Vol. 18: #40 • Pets with ESP • (10-02-2022) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

TIDBITS PONDERS

PETS WITH E.S.P.

by Janet Spencer

There are many documented reports of household pets seeming to sense the thoughts and circumstances of their masters, even from a distance, and demonstrate that awareness through their behavior. In fact, studies done by animal behaviorists and others have found evidence supporting some sort of clairvoyant abilities in a variety of animals, but most commonly among dogs. This week Tidbits has some stories on this very subject collected by researcher and author Rupert Sheldrake that bear this theory out. Read on for some interesting examples.

RESONATING RETURNS

• A pet sitter was caring for a friend’s terrier when the dog left its usual sleeping spot to stand at the front door, as in anticipation. Remaining there for a long while, the sitter thought the dog needed to relieve himself, but that wasn’t the case. An hour later, the dog’s owner arrived at the door unexpectedly – two days before he was due to return home, and was greeted enthusiastically by his dog companion. “I had no idea the owner

p.m..

1. U.S. STATES: Which state’s offi cial animal is a panther?

2. LITERATURE: What was the color of the man’s hat in the “Curious George” book series?

3. TELEVISION: Chuck Woolery was the original host of which TV game show?

4. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the location of the first White Castle restaurant?

5. COMICS: What’s the name of the newspaper where Clark Kent works?

6. MOVIES: Which 1980s movie features a character named Aurora Greenway?

7. PSYCHOLOGY: What fear is rep resented in the phobia eisoptrophobia?

8. GEOGRAPHY: How many Afri can countries have Portuguese as their official language?

9. ANIMAL KINGDOM: On aver age, cats sleep how many hours a day?

10. HISTORY: The ancient city of Rome was built on how many hills?

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is an orbiting infrared observatory and the world’s most powerful telescope.

• Launched on Dec. 25, 2021, the JWST successfully disengaged from the rocket that carried it into space, deployed its solar panels, traveled at 524 mph for a month for nearly a million miles (four times the distance of the Moon), and unfurled its mirrors and sunshield, all without a hitch.

• JWST orbits in the L2 Lagrange point, named for the mathematician who lived in the 1700s. Lagrange points are spots where the gravitational push-and-pull of two bodies equalize, in this case the Sun and Earth. They are used by spacecraft to reduce the consumption of fuel needed to remain in position.

• Now in position, JWST is able to capture light that’s been traveling across space for up to 13.5 billion years, when the first stars and galaxies were formed. It is so sensitive it can detect the heat signature of a bumblebee at the distance of the Moon, and can see details the size of a penny at a distance of 25 miles.

• To preserve Webb’s heat-sensitive equipment, it has a ‘sunshield’ that’s the size of a tennis court which gives the telescope the equivalent of SPF protection of 1 million. The difference in temperature between the hot side and the cold side of the sunshield is nearly 6000 F. (3150 C).

• James Webb’s mirrors are the lightest large telescope mirrors ever made. They are constructed of beryllium, a metal which resists expanding and contracting during temperature changes. Each of the 18 mirrors is coated with a layer of pure gold so thin that a human hair is 1,000 times thicker. Then they are coated with a protective layer of silicon dioxide glass.

weighs in at about 14,000 lbs., which is about half as much as Hubble.

• With Hubble, scientists were able to peek into galaxies that formed 400 million years ago, but JWST can look back 250 million years, and perhaps even earlier.

• Hubble collects images in mostly ultraviolet (visible) light, while James Webb collects infrared light, just beyond the visible spectrum. This reveals more detail about the objects in those images. The JWST can see right through massive clouds of dust that limit the view of visible-light observatories like Hubble. These dusty nebulas are where stars and planetary systems form.

• Over the course of Hubble’s life, five space shuttle crews made service calls to correct the telescope’s problems, but Hubble is only 340 miles away, while the James Webb is 930,000,000 miles away, far beyond the reach of any repair crew. However, if the proper technology is developed, scientists could someday send a robot to refuel it, extending its life.

Final

Final

• The telescope is fueled by 240 liters of hydrazine fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide oxidizer, which is used to keep itself in the correct position and orient the mirrors to any particular point in the universe. It’s expected that the fuel will run out in about ten years. Yet, designers included a refueling port where a nozzle from some future space robot might be used to give it an extended opportunity to send its vital information back to Earth.

ADVERTISING

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• The JWST is 100 times more powerful than the 30-year-old Hubble Space Telescope.

• While Hubble’s mirror stood at 7.8 feet in diameter, the James Webb telescope’s mirror has the diameter of 21.3 feet, allowing it to capture six times more light than Hubble. While being much larger than Hubble, the James Webb

would change his mind and return early,” the sitter remarked, “and neither of us have any idea how the dog ever sensed that he had done just that an hour earlier.”

• When Louise left for home from her place of work, her husband at home noted that their dog BJ always went to their front door shortly before she arrived to wait for her. The dog did this only before his wife arrived and for no one else. BJ would do this no matter the time of day she arrived and regardless of what vehicle she arrived in, whether her car, her husband’s car, or was dropped off by a co-worker.

• One dog’s ability to know when his masters were coming home was so striking that the couple who owned him started taking notes on his behavior. In one such instance, the wife went into town to do some shopping while her husband and the dog stayed home. The husband noted that the dog went and stood at his post by the window at 3:15, waited there for a few minutes, and then left to nap on the living room floor. An hour later, he resumed his post at the window, and the wife returned home minutes later. When she walked through the door her husband said, “You decided to come home at 3:15, changed your mind, and left for home at 4:15 instead, didn’t you?” “Why, yes,” she answered. “How did you know that?”

• During WWII, a pilot's pet dog had an uncanny

ability to know when his master was returning to the airfield. The dog would go out to the tarmac as soon as he sensed the his master’s plane was returning. The pilot’s comrades thought the dog was reacting to the particular whine of the specific airplane that the pilot customarily flew. However, one day the pilot left in the morning flying his usual plane, but returned that afternoon – from the opposite direction –in a different plane. The entire company was astounded when the dog completely ignored the usual plane, but instead patiently waited inside. Later, he trotted out to greet his master as he taxied up to the tarmac in a plane the dog had never seen before.

CANINE CLAIRVOYANCE

• One dog owner told of the time when she had the thought that she should get her dog’s favorite blue ball and go out into the yard to exercise him with a game of fetch. To her surprise, the dog immediately showed up in her room, excitedly wagging his tail and with the blue ball in his mouth. On another occasion she noticed that his doggie toys were strewn all around the house and thought to herself, “I wish he wouldn’t leave his toys all over the place like this. One of these days I'm going trip and hurt myself.” Within the hour, the dog had gathered up every one of his toys and grouped them out of her way in a corner.

country with her German shepherd. After they had walked a good ways, the dog suddenly stopped, sat down and refused to budge. He could not be dragged or cajoled to continue any further. Frustrated, the woman finally turned back towards home with the dog now eagerly in the lead. Several minutes later, ominous storm clouds began to quickly gather and very strong winds began bending the trees. Large drops of cold rain began falling, so they started running towards home. Just as they reached the safety of the doorstep, her house began to shake with the sound of large hailstones pounding the roof. They were safe, but had her dog not sensed the approaching danger, it would have been a much different story..

• During WWII, the citizens of England were

Pets with E.S.P: Turn to page 15

QUIZ BITS

1. What was the most popular name for male dog in 2021?

2. What was the most popular name for a female dog in 2021?

A widow stated in an interview that after her husband had died in the hospital of a severe stroke, he was buried in a churchyard near their home. "After his death," she said, "his faithful dog, Joe, suddenly started disappearing for hours at a time, so I decided to follow him one day. I found he was going to the churchyard to sit by my husband's grave. I have no idea how he knew his master was dead, or how he knew where the grave was."

• A woman with a pet terrier worked in an office six miles from her home. The dog had never been to her place of work, and always remained at home. One day the dog managed to escape through the yard fence and run free. As the woman was leaving her workplace several hours later, she was amazed to find her dog patiently waiting for her on the front steps of the building. To this day, she still has no idea how the dog could have possibly known where he would find her.

• A boy adopted a greyhound puppy, and although his entire family loved the dog it soon became apparent as it grew larger that their small apartment couldn't accommodate a pet that size. They arranged for a family in the country to adopt the dog. Arriving at the farm, they tied the dog up in the back yard of the house, and then they all went to eat at a local cafe a few miles away. Just as they were leaving, the greyhound showed up at the cafe door, a piece of gnawed rope dangling from his neck.

• A woman deecided to take a long walk in the

By Lucie Winborne

* There are more people in Monaco’s orchestra than in its army.

* While tanning remains popular despite the documented health risks, the CDC has estimated that if folks under the age of 18 stopped using tanning beds, over 60,000 melanomas and melanoma-related deaths could be prevented.

* In 1987, a man convinced 2.8 million peo ple to send him a penny each for his college education.

* People who play videogames are less like ly to have nightmares.

* Switzerland is the only country in the world that could fit more than its entire population into bunkers in case of an emergency.

* Eggo waffles were originally called Froffles upon their creation in 1953 -- a portmanteau of “frozen” and “waffles.” Customers started calling them Eggos due to their egg flavor, and the company renamed the product two years later.

* Dubai is the most air-conditioned city in the world.

* Maggots and leeches are the first living creatures to be approved by the FDA as med ical devices.

* A 1924 Arizona law made it illegal for don keys to sleep in bathtubs.

* Crakow shoes, a pointy footwear popular in the 14th century, could get so long that the toe of the shoe had to be attached to the leg with a string so that it wouldn’t drag.

* Ever noticed that all ads for the iPhone display a time of 9:41? That’s because Steve Jobs first announced the device’s launch in 2007 at 9:41 a.m.

* New employees at Google are called "Nooglers," and on their first Friday of em ployment, have to wear a special hat bearing the Google colors and that distinctive moni ker.

***

Thought for the Day: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to suc ceed.”

-- Booker T. Washington

Mary

Don’t Be Scared;

to make the typical American household want a food reserve. This could happen if the current inflation were to morph suddenly into hyperinfla tion. As people were to see food prices escalat ing beyond reach, they would rush to buy and hoard food reserves while it is still within their price range. Imagine what would happen:

The demand for food would quintuple or more within a short time. Shoppers would see empty shelves in the market, further stimulating panic buying, just as when a hurricane or bliz zard is forecast for the area.

If there is one thing most people take for granted, it is food. U.S. supermarkets are always well stocked, and we don’t think much about how all that food gets there. When pushed to consider it, I wager most of us assume there are huge warehouses somewhere filled with enough food to feed the nation for some unknown period of time.

Mary Hunt

The truth is, as a nation we have little to no warehousing backup in the event of a supply shortage. Our concentrated supermarket supply system uses a technology known as JIT (Justin-Time), a method made possible by computers and the internet.

Here’s how JIT works: Instead of every supermarket needing a warehouse to store large quantities of food to be sold locally, computers keep track of inventory, placing relatively small orders daily. This precludes the need for massive warehousing. Retailers know their orders will ar rive “just in time” to keep the shelves filled.

But who cares about all of this, really? And why should we, as consumers, concern ourselves? The system, even with its occasional glitch and hiccup, seems to be working well. So why the fuss?

Most people buy food for one week, give or take. Of course there are exceptions. For example, I have friends who shop once a month and then force themselves to make it last, while another family we know shops daily for just the next three meals -- a very expensive food habit that makes me want to chew my hair, as you can well imagine. My point is that multiple trips to the market based on individual choice allow us to enjoy fresh food without the hassles of having to manage reserves. The integrity of the food sup ply system never crosses our minds. We take so much for granted.

Not long ago, I had a conversation with an executive of Costco. I asked him how long a Costco warehouse club’s inventory of food would last if suddenly there were no more shipments arriving. He hypothesized that the shelves would be empty within three to five days. At the same time, the manager of my local Vons supermarket confirmed with a similar response, “less than a week,” he said.

Now, imagine that something happens

The best thing we can do to protect our selves and our families is to prepare. The more food you have in storage, the less dependent you are on a system that some knowledgeable people theorize has only a three-day supply in its distribution chain. I tell you this not to cause you to panic but to move you toward action.

Start small. Buy a few more of the items on your regular shopping trip. If you would nor mally pick up four cans of green beans, get six. Instead of one bottle of honey, get two. But if it’s on sale, get four.

For a normal short- to mid-term storage inventory, you should stock up on the foods that you are used to eating. If your family cannot tolerate red beans, don’t waste your time and money on a 25-pound bag because for some reason that seems like a good idea. Instead, invest in your favorite canned white albacore, for example.

Taking control of your family’s food re source is empowering and satisfying. The more you grow your food supply, the less dependent you’ll feel on others. The more nonperishable food you have stored in reserve, the better you will sleep at night.

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.”

Although most of the evidence for extra sensory perception in animals seems to be with canines, not all of these unique abilities can be credited just to dogs. Here's a few examples of how our avian friends may be equipped this way, too.

• A boy adopted a lost homing pigeon. The pigeon was identified with a band on its leg with the number 167 engraved on it. Then the boy grew ill and went to the hospital 70 miles away where he had an operation and a lengthy stay. One night a week into his stay, he heard a fluttering at his window and recognized his bird. A nurse opened the window, and the pigeon flew in, identified by the band on its leg.

• One day at school, a magpie flew in an open window and perched on the shoulder of a boy in a classroom of about 40 students. “It’s our summer bird!” the boy exclaimed, explaining that they had rescued and raised a fledgling magpie that summer at their cottage home. They had left it behind when they returned to the city, never expecting to see it again, much less at his school some 50 miles away. His teacher dismissed him for the day so he could take the bird home.

***

• A large population of starlings hang out in the Baltic region of northern Europe all summer, migrating to Britain for the winter. Researchers caught around 11,000 starlings when they were in the middle of their migration in autumn, capturing them mid-route in Holland. They were banded, and then separated into two groups.

• One group consisted of just the adults; the other group was only juveniles. Usually flocks are made up of both adults and juveniles, enabling the youngsters to lern the migration route. 11,000 birds were transported nearly 400 miles off course, and released in Switzerland. First the adults were released, and then the juveniles. Would the two groups be able to find their way?

• The adults adjusted their course and ended up

where they intended to go in Britain, northwest of Switzerland. But the juveniles, which had been flying in a southwesterly direction when they were waylaid, continued in a southwesterly direction and ended up in Spain instead of Britain. When the juveniles returned to the Baltic region the next spring, the researchers wondered if they would follow the adults to the normal wintering grounds in Britain at the end of the summer. Surprisingly, many of the youngsters broke with tradition and returned to where they had been in Spain.

• Dunlins are sandpiper-type shorebirds that flock together. When flying, they coordinate their movements with precision, thousands moving together in a single instant. Using high-speed photography, their movements were slowed down so researchers could understand how the huge flocks managed to move together as one.

• Analysis showed that the movement was not simultaneous, but instead started from an individual bird, or a few birds together. The initial movement could originate anywhere within the flock, radiating outward in rapid waves. Researchers found that the movement took an average of 15 milliseconds to move from one bird to the next.

room in the tower of the police administration building in Germany. He noted that a group of pigeons that lived in the eaves of the roofs across the street would always leave their roosts exactly 30 minutes before a British bombing raid came in. He used this knowledge to warn his comrades. His predictions were so accurate that the Gestapo arrested him, suspecting him of communicating with the enemy, when all he was doing was observing the pigeons.

My Uncle’s Shutter Factory

• In the lab, researchers tested captive dunlins to find out how quickly they responded to a sudden stimulus. The average startle time in reaction to a sharp noise or a flash of light was 38 milliseconds, much longer than it takes to respond when they are surrounded by a flock.

***

• Austrian sculptor Heinz Peteri lived in a small

by Dana Jackson

Q: Is it true that Pat Sajak is leaving “Wheel of Fortune”? Will it continue with a new host? What about Vanna? -- G.B.

A: After 40 years of spinning the wheel on the hit primetime game show “Wheel of For tune,” Sajak recently hinted on “Entertainment Tonight” that “the end is near,” but he gave no specific end date. The show’s new executive pro ducer Bellamie Blackstone sees the program, one day, celebrating its 50-year anniversary and beyond. Wheth er or not Sajak and longtime co-host Vanna White retire before then remains to be seen.

***

Q: I really enjoyed the musical TV se ries “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” What is the cast doing now that the show is over? -- F.C.

A: Rachel Bloom, who wrote, produced and starred in the CW network’s musical comedy “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” from 2015 to 2019, has sever al upcoming roles. She’s joining the second season of HBO Max’s “Julia,” which is based on chef Julia Child’s origin story on public television in Boston. Bloom can currently be seen in the new comedy “Reboot” on Hulu. She’s also written a memoir, “I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are,” in which she gets candid about her awkwardness of growing up in Manhattan Beach, California, and her battle with mental illness.

Donna Lynne Champlin, who played

Bloom’s bestie on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” most re cently co-starred in Showtime’s “The First Lady,” as Michelle Obama’s (Viola Davis) senior advisor. Vincent Rodriguez III, who played Bloom’s main crush, Josh, on the show, most recently starred in Prime Video’s romantic comedy series “With Love.” Santino Fontana, who played Greg, has had a recurring role on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” which is also on Prime Video. He’s also had a stel lar career on Broadway, including the starring role in “Tootsie.”

***

Q: I saw that one of my all-time favor ite shows, “M*A*S*H,” recently celebrated 50 years since it premiered on TV by posting a current photo of stars Alan Alda and Mike Farrell together. Are they the only surviving cast members from the series? -- N.R.

A: Believe it or not, four classic television shows all debuted on CBS during the same week in September 1972: “Maude,” “The Waltons,” “The Bob Newhart Show” and “M*A*S*H.” Set during

the Korean War, it starred Alan Alda as the wise cracking surgeon Hawkeye Pierce and Wayne Rog ers as Trapper John McIntyre. Rogers’ character would be spun off into his own show a few years later, and Mike Farrell would then join the cast as B.J. Hunnicutt.

You might recall that “M*A*S*H” was originally an Oscar-nominated film starring Don ald Sutherland and Elliott Gould as Hawkeye and Trapper John, respectively. Sally Kellerman played “Hot Lips” Houlihan, and Robert Duvall was Frank Burns in the film -- the same roles Loretta Swit and Larry Linville would memorably play on the series version.

Of the ensemble cast, Swit, Gary Burghoff (“Radar”) and Jamie Farr (Klinger) are all still with us. Rogers passed away in 2015, while Linville passed in 2000.

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityEx tra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

Split

McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy

Rings

Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe

A Dog’s Purpose

Gad, Dennis Quaid

Hidden Figures

P. Henson, Octavia Spencer

La La Land

Gosling, Emma Stone

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

Jovovich, Iain Glen

Sing

Lion (PG-13) Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman

The Space Between Us (PG-13) Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield

xXx:

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

We steam and slice sweet potatoes, and then give them a turn on the grill to create this de liciously unexpected side dish

2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled if you like 1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper Parsley, for garnish

1. Prepare outdoor grill for covered, direct grilling on medium.

2. In 5- to 6-quart saucepot or Dutch oven, place collapsible steamer basket and 1 inch water. Cover saucepot; heat water to boiling on high on range top. Cut sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch-thick diagonal slices.

3. Place potato slices in steamer basket; reduce heat to low. Cover saucepot and simmer 12 to 15 minutes or until potatoes are just fork-tender; do not overcook. (Potatoes can be steamed a day ahead and refrigerated until ready to grill.)

4. Transfer potato slices to jellyroll pan; brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pep per to season both sides. Place potato slices on hot grill grate. Cover grill and cook potatoes 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly charred and tender, turning slices over once with large metal spatula. Transfer potatoes to serving bowl; garnish with parsley. Makes 4 side-dish servings.

 Each serving: About 245 calories, 4g total fat (1g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 170mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate, 6g dietary fiber, 3g pro tein.

Bulgur Bean Burgers

Satisfy vegetarians and meat-eaters alike with these healthful, Middle Eastern-style Bulgur Bean Burgers. No one will miss the beef when black beans and spices are providing first-class flavor.

1 cup water

Salt and ground black pepper

1/2 cup bulgur

1 can (15 to 19 ounces) reduced-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained

1 container (6 ounces) plain low-fat yogurt

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 cup (packed) mint leaves, chopped

Nonstick cooking spray

1 small shredded Kirby (pickling) cucumber

4 whole-wheat hamburger buns

4 lettuce leaves

1 medium tomato, sliced

1. In 1-quart saucepan, heat water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to boiling over high heat. Stir in bul gur. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 to 12 minutes or until water is absorbed.

2. Meanwhile, in large bowl, with potato masher or fork, mash beans with 2 tablespoons yogurt until almost smooth. Stir in bulgur, allspice, cinnamon, cumin and half of mint until combined. With lightly floured hands, shape bean mixture into four 3-inch-round patties. Spray both sides of each patty lightly with nonstick cooking spray.

3. Heat nonstick 12-inch skillet over me dium heat until hot. Add burgers and cook 8 min utes or until lightly browned and heated through, turning over once.

4. While burgers are cooking, prepare yogurt sauce: In small bowl, combine cucumber, remaining yogurt and mint, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Makes about 1 1/4 cups.

5. To serve, divide lettuce, tomato and

burgers among buns; top with some yogurt sauce.

Serve with remaining yogurt sauce. Serves 4.

Get answers to questions you never knew you had.



Each serving: About 295 calories, 3g total fat (1g saturated), 3mg cholesterol, 960mg sodium, 58g total carbs, 13g dietary fiber, 16g protein.

For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit

site at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/.

By John Allen

by Brett Koth

FOLKS

10/2

10/3

10/4

10/5

Guardian Angels Day

Bring Fruit to Work Day

Yom Kippur (begins at sundown)

Bring Your Bible to School Day

10/6 Smile at People Day

10/7 National Forgiveness Day

10/8 International Podiatry Day

Cody’s Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis

Stay Out of the Wrong Hands

Every once in a while, I get a message from a reader that reminds me to remind you of one very important thing: Dog training is an unlicensed in dustry.

Anyone can hang a shingle and call them selves a dog trainer, a dog behaviorist or a dog psy chologist. Your best defense is some solid 411. It’s up to you to ensure your dog doesn’t end up in the wrong hands -- hands like these:

We adopted a puppy last year, and ever since we brought him home, he has been nipping and biting. We met with a woman who trains dogs, and she said it could be an issue. She advised us to pinch his lips against his teeth as soon as he nips to show that it hurts. It doesn’t faze him at all. He jumps up on us, lunges at us and bites. He is a good dog otherwise.

This is just one example of the bad training advice that’s out there. You might hear it from your neighbor, your groomer or your own mother. But the most sinister version of bad advice is that which comes from a “professional trainer” who professes to “care about animals” and then suggests or per forms any of the following “techniques”: -- the rolled-up newspaper as a swatting de vice for any part of your dog’s anatomy -- rubbing his nose in his own mess -- yelling -- pointing -- hitting -- spanking -- stepping on his paws to prevent jumping -- holding his mouth closed to try keeping him from barking -- biting him back to show him what it feels like -- pulling his tail -- forcing him onto his back and pinning him to the ground -- isolating him -- depriving him of food or water

SENIOR

by Matilda Charles

Free College Courses

In an attempt to keep brain cells active this winter, I have signed up for a college course. The good news is that it’s all online and it’s free, and it’s also sponsored by a major university.

It’s called Open Courseware, and I found my class on the internet. Yale, Harvard, MIT, Stanford and many others have “massive open online cours es,” also known as MOOCs, and their main purpose is to provide learning opportunities. You have to ap preciate MIT especially. They make course material for their 2,600 classes “available on the web, free of charge, to any user anywhere in the world.”

Most of these open courseware classes are self-paced (do them when you want after download ing the lecture). Most don’t get you a certificate or a degree, but then most don’t cost anything either. Beware, of course, scammers who’d like to take your personal information and charge you for a class that’s actually free and doesn’t require you to

sign up. Your best bet, until you’re familiar with open courseware, is to stick to the big-name universities. For a three-minute video showing an explanation of MIT’s open courseware, see www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ICa_4xUr8BA.

Read the fine print on the website as you hunt for a class. Read the syllabus (course descrip tion) and the list of texts to be used. If you’re re quired to read books, see if they’re free to download online. (Some of the material downloads are huge). Pay attention to the estimated time commitment for the course you want to take.

If you definitely want to attend in-person college but need financial help, see www.asenior citizenguideforcollege.com. Click on “Find Your State Tuition Waivers” and see if any in your state are covered. Some colleges will have a link to an application for a tuition waiver for seniors; some will just have a website and phone number to call for information.

Note: The Great Courses (www.thegreat courses.com) are not open courseware and will cost money.

* * *

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.

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

-- and, clearly, pinching his lips against his teeth.

Everything on this list is animal abuse dressed up as dog training. Dogs don’t learn this way. Well, they don’t learn what you want them to learn. Instead, they learn to fear you, to be suspi cious of you, to guard against you, to brace them selves when they see you coming or even go on the offensive.

No reputable trainer would employ or advo cate the use of any of these tactics with the goal of educating a dog.

Next time you’re shopping for a dog trainer, first do a little research and think about how you’d like your dog to be treated during the training process. Consider your dog’s personality -- shy, ef fusive, aloof, dominant -- and think twice about a trainer who doesn’t consider it, as well. You don’t teach a shy dog the same way you would a domi nant dog. The tone of voice, the physicality and the actual tools a trainer uses will vary from dog to dog based largely on temperament and personality.

Here are some things to discuss with po tential dog trainers before you even schedule an inperson consultation:

-- Do you have any recent references I can contact?

The Art of DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

Mature, Modern Pads

Furnishing your home can be a lifelong en deavor. Some of us search and rummage through flea markets, antique shops and yard sales for the perfect pieces. The adventure is in the hunt -- the find is the reward. These are the key items that help define the tone of our homes.

We all want homes that reflect our lifestyle and success, and amassing large collections of art and furniture is part of the game. The best homes are always auto biographical, filled with heirlooms and furnishings that have been collected and passed down from one generation to anoth er. So why is it sometimes so appealing in one’s later years to mark a new chapter of life -- such as a retirement, the passing of a significant other or even a divorce? Why do we try to eliminate the past via an estate sale, giving away items to sons and daughters or even donat ing things to a charity ba zaar or thrift shop?

It seems there are milestones in life, which require a psychological restart. And what bet ter place to start than redefining the concept of home? The desire to define the new you is the reason why so many empty nesters and the like decide to do an about-face and head for sleek and contemporary interiors that normally would be perfect for young homeowners. Akin to the midlife or later face-lift, tummy tuck or going back to the gym, contemporary interiors make its occupants feel young and relevant once again. All specula tion and joking aside, new contemporary interiors are beneficial for older homeowners.

You may be asking yourself why, after many years of accumulation, so many decide to do an about-face from the warmth of traditional interiors to lighter contemporary interiors. Of course, there is the desire and quest for youthful outlook and appearance, but did it ever occur to you it may also be for ease of maintenance?

Of course, there are mature homeowners who genuinely appreciate the lines of clean mod ern design. Others, especially those with second homes, nearly always request designs that are based in contemporary design because they want an easier, more carefree lifestyle.

Antiques and family heirlooms require spe cial care. Older fine wood furniture requires peri odic waxing and polish. Sterling silver accessories or serving pieces need soaking and cream polish to keep them shining, but who in their right mind would rather do this than play a round of golf, go fish ing or have a friendly round of rummy or mahjong? No body I know.

Additionally, as one ages, dexterity and fine motor skills -- which are required for upkeep and maintenance of things that are carved and filled with ornate detail -- dimin ish. This is why older folks start to prefer the clean and streamline design features of contemporary design. Plain and simple is a matter of independence and sur vival. Like my Aunt Lisette, who is 70, looks 50 and dresses like she’s 30, don’t chuckle when you enter your relatives’ sleek pad. There are specific reasons for this trend, and it has little to do with keeping up appearances -- but everything to do with being able to express their own attitude and taste.

* * *

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.

-- What is your philosophy on dog training? You’re looking for a value statement here.

-- How do you motivate dogs to learn new behaviors? Food? Fear? Intimidation? Positive rein forcement? Personally, I believe in motivating dogs with lots of love, praise and affection.

-- Ask whether they have experience either developing or discouraging any particular behav iors that apply to your situation.

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-- Ask about their history as a dog trainer -education, experience, failures, proudest moments -- and listen with an ear for whether this person is a professional trainer or someone who “grew up with dogs.”

-- Finally, ask them how they work with dog owners. A lot of dog training boils down to human training.

The problem with a bad dog trainer is that they could do so much more than simply fail to de liver. They could make it worse. Much worse. 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!”

all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com,

him

www.unclematty.com.

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Delayed Retirement Credits Explained

People who delay starting their Social Se curity beyond their full retirement age get a bonus equal to two-thirds of 1% added to their Social Secu rity checks for each month they wait to begin ben efits. If your full retirement age is 66, that comes out to a 32% bonus if you wait until age 70 to file for benefits. If your full retirement age is 67, it ends up being an extra 24% if you wait until 70. If your retirement age is between 66 and 67, your age 70 bonus will be between 24% and 32%. (There is no bonus added after age 70.)

The rules regarding this bonus (the actual So cial Security term is “delayed retirement credits,” (DRCs) cause lots of confusion with many seniors. Today’s questions come from folks who are having trouble understanding this issue.

And please pay particular attention to ques tion No. 2 and its answer. Recently, many readers have been asking me questions like that one. But first I want to answer a question that gives some basic information about DRCs.

Q: I was born in 1954, so my full retirement age is 66. I am about to turn 68 years old. I was planning to wait until age 70 to apply for my Social Security, but some fam ily financial issues are causing me to rethink that plan. I was expecting to get a 32% bonus by waiting until age 70. Am I going to lose all of that by filing now?

A: It isn’t an “all or nothing” situation. You will lose some of your anticipated bonus, but not all of it. As I explained at the beginning of this col umn, you get a delayed retirement credit equal to two-thirds of 1% for each month you delay taking benefits after age 66. So, if you file at age 68, you will get 24 months’ worth of credits, or about 16%, added to your full retirement rate.

Q: I turned 69 in March 2022 and that is when I applied for my Social Security. I was expecting to get a 24% bonus added to my Social Security checks, but it was slightly less than that. When I called the Social Secu rity people to ask why, they couldn’t explain it to me. They said it might be a “computer glitch.” Do you know what is going on?

A: It’s not a computer glitch, but just a bit of an anomaly in the way these delayed retire ment credits are doled out. If you apply for your benefits at age 70, then you will get all the delayed retirement credits added to your benefit rate at that time. But it’s a different story if you apply for your benefits before age 70, and that’s because the rules say you cannot get delayed retirement cred its for a year until that year is over with. You said you were 69 in March of this year. If I am doing the math properly, that means you turned 66 (your full retirement age) in March 2019. So, when you ap plied for your benefits in March 2022, they added in all the credits you were due for 2019, 2020 and 2021. But they can’t give you the delayed retire ment credits for 2022 until next year, so sometime in 2023, you will get a little boost in your Social Se

curity check to add in the credits you are due for those first couple of months this year.

Q: My plan was to wait until 70 to start my Social Security. I turned 70 in August, but when I filed in early August, they told me I had the option of taking six months’ worth of retroactive benefits. The offer of an almost $18,000 back pay check was very tempting, so I took it. But now I’ve learned I didn’t get the promised 32% bonus. My ongoing benefit is less than that. What happened?

A: By opting for the six-month retroactive check, you were using February 2022 (six months before August) as your Social Security starting date. So, instead of getting the 32% bonus you would have received had you waited until age 70 to file, you got a 28% bonus because you technically filed at age 69 and six months. So, the bad news is you’re getting 4% less from here on out, but the good news is you got that $18,000 back pay check.

Q: I started my Social Security ben efits when I was 70. I am getting $2,970 per month. My wife is 66 and never worked out side the home, so she is supposed to get half of my Social Security, or $1,485. But she is getting about $300 less than that. What is go ing on?

guessing your full retirement age benefit rate is about $2,250. And half of that is $1,125, and I’ll bet that is what your wife is correctly getting from your Social Security account.

That’s the bad news. But pay attention to the answer to the next question for a bit of good news.

Q: I’m trying to do some estate plan ning for my wife. I took my Social Security at age 70. I am now 81 years old. I am getting $3,100 per month. My wife is 79. She gets her own Social Security check of $2,100 per month. If I die, what will she start getting from Social Security?

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A: This is one of the Social Security pro visions I’ve never understood. So, I can explain it to people, but I can’t give the rationale behind the rule. What that rule says is that a wife does not share in the delayed retirement bonus added to a retiree’s Social Security check. Her rate is based on your full retirement age benefit, not on the bonusaugmented Social Security rate you are actually getting.

check:

Number(s)

Spelling

A: The “good news” I mentioned in my an swer to the prior question is that the benefit rate payable to a widow includes the delayed retirement bonus. (Why a widow shares in the bonus but a wife doesn’t is something I can’t explain.) So, if you were to die tomorrow, your wife would start getting $3,100 per month. Or to be more precise, she would keep getting her $2,100 retirement check, and then she would get an extra $1,000 on your account to take her total benefits up to your current $3,100 level.

valleybits@msn.com

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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.

Final Changes DUE:

Using my little desktop calculator, I’m

1. The book of 2 Peter is in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither

2. Joel 3:10 declares, "Beat your plow shares into swords, and your pruning hooks into ...."? a) Spears b) Clubs c) Shields d) Arrows

3. From Genesis 35, who died giving birth to Benjamin? a) Leah b) Rachel c) Ruth d) Naomi

4. Who penned the book of Romans for Paul due to his failing eyesight? a) Cyrus b) Benaiah c) Tertius d) Stephen

5. Who was the mother of David? a) Sariah b) Rebekah c) Hannah d) Name not mentioned

6. According to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, who will be taken up first in the rapture at the sound of the final trumpet of God? a) The faithful followers b) All believers c) The dead in Christ d) The sinless

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

Herbal Product Can Help Soothe Gastro-intestinal Symptoms

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have had gastroparesis for many years. About two years ago, it led to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (which I once read about in your column). I worked with a dietician for several months. One of the treatments she suggested was an herbal product called Iberogast. The combi nation of herbs helps the stomach to empty quicker. I use it each night before bed (as part of a 12-hour fast), or whenever I have overeaten and feel bad. It has been most helpful for me. Iberogast is available online. -- L.E.

ANSWER: Iberogast is a combination of nine medicinal plant extracts. Studies in Germa ny and Austria, where it is most commonly used, have shown the medication to be more effective than the placebo (and about as effective as one common prescription medication) in the treat ment of functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel disease. The medication has generally been regarded as safe, but there are rare cases of liver injury associated with this medication, with at least one of which eventually requiring a liver transplantation.

All medications -- whether prescription or over-the-counter, natural or synthetic -- have the potential for harm. Iberogast is pretty safe, with just a handful of bad outcomes in its 50 years of use, involving millions of doses, but it can still cause rare and severe adverse effects. Iberogast is worth considering in people whose symptoms have not been successfully treated with other therapies.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve heard a lot about fat-removing procedures, such as CoolSculpting and red light therapy, and I’m wondering if they really work. What is your opinion on these products? -- Anon.

ANSWER: The most important point here is that these are procedures designed to im prove a person’s appearance, and they do little or nothing to improve physical health. They do not cause people to lose significant weight, and removal of the superficial fat right below the skin does not improve diabetes or heart risk factors. The benefits are purely cosmetic.

CoolSculpting is the brand name of a system that freezes and damages fat cells. Red light therapy, also called “cool laser” or “low-level laser therapy,” damages the fat cells without having to make incisions, such as for liposuc tion. There are other technologies used, such as focused ultrasound and electrical pulse devices, among others.

Trials on CoolSculpting showed that 86% of people saw improvement in cosmetically important areas. The laser treatment is not as well-studied. An early trial found that 70% of peo ple treated with laser were satisfied, compared to 26% of those treated with a “sham” device that had no laser, just red lights. The device did show some slimming effects on the hips, thighs and waist.

Unfortunately, not everyone has a good response to these therapies. Several people, including a famous model, have sued the manu facturers due to an uncommon adverse effect of the procedure, called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, where the fat cells, instead of dying, grow and become hard -- and may not even be removable with surgery. Again, these noninva sive procedures really do work to improve ap pearance for most people, but do not improve overall health. And, they have the potential for significant cosmetic side effects, even if it is only rarely.

VETERANS

by Freddie Groves

Extension for Debt Hardship Relief Period

If you owe benefit debts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, your hardship relief period, previously set to expire on Sept. 30, has been ex tended to Dec. 31.

Those types of debts can include those for education, disability compensation and non-service pension, and you might have been approved for ei ther a waiver, a compromise or an extended repay ment plan, as well as the hardship suspension of debt.

These debts impact half a million veterans and sometimes can be the result of a clerical er ror, the veteran not being able to understand the paperwork or a letter being lost in the mail. Worse is when the error occurred when the veteran didn’t see the fine print and suddenly started receiving collection bills for debts he didn’t know he owed.

By now you might have received a letter from the VA, if you have been making payments. Don’t be afraid to open that letter. It’s likely exten sion information for you. Consider using it to apply for a hardship extension that will carry you to the end of the year.

If you ever received an overpayment and were told you have to pay it back, give them a call at 800-827-0648. If the money you owe results from either a pharmacy co-payment or medical care debt, instead call 866-400-1238 and talk to them.

Get to the bottom of the actual source of the debt. Did a clerk make a mistake? Did you fail to verify dependents or write in a wrong number? Do you have the canceled checks to show that you actually paid? Find out what’s wrong.

The VA has taken a number of steps over the years to help veterans saddled with VA-relat ed debt. They canceled co-pays from April 2020 to September 2021. They changed the income to qualify for relief. They took away the Financial Sta tus Report for hardship eligibility. And, a big deal: They cut nearly all the reports to credit agencies for medical debt. That can have a big favorable im pact on your future credit score.

M.D.

by Jim Miller

Free Online Hearing Tests You Can Take at Home

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: My husband has hearing loss, but I can’t get him to go in and get it checked. Is there any way to do this online from home to help him recognize that he really does have a problem? If so, is it free? -- Tired of shouting

Dear Tired: There’s actually a grow ing number of very good online and app-based hearing tests available that will let your husband check his hearing on his own. These tests are a quick and convenient option for the millions of Americans that have mild to moderate hear ing loss but often ignore it, or don’t want to go through the hassle or expense of visiting an audiologist for a hearing exam.

Who Should Test?

test).

And some good online hearing tests for pure-tone testing are available by Signia (signia. net/en/service/hearing-test); Ergo (eargo.com/ hearing-health/hearing-check); and MD Hear ing Aid (mdhearingaid.com/hearing-test). All of these hearing tests are completely free to use and take less than five minutes to complete.

What to do with Results

If the tests indicate your husband has hearing loss, it’s best to think of that as a starting point. He should take his results to his doctor or an audiologist for diagnosis and further evalu ation. Many insurance providers and Medicare Advantage plans cover routine hearing exams, however original Medicare does not.

Get

for

Starts October 15th, 2022!

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Hearing loss for most people develops gradually over a period of many years, which is the reason many people don’t realize they actu ally have a problem. Anyone who has difficulty hearing or understanding what people say, espe cially in noisier environments, or must have the TV louder than other people do in order to hear it, has a problem and needs to get their hearing tested.

Self-Hearing Tests

Online and app-based hearing tests can serve as a great screening tool. They are not meant to be a diagnosis, but rather to give you an idea of what degree of hearing loss you have and what can be done about it.

For most do-it-yourself hearing tests, you’ll be advised to wear ear headphones or earbuds and sit in a quiet location.

You also need to know that there are two different type of tests available. One type is known as pure-tone testing, where tones are played in decreasing volumes to determine your specific level of hearing loss. The other type is known as speech-in-noise or digits-in-noise (DIN) where you’ll be asked to identify words, numbers, or phrases amid background noise.

Where to Test

If your husband uses a smartphone or tablet, two of my favorite app-based hearing tests are the hearWHO app created by the World Health Organization, and the Mimi Hearing Test app. Both apps are free to use and are available through the App Store and Google Play.

HearWHO allows users to check their hearing status and monitor it over time using a DIN test, while Mimi uses pure-tone and masked threshold tests to give you a detailed picture of your hearing abilities.

There are also a wide variety of on line hearing tests your husband can take on a computer. Some top online tests – all offered by hearing aid manufacturers – for speech-innoise or DIN tests can be accessed at ReSound (resound.com/en-us/online-hearing-test) and Mircle Ear (miracle-ear.com/online-hearing-

If his hearing loss is mild to moderate, he should look into the new over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, which are available this fall online and at retailers like Best Buy, Walgreens and CVS.

OTC hearing aids don’t require a pre scription or medical examination for purchase and they’re much more affordable than traditional hearing aids you buy through an audiologist or a licensed hearing instrument specialist.

Ad Proof:

What does this mean for you? It is your annual chance to review your coverage to make any changes to your current plan(s) for next year. There are “new” plans and changes for the 2023 Medicare Advantage and Drug Plans.

If you already have Medicare, here’s what you can do to prepare for the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP):

*Think about what type of Medicare cover age is right for you (example: HMO or PPO?).

*Review estimated 2023 out-of-pocket costs changes.

John Cuddihy - Flags “A” Flying

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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*Shop for plans that best fit YOUR specific health needs and budget.

*Check your plan’s star rating.

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There are 2 main ways to get your Medicare coverage: Original Medicare (Part A & B), or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C).

Consider these 5 simple questions:

1) Do you want your Medicare coverage to include prescription drugs?

2) Do you want extra coverage to help pay the 20% of your medical bills that Original Medicare does not cover?

3) Do you want Medicare coverage for vision and/or dental?

4) Do you want the freedom to choose your doctors?

5) Do you travel a lot, or live in another state part of the year?

Original Medicare does NOT cover everything. Many people buy additional cover age like a Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) policy with a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). Medigap is extra health insurance from a private company to pay some (or all) of the 20% of your medical bills that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, OR you may prefer to get a Medicare Advantage plan that has a drug plan included AND help with your out-ofpocket costs. Many Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional benefits.

Please give our office a call for a FREE review of your current plan. Our servic es are ALWAYS FREE—we are brokers and paid directly by the carrier you choose. We are appointed with MOST of the major insurance companies.

Piano Babies in Tune With the Times

Q: Enclosed is a photo of a porcelain doll. My mother-in-law said shawls or scarves were put on pianos and piano dolls were used to keep them from falling. The doll is eight inches tall and in excellent condition. You can see the exceptional detail on the fingers, nails, toes and dimples. We cannot make out the mark that is on the lower back of the doll. It looks like a circle with lines radiating like sunrays, though only from the top half, and it also has letters on the lower half that we’re unable to read.

Can you help identify this doll?

Q: My mother left me eight plates that were rarely used. I have sent my drawing of the mark that is on the back of each one.

The plates are 11 inches in diameter and decorated with multi-colored flowers in the center. The background is white, they have gold borders and are in mint condition.

I don’t know where my mother got the plates. They may have been a gift from her British employer.

Can you tell me anything about them and whether they have any value?

Scammell China Co. was founded in 1924.

A: Scammell China Co. was founded in 1924 in New Jersey. They made hotel and railroad china. In 1939, they added Lamberton China, a line of fine china designed for homes. The decorations were both hand painted and transfer printed. The company was sold to Sterling China Co. in 1954.

Your dinner plates were made around 1950, and each would probably be worth $15 to $25.

* * *

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

On Oct. 6, 1866, the Reno gang carries out the first robbery of a moving train, making off with $13,000 from a train in Indiana. This new method of holding up moving trains in remote locations that were low on law enforcement, instead of stopped trains at sations, soon be came widespread in the American West.

* On Oct. 4, 1927, sculpting begins on the granite images of presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt at Mount Rushmore. Jefferson’s image was originally fashioned to the right of Washington. Within two years, the face was badly cracked, and workers blasted the sculpture off the moun tain. Sculpting began again with Jefferson on the left side of Washington.

* On Oct. 5, 1947, President Harry Truman makes the first televised presidential address, asking Americans to cut back on food to help starving Europeans. He requested that the public voluntarily forgo meat on Tuesdays, eggs and poultry on Thursdays and to save a slice of bread each day.

* On Oct. 8, 1956, New York Yankees righthander Don Larsen pitches the first no-hitter in the history of the World Series. It was a perfect game that no one matched until Phila delphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay accom plished the feat in 2010.

* On Oct. 9, 1967, socialist revolutionary and guerrilla leader Che Guevara, age 39, is captured and executed by the Bolivian army. In 1997, Guevara’s remains were found and sent back to Cuba, where they were reburied in a ceremony attended by President Fidel Castro and thousands of Cubans.

A: You have a bisque piano baby and your mother-in-law is correct. In the late 1800s, most families had a piano they would gather around for entertainment. The pianos, especially baby grands, were covered with decorative shawls or scarves. The babies were designed to anchor the shawls so they wouldn’t slide off.

The babies were produced in a variety of sizes and in positions that ranged from sitting, crawling, lying down and sleeping. Typically, they have rosy cheeks, winsome smiles and are molded with exact attention to detail.

* On Oct. 7, 1983, Actor Sean Connery stars in “Never Say Never Again” as the British secret service agent James Bond, a role he last played in 1971. The film’s title referenced the fact that the Scottish-born actor had pre viously remarked that he would never play Agent 007 again.

The mark you described was used by Heu bach brothers, who have been located in Thuringia, Germany, since 1882. They produced vases, plaques, figurines, dolls and dolls’ heads.

Solutions

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2Q08-WEEK19 MAY4-MAY10

Your piano baby was made in the late 1800s. Similar babies can be found selling in antiques shops in the range of $325 to $375.

PRESENTS

GO FIGURE

TRIVIANEWSFRONT

byKaraKovalchik&SandyWood

1.Whohada#1hitin1961withthesardonic

The cereal fungus was rapidly encroaching upon the yearly crops of rye and wheat.

Ergo, ergot.

motherofinvention”?

3.WhatwastherealfirstnameofAfricanAmericancomedienneMomsMabley?

in1987? ThrowMomma fromtheTrain

* On Oct. 3, 1995, Heisman Trophy win ner O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the double murder of his estranged wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, despite a DNA match, a wound on Simpson’s hand, the recent purchase of a Stiletto knife and matching shoeprints at the scene.

TRIVIA

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NEWSFRONTANSWERS

NEWSFRONTANSWERS TRIVIA

PRESENTS

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byKaraKovalchik&SandyWood

ALWAYSFREE

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ALWAYSFUN

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The Heubach brothers were located in Germany.

"Your case of insomnia is quite severe, Mrs. Johnson, so I'm prescribing Clarence here to stand at your bedside and recite hole-by-hole details of his daily golf game. I can guarantee you will doze off quite early before he's done."

subjected to ruthless German bombing raids. One citizen reported that their little black mongrel dog would scratch to go out at the back door, and would run the yard in circles barking at the sky. Without fail, the bombing raids would start almost exactly ten minutes later. The dog was so accurate in his predictions that his owners would go up and down the street warning the neighbors of the impending raid.

PICKING UP VIBES

• Dogs sometimes have a strong reaction to people they don’t like. In one instance, a man had a friend who had an intense dislike for dogs, but occasionally came by to visit him and his German shepherd. On one occasion after several previous visits, the dog stood up at the door and growled intensely ten minutes before the dog-hating friend arrived. From that time forward, the owner had to shut the dog in the garage before the friend stopped by, and the dog always gave the warning at least ten minutes ahead of his arrival.

• A veterinarian noted that his mother-in-law’s dog was always friendly to him whenever he stopped by on a social visit to her home. But whenever he visited to do a medical exam in his capacity as veterinarian, the dog would hide the moment he came to the front door. There was no way the dog could have known the difference, and the vet even kept his medical bag out of sight, but the dog always immediately knew when he was arriving in the role of doctor.

LIFE SAVING ESP

• A woman was amazed to find that her dog, a beagle mix named Annie, was able to sense whenever she was about to suffer an epileptic seizure. The dog would suddenly leap on her lap with his paws on her chest and then lick her face. The woman soon realized that this was the signal to lie down until the seizure passed. The dog had never been trained to do this.

• Some dogs are able to give diabetics a warning when their blood sugar drops to dangerously low levels. A dog owned by one man with this medical condition will wake him up in the middle of the night when he is sound asleep by growling and barking, alerting him to take the needed measures to keep him from slipping into a diabetic coma.

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.

There might not be a more frustrating com ment from golf analysts and commentators than, “He must have decelerated on that chip!” I sim ply cringe when I hear that being said because it typically has nothing to do with a mishit chip around the green. Worse yet, every member guest is full of the same comments when their buddy just cost them a hole.

To prove my point that acceleration and deceleration have little to do with effective chip ping, try hitting a few chips with your bag about a couple feet in front of your ball. Hit the ball and ground but don’t hit the bag!

Play Better Golf with JACK

especially when it comes to

needs to be balanced to be effective. Advanced players take the finish

position

Impact needs a leaning shaft and a firm left wrist. You can literally stop the follow through and hit great little chips if impact was correct.

attention. The body is contorting into an

players, the finish position requires

When I work with a lot of beginning to in

Tuck It Under

by Jason Jenkins

Acceleration implies the need to apply increased force through the strike and a high finish. That’s what I see when a player has “stubbed” or “chili-dipped” one around the green. Put the brakes on a couple real chips around the green to see if they don’t perform just as well as normal

Game Changers