (NR) Shahar Isaac, Paras Patel

6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter ...................................... (R)

Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen

7. Sing (PG)

6. Wonka (PG) Timothee Chalamet, Gustave Die

animated

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

Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman

7. The Beekeeper (R) Jason Statham, Emmy RaverLampman

9. The Space Between Us (PG-13)

8. Anyone But You (R) Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell

Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield

10. xXx: Return of Xander Cage (PG-13)

9. Lisa Frankenstein (PG-13) Kathryn Newton, Liza Soberano

Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen

10. Land of Bad (R) Liam Hemsworth, Russell Crowe © 2024 King Features

©

Good Recipes from

Spicy Grilled Salmon

With a little tinfoil, this fancy meal can be made right on the grill.

4 fillets salmon (6 ounces each)

4 tablespoons hoisin sauce

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, divided

1 1/2 pounds cauliflower florets

1 tablespoon oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Chopped cilantro

1. Place salmon in centers of 4 foil sheets. Brush each with 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce; sprinkle each with 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper.

2. Toss cauliflower with oil and salt. Arrange around each fillet. Seal packets; cook 15 minutes or until cauliflower is tender. Garnish with peanuts and cilantro. Serves 4.

 Each serving: About 410 calories, 19g total fat (3g saturated), 43g protein, 18g carbohydrates, 5g fiber, 535mg sodium.

For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipes/.

Low-and-Slow Ribs with Asian Salad

You’ll need eight hours to slow-cook pork spareribs (on low), but the reward for your patience is delectable.

3 1/2 pounds pork spareribs

1 cups teriyaki glaze (see Tip)

1 (12 to 14 ounces) English (seedless) cumber, peeled and thinly sliced

1 bag (10 ounces) shredded carrots

1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar

1. In 4 1/2- to 6-quart slow-cooker bowl, place ribs and teriyaki glaze, spreading teriyaki to

coat ribs on all sides. Cover slow cooker with lid and cook as manufacturer directs on low setting 8 hours or on high setting 4 hours.

2. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, stir cucumber, carrots and rice vinegar until blended. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 4 cups salad.

3. To serve, transfer ribs to cutting board; cut into portions. Skim and discard fat from cooking liquid. Arrange ribs and salad on dinner plates. Spoon remaining liquid over ribs. Serves 8.

Tip: We got luscious stick-to-the-ribs results using a thick teriyaki glaze (such as Kikkoman’s Teriyaki Baste & Glaze) rather than a thinner sauce.

 Each serving: About 390 calories, 22g total fat (9g saturated), 26g protein, 18g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, 89mg cholesterol, 1,185mg sodium.

Grapes With Sour Cream

Even when you’re pressed for time, you can make this easy treat.

2 cups seedless grapes

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon brown sugar

In small bowl, gently stir grapes, sour cream and brown sugar until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 4

servings.

 Each serving: About 100 calories, 3g total fat (2g saturated), 1g protein, 18g carbohydrate, 6mg cholesterol, 11mg sodium.

3/3 Preserve Our National Anthem Day

3/4 March Forth - Do Something Day

3/5 Peace Corps Day

3/6 National Dentists Day

3/7 National Hospitalist Day

3/8 Volunteers of America Day

3/9 Genealogy Day

Cody’s Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

If It Looks Like a Dog...

Perhaps you’ve heard the expression: If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.

That’s writer Douglas Adams’ version, anyway. The point is, things usually are what they seem, notwithstanding physical evidence to the contrary. The key is to treat them as such.

This cuts to the core of our relationships with our dogs. Understanding that your dog is a dog is the solid slab of concrete on which the rest of your relationship is built. Understanding what it means that your dog is a dog is our first priority as responsible dog owners.

The vast majority of the people who call me for help with their dog problems are actually, themselves, the real problem.

They refer to their dogs as their fur baby, their sweetheart, their cutie pie -- terms usually reserved for a romantic partner. And yes, women are more guilty than men of anthropomorphizing their dogs.

Dog commands from these people sound a little something like: “Don’t do that.” “Don’t sniff there.” “Don’t you run away from me.” None of which is at all decipherable to a dog.

This type of dog owner calls me because they’re convinced their dog is angry that they have to go to work in the morning, or he’s upset about their upcoming move to a new city, or he’s jealous because she’s started seeing someone new. Would you ask a horse whether he was content with his new stall? Why is it any different with a dog?

When most people bring a dog home, he becomes a full-fledged member of the family. He’s lovingly welcomed into the nest, where he remains for about 15 years. As it should be. But he’s still a dog.

A woman called me recently to discuss her dog, who sleeps in her bed. “Why does he growl when I move around?” she asked. Because he thinks it’s his bed. He’s no longer being treated as a dog, he’s now confused, and here comes the trouble.

If you treat your dog like a dog, love your

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King

Learn Piano for Brain Health

Inc.

I’ve been reading in too many places about taking steps to hold off memory and cognitive impairment, so I’ve paid attention to some of the ideas we can use to keep our brains active. One idea that’s been very enticing is playing the piano and using that as a protective factor against dementia and impairment.

When I began my hunt for a piano, I quickly realized that space would be a major consideration, never mind the expense of a real piano. However, there are smaller electronic pianos, and I bought one: a Yamaha Piaggero NP-12. I’ve placed it on a board between two two-drawer file cabinets to avoid the additional cost of the metal stand and seat. It only has 61 keys, rather than the standard 88, but it’s enough and fits into the space I have and it only weighs 11 lbs.

It’s a great little piano even for those who’ve played before (it’s touch sensitive, for those who know about these things). It has buttons to select between the sound of acoustic piano, electronic piano, organ, strings and harpsichord, with a built-in metronome, volume dial, and a plug-in for ear buds if you don't want to play for your neighbors.

If you’re interested in such a piano, hunt around the internet or call music stores in your area. Be sure to order the wall plug adapter as well, so you don’t have to worry about batteries.

If you don’t already play, consult YouTube online for beginner lessons for seniors on video. Ask at a music store, rec center or college music department about signing up for beginner lessons to get you started.

If you don’t have sheet music, look on the internet for free music you can print out (try pianosongdownload.com), or check the classified ads, garage sales or even the library.

Even if the first songs you learn are along the lines of “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” it’s a step in the right direction for brain health.

* * *

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) KingFeaturesSyndicate

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

dog like a dog and train your dog to be the best dog he can be, you won’t confuse him -- or yourself.

If you’re going to bring a dog into your home, into your life, you need to understand canine behavior. You need to educate yourself first, then your dog, in order to bridge the communication gap.

Living with a dog when you have little to no understanding of canine behavior and when neither of you has been taught to effectively communicate with the other is like traveling in a country where you don’t speak the language: stressful at times and not nearly as fun as it would be otherwise.

But the saddest part of turning your dog into a person is that you inevitably lose sight of the dog. He becomes a surrogate child or a surrogate friend or a surrogate lover instead of the wonderful dog he is. 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.

2012 CREATORS.COM

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

That’s Not What I Meant To Say

I’ve always taken pride in the fact that I do a pretty good job of explaining Social Security rules in simple and easy-to-understand language. But every once in a while, I’m reminded that something I say or write that I think is pretty clear and simple can be misinterpreted. Here are some examples.

Q: I am 62 and have spent most of my life as a homemaker and mother. So I don’t have my own Social Security. My husband is 68 and just filed for his Social Security last week. In a recent column, you wrote that before a wife can claim benefits on her husband’s record, he has to be getting benefits himself. So do I have to wait until his checks start coming in before I can file on his account?

A: No, you don’t. If I previously wrote that the husband “has to be getting benefits” before his wife can file on his account, then that was a poor choice of words. Or rather, not enough words. What I should have said is that he has to be getting benefits or have filed an application for benefits. So you can and should file a claim for spousal benefits right now.

I make these points because many women are always asking me if they can file for spousal benefits before their husband files for his retirement benefits. And again, the answer is no. He has to have filed his own Social Security claim before any dependents can get benefits on his account.

Q: In a previous column, you wrote that a husband has to have filed a claim for Social Security before his wife can get benefits on his record. My husband died at age 63 before he ever filed for his Social Security. I am just turning 60. So does that mean I won’t be able to get widow’s benefits on his record because he never filed for his own Social Security?

A: No, it doesn’t mean that. In that prior column you are referring to, I was answering a question from a woman whose husband was still alive and who was wondering if she could claim spousal benefits even though her husband hadn’t filed for benefits yet. But it is a whole different story for widows. There is absolutely no rule that says a husband must have filed a Social Security claim before his wife can get widow’s benefits on his record. In fact, there are millions of women, especially younger women, getting widow’s benefits on the records of husbands who died before reaching Social Security age, or who were over the minimum Social Security age (usually 62) but had not yet filed for benefits.

And now let me tell you about the options you have as a widow -- if you also are due benefits on your own Social Security account. For example, if you are not working now, you could take reduced widow’s benefits at age 60. And then at your full retirement age, you could switch to 100% of your own retirement benefit. Or you could wait until 70 and get an extra 30% added to your benefit. Or, if your husband’s rate is much higher than yours, you could wait until age 62 and file for reduced retirement benefits on your own account (62 is the earliest you can do that) -- and then at your full retirement age, switch to a 100% widow’s rate. Or if your own benefit is so small as to not really be a part of your Social Security picture, then you can simply file for widow’s benefits at whatever age you choose. You would get about 70% at age 60, or up to 100% if you wait until your full retirement age to file.

Q: In an earlier column you said that a man has to be getting Social Security before his wife can file on his record. Well, my husband is 60 and has been getting SSDI for about five years. I am turning 62, not work-

1. The book of Simeon 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) 100 b) 500 c) 1,500 d) 3,000

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

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

ing, and I will have a very small Social Security check on my own. But does my husband have to be getting real Social Security before I can file for spousal benefits on his record?

A: Your husband is already getting “real Social Security,” so you can file for spousal benefits at the same time you file for your own Social Security. You said your husband is getting “SSDI.” That stands for Social Security disability insurance. In other words, he is getting Social Security disability benefits. And so many people think that disability benefits are somehow just not “real Social Security.” But they are. They are just as “real” as retirement benefits. So your husband is getting the same kind of Social Security as a retiree gets. He’s just getting those benefits a little earlier because of his disability.

Q: I remember you saying once that a person must have worked in five out of the last 10 years to qualify for Social Security. But that can’t be true. My wife worked from age 18 until age 50. Then she stopped working to concentrate on taking care of her aging parents. When she filed for her Social Security at age 62, she was granted benefits even though she hadn’t worked in the past 12 years. What’s going on?

A: What’s going on is that in that prior column, I was explaining the eligibility rules for disability benefits. And those rules include the “five out of the last 10” requirement. But to get Social Security retirement benefits, the rules simply say you must have 40 Social Security credits (sometimes called “quarters of coverage”) to qualify. Because you can only earn four Social Security credits per year, that essentially means if you’ve worked 10 years, anytime in your life, you are “insured” and eligible for Social Security retirement benefits.

* * *

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon. com or other book outlets. (If ordering the “Simple and Smart” book from Amazon, click on “See all formats and editions” to make sure you are getting the 2024 edition.) Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast. net. To find out more about Tom Margenau

5. From 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) Wasp b) Locust c) Spider d) Flea

Sharpen your understanding of scripture with Wilson Casey's latest book, "Test Your Bible Knowledge," now available in stores and online.

(Answers on page 16)

For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com

to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate

and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate

at www.creators.com.

High Troponin Levels

Follow After Bout of Food Poisoning

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 77-year-old male who apparently suffered a case of food poisoning. I say apparently because no cause was ever discovered for the uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea that lasted for a whole day and recurred briefly the following morning.

A trip to the emergency room involved many tests, but nothing turned up except a troponin level well over 0.04 ng/mL, which prompted an angiogram that didn’t reveal any problems with my heart. What else might have caused my high troponin level? -- Anon.

ANSWER: A troponin level is a standard blood test usually used to evaluate patients for heart attacks. However, newer, highly sensitive assays have proven that tiny levels of troponin may be detected in nearly everybody.

A level above 0.04 ng/mL is often used as the cutoff for the “normal” range, but depending on the assay and population studied, a few healthy people may have levels above this.

People with heart attacks may have troponin levels in the hundreds or thousands. The higher the troponin level, the more muscle damage there is.

The fact that your coronary arteries don’t show any blockages is very good news. Other types of heart damage may also cause a high troponin level, including inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) and heart failure. Also, critical illnesses can cause high troponin levels (at much higher levels than you may have had) in people who don’t have heart blockages. (A median of 0.57 ng/mL was found in people with septic shock.)

I found a long list of reported causes behind elevated troponin levels, but gastroenteritis was not on the list. I suspect your body was working so hard to fight off the infection without enough fluid that your heart needed more oxygen-carrying blood than it got, leading to tiny amounts of injury to the heart muscle despite normal heart arteries. You can lose a lot of fluid with vomiting and diarrhea, and people at age 77 don’t have as much reserve as they did when they were younger. ***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 56-year-old male who never had the chicken pox. When the first of my children was born, I had blood tests done to see if I’d ever been exposed. I had not, so I received the chicken pox vaccine in case my children were to expose me. Twenty-five years later, many friends and colleagues have either received the shingles vaccine or have had a shingles outbreak.

My question to you is: Since I’ve never had chicken pox, do I still need the shingles vaccine? -- D.S.S.

ANSWER: Yes, the shingles vaccine is still recommended. Shingles is a recurrence of the chicken pox virus. The vaccine you got was a live but weakened form of chicken pox. It has

a lower risk of causing shingles than getting the actual chicken pox, but there is still a risk.

Shingles is so bad that the vaccine is absolutely worth it, in my opinion. Even people who have had the old one-shot vaccine (Zostrix), as well as those who don’t recall having had chicken pox, should get the new two-dose vaccine (Shingrix), which is not a live virus. It’s better to just get the vaccine than doing blood testing in people who don’t recall getting chicken pox as a child.

* * *

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) 2024 North America Synd., Inc.

All Rights Reserved

$5

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

Million in Housing Grants for Special Needs Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs has done the final math for 2023, and the number of homeless veterans who found permanent housing has passed the initial goal. The total now stands at 46,000 veterans who were helped.

At the same time, the VA hooked up with 40,000 veterans to get them the resources they need to find housing and worked to ensure that 95% of housed veterans can stay that way.

All this is part of the Housing First program. The theory is that getting a veteran into a home first is crucial, then to be followed up with the services needed to ensure the continued housing. Part of that includes education, legal help, health care and jobs training. Veterans who are part of the Housing First program generally find housing more quickly, in 35 days as opposed to 223 days on average.

Now, having the final 2023 number of 46,000 veterans put into housing, the VA has announced funding in the amount of $5 million in grants (renewable for a second year) to help the special needs group of homeless veterans (mentally ill, the elderly, women, the terminally ill and those with children). The Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program gives the cash to community groups that handle both temporary transitional housing and case management, hooking them up with services, permanent housing and access to VA benefits.

There are only 16 of the special needs grant recipient groups that can apply for a share of that $5 million. The list of grantees indicates that each group concentrates on only one category of the special needs list, with the Chronically Mentally Ill group having a slight edge over the other categories. The actual awarding of the funds will run from October 2024 to September 2026, with applications needing to be received by April 15, 2024.

Veterans who are either homeless or in danger of becoming homeless can go online to www. va.gov/homeless or call 877-4AID-VET (877-4243838) to get help.

* * *

Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.

-- by Jim Miller

How to Divide Your Personal Possessions Without Dividing the Family

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Do you have any suggestions on divvying up my personal possessions to my kids after I’m gone -- without causing hard feelings or conflict? I have a considerable amount of jewelry, fine art, family heirlooms, a valuable coin collection and antique furniture. I also have four grown kids who don’t always see eye-to-eye on things, and I predict conflict and hard feelings in this inevitable situation. Peace-seeking Parent

Dear Peace-seeking: Divvying up personal possessions among adult children or other loved ones can be a tricky task. Deciding who should get what without showing favoritism, hurting someone’s feelings or causing a feud can be difficult, even for close-knit families who enter the process with the best of intentions. Here are a few tips to consider that can help you divide your stuff equitably with minimal conflict.

Sweating and the Small Stuff

For starters, you need to be aware that it’s usually the small, simple items of little monetary value that aren’t mentioned in your will that cause the most conflicts. This is because the value we attach to the small personal possessions is usually sentimental or emotional, and because the simple items are the things that most families fail to talk about.

Family battles can also escalate over whether things are being divided fairly by monetary value. So, for items of higher value like your jewelry, antiques, fine art and coin collection, consider getting an appraisal to assure fair distribution. To locate an appraiser in your area, try ISA-appraisers.org, Appraisers.org or AppraisersAssociation.org.

Dividing Fairly

The best solution for passing along your personal possessions is for you to go through your house with your kids or other heirs either separately or all at once to find out which items they would like to inherit and why. They may have some emotional attachment to something you’re not aware of. If more than one child wants the same thing, you’ll have to make the ultimate decision.

Then you need to sit down and make a list of who gets what on paper, signed, dated and referenced in your will. You can revise it anytime you want. You may also want to consider writing an additional letter or create an audio or video recording that further explains your intentions.

You can also specify a strategy for divvying up the rest of your property. Here are some popular methods that are fair and reasonable:

Take turns choosing: Use a round-robin process where your kids take turns choosing the items they would like to have. If who goes first becomes an issue, they can always flip a coin or draw straws. Also, to help simplify things, break down the dividing process room-by-room, versus tackling the entire house. To keep track of who gets what, either make a list or use colored adhesive dots for each person to use for tagging the item.

Have a family auction: Give each person involved the same amount of play money or use virtual points or poker chips to bid on the items they want.

Use online resources: For families who want help or live far apart, there are web-based resources like FairSplit.com that can assist with the dividing process.

For more tips, see “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate?” at YellowPiePlate.umn.edu This is a resource created by the University of Minnesota Extension Service that offers a free video and detailed workbook for $12.50 that gives pointers to help families discuss property distribution issues and lists important factors to keep in mind that can help you avoid or manage conflict.

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

by Anne McCollam

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT.

Sandwich Glass

MOMENTS IN TIME #12345_20240219

FOR RELEASE FEB. 19, 2024

A: Your doll was made by Simon and Halbig in Grafenhain, Germany. They were in business from 1869 to around 1930. They also made bisque heads for other German and French doll manufacturers.

Your doll is circa 1905 and would probably be worth $550 to $700.

* * *

Q: Enclosed is the mark that I have drawn that is on the bottom of a pottery vase that I bought at a flea market 20 years ago. The vase is soft blue and stands 9 inches tall. It is a cornucopia horn shape, and there are handles on each side.

I paid $5 for it and would like to know if it has increased in value.

• On March 4, 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated as the 32nd U.S. president. He would later notably lead the country out of the Depression and to victory in World War II.

Q: I have enclosed a photo of a piece of Sandwich glass that was made around 1830. The dish measures 5 inches in diameter and is clear. It stands a quarter of an inch high. The edge is scalloped and has a garland pattern. It is in perfect condition. I paid $28 for it a few years ago at a shop that sells a lot of Sandwich glass.

Can you tell me whether my dish is actually worth what I paid for it?

A: The Sandwich Manufacturing Company indeed made Sandwich glass. It was founded in 1824 by Deming Jarves in Sandwich, Mass. The name was changed to Boston and Sandwich Glass Company in 1826. It made pressed glass, blown three-mold and free-blown glass in both color and clear. It closed in 1888.

Similar Sandwich dishes can be seen selling in the range of $60 to $80. * * *

Q: When I was a child, my great-aunt gave me her porcelain doll. She received it around 1900, and it is still in excellent condition. Marked on the back of the porcelain head are the words “Simon and Halbig -- 550.”

The doll has a composition body, balljointed limbs, long dark hair, brown sleepy eyes and an open mouth. Her clothes are the originals.

Anything you can tell me about my doll would be appreciated.

A: Your vase was made by Abingdon Pottery in Abingdon, Ill. The style was inspired by art deco designs. The factory began in 1908 and made porcelain-plumbing fixtures. It introduced an art pottery line in 1934. In 1947, Briggs Manufacturing Company took over operations, and by 1950, the art pottery line was discontinued.

Your cornucopia/horn of plenty vase was made around 1940 and today would probably be worth $40 to $60.

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

• On March 5, 1963, beloved American country western singer Patsy Cline, whose rich, soulful voice made her one of the genre’s classic performers of such ballads as “I Fall to Pieces” and “Crazy,” died in an airplane crash at age 30.

• On March 6, 2018, the world’s oldest known message in a bottle was discovered by Tonya Illman in Western Australia as she walked on the beach with her husband, Kym. The bottle had been thrown overboard from the German sailing ship Paula in 1886 as it crossed the Indian Ocean, and said only, “Could the finder please plot the coordinates it was found, and the date it was found, and send it back?”

• On March 7, 1965, up to 600 nonviolent activists marched to help African American citizens obtain the right to vote. Despite the peacefulness of their actions, the protesters were brutally attacked, with one woman, Amelia Boynton, beaten to the point of unconsciousness.

• On March 8, 1986, 29-year-old tennis star Martina Navratilova became the first in her sport to earn more than $10 million in prize money when she won the U.S. Women’s Indoor Championships in New Jersey.

• On March 9, 1611, Dutch astronomer Johannes Fabricius and his father, David, first observed sunspots, which are areas of reduced surface temperature. Johannes wrote and published a 22-page pamphlet on their findings, “Account of Spots Observed on the Sun and of Their Apparent Rotation with the Sun,” though his father initially disagreed with his son’s conclusion.

• On March 10, 1949, Mildred Gillars, aka “Axis Sally,” became the first woman in American history to be convicted of treason. Gillars worked for Nazi Germany’s state radio program during World War II, and from 1942 to the end of the war broadcasted Nazi propaganda in an effort to convince U.S. soldiers to give up the fight. Records of the broadcasts eventually convicted her when she was later arrested and returned to the States.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Sandwich glass was made in Sandwich, Mass. during the 1800s.

The Abingdon Pottery company was formed in 1908.

with their metabolism just like it does ours, by raising it and increasing their need for water. The hotter it gets, the more water they need. To keep themselves cool, their leaves “sweat,” giving off water in what’s called “transpiration.” Most plants transpire their weight in water every day during normal temperatures, which would be equal to humans needing to drink 20 gallons of water a day. If the temperature rises from 70° to 95°F (25 to 35°C), the plant needs twice the amount of water to survive.

• A one-acre plot of corn in Iowa can sweat 4,000 gallons a day on a typical summer day, enough to fill a typical backyard swimming pool.

• Heat changes the timing of blooms of many species of flowering plants, often making the plant miss the peak season for pollinators.

OCEAN HEAT WAVES

• A heat wave off the coast of California in 2013 resulted in the wholesale destruction of the entire local population of sea stars, a type of starfish. Sea stars are one of the primary predators of purple sea urchins. With the absence of sea stars, the sea urchin population exploded. Sea urchins eat kelp. Entire kelp forests, once vibrantly full of myriad sea creatures, vanished within weeks.

• The Mediterranean Sea is particularly vulnerable to heat spikes, with the water sometimes rising by 11°F (6°C) above normal, scorching sea life. These events have been likened to underwater wildfires. 

1. LITERATURE: In the children’s book, what is Doctor Dolittle’s special talent?

2. ART: Who painted the work titled “Starry Night”?

3. FOOD & DRINK: Which vegetable is commonly used to make pickles?

4. MUSIC: What is pop singer Taylor Swift’s favorite number?

5. MEDICAL: What is a common name for lachrymation?

6. BUSINESS: When was the Chia Pet invented?

7. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the first American to win a Nobel Prize?

8. HISTORY: The Aztec civilization emerged in which modern-day country?

9. TELEVISION: Who played the character Michael Scott on TV’s “The Office’’?

GO FIGURE!

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: �

10. GEOGRAPHY: The volcano Mount Vesuvius overlooks which modern-day Italian city? Answers

by Linda Thistle

1. He can talk with animals.

2. Vincent van Gogh.

3. Cucumbers.

4. 13.

5. Tears or crying.

6. 1977 (Chia Guy).

7. Theodore Roosevelt, the Nobel Peace Prize.

8. Mexico.

9. Steve Carell.

10. Naples.

©