Vol 22: #24 • Toy Story • (6-7-2026) Tidbits of Coachella Valley 16pg
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by Janet Spencer
Ahead of the classics such as Snow White, Pinocchio, Shrek, and The Lion King, Toy Story is considered to be the greatest animated movie of all time. This week Tidbits takes you behind the scenes for a look at the story behind Toy Story, and how its groundbreaking animated computer technology revolutionized the movie-making industry!
THE MAKING OF TOY STORY
• Pixar was formed in 1979, originally part of George Lucas’ Lucasfilm. The new division was tasked with developing new computer technology for use in the film industry. In 1986, Pixar was sold to Steve Jobs, who employed about 40 people at the time. Their first film using the newly developed Computer Animation Production System was a two-minute short that featured the now-familiar Pixar lamp (“Luxo”) playing with a ball. It was released in 1986.
• In 1995, “Toy Story” was the world’s first computeranimated feature film. Released on Thanksgiving
TRIV
(Answers on page 16)
1. TELEVISION: What are the names of the three girls in the animated series “Powerpuff Girls”?
2. GEOGRAPHY: Which ocean lies between Australia and Africa?
3. MATH: What is the Arabic equivalent of the Roman numerals MMXXVI?
4. MUSIC: Who won Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammys?
5. U.S. STATES: Which state is an archipelago?
6. MOVIES: Which classic movie has the tagline, “From the moment they met it was murder”?
7. GAMES: How many basketball players can be on the court at the same time?
8. SCIENCE: What is the heliosphere?
9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is vexillology?
• Until Jonas Salk developed a polio vaccine in 1955, the scourge of polio continued to ravage communities across America. Hospitals set aside entire wings to quarantine and treat polio victims, many of whom were children.
• In 1948, school teacher Eleanor Abbott came down with polio and was treated at a San Diego hospital. Her heart went out to the polio-stricken children sharing the same wing.
• To pass the time, she invented a board game that even the youngest child could play. It required no skills: no reading, no counting, and no strategizing. Players followed a colorful path as directed by cards drawn from a deck. She crafted a game board from butcher paper, designed a deck of cards from scraps, and called her creation Candy Land.
• The game’s rainbow-colored pathway looped through locations such as Molasses Swamp, Gumdrop Mountain, Peppermint Stick Forest, and the Ice Cream Sea, with the ultimate goal of reaching the Candy Castle.
• The game became so popular that her friends encouraged her to take the idea to the Milton Bradley company. At the time, Milton Bradley was primarily focused on distributing school supplies. However, the company had recently branched out to include games.
• Eleanor showed them her butcher paper design. They liked the idea and decided to produce it on a temporary trial basis. It hit the market in 1949 priced at $1. They used the slogan, ‘A sweet little game, for sweet little folks’ and advertised it as a child’s very first board game.
• It quickly became Milton Bradley’s best-selling game, surpassing the company’s previous top seller, Uncle Wiggily.
10. HISTORY: Who was the only English king to be executed for treason?
• The game board depicted two young children holding hands and preparing to skip down the rainbow-colored path. The little boy was shown wearing a leg brace, a common device for polio victims.
• In 1984, Hasbro bought the entire Milton Bradly Toy Company. One of the first upgrades Hasbro made was to introduce new characters to the game: King Kandy, Queen Frostine, Lord Licorice, Princess Lolly, Mr. Mint, and Gramma Nutt. Plastic gingerbread men replaced the wooden game pieces.
• In 1996, Hasbro sued an adult website for registering the domain “candyland.com,” arguing it affected the brand’s reputation. It was one of the first-ever court cases over trademarks and domain names. Hasbro won the case, and the domain now leads directly to the Hasbro’s board games for kids website.
• In 2013, a new version removed the deck of cards and replaced it with a candy-shaped spinner. The new version was a total flop.
• Today, special editions can be purchased that feature licensed characters such as Dora the Explorer, Winnie the Pooh, SpongeBob, and Disney Princesses. Online versions can be played on computers and phones.
• A giant life-sized Candy Land game was set up in San Francisco in 2009 to celebrate the game’s 60th anniversary.
• In 2014, a company issued an edible version, with the game cards made of chocolate and wrapped in paper.
• Although the introduction of the vaccine ended the polio epidemic in the 1950s, the Candy Land game continued to maintain its popularity. Today, 94% of mothers are aware of Candy Land, and more than 60% of households with a 5-year-old child own a set.
• In 2005, Candy Land was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Over 50 million copies of the game have been sold since this ‘trial’ game was released. It continues to sell over a million copies a year.
• Eleanor Abbott resided with her sister in San Diego until her death at the age of 78 in 1988. She reportedly donated the royalties she received to local schools and children’s charities.
weekend, it opened as #1 at the box office and went on to become the year’s highest-grossing film, earning $192 million domestically and $362 million worldwide. Pixar’s initial public offering took place just days later, on November 28. It was the largest IPO of the year.
• The film spawned three sequels, with a fourth to be released June 19, 2026. Produced in collaboration with Disney, the movie’s absolute success prompted Disney to eventually buy Pixar in 2006. “Toy Story” revolutionized movie-making, and Pixar has since turned out animated hit after hit.
• The sheer value of newly created computer animation programs can be seen when comparing two films made just one year apart. The original 1994 version of “The Lion King” required the work of 800 employees at a cost of $45 million. The following year, “Toy Story” employed only 110 people and cost just $30 million.
• The animation files for this movie took up roughly 600 gigabytes at a time when the typical consumer PC came with a 250 MB hard drive. External hard drives had not yet been developed. The 100 MB Zip drive had just been introduced. Today, the movie including all of the extras fits on an 8-GB DVD.
• Pixar was able to render about 30 seconds of the film per day. In their most productive week, the Pixar team completed 3.5 minutes of animation. The film was about 80 minutes in length.
STORY SYNOPSIS
• A boy named Andy has a room full of toys that come to life whenever his back is turned. Their leader is a cowboy doll, Sheriff Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks). Andy’s upcoming 6th birthday party has everyone worried that he will receive a toy that he loves more than he loves them. As they suspect, the newest toy, Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen) causes jealousy.
• However, all the toys have to join ranks to face obstacles and solve problems. Most troublesome is the boy next door, the evil Sid (named after Sid Vicious) who likes to torture and dismember toys, and who toy-naps Woody and Buzz. Then there’s also the problem of Andy moving to a new house, causing major trouble.
• Within the movie, Andy’s toy Woody is an action figure with a tie-in to a fictitious TV show called “Woody’s Roundup.” In the show, Woody and his sidekicks, Jesse, Stinky Pete, and Bullseye, work together to solve mysteries and catch bad guys. This fictional show within the fictional Toy Story universe aired from 1949 to 1957 but was cancelled shortly after the Russian Sputnik, the world’s first satellite, launched into space.
• The theme of Andy favoring Buzz (a spaceman) over Woody (a cowboy) speaks to a cultural change spurred by the advent of the space race. Little boys stopped wanting to be cowboys, and instead idolized astronauts. “The Lone Ranger” gave way to “Star Trek.” This is why Andy’s toys were worried about becoming obsolete and being left behind, or worse: donated to Goodwill.
The name "Pixar" originated as a clever combination of two ideas within George Lucas’s Lucasfilm computer division. It's a combination of "pix" meaning "pictures" combined with the suffix "ar" as in sonar, radar or laser.
• When Woody and Buzz are trapped in evil Sid’s house and trying to escape, Woody is held captive underneath a milk crate, which is held down by a heavy toolbox. When Buzz tips the toolbox over, we see that it is labeled ‘Binford’. This is a nod to Tim Allen (who provided the voice of Buzz) who was starring at the time in a sitcom called “Home Improvement.” In that show, he hosts a show called “Tool Time” which is sponsored by the fictional Binford Tool Company
• One clue that the evil neighbor Sid was villianized was that the carpet in his house was identical to the carpet in the Overlook Hotel from the movie “The Shining.” Sid was always seen wearing a skull t-shirt. When Sid returned for Toy Story 3, by now an adult, he was working as a garbage collector and still wearing the same skull t-shirt.
• In one scene, Woody and Buzz enter the Pizza Planet restaurant in search of Andy. Sid can be seen in the arcade playing “Whack-an-Alien,” a spoof of Whack-a-Mole. Baby aliens are popping up from the abdomen of an astronaut-like figure, a nod to the 1979 film “Alien“ and a terrifying
• In the film, a rusty, rundown old beater of a pickup truck plays a key role as the Pizza Planet delivery vehicle. This same broken-down truck has appeared in all of the “Toy Story” sequels and has made cameo appearances in most other Pixar movies as well.
• The name of the real estate agency selling
1. What is Sheriff Woody's last name in the Toy Story film?
2. What is Andy's last name?
a noted cowboy actor who appeared in many western films in the 1950s.
The Toy Story character Andy is named for Andries "Andy" Van Dam, a Brown University professor and computer science and animation pioneer who taught many of the makers of this film. Woody was named for actor Woody Strode,
By Lucie Winborne
* Police officers in Thailand can be forced to wear Hello Kitty armbands as punishment for transgressions such as illegal parking or arriving late to work.
* Historians cite runaway inflation as a major cause of ancient Rome’s fall.
* During World War II, the SS ran a wiretapped brothel named “The Kitty Salon” in Berlin where prostitutes would glean information from clients through seemingly innocuous conversations.
* “Hoover wagons,” named after President Herbert Hoover, were broken down cars pulled by mules during the Great Depression.
* Actor Jimmy Stewart was originally rejected by the military after he was drafted, for being too thin. He later reached the rank of Brigadier General.
* When Napoleon attacked Vienna in 1809, Beethoven hid in his brother’s basement and covered his ears with pillows, afraid the noise would destroy his remaining hearing.
by Mary Hunt
How to Repair Your Credit and Improve Your Credit Score
Getting your balances down to zero will send your score soaring.
Don’t close unused credit cards. Closing accounts might sound like a great short-term strategy to raise your score, but it’s not. This will close the gap between your outstanding debt (the amount of credit you are using) and the total amount you have available. Instead, use a clear strategy to close accounts, but only as it will not impact the gap between what you owe and the amount of credit available.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE
by Mary Hunt
Your credit score is a three-digit number between 300 and 850, generated by a mathematical algorithm (a mostly secret formula) based on information in your credit report compared with information on tens of millions of other people. The resulting number is said to be a highly accurate prediction of how likely you are to pay your bills.
If it sounds boring and unimportant, you couldn’t be more wrong. Credit scores are used extensively these days. If you rent an apartment, get braces, buy a cellphone service, apply for a job or call to get utilities connected, there’s a good chance your report and score will be pulled.
If you have an existing credit card, the issuer is likely to look at your credit score to decide whether to decrease your credit limit or charge you a higher interest rate. The higher the number, the better you look to lenders. People with the highest scores get the lowest interest rates. And, we hear, they’re getting the jobs.
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Don’t open new accounts. More credit might seem wise in order to increase your ratio, but it will be seen as a negative to your score. New, or “young,” accounts are not useful in credit scoring because they dilute your average account age. Unless it’s a dire emergency, do not open new credit accounts.
Work on longevity. Make sure you maintain your oldest accounts. A great deal of weight is given to longevity, so the oldest account you have is the most valuable.
Stick with it. As with a lot of things in life, time is the best healer. Do the right thing by managing your finances responsibly and your credit score will take care of itself.
* The FIFA World Cup is the world’s most-watched sporting event.
* Most tornadoes in the Southern Hemisphere rotate clockwise, while their Northern Hemisphere counterparts rotate counterclockwise.
Know your score. We can get our credit report free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Now we can get our credit scores for free, too. Check your credit scores anytime, anywhere, and never pay for it at CreditKarma.com. You will need to create a simple password-protected account, no credit card required.
Get help! If you are having trouble making ends meet, contact your creditors or see a legitimate credit counselor. But beware. There are lots of shysters out there masquerading as negotiators, settlers and credit counselors. You can find a legitimate certified credit counselor at nationaldebtrelief.com, or by calling 800-338-2227. The NFCC is the nation’s first and largest nonprofit dedicated to improving people’s financial well-being.
* When serving as a lawyer, Abraham Lincoln only argued one case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court -- which he lost.
pg H 4-C 13x
Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. Property of AdVenture Media, Inc.
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MON., MAY 18
May 24, 2026 Vol. 22 - No. 22
* Before the year 1000, all chess pieces were male figures or animals. The queen made her debut when the game was introduced in southern Europe.
Final Changes DUE: 12:00 NOON
Pay your bills on time. Making your credit payments on time is one of the biggest contributing factors to your credit score. Delinquent payments have a major negative impact on your credit score. If you have missed payments, get current and stay current. The longer you pay your bills on time, the better your credit score. Be aware, however, that paying off a collection account or bringing an account current will not remove it from your credit report.
Using more than 30% of your available credit on your credit cards brings down your credit score. This applies to individual accounts and when you add up all your available credit and compare it
NFCC is legit. In fact, NFCC is the only credit counseling organization I recommend and endorse. It has been around for many years and has earned the highest reputation. NFCC is a wonderful organization you can trust that has come to the rescue of thousands of my readers over the years. It’s ready to help you, too!
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 2026 CREATORS.COM
• Rice was first cultivated in the Yangtze area of China around 10,000 years ago and spread around the world via trade routes. Today, rice is one of the most valuable crops grown worldwide, competing with sugar cane and maize (corn) for the top spots. However, much of the maize crop is used by livestock, but humans consume 95% of the rice crop.
• It’s been estimated that there are around 120,000 different strains of rice. The International Rice Gene Bank holds over 100,000 rice varieties. About 40,000 types are regularly grown worldwide, but only a few are cultivated commercially. The majority of the rice consumed by humans comes from the seed of a grass called Oryza sativa, a name which merely means “cultivated rice.”
• The average American eats about 25 lbs of rice per year, while people in Asia eat up to 300 lbs annually. The average in the United Arab Emirates is 450 lbs, but just 10 lbs in France.
• Rice is typically grown in rice paddies, with “paddy” springing from the Malaysian word “padi” meaning “a field where rice grows.”
• The rice plant typically grows over three feet tall, with each plant sporting a cluster of stalks, each topped by a wheat-like flower composed of hundreds of tiny flowers. Each flower develops its own seed. Under ideal conditions, a single rice plant produces between 3,000 and 10,000 grains per plant. The record is 19,000 grains from a single plant, grown in China.
• There are over 29,000 grains of rice in one pound of long grain rice. When cooked, rice swells to at
least three times its original weight.
• A pound of rice delivers about four times the food energy as the same serving of potatoes or pasta.
• Brown rice is rice in its natural state. When the husk, bran, and sometimes the germ are removed, it becomes white rice. Brown rice is more nutritious, but white rice cooks faster.
• Uncooked white rice, when kept in a cool, dark location in sealed containers, can stay fresh for up to 30 years. However, brown rice spoils within a few months because the oils in the germ oxidize and turn rancid.
• Rice does not really need much water to grow. It can tolerate being submerged, but does not require it. Rice paddies are intentionally flooded to drown out weeds and pests.
• Whereas grains such as barley, rye, and wheat contain gluten, rice is naturally gluten-free.
• Eighty percent of all the rice consumed in the U.S. is grown in the U.S., and about 40% of rice produced in the U.S. is grown in Arkansas. The rest comes from the Mississippi delta region, the Gulf coast, and California.
• Honda Motor Company is named after the founder’s family name. The word Honda in Japanese means “main rice field.” Similarly, Toyota was named after the founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, whose last name translates to “beautiful rice field.” His name was slightly simplified to make it easier to write in Japanese characters.
• During the Ming dynasty, when large sections of the Great Wall of China were constructed,
CLIP AND SAVE
builders combined sticky rice and lime to create a special kind of mortar. The sticky rice served as a binding agent, making the mortar waterresistant. This special mortar blend was far more durable and stronger than regular mortar, and is one of the main reasons the wall has remained intact for so many centuries.
by Dana Jackson
Q: What ever happened to actress Brooke Burns? I saw her hosting a game show recently, but I don’t know if it’s a new or old show. -- M.G.
A: Actress Brooke Burns went from “Baywatch” and “North Shore” to starring in a series of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Originals, like “Gourmet Detective” and its sequels. The last of these TV films was in 2020, and she has since transitioned to a very successful career as a game-show host. You can find her hosting episodes of “Master Minds” and “Tic-Tac-Dough” on the GSN (Game Show Network) channel. ***
Q: Is it true that there’s going to be a “Real Housewives of Austin” on Bravo? What ever happened to the one in Dallas? -- K.L.
A: Most “Real Housewives” franchises have been successful. For example, “Orange County” will be celebrating its 20th season on the Bravo
1. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (PG-13) Pedro Pascal, Brendan Wayne
2. Obsession (R) Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette
3. Michael (PG-13) Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long
4. The Devil Wears Prada 2 (PG-13) Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway
5. The Sheep Detectives (PG) Hugh Jackman, Brett Goldstein
6. Passenger (R) Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell
7. Mortal Kombat II (R) Adeline Rudolph, Karl Urban
8. I Love Boosters (R) Keke Palmer, LaKeith Stanfield
9. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (PG) Brie Larson, Virginia Dare Jelenic 10. Project Hail Mary (PG-13) Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller
network this year. Others just never really caught on like “Dubai,” which was canceled after two seasons, and “Dallas,” which was placed on “indefinite hiatus” in 2021 after five seasons.
There have been rumblings of a possible franchise based in Austin, Texas, but nothing has officially been announced. Ronnie Karam, co-host of the podcast “Watch What Crappens” and resident of Austin, was asked about it at this year’s iHeart Podcast Awards. He believes that the show would excel if they simply cast housewives who’ve recently relocated from California with old-school Austinites and “just watch the sparks fly.”
Someone’s ears must have been burning because Bravo recently announced an upcoming reality show titled “Secrets, Lies, Texas Wives,” which will be set in the Texas Hill Country town of Boerne and follow its wealthy inhabitants.
However, a big chunk of the population is opposed to seeing their town being given the Bravo treatment. In fact, there’s already a petition on Change.org from those who fear that it’ll harm the small town’s reputation.
As for “Dallas,” I don’t see it returning. Bravo has a new hit on its hands with “Rhode Island” and is also redeveloping its “New York” franchise again.
Q: Is the “Yellowstone” spin-off “Marshals” coming back for a second season, or has it been canceled? I didn’t hear much talk about it when it was on. -- B.E.
A: Yes, despite season one ending in a cliffhanger for several of its characters, “Marshals” will be back on CBS this fall on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET. Its series premiere this past March was “the most-watched CBS original series debut without a football lead-in since ‘Young Sheldon’ premiered in
2017,” according to CBS Entertainment. I’m not sure why you didn’t hear much buzz about the series throughout the season, but it finished just as strongly as its debut in terms of ratings. While it’s certainly not Emmy-worthy, “Marshals” has performed quite well for CBS and doesn’t appear to be in danger of a cancellation. * * *
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
Reduced-Fat Macaroni and Cheese
They’ll never know we took out 10 grams of fat per serving, because this macaroni and cheese is as good as -- even better than -- the old-fashioned recipe.
1. Heat oven to 375 F. Grease broilersafe shallow 2 1/2-quart casserole. In medium saucepot, cook macaroni as label directs, but do not add salt to water. Drain.
2. In food processor with knife blade attached, puree cottage cheese until smooth. (Or, in blender, puree cottage cheese with 1/4 cup of milk in recipe until smooth.)
3. In 2-quart saucepan, blend flour with 1/4 cup milk until smooth. With wire whisk, slowly stir in remaining milk until blended. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until mixture has thickened slightly and boils. Remove from heat; stir in cottage cheese, Cheddar, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
4. Spoon macaroni into prepared casserole and cover with cheese sauce. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven; sprinkle with Parmesan. Turn oven control to broil.
5. Place casserole in broiler at closest position to heat source, broil until top is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Makes 8 accompaniment or 4 main-dish servings.
Each accompaniment serving: About 251 calories, 18g protein, 28g carbohydrate, 7g
total fat (4g saturated), 21 mg cholesterol, 724 mg sodium.
Easy Homemade Pizza Dough
This dough recipe is the perfect base for any kind of pizza.
3 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
1 1/2 cup lukewarm water
1. In stand mixer with paddle attachment, mix flour, 3 tablespoons oil, salt and yeast on low speed until combined. Add water. Mix on medium 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-high. Mix 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, brush bottom and sides of large light-colored rimmed baking sheet (approximately 12 by 18 inches) with remaining 1/4 cup oil. Pour dough (it will be very soft) onto oiled sheet, and rub all over with excess oil. Gently stretch dough to fill most of baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap; let stand in warm spot 2 hours.
3. Remove plastic. With hands, stretch and push dough until it covers bottom of pan. Top as desired.
Pizzeria dough hack: Buy a 1 1/2-pound ball of dough from your local pizzeria. Brush your rimmed baking sheet with 1/4 cup olive oil before placing dough on pan and stretching it to fit. Top right away (no need to let dough rise), but if it springs back on you, let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, then try again.
By John Allen DIAMOND LIL
by Brett Koth
Donald
Holidays & Observances This Week
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Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
If
It Looks Like a Dog...
Perhaps you’ve heard the expression: If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.
That’s writer Douglas Adams’ version, anyway. The point is, things usually are what they seem, notwithstanding physical evidence to the contrary. The key is to treat them as such.
This cuts to the core of our relationships with our dogs. Understanding that your dog is a dog is the solid slab of concrete on which the rest of your relationship is built. Understanding what it means that your dog is a dog is our first priority as responsible dog owners.
The vast majority of the people who call me for help with their dog problems are actually, themselves, the real problem.
They refer to their dogs as their baby, their sweetheart, their cutie pie -- terms usually reserved for a romantic partner. And yes, women are more guilty than men of anthropomorphizing their dogs.
Dog commands from these people sound a little something like: “Don’t do that.” “Don’t sniff there.” “Don’t you run away from me.” None of which is decipherable to a dog.
This type of dog owner calls me because they’re convinced their dog is angry that they have to go to work in the morning, or he’s upset about their upcoming move to a new city, or he’s jealous because she’s started seeing someone new. Would you ask a horse whether he was content with his new stall? Why is it any different with a dog?
When most people bring a dog home, he becomes a full-fledged member of the family. He’s lovingly welcomed into the nest, where he remains for about 10 to 15 years. As it should be. But he’s still a dog.
A woman called me recently to discuss her dog, who sleeps in her bed. “Why does he growl when I move around?” she asked. Because he thinks it’s his bed. He’s no longer being treated as a dog, he’s now confused, and here comes the trouble.
This is painful to write: The FBI’s 2025 report says that seniors lost over $7.7 billion to scams -- in one year. Complaints to their Internet Crime Complaint Center (also called IC3) showed losses had increased by 59% -- again, in just one year.
The information was grim. Where IC3 used to get a few thousand complaints per month, they were seeing 3,000 per day. Over the course of the year, seniors logged over 201,000 complaints. The average loss was over $38,500, with phishing/spoofing, tech/customer service and investment scams heading the list. Following on the list were personal data breaches, confidence/romance scams and nonpayment/non-delivery.
Dollar amounts for all age groups put investment losses clearly at the top of the list, by a wide margin: over $8 billion. Even at the very bottom of the long list of types of crimes, charity
Time for Bed
The type of bed you live with can actually affect your health. While most believe that headboards and footboards are merely decorative, they can affect your overall well-being and the attitude with which you wake up every morning.
My advice is for you to buy the very best bed and mattress you can afford. By all means, don’t be afraid to take off your shoes and lie down on the mattress of your choice at your local furniture store or mattress outlet. This truly will be the only way to evaluate what type of mattress is comfortable to you. Flipping your mattress at least once a month will prolong its life -- at least to the average eight to 10 years they are supposed to last.
losses were nearly $8 million.
Where seniors were scammed with romance fraud, the losses were over $548 million, money that they’ll likely never get back. We were scammed by tech/customer support to the tune of $1 billion, and seniors topped the list of all age groups with $4 billion in cryptocurrency losses.
To see the whole frightening FBI report, go to ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2025_ IC3Report.pdf. As you scroll through the 66 pages of the report, note the sections with advice, especially the section on recovery scams and thieves impersonating the FBI while pretending to help you recoup your losses.
Note the section that compares 2023, 2024 and 2025 for all types of senior complaints. With the exception of extortion, which had a short pause in 2024, all categories rose over the years.
An important sentence near the top of the report: “It has never been more important to be diligent with your cybersecurity, social media footprint and electronic interactions.”
There’s our warning. We must be diligent.
* * * 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) KingFeaturesSyndicate2026
board is that fabric does collect dust, and so it needs to be vacuumed often. This bed is not perfect for someone with allergies. Additionally, this type of bed will need to be reupholstered every so often, as the fabric will wear.
Wood headboards are pretty much the standard in most homes. They are easy to maintain with a duster and a bit of furniture polish. A great variety of designs are available from traditional to contemporary. The cost of your headboard will be directly related to the type of wood used and the craftsmanship. Rest assured, there is a wood headboard for every budget.
Four-poster and canopy beds are the grande dames of beds. They are majestic due to the architectural presence they afford the simplest of rooms. These three-dimensional structures can be made of almost any material: rustic wood slats, iron, finely crafted wood and upholstery.
There are many types of bed accessories: headboards, footboards, bed frames. What you choose is strictly a personal choice and an important decorative one. Read the tips below to make sure your selection is the right one for you.
Upholstered headboards and upholstered beds provide a great deal of comfort. Due to the all-around padding, there are no sharp edges on which to hurt yourself. Today’s designs are eyecatching, because the headboard can be quite tall, giving your room an immediate focal point, and so much upholstery adds to a cozy feeling. Some of these backdrop headboards can be custom-made to accommodate almost any type of decor from contemporary to Moroccan.
One drawback to a fully upholstered head-
These beds are great for large rooms because they help create a room within a room. Some people choose to drape this kind of frame in fabric. Originally, these beds were draped with fabrics to diminish drafts and cold nights, and in warmer climates, netting was used to keep insects and bugs away from those sleeping. Others choose to leave the frame bare, which allows one to appreciate the design.
Make sure to measure your ceiling heights before you buy this type of bed, as you will need some space -- ideally a minimum of 12 inches above the four posters or canopy -- for visual relief.
Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
dog like a dog and train your dog to be the best dog he can be, you won’t confuse him -- or yourself.
If you’re going to bring a dog into your home, into your life, you need to understand canine behavior. You need to educate yourself first, then your dog, in order to bridge the communication gap.
Living with a dog when you have little to no understanding of canine behavior and when neither of you has been taught to effectively communicate with the other is like traveling in a country where you don’t speak the language: stressful at times and not nearly as fun as it would be otherwise.
But the saddest part of turning your dog into a person is that you inevitably lose sight of the dog. He becomes a surrogate child or a surrogate friend or a surrogate lover instead of the wonderful dog he is.
Woof!
Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.
70. (There is no bonus paid for months beyond age 70.) Depending on what your full retirement age is, that can be anywhere from a 24% to a 32% bonus.
day and still get your Social Security checks.
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
More Social Security Rules I Can’t Explain
I’ve always prided myself on being able to explain the rationale behind various Social Security rules and regulations. Many times, readers will send me emails in which they express utter befuddlement at a law or regulation that affects their eligibility for Social Security. It’s usually a situation that results in them getting reduced benefits. Of course, this irks them to no end. They figure the government is just out to shortchange them. But once I explain why the rule exists, they will almost always accept the fact (sometimes grudgingly) that the law makes sense.
In fact, during my SSA career, I even developed a training session for my fellow employees, which I called “Rationale.” And my class did just that. It provided the reasoning behind a myriad of Social Security rules and regulations that many people found hard to understand.
Even though I considered myself pretty much of an expert on these issues, there were some laws that even I couldn’t, and still can’t, explain. I’ve gone over some of them in past columns. But I’ve come across a couple new ones.
One of the rules I can’t explain is this: Why doesn’t your dependent wife or husband share in the bonus you earn for starting benefits after full retirement age? I really don’t know.
You can earn a bonus in your Social Security checks if you delay starting your Social Security benefits until after your full retirement age. You get an extra two-thirds of 1% added to your retirement check for each month you wait -- up to age
1. The book of Balaam is found in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither
2. From Genesis 8, what was the first thing Noah did after leaving the ark? a) Released the animals b) Built an altar c) Planted a garden d) Released a dove
3. What group did John the Baptist exhort to be content with their pay? a) Priests b) Judges c) Soldiers d) Believers
4. From Genesis 17, who said, "Shall a child be born unto him that is 100 years old?" a) Adam b) Moses c) Aaron d) Abraham
5. Which king of Israel had a reputation as a wild chariot driver? a) Jehu b) Jehoash c) Saul d) David
6. Whose biblical name means "eagle"? a) Nehemiah b) Jeremiah c) Aquila d) Hezekiah
(Answers on page 16)
But if you have a spouse eligible for benefits on your record, the spousal rate is based on your full retirement age benefit, not the augmented delayed retirement benefit. That’s the bad news. The good news is that when you die, the widow(er)’s benefit payable to your spouse is based on the higher delayed retirement rate. In other words, your dependent wife or husband doesn’t share in these delayed retirement credits, but your widow or widower will. And again, I can’t explain why one but not the other.
There’s a twist to those husband/wife scenarios that I also can’t explain, and it is this. Let’s say a husband decides to take reduced retirement benefits at age 62. If his wife files for spousal benefits on his record, her spousal rate will be based on his full retirement age benefit rate, not the reduced retirement rate he is getting. But if he dies first, the widow’s benefit due to his wife will be based on his reduced retirement rate. In other words, the benefit paid to a wife isn’t affected by his decision to take reduced benefits. But the benefit paid to a widow is! Why? I don’t know.
Another rule I can’t explain has to do with what is known as the “waiting period” to collect Social Security disability benefits. The law says that if your claim for disability benefits is approved, you can’t be paid those benefits for the first five months of your disability. And actually, because the law says it must be five full calendar months, it almost always means that a person has to wait six months before his or her disability checks start rolling in.
For example, let’s say Fred has a severe heart attack on Oct. 10. Sometime afterward, he files for Social Security disability and his claim is approved. Because he was disabled for only part of October, the five full calendar month waiting period would run from November through March of the following year. The first disability check he will get is for April of that year. And because all Social Security checks are paid one month behind, that check will actually come in May.
So why does Fred, who had a severe heart attack in October, have to wait until the following May to get his first disability check? Some have told me that waiting period is there because Fred should have other sources of income (maybe from an employer or an insurance company) during those first six months. Others have suggested the waiting period is built into the law to take some time to make sure Fred really is disabled. I don’t like either of those supposed rationales for the sixmonth delay in starting disability benefits. (By the way, there are some disabling conditions that are exempt from this waiting period.)
Something else I’ve never been able to satisfactorily explain is the reasoning behind the Social Security earnings penalty. I could (and frequently do) spend a whole column telling readers what those rules are. They are quite complex. Today, I will just briefly summarize them.
The law says that if you are under your full retirement age and getting Social Security benefits, but you are still working, you will lose one dollar in benefits for every two dollars you earn over a certain limit. In 2026, that limit is $24,480. So, for example, if 63-year-old Alice is on Social Security and has a part-time job that will pay her $30,000 this year, the Social Security Administration will be required to deduct $2,760 from her benefits for the year. ($30,000 minus $24,480 equals $5,520 divided by two equals $2,760.)
That was a very simple example of a very confusing set of rules. There are special rules that apply to your first year of retirement. And there is a different earnings penalty for the year you reach full retirement age. Also, effective with the month you reach FRA, you could make a million dollars a
My purpose today is not to give you an in-depth lesson in the earnings penalty rules, but rather just to tell you I can’t explain why the rules are there in the first place.
I can tell you that when the Social Security Act was passed in the 1930s, Congress felt a person should be completely retired in order to collect “retirement” benefits. Maybe that made sense back then. But over the years, Congress gradually relaxed those rules. And about 25 years ago, they eliminated the earnings penalty for people who have reached their full retirement age.
But why didn’t they just eliminate the penalty for all retirees? Why should people who are under their full retirement age and who are trying to make ends meet by getting a job to supplement their Social Security check lose some of those benefits? I can’t really explain it!
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 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
What Is the Correct Amount of Water
Humans Should Drink?
DEAR DR. ROACH: Please write about the correct amount of water that people should drink. There’s so much misinformation! -- E.N., MD
ANSWER: There’s so much misinformation because a simple answer like “more is always better” is easier than a nuanced answer. It depends on your age, activity level, the temperature and humidity, any medications you might be taking, and whether your kidneys have any issues.
However, the simplest answer, which is true for most people, is that your body has a built-in system called the thirst reflex to make sure that you’re getting enough fluid. There are only a few times when you should override this system.
The most important exception is in older people who sometimes have a decreased thirst mechanism. This is particularly the case in people who live in long-term care facilities or those who have physical or cognitive disabilities. As such, reminders to drink a reasonable amount (1.6 liters or about seven 8-ounce glasses for women; 2 liters or eight 8-ounce glasses for men) of all liquids during the day can be helpful. (Alcohol, of course, isn’t helpful and can be harmful to a person’s fluid status.)
People who are taking diuretics don’t need more water. In fact, excess water drinking while on most diuretics can lead to abnormally low sodium levels.
Another way to tell if you’re getting enough water is the volume and concentration of your urine. People should generally void every few hours, and the color of the urine shouldn’t be dark.
Needing to urinate less frequently or having concentrated urine should be an indication for a person to drink a few glasses of water. ***
DEAR DR. ROACH: What’s a good general wellness supplement to take? I’m a 47-year-old female, and I’ve always taken a multivitamin, collagen with biotin, probiotics, decaffeinated green tea pills, and my usual prescriptions (losartan, levothyroxine and metformin). I’m looking for more natural ways to lower my weight and cholesterol. Sometimes I take oregano oil and apple cider vinegar. Any good suggestions? -- C.A.
ANSWER: I don’t know of any over-thecounter supplements to lower weight or cholesterol that are both effective and safe, so I don’t recommend any of them specifically for these purposes. You might be taking decaffeinated green tea extract for this, but a clinical trial didn’t show significant changes in weight or waist size (although green tea extract with caffeine did show a small benefit).
Metformin, which is normally used for diabetes, has much larger effects in promoting
weight loss, but it does have a higher potential for side effects, particularly gastrointestinal ones. I’m concerned about the combination of biotin and levothyroxine. My concern isn’t an interaction between them; it’s that the blood tests to check thyroid levels can be misleading in people who take biotin. I hope your doctor has advised you to stop taking biotin at least a couple of days before receiving your blood tests.
A recent study on multivitamins did show an improvement in “global cognition,” but there wasn’t a reduction in the incidence of mild cognitive impairment or dementia during the time period of the study. Previous trials haven’t shown an improvement in cognition.
A mostly plant-based diet and moderate exercise has larger effects on the body than any supplement, and most people would benefit more from a diet change over a supplement.
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Volunteering at a Stand Down
PROOF
The summer and fall of 2026 could well be the most rewarding you’ve had in a long time, especially if you want to step up and help other veterans at a Stand Down.
Stand Downs are often the highlight of the year for homeless veterans. Begun in 1988, these are one-, two- or three-day events in numerous places around the country.
McDonald - The Wellness Place
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) 2026 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved
At a Stand Down a homeless veteran can get a haircut, get clean clothes, legal advice, a hot shower, a visit to a dentist, something to eat, help with a VA claim or housing and mental health counseling. Add to that employment search assistance and help from veteran service organizations.
And they always need volunteers. That’s where you come in, if you’re willing.
Many of the homeless veterans don’t have a ride to the event. You might volunteer to drive the van and pick up a half dozen veterans to get them to the Stand Down in your area. Maybe you’ll want to work in the food area and feed the hundreds of people who show up.
If you have special skills and training, such as dental assistant, attorney or barber, speak up when you call to volunteer. If you’re not sure what you can contribute, ask what they need. Even if it’s sorting the clothing that’s been donated, dashing to the store to pick up another 50 lbs. of ground beef to grill another 200 hamburgers or standing at the entrance and directing veterans to the various areas, your help will be most appreciated.
The best place to look for Stand Downs in your area is online at va.gov/homeless/events. asp. You’ll find a long list with contact names, phone numbers and email addresses. Also search online for Stand Downs in your state.
Whether you want to volunteer or you are a veteran in need of the services at a Stand Down, make the call. You’ll be most welcome no matter your status.
Freddie 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) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
I Have a Will – Do I Also Need a Trust?
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: My wife and I have been talking about updating our will and wonder if we should also set up a trust. How is this beneficial and how do we know if we need one? --Planning Ahead
Dear Planning: These are excellent questions. A will is one of the most important tools in estate planning, but many people wonder if it’s enough, or if adding a trust makes sense. The answer depends on your finances, your family situation, and what you want your plan to accomplish. Here’s a simple way for you to think about it:
What a will does
A will spells out who gets your assets after you die. It also names an executor to carry out your wishes, including designating a guardian for minor children.
The downside is that a will must go through probate, which is the court process that validates it and oversees distribution. Probate can take months and, in many states, becomes part of the public record.
What a trust adds
A trust works differently. A revocable living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and directs how they’ll be distributed after your death, without going through probate. Unlike a will, it stays private and lets a successor trustee step in immediately if you can’t manage your finances. This is useful in cases of illness, injury, or dementia.
Trusts can also help with complicated family situations, like blended families or children with special needs, by giving you more control over who gets what and when.
The biggest challenge is that you have to move your accounts and property into the trust yourself, which takes time and care. Most people who create a trust also keep a simple “pour-over will” to catch anything that was missed or was otherwise not transferred.
Because trusts are more complex, they cost more than a will. Attorneys typically charge $1,000 to $3,000 for a trust versus $300 to $1,200 for a simple will, although costs vary depending on the estate and location. You can use do-it-yourself options like QuickenWillMaker& Trust, Trust&Will or LegalZoom to save money, but they are generally best for simple situations. If your finances or family circumstances are more complex, hiring an attorney is usually worth the cost.
When a trust makes sense
You might benefit from a trust if you own real estate – especially in more than one state – or you want to avoid the costs and delays of probate, or if you prefer to keep your estate matters private. It’s also helpful if you have a larger estate, a blended family, or want to ensure someone can manage your finances if you become incapacitated.
When a will may be enough
If your estate is relatively small, your family situation is simple, and most of your assets already have named beneficiaries – like life insurance, IRAs, or bank accounts with pay-on-death or transfer-on-death designations – a will may be all you need. Some states also offer simplified probate for small estates, which can make the process quicker and cheaper.
You don’t need a trust just because you have a will. But if letting your survivors avoid the delays, hassle and loss of control through probate and protecting privacy is important to you, a trust is well worth considering. It also provides for managing assets during incapacity. Even a modest estate can benefit from a trust.
Getting
help
If you don’t already have an attorney, a good estate-planning professional can help figure out what’s right for you. Two trusted resources are the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org) and the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (naepc.org), both of which let you search for local professionals.
Taking the time to put a plan in place now, whether it’s a will, a trust, or both, will protect your loved ones, ease their stress, and give you peace of mind knowing you have lovingly simplified their process after you have departed.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
-- by Jim Miller
the medium and “4” on the smallest. They are decorated with red apples and green leaves, and the background is cream.
I found the set in a home I bought to rent and decided to keep it. I know nothing about its history and hope you can tell me something about the maker, vintage and value.
JUNQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators
Carving On Table Is Patriotic
Q: I have enclosed a picture of a table that I purchased from an estate in the 1980s. I have never seen another one like it. As you can see in the picture, the top is a glass tray that can be removed. Under the tray and on the top of the table is a large carved eagle in the center. There are no manufacturer’s marks on the bottom. It is in mint condition.
Thank you for any information on the age and value of my table.
A: You didn’t mention how tall the table is. Based on your picture, it appears the height is that of an occasional or lamp table.
In the 1920s and 1930s, similar tables were made often with patriotic carvings. As a rule, most were the height of a coffee table. The cabriole legs and decorative carving were inspired by earlier periods of design. Many of these tables were made of walnut.
Similar tables can be found selling on the Internet in the range of $300 to $400.
* * *
Q: This mark is on the bottom of three pottery nesting bowls. Each bowl has a different number, “7” on the largest, “6” on
Watt Pottery Company was founded in Crooksville, Ohio, in 1922.
A: Watt Pottery Company made your set. They are mixing bowls, and the numbers refer to the specific diameter of each bowl. The set is an example of their “Apple” pattern.
Watt Pottery Company was founded in Crooksville, Ohio, in 1922. The “Apple” pattern was made from 1952 to 1962. There were pitchers and bowls in several sizes, as well as salt and pepper shakers in this pattern. There also were several variations of this pattern, including Open Apple, Double Apple and Reduced Decoration.
They are collectible and can be found in antiques shops and on the Internet. Watt Pottery Company closed after a devastating fire in 1962.
Your mixing bowls set would probably be worth $75 to $95.
* * *
Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has since retired and no longer receives inquiries nor answers reader letters. Due to the popularity of her column, this publication will continue to reprint previous columns of interest to our readers.
To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM
* On June 8, 793, in the first recorded Viking attack in Europe, Norse invaders launched a raid of looting and murder on England’s Lindisfarne monastery, with contemporary accounts describing “dreadful forewarnings” that included “fiery dragons flying in the sky.”
* On June 9, 1893, the interior of Ford’s Theatre, where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, collapsed, killing 22 people. An investigation revealed that a pier had given way during excavation in the basement for an electric-light plant.
* On June 10, 1881, “War and Peace” author Leo Tolstoy, conflicted by his wealthy landlord responsibilities and a desire to give up his property and wander the land as an ascetic, disguised himself as a peasant and began a pilgrimage to a monastery. He had started giving away his possessions and announced that the public owned his works, but his wife, understandably concerned for their children’s financial stability, gained control of the copyrights for all his work published prior to 1880.
* On June 11, 1919, 3-year-old racehorse Sir Barton won the Belmont Stakes, Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby in a single season, making him the first horse to earn what would become known as the American Triple Crown -- a particularly impressive feat since he had never achieved a career win until that year’s Kentucky Derby.
* On June 12, 1974, Little League Baseball Inc. announced its intention to “defer to the changing social climate” by permitting girls to play ball. The decision came after the organization lost a series of lawsuits in New Jersey and was faced with increasing legal challenges in other states as well.
* On June 13, 1962, Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov’s famously controversial novel “Lolita” premiered in New York. Even its advertising posters posed a query that was no doubt on a lot of people’s minds: “How did they ever make a movie of ‘Lolita’?” The answer was “with extensive changes” -- to Kubrick’s admitted chagrin.
* On June 14, 2017, James Hodgkinson walked onto a baseball field at Eugene Simpson Park in Alexandria, Virginia, and opened fire on Republican politicians, wounding House GOP Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and four others, after asking a passing congressman whether Republicans or Democrats were practicing.
"Your
News Service
Toy Story: (from page 3)
Andy’s home is Virtual Realty, a punned version of “virtual reality.”
• Ronald Lee Ermey played the part of the crusty drill instructor in the film “Full Metal Jacket.” In “Toy Story” he voiced the part of the commander of the flank of green plastic soldiers who were sent on a reconnaissance mission to scope out Andy’s birthday party.
• Woody uses a baby monitor to communicate with the green plastic army men. When interference drowns out communication, the static is a mix of R2-D2 whistles and beeps, a nod to Pixar’s George Lucas roots.
• Pixar wanted to have Barbie in a role similar to the hardened warrior Sarah Conner in the “Terminator” movies. Mattel refused, wanting to protect Barbie’s reputation. After the film’s success, however, Barbie (and Ken) appeared in the sequels.
• Pixar asked for permission to use G.I. Joe in the film. However, when Hasbro found out the plot called for Sid to blow up G.I. Joe with a rocket, they refused permission. Instead, a generic G.I. Joe look-alike called Combat Carl was launched in its place. Combat Carl did not survive.
• In several scenes, Luxo, the iconic Pixar desk lamp, can be seen in the background.
• Randy Newman wrote the film’s signature tune, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” in just one day. He got an Oscar nomination for it. The Oscar went instead to “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John in “The Lion King.”
• The movie received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In fact, all the sequels did too—except for Toy Story 3, which received a score of 99%.
• Critics have loved Toy Story right from the start. The first two films both earned a rare perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The other sequels weren't far behind, with Toy Story 3 landing at 98%, and Toy Story 4 pulling in a score of 97%.
• This was the third animated Disney film to earn an Oscar. The first two were “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937) and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988).
Give your golf-related advertising message targeted visibility in full color in this weekly 2” x 6” fixed location $159 per insertion reaches 70,000+ readers each week at the low cost of only $2.27 per 1,000 reader impressions!
Game Changers
by Jason Jenkins
Resist The Roll
The backswing relies upon many moving parts, but owes a lot of its consistency and control to the ankles. The back foot and ankle can be the cornerstone upon which proper body pivot and weight shift is built upon.
Many amateurs suffering from a “rolling ankle” which implies that the ankle and foot lose support in the backswing by rolling to the outside of the foot’s support. Once the ankle gives, the knee and hip are sure to follow. The rolling and bending of the leg make it difficult to control the body’s height, and inhibits shifting weight correctly in the forward swing.
keep the
in its appropriate place by not over rotating to the outside of the foot’s support. The body should turn against a supportive ankle and knee, rather than succumbing to a rolling action.
