Vol 21: #30 • Population Demos • (7-20-2025) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
the study of populations that help us understand the world we live in, inclulding our environmental and cultural impacts and human behavior. Follow along and learn how the demographic study of our population segments reveal a lot more interesting facts than simply a bunch of boring numbers!
• If you started counting from year 1 A.D. when the world's population was about 170 million, about 108 billion humans have lived on earth, including the 7.4 billion alive today.
• The population of the U.S.is currently at about 340 million, representing just 4.5 percent of all global inhabitants.
• The growth rate of the U.S. was 0.5% in 2023, lower than at any point since 1979.
BIRTH RATES
• About 50 years ago, the average woman worldwide had four kids. Today the average has dropped to only two children per woman. In the U.S., the
TRIV
Here are some off-the-wall baseball events that truly came out of left field
• Ray Chapman was up at bat for the Cleveland Indians in August of 1920. Carl Mays was pitching for the New York Yankees. Chapman had a habit of crowding the plate, and Mays threw a beanball pitch that smacked Chapman square in the head, fracturing his skull. He died from his injury following the game.
• One response to this tragedy was to suggest coloring baseballs bright yellow so batters and outfielders could spot them better. This tactic was given a trial run. When baseballs were dyed yellow, the ball covering became moist and colored playerʼs hands. Later, a bright orange ball was tried but no one liked it. Ultimately, it was decided that using fresh new bright white balls was the best that could be done, and so it remains today. Today, the few yellow baseballs that remain are valued collector’s items. Chapman remains the only player ever killed during a baseball game.
• At any baseball game, advertising can be seen everywhere: on signs lining the outfield fence, on the backstop behind home plate, in sponsored giveaways, in announcements, and even on the inside of the restroom stall doors.
1. TELEVISION: In the show “Ted Lasso,” what does the sign over the locker room doorway say?
2. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many words are dogs believed to understand, on average?
3. U.S. STATES: Which two states don’t observe Daylight Savings Time?
4. LITERATURE: In the “Harry Potter” book series, how many balls are used in a Quidditch match?
5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which company owns car makers Porsche and Audi?
6. GEOGRAPHY: Which country is home to Lake Como?
7. MOVIES: What are the names of Cinderella’s stepsisters?
8. ACRONYMS: What does the computer acronym DOS stand for?
9. MEDICAL: What is the condition called solar erythema?
10. PSYCHOLOGY: Someone suffering from alektorophobia is terrified by what?
• But in 2002, Major League Baseball was approached by Sony Pictures, who was preparing to come out with their latest blockbuster SpiderMan 2 movie just as baseball interleague games were getting underway that June. Sony suggested Spider-Man graphics could be put right on top of the bases at first, second, and third – maybe even home plate.
• However, managers feared that the next step would be Spider-Man graphics on team uniforms: Spider-Man catching a fly ball; Spider-Man fielding a bunt; Spider-Man hitting a homer. Fortunately, the whole marketing idea was scrapped.
• Chicago White Sox players were surprised to show up for a game in August of 1976 to find that their standard uniform pants had been replaced – by shorts. The Bermuda-style shorts were a test of baseball fashion. Pitcher Goose
Gossage objected, saying he hadn’t had time to shave his legs, but the first baseman was only too happy to show off his thighs. Reporters remarked that they looked like a men’s team masquerading as a women’s team. Three times that season, the White Sox wore the shorts, risking scrapes during slides. However, they won all three games before the sports shorts were retired.
• Some major league teams began hosting “throwback nights” where teams wore uniforms similar to what was worn a century ago. Fans loved the look of yesteryear. Then somebody suggested “Turn the Clock Ahead Night,” which didn’t turn out so well. Teams started wearing futuristic uniforms that looked like they were made from the scraps from a T-shirt factory. “They look like something my wife would wear to bed,” opined Tampa Bay pitcher Rick White. “Left field” became “Left sector,” balls were referred to as “orbs,” and the New York Mets rebranded themselves as the Mercury Mets. The whole contrived fad was fortunately scrapped.
• The Charleston RiverDogs, the minor league team from South Carolina, once hosted “Nobody Night” on July 8, 2002. Nobody was allowed to enter the stadium before the bottom of the 5th inning. Instead, the game went on in front of empty stands, while the fans were directed to a nearby venue offering food, drink, and music. They flooded through the gates when they opened during the 5th inning. Turns out the team only wanted to set the record for all-time lowest attendance for a professional game, and did what was required to secure their position in the history books.
Week of July 20, 2025
Population Demos: (from page one)
average is now 1.6 kids.
• Out of the 30 countries with the highest birth rates, 29 are located in Africa. The one exception is Afghanistan.
• Countries with the lowest birth rates include Ukraine - due to the current war conditions; Monaco, due to the predominantly elderly population; as well as Japan and South Korea where career pressure is heavy, and marriage and family play a secondary role.
AGE EXPECTANCY
• The country with the oldest average population is Monaco, the tiny ultra-rich nation on the French Riviera, where the average age is 55. Japan comes in 2nd at 43.
• The median age of residents of Monaco is longer than the life expectancy of people in many African nations, including Chad, Nigeria, Sudan, and Somalia. This means that when someone in Monaco reaches that country’s median age, they have already lived longer than the typical lifespan of someone in Africa.
• Although Japan has the highest percentage of its population that has reached the age of 100, the U.S. has a higher number of centenarians, with about 98,000.
• Mississippi has the lowest life expectancy of all the states. It also has the widest gender gap where life expectancy is concerned, with men dying at the average age of 68.6 while women survive to the age of 75.2.
• Hawaii has the highest life expectancy at 80.7 years, due to the low obesity rate of 25%, one of the lowest in the U.S. The obesity rate in
• On the other hand, states like West Virginia (74.9 years), Alabama (74.9 years), and Kentucky (75.1 years) are among those with the lowest life expectancies, perhaps because of higher rates of chronic diseases and lower healthcare quality.
POPULATION BY GENDER
• Globally, the male-to-female ratio of the population is pretty steady at 50-50, though it generally tips towards 101 males for every 100 females. However, at birth, the ratio is about 105 boys for every 100 girls.
• In 1980, 30% of American households consisted of married parents. By 2023, that had fallen to just 18%. In the same time period, households consisting of a single person living alone without children increased from 23% to 29%.
• Single-parent households with kids under 18 have held steady at about 7.5%.
• What changed between 1980 and today is whether it’s mom or dad taking care of the kids. Of the 10 million single-parent households in the U.S. today, 75% are single mothers, and 25% are single fathers. In 1980, 90% were single mothers and 10% were single fathers.
EDUCATION
• In 1980, 21% of men had achieved at least a Bachelor’s degree, while women lagged behind with only 14%. However, by 2023, women byKaraKovalchik&SandyWood
• The country with the highest percentage of male citizens is Qatar, with 248 men for every 100 women due to the influx of migrant workers to perform manual labor. In second place is the United Arab Emirates (177 men for every 100 women), mainly for the same reason.
• Globally, women outlive men by an average of five years, and among older segments, women vastly outnumber men. In the U.S., for people aged 85 and older, there are only 56 males for every 100 females, according to the 2020 census.
• Alaska has the highest male-to-female ratio of 110 men for every 100 women, followed by North Dakota, which has 103 to 100.
• In 1980, 17% of Americans age 25 or older had completed at least four years of college. By 2023, that had risen to 38%.
• Other states with high life expectancy rates include California and Minnesota, at 79.0 and 79.1 years
• On the other hand, the District of Columbia has the lowest male-to-female ratio at 90 men for every 100 women. Mississippi ranks second to last with 93 men for every 100 women.
THEN AND NOW
• In 1800, only 3% of the world’s population lived in urban areas. Today 58% do.
OF KNOWLEDGE
Even worse than China, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the biggest city in Africa with 17 million people. It has the worst air quality in the world due to heavy vehicle traffic, industrial pollution, burning of diesel fuel in generators, and burning of trash and other waste products.
• In 1980, the median age for women to marry in the U.S. was 22, while the median age for men was 25. By 2023, that had shifted to age 28 for women and 30 for men.
Population Demos: Turn to page 15
by
By Lucie Winborne
* The word “cereal” comes from “Ceres,” the Roman goddess of harvest and agriculture.
* UC Berkeley study found in a study that people who drove luxury cars, in particular BMWs and Mercedes, were much more likely to cut off other drivers at intersections than folks driving non-luxury cars.
* Popes can’t be organ donors, since their bodies belong to the Vatican when they die.
* Ranch dressing, America’s best-selling salad dressing since 1992, was created by an Alaskan plumber in the 1950s.
* It would take 19 minutes to fall from the surface to the center of the earth.
* Kim Kardashian has a “glam clause” in her will stipulating that if she’s ever in a position where she can’t get herself ready, is unable to communicate or is unconscious, someone will ensure that her hair, makeup and nails are still perfect.
* Venus is the only planet to spin clockwise.
* Bamboo is the fastest-growing woody plant in the world, with an ability to sprout up to 35 inches in a single day.
* The world’s largest bowling alley is in Japan, with a whopping 116 lanes.
* Need a natural remedy for a blocked nose? Try an onion. Its sulfur content is thought to draw mucus from the body.
* The word “mortgage” comes from a French word meaning “death contract.”
* According to the Guinness World Records, the world’s hottest chili pepper is the Pepper X, rating at an average of 2,693,000 Scoville Heat Units.
* Panda bears have been known to eat for 12 hours straight. ***
Thought for the Day: “One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.”
-- Golda Meir
by Mary Hunt
What to Do When You Have Too Many of These Things
such a kind and awesome thing to do. Another idea: Search Pinterest for how to recycle flower vases. The ideas are so amazing that if you’re not careful you may find yourself in search of more vases instead of getting rid of them.
HOUSEHOLD LINENS
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
Before we get going here, and in the interest of full disclosure, I have an inner hoarder who puts up quite a fuss from time to time. I’ve managed to tame her, but now and again, she gets out. Before I know it, I have 48 boxes of borax on my storage shelves or 9,082 skeins of yarn in my stash. Just kidding -- sort of. Just justification is always, “Just in case we go through a season of scarcity,” right? I see some heads nodding in full understanding.
Look -- excessive accumulation is not always a sign of a disorder. Having a few things extra of those you’ll need in the future is actually the sign of a wise person. It’s a great way to save money when those things are on sale for say, 50% off. But should this accumulation thing get out of hand, it’s good to know how to reasonably get rid of the following given as examples:
BOOKS
I totally understand how this happens. I am a writer but not much of a reader. I reference and skim nonfiction works but mostly online. So why did I haul more than 4,000 books to the local library for their use and to used book sales when we packed up and moved to another state? I can’t explain it. And I still packed up another 1,000 or so to take with me.
Learn from my mistakes; start sooner than later. Regift those you know will be treasured or at least read by people on your gift list. Sell textbooks online. Search “get rid of books.” AbeBooks.com is a good site; also check OperationPaperback.org. Take a list of the titles and authors to a local used bookstore. Check with your local public library. Mine took every last title I was willing to part with, and with gratitude.
VASES
It’s weird, but does it seem to you as it does to me that flower vases reproduce in the dark of night? So. Many. Vases! It’s hard to toss them out when they might be useful. A reader once sent me this helpful hint: Load them up and take them to your local florist. Seriously! Many times, they include a vase with an order. In fact, perhaps the ones you have came from that flower shop. I acted on this tip, and it was a winwin. They gave me flowers as a “thank you” for
FILLERPAGE2 2Q08-WEEK19 MAY4-MAY10
They get worn-out or start to look shabby, but it’s hard to toss towels when they are still functional. So don’t. Instead, consider donating towels and other linens to your local animal shelter, animal hospital or veterinarian. But don’t just drop and run. First, give them a call to see what they can use. You may be surprised when they tell you “anything!” Another idea is to recycle those towels into garage and car-washing rags. Sheets that are free of holes and stains will be welcomed donations by your local thrift stores.
MUGS, CUPS, DISHES AND FOOD STORAGE ITEMS
They take up a lot of space in the typical kitchen. Like our clothes closets, we must ask the necessary yes or no question: Have I used this in the past six months? OK, make that a year to include all the holidays, or even two years to be safe. Those that get a no and are in excellent condition will make great fodder for your next garage sale or a donation drive.
Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate. com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
MICHIGAN TRIVIA
• The name Michigan comes from the Ojibwe “mishigamaa,” which means “large lake” or “great water” with “michi” meaning “great” and “gama” meaning “water.”
• What’s the only Great Lake that does not touch Michigan? Lake Ontario. To remember the names of all the Great Lakes, remember the acronym HOMES: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior.
• There are 62,798 inland lakes in Michigan with a surface area of at least 0.1 acres or larger. Of those, just over 11,000 are five acres or more in size. Overall, 1.3% of Michigan’s total area is inland lakes.
• Those lakes provide habitat for 154 species of fish.
• No matter where you are standing in the state, you are never more than six miles from a body of water.
• The state has 3,224 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, which is more freshwater shoreline than any other state in the nation.
• There are 129 lighthouses in Michigan, more than any other state.
• The vessel named the J. W. Westcott II is a post office boat. It delivers mail to ships while they are underway, operating out of Detroit. It boasts the only floating zip code in the nation: 48222. It’s been operating since 1874. It has also been known to deliver pizzas to crews.
• In 1945, Grand Rapids was the first city in
the U.S. to add fluoride to the municipal water supply as an experiment to see if it improved dental health.
• Michigan is the nation’s leading producer of tart cherries, providing 75% of the nation’s supply, headquartered in and around Traverse City. Tart cherries are primarily used for pies and jams.
• In the early 1900s, 90% of the silk made in the U.S. was made in Belding, Michigan, “the silk capital of the world.” The factory, built by the Belding brothers, closed in 1935.
• The world headquarters of La-Z-Boy recliners is in Monroe, Michigan, founded in 1927.
• Domino’s Pizza and Little Caesars both started in Michigan.
• Pop singers from Michigan include Diana Ross (Detroit), Madonna (Bay City), Alice Cooper (Detroit), Stevie Wonder (Saginaw), Bob Seger (Dearborn) and Iggy Pop (Ann Arbor).
• Cass Technical High School in downtown Detroit has turned out some exceptional students including Diana Ross, John DeLorean, Ellen Burstyn, and Lily Tomlin.
• 47 people have been elected governor of Michigan over the course of 49 periods. Of those, just one came from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
• Sault Ste. Marie is the oldest city in the state, and one of the oldest cities in the nation. The town sits on the northern edge of the Upper Peninsula bordering Canada. In 1668, a French explorer and missionary named the settlement after Saint Mary, with “sault” being French for “waterfall” indicating the rapids nearby where natives gathered to catch fish. The town, with a current population of 13,000, is the only town in Chippewa County.
• Grand Hotel stands on Mackinac Island located between upper and lower Michigan. It was built in 1887 by the local railroad to house tourists coming to the area. It boasts the World’s Largest Front Porch, which is 668 feet (204 m) long. Mackinac Island is named after the indigenous word meaning “big turtle.”
Tidbits of Coachella Valley
by Dana Jackson
Q: Why did Kelly Clarkson cancel her Las Vegas concert? I would be very upset if I had bought tickets and traveled there. -- D.D.
A: Kelly Clarkson had to cancel the first two shows of her new Las Vegas residency due to issues with her voice. She stated that she needed to protect her voice from further damage after rehearsals had taken their toll. Caesars Palace, the venue where her concerts will be held, has given ticket buyers a choice of a full refund or waiting for the rescheduled dates.
There have also been rumors that she wants to leave her daytime talk show, but this hasn’t been confirmed. She took a leave of absence this past spring to be with her children while her exhusband was being treated for an undisclosed illness.
Q: Is “Murder in a Small Town” coming back for another season? There have been so many cancellations lately; I’m worried this is one of them. -- K.I.
1. Jurassic World: Rebirth (PG-13) Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali
2. F1: The Movie (PG-13) Brad Pitt, Damson Idris
3. How to Train Your Dragon (PG) Mason Thames, Nico Parker
4. Elio (PG) Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña
5. 28 Years Later (R) Jodie Comer, Aaron TaylorJohnson
A: Fortunately the Fox drama “Murder in a Small Town” has avoided getting the ax after its freshman season and will live to tell the tale of more mysteries this fall. The show is based on a series of novels by L.R. Wright and stars Rossif Sutherland (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) as Detective Karl Alberg, who relocates to a picturesque town after growing weary of big-city life.
The series earned its renewal by becoming “Fox’s fifth most-watched non-sports program of the fall,” according to TVLine. While this might not appear very impressive, it performed strongly enough against so much competition (not only on network and cable television but also streaming) to survive and hopefully build a bigger audience its second time around.
Four-time Emmy nominee Marcia Gay Harden (“So Help Me Todd”) joins the series this fall as Mayor Christie Holman. The show will air on Fox on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. ***
Q: What ever happened to the actor who starred opposite Julian McMahon in the series “Nip/Tuck”? I haven’t seen him in anything for quite a while. I was very sad to learn of McMahon’s recent passing. -- G.H.
A: Dylan Walsh starred as plastic surgeon Dr. Sean McNamara in creator Ryan Murphy’s (“American Horror Story”) first hit series, which ran from 2003-2010 on FX. It also made stars out of Walsh and Julian McMahon.
Walsh is still very much actively employed as an actor. His most recent recurring role was playing Mayor Peter Chase on the CBS hit series “Blue Bloods,” and before this, it was General Sam Lane on “Superman & Lois.”
He has several upcoming projects, including two films that are deemed thrillers -- “The Man
Sir Edmund Hillary 7/20/1919
Robin Williams 7/21/1951
Danny Glover 7/22/1946
Don Imus 7/23/1940
Jennifer Lopez 7/24/1969
Estelle Getty 7/25/1923
Kevin Spacey 7/26/1959
Across the Street” with Teri Polo (“Meet the Parents”) and Jamie-Lynn Sigler (“The Sopranos”), as well as “The Highest Stakes” with Seth Green (“Family Guy”) and Charlie Weber (“How to Get Away with Murder”).
Sadly, we recently lost McMahon after his private battle with cancer. He left the CBS hit series “FBI: Most Wanted” back in 2022 and was replaced with Dylan McDermott. McMahon most recently appeared in six episodes of “The Residence” on Netflix.
* * *
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Depositphotos
Kelly Clarkson Singer-songwriter/TV personality
Good Recipes from
Hero Pizza
We’ve gathered all of the best ingredients from a hot and saucy hero sandwich -Italian sausage, peppers and cheese -- and put them on a kid-friendly pizza.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon olive oil
8 ounces Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
1 medium red pepper, thinly sliced
1 medium yellow pepper, thinly sliced
1 package (8-ounce) sliced mushrooms
Salt Pepper
1 pound fresh or frozen (thawed) pizza dough
3/4 cup jarred marinara sauce
1 1/4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1. Heat oven to 450 F. Grease 15 1/2inch by 10 1/2-inch jelly-roll pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
2. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil on medium for 1 minute. Add sausage; cook 6 to 8 minutes or until cooked through, breaking up sausage with side of spoon. With slotted spoon, transfer sausage to bowl.
3. To drippings in skillet, add pep-
pers and cook, covered, on medium 3 to 4 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add mushrooms and cook, uncovered, 6 to 8 minutes longer, stirring occasionally. Return sausage to skillet; stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Remove skillet from heat.
4. With fingers, pat dough onto bottom and up sides of prepared pan. Spread marinara sauce on dough; top with sausage mixture, mozzarella and Parmesan. Place pan on rack in lower third of oven. Bake pizza 20 to 22 minutes or until topping is hot and bubbly, and crust is browned. Makes 4 main-dish servings.
Each serving: About 615 calories, 33g total fat (10g saturated), 54mg cholesterol, 1,285mg sodium, 61g total carbohydrate, 4g dietary fiber, 28g protein.
Double-Chocolate Cherry Drops
The slight tartness of the cherries provides a delicious contrast to the double dose of rich chocolate from semisweet chunks and cocoa.
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
8 ounces semisweet or white chocolate, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 cup dried tart cherries
1. Heat oven to 350 F.
2. On waxed paper, combine flour, cocoa and salt.
3. In a large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter and sugar until creamy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Beat in corn syrup, vanilla and
egg until well-mixed. At low speed, gradually add flour mixture; beat just until blended, occasionally scraping bowl. With spoon, stir in chocolate chunks and cherries.
4. Drop cookies by rounded measuring teaspoons, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake cookies 10 to 11 minutes or until tops are just firm. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining dough.
Each serving: About 85 calories, 5g total fat (3g saturated), 12 mg cholesterol, 50mg sodium, 1g dietary fiber, 1g protein.
For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our Web site at www.goodhousekeeping. com/recipes/.
(c) 2018 Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved
• Running your business successfully means making smart decisions. Make your advertising choice a wise one.
• An ad schedule in Tidbits means you reach a whole new audience that doesn’t see your advertising in the Desert Sun or in other valley publications. Plus, our lower Cost Per Thousand ad rates save you money.
•
•
•
• Extensive valley-wide distribution in over 600 newsstand locations - including Wal-Mart, Walgreens, and Revivals,
CONDIMENTS CONDIMENTS
Holidays & Observances This Week
7/20 National Ice Cream Day
7/21 National Be Someone Day
7/22 Rat Catchers Day
7/23 Hot Enough For Ya Day
7/24 National Cousins Day
7/25 Talk in an Elevator Day
7/26 National Day of the Cowboy
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Lucky Dog Honks for Help
Earlier this week, Donna Gardner of Allentown, Pa., went out to run some errands and decided to bring her 11-year-old chocolate Lab, Max, along for the ride. When she arrived back home, she collected her bags, locked up her car and went inside to tackle the demands of a busy household.
About an hour later, Gardner began hearing the persistent sound of a honking car horn. She went outside to check but saw nothing out of the ordinary, so she resumed her business inside. The beeping, however, continued. When she eventually peered out the window to take another look, she saw Max sitting in the driver’s seat of her car. Everything Gardner did from that point on was exactly right: She cooled down an extremely overheated Max with wet rags, gave him some water and rushed him to the vet. The vet told local media that Max was weak upon arrival but should make a full recovery.
Gardner, the vet and everyone else are calling the incident a miracle. And there’s no doubt Max is one lucky Lab. But we don’t have to rely on miracles, luck or exceptionally intuitive canines to prevent our dogs from starring in the more prevalent version of this story, which doesn’t wrap with a happy ending.
With summer comes heat: Sidewalks can make a barefoot boy dance a jig. Drop an egg into a bowl of water that’s been sitting in the sun for hours, give it five minutes and -- voila! -- breakfast is served. Slipping into your car suddenly makes you feel for anything preceded by “oven roasted.” All of these examples affect your dog. Hot sidewalks are painful and hard on his paws. Scalding water is undrinkable. And even a couple of minutes in a hot car can be enough to induce heat stroke or death. Yes, that’s how lucky Max was.
To avoid a precarious reliance on Lady Luck, make the following steadfast summer practices:
Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors should have access to shade and clean, cool water at all times. And in particularly hot regions or on especially hot days, dogs should be kept inside, at
With the increasing number of food recalls lately, it’s very tempting to buy a few rural acres and grow our own food, isn’t it? A dozen chickens, a milk cow, a veggie garden ... what else would we need? Unfortunately for the majority of us, that’s not a possibility.
However, we can keep up with the increasing numbers of food recalls and stay safe. Here are a few of the new ones: We have undeclared pecans in mocha truffles, milk in mousse desserts, listeria in cheddar curls, illness-producing microbes in cough syrup for little kids, salmonella in cucumbers, peanuts in vitamin B12 gummies. And that’s only in the past two weeks. In the previous two weeks we find salmonella in organic eggs, listeria in mushrooms, listeria in peeled shrimp, undeclared sesame in crackers and more.
But food isn’t the only thing on the recent recall lists.
Going to www.recalls.gov is eye-opening because they document recalls for several categories, including cosmetics, medicine, boats, vehicles and consumer products such as electronics, appliances, clothing, sports gear and much more. There’s the gas heater that is a gas/ fire hazard, the pool drain cover that can cause serious injury and even death, the 2,000-watt
power station that can cause shock, and the party supply toys for little kids that can cause serious injury if a child swallows the battery.
If you want to check recalls for your vehicles or the tires, you’ll need the VIN (look in the lower corner of the windshield). At www.recalls. gov/nhtsa.html you can sign up for email notifications. (Note: One manufacturer recently had to recall nearly a half million vehicles because bearing failure can cause the engine to fail while being driven.)
You can sign up for a variety of email alerts at www.recalls.gov, www.foodsafety.gov and www.fda.gov
Stay aware; stay safe.
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)
least during the sun’s peak hours.
During the summer months, walk your dog early in the morning and later in the evening or at night to avoid scorched paw pads and to make it the pleasant experience it should be for both of you.
Even though it’s tempting to think your dog wants to be with you at all times, what he really wants is to be comfortable. So leave him at home -- preferably inside -- if bringing him along means he has to spend any time at all alone in the car. Cracking the windows, parking in a shady spot and leaving the car running with the air conditioning cranked are not valid exceptions to this rule. A dog should never be left alone in a car on a hot day. Some cities have laws against leaving a pet unattended in a car at any time of year. Period.
Gardner, clearly a loving and devoted dog owner who just made a mistake, told reporters she’s learned a lesson and hopes Max’s story will be a lesson to others. Wisdom, so often gleaned from tragedy, is just as useful when unearthed from good fortune.
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
One Big Ugly Press Release
I am so embarrassed by my former employer, the Social Security Administration. By issuing a press release that not only supports but outright glorifies the recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill,” they have crossed a line that should never have been crossed. They may even have acted illegally. It was One Big Ugly Press Release.
Before I proceed, I must make an important point. I am NOT going to provide general comments on the newly enacted legislation itself. Whether you think “One Big Beautiful Bill” is the greatest piece of legislation in American history or whether you think it is the biggest boondoggle in American history, I don’t care. I am simply not smart enough to comment on it.
But I am smart enough to comment on the Social Security Administration’s response to the passage of the bill. They issued a press release headed: “Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors.” And then they turned around and sent it by email to all senior citizens in this country.
The bill may indeed provide “historic tax relief for seniors.” Again, that is not the point of this column. The point I must make is that a federal government agency has no right to engage in political commentary. In fact, the Hatch Act specifically forbids partisan political activity by federal government employees.
A federal government employee’s job is to simply carry out the laws passed by Congress. It is not their job to comment on those laws. Of course, each employee has his or her own political beliefs. During my 32-year career with the SSA, I worked with both staunch, conservative Republicans and die-hard liberal Democrats. I worked with Libertarians and I worked with Socialists. But all of us knew our job was to keep our opinions to ourselves and just help people get the Social Security benefits that they were entitled to.
And now the agency has crossed the line and made their opinions public. Well, actually, one person has. More about that in a minute.
But first, let me share this. As part of my three-decade career with the Social Security Administration, I served for a time as the agency’s deputy press officer. During my tenure, we never issued any kind of press release that was even remotely political in nature. In fact, we rarely issued any news releases at all because, well, there rarely was any news to issue a press release about. The agency was doing its job. Benefit claims were being taken and processed quickly, and Social Security checks went out on time every month. So, no news was good news.
But under the Trump administration, the people running the agency have been issuing press releases almost weekly. And some of them have been overtly political. For example, a press release issued on April 29, 2025, was headlined, “Social Security Administration Highlights Key Accomplishments in the First 100 Days of the Trump Administration.”
I could parse the dickens out of the “One Big Beautiful” press release but let me just look at the first three words: “Social Security applauds” (passage of legislation ... ).
That implies that the Social Security program itself applauded the legislation. And of course, that is not true. I’m sure they meant to say, “The Social Security Administration” applauds the legislation. But even that is not true. The agency as a whole was not applauding, and again, because of the Hatch Act, cannot applaud the legislation.
What was meant to be said is that one person was applauding the passage of the legislation. And that one person is Frank Bisignano, a former Wall Street executive whom President Donald Trump appointed as the Commissioner of Social Security several months ago.
As a political appointee, of course Mr. Bisignano is going to have political opinions and he has every right to express those opinions. He could have issued his own statement saying that “I applaud the passage of One Big Beautiful Bill.” But he should not have issued an agency press release and then emailed it to every senior citizen in the country, saying that “Social Security applauds the passage of the bill.” Shame on him!
In addition to the blatant political messages, the press release and the email sent to all seniors were a bit misleading. For example, it said that “the new law includes a provision that eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits.” By now, I think most seniors have learned from more reliable news sources that it doesn’t do that. What it does do is introduce a temporary deduction that some seniors can claim to lower their federal income tax. And notably, this deduction does not apply to all Social Security beneficiaries. For example, it does not apply to retirees who are under age 65. And it does not apply to people getting Social Security disability benefits, nor does it apply to widows and widowers who are under age 65.
Here is another misleading statement that was in the SSA press release. It said that “ ... this legislation reaffirms President Trump’s promise to protect Social Security.” Well, not really. Many Americans may not know this, but the money derived from the taxation of Social Security benefits is a small but important source of income to the
1. The book of Lamentations is found in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither
2. Which Moabite woman became ancestress of King David through her marriage to Boaz? a) Sarah b) Rahab c) Esther d) Ruth
3. From Daniel 6, which king called to Daniel in a lamentable voice? a) Nebudchanezzar b) Herod c) Darius d) Belshazzar
4. What is a binding agreement made between God and a person or group? a) Daric b) Promise c) Covenant d) Commandment
5. From 2 Samuel 12, who said to David, "Thou art the man"? a) Joab b) Nathan c) Hanun d) Mephibosheth
6. In which book does Jesus say, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock"? a) Mark b) John c) Acts d) Revelation
(Answers on page 16)
comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com
Social Security trust funds. For example, last year, about $55 billion was added to the trust funds because of Social Security benefit taxation. While not all of that is going away, a significant percentage of it is.
So, this provision of the “One Big Beautiful” bill does not “protect Social Security.” Instead, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, it pushes up its bankruptcy date by one year -- from 2033 as the Social Security Trustees recently reported to 2032.
Finally, because of the long lead time to write, edit, and publish this column, I am writing this just a day or two after the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed. I, and millions of other Americans, are still digesting what was in the bill. Once that happens, I will likely write a follow-up column on this issue.
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
Reader Attempts to Slow Progression Toward Kidney Failure
DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently I almost experienced kidney failure from a probable infection. I am a male, age 68. My glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ranges from 44-50, and my weight is 132 pounds. My blood pressure is 110/60 mm Hg, and I enjoy various endurance sports.
Besides limiting my protein, salt and saturated fat intake, as well as getting adequate hydration, do you have additional recommendations on how to help my kidneys recover or get the rest they need to slow their progress toward kidney failure? -- D.
ANSWER: You’ve done most of my work for me, but I do want to say that I have seen people overly restrict their protein intake. The expert recommendation is to stay between 0.8-1 gram of protein per kilogram of body mass. So, for you, it would be 48-60 grams or about 2 ounces of protein a day.
You want as much polyunsaturated fat (mostly vegetable and seed oils) and saturated fat (mostly meat and tropical oils like coconut and palm) as possible. Your blood pressure is close to perfect, and a sodium intake of less than 2 grams will help keep it there.
Depending on more exact details of your kidney function (especially whether you are losing protein in your urine), medications such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and SGLT2 inhibitors may have a role in slowing down your progression -- if your nephrologist agrees.
The other issue I caution you on is overthe-counter medicines and their dosing. You should avoid anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or their prescription counterparts.
Finally, many people who participate in endurance sports do get their volumes depleted during exercise, so you need to be meticulous about replacing fluid, which needs to be the right kind at the right amount. ***
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 94-year-old man. I am on a well-balanced diet and take daily walks. I am on glipizide, atorvastatin, finasteride, terazosin, ergocalciferol and timolol. So far, I have resisted taking Prolia injections. The multiple prescriptions I have are based on lab tests, but could the meds act negatively against each other? -- C.H.
ANSWER: I have access to a robust drug-interaction calculator, and when I put all of these in, the only identified interaction was between glipizide and timolol. (Glipizide is used to make the pancreas increase its secretion of insulin and is most often used in people with Type 2 diabetes.)
The interaction the calculator identified is that timolol, a beta blocker, has two negative actions in people with diabetes. It slightly suppresses the amount of insulin your body can
make, and more importantly, it can prevent the symptoms that make people realize their blood sugar is going down.
Nervousness, tremor, dry mouth, and a fast heart rate are all symptoms that most people with diabetes recognize when they have low blood sugar. This prompts them to check their sugar levels and rush some food in if necessary. Without these early warning signs, a person can get dangerously low blood sugar, causing confusion. However, if you are taking timolol eye drops as I suspect, the danger of these adverse effects is exceedingly small as the amount absorbed in the blood is low, if not zero.
Let me mention that osteoporosis in men is not uncommon when they reach their 90s. I don’t have enough information to say what the best treatment is, but I would carefully consider treatment if your doctor recommends it. Fracturing a bone in the spine can lead to years of back pain, and fracturing a hip is a life-changing event.
If you are concerned about Prolia in particular, ask your doctor why they chose it and perhaps ask them to consider other options.
* * *
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
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Beware the Pension Poachers!
The VA’s Office of Inspector General recently put out a fraud alert about a series of schemes known as “pension poaching.” Veterans, heads up. You have a lot to lose if you fall for one of these scams.
The Department of Veterans Affairs pension is for wartime veterans or their surviving spouses and unmarried dependent children with certain income limits. The benefits are therefore very valuable. And it’s what the scammers want: your money.
Veterans, these scammers can come at you in a number of ways. It might be through a dishonest attorney, a fake financial planner, by phone or email, or at an assisted living facility. In short, they’re everywhere.
Beware anybody who approaches you with any of the following:
• If you have direct bank deposit of your benefit money, they might try to divert that money elsewhere. (The money should always only go to the veteran.)
• You might be pushed to hand over personal financial information, like a credit card number.
• Scammers might try to guarantee you’ll get a certain benefit. (But no one can make that guarantee; only the VA can decide.)
• Scammers might try to con you into lying about your expenses and income when you apply for benefits, effectively hiding your money from the VA. (What they won’t tell you is that the VA does a three-year lookback at your finances. If you’re caught lying, you’ll have to pay back any money the VA gives you.)
• Scammers likely charge you an upfront fee or have you sign over a percentage of your benefits to them in exchange for helping you apply for benefits. But the VA never charges you for applying for benefits and even gives you free help if you need it. Start by calling the VA at 800-827-1000. To learn about eligibility for the veterans pension, go to www.va.gov/pension/eligibility
For the survivors pension, see www. va.gov/pension/survivors-pension
Download the Veterans’ Pension pamphlet at https://tinyurl.com/mtsvrfte for information on how to avoid pension poaching scams. Beware and be on guard! Those pension poachers are everywhere!
Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.
M.D.
Esq.
call 800-955-2232.
How to Find Affordable Senior Housing Near You
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Can you tell me whether there are any resources that you know of that can help seniors locate affordable housings? My sister, who’s 68 years old, needs to find a different place to live but her financial resources are quite limited. Are there sources I can search on her behalf? -- Searching Sister
Dear Searching: Finding affordable senior housing options can be challenging depending on where your sister lives. Senior apartments for some retirees are a good option, and you’ll be happy to know that there are several government programs that can help financially. Here are some tips that can help your sister locate an apartment that fits her budget and living preferences.
Start with HUD
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a variety of resources that can help lower-income people, like your sister, locate and pay for housing. Here are three different programs to look into.
Privately owned subsidized apartments: HUD helps many apartment owners across the country offer reduced rents to low-income tenants. To search for subsidized apartments in your area, visit Resources.hud.gov
Housing choice voucher program: This program allows low-income families, elderly, and disabled people afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. The housing subsidy would be paid to the landlord each month. Your sister would then pay the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. To learn more or apply, contact your local public housing agency (see HUD.gov/contactus/public-housing-contacts for contact information), or
Public housing: This low-income housing option comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single-family houses to high rise apartments for elderly families. Your local public housing agency is again the resource for locating public housing in your area.
If you need more help or housing advice, contact a HUD-approved housing counseling agency near you. See HUD4.my.site.com/housingcounseling or call 800-569-4287 for contact information.
How to Choose
If you or your sister find several apartment choices that fall within her budget, she should consider what’s important to her. She may want housing that’s close to family, religious organizations, senior centers, or places she visits regularly, like grocery stores, parks or gyms.
Or, if she has a disabling condition, it may be especially critical for her to find a living space that has easy access to important services like senior transportation and health care centers.
In your housing search, you may also come across some red flags that indicate a retirement community wouldn’t be a good fit for your sister. Keep an eye out for extra fees that may be applied to everyday items or perks you normally wouldn’t think about like laundry service, parking or pets.
You should also make sure the apartment is in good condition and then scout out the neighborhood. Ask yourself if the community is clean and well maintained and if there is any debris or messy landscaping. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, follow up with questions before your sister signs a rental contract.
Other Programs
In addition to affordable housing, there are a number of other financial assistance programs that may help your sister pay for things like food, medications, health care, utilities and more. To locate these programs, check her eligibility and apply, visit BenefitsCheckUp.org
-- by Jim Miller
1900s. The set was originally a service for 12, but a few pieces are missing. It also includes serving dishes. The set is decorated with a plain white finish.
What can you tell me about the history and value of my china? Should I have the set insured? Is there a current market for Haviland china? Do you have any advice on how to sell my set?
JUNQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Scale Weighs In as Family Heirloom
Q: My great-grandfather was a shopkeeper and he purchased the Dodge scale seen in this picture July 16, 1918, for $230. He used it to weight fruits and vegetables. The bin and some of the parts are copper. It has a marble shelf that is supported by a metal base. The scale is about 22 inches long and 13 inches high. It can weigh up to 20 pounds.
The scale is in perfect condition, plus I have the original directions book and purchase receipt. My family has lived in Pennsylvania for generations, and I have found the Pennsylvania Dutch are meticulous in their bookkeeping! To me, the scale is a lovely decorative piece and a cherished family heirloom. I hope it will be as precious to my children as it is to me. Perhaps you can tell us more about its history.
A: Your countertop Micrometer Scale was made by Dodge Manufacturing, which was located in Yonkers, New York, in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Your scale is circa 1903 and is prized by collectors. It would probably be worth $1,000 to $1,500.
Q: This mark is on a set of porcelain china that I inherited. It belonged to my grandmother and was purchased in the early
A: Haviland Porcelain was founded in 1883 by David Haviland, in Limoges, France. It is still in business. The market for selling Haviland china is limited at this time. The lack of demand can be attributed to the poor economy and the fact that people often prefer low-maintenance dinnerware.
The Internet is a great way to sell antique dinnerware because of the widespread exposure it provides. Craigslist is another option. If you sell to an antiques dealer, you can expect to receive anywhere from 30 percent to 50 percent of its value.
The mark you provided was used from 1893 to 1930. Depending on your area, your set would probably be worth between $400 and $1,500. Insure your set for $1,500.
* * * Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has recently retired and no longer receives inquiries nor answers reader letters. Due to the popularity of her column, this publication will continue to reprint previous columns of interest to our readers.
* On July 21, 1365, a powerful earthquake off the coast of Greece caused a tsunami that devastated the city of Alexandria, Egypt. While no measuring tools for it existed at the time, modern scientists estimate that it consisted of two successive tremors, the largest of which is thought to have had a magnitude of 8.0.
* On July 22, 2003, Qusay and Uday Hussein, sons of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, were killed in Mosul, northern Iraq, after a three-hour firefight with U.S. forces. Both men were believed by many to be even more ruthless than their father, and news of their deaths was met with widespread celebration.
* On July 23, 2021, the Cleveland Indians baseball team announced its name change to the Cleveland Guardians, as a gesture of respect to Native Americans. The team had retired its “Chief Wahoo” logo three years earlier, banning it from future National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum plaques and merchandise sold outside of Ohio.
* On July 24, 1901, William Sydney Porter, better known to literature fans as O. Henry, was released from prison after serving a three-year jail term for embezzling from an Austin, Texas bank. He had previously hidden from authorities in Honduras but returned to America when his wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and supported his young daughter from prison by writing stories.
* On July 25, 1953, New York City issued its first subway tokens, which were used for 50 years before being replaced by the MetroCard.
* On July 26, 1972, singer Johnny Cash met with President Richard Nixon to lobby for prison reform. Cash was never an inmate himself, though he did spend a few nights in jail for minor offenses, but often performed at prisons.
* On July 27, 1794, Maximilien Robespierre was overthrown and arrested. As the leading member of the Committee of Public Safety from 1793, he had encouraged the execution, primarily by guillotine, of more than 17,000 enemies of the French Revolution. The day after his arrest, Robespierre and 21 of his followers met their own fate at the guillotine in front of a cheering mob at the Place de la Revolution in Paris.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
"We've been here two hours and we're only on the third hole! Next time you want to try something new and different, I get to pick the course. "
Dodge Scale was made in Yonkers, New York.
Haviland Porcelain was made in Limoges, France.
Population Demos: from page 3
surpassed men with 40% of women over age 25 achieving a Bachelor’s degree or higher, while only 37% of men did.
RANDOM FACTS
• What’s the most educated country in the world? Canada, with 63% completing some collegelevel education, followed by Japan, Ireland, South Korea, and the U.K. The U.S. comes in 10th with 50%.
• Active duty military dropped from 2 million in 1993 to just 1.3 million in 2024. However, that number is expected to increase significantly under the new Trump administration.
• There were 543,000 sworn police officers in the U.S. in 1993, compared to 706,000 in 2023.
• In 1980, Americans drove 1.5 trillion miles. This increased to 3.3 tillion miles in 2023. That’s a 115% increase in miles driven, while the population grew only 47% in the same period.
• In 1980, no one had a computer or internet connection at home. By 2023, 96% of U.S. households had some kind of a computer, while 92% had a broadband internet connection, and 92% have a smartphone.
• In 2019, only 6% of working adults worked from home. That rose to 15% by 2022 due to the Covid lockdowns. The municipality with the highest percentage of work-from-home adults is Washington, D.C. at 34%, while Mississippi has the least, with just 6%.
• In 2023, 161 million Americans were working. Of those, 21 million worked for the government. And of those, 79% worked for the local and state government while 21% worked for the federal government.
• 92% of American households have access to at least one car, while 37% have two.
Jason Jenkins
Diagonal Downswing
Swinging the club in circles and arcs when you’re trying to hit a shot straight can be quite confusing. Yet, that’s the nature of the club travel relative to a target line. The downswing can be thought of as having a diagonal component to the target line that should help you get it on the right track.
Once the backswing is completed, the lower body makes a slight lateral move as the arms swing forward. It’s helpful to visualize that the swing approaching the ball slightly diagonally into impact, rather than straight on. The diagonal thinking helps bring the right arm into the side of the body and prevents unwinding too quickly. It may help to lay down two alignment rods (or an umbrella and club)) to illustrate the target line and the intended downswing path in your practice sessions. Angle the inner rod (umbrella) roughly twenty to thirty degrees as illustrated. Visualize approaching the ball from this diagonal attack.
