Vol. 18: #42 • Chicken Eggs • (10-16-2022)

TIDBITS CRACKS OPEN

SOME FACTS ABOUT

CHICKEN EGGS

by Janet Spencer

This week Tidbits reaches into the nesting box for a peek at what’s under that clucking hen. We’ll bet we have a lot more interesting facts about this mama chicken’s product than you probably ever knew, so follow along as we take a serious look at the incredible, edible egg!

EGG FACTS

• Eggshells are porous, allowing air to move through them. As eggs age, they take in air and develop an air pocket. In general, you can test an egg’s freshness by placing it in a cup of water. If the egg floats, it indicates the egg is old and has a large air pocket. If it sinks, it’s a much fresher egg.

• Eggs come with a “sell by” date, but not an expiration date. A dozen eggs kept in the fridge will generally last three to five weeks past the “sell by” date.

• To tell the difference between a raw egg and a hard-boiled egg, spin it on a table top. Hard boiled eggs spin easily because they are solid, while raw eggs wobble because they are still in liquid form

TRIVIA NEWSFRONT

JAMES

• We featured the amazing James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in a recent column, but just who was James Webb himself? The short answer is that he was the second administrator of NASA and oversaw NASA from the beginning of the Kennedy administration through the end of the Johnson administration. He had the responsibility of watching over each one of the critical first crewed missions: Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo.

• James Webb was born in 1906 in North Carolina. He became a Marine Corps pilot at a young age. Then he got a law degree. Next he worked his way up the ladder of a company called Sperry Gyroscope, a major supplier of navigation equipment and airborne radar systems used during World War II. He reentered the Marine Corps in 1944, and oversaw an entire radar program. When the war ended, he went into government service, filling a variety of positions before finally being appointed Undersecretary of State.

• In 1961, Webb accepted President Kennedy’s appointment as administrator of the NASA program that was basically still in its infancy. Webb’s job was to follow Kennedy’s directive to put a man the Moon before the end of the decade.

• During Webb’s administration, NASA developed from a loose collection of research centers into a solidly coordinated and centralized organization. He had a key role in creating the Manned Spacecraft Center, later re-named the Johnson Space Center, in Houston.

• Despite the pressures to focus exclusively on the Apollo program, Webb instead ensured that NASA carried out a program of planetary exploration with the Mariner and Pioneer space programs.

Of the ten vehicles launched, seven were successful, and included a number of firsts: the first planetary flyby, planetary orbiter, and gravity assist maneuver.

• In 1967, a cabin fire during a launch rehearsal test at Cape Kennedy tragically killed all three Apollo 1 crew members and destroyed the command module. Webb stepped up for NASA, heading up the investigation and refusing to pass the blame elsewhere.

• Webb factually reported the investigation board’s findings to congressional committees and took personal blame for the tragedy at nearly every meeting. By doing so, he managed to deflect the backlash away from both NASA as an agency and from the Johnson administration. As a result, NASA’s image and popular support were largely undamaged.

• Webb was a Democrat tied closely to Lyndon Johnson. When Johnson chose not to run for reelection, Webb decided to step down as administrator to allow the next president, Republican Richard Nixon, to choose his own administrator. He left NASA in October 1968.

• By the time Webb retired just a few months before the first moon landing in July 1969, NASA had launched more than 75 space science missions.

• In 1969, Johnson presented Webb with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

• Webb died from a heart attack in 1992 at age 85 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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1. U.S. STATES: How many states border the Great Lakes?

2. MOVIES: What was Buzz Lightyear’s original name in the ani mated movie “Toy Story”?

3. TELEVISION: What was the name of the family dog on “The Brady Bunch”?

4. FOOD & DRINK: What is blind baking?

5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What are the two traditional flowers associated with September?

6. HISTORY: Which state divided into two as a result of the U.S. Civil War?

7. PSYCHOLOGY: What kind of fear is represented by the condition called chromophobia?

8. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who is the only president to serve in the office who was not elected as vice president or president?

ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of tigers called?

MUSIC: Who was the first wom an to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Answers

Six (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Mich igan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio).

Lunar Larry.

Tiger.

• The Pioneer program, which started under Webb in 1965 and ran until 1992, included one probe sent to do a flyby of the Moon's surface, and another that explored the region between Earth and Venus.

• The Mariner program designed ten interplanetary probes built to explore the inner Solar System.

• NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), originally known as the Next Generation Space Telescope, was renamed in Webb’s honor in 2002.

760-320-1630

• Many feel that James Webb, who productively and efficiently ran NASA as it developed from a fledgling space agency to a scientific powerhouse, did more for science than perhaps any other government official.

• Before hard-boiling eggs, pierce the rounded end with a needle. The shells will not crack and peeling will be easier.

EGG NUTRITION

• The word “yolk” derives from an Old English word for “yellow”. Therefore, there’s the “egg white” and then the “egg yellow.”

• Both the egg white and egg yolk contain 3 grams of protein each. While a single yolk contains 3 grams of protein and has 60 calories, a single egg white provides 3 grams of protein with just 15 calories.

• In a test at the University of Texas, rats were fed one food only in an effort to find out which are the best foods, and which are the worst. Twothirds of the rats who were fed only white bread died after 90 days. Rats fared little better when fed only peanuts, hot dogs, hamburger, shredded wheat, or macaroni. They lived somewhat longer on tuna or milk. The best single food was egg. Rats eating only eggs lived indefinitely.

CHICKEN FACTS

• There are more chickens in the world than any other bird.

• A mother hen will turn her eggs over about 50 times per day to prevent the yolk from sticking to the sides of the shell.

• How often does a hen lay an egg? The entire time from ovulation to laying is about 25 hours. Then, about 30 minutes later, the hen will begin producing another one.

• Older hens tend to lay bigger eggs, but doubleyolked eggs are produced by younger hens whose egg production cycles are not yet synchronized.

• On average, each laying hen produces 296 eggs per year. In the 1930s, the average American hen laid 121 eggs per year.

• The world record for egg-laying by a chicken is held by a white leghorn in Sri Lanka, who laid

17 eggs in six hours in 1967. Another record was set by a white leghorn who laid 371 eggs in 364 days.

• A six-month-old British pullet named Harriet has held the record for the world’s largest chicken egg since she laid it in 2010. It was 9.1 in. (23 cm) in diameter and 4.5 in (11 cm) long, which is nearly triple the size of an extra large egg. She broke her own previous record.

SCRAMBLED FACTS

• Every year over 97 billion eggs are laid in the U.S. by over 325 million hens.

• Every day in the U.S. over 217 million chicken eggs are consumed. We eat chicken eggs instead of duck or turkey eggs because chickens lay more eggs while needing less nesting space. Some people claim that it’s easier to collect an egg from a chicken than a turkey or duck. However, the female turkey is one of the few birds who is perfectly capable of producing fertile eggs without benefit of a male turkey.

• Iowa leads the nation with more than 15 billion eggs produced annually. Ohio is second with 8 billion, followed by Indiana, Pennsylvania and California.

The McDonald's breakfast Egg McMuffin isn't served all day for a good reason, related to the temperature of the grill. Eggs need to be cooked at a lower temperature than hamburger patties.

• Three-quarters of all the eggs produced are used for consumption, while the rest are hatched.

• During World War II when eggs were scarce, researchers in the British Isles tasted other bird eggs trying to find a successful substitute. In blind taste tests, the hen’s egg received the highest rating, followed by a three-way tie between the coot, moorhen, and gull. At the bottom of the list were the eggs of the warbler and wren. Quail, emu, goose and ostrich eggs can all be cooked and eaten as well.

GRADING & QUALITY

• There are three consumer grades for chicken eggs in the U.S.: Grade AA, Grade A, and Grade B. The grade is determined by the interior quality of the egg and the appearance of the egg shell. It is not determined by size or weight.

• Grade AA eggs have whites that are thick and firm; yolks that are high, round, and free from defects; and clean, unbroken shells. This is the best for frying or poaching where appearance is important.

• Grade A eggs are the same as Grade AA eggs except that the whites are firmer.

• Grade B eggs have whites that may be thinner and yolks that may be wider and flatter. The shells may be stained. This quality is seldom found in retail stores because they are usually used to make liquid, frozen, and dried egg products.

• Although the egg grading system does not grade eggs based on size or weight, eggs are sorted by size.

Chicken Eggs:

QUIZ BITS

1. How many eggs does the average American eat in a year?

2. What percent of eggs produced in the U.S. are used directly by consumers rather than by food factories?

By Lucie Winborne

* Boxing heavyweight champion Jack Johnson invented the household wrench in 1922.

* The movie title “Death Wish III” was changed to “Death Wish 3” after a survey conducted by the Cannon Group revealed that nearly half of Americans couldn’t read Roman numerals.

* Tom Hanks’ brother Jim voices “Toy Story’s” Woody when his sibling is too busy.

* The human jaw can clench with 250 pounds of force.

* Those chocolate-covered caramel can dies we fondly know as Milk Duds were originally intended to be perfectly round. But when machines in 1928 couldn’t pro duce them consistently, the misshaped goodies were called “duds,” hence their un usual name.

* From the “nothing like planning ahead” files: CNN has prepared a doomsday video, to be played by the last surviving employee. In 2009, a former intern posted the footage online. It shows a low-resolution video of a U.S. Army band playing a mournful rendi tion of “Nearer My God to Thee.”

* In the 1970s, Chrysler advertised its lux ury cars as containing “Corinthian leather.” But spokesman Ricardo Montalban admit ted on “Late Night with David Letterman” that the term really meant nothing, as said leather was actually sourced out of New Jersey.

* In the 1700s, “bitch the pot” or “standing bitch” was English slang for hosting a tea party. ***

Thought for the Day: “Try to be a rain bow in someone else’s cloud.”

--Maya Angelou

CHEAPSKATE

by Mary Hunt

More Great Reader Tips

Readers agree that vinegar, household ammonia and shaving cream all have uses be yond the ordinary that will help save time and money around your house.

water first to dilute, and then adding the items to be washed. I have done this for years and it works wonders for me! (To be on the safe side and be cause ammonia can alter the color of some dyes, always pretest. Never mix ammonia with chlorine bleach, as doing so creates toxic fumes.)

-- Sister Mary Catherine

My comments: Frankly, this sounded sus picious to me, so I checked the ammonia idea with several wool experts and found it to be a highly recommended method for stain removal and cleaning for wool. -- MH

BUT OH, THAT SMELL

CHEAP COLD-WATER WASH

Everyday CHEAPSKATE

I wash my wool sweaters, skirts and blan kets in cold water (either by hand or in the wash ing machine depending on how delicate the item is) with sudsy household ammonia, which I buy at my grocery store. I use an amount similar to the amount of laundry detergent I would use for that size load, being careful to add the ammonia to the

by Mary Hunt

Military Appreciation Dinner

Once or twice a year, my coffee pot needs a good vinegar run-through to clean out the lime deposits. There’s no law that says I can’t do this smelly job out on the porch as long as there’s no chance of rain. Vinegar also gets lime out of the teakettle more cheaply than other products.

-- Prof. Roger K., Ukraine

THERMOS THERAPY

In response to a previous reader’s inquiry on removing stains from inside a thermos bottle, I pour 1 or 2 teaspoons of automatic dishwasher detergent powder into the thermos, fill with hot water and allow to sit. In less than an hour, all it needs is a good rinsing. Powdered detergent works faster and better for me than liquid or gel.

-- Shirley R., Michigan

GOT SPOTS?

Shaving cream works wonders to remove hair spray spots without heavy rubbing or scrub bing. It’s inexpensive and leaves mirrors and bathroom chrome sparkling clean without telltale odors other cleaners like rubbing alcohol leave.

-- Karen S., Pennsylvania

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

The rag top on my venerable Mercury Ca pri convertible is still in good shape, but the plas tic back window was clouded from long days in the sun. I purchased the thickest piece of clear plastic I could find and some vinyl bonding ce ment. Total cost: $18.21. I cut out the old clouded window, leaving a 1-inch border to glue the new one to. Using the cut-out piece as a template, I cut the new window, adding that 1-inch border all the way around. I applied the glue, attached the new window and taped it to “clamp” the two together. After a few hours, with my heart in my throat, I pulled off the tape. It held perfectly. It was like getting LASIK surgery -- I could see again!

-- Bill C., California

GLUTEN-FREE VANILLA

Powdered vanilla is an excellent substi tute for vanilla extract for anyone who is severely gluten intolerant and cannot have regular vanilla extract. It seems expensive -- about $11 for 3 ounces -- but it goes a long way, as you use only one-fourth of the amount of extract called for in a recipe. The brand I use is Authentic Foods Pow dered Vanilla and it is available at the Gluten-Free Mall online (www.glutenfreemall.com) or most health food stores. I’ve found the taste to be so superior to pure liquid extract, I use it in all of my recipes calling for vanilla. -- Cindy R., Minnesota * * *

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.”

2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

The Sound of SILENCE

• “The Sound of Silence” is a song released in 1964 that became a smash hit worldwide, making it to the top 10 list in the U.S., the UK, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan. But the song had a humble beginning before it kick-started the careers of singing duo Simon & Garfunkel.

• Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel met in elementary school in Queens, New York, in 1953. They both loved to sing, and found they had a knack for harmonizing together. Simon also enjoyed tinkering with songwriting. The two lived only three blocks from each other and attended the same schools, where they appeared in school plays, sang as a duet for school events, and formed a street-corner doo-wop group. As teenagers, under the stage name Tom & Jerry, they had minor success doing gigs in their local area. By 1964, they were ready to release their debut album, “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.”

• The album included “The Sound of Silence” which was written by Simon at the age of 21. He explained that he used to write songs in the bathroom, because it was tiled and had good acoustics. He’d turn off the light to cut down on distractions, and turn on the water faucet because the sound was soothing. He’d sit and play and compose in the darkness. He wrote the song in a single day, and then took three months to tweak the lyrics. It was a natural to include on their first album, recorded for Columbia Records.

• Unfortunately, the album flopped, selling a paltry 3,000 copies. Discouraged by that disappointment, they broke up and went separate ways. Simon flew to London to work on a solo career, while Garfunkel returned to college.

• Then something unexpected happened. Columbia producer Tom Wilson found out that the song was gaining traction on radio stations throughout Florida and also in the Boston region. Encouraged, he re-mixed the song without

knowledge or permission from either Simon or Garfunkel.

• Wilson used several musicians from Bob Dylan’s backup band to add some pizzazz. The newly released single began a steady climb up the charts. Paul Simon only learned of this when he picked up a copy of “Billboard” magazine in London and saw his name, and his song, in the top ten. This remixed version was released as a single in September 1965 and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending on New Year’s Day, 1966.

• Simon and Garfunkel reunited and quickly released their second album, entitled “Sound of Silence.” The album also included other tunes that became hits such as “I Am a Rock” and “Kathy’s Song.”

• The song gained even more popularity when it was featured in the 1967 movie “The Graduate.” The producer of the film felt that Simon and Garfunkel’s music fit the theme of the movie, and included other of their songs as well. The song “Mrs. Robinson” was written specifically for the movie, and the songs “April Come She Will” and “Scarborough Fair” appeared in the movie as well. These songs were all included on the soundtrack for the film, released in 1968, giving the duo still more exposure.

• Simon and Garfunkel had artistic disagreements and ultimately broke up in 1970. Their final studio album, “Bridge over Troubled Water” was released that January, becoming one of the world’s best-selling albums and ranked as the

best-selling album in 1970, ‘71 and ‘72.

• The duo has since reunited several times. Their 1981 concert in Central Park attracted more than 500,000 enthusiastic people, one of the largest concert attendances in history

• In 1972, “The Sound of Silence” was included on the album “Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits.” In 2012, it was added to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress for being a culturally significant work.

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by Dana Jackson

Q: I can’t believe they’re making a movie about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Is it going to be one of those cable TV movies, or will it be in theaters? -- H.H.

A: It’s only been four months since the verdict was read in the defamation trial involving famous exes Johnny Depp (“Pirates of the Caribbe an”) and Amber Heard (“Aquaman”), but it didn’t take long for Tubi, a stream ing service, to make a movie about it. “Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial” stars Mark Hapka (“Days of Our Lives”) and Megan Davis (“Bones”) as the troubled couple during their twomonth televised trial, which gripped America ear lier this year.

In a recent interview with “Entertainment Weekly,” Hapka and Davis admitted that taking on these roles was risky for their careers, but that they were promised it would be a fair portrayal. Da vis said that seeing the general public’s hatred of Heard during the trial broke her heart and made her even more eager to play the biographical role.

“Hot Take” is available to stream now for free on Tubi, a streaming service that doesn’t cost a monthly fee, but is supported by ads. You can learn more at TubiTV.com.

Night Live”? I know Kate McKinnon and a few others departed. Who are the replacements? -- L.K.

A: Fan favorite Cecily Strong has taken a hiatus from “Saturday Night Live,” but will return later this season for what will be her 10th year on the show. She’s currently appearing in a one-wom an stage show produced by her “SNL” boss Lorne Michaels titled “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe.” The new season of “SNL” premiered Oct. 1 with host Miles Teller (“Top Gun: Maverick”) and four new cast members: Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker. None of them is a household name yet, but give them time.

Season 48 will be a year of transition for “SNL,” as it bid farewell to eight performers last May. In addition to McKinnon, gone from “SNL”

are Aristotle Athari, Aidy Bryant, Alex Moffat, Kyle Mooney, Chris Redd, Melissa Villaseñor and Pete Davidson. Fortunately, Kenan Thompson, who is the longest-running cast member with 20 years un der his belt, is back, and so is “Weekend Update” host Colin Jost.

Strong’s commitment in L.A. is scheduled to conclude on Oct. 23, so if I had to guess, I’d ex pect her back on NBC during November sweeps. ***

Q: Whatever happened to Megyn Kelly after she left Fox News? Is she still doing jour nalism, or did she go back to practicing law? -- L.E.

A: Megyn Kelly left her primetime show “The Kelly File” on Fox News in 2017 for a lucra tive deal with NBC as host of the third hour of the “Today” show on weekday mornings. However, the show was canceled after she made some controver sial remarks on air. Since then, she’s hosted a daily podcast for Sirius XM. Before her broadcast career, Kelly practiced corporate law, but that was in the past.

*

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

King Features News Syndicate

Q: Did Cecily Strong leave “Saturday

Mark Hapka

Good Recipes from

Cod and Vegetable Sautée

This colorful fish sautée is tasty and lowcarb. Serve with brown rice to round out the meal.

1 pound cod fillets

2 small (about 6 ounces each) zucchini

2 medium red peppers

1 large onion

1/2 pound large mushrooms

Salad oil Salt

1. Cut cod, zucchini and red peppers into 1 1/2-inch chunks. Slice onion; cut each mush room in half.

2. In nonstick 12-inch skillet over mediumhigh heat, in 2 tablespoons hot salad oil, cook cod fillets with 1/4 teaspoon salt until browned on both sides and fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Remove from skillet; keep warm.

3. In same skillet in 2 more tablespoons hot salad oil, cook vegetables and 1/2 teaspoon salt until vegetables are tender-crisp and lightly

browned. Stir in 1/4 cup water; heat through. Spoon vegetable mixture onto platter; carefully tuck in cod. Garnish with parsley sprigs if you like. Serves 4.

 Each serving: About 265 calories, 15g total fat, 49mg cholesterol, 465mg sodium.

Flounder Rolls

2 medium plum tomatoes

2 medium dill pickles

1/2 cup reduced-fat, cholesterol-free mayonnaise dressing

2 teaspoons prepared white horseradish

3 tablespoons plain dried breadcrumbs

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt 2 (8-ounce) flounder fillets

2 tablespoons salad oil

4 frankfurter rolls

1. Chop tomatoes and pickles. In small bowl, combine tomatoes, pickles, mayonnaise dressing and horseradish.

2. On waxed paper, combine bread crumbs, paprika and salt. Cut each flounder fil let lengthwise in half, then cut each half into 2 pieces. Coat fish with breadcrumb mixture.

3. In 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, in hot salad oil, cook fish until golden on both sides and fish flakes easily when tested with a fork, about 4 minutes.

4. Place 2 pieces of fish in each frank furter roll. Spoon mayonnaise mixture over fish. Serves 4.



Each serving: About 400 calories, 21g total fat, 54mg cholesterol, 1,220mg sodium.

For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our web site at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/. (c) 2022 Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved

By John Allen

Brett Koth

Donald

NEXT

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A

WITH

Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Web Weavers

“Oh! what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!” -- Sir Walter Scott

The fine art of deception may have its place in politics, advertising and Facebook, but there’s no room for it in your dealings with your dog. The truth may hurt, but not as much as a dog bite.

Last week I spoke with a man who is having a problem admitting that he’s having a hard time with his dog, who weighs 90 pounds and is aggres sive. Recently, he was out walking the dog and a woman approached who really wanted to meet his dog.

I asked the man how the dog reacted to the woman’s interest in him. “He growled,” he said.

“And what did you do?”

“Well, she really wanted to meet him, so I invited her over to pet him.”

“Even though your dog was growling at her?”

“Well, she assured me that she’s really good with dogs and that all dogs love her. I thought it would be OK.”

“What happened,” I asked.

“He bit her.”

If anyone out there reading this was sur prised by this story’s ending, please raise your hand.

The only honest character in this scenario is the one with the tail. In no uncertain terms, the dog warned the woman to keep her distance. For whatever reason, he was not in the mood to be charmed. He had no interest in joining the popu lous club of dogs who love her.

And, for whatever reason, neither human here paid heed.

No, the bipeds were too busy weaving a web, a tangled web, a web that got one of them bit and left the other vulnerable to a lawsuit and in dan ger of losing his dog.

Any storyteller worth their salt will tell you that a good yarn needs a hero, someone to root for, someone who is overcoming obstacles in a Hercu

Wuzzles

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

Hand Sanitizers and the Flu Virus

With flu season just around the corner, there’s a new wrinkle to staying healthy this winter. Our old standby, the antiseptic hand sanitizer, has been found to not work as well as we believed, es pecially with the influenza A strain. How effective it can be is all in how we use it, according to a recent study.

First, choose a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol. Be sure to cover your whole hands, including nails. If you come in contact with wet mucus (from a sneeze or cough), it takes the sanitizer a full four minutes to kill the flu virus. (How many of us use sanitizer for four minutes? Not many.) Dry mucus (for example, on a shopping cart handle) takes less time.

Hand washing, however, takes only 30 sec onds to kill the flu virus and is thought to be more effective than using sanitizer.

Here are some ideas for flu season:

-- Does your grocery store deliver to your

The Art of DESIGN by Joseph Publillones

Are You in the Mood?

A room is truly like a lover. The more time and effort you put into creating the mood of your room, the more your room will love you back. Just like finding that special someone, once you have found “the” townhouse, house or condominium of your liking, it will take you some time to find out the unique characteristics that attracted you to that particu lar dwelling enough to want to make it your home. Once you find that place, the great task at hand is giving it the right mood so you will love your new home.

Creating the right mood involves doing re search via home magazines and online, perusing the many pages to see what you are attracted to. Are you try ing to go for a casual, laid-back, beachy mood? Or are you more of a candle-light romantic looking for soulful and elegant surroundings? Regardless of your style, you can create a mood. Of course, some styles better lend themselves to setting the perfect mood, but more on that later.

As you may know, creating a mood is sometimes not easy. There are many components that go into creating a moody room. Is it the per fect color of the walls, a unique work of art or the quality of the light entering the room? It is all of the above -- and then lots more.

Have you ever entered a room and gotten goosebumps or an overall warm feeling? I liken

home or the parking lot? This will reduce your exposure to shopping cart handles, freezer door handles, counter tops and everything else you touch in the store.

-- Wear a face mask for protection from airborne particles.

-- Take some antiseptic wipes in a plastic baggie when you go out. Keep them handy and use them often as you go about. Carry a small refillable bottle of hand sanitizer with you.

-- Wash your hands thoroughly when you get home.

-- Once a week (or more often) wrap hand wipes around door knobs at home and let them dry overnight.

All of these are worthwhile guidelines, but the most important step we can take is to get a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests the high-dose flu vaccine for seniors because it creates a stronger immune response, in fact, 24% higher than the standard vaccine. There’s also an adjuvanted and a recom binant vaccine (not made with eggs). Ask your doctor which you should get. Don't put this off! And remember that it takes a few weeks for the vaccine to take effect.

* * *

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

lean attempt to become a better person. Who’s the hero here?

No one -- at least not yet.

If I were writing this story, I’d place this scene at the end of Act Two, the point at which ev erything falls apart and just before everyone -- or at least the hero -- gets their act together for the happy ending at the tail end of Act Three.

The happy ending is what we -- the readers, the hero, everyone -- want. But another truth in sto rytelling is that the hero has to make it happen, has to take some strong action to turn fate in his favor.

Sometimes that strong action is a very sim ple act. Tell the truth.

In this case, telling the truth won’t solve the aggression problem, but it will prevent that larger web from forming, that web that involves injuries and lawsuits, lost relationships and regret.

Final Changes DUE:

Telling the truth won’t cure aggression, but it will open the door to change.

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.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@ gmail.com.

(c) KingFeaturesSyndicate

this feeling to being in love. It’s a euphoric sensa tion that you can’t really explain. Is it magic? No, it’s usually the clear and thorough thought process of an individual who sat down to dream about their perfect room and put all the ingredients together.

Stylistically, rooms that are moody tend to be traditional or eclectic. I’m not saying there is anything wrong or unappealing about modern de sign, simply that a mix of styles tends to entertain the eye more than the clean lines of modern de sign. Moody rooms rely on layers of visual, tactile and even olfactory stimulation. To create the right mood, all the senses need to be considered.

Comfort is of utmost impor tance in creating a room that ex cites and relaxes you. The right seating for you and your guest(s) can make or break a room. You should use seating that makes you want to never get up. Acces sories and props such as pillows and blankets are de rigueur here. And having some tables will help your friends feel at ease, as they can use them for placing drinks or their handbags.

Your choice of music, flick ering candles, a stack of maga zines and well-placed books all help in creating a warm room. As with all great experiences, don’t forget to add something unexpected. We all love good surprises. So get to work! Creating a mood is fun. The reward is that you and your visitors will love your space. As you see, every little de tail contributes to a room’s mood. Are you in the mood?

* * *

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.

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Questions Seldom Asked

Because I’ve been writing this column for about a quarter-century now, you probably can guess that there are questions I’ve been asked hundreds (if not thousands) of times during the past 25 years. And I don’t think there is a single Social Security-related question I’ve never been asked. But it dawned on me as I was answering my emails this week that there are questions I’m sel dom asked, and I thought I’d gather a few of them together and put them in today’s column.

Q: My wife, who stopped working a couple years ago, is approaching age 62 and wants to sign up for her Social Security then. But I’m 65 and still working and making $250,000 per year. We file a joint tax return. Will the fact that I make that much money (well above the Social Security earnings pen alty limits) cause problems for my wife’s eligi bility for Social Security?

A: No. How you file a tax return has ab solutely nothing to do with your or your wife’s eligibility for Social Security benefits. Just in case other readers didn’t understand your question, the earnings penalty you refer to is a law that says be cause your wife will be under her full retirement age when she files for Social Security, she must ensure any earnings she might have are under $19,560 per year or she will start to face reductions in her Social Security benefits. But you said she’s retired. So, she doesn’t have any earnings. And even though you file a joint tax return, all those earnings are yours, not hers.

Q: I have a question about my 68-yearold father. I know it might not be popular to admit this, but when he was 20 years old, he snuck across the border from Mexico. He’s been living and working in the U.S. ever since. In fact, he’s still working today, doing lawn and yard maintenance in Southern Cali fornia. Shortly after he arrived in the U.S., he somehow managed to obtain a Social Se curity number and card -- not from the gov ernment, but from someone who sold people false documents. Over the years, he’s used that number when working at various jobs. (He of course has also been forced to work “under the table” for many other jobs).

What I am wondering is this: Is there any way my father can collect Social Security benefits? (In case you are wondering, many times my siblings and I have tried to talk my father into pursuing one of the government’s “pathways to citizenship,” but he is just too old and stubborn -- and I think a little scared -- to do this.)

A: I’m sorry, but as long as your father is living here without proper documentation, there is just no way he will ever be able to qualify for Social Security benefits.

Also, I’m a little surprised his use of that illegally obtained Social Security number hasn’t thrown up some red flags at the Social Security Ad

ministration and generated some inquiries into its use. Or maybe it has, and somehow your father has managed to dodge the inquiries.

Q: I bet you don’t get asked a question like this every day. I am a 68-year-old woman, and I recently married a 39-year-old man. It’s the second marriage for both of us, and we just adopted a 3-year-old girl. I currently get widow’s benefits from my first husband. But at age 70, I plan to switch to higher benefits on my own record. Can our daughter get ben efits on my first husband’s record? How about on my record once I’m 70?

A: I’ve been asked questions similar to yours many times in my career, but they have al ways been from an older man married to a young er woman. So, yours is the first with the roles re versed.

As long as you are getting widow’s benefits, there is no way your adopted daughter can get any Social Security benefits. But once you switch to your own retirement benefits, she would be eligible for dependent child’s benefits on your record.

In fact, that might be an incentive for you to make the switch now, rather than waiting until 70. If you wait until 70, you’d get an extra 32% added to your retirement benefit. If you make the switch now, at age 68, you’d get about 20% more. So, you’d lose that extra 12% by switching now. But you’d gain the extra benefits payable to your daughter. It would be a monthly rate equal to 50% of your benefit amount. You’d just have to sit down and do the math and see if it’s worth switching now. (My guess is it would be).

Q: I’m 71 years old and single and I have never signed up for my Social Secu rity. Why? Because I’m very lucky financially (I have a seven-figure trust fund) and I just don’t need the money. But someone recently

told me there is a law that says once you are 70 years old, you must file for Social Security benefits. Is that true?

A: It’s not true. There is no law that re quires you to file for Social Security at 70, or any other age for that matter.

But why let your money just sit there in the Social Security trust funds? It’s doing no one any good. Why not sign up for Social Security and do something constructive or helpful with the money? I mentioned at the beginning of this column that there probably is not a single Social Security-relat ed question I haven’t been asked. And I’ve run into a few guys with questions like yours over the years. One of those guys ended up using his Social Secu rity benefits to fund a college education for some lucky and deserving kids. Another just turned the money over to his favorite charity.

And here’s another thought. Because you are 71 years old, when you file for Social Securi ty, you can claim six months’ worth of retroactive benefits. Assuming your monthly benefit is in the $3,000 per month range, that’s $18,000. To some one with your wealth, that probably doesn’t mean anything. But just imagine how it could help some one in need! (I can think of a Social Security colum nist’s wife who has been dreaming about getting a sporty little Fiat 500!).

* * *

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easyto-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

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

2. From Genesis 19, who prepared a meal for two in Sodom? a) Lot b) Abraham c) Ishmael d) Hagar

3. What was the more commonly known name of Hadassah? a) Rahab b) Ruth c) Esther d) Michal

4. From Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before ....." a) Victory b) Forgiveness c) Repentance d) Destruction

5. What caused the death of Samson's wife? a) Poisoned b) Fell from window c) Burned d) Trampled

6. Who was the father of Jacob? a) Ishmael b) Abimelech c) Abraham d) Issac

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

© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.© 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

Howard

Ridgeway

Sligh

Praluent Injections Significantly Decrease LDL Level

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 66-year-old male who was diagnosed about 15 years ago with mild coronary artery disease, with some blockages in my peripheral arteries. I was taking the maximum recommended dosage of pravastatin to maintain a low cholesterol, but I experienced complete ruptures of both Achilles tendons. These incidences occurred five years apart, but after the second rupture, my doctor discontinued the pravastatin.

I then started Praluent injections twice a month to control my cholesterol, which has been incredibly effective -- maybe even too effective -- and is the purpose of my writing to you.

transmissibility of Dupuytren’s contracture. It’s not an infectious disease. The risk factors in clude previous family history, being over 50, repetitive trauma, diabetes, smoking and alcohol.

Some other related medical illnesses can also predispose a person to Dupuytren’s contracture. Potential treatments include surgery and enzyme injection.

Ad Proof: John Cuddihy - Flags “A” Flying Biz Card, BW, 26x rate

VETERANS POST 

by Freddie Groves Medical Scammers Caught

Corrections due by: 5 pm, Mon., 6/19/17ADVERTISING PROOF

Final Changes DUE:

The word “theory” means a well-thoughtout explanation based on the scientific method that helps explain why certain observed phenom ena occur. Your question about Dupuytren’s con tracture being transmissible by plasma donation is a hypothesis for which I could find no support.

Thieves must think they’re smarter than the rest of us. Until they’re caught, that is, and have to give up all their ill-gotten gains and spend years behind bars. Here are a few examples:

The president of a medical testing company has been convicted of paying kickbacks, mislead ing investors and committing health-care fraud for pushing an allergy test.

He made several outlandish claims to in vestors along the way:

-- That his company was valued at $4.5 bil lion and that his little test could show nearly any disease just using a few drops of blood when it wasn’t actually a diagnostic test at all.

Changes DUE:

With Praluent injections, my LDL level is about 26, and my HDL is 100. When my primary doctor’s assistant recently called to inform me of my bloodwork results, she said she has never seen anyone with such a low LDL level -- and she sees a lot of bloodwork! My primary care doctor doesn’t like it that low, but two different cardiologists I have seen think that the lower it is, the better. What do you think? -- J.W.

ANSWER: The first issue is whether statins increase the risk of an Achilles tendon rupture, and I can’t answer that with certainty, because there is some evidence it does. (Some studies have reported anywhere from an 80% relative risk increase to triple the risk, but the risk is still very, very low. Even if they triple the risk, the risk would be only three people per 10,000.) The studies that have shown there is risk sug gest that the risk is only in the first year of taking statins, but other studies have shown no risk at all from statins.

The second issue is your very low LDL level, and the data for LDL levels is firmly on the side of the cardiologists you spoke with. The lower the LDL, the lower the risk of heart dis ease, and levels under 30 are not at all unusual in a person taking alirocumab (Praluent) or the other drug in that class (called PCSK9 inhibitors), evolocumab (Repatha). Your doctor’s assistant will likely be seeing more people with LDL levels like yours.

Do remember that a healthy, mostly plant-based diet and regular exercise still have benefits in people with LDL levels as low as yours -- and not just in heart disease, but in re ducing cancer risk, too.

***

DEAR DR. ROACH: Can Dupuytren’s contracture be transmitted from one person to another via plasma donation? Is the theory a consensus in the medical field? -- H.H.

ANSWER: Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition of fibrosis in the connective tissue of the hand, which leads to decreased hand flexibil ity and, ultimately (without treatment), to contrac tures, where fingers curl into the palm.

There is no known person-to-person

Transportation for Veterans to the Loma Linda VA Hospital

-- That Dr. Fauci had required testing for Covid and allergies at the same time, which was handy, because the scammer also claimed that his allergy test could test for Covid.

-- That he was on the list to receive the No bel Prize.

The scammer was convicted of a whole list of crimes and could face five to 20 years in prison on each of the scams. A back-of-the-envelope calcu lation shows 115 years in prison.

Then we have yet another health-care fraud, this time for genetic cancer testing. The owner of a chain of laboratories paid kickbacks for referrals who sent him patients who didn’t actually need the test he was providing. The scammer sub mitted 325,000 claims and received over $26 mil lion in payments.

And yet another thief, this time a chiroprac tor, targeted health care in the durable medical equipment niche: crutches, hospital beds, canes, walkers, wheelchairs and more -- all supposedly prescribed through telemedicine visits. It involved bribery of doctors who approved the medical equip ment. Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) was just one of their targets, and the scammers collect ed over $10 million from that one source alone.

Unfortunately, the head thief in this scam only got four years in the slammer. He will, how ever, be minus $3 million he has to pay back and $10 million in restitution when he gets out.

M.D.

How Much Does an Average Funeral Cost?

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: How much does a typical funeral and burial cost today? My wife and I are interested in pre-planning our funeral arrangements but would like to have an idea of the expenses involved before going into this so we can plan and budget ac cordingly. --Planning Ahead

Changes DUE:

Dear Planning: It definitely pays to know what charges to expect when pre-planning a funeral. Most people don’t have a clue and can often be upsold thousands of dollars’ worth of extra services they may not want or even need. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect.

Funeral Prices

certificate ($5 to $35 per copy depending on the state).

All told, the average cost of a total U.S. funeral today with viewing and cemetery burial is around $12,000.

Ways to Save

5:00 p.m..

Prices

If this is more than you’re willing or able to pay, there are ways to save. For starters, you should know that prices can vary significantly by funeral provider, so it’s wise to shop around. If you need some help, there are websites you can turn to like Parting.com that lets you easily compare prices online based on what you want.

Spelling

When evaluating funeral providers, be sure you get an itemized price list of services and products so you can accurately compare and choose what you want.

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2023 MEDICARE Coverage Gap

Phone Number(s)

The first thing you need to be aware of is that funeral costs will vary considerably de pending on your geographic location, the funeral home you choose and the funeral choices you make. With that said, here’s a breakdown of what an average funeral costs, nationwide, ac cording to the most recent data from the National Funeral Directors Association.

ADVERTISING PROOF

Final Changes DUE:

Q: What is the Coverage Gap?

3

Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with

Please review carefully. Double check:

Professional services fee: This is a basic non-declinable fee that covers the funeral pro vider’s time, expertise and overhead: $2,300.

ADVERTISING PROOF

760-320-0997

Transfer of the remains: This is for pick ing up the body and taking it to the funeral home: $350

Embalming and body preparation: Em balming is usually mandatory for open-casket viewing, otherwise it’s not required unless the body is going to be transported across state lines. Embalming costs $775. Other body prepa rations, which includes hairdressing and cosmet ics runs $275.

Funeral viewing and ceremony: If the viewing and funeral ceremony is at the funeral home, you’ll be charged for use of the chapel and any necessary staff. Costs: $450 for view ing, and $515 for funeral ceremony.

Metal casket: This is a big money maker for funeral homes, with markups of up to 300 percent over the wholesale price: $2,500.

Funeral transportation: Use of hearse and driver; $325 to transport the body to the cemetery. Use of a service car/van: $150.

Memorial printed package: This includes printed programs and memorial guest book: $183. In addition to these costs, there are also a number of cemetery costs like the plot or mauso leum fee, the vault or grave liner that most cem eteries require, and the opening and closing of the grave, all of which can run between $2,000 and $3,000; and the gravestone, which typically runs between $1,000 and $3,000.

Related expenses: You’ll also need to budget for other expenses like flowers for the funeral ($200 to $400), the newspaper obituary fee ($100 to $800 or more), the clergy honorari um ($200 to $300) and extra copies of the death

email: valleybits@msn.com

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ADVERTISING PROOF

760-320-1630

Final Changes DUE: 5:00 p.m..

Final Changes DUE:

Phone Number(s)

your Tidbits representative immediately with changes

By far, the most significant way to save is to request a “direct burial” or “direct cremation.” With these options you and your wife would be buried or cremated shortly after death, which skips the embalming and viewing expenses. If you want a memorial service, you can have it at the graveside or at your place of worship without the body present. These services usually run be tween $1,000 and $3,000, not counting cemetery charges.

A: Some Medicare drug plans have a gap in coverage which is called the Coverage Gap. This means that after you and your drug plan have spent a certain predetermined amount of money for your covered drugs, you may have to pay more for your pre scriptions.

Hours Office: 760-320-0997

Please review carefully. Double check:

Fax: 760-320-1630 Contact your Tidbits representative immediately

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valleybits@msn.com

Jennifer Jackson - Elder Care Services 1/16 pg. BW 6x disc. October 9, 2022 Vol. 18 - No. 41

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.

Elder Caregiver Services

760-320-1630

Q: How is the Coverage Gap determined?

ADVERTISING PROOF

Final Changes DUE:

ADVERTISING PROOF

of

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You Need a Helping Hand

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A: Each year the predetermined amount of coverage can be found in the terms of your policy. For example, in 2023 the Coverage Gap was initi ated if you and your drug plan, com bined, spent $7,400 on covered drugs. This predetermined amount may be changed by Medicare each year.

Q: How do I know when I have reached the Coverage Gap?

A: Each month that you fill a pre scription, your drug plan mails to you an “Explanation of Benefits,” EOB. The EOB notice details how much you and your drug plan have spent on covered drugs. The EOB is your notification if you have reached the Coverage Gap

Q: Does the Coverage Gap ever end?

A: Yes. In 2023, when you and your plan reach total expenses of $7,400, the Coverage Gap ends.

Please give our office a call to speak with a licensed agent 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.

by Jim Miller

Anne McCollam Creators

Collector Should Scour Internet for Pot Parts

Q: I recently became interested in can ning, and when I found the canner seen in this photo in an antiques shop, I bought it. I paid $25 and it works great. On the top are the words “Automatic Canning Devices Inc. -- Chicago.” It has a metal bail handle and a black plastic one. The gauge was made by U.S. Automatic Gauge Co. in New York and works. The canner is 15 inches high and 39 inches in circumference.

I was looking online for spare parts, just in case I needed them. I came up com pletely empty-handed and now I am more cu rious about my canner.

Could you tell me anything about it?

A: Automatic Canning Devices Inc. made canners and pressure cookers in the early 1900s in Chicago. Their advertising claim in 1936 stated, “Canning outfit that works every day in the year.” Keep scouring the Internet for pot parts, sooner or later they will turn up.

Your canner was made around the 1920s to 1930s and can be found selling anywhere from $20 to $50.

What can you tell me about my figurine and its history?

A: Stangl Pottery, originally Hill Pottery, was taken over by Martin Stangl. Stangl was a suc cessful designer and ceramic engineer. His com pany produced dinnerware, art ware and novelties. In 1940, he introduced a line of ceramic birds and animals. Most pieces were marked with a number and the name of the decorator. The number for the Carolina Wren is “3590.”

Stangl died in 1972, and after his death, the company produced revised editions of its birds. They are no longer in business. Your wren was made in the 1940s and would probably be worth $75 to $125.

Stangl Pottery was known for its ceramic birds.

* * *

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.

* On Oct. 21, 1797, the USS Constitution, a 44-gun U.S. Navy frigate, is launched in Boston Harbor. She was built to fight Barbary pirates off the coast of Tripoli and won the nickname “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812, when British shots merely bounced off Constitution’s sides.

* On Oct. 19, 1931, David Cornwell, known as spy novelist John le Carre, is born in Poole, England. He published his first spy novel, “Call for the Dead,” in 1961. The novel, like his sec ond, “A Murder of Quality” (1962), featured spy George Smiley.

* On Oct. 22, 1957, in Saigon, Vietnam, 13 American military personnel are wounded in three terrorist bombings. During America’s of ficial involvement (1964-1973), over 3 million armed forces were deployed to Vietnam, result ing in 58,220 deaths.

* On Oct. 20, 1968, 21-year-old Dick Fos bury sets an Olympic record at the Mexico City Games when he high-jumps 7 feet, 4 1/4 inches. Fosbury’s unique jumping, known as the Fos bury Flop, was described in the press as “a guy falling off the back of a truck.”

* On Oct. 18, 1974, singer Al Green is at tacked when an ex-girlfriend pours a pot of hot grits on his back while he was in the bathtub. Green was left with severe injuries but also a spiritual awakening. By 1976, Green had be come an ordained Baptist minister and estab lished a Memphis church.

* On Oct. 17, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signs into law an act that approves $100 million in humanitarian and military aid for Nicaraguan Contras with a goal of overthrowing the Sand inista government. Shortly afterward, however, the Iran-Contra scandal was revealed wherein the U.S. had sold missiles and arms in secret deals with Iran and $30 million were diverted to the Contras.

* On Oct. 23, 2002, nearly 800 people in a Mos cow theater are taken hostage by 50 Chechen Army rebels. Russian special forces surrounded the building and pumped in a gas that rendered the terrorists and hostages unconscious. During the subsequent raid, 120 hostages were killed as well as most of the rebels.

Q: Enclosed is the mark on the bot tom of a wren pottery figurine. The bird is on a base and has a multicolored back, brown body and a yellow breast. The overall height is 4 inches, and it is in perfect condition. Also marked on the bottom is the number “3590.” It belonged to my great grandmother and was given to her by a friend in the 1950s.

FIGURE

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

Automatic Canning Devices Inc. was located in Chicago.

• Eggs are always placed in cartons large-end up, which helps them last longer. The bigger end contains the air pocket between the inner and outer shell membranes. This gradually enlarges as the egg loses moisture during storage. Keeping the air pocket at the top helps to keep the yolk centered within the egg and prevents the air pocket from rupturing, which reduces the risk of the egg spoiling.

• Brown eggs and white eggs are identical nutritionally, and whether the grocer labels them “organic” (and charges more) or not. If a chicken has red ear lobes, it’s likely to be a Rhode Island Red or a Barred Plymouth Rock, and it will lay brown eggs; if the ear lobe is white, it’s usually a White Leghorn and it lays white eggs.

• The color of the egg yolk is determined by the food eaten by chickens. It has nothing to do with the nutritional value of one egg over another or a commercially produced egg over a farm produced egg. A supplement of pumpkin, squash, carrots, marigold, dandelions or calendula will produce deeper yellow-orange yolks.

NOTABLE RECORDS

• The world’s largest omelet weighed 14,225 lb (6,452 kg) and was made in Portugal in 2012. It took 55 people six hours to make this omelet, using 145,000 eggs, 880 lbs of oil and 220 lbs of butter. All eggs used were free range and donated by the largest egg producer in the country.

• The Guinness World Record for making ordinary omelets is held by Howard Helmer, a chef in New York City, who made 427 omelets in 30 minutes in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1990. He also holds the world record for fastest omelet flipper. Helmer served for many years as a spokesperson for the American Egg Board. □

A local farmer attending the county fair entered a drawing and won a mystery box. When he opened it he was delighted to see that he'd won a young female chicken.

He had great fun excitedly telling all his friends that he'd won a Pullet Surprise!

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

Play Better

Changes DUE: 5:00 p.m..

Grip Down Knock Down

Fighting gusty days on the course can be a frustrating experience for many golfers. Any slight curves can be swept offline, so trajec tory control is a major concern if you’re trying to keep the ball in play. There are three simple steps to hitting those piercing, driving shots into the wind:

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.

1. Take at least one club extra, per haps two, so the lower loft aids you in your ef fort to hit the ball lower. By trying to hit “too much club”, you won’t be forced to swing very hard, which helps keep the spin rates down as well.

2. Grip down around an inch and stand slightly closer than normal. Don’t adversely adjust the ball position, so keep the rest of your set-up fairly normal. By gripping down, you’ll effectively stiffen the club shaft further improving the odds of hitting it low. Soft flex shafts help “kick” the ball up in the air.

3. Abbreviate the fol low through by extending the arms through impact. High finishes usually equal higher trajectory shots, therefore picture a three-quarter finish.

termediate players, the finish position requires extra attention. The body is contorting into an unusual position and needs to be balanced to be effective. Advanced players take the finish position for granted, especially when it comes to the small arch in the lower back.

When I work with a lot of beginning to in

Tuck It Under

JACK NICKLAUS

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Jason

Linda Thistle