Vol. 18: #39 • The Scoop on Interesting Guys Named Jim • (9-25-2022) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

by Kathy Wolfe

How did the name Jim come to be a common monicker replacing the proper name James? People simply wanted a shorter more familiar way to call people named James, and the vowel changed because Jim sounds better than Jam. Follow along as Tidbits pays tribute to some interesting guys from various walks of life named Jim!

• In 1912, Oklahoma-born Jim Thorpe became the first Native American to win Olympic gold medals, victorious in the pentathlon and decathlon in Stockholm, Sweden. The King of Sweden called him the greatest athlete in the world. Yet within months, Thorpe’s medals and titles were revoked when it was discovered he had been paid for playing two seasons of minor league baseball, violating the rules of amateur status.

• The following year, Jim Thorpe signed to play major league baseball with the New York Giants, the first of four MLB teams in his sixyear career. Three years into his baseball career,

1.

Tidbits delivers what you need to know about Mars, “The Red Planet.”

• There’s a specific name for the scientific observation and study of the planet Mars, Areology. The word has its roots in the name of the Greek god of war, Ares, the son of the Greeks’ chief deity Zeus and his wife Hera. Its Roman equivalent is Mars. Both cultures associated the planet with war because its color resembled the color of blood. Ancient Chinese astronomers referred to it as “the fire star,” while the Egyptians called it “Her Desher,” meaning “the red one.”

• When the ancient Babylonians first created the week, dividing it into seven days, they named each day after a heavenly body. Tuesday is the “day of Mars.” The name of the month of March is also derived from Mars.

• Mars’ red color is due to the large amounts of the mineral iron oxide found in the rocks and soil on its surface. Its reddish color makes it possible to spot Mars with the naked eye in the night sky from Earth. Galileo first observed Mars in 1609 with a basic telescope.

• Mars is the second smallest planet in our solar system. Only Mercury is smaller. Mars’ diameter at its equator is 4,222 miles, about 53% the diameter of Earth. Yet the area of its surface is about equal to the area of Earth’s landmass. The difference in area is because the major portion of the Earth’s surface is covered by water.

• Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, about 143 million miles away. Earth’s distance from the Sun is about 93 million miles.

• Gravity on Mars is only about 38% that of Earth’s, meaning that if you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, you would weigh in at just 38 pounds on Mars.

• While the temperature on Mars might reach a maximum of 70 degrees F (20 C), its average

Mars’ extremely thin atmosphere,

• Most of Mars’ atmosphere, about 95%, is carbon dioxide. There’s just a tiny amount of oxygen, about 0.145%. Its low atmospheric pressure is the reason why liquid water can only exist on the surface for a very short time. Yet the planet has ice on its north and south polar regions, comprised of air that freezes during winter.

• A day on Mars is 24 hours and 37 minutes, almost the same as a day on Earth. However, a Martian year, at 687 days, is almost twice as long. This is due to the fact that Mars is farther away from the Sun and it takes a longer time to complete the full orbit.

• Mars is home to Olympus Mons, the tallest mountain in the entire solar system. It rises 85,000 feet, about 16 miles above the surface, making it three times taller than Mt. Everest. The solar system’s longest and deepest canyon is also on Mars, Valles Marineris, four times deeper than the Grand Canyon and six times longer.

• In 1975, NASA sent up the first two spacecrafts with the specific objective of studying the surface of Mars. Viking 1, launched on August 20, took the first photograph of Mars from its surface on July 20, 1976. Viking 2 was launched September 9, 1975. □

this phenomenal athlete began playing pro football at the same time. Thorpe played football for 13 years, retiring at age 41. His next move was a Hollywood acting career, appearing in more than 60 films from 1931 to 1950. In 1951, Thorpe’s life was immortalized in the movie “Jim Thorpe All-American,” with Burt Lancaster in the role of the famous athlete. Thirty years after his death in 1953, the International Olympic Committee restored Thorpe’s Olympic titles and medals. In 1986, professional athletes were allowed to compete in the Olympics.

• When you hear the name Jimmy Dean, maybe your first thought is sausage, but there was much more to this man than a simple breakfast entrée! Dean was first a country singer and radio and television host, beginning with his first hit “Bumming Around,” in 1953. His 1954 radio program launched the careers of Patsy Cline and Roy Clark. Dean was a TV personality on CBS by 1957 and had a blockbuster hit “Big Bad John” in 1961, #1 on the Billboard charts, a million-copy gold record, and a Grammy Award winner.

• Next was a TV variety series, “The Jimmy Dean Show,” that ran from 1963 to 1966. He had a role in TV’s “Daniel Boone” series, and even a role in a James Bond movie opposite Sean Connery. He founded his sausage company in 1969. When he died in 2010, he was entombed in a nine-foot-tall piano-shaped mausoleum overlooking the James River on his Virginia estate.

• Jimmy Dean helped another famous Jim boost his career, when he regularly featured one of his creations on “The Jimmy Dean Show.” Puppeteer Jim Henson brought his pianoplaying dog, Rowlf, to the program in 1963. In 1969, PBS approached Henson to be part of their

new ground-breaking children’s educational show, “Sesame Street.” He became nationally famous with his puppet characters Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird. Henson called them “muppets,” a combination of the words “marionette” and puppets.” “The Muppet Show” premiered in 1976 and ran for five seasons. A full-length film “The Great Muppet Caper” was next in 1981. In 1984, “Muppet Babies” debuted, a seven-year run for Henson. His successful career, including four Emmy Awards, was cut short in 1990, when he died at age 53 from complications of bacterial pneumonia.

Before he was the 39th U.S. President, Jimmy Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, served on submarines in the U.S. Navy, was a Georgia state senator, the governor of Georgia, a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2002, and a peanut farmer. On his second day in office in 1977, Carter pardoned all Vietnam war draft evaders.

musician.

Vern, it’s Ernest!” Actor Jim Varney first shouted that phrase in 1987 when “Ernest Goes to Camp” was released. Varney played the role of hillbilly Ernest P. Worrell in nine movies,

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• Remember the song “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”? It was written and recorded by Pennsylvania musician Jim Croce and hit #1 on the Billboard charts in July, 1973. After several unsuccessful studio albums and numerous singles, Croce’s breakthrough came in 1972 with “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” and “Time in a Bottle.” The day before his fifth album containing “I Got a Name” was to be released, at the height of his career, Croce was tragically killed in a plane crash, ending his life at age 30.

• Jim Croce was friend and mentor to another Jim, one who rocketed to fame with “Margaritaville” and “Come Monday.” With the death of Croce, his record company reached out to Jimmy Buffett to help fill the void. Buffett’s first Top 40 hit, “Come Monday” was in 1974. “Margaritaville” spent 22 weeks on the charts in 1977, and was the inspiration for the singer’s chain of restaurants, followed up with a second chain, Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Members of Jimmy Buffet's fan club are known as "Parrotheads," while younger fans are called "Parakeets" or "Keets." The first Parrothead club was founded in Atlanta in 1989. The lyrics of Buffett's 1979 song "Fins" were re-written and the song is played at Miami Dolphins home games.

• Jimmy Buffett is also a “New York Times” Best-Selling author, with at least six books, in addition to two children’s books co-written with his daughter. Also an avid baseball fan, Buffett has been part-owner of two minor-league teams. Anheuser-Busch launched Buffet’s beer label, LandShark Lager,” in 2006. His music, tours, businesses, and writing have all contributed to his estimated net worth of $600 million.

• Jimi Hendrix and his band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows closed out the Woodstock Music & Art Fair on August 18, 1969, the final musician to perform during the four-day concert. He took the stage at 8:30 Monday morning due to delays caused by rain. Held in New York state on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm, the event was attended by 400,000 people. Woodstock was

Emma Khatchaturian

By Lucie Winborne

* Because we know you’ve always se cretly wondered, that depression on the flexure of your arm is called a chelidon.

* In 1992, Saab created a prototype vehicle called Prometheus that featured a joystick in place of a steering wheel. While it increased safety and space, it also proved more tiring and challenging to use, and the car never made it to pro duction.

* A one-eyed yellowtail rockfish at the Vancouver Aquarium was given a prosthetic eye by the facility’s head vet erinarian after being bullied by its fellow fish on its blind side.

* The modern high jump technique was created by Dick Fosbury and dubbed the Fosbury Flop.

* Dooley Wilson, who played Sam at Rick’s Cafe Americain in “Casablan ca,” was an experienced musician and bandleader, but a drummer, not a pia nist. He mimed his piano performance, and “As Time Goes By” was dubbed in later.

* A linguistic study revealed that winter workers in Antarctica began to develop a new accent as a result of being isolated together for several months.

* John Joseph Merlin, often credited with inventing roller skates, debuted them at a 1760’s masquerade in London by rolling into a room as he played the violin ... then crashing head-on into a quite expensive mirror.

***

Thought for the Day: “The history of Western science confirms the aphorism that the great menace to progress is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge.”

-- Daniel J. Boorstin

by Mary Hunt

Clever Ways to Reuse Coffee Grounds

If you drink morning coffee, then it’s likely you throw away used coffee grounds every day. If you don’t, chances are there’s a coffee shop nearby where you can get some; just stop by and see if they give them away. Here are some ideas for reusing them.

Mary Hunt

REPEL INSECTS AND FLEAS

According to the Environmental Protec tion Agency, coffee grounds are an effective way to keep insects away. The smoke from burned used coffee grounds is especially effective at sending mosquitoes away because they’re repelled by the scent, which to us is quite subtle. Keep this tip in mind when planning your next backyard barbecue.

Start with completely dry used coffee grounds. Place the grounds on a fire-safe sur face and light them with a lighter around the edges. Put a few fresh basil leaves into each container (optional). Set the containers upwind to get the scent flowing.

IN THE GARDEN

Coffee grounds contain caffeine and diterpenes that can be quite harmful to some types of bugs, making them an excellent way to keep pests away from your plants. Sprinkle them around your yard to discourage crawling crea tures.

They’re helpful for protecting your garden in other ways, too. Cats naturally seek out bare soil to use as their toilet space, making gardens their favorite outdoor litter box. This causes dam age to plants, gives off a seriously unpleasant odor and is unsanitary. Because they don’t like the smell, if you regularly sprinkle used grounds in and around your garden, cats will eventually decide to find a new bathroom spot.

even darken brunette hair.

BODY SCRUB

There are lots of websites touting the benefits of homemade coffee bean scrubs, but according to Popsugar.com, “caffeine can help diminish the appearance of cellulite, and the coconut oils will hydrate and smooth your skin to perfection.” Sounds good to me!

To make a coffee bean body scrub, thoroughly mix together 2 cups used (or fresh) beans, 1 cup white or brown rice syrup and 1 cup coconut milk. To apply, massage the mixture into dry, damp or freshly washed body parts. Rinse with warm or cool water. Your body will feel soft and moisturized.

HAIR GROWTH

Caffeine stimulates the nervous system and improves circulation, so it can help speed up hair growth. To get started, put 2 tablespoons ground espresso beans in a bowl and add enough hot water to cover. Let sit overnight, then strain out the beans. Add 1 tablespoon honey and mix thoroughly. Apply to clean hair and leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing. Do this once per week.

SCRATCH COVER

Make a thick paste out of spent coffee grounds and water. Apply liberally to any sur face you wish to hide. Let dry completely before wiping off. The scratches will fade into oblivion. Need it darker? Reapply until you’re happy with the results.

NEUTRALIZE ODORS

According to a study in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, dried coffee grounds help remove odors from the air. Bake the wet used coffee grounds at 250 F for about 30 minutes. Allow to cool before placing grounds in an open container to collect any lingering smells.

MEAT TENDERIZER

ADVERTISING PROOF

Coffee contains natural acids and en zymes which are especially effective at tender izing meat. Add the grounds to your favorite dry rub. Apply the rub to the meat at least 2 hours before cooking. The grounds along with the dry rub will get cooked into the meat, creating a dark, crispy crust or bark!

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If you want a natural fertilizer, try spent espresso beans. They contain nitrogen, phos phorous and potassium, along with various micronutrients. Mixing these into the soil allows them to release their nutrients slowly into the ground. It’s great for plants such as azaleas, begonia, gardenias, holly and roses.

ADVERTISING

NATURAL DYE

Ever suffered an ugly coffee stain on a white shirt? Bingo! Coffee grounds offer an inexpensive and all-natural way to color cotton, rayon, linen and paper. Simply rewet dry coffee grounds and use them to dye paper or fabric -- or

Another option: Rebrew the spent coffee grounds to make coffee. Allow to cool, then use it to marinate meat in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

p.m..

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.”

King Solomon wrote that “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life” and also, “The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.” This week, Tidbits combs up some facts on this glory, strength and splendor!

• Your hair grows in follicles, a tunnel-shaped tube in your scalp. Average folks have 100,000 to 150,000 follicles, which contain pigment cells that produce the pigment melanin, which gives hair its color. As a person ages, the pigment cells begin to die, so that without the melanin, new hairs grow in lighter, in varying shades of gray, silver, or white. When the follicle no longer produces melanin, there won’t be any more colored strands.

• A scientific study has revealed that hydrogen peroxide naturally occurs in hair follicles. As we age, it builds up and blocks the production of melanin.

• Several factors cause hair to go gray. The number one reason is genetics. Your propensity for gray hair has already been determined by the time you’re born, including whether you’ll be prematurely gray. Race also plays a role in when a person begins to gray. Caucasians begin to go gray in their mid-30s (redheads the earliest of all), Asians in their late 30s, and AfricanAmericans in their mid-40s. It’s considered prematurely gray if you’re gray before age 20 as a Caucasian, age 25 for Asians, and 30 for African-Americans.

• There’s not much good to be said about smoking, and its effect on hair color is no exception. One study brought to light the fact that smokers are

2.5 times more likely to gray before age 30 than non-smokers.

• Lack of nutrients can contribute to gray hair, including Vitamin B12 and D-3 deficiency, low calcium, zinc, and iron levels. Experts suggest adding walnuts to the diet, as they are a good source of copper, which aids pigment production in the follicles. Health conditions such as thyroid disease and vitiligo can contribute to early graying. Vitiligo destroys pigment-making cells in the scalp as well as the skin, causing patchy skin color loss.

• Is it true that when you pluck one gray hair, three new ones grow in its place? Not at all. Because each hair follicle can contain only one hair, pulling it out will not enable the follicle to produce multiple hairs. However, if you do pluck one gray hair, another gray hair will replace it. It’s not a good idea to pull out the gray, because this action can damage follicles to the point that they are no longer able to produce hair.

• Gray hair is coarser and thinner than your natural color, because its cuticle is thinner.

• Will you ever go to bed with a full head of dark hair and wake up gray or white? That’s another myth, since hair that’s already grown doesn’t change color.

• What’s the effect of stress on graying? Stress can contribute to a condition that causes you to shed hair up to three times faster than normal. When the hair comes back, it’s quite possible that it will be gray. A stressful event, such as chemotherapy, can also cause hair to grow back gray or white.

When you patronize Tidbits advertisers, You help support The tidbits paper!

• How many people are gray? Gray hair seems to follow the 50-50-50 rule Fifty percent of the population has about 50% gray hair at age 50.

Tell them you saw their ad in Tidbits!

in

Remember to THANK

Tell the advertisers you saw their ad in Tidbits!

(You wouldn’t have Tidbits without them)

by Dana Jackson

Q: Where have I seen the actress Mi chelle Yeoh before? I recently saw her in the film “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” and I know I’ve seen her in other movies a long time ago. She’s a really great actress, and I’d like to see more of her work. -- J.K.

A: Michelle Yeoh was a big action star in Hong Kong before making it in Hollywood, and she was even known for doing her own stunts. Here in America, she starred opposite Pierce Brosnan in the James Bond film

“Tomorrow Never Dies,” but it was in 2000 that she gar nered the most atten tion yet by starring in the Oscar-winning international film

“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” di rected by Ang Lee.

Yeoh has worked nonstop ever since in movies like “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “Crazy Rich Asians.” She’s also part of the “Star Trek” family, having played an emperor on the series “Star Trek: Discovery,” but her up coming role might possibly be her biggest one yet. She’ll play Dr. Karina in the next four(!) “Avatar” films, which consists of four sequels being released from 2022 to 2028.

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” is the best showcase yet for Yeoh’s acting talent and could very well result in Yeoh earning her first Os car nomination.

***

Q: Was Leah Remini at her best friend

Jennifer Lopez’s wedding? I never read any thing about their friendship ever since J.Lo reunited with Ben Affleck. -- N.W.

A: No, Leah Remini did not attend her bes tie’s Georgia wedding ceremony to Ben Affleck, but she appears to have had a good reason. Her daugh ter was going off to college that same week, and Remini didn’t want to miss spending that milestone with her. Some people are speculating that Remini might not approve of Affleck, since he broke Lo pez’s heart when they first dated 20 years ago, but if that’s the case, Remini isn’t sharing her thoughts with the public.

The lovebirds did have their own children in attendance: Ben’s three kiddos were there, along with Lopez’s twins. Also among the guests was Affleck’s best pal, actor Matt Damon. The two fa mously won an Oscar together as screenwriters of the 1997 film “Good Will Hunting” and have weath ered many ups and downs over the years.

***

Q: Is it true that “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” is being rebooted? Will Joe Lando be

returning along with Jane Seymour? -- D.W.

A: There aren’t any plans at the moment to revive the early ‘90s western drama “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” but the Lifetime network is re uniting the attractive stars in an upcoming holiday movie. It’s been three decades since Jane Seymour and Joe Lando first graced our screens on CBS on Saturday nights, but fans only have to wait until No vember for their movie to premiere.

According to “Variety,” in “A Christmas Spark,” Seymour will play a recently widowed woman who decides to direct the town’s Christ mas pageant, while visiting her daughter over the holidays. There, she meets Hank, played by Lando, “the town’s most eligible bachelor.”

You can keep up with all of Lifetime’s cur rent and upcoming movies at MyLifetime.com.

your questions at NewCelebrityEx tra@gmail.com,

at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

Good Recipes from Tropical Sorbet Loaf

slice of this looks like a summer sunset

sand art

on a seaside boardwalk.

part: It’s really easy -- just scoop and freeze.

pint raspberry sorbet or strawberry sor bet, softened

pint mango or passion fruit sorbet, soft ened

1 pint coconut sorbet, softened

pint orange or peach sorbet, softened

coconut, fresh raspberries and fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Spray 9- by 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line pan with plastic wrap.

2. Using 2-inch (1/4 cup) ice cream scoop, arrange 8 alternating scoops of sorbet (2 scoops of each sorbet) in 1 layer in pan. Place plastic wrap on sorbet scoops and press mixture down to flat ten and eliminate air pockets; remove plastic wrap.

3. Repeat to make 2 more layers, alter nating sorbets within each layer and from layer to layer, and making sure to press mixture down each time. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours.

4. To serve, uncover pan and invert onto platter. Wrap towels dampened with warm water on bottom and sides of pan for about 20 seconds to slightly soften sorbet. Remove pan and plastic wrap. Garnish loaf with coconut, raspberries, and mint. Makes 16 servings.

PonderBits

If a cookie falls

you

Just once, I want the

125 calories,

that's a

to

Does anyone else have a plastic bag full of plastic bags -- or is it just me?

15mg so dium,

Polynesian Drumsticks

protein.

A quick marinade adds a sweet and tangy glaze to grilled skinless drumsticks -- a favorite with everyone in the family.

1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple in un sweet ened juice

1/4 cup (packed) brown sugar 3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon (grated) fresh ginger, peeled 1 clove garlic, crushed with press 12 (about 4 pounds) chicken drumsticks, skin removed

1. In blender, puree pineapple with its juice and remaining ingredients except drumsticks. Spoon 1/2 cup pineapple mixture into large selfsealing plastic bag; reserve remaining pineapple mixture for grilling. Add drumsticks to bag, turning to coat. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes.

2. Remove drumsticks from bag; discard bag with marinade. Place drumsticks on grill over medium heat and cook 15 minutes, turning over once. Cook drumsticks 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until drumsticks are golden and juices run clear when thickest part is pierced with tip of knife, brushing twice with reserved pineapple mixture

By John Allen

by Brett Koth

TIDBITS PONDERS

PETS WITH E.S.P.

Cody’s Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis

What Price Love, Literally

9/25

Appleseed

Appreciation

Good Neighbor

VFW

Over the years, I’ve asked the question “What price love?” many times and usually in a con text in which the “price” paid is physical safety and emotional and psychological well-being. The threat of injury to loved ones, the stress of living in fear, the potential for lawsuits, loss of homeowners in surance and loss of the home itself are all “prices” some people have paid because they could not admit that their dog needed more help than they were equipped to give.

Not this time.

This time I’m talking actual dollars and cents. How much does it cost to bring a dog into your life?

A few years back, I shared the sad story of a couple whose puppy suffered a serious medical trauma. Unbeknownst to them, the pup was nap ping behind the wheel of the husband’s van, which was parked in the driveway. When the man backed up, he ran over the pup. Multiple surgeries and two years’ worth of intensive time and therapy later, the dog was a happy, leaping, bounding furry miracle of modern medicine. But the costs were horren dously high.

This is an extreme example, but the reality is: Stuff happens. Be prepared.

The annual cost of caring for a dog varies according to size, breed and the individual dog. Smaller dogs eat less, so your food costs will be lower. Purebred dogs are known to have more health problems because of their narrower gene pool, which means you could end up spending more on medication and veterinary visits than you would with a Heinz 57 mutt. And you’re going to pay more to board a Newfoundland than you would to board a Yorkie.

Most canine professionals estimate the av erage annual costs of raising a dog to be: -- about $1200 for a toy breed; -- about $1500 for a small to medium-sized dog;

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

Scammers and the Omicron Vaccine

The latest scam against seniors appears to have started the very day the new Covid omicron vaccine was announced as being approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

The call I received promised to help me get to the front of the line ... ahead of all the people who were going to be eligible at the same time. All I had to do was provide my banking information or Medicare card number so they could “hold a place” for me in the appointments.

After all, the scammer said, millions of people were going to be rushing to get the vaccine. I didn’t want to be left out, did I?

I had a few minutes, so I decided to test the scammer’s actual knowledge about the vaccine. He was fuzzy on the information and stumbled to answer, sometimes making it up as he went.

The Art of DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

An Heirloom Party

Every time you have a family get-together, whether for a holiday or another kind of celebra tion, family memories are created and stories are usually told, which helps pass a verbal history from one generation to the next. As the patriarchs and matriarchs age, the question of downsizing always comes to mind.

Some will opt to age in place, which can sometimes be a financial burden, while others will go live with younger family members or in an assisted living facility. Then, the older folks, in addition to making changes to their living quarters, are faced with the issue of what to do with family heirlooms and possessions col lected over a lifetime.

Some will find assigning the “who gets what” easy. Some of these decisions are guided by emotion, and yet some others are guid ed by who needs household furnishing the most. A lucky granddaughter or a newly wed nephew might be the first to be in line to inherit Grandma’s bedroom set or Aunt Alicia’s dining room side board. This is usually the easiest way to get rid of your worldly possessions. Those nearest and dearest will benefit from your charity.

Certainly, there are many options for how to divest your accumulated home furnishings.

When dealing with finer items, an auction house may be the way to go. In most cities, there are reputable auction houses and auctioneers that can put your items up for sale. Depending on who their audience is, auction houses and auctioneers can either make or break a sale. An estate sale is another way of liquidating everything -- from fine china to collections of books to entire living room

Here are some facts to remember should you get one of these vaccine scam calls:

The truth is that not everyone is going to be eligible. Those who haven’t had any previous Covid vaccines cannot get the omicron vaccine until they've had the other ones. Then you have to wait two months before getting the new one.

The Pfizer booster will be for those age 12 and over, with the Moderna for those 18 and up. They don’t know yet about children younger than those ages.

No, at this point there haven’t been any clinical trials about how well the omicron version works. Mice, yes, but people, no. (Moderna and Pfizer both did mini-tests of 600 people each.)

The omicron vaccine will cover not only the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, but also the original Covid as well. It’s called a “bivalent” vac cine because it covers both.

But the big thing to remember: These scammers don’t want to help you get the new omicron booster. They only want your personal information so they can steal from you.

* * *

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.

sets. While it’s a quick way to sell, these sales are sometimes overrun by antique dealers, pickers and others looking for a bargain. While effective as a method for a swift purge, this might not be the way to get the most from your goods.

Familiar furnishings often have more than monetary value. They remind you of specific memories. They can also represent relationships such as a marriage or significant events such as someone’s birth or death. Heirlooms are strong reminders of the past and, as such, should be dealt with appropriate care.

A popular form of distributing family heir looms that is gaining interest is throwing a party -- yes, a party. Sometimes, the owner or host will give each invited family member or friend a sheet of paper. All items to be given away will be tagged with a number. Then, each invited guest will be asked to qui etly list five or ten items (de pending on how large the inventory is) in order of what they want the most. These papers are given back to the homeown er in a sealed envelope. The homeowner

can review the lists and assign who gets what at their discretion. In case of multiple requests for the same item, the recipient's name can be drawn by lottery. Then, the homeowner can inform each guest of the specific time they should show up to retrieve their treasure.

This last method is the least stressful way, without any acrimony between family members, and allows heirlooms to connect with family mem bers for generations.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pu billones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. His website is www. josephpubillones.com. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones and read features by other Creators Syndi cate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndi cate website at www.creators.com.

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

-- about $1900 for a large dog.

Multiply the appropriate number by 12 to 16 years (small dogs typically live longer than large dogs), and you have a good idea of what it will cost to share your life with a dog.

These averages include the real and en during costs of food, recurring medical, toys and treats, licensing, grooming, health insurance and miscellaneous supplies such as food and water bowls, leashes, collars, crates and bedding, which do not necessarily require replacement annually.

Your dog’s first year will likely exceed the annual average. This first year brings the one-time initial costs of the adoption or the purchase price of the dog, plus the spay or neuter procedure, initial shots, microchipping, ID tags and training.

A few of these expenses can be eliminated with some good old-fashioned DIY. Bathe your dog at home, brush his coat and teeth regularly, and learn to clip his nails yourself, and you’ll save a pretty penny on grooming. Socialize your dog prop erly from an early age, and teach him good man ners, and you’ll find he’s welcome at the homes of friends and family when you need to leave town. This could save you a considerable amount of mon ey on boarding and doggie day care costs.

Finally, health insurance is optional. There are pros and cons to buying health insurance for your dog. Do some research and discuss it with your vet to determine whether this is a necessary expense for you and your dog.

The good news: no college!

Keep these costs in mind when considering whether to get a dog and what kind. Most people bond with their dogs instantly, so you want to be sure you’re able to fully commit from Day One. The difference between involved and committed is seen in the ham and eggs breakfast: The chicken was involved. The pig was committed!

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

Early Retirement Reduction Can Be Adjusted Later

There is a little-known Social Security rule that may help some people who started their So cial Security checks before full retirement age and therefore took a reduction in their monthly ben efits, but then decided to return to work. Now they wonder if their early retirement reduction is per manent.

The answer is it might not be. And that’s because a software program built into the Social Security Administration’s computers kicks in af ter you reach full retirement age that is designed to remove the reduction factor for any months you didn’t get a Social Security check because of the SSA’s earnings penalty rules. The program is called the Adjustment to the Reduction Factor, or ARF.

Before I explain how the ARF works, I’ve got to give a little background. I will start out with a quick overview of the earnings penalty. The law says that one dollar must be withheld from your Social Security checks for each two dollars you earn over a certain threshold that changes every year. The 2022 threshold is $19,560. So, to give a really simple example, if Hank is working and plans to make $29,560 in 2022, then $5,000 must be withheld from his Social Security checks in 2022. ($29,560 minus $19,560 equals $10,000 divided by two equals $5,000.)

Now, some more background. I must ex plain the reduction factors for early retirement. The law says if you start your Social Security checks before full retirement age, your benefit will be reduced five-ninths of 1% for each of the first 36 months of reduction and five-twelfths of 1% for any additional months. That’s a bit too convoluted for the examples I’m going to use in this column. So, I am going to keep things simple by saying that your benefit is reduced about one-half of 1% for each month you receive benefits before full retirement age.

For example, let’s say that Hank’s full re tirement age is 67, but he started his benefits when he was 65. That’s 24 months early, so his Social Se curity benefit was reduced by about 12%. In other words, at age 65, Hank started getting about 88% of his full retirement age benefit.

And with that bit of background, I can close the circle on my ARF explanation. In my above ex ample, I said that Hank started getting an 88% ben efit rate when he took his Social Security at age 65. And because his earnings exceeded the pen alty threshold, I pointed out that $5,000 had to be withheld from his 2022 benefits. Let’s assume his monthly check is $2,500. In other words, the SSA held back two of Hank’s Social Security checks in 2022 because of his excess earnings. And let’s fur ther say that Hank’s earnings in the following year caused two more of his Social Security checks to be withheld.

Once Hank turns 67, the ARF program kicks in. That program says Hank’s ongoing per manent benefit can only be reduced for those months he actually received a Social Security check before he turned his full retirement age. In

our example, Hank only received 10 Social Security checks in 2022 and will get another 10 checks in 2023. In other words, he got 20 of his 24 Social Se curity checks before reaching full retirement age.

So, instead of the initial 24 month, or 12%, reduction, Hank’s ongoing benefit is adjusted to give him only a 20 month, or 10%, reduction. In other words, starting at age 67, Hank will get a 2% boost in his Social Security check. Actually, the ARF program usually isn’t finished running until several months after full retirement age, but it will be retroactive to the month of FRA.

That was a very simple explanation of how ARF works. Now here are a couple recent ques tions I got dealing with that procedure:

Q: I recently started my Social Secu rity at age 62. I get $1,650 per month. Now, out of the blue, I’ve been offered a job that will pay me $35,000 annually. I think I’m going to take the job. But I’m in a quandary about how to handle my Social Security. Can you advise?

efit would be adjusted so your ongoing rate is only reduced for the months you actually got a Social Security benefit between 62 and 67.

If I were you, I’d be inclined to go with the first option. And that’s primarily because option number two is going to complicate your Social Se curity life for the next several years.

Q: I’ve heard that if you take early re tirement benefits and then take a job and have those benefits withheld, once you reach full retirement age, all those withheld benefits are repaid to you. Sounds like a great deal!

A: It would be a great deal if it were true -- but it’s not. Your monthly benefits are NOT re paid to you. As explained in this column, what does come back to you is the reduction factor for those months you didn’t get a Social Security check be tween your benefit start date and FRA.

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A: Well, you’ve essentially got two options. You could simply withdraw your Social Security claim. (Anyone has up to 12 months after filing for benefits to change their mind.) If you do that, you’d have to repay any Social Security benefits you’ve re ceived so far. Then when you reach your full retire ment age of 67 (when the earnings penalty rules go away), you would re-file for your Social Security. It would be like you are just starting all over again and you will get your full retirement benefit rate.

Please

Let’s go back to Hank’s example earlier in this column. He had four Social Security checks, to taling $10,000, withheld from his benefits because of the earnings penalty rules. When he reaches his full retirement age, he does not get that $10,000 re imbursed to him. What he gets because of the ARF procedure is a 2% boost in his monthly benefits.

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Your other option would be to continue re ceiving Social Security benefits and let the earnings penalty and ARF provisions take their course. I will let you do the math. But with those earnings pen alty provisions, you would be due some benefits be tween now and full retirement age, but other bene fits would have to be withheld. And when you reach 67, the ARF procedure would kick in and your ben

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If you have a Social Security question, Tom Mar genau has a book with all the answers. It’s called “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” You can find the book at www.creators.com/books, or look for it on Amazon or other book outlets. To find out more about Tom Mar genau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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When

Helping

1. The book of II Samuel is in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither

2. "Holy One of Israel" is most often used in which book to describe the Lord? a) Hosea b) Revelation c) Judges d) Isaiah

3. King Solomon had his carriage's seat upholstered in what color? a) Crimson b) Blue c) Purple d) Gold

4. What insect does Proverbs 6 tell lazy people to learn from? a) Ants b) Bees c) Butterflies d) Locusts

5. Jesus commands us in John 15:17 to: a) Go make disciples b) Love one another c) Preach the Good News d) Trust the Holy Spirit

6. In Rvelation 1:3, "Blessed is the one that _________ these words of proph ecy...." a) Trusts b) Has faith in c) Reads and hears d) Faithfully follows

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

(Answers on page 16)

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

Hiatal Hernia Is Not Correlated to Asthma Medication

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 80 years old, still work full-time and have generally good health, except for adult-onset asthma. Advair 250/50 was prescribed for me over 10 years ago, and I’ve been taking it regularly each morning, thoroughly rinsing each time to prevent thrush.

About five years ago, I developed an abdominal hernia just below my waistline. My primary physician referred me to a general surgeon, who did a very thorough exam, in cluding an MRI from the jaw down. He discov ered an esophageal hernia in addition to the abdominal hernia, and told me that a special ist would have to perform the double surgery. His advice was to avoid surgery, leaving it as a last resort. He prescribed famotidine twice daily to preclude acid reflux. That generally works, but not always.

medicine to treat blood pressure, except in cases where beta blockers are also useful for some thing else.

Still, when a person requires multiple medications, beta blockers are often used as a second- or third-line treatment. If a person has good control of their blood pressure at a heart rate of 80, the medication is successful. Howev er, most times, the resting heart rate needs to be in the 50s or 60s for the blood pressure to come down to goal in a patient taking a beta blocker.

VETERANS POST 

by Freddie Groves

Homeless Veterans Still Need Help

Ad Proof: John Cuddihy - Flags “A” Flying Biz Card, BW,

rate

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The target exercise heart rate is usually recommended to be between 55% and 85% of your maximum heart rate, which can be mea sured by a stress test, or estimated by a calcula tor. Unfortunately, the calculator is only a rough guide at best, especially in women and middleaged (or older) people, and beta blockers have variable effects on individuals.

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Right about now in the Northern climes the weather is cooling off. Or, if it hasn’t, it soon will. Before we know it, hard winter will be upon us. As of this year, there are at least 38,000 home less veterans who will be living outside in that weather.

Homeless people make up about 0.2% of the U.S. population, but 13% of the homeless popula tion are veterans. Over half have a disability. Nearly three-quarters have substance abuse problems. Fully half are over the age of 50. Kind of makes you think, doesn’t it?

p.m..

PROOF

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American Veterans Post 66

My question is, does Advair 250/50 cause or contribute to an esophageal hernia? -- D.A.A.

ANSWER: A hiatal hernia (“hiatus” means “gap” in Latin), also called an esophageal or paraoesophageal hernia, is when the hole in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes is larger than normal, so other abdomi nal organs, especially the stomach, can slide through the hole from the abdomen into the chest.

Most hiatal hernias are thought to be congenital, meaning you were born with the propensity to have a larger-than-needed hole in the diaphragm. Most people with this condi tion have no symptoms and do not need treat ment. The unusual person with symptoms from a sliding hiatal hernia is usually treated medically. Like you, they are prescribed famotidine, which reduces stomach acid. In the rare case when the paraoesophageal hernia is so large that the stomach gets stuck inside the chest, or when other abdominal organs enter the chest, a per son may require surgery.

Neither asthma nor Advair, a combination of an inhaled steroid (fluticasone) and a long-act ing beta agonist (salmeterol), is related to hiatal hernias.

***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 63-year-old male who does weight-bearing exercises three or four times a week. Also, I am on multiple blood pressure meds, including atenolol, which slows the heart rate. What is the target heart rate while on this drug, for maximum cardiac health? -- H.C.

ANSWER: There are two ways to answer your question, the difference being the target resting heart rate and the target exercise heart rate.

The goal for atenolol as a blood pressure medicine is not the resting heart rate, but the resting blood pressure. However, atenolol and other beta blockers are seldom used as the first

Tom

Free Transportation for Veterans to the Loma Linda VA Hospital

American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 66 provides

Hospital

AMVETS POST 66

Despite all the programs the Department of Veterans Affairs has come up with to reduce veteran homelessness, our comrades are still out there by the thousands. Large dollars are budgeted for this, grants handed out to community homeless advocacy groups, studies done, numbers arranged in neat columns on printouts, meetings held -- and the numbers just don’t go down an appreciable amount. In fact, the point-in-time (PIT) count num bers (every homeless veteran counted in a single day) for the past several years have been inching upward, despite all the efforts to manage the prob lem.

We, on either an individual or group basis, need to step up.

Start by making calls. Call Voluntary Ser vices at the closest VA hospital and ask what they need. Hook up with the CEC (community employ ment coordinator) at the hospital and offer your help. Work at a Stand Down. Sign up to drive veter ans to medical appointments and job interviews.

On a smaller level, band with others and prepare to open your wallets just a little bit. Remem ber: While what we do might seem negligible in the whole range of efforts, it won’t be a small thing for the veteran who gets a thick winter coat, some dry socks, a ride to the VA clinic or your skills in draft ing up a resume.

Keep this number handy: National Call Center for Homeless Veterans 877-424-3838. They answer 24/7 and have help for homeless veterans or those who are in danger of becoming homeless.

M.D.

Jim

Flu Vaccines That Are Recommended for Older Adults

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I just turned 65 and would like to learn more about the stronger flu shots that I see advertised for older adults. What can you tell me about them and how are they covered by Medicare?

-- Senior Novice

Dear Novice: There are actually three different types of senior-specific flu shots (you only need one) that the CDC is now recom mending to people age 65 and older. These FDA-approved annual vaccines are designed to offer extra protection beyond what a standard flu shot provides, which is important for older adults who have weaker immune defenses and have a greater risk of developing dangerous flu compli cations. Here’s more information on these three vaccines.

Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent:

adjuvanted vaccine contains an added ingredient called adjuvant MF59 that also helps create a stronger immune response. In a 2013 observa tional study, Fluad was found 51 percent more effective in preventing flu-related hospitalizations for older patients than a standard flu shot.

You also need to be aware that both the Fluzone High-Dose and Fluad vaccines can cause more of the mild side effects that can occur with a standard-dose flu shot, like pain or tenderness where you got the shot, muscle aches, headache or fatigue. And neither vaccine is recommended for seniors who are allergic to chicken eggs, or those who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past.

Also note that the CDC does not recom mend one vaccination over the other.

FluBlok Quadrivalent:

For older adults who are allergic to eggs, FluBlok, which is a recombinant vaccine that does not use chicken eggs in their manufactur ing process is your best option. This vaccine is proven to be 30 percent more effective than a standard-dose influenza vaccine in preventing flu in people age 50 and older.

has not previously received any pneumococcal vaccine should get either PCV20 (Prevnar 20) or PCV15 (Vaxneuvance). If PCV15 is used, this should be followed by a dose of PPSV23 (Pneu movax23) at least one year later.

Or, if you’ve previously received a PPSV23 shot, you should get one dose of PCV15 or PCV20 at least one year later.

Medicare Part B also covers two different pneumococcal shots – the first shot at any time and a different, second shot if it’s given at least one year after the first shot.

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.

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* On Sept. 30, 1868, the first volume of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved coming-of-age book “Little Women” is published. Alcott dedi cated most of her life and writing to supporting her family after her father’s failure at running a school.

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Approved for U.S. use in 2009, the Flu zone High-Dose is a high-potency vaccine that contains four times the amount of antigen as a regular flu shot does, which creates a stronger immune response for better protection. Accord ing to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, this vaccine was proven 24 percent more effective than the regular dose shot at preventing flu in seniors.

Fluad Quadrivalent:

All of these vaccines are covered 100 percent by Medicare Part B as long as your doctor, health clinic or pharmacy agrees not to charge you more than Medicare pays.

Pneumonia Vaccines

Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

Office: 760-320-0997

Another important vaccination the CDC recommends to seniors, especially this time of year, are the pneumococcal vaccines for pneu monia. Around 1.5 million Americans visit medical emergency departments each year because of pneumonia, and about 50,000 people die from it.

The CDC recently updated their recom mendations for the pneumococcal vaccine and now recommend that everyone 65 and older who

760-320-1630

* On Sept. 28, 1901, Ed Sullivan, who will become the host of the long-running TV variety program “The Ed Sullivan Show,” is born in New York City. During the peak of its popular ity in the 1950s and 1960s, Sullivan’s program showcased a wide range of entertainers.

First available in the U.S. in 2016, this

* On Oct. 1, 1920, Scientific American magazine reports that the rapidly developing medium of radio would soon be used to broad cast music. Experimental concerts were being conducted from the Radio Laboratory of the Bureau of Standards with local radio operators being used to see if the transmissions could be heard hundreds of miles away.

* On Sept. 27, 1930, Atlanta golfer Bobby Jones wins his fourth major tournament of the year, making him the first person ever to win the Grand Slam of golf. Jones had the pictureperfect swing of every golfer’s dreams, despite never having taken a lesson.

* On Sept. 26, 1945, Lt. Col. Peter Dewey, a U.S. Army officer with the Office of Strate gic Services in Vietnam, is shot and killed in Saigon. Dewey was the head of a seven-man team sent to Vietnam to search for missing American pilots.

* On Sept. 29, 1954, Willie Mays, center fielder for the New York Giants, makes an amazing over-the-shoulder catch of a fly ball hit by Cleveland Indians first baseman Vic Wertz to rob Wertz of extra bases in game 1 of the 1954 World Series. The catch has gone down as one of the greatest in the history of baseball.

* On Oct. 2, 1965, a team of scientists in vent Gatorade, a sports drink to quench thirst, in a University of Florida lab. The name Ga torade was derived from the nickname of the university’s sports teams. A coach had asked for something to help his players who were negatively affected by the heat during play, and the salt and sugar drink was developed.

Tea Set Serves as Family Legacy

Q: Enclosed is a color picture of a tea set I purchased in 1953, while stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany. It was a gift for my mother and is now in my possession since she has passed away.

Hutschenreuther in Selb, Germany made the set. It is also marked “Favorit,” which I take to be the pattern name. The silver overlay is stamped “Spahn 1000.” I may have misread the word “Spahn” because it is very faint. I think the “1000” may mean the over lays are pure sterling silver. It is a complete set comprising of the teapot with lid, creamer, sugar with lid, six cups and six saucers, all in perfect condition.

It will be much appreciated if you can give me an idea of the date when this set was manufactured and what it may be worth. I have no plans to sell the set, as it will be passed along to my daughter. I am just curi ous to know its present value.

to the shape of the porcelain dishes.

Your set was made in the mid-20th century and would be worth $800 to $1,200.

I have enclosed the mark that is on the bottom of a porcelain cat figurine that was my mother’s. He has white fur, a blue tail, toes and collar. His ears are touched with both blue and pink. His tail is straight up in the air, and his overall height is 10 inches. I remember my mother always kept him on the top shelf of the china cupboard. She told us we could look at him but not to touch or pick him up.

My mother recently decided to give him to me, and I hope you can tell me some thing about his history and value.

A: Kay Finch made your figurine. She and her husband, Braden, opened a small pottery in 1939 in Corona Del Mar, Calif. She created and designed animals and birds, especially dogs. Her

son, George, eventually joined the pottery and de signed nonfigural pieces. In 1963, Finch closed her pottery shop following the death of her husband.

Your cat is known as “Hannibal, the Angry Cat” and was made in the early 1940s. Several years ago, the value was in the high hundreds. Today it would probably be worth $125 to $175.

Kay Finch Pottery was located in California.

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Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has recently retired and no longer receives inquiries nor answers reader letters. Due to the popularity of her col umn, this publication will continue to reprint previous col umns of interest to our readers.

To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoon ists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators. com

A: Hutschenreuther Porcelain was found ed by Carl Hutschenreuter in Hohenberg, Ba varia, Germany, in 1914. They are known for their extremely high quality dinnerware and figurines. They are still in business and also produce limit ed-edition pieces. The word “Spahn” is actually “Spahr.” German designer, Carl Spahr, developed a technique of decorating porcelain and glass with silver overlay. His overlay was used by Hutschen reuter Porcelain Factory and Rosenthal Porcelain and Glass Co., as well as other factories and glass designers. Objects marked “Spahr 1000” show that the purest form of silver was used. “Favorit” refers

Puzzle Solutions

GO FIGURE

SOLUTION

Very peculiar body parts at the sides of folks' heads that are shaped like chunks of

Hutschenreuther Porcelain was founded in 1914.

including “Ernest Saves Christmas,” “Ernest Goes to Jail,” and “Ernest in the Army.” He won an Emmy Award for his children’s series, which aired in 1988, featuring conversations with his unseen friend Vern.

• In the midst of all the slapstick comedy, Varney had a love of Shakespeare and desired to perform Hamlet, but had been stereotyped with the goofy Ernest role. He frequently wore disguises so that fans wouldn’t recognize him. Varney did go on to star in the big-screen version of “The Beverly Hillbillies” and voiced Slinky Dog in the “Toy Story” franchise. Sadly, Varney succumbed to cancer at age 50.

• Where is Jimmy Hoffa? That was the big question in 1975 when the labor union leader and activist suddenly and mysteriously disappeared from the parking lot of a Detroit restaurant. Well-known as being deeply involved with organized crime, the Teamster leader had been convicted of jury tampering, attempted bribery, conspiracy, and mail and wire fraud. He served less than five years of his 13-year sentence before being released from prison in 1971.

• In July 1975, Hoffa was scheduled to meet with Mafia kingpins to settle their feuds and develop a “peace agreement.” He was never seen alive again. Decades of searching various Michigan sites by FBI agents turned up nothing. One widely-held theory was that Hoffa was buried under the new Giants’ Meadowlands stadium in New Jersey, which was under construction at the time of his disappearance. As recently as 2020, the search was revived at a 53-acre New Jersey landfill with no conclusive results. It’s believed by still other experts that his body was cremated in 1975 by his assassins. The Jimmy Hoffa disappearance remains an unsolved mystery, and no one has ever been charged. □

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

A good finish should have the left leg straight, the right thigh up close to the left leg, the right foot up on the toe, and the upper body arching back slightly. The trick is that the hips are now “tucked under” the upper body or the stomach is pushed forward. Many beginners, or players who don’t have good core strength, will finish with their hips pushed out behind their upper body. Learn to correct the finish by tucking the hips under or pushing your belt buckle forward in order to feel the correct position. Good leg work will assist in correct hip positioning as well.

Center face contact should be the number one fundamental on any players’ list. When you mishit the center of the face, you’ll lose distance and direction control if the mishit is severe enough. If you’ve ever seen a top player’s set of irons, you’ll see a dime size wear spot in the center of the face. A swing’s effectiveness should be measured by its ability to consistently hit center face contacted shots.

The secret to gaining mastery of the center hit is creating awareness and feedback to the true space your clubhead is passing through.

By using two tees spaced a little over a club head apart, start by swinging through the open space until you’re aware of how you govern the space you pass through. Then hit shots with enough room to hit the ball, yet not hit the tees. Take note of where your consistent mishits tend to occur.

comes

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the finish

into an unusual

attention. The body

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When I work with a lot of beginning to in termediate players, the finish position requires

Tuck It Under

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develop feelings with the swing that create a correct pass through space in order to hit center contacted shots. Either way, you’re

by Jason Jenkins

Game Changers