How much do you know? A Father’s Day Quiz

By Randal C. Hill

For Sonora Smart Dodd, attending a Methodist church service in Spokane, Washington, proved to be lifechanging.

On that particular Sunday in 1909, the minister based his sermon on the newly established Mother’s Day celebration.

But Sonora felt that dads, too, should have a special day set aside in their honor. (Her father, a widowed Civil War veteran, had singlehandedly raised six children, with Sonora being the only girl.)

Dodd spent the next year petitioning her local community and, later, her state government.

Washington State celebrated its first official Father’s Day on June 19, 1910.

Over the years, the celebration spread from state to state until President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance for America’s fathers in 1972.

How much do you know about Father’s Day? Try your hand at this multiple-choice quiz.

1. Over the years, the most popular Father’s Day gift has been a. candy. b. a necktie. c. flowers. d. golf balls.

2. The official Father’s Day flower is the a. orchid. b. carnation. c. hibiscus. d. rose. a. 58 b. 65 c. 76 d. 81

3. What percentage of Americans celebrate Father’s Day?

4. Today’s average age of first-time fathers is a. 24. b. 26. c. 28. d. 30. a. three b. four c. five d. six

5. One in _____ American homes has no father there.

6. In India, a man became the world’s oldest first-time dad at a. eighty-three. b. eighty-eight. c. ninety-four. d. ninety-six. a. 25% b. 29% c. 32% d. 38%

7. Americans spend ____ less on Father’s Day than they do on Mother’s Day.

8. How many American dads are single?

Who is this email really from?

Here’s a common scam: you get an email from the boss (or your spouse, parents or other trusted person) asking you to send them a copy of employee pay stubs, tax information and files with confidential data such as social security numbers in them; or they’re asking you to transfer an ACH payment to a vendor or a different bank account.

The problem: even though it is coming from someone’s e-mail address you know and trust and LOOKS legit, there’s a chance it could be a scam. Hackers can INTERCEPT email messages and modify them.

If you ever get this kind of request, DOUBLE-CHECK by calling that person to confirm. And even if it turns out to be a legitimate request, you should NEVER send confidential information like social security numbers (or attachments with this information inside of them) without taking precautions to passwordprotect and encrypt the message first.

If it doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not right.

- from Bazar Solutions a. 1 million b. 2 million c. 3 million d. 4 million a. She never knew who her father was. b. She always hated the song. c. Her mother forced her to sing it. d. A professional singer’s voice was used instead. a. 492 b. 687 c. 833 d/ 1,042

9. In Let’s Make Love (1960), Marilyn Monroe sings “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.” What is unusual about this?

10. The Guinness Book of Records claims that a Moroccan sultan fathered how many children?

ANSWERS: 1 – b, 2 – d, 3 – c, 4 – d, 5 –a, 6 – d, 7 – d, 8 – b, 9 – a, 10 – d.

Hot tips for a cool summer

You really can stay cool while keeping energy costs down. Even a couple of degrees can have a big impact on your energy bill. Here are some low to no-cost A/C tips. Look for more energy efficiency ideas on the Between the Lines blog.

Circulating Fans

Cool down a room a few degrees using the wind-chill effect. The room won’t be cooler, it will just feel cooler—without the added cost. Turn the fan off when you leave.

A/C Tune-Up

Maximize your air conditioner’s efficiency so it’s not using more energy than is needed. Don’t forget to change your filters for better air flow.

Thermostat Settings

Set your thermostat a few degrees warmer during the day if no one is home and at night when temps are cooler. Ones that are programmable make this easy, breezy.

- from Xcel Energy