Idioms & Phrases
by Janet Spencer
There are lots of idioms and phrases in our everyday vernacular that let us exactly express in only a word or two the thought we wish to convey. While we don’t know who put the cat in the bag, spilled the beans, or how ants got in their pants, here’s a few familiar examples with some explanations .
• In the 1920s, carnivals featured games that tested strength and coordination, with a common prize being a cheap cigar. If the player came close to ringing the bell without actually hitting it, he was “close, but no cigar.”
• When pirates sailed toward a ship they were about to plunder, they often first ran up a flag of the country the target ship was from, indicating peaceful intentions. Once alongside, the “false flag” would be dropped and the dreaded crossbones pirate flag would quickly be run up the flagpole, revealing their “true colors.”
• At the start of World War II, most of the Allied bombs weighed 500 lbs. But they were not
TRIV
(Answers on page 16)
1. MOVIES: What is the title of the first James Bond film?
2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the color of the “black box” that records an airplane’s performance?
3. TELEVISION: What is the theme song for the long-running sitcom “All in the Family”?
4. LITERATURE: What is the name of Ron Weasley’s family home in the “Harry Potter” series?
5. GAMES: How many dice are used in a game of Yahtzee?
6. SCIENCE: What does a mole measure in chemistry?
7. MYTHOLOGY: What is the Greek god of darkness called?
8. FOOD & DRINK: Which type of liquor is traditionally used in a gimlet?
9. ASTRONOMY: How many moons does Saturn have?
10. CHEMISTRY: What is the chemical symbol for gold?
• The Harlem Globetrotters were actually formed on the south side of Chicago. In 1926, a group of young men who had previously played on their high school team decided to get together to play for an American Legion basketball team that barnstormed all around the Midwest. The following year, they named themselves the Savoy Big Five and secured a regular gig playing as pre-dance entertainment at Chicago’s newly opened Savoy Ballroom. However, in 1928, several players left after a pay dispute and formed a new team, calling themselves the Globe Trotters. They began a new barnstorming tour of the Midwest.
• They picked the shortest member of their team (and the only white dude) to be their manager. Abe Saperstein from North Chicago dubbed them the Harlem Globetrotters because he wanted audiences to think the team had traveled hundreds of miles. Harlem was undergoing a renaissance at the time, so the name was hip. Also, he wanted to make it clear that the team was all-black. Not until 1968 did the team actually play a game in Harlem. Abe was one of only 3 white players that ever played on the team.
• The Globetrotters didn’t start to incorporate ball tricks and dribbling exhibitions into their games until the late 1930s when they added comedy, flashy ball-handling tricks, theatrical routines, and corny comedy skits into their games. They became known as “the clown princes of basketball.”
• Still, however, they were top-notch basketball players. They won the prestigious World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1940. In 1948, they defeated the all-white Minneapolis Lakers, who were champions of the all-white National Basketball League, forerunner of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The following year, they beat the Lakers again.
• The Harlem Globetrotters were one of the first all-black basketball teams to achieve national and international prominence during an era of segregation in the United States.
• When the NBA first formed in 1949, they were having trouble attracting audiences.
Meanwhile, the Globetrotters were selling out with their comedic approach to the game. The NBA began inviting the Globetrotters to doubleheaders. As the NBA grew in stature, it could pay higher salaries than the Globetrotters could, and eventually began to siphon players away from the Globetrotters.
• In 1950 the Globetrotters’ Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton became the first African American to sign a contract with an NBA team by inking a deal with the New York Knicks, along with Earl “The Big Cat” Lloyd (Washington Capitols) and Chuck Cooper (Boston Celtics). Wilt Chamberlain played for the Globetrotters for a year in 1959 before moving on to a long career with the NBA. He was the first Globetrotter to have his number 13 retired.
• In 1946, Boid Buie joined the Harlem Globetrotters and played with them for nine years despite having only one arm.
• In 1985, Lynette Woodard became the first of many female players to join the Harlem Globetrotters, breaking barriers in the maledominated world of professional basketball.
• By the time the 2023 NBA season rolled around, over 70% of NBA players were African American.
• Today, the Harlem Globetrotters have performed in over 120 countries. They hold numerous world records, including the longest basketball shot made blindfolded, the most blindfolded basketball slam dunks in one minute, most halfcourt shots made in one hour, most basketball bounces between the legs in one minute (360) and most basketball bounces in one minute (762).
“Those Were the Days.”
MyMothertaughtmeLOGIC... “BecauseIsaidso,that'swhy!”
Mymothertaughtme
considered powerful enough to inflict the major damage hoped for. A 4,000-lb. bomb was then developed, large enough to destroy an entire city block. Today, a “blockbuster” is anything that has a sensational or major impact.
• World War II fighter pilots were equipped with ammunition belts for their machine guns that were 27 feet in length, or nine yards long. If they emptied their entire magazine into a single target, they gave it “the whole nine yards.”
they’d experienced a flat tire while carpooling together to the school.
would begin to shake and they would undergo weird personality changes, eventually becoming “mad as a hatter” because of the toxic effects of mercury poisoning.
eachother,doitoutside. Ijustfinishedcleaning!”
Mymothertaughtmeabout thescienceofOSMOSIS...
• The phrase “by and large” means a sailing ship handles well both when the wind is from the rear and from the front. In modern terms, it means something similar: “Jack is a good manager by and large” means Jack can handle things in most any situation. Similarly, to be “at large” means something is free to travel wherever it wants: “The escaped criminals remain at large” or “Mr. Smith works as an artist at large.”
• In 1715, the British Government passed the “Riot Act” which gave public officials the right to arrest people gathered in groups of 12 or more. An authority would “read the Riot Act” to the group, and if they failed to disperse, they were subject to arrest or removal by force.
• There are several theories on where the phrase “raining cats and dogs” originated. However, the one that seems to make the most sense is that it’s a mistranslation of the Greek phrase “cata doxa,” which means “beyond belief.” It’s easy to see how someone not fluent in Greek might mistake “It’s raining cata doxa” for “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
• As medicine began to advance in the 1800s, medical instructors needed skeletons for students to study, but they were in short supply. It became lucrative for grave robbers to illegally exhume recently buried cadavers, which were then reduced to their skeletal remains for use by medical schools. These ill-gotten remains were quietly hidden away out of sight and became “skeletons in the closet.”
“Shutyourmouth andeatyoursupper!”
Mymothertaughtme aboutRECEIVING...
• At race tracks, overly eager horses would sometimes break from the gate before the starting gun, causing jockeys to be admonished to “hold your horses.”
“Youaregoingtogetit whenyougethome!”
The Greek god Apollo was usually depicted wearing a crown of laurel leaves. The ancient Greeks awarded laurel crowns to esteemed citizens. A "laureate" was anyone bedecked with honor. But sometimes they would "rest on their laurels" by becoming overly satisfied with past honors.
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• It’s interesting to note that other countries have similar sayings. In Sweden, it’s “raining little devils.” In Norway, it’s “raining shetrolls.” In Denmark, it’s “raining shoemaker’s apprentices.” Go figure.
• In the 1800s, hats made from felt were popular. Hat makers had to use mercury when forming the hats, and would inhale mercury vapor and get mercury on their skin. Soon their hands
patrons were unhappy with what was happening on the stage, they might throw peanuts towards the stage while shouting and booing. This became known as the “peanut gallery.”
• If food is so hot that escaping steam is causing a whistling noise, it’s “piping hot.”
1.Whowasknownasthe MotheroftheCivil RightsMovement?
• Traveling by steamship was considered by Americans to be the height of comfortable travel. Each passenger cabin on the ship was named after a U.S. state. Although rooms on ships today are numbered, they are still referred to as staterooms.
Much to their relief, she smiled. “You missed a test today,”she continued,“but you can make it up right now.Take seats apart from one another and then get out a pencil and a piece of paper.” She waited for them to sit down, and then began.“Question One: Which tire on the car was flat?”
• Most men in the early west carried a popular jack
2.Whofrontedthe unusualbandThe Mothersof Invention?
• After the Civil War, African American men were granted the right to vote, but white southerners were not in favor of this. Therefore, they passed various “Jim Crow” rules. One of them unfairly stated that men were only allowed to vote if their grandfathers had also voted, thereby excluding every black voter. Today, a “grandfather clause” is used to allow individuals to follow old rules even after new laws or regulations have been implemented.
• In the late 1800s, when vaudeville was becoming popular, the cheapest seats in the theater were the ones high up in the balcony. Often, peanuts were sold in the lobby as an inexpensive snack. If
1.Whowasknownasthe MotheroftheCivil RightsMovement?
QUIZ BITS
2.Whofrontedthe unusualbandThe Mothersof Invention?
Unscramblethisword:
Thiswordmeans: priortobirth
“Didn'tItellyounottoeatthatfruit?”theFirstParentasked. “Uhhuh,”Adamreplied. “Thenwhydidyou?” “Idunno,”Adamanswered. HispunishmentwasthatAdamandEve shouldhavechildrenoftheirown.
“Didn'tItellyounottoeatthatfruit?”theFirstParentasked. “Uhhuh,”Adamreplied. “Thenwhydidyou?” “Idunno,”Adamanswered.
By Lucie Winborne
* Dorothy Straight was just 4 years old when she wrote and illustrated “How the World Began” for her grandmother. It was officially published two years later.
* Worms make up the majority of a robin’s diet, but it won’t mind if you leave out a dessert tray as well. In fact, robins are partial to pastry dough, fruit cake and coconut cake.
* Movie director Guillermo del Toro owns a house containing a room with an endless rainstorm projected onto all its windows and audio to match. He often uses this room to write in.
* Red hair is the thickest hair color by strand.
* Chock full o’Nuts coffee does not contain nuts. It’s named for a chain of nut stores that the founder converted into coffee shops.
* On his deathbed, Steve Jobs asked for five different oxygen masks so he could choose the one with the best design.
* The silhouette on the official NBA logo is Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West.
* Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima for work when the first A-bomb hit, made it home to Nagasaki for the second, and lived to be 93.
* M&Ms were invented exclusively for American soldiers in World War II.
* Lake Hillier in Western Australia stays a striking deep pink color all year long. Some scientists believe its hue is due to high salt levels combined with a saltloving algae, Dunaliella salina, and a pink bacteria called halobacteria. ***
Thought for the Day: “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.”
-- Albert Einstein
cheese
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
A Casserole Connoisseur’s Guide to Healthy Substitutions
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1. Cook the lasagna noodles in a large pot of boiling water for 10 minutes, or until al dente. Rinse with cold water and drain. In a large saucepan, saute mushrooms, green pepper, onion and garlic in oil. Stir in pasta sauce and basil; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
I grew up in church, literally. My father, the minister, saw to it that the preacher’s kids never missed a gathering. Even when not a scheduled event, we were still in church cleaning, folding bulletins or just hanging out. I credit my heritage for my expertise as a connoisseur of the all-American casserole. There’s just nothing quite like a potluck in the basement of a Baptist church to produce the finest, most authentic casserole cuisine!
It’s easy to see why casseroles have fallen out of favor with the weight -- and health -- conscious crowd. One serving of some casseroles can harbor an entire week’s worth of carbs or Weight Watchers points. Luckily, it’s not difficult to trim the calorie count and step up the nutritional value of almost any casserole recipe around -- even those typically laden with high-fat ingredients. You can make healthier versions that taste just as good.
First, change the proportions by using more vegetables, beans and whole grains. Add fewer sauces, cheeses and fatty meats. Then, substitute reduced fat versions of ingredients like sour cream, mayonnaise, cheese, cream cheese, salad dressing and condensed soups.
Choose the leanest meats such as skinless chicken breast, pork loin and beef round. Or use soy-based meat substitutes. Trim all visible fat and skin from the meat you’re using.
The key to a healthy casserole is to choose recipes that call for:
Lots of vegetables
Legumes such as beans and lentils
Whole grain pasta or brown rice
Chicken, turkey or fish
Leaner cuts of beef, pork or lamb
Lower fat cheeses such as feta, cottage, light cheddar or skim milk mozzarella
Oil instead of butter, no more than 1 teaspoon per serving
Here is the recipe for a casserole that you won’t have to change at all. It’s that nutritious and delicious! Budget friendly, too.
HEARTY VEGETABLE LASAGNA
1 16-ounce package lasagna noodles
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
3/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
3/4 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 24-ounce jars pasta sauce
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta
2. Mix together ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella cheese and eggs. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spread 1 cup pasta sauce into the bottom of a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
3. Layer 1/2 each; lasagna noodles, ricotta mix, sauce and Parmesan cheese. Repeat layering and top with remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Serves 12.
If you don’t need a large number of servings, you can make the lasagna in two 8x8 baking pans. Enjoy one today and freeze the other for later.
Mary invites questions and comments at https:// www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
• Jaws Director Steven Spielberg named the mechanical shark “Bruce” after his lawyer. Three mechanical “Bruces” were made, each with specialized functions. Each cost about $250,000. Throughout the entire movie, Bruce (the shark) actually has only four minutes of screen time.
• Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, was used for most of the filming because even 12 miles out to sea, the sandy bottom is only 30 feet deep. This way, the mechanical shark Bruce was able to function, while the shore was too far in the distance to see.
• The average summer tourist population of Martha’s Vineyard before the film was released was around 5,000 people. After it came out, the summer population jumped to over 15,000.
• Local residents used as extras were paid $64 to scream, cry, and run across the beach in panic.
• Peter Benchley, who wrote the novel “Jaws” on which the film is based, has a cameo in the movie, playing a reporter on the beach.
• Spielberg shot about 25% of the film from water level to make viewers feel as if they were immersed in the action.
• Quint’s boat, the boat used in the film to hunt the shark, is named “Orca.” Orcas, also known as killer whales, are the only known predators of great white sharks.
• The Orca was a 29-foot trawler that had to carry the weight of around 20 cast and crew members at any given time. For key shots, the boat had to rock as if being struck by the massive shark from below.
• To accomplish this effect, they used a speedboat with a rope attached that looped underneath the Orca’s hull and tied to the speedboat on the opposite side. It would be gunned at full speed, causing the boat to suddenly rock violently, knocking everyone off their feet, which was the desired effect. After repeating that scene several times, a large hole suddenly ripped open in the Orca’s hull where the rope was secured. With safety boats rushing in and Spielberg yelling, “Get the actors off the boat!” the Orca sunk in less than three and a half minutes.
• As he held his microphone above the rapidly rising water, the head of the sound crew hollered, “Screw the actors, save the sound equipment!” The film camera sank underwater, so the film was thought to be ruined. However, somebody pointed out that this type of film is developed in a saline solution so maybe the salt water hadn't damaged it after all. The film was quickly rushed to a New York film lab, where technicians managed to save all of it.
• When music composer John Williams first auditioned the film score he had composed, Spielberg laughed and said, “That’s funny, John, but what did you really have in mind for a Jaws theme?” But after listening again, he realized the repeated, deep groaning throb of impending danger set the perfect mood he needed. The slow, menacing theme that precedes the abrupt and shocking appearance of the killer shark is now one of the most instantly recognizable sound clips in movie history.
• Over 67 million people in the U.S. viewed this film when it was first released in the summer of 1975, which amounts to about one-third of the population of the U.S. at the time. The movie became the highest-grossing film of all time up to that point and was only bumped from that top slot with the 1977 release of the first “Star Wars” movie.
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• Both the novel and the film misrepresented sharks as being blood-thirsty man-eaters when in reality they usually shy away from human contact. Following the release of the movie, shark hunting
surged, decimating shark populations. Both Peter Benchley and Steven Spielberg regretted this.
• After filming was over, Spielberg said, “My next picture will be on dry land. There won’t even be a bathroom scene!” But his next movie, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” actually had several bathroom scenes.
Tidbits of Coachella Valley
by Dana Jackson
Q: Is Garcelle Beauvais going to return to acting now that she’s leaving “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” or will she get her own reality show instead? -- T.O.
A: Garcelle Beauvais recently extended her partnership with the Lifetime network to produce and star in more projects with them. Her “Black Girl Missing” franchise of TV movies with the network has been a huge success. Next up for her is”Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie,” where she’ll play Kai -- a truck driver who launches her own investigation after her neurodivergent niece is abducted by an online predator.
Garcelle Beauvais (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”)
She’s also starring and producing in the next Terry McMillan project, titled “Tempted 2 Love,” a sequel to last year’s hit movie “Tempted By Love.” Beauvais will once again play a star chef, but this time she’s traveling to Ireland with her new flame only to bump into her much younger ex.
“I’m thrilled to continue telling stories that resonate deeply with audiences and put women -especially black women -- at the center,” said Beauvais. “Working with Lifetime has given me the opportunity to expand narratives that are heartfelt, suspenseful, and full of purpose. Both of these films are incredibly special to me, and I can’t wait for au-
diences to experience them.”
“Garcelle is an undeniable creative force whose passion for telling authentic, impactful stories continues to inspire our audiences,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, EVP and head of programming at A&E, Lifetime and LMN. “These new films not only deepen the emotional and cultural resonance of our programming but also reaffirm our shared commitment to championing diverse voices and stories that matter.”
***
Q: What is Tara Reid doing since she made a comeback with the “Sharknado” movies? Does she have any other movies coming out? -- N.C.
A: Tara Reid’s career has unfortunately taken a dive since the 1990s, when she shot to stardom in movies like “American Pie,” “Cruel Intentions,” and “The Big Lebowski.” She became tabloid fodder soon after for partying with Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Her career fell into a slump until the campy TV movie “Sharknado” came out in 2013, which was followed by several sequels.
She told Variety that she’s now producing her own projects and currently has 12(!) titles in the works on her IMDb page, including “Hollywood Heist” with Alec Baldwin and Mickey Rourke.
***
Q: What’s the latest on a third season of “Big Little Lies” being filmed? Is it hard to get the A-list cast together again? -- K.S.
A: According to “Big Little Lies” creator David E. Kelley, “everyone” wants to do a new season of the HBO series, which is based on the novel by Liane Moriarty. Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Zoe Kravitz and Shailene Wood-
ley are all eager to reprise their roles, and Morarity is in the midst of writing the novel on which the script will be based. I wouldn’t expect to see the finished product on-screen until mid to late 2026 or perhaps early 2027.
King Features News Syndicate
Smashed Avocado Toasted Sandwich with Egg
Smashed avocado toast with egg is one of the best brunch recipes out there. It’s been all over restaurant menus, but our easy recipe really takes the cake for its simplicity.
1 ripe avocado
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt and pepper
4 slices bread, toasted
4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced
1 bunch small multicolored radishes, thinly sliced
Chopped fresh chives and sesame seeds, for serving
1. In medium bowl, smash avocado with lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
2. Spread on toast and top with eggs and radishes and sprinkle with chives and sesame seeds.
TIP: You could also add a fried or poached egg, or top it off with crumbled bacon, sliced scallions, or even a drizzle of pesto.
Creamy Cucumber-Dill Salad
8 large (about 5 pounds) cucumbers
1 teaspoon salt
6 large radishes
1 container (8 ounces) plain low-fat yogurt
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/2 cup fresh dill, loosely packed, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 small garlic clove, crushed with press
1. With vegetable peeler, remove several strips of peel from each cucumber. Cut each cucumber lengthwise in half; with teaspoon, scoop out seeds. With knife or in food processor fitted with slicing blade, thinly slice cucumber halves crosswise. In large bowl, toss cucumbers with salt; let stand 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, thinly slice radishes; transfer to serving bowl. Add yogurt, sour cream, dill, lime juice, pepper and garlic. Stir until well-combined.
3. With hand, press sliced cucumbers over sink to remove as much liquid as possible. Pat cucumbers dry with paper towels.
4. Add cucumbers to bowl with yogurt mixture. Toss until evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight to blend flavors. Yields 10 (1/2 cup) servings.
Each serving: About 60 calories, 2g total fat (1g saturated), 6mg cholesterol, 180mg sodium, 9g total carbohydrate, 2g dietary fiber, 3g protein.
Shredded Zucchini
This zucchini cooks up in minutes, retains a slight crunch and has vibrant color.
2 small zucchini (5 ounces each), shredded (2 cups)
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, cut into pieces 1/4 teaspoon salt
In 10-inch skillet, combine zucchini, butter and salt; cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, under tender-crisp, about 3 minutes. Makes 4 accompaniment servings.
Each serving: About 35 calories, 1g protein, 2g carbohydrate, 3g total fat (2g saturated), 8mg cholesterol, 174mg sodium.
By John Allen
DIAMOND LIL
by Brett Koth
Donald Duck by Walt
Holidays & Observances This Week
6/22 Stupid Guy Thing Day
6/23 Just Let it Go Day
6/24 National Columnists Day
6/25 Take Your Dog to Work Day
6/26 National Canoe Day
6/27 Decide to Be Married Day
6/28 American Radio Relay League Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Compact Canines
Car rental companies today are reportedly charging for compact cars what they used to charge for their roomier, rugged counterparts. But besides today's high price of gas and the better gas mileage of smaller cars, people also have other reasons for going compact.
According to the American Kennel Club’s rankings, last year’s Top 15 most popular dog breeds included Yorkshire Terriers, Dachshunds, Shih-Tzus, Bulldogs, Miniature Schnauzers, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians and Pugs. And this year feels no different, with mini-pooches popping up in shoulder bags and grocery carts from coast to coast.
Why the sudden surge in appreciation for the compact canine? Actually, it’s been more of a slow rise since the late ’90s. Modern Americans live fast-paced lifestyles that often mandate more hours in the car and at the office than at home. In this case, a portable pooch may be a better match than, say, a 75-pound Boxer with more energy than a 10-year-old boy after downing a Red Bull float. But don’t be fooled: A pint-sized pooch -- untrained -- is tantamount to a two-ton tank of trouble. Take for example the following excerpts from letters I received this week:
“My Dixie! She is an extremely dominant, possessive, territorial 5-pound dog that my vet said is the most dominant Yorkie she has ever worked with. Most people giggle when they hear of this situation because she is so adorable and teeny. But last summer I was bitten so badly by her because Buddy, my Yorkie rescue, came near me, I required a trip to the emergency room and a healthy dose of antibiotics. Now Henry, the 1-year-old Shih-Tzu rescue, is on board, and frankly, I am completely beside myself with fear that she is going to seriously hurt one of them if they dare to even sit near me. These poor guys are terrified, and it breaks my heart to see them hiding when they should be sitting on the couch with me. I have to be so careful with Dixie that my heart is in my mouth almost all of the time when I am home.”
From another reader:
“I have had Ginger, a 6-month-old female toy poodle, for four months. I already had a male
Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10
(CryptoQuip Solution on page 14)
SENIOR NEWS LINE
by Matilda Charles ©
Avoiding Falls
The numbers are shocking: Per the CDC, one in four seniors age 65 or older experience falls each year. That’s 25% of seniors. Of those, 37% suffer an injury that either keeps them from their normal activities for at least a day or that requires medical care.
Per the map accompanying that CDC article on falls, several states exceed that 25% average -- by a lot.
When it comes to deaths, falls are the number one cause of injury-related deaths among seniors, and the numbers are grim. The reason for all the falls varies. We might have a physical condition that affects coordination. We might be taking a drug that causes dizziness. We might be wearing shoes that aren’t good for sturdy walking.
We need to do everything we can to avoid being a victim of fall injury. While there are several factors we can’t do anything about, there are other things that are under our control.
For example, increase the number of lamps in your home, and turn them on to make sure there are no dark areas. Have one of the lamps controlled by the switch at the door. Buy
inexpensive night lights to plug into wall sockets that automatically turn on when it's dark. Keep clear paths around the house and don’t let magazines or newspapers stack up on the floor next to your recliner. Don’t let phone or electrical cords drape across walking areas. Get rid of small area rugs. Have someone install grab bars in the shower, and use an anti-slip mat.
Ask the senior center about creating a class on exercises to increase balance and strength, or even a falls prevention seminar. Or check YouTube online for videos.
Get your eyes checked every year and your prescription upgraded if necessary.
To learn more about avoiding falls, go to either the CDC (cdc.gov), the National Council on Aging (ncoa.org) or Mayo (mayoclinic.org) websites and do a search for fall prevention.
Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@ gmail.com.
(c) KingFeaturesSyndicate2025
Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
toy poodle who is 3 years old. I am leaning toward possessive aggression and dog aggression. I think she has a split personality. She will jump in my lap and loves to be petted, but she gets into fights with my other dog several times a day. Today she growled and snapped at me when I tried to get her off the kitchen table. And later, when I broke up the fight with her brother, she bit pretty deep into my hand. I have a 2-year-old son I am concerned about. I bought Ginger to give my older dog company, but she is stressing me out.”
Little dogs, big trouble. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Neither Dixie nor Ginger was properly socialized or trained. People love the look and convenience of compact canines, but these dogs tend to get a free ride. Expectations are low and efforts at discipline are nonexistent because it’s assumed the consequences, like the dog, will be minimal.
Back in April of 2007, National Geographic News and the journal Science printed the results of a study that asked the question: What makes a small dog small? They identified a variation in a single gene -- IGH-1 -- that acts as a key player in the suppression of growth in toy dogs. Lead researcher Elaine Ostrander of the National Human Genome Research Institute said, “The best way to describe the role of the gene is, it’s like the ‘reduce’ button on a copy machine.”
In other words, small dogs are still dogs -- with all their varying personalities and temperaments, with all their instincts and teeth. We owe it to them as much as their large counterparts to give them the education they need to remain at the top of those lists.
Woof!
* * *
Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Social Security Benefit Computation Tidbits
I’ve written many columns explaining how Social Security benefits are figured. So, I’m not really going to do that today. Instead, I’m going to answer some emails from readers that get into some quirky features of the whole process. But first, to set the stage, here is a fairly routine question.
Q: I’m in my late 50s and am starting to think about Social Security. But I’m confused. I’ve always thought my retirement benefit would be based on my last 5 years of earnings. But a friend told me it’s actually the highest 3 years. And another friend, a guy already getting Social Security, said his benefit was based on his last 10 years of earnings. So, who is right?
A: You and your friends are all wrong. Your Social Security retirement benefit, and for that matter, everyone’s Social Security retirement benefit, is based on the highest 35 years of earnings.
As I said, I’ve written entire columns explaining the computation formula. In fact, I have a whole chapter in my “Social Security -- Simple and Smart” book devoted to the topic. But here it is in a nutshell:
When you file for Social Security, the Social Security Administration will look at your entire earnings record and pull out the highest 35 years. Then they will index each of those years for inflation. Next, they will add up those 35 years of inflation-adjusted earnings, divide that sum by 420 (the number of months in 35 years), to come up with your average inflation-indexed monthly wage. Then, a messy formula (you’ve got to read the book) is applied to that to come up with your Social Security retirement benefit.
Q: I’ve read in past columns that a Social Security benefit is based on 35 years of earnings. But I have a neighbor who is a retired claims representative with the Social Security Administration, and he said it is 40 years. So, what’s the truth?
A: Well, in a way, your friend is right. But I am also right. So how can that be? Because, technically, the SSA initially looks at a person’s highest 40 years of earnings. But then, in every single case, they drop out the 5 lowest years. So, a Social Security retirement benefit is always based on a person’s highest 35 years of earnings. In other words, there is no point in mentioning the 40-year part of the equation because it always ends up being a 35-year base.
Q: I’ve read about this 35-year base of earnings when figuring a Social Security benefit. But I’m wondering how that works for someone like my wife. She is coming up on 62 and will be filing for Social Security then. But she was a housewife and homemaker for most of her adult life. She probably has about 15 years of total earnings. So, how will they figure out her benefit?
A: They must still use a 35-year base of earnings. So, when they figure her benefit, they will use those 15 years of earnings she has, but then they must add in 20 years of “zero” earnings. That obviously will bring her average monthly earnings, and thus her Social Security retirement benefit, way down. So, it is likely she will get her own small retirement benefit supplemented with spousal benefits on your record.
And as you might guess, your wife’s story is typical of many women. They frequently take time off from their careers to have and raise children. And that’s why the average Social Security retirement benefit paid to a woman is less than the benefit paid to a man. And that, in turn, is why about 95% of all spousal benefits are paid to women.
Q: I’ve heard news stories that some politicians are talking about adding 3 years to the Social Security computation base. In other words, a benefit would be based on a person’s highest 38 years of earnings instead of 35. But then the news reports always go on to say that this would lower the average Social Security benefit. I’m confused. Wouldn’t adding three more years of earnings increase someone’s Social Security?
A: I can see where you might think that. But you’ve got to remember that the benefit formula is ultimately based on an average monthly wage. And the more years of earnings you add to the formula, the lower that average wage is going to be.
Think of it this way. Let’s say the lowest year used in your current Social Security retirement computation was 1985, when you made $30,000. But if they added 3 more years to your formula, they’d have to go back to 1982 when you only made, let’s say, $27,000. Those three additional years of smaller earnings are going to lower your overall average wage and thus lower your Social Security benefit.
1. The book of Ezekiel is found in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither
2. Who/what does "their eyes stand out with fatness" refer to? a) Demons b) Serpents c) Wicked rich d) Covetousness
3. From 1 Kings 17, what was the widow's cruse miraculously kept full of? a) Coins b) Oil c) Fresh water d) Ceremonial wine
4. Who reaped a crop a hundred times the grain he sowed? a) Gideon b) Isaac c) Hanun d) Jacob
5. Whose daughter was referred to as "Talitha" by Jesus? a) Zeresh b) Timothy c) Jairus d) Shelomith
6. From Acts 16, what woman sold purple linens in the marketplace? a) Sapphira b) Hannah c) Zimri d) Lydia
cheating me and millions of other Americans out of Social Security benefits they are due because they round down to the nearest dollar when they are supposed to be rounding up. Is this true?
A: Well, it’s true ... and it’s false. It’s true when you say that benefits are rounded down. But it’s false when you say they should be rounded up. Here’s the story.
When Social Security started in the 1930s, monthly benefit checks were paid in the exact amount, including dollars and cents. And the law specified that the check should be rounded up to the nearest penny.
Then, in 1950, Congress changed the rules a bit. Recognizing that there are many steps in the process used to compute a monthly Social Security check, they said that the benefit should be rounded up to the nearest dime at each step in the process.
But then we got to the 1980s, and the political mood in the country -- and Congress -- had shifted to a more conservative tone. Congress was looking for ways to trim government expenditures, not expand them. And Social Security, being one of the largest government programs of all, came under the knife. One little-noticed change brought about by the 1981 amendments to the program was a rule that required benefits to be rounded down, not up. At each step in the computation process, benefits were now required to be rounded down to the nearest dime. And a new twist was added. The final benefit check would no longer be issued in the exact amount. Instead, the new law said the final benefit would be rounded down to the nearest dollar.
* * *
Q: I’ve heard that Social Security is (Answers on page 16)
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. To find out more about Tom Margenau visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
Using Supplements To Lower Heart Risk Not Backed
By Evidence
Please
The flatulence resulting from these stevia chocolates lasted for hours. Stevia produces worse gas than refried beans, onion rings or Brussels sprouts. My advice for anyone eating any food supplemented with stevia is to make sure that you stay home during the hours following ingestion so you can pass gas in private. -- Anon.
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Kudos to Whistleblower Pharmacists
ADVERTISING PROOF
Final Changes DUE:
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently had a CT scan, and my score was 184. My cardiologist put me on 40 mg of Lipitor, which I reluctantly took for three weeks until I developed severe pain in my feet and hands. I stopped taking it, and the pain went away.
I’m a 64-year-old male in excellent shape. I’m currently taking a chelation supplement, vitamin K2 (MK-7), and red rice yeast with CoQ10. Do you have any suggestions for the treatment of my issue? -- A.D.
ANSWER: I’m sorry to say that I disagree with all of your choices. Lipitor is a reasonable choice for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes in a person at an increased risk, such as a 64-year-old man with a coronary calcium score of 184. (I can’t give a better assessment of your risk without knowing a lot more about you, such as your blood pressure and cholesterol.)
Muscle aches are not uncommon with statin drugs like Lipitor, but research has shown that in most people with muscle or joint aches who take statins, the medication is not the underlying cause. (In one study where a person didn’t know whether they were taking a statin, the symptoms disappeared. In another, a person who changed from a statin to a placebo every two months was very likely to have no more pain on the placebo than they would on the statin.)
Nonetheless, there are other statins that might not cause pain, as well as alternatives like ezetimibe and bempedoic acid, which do not increase the risk of muscle aches and have been proven to reduce heart risk.
A recent large trial on chelation using powerful intravenous infusions did not show any improvement in hospitalizations for heart disease, heart attack, stroke or death compared to a placebo. I don’t recommend an unregulated oral supplement.
Although people who take menaquinone-7 (also called vitamin K2) have a lower heart disease risk than those who don’t, a randomized trial to prevent calcification of the aortic valve found no benefit. I did not find a trial showing that treating people with vitamin K2 led to a reduced heart risk.
Red yeast rice contains the same active ingredient as the statin drug lovastatin, but at such a low dose that cholesterol levels were not substantially lowered in a recent trial. CoQ10 has been repeatedly shown to be no better than a placebo at reducing statin side effects. In addition to medication therapy, it’s important not to underestimate the effects of a healthy, plant-based diet and regular moderate exercise. ***
DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent column on stevia. It was interesting and helpful, but what I did not see mentioned was the fact that stevia side effects “might include bloating.” Boy howdy! We’re talking gas city when I ate some sugar-free chocolates that contained stevia instead of sugar.
ANSWER: Stevia itself doesn’t cause gas in most people. But when I looked up the brand of sugar-free chocolates you mention (the name of which I’m not going to print), I found that they have a large amount of maltitol and sorbitol. These are sugar alcohols that are sweet, do not get absorbed, and are very well-known for causing bloating, gas and diarrhea.
Not everyone will get these side effects, but I am almost sure it was the sugar alcohols, not the stevia, that caused your symptoms.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.
(c) 2025 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved
Estate Planning Attorney
● Wills
● Trusts
● Power of Attorney
● Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
● New to California? Update your existing Estate Planning Documents!
“Don’t die without it!”
Imagine working for a company that pressures you to act illegally, or at the very least to dance around the edges of the law. Imagine also that in your job you have people’s lives in your hands. That’s what a well known pharmacy did for many years, and now they’re going to pay the price -- $300 million, to be exact.
The large chain pharmacy in question has been nailed for filling millions of unlawful prescriptions for opioids in violation of the False Claims Act and submitting claims for reimbursement from several government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs. Worse was when they forced their pharmacists to not bother checking to see if the prescriptions for opioids were legit, to just keep cranking out the prescriptions.
And even worse was that they continued to force these prescriptions to be filled despite there being evidence that the prescriptions had problems. Specifically, the prescriptions were filled in excessive quantities or were in dangerous highrisk combinations. To add to this, they withheld information from the pharmacists about the prescribers, which kept them from being able to warn other pharmacies.
In short, the pharmacists were pushed to just get the products out.
The company denied the allegations, of course, issuing at least one rather snippy news release saying that the “rules” don’t exist and seeming to lay the blame for the problem on the pharmacists.
ADVERTISING PROOF
Law Firm 777 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Suite 200 Palm Springs, CA Tel: (760) 201-3215
Email: josh@jarthurlaw.com Web: www.JArthurLaw.com
Licensed in California and Florida
Thank heaven for brave whistleblowers. Now, with a new agreement between the pharmacy chain and the government, the pharmacists will have backing and oversight when it comes to having the information needed to verify suspect prescriptions for controlled substances, they’ll receive training about their obligations and they can do their job correctly without pressure to push through every prescription without regard for its legality -- or safety.
And now I understand, several years after the fact, why my own pharmacist bailed out and went to work for a very small mom-and-pop pharmacy. He was a good guy. I hear he’s much happier now. *
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.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
M.D.
What Is a Spousal IRA?
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: What can you tell me about spousal IRAs? My spouse and I are in our 50s and are looking for ways to boost our retirement savings. My wife is a homemaker and caregiver, and works parttime too, but her income is very small. -- Needs a Boost
Dear Needs: Saving for retirement can be very difficult for married spouses who stay home to care for family or otherwise have scant income. But there is a little-known tax break offered by the Internal Revenue Service – known as a spousal IRA – that can help them, and their partner save for retirement.
Spousal individual retirement accounts allow a working spouse to contribute to a nonworking or low-earning spouse’s retirement savings. They can be set up as a traditional IRA or Roth IRA, which allow couples to save for retirement on a tax-deferred or tax-free basis.
How They Work
A spousal IRA isn’t a unique type of IRA or a joint account, but instead it is a separate IRA opened and owned in the name of the nonworking or low-income earning spouse. This will not only help boost your family’s overall retirement savings, but it provides non-working/low-earning spouses access to their own funds in an unforeseen event like the death of their spouse, divorce, or illness.
To qualify for a spousal IRA, spouses must file taxes jointly as a married couple, and the working spouse must have enough earned income (taxable income such as wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, and self-employment income) to cover contributions for both parties.
is also no different from opening a regular IRA. Brokerage firms and many banks and other financial institutions offer IRAs.
In 2025, each spouse under age 50 can contribute up to $7,000 annually to an IRA, or $8,000 annually for those over age 50, but the total contribution can’t exceed the taxable earned income reported on the couple’s tax return. Otherwise, the IRS limits contributions based on their earned income.
Roth or Traditional?
Deciding whether to open a Roth or traditional IRA depends on your tax situation and financial goals.
Traditional IRA contributions typically are tax deductible the year in which they are made and are beneficial during high-income earning years. Contributions grow tax-free until they are withdrawn during retirement.
Roth IRA contributions are not tax deductible the year in which they are made, but qualified contributions plus any earnings grow tax-free and are withdrawn tax-free in retirement as long as the couple follows IRS rules. Among them: you must be 59½ and have held your Roth IRA for at least five years before you withdraw investment earn ings tax-free and penalty-free.
There are also penalties for with drawals on traditional IRAs before age 59½ unless the owner qualifies for an exception, and he or she must begin taking the annual withdrawals known as required minimum dis tributions (RMDs) from these plans the year he or she turns 73 (or 75 beginning in 2033). Roth IRAs don’t require RMDs until after the death of the owner. However, beneficiaries of a Roth IRA generally will need to take RMDs to avoid penalties, although there is an ex ception for spouses.
The process of opening a spousal IRA
Enjoy Tidbits
What can you tell me about the maker, the vintage and value?
JUNQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Black Gold Wedding Gift
Q: The attached photo is of a pair of vases that I received as a wedding gift in 1970. They each stand about 4 inches tall and have an antique gold appearance. Each is marked “Hand Painted -- Stangl Pottery -Black Gold -- 22K.” I’ve searched the Internet, but couldn’t find anything about them. Can you help me research this pair?
A: You have a pair of “Black Gold” urns. Stangl Pottery was located in Trenton, New Jersey. It was founded in 1805 and went by several names. In 1928 Martin Stangl became president, and the name became Stangl Pottery.
They introduced the “Black Gold” line around 1968. The finish is 22-carat gold over a black glaze. The line included ashtrays, cigarette boxes, candy dishes, bowls, pitchers, vases, trays and urns. Stangl Pottery closed in 1978
Each urn can be found selling on eBay for $40 to $60.
Q: I have sent you the mark that is on the bottom of a pottery cream pitcher and covered sugar bowl. I inherited the set from my great-aunt and would like to learn more about its history.
Each piece is shaped like a head of cauliflower with green leaves. The inside of each is pink. They are in perfect condition. My great-aunt always kept the set in her china cabinet, and I do as well.
A: Your cream pitcher and covered sugar bowl are examples of Victorian majolica. They were made by Griffen, Smith and Hill, who were located in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, from 1879 to 1889.
Majolica is a term for lead-glazed earthenware that was decorated in bright colors. Victorian majolica designs were inspired by nature and the sea. Majolica was made in abundance in both the United States and Europe in the 1800s. Dinnerware, coffee and tea sets were made in the “Cauliflower” pattern.
Your cream pitcher and sugar bowl were made around 1840 and the set would probably fetch $550 to $650 in an antiques shop.
Q: I have a pair of Sonja Henie ice skates that I received in 1950. Her name is on the blades, and they came in a box with her picture on the lid. She was my favorite skater. I am 88 years old and was wondering what they might be worth.
A: Sonja Henie was from Norway and was a three-time Olympic winner. Your skates would probably be worth $50 to $75.
* * *
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.
* On June 23, 1868, Christopher Latham Sholes patented the QWERTY typewriter, the first version of which he constructed using an old table, a circular piece of glass, a telegraph key and piano wire.
* On June 24, 2021, 98 people died when a 12-story, beachfront condominium collapsed in Surfside, Florida, near Miami. Engineers believed the cause of the disaster was a structural column or concrete slab giving way. Workers eventually cleared more than 18 million pounds of concrete and rubble from the site.
* On June 25, 1947, Anne Frank’s diary account of her life in hiding during the Holocaust was first published, under the title “Het Achterhuis: Dagboekbrieven 14 Juni 1942--1 Augustus 1944.” After reading it her father confessed that the book revealed a side of his daughter he had never known, saying that he “had no idea of the depth of her thoughts and feelings.”
* On June 26, 1974, a pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit chewing gum became the first grocery item scanned with a Universal Product Code, or UPC, at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio.
* On June 27, 1922, the American Library Association (ALA) awarded the first Newbery Medal, honoring the year’s best children’s book, to “The Story of Mankind” by Hendrik Willem van Loon.
* On June 28, 1904, Helen Keller, who’d been left deaf and blind since an illness at just 19 months old, graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor’s degree. Later, she would also become the first woman to be awarded an honorary degree from Harvard University.
* On June 29, 2003, Katharine Hepburn, a four-time Academy Award winner for Best Actress and one of Hollywood’s great screen legends, died of natural causes at the age of 96, at her home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. In 1999, the American Film Institute had named her the greatest female actress in the history of American cinema, and after her death, the lights on Broadway were dimmed for an hour to mark her passing.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
"If
I were you, I think I'd just quietly
to the
I don't think Clarence quite appreciated your exploding golf ball gag."
Stangl Pottery introduced the “Black Gold” line in 1968.
Griffen, Smith and Hill were in business from 1879 to 1889.
head back
clubhouse now.
Idioms & Phrases: from page 3
knife made by the Buck knife company. When playing poker it was common to place someoneʼs Buck knife in front of the dealer so that everyone knew who he was. When it was time for a new dealer to take over, the knife was moved over to him. If this person didn’t want to deal he would “pass the buck” to the next player. If that player accepted it, “the buck stopped there”.
• Riverboats in the 1800s would carry both people and animals in rather close proximity. Since pigs had an offensive odor that smelled so bad they had to be washed before being put on board. The mud and other filth that was washed off was considered useless “hog wash”.
• Red ribbon was once used by government employees and lawyers to tie up bundles of records and other legal documents. Before any official business could be done, they first had to cut through all the “red tape.”
• The word “curfew” comes from the French phrase “couvre-feu”, which means “cover, or snuff, the fire.” It was used to announce the appointed time to blow out all lamps and candles. The term was later adopted into Middle English as “curfeu,” which later became the modern “curfew.”
• In the old west a .45 cartridge for a six-gun cost 6 cents, and so did a glass of whiskey. If a cowhand was low on cash he could give the saloonʼs bartender a cartridge in exchange for a drink. This became known as a “shot” of whiskey.
• During WW 1 soldiers were given life insurance policies worth $5,000. This was about the price of an average farm, so if you died you “bought the farm” for your survivors.
• Those in 19th century high society who were among the social or financial elite were accustomed to having the best of everything. Bread in those days was often shaped into flat round loaves and baked in stone ovens. These loaves would be sliced horizontally into two separate pieces. The lower crust was undesireable because it had been in contact with the hot oven floor bricks, making it sooty, tough and difficult to chew. It was often given to beggars or servants to eat. The top portion was properly baked just right and was soft and clean. These choice pieces were taken by the rich nobility, who became known as societyʼs “upper crust”.
by Jason Jenkins
Making a powerful turn of the body in the backswing might be the one thing that could take your game to the next level. Every long hitter can make a shoulder turn that creates torque against the lower body, enabling speed to develop in the downswing. While flexibility and proper lower body action greatly assist the upper body’s movement, one small cue can remind you to make a big turn.
The left shoulder can turn to a point where you may feel it under your chin. By rehearsing swings to the top position, you can determine if you’ve made a large enough turn by feeling the shoulder move under the chin. Allow your head to even swivel slightly for a larger turn. Normally, golfers make considerably shorter turns than any rehearsal position, so use your practice as way to improve your body coil. Strive to make a shoulder turn of at least 80 plus degrees.
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:
Linda Thistle
