Vol. 18: #43 • Pigs • (10-23-2022) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

TIDBITS SPENDS A LITTER TIME WITH

by Kathy Wolfe

October is National Pork Month, and what better time for us to pay tribute to the contributors of this dinnertime delicacy? So slip on your barn boots and follow along as Tidbits trods into the wonderful world of pigs!

• Pigs are one of the oldest domesticated animals, with records of their use dating back more than 6,000 years. There are hundreds of different varieties of domesticated pigs. A typical domesticated pig that has avoided the slaughterhouse lives 15 to 18 years, but some live as long as 20 years.

• It’s estimated there are as many as two billion pigs in the world at any given time. It doesn’t take long to produce a litter of piglets. Their gestation period is an easy one to remember –3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days – a total of 114 days. The mother pig, or sow, can give birth to 8 to 13 piglets each time, twice a year, with each

"The

TRIVIA

What is the cold est

on

KINGDOM: What kind of animal is represented by the scien tific order Proboscidea?

What does the Greek prefix “pan-” mean in English?

MEDICAL: What is the common name for Hansen’s disease?

LITERATURE: Which 1970s nonfiction book begins with the line, “We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold”?

THEATER: Who wrote the Tony Award-winning play “The Heidi Chronicles”?

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: The Empire State Building in New York has how many stories?

ACRONYMS: In photography, what does the acronym SLR stand for?

FOOD & DRINK: Which country produces a

called Manchego?

Who was the first House

in U.S.

It’s time to tune in to these facts about Venus, the third smallest planet in our solar system. Although it’s an interesting planet to study, you wouldn’t want to live there.

• Up until 1610, astronomers believed that the planet Venus orbited the Earth. After developing an improved telescope, the Italian scientist Galileo studied Venus, which is second only to the moon as the brightest natural object in the night sky. He observed that the planet went through a series of phases, leading him to discover that its orbit is actually around the Sun.

• During daylight hours, the Sun is the only object brighter than Venus, yet Venus can still be visible to the naked eye in broad daylight.

• Venus takes its name from the Roman goddess of love and beauty, the only planet named after a female. Venus was considered the “mother of the Roman people.” Her Greek counterpart was Aphrodite. The planet is also referred to as the morning star and the evening star because of its brightness. In fact, the ancients believed it to be two separate heavenly bodies. Because the planet is so visible, the Mayans were recording their detailed observations as early as 650 AD.

• As the second planet from the Sun, (only Mercury is closer), Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system, with a average temperature of 8670 F (4640 C), hot enough to melt lead. Its thick atmosphere is full of gasses such as carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid that trap heat that keeps the planet hot. Although closer to the sun, Mercury has a very thin atmosphere, with an average temperature of just 3320 F (1670 C).

• Venus and Earth are very similar in size, with Venus just a bit smaller as its surface area is only about 90% that of Earth. Venus has an unusual orbit, as it spins in the opposite direction of Earth and most other planets, known as a retrograde rotation. Its axis rotation is very slow, taking 243 Earth days to complete just one day on Venus. Its orbit around the sun is once every 225 Earth days. This means a day on Venus (one rotation on its axis) is longer than a year there (one full orbit around the Sun).

• Venus is home to more than 1,600 major

volcanoes across its surface, with 167 of those more than 60 miles (100 km) across. None are known to be currently erupting, possibly meaning they are long since extinct. However, there is evidence of phosphide in Venus’ atmosphere, which is a form of phosphorus brought to the surface in explosive ways. This may perhaps indicate some kind of more recent activity.

• The highest mountain on Venus is Skadi Mons, a peak in the Maxwell Montes range, a mountain that rises 37,795 feet (11,520 m). Compare this with Earth’s highest, Mt. Everest, with a height of 29,032 feet (8,849 m).

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• The Mariner 2 was the first spacecraft to complete a successful mission to another planet, flying by Venus in December, 1962. Four years later, Russia’s Venera 3 carrying a radio communication system and scientific instruments was launched with an intended mission of landing on Venus. Its systems failed before it reached the planet, and it’s believed it crashed onto the surface of Venus on March 1, 1966.

piglet weighing around 3.5 lbs. at birth. The baby’s weight can double in only one week. Once weaned, the piglet will be known as a shoat.

• The weight range of pigs is broad, with an adult pig weighing anywhere between 110 lbs. and 770 lbs. The world’s smallest known pig breed is the Gottingen minipig, a breed developed in Europe. A typical adult of this breed weighs about 57 pounds.

• In 1933, Tennessee farmer Elias Butler raised a massive pig weighing over a ton at a remarkable 2,552 lbs. Butler named his Poland China breed hog “Big Bill,” a fitting name for the huge porker.

• Pigs emit many more vocal sounds than just “oink, oink!” The sounds are everything from grunts and barks to squeals, coughs, and pants. Mother pigs grunt during feeding time, while barks might mean either danger or playtime. An anxious pig or one in pain will squeal, but will cough when annoyed. If you hear a pig panting softly, he’s trying to be friendly! Their sounds are so distinctive that piglets learn the tone of their mother’s voice at a very young age, and can recognize her call among the sounds of a large and noisy barnyard gathering. Pig aficionados have identified at least 20 different noises the animals use to communicate with each other.

• What’s the correct term for a group of pigs? It depends on their age. A group of piglets is a litter or farrow, but the group becomes a drove or drift when they are considered adolesents. A group of older pigs goes by several different names – a sounder, passel, parcel, herd, or team.

• Males are boars, and females are sows, but a female that has never been mated is called a queen. If she has never been pregnant or is pregnant for the first time, she’s a gilt. A castrated male is referred to as a barrow.

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

• We’ve all heard the expression “sweating like a pig,” but it’s an inaccurate phrase, because pigs don’t sweat! When they need to cool themselves, they wallow in mud, getting rid of body heat through their skin and respiration. Once the outside temperature reaches between 63 and 70 degrees F (170 to 210 C), they will seek out mud, frequently covering themselves from head to toe. Wallowing also serves as a sunscreen for their tender skin, as well as a way to protect themselves from lice and ticks. It can also be a way of marking their territory.

• Another erroneous phrase is “pigging out” or “eating like a pig.” While they are actually slow-eating animals, savoring the taste, and easily digesting their food, their "pleasure grunts" can be mistaken for gluttonish sounds. Although pigs are omnivorous, meaning they will eat both plants and animal meat, the most popular pig farm diet is corn or soybeans.

• But pigs will, in fact, eat almost anything and human bones are no exception. In 2012, a farmer in Oregon was eaten by his pigs after suffering a fatal heart attack and falling into their enclosure. By the time a concerned relative came looking for him days later, only his hat, his dentures and torn articles of clothing remained.

• They may be indiscriminate eaters, but pigs are also highly intelligent and incredibly social animals. When kept in a group they will snuggle close to one another, and prefer to sleep noseto-nose. Studies have also shown that, much like humans, they dream.

Final Changes DUE:

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

According to the Chinese zodiac, individuals born in the Year of the Pig, the 12th animal, are honest, happy, kindhearted, positive, and loyal. They are also chivalrous, considerate, and have good manners.

some learn their name more quickly than the average dog does.

• A pig’s eyes are small for the size of their head and their eyesight is very poor, but that’s balanced by a keen sense of smell. They have nine different olfactory glands that enable them to recognize odors for finding food, looking for a mate, and assessing their surroundings. That sharp memory also helps them remember where

QUIZ BITS

1. Name Peppa Pig's younger brother.

2. What was the name of the rat in the barnyard novel "Charlotte's Web"?

5:00 p.m..

• Maybe pigs can’t fly, but they can definitely run and they can swim! A domestic pig can run up to 11 miles per hour, while the wild boar can reach a speed of 15 mph. Pigs enjoy sunbathing and dipping in bodies of water to cool off. Some of the Caribbean Islands have designated coastal places where humans and pigs can swim together!

• It’s said that an elephant never forgets, but it’s actually pigs who don’t forget! They are believed to have an expansive memory that can recollect events from a young age. Pigs are extremely intelligent animals, perhaps smarter than dogs, and even a three-year-old human! They can be taught tricks just like a dog, and

By Lucie Winborne

* Those of us who have a little difficulty successfully sealing wraps, gyros or bur ritos are at last in luck, thanks to a group of female engineering students who came up with a solution called Tastee Tape. It will hold your food nicely in place during cooking or consumption. And yes, it is an edible tape.

* Only humans have chins.

* Ladybugs are cute, but they’re also cannibals. These tiny spotted creatures will, if need be, eat fertilized ladybug eggs, ladybug larvae and even other adult ladybugs.

* Do you know someone who really loves to tell jokes? Here’s hoping they aren’t suffering from a rare syndrome known as Witzelsucht, or joke addiction, affecting certain folks with an injury to their brain’s right hemisphere. One such patient couldn’t stop waking his poor wife in the middle of the night to share his jokes with her.

* The longest eyelash on record reached a length of 2.75 inches and belonged to one Stuart Muller, who attributed the re cord-setting strand to a “mutant follicle.”

* King Charles III will receive his crown while sitting on a throne containing the Stone of Destiny, a rock that was sto len from Scotland in 1296 and carried to Westminster Abbey by King Edward I, then returned to Scotland 700 years later. But why is it significant, other than its fea ture in a royal coronation? It is said to be the stone on which the biblical Jacob rest ed his head when he dreamed of a ladder ascending to heaven!

Thought for the Day: “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” -- Michael Altshuler

2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

by Mary Hunt

How to Not Feel Poor on a Fixed Income

be. If you have clutter, it’s pulling you down. Clear your closets, drawers, cupboards, garage and counters of everything that you do not need or doesn’t bring beauty to your life. A home with clean open spaces, tranquility and simplicity chases away feelings of poverty and opens the door to joy. Clutter invites chaos, which leads to depression and feelings of deprivation.

TUCK A C-NOTE

Everyday CHEAPSKATE

by Mary Hunt

It’s no secret that more and more people -- especially seniors on fixed incomes -- are sinking deeper into credit card debt. Why is this? I don’t think it’s because we’ve had so many emergencies (the common reason to have credit cards, right?). It’s because we don’t want to feel poor.

At this point, I should define “feeling poor.” It’s not easy, but it’s real. And I’ll bet you’ve felt it from time to time, no matter your season of life.

It’s a sad, sorry feeling of inferiority. It’s that feeling you get when faced with an invitation to join all of your rich friends for a chi-chi lunch and you’ve got $8.43 to your name. It’s that feel ing you get when you hear your friends are all taking a Caribbean cruise and you can barely scrape together gas money to visit your grand children.

The worst response when feeling poor is to do the very thing that should prove you’re not: spend money. Sure, that might make the feeling go away for a time. But as soon as you realize you’ve just plunged yourself deeper into debt and made your situation worse, you’ll feel even poorer. It’s a vicious cycle that comes to no good end.

I have a better idea: Stop feeling poor in the first place. Here are three surprising steps to follow.

COMMIT TO A CLEAN CAR

No matter how old, how scratched, how new, how leased or how ugly, if you keep your car sparkling clean inside and out, you won’t feel so poor.

Remove every coffee cup, every paper and every item other than the emergency equip ment in the trunk every time you leave the car. Wash it regularly. Make sure the windows are always spotless, the seats and floors vacummed, the tires scrubbed and the chrome shiny. Do this and you’ll feel like a million bucks.

CURB THE CLUTTER

I don’t care how clean your house may

A C-note is a $100 bill. I want you to get one, fold it neatly and tuck it into a secret place in your wallet. Do not tell anyone about this. Just like that, you won’t feel poor. In fact, that C-note is going to help make you feel secure and quite smart. For sure you will not feel broke.

Here’s the curious thing about this: You are not likely to spend it on a whim. In fact, you are not likely to spend it at all. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s because breaking a $100 is a big deal. You wouldn’t do that for a hamburger and fries. That would be ridiculous, right? Not worth breaking a hundred. But if you get caught in a true emergency, you’re covered.

If you can’t do a hundred, start with a five. Soon, trade it for a 10, then a 50. Before you know it, you’ll have Benjamin in your pocket, hidden away where only you know.

Feeling poor is not so much a financial condition as it is a state of mind. It's something you can change starting right now.

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Mary invites you to visit her at Everyday Cheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommend ed products and services. 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.”

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Marcy Cardenas

Marcy Cardenas

Doug & Linda Wright

We’ve been watching pigs on big and small screens for decades, and there are a lot more of them than the Muppets’ Miss Piggy so let's take a look at a few of these famously celebrated swine.

• “Babe the Pig,” the story of a pig raised by sheepdogs on an English farm, was nominated for seven Academy Awards in 1995, including a nomination for actor James Cromwell, in the role of Farmer Hoggett. That was unusual, considering Cromwell had just 16 lines totaling 171 words of spoken dialogue. Yet he received more screen time in “Babe” than in any of his previous films. There were 56 animal trainers involved in the production to handle 970 animals. Because baby pigs grow so quickly, 48 Yorkshire pigs were needed for filming, along with one animatronic pig. A makeup artist added toupees and eyelashes to the piglets. Following the film’s release, sales of pet pigs skyrocketed. • In the 1952 novel “Charlotte’s Web,” by E.B.

White, a young farm girl named Fern Arable saves the runt of a litter of piglets, and names him Wilbur. In 1973, the book was adapted into an animated film, and in 2006 to a liveaction movie. Similar to “Babe the Pig,” the 2006 version required 47 Wilburs as the piglets rapidly grew. When Wilbur was sold to the Zuckerman farm, he was befriended by a barn spider named Charlotte A. Cavatica, a word which refers to the spider’s scientific name, Aranea cavatica. An all-star cast of artists provided the animal voices in 2006, including Julie Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Cedric the Entertainer, Kathy Bates, Reba McEntire, and Robert Redford.

• The British animated series “Peppa Pig” debuted in 2004. It was the creation of two broke, outof-work animators and their producer friend. The trio borrowed money from friends and family to produce the series, which has now been broadcast in more than 180 countries.

• “Peppa Pig” came under fire during its first two seasons, when the pig family didn’t wear seatbelts when out for a drive. When concerned parents lodged complaints, the episodes were all edited and re-released, along with any scenes that featured the characters not wearing helmets when bicycling.

• Winnie the Pooh’s small, timid friend Piglet was introduced in A.A. Milne’s classic children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” in 1926, followed by “The House at Pooh Corner” in 1928. The character was based on a stuffed toy owned by Milne’s son Christopher Robin. In the original color illustrations in the books, Piglet has pale pink skin and green jumper. Piglet lives in a beech tree in the Hundred Acre Wood, frequently visited by his best friend Pooh. Piglet’s squeaky, stuttering voice was first heard on the big screen in Disney’s 1968 short “Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day.” Christopher Robin Milne’s original stuffed toy can be seen on display in the New York City Public Library.

voice for the next 52 years until he passed away in 1989. Porky Pig is the oldest continuing Loony Tunes character, even longer than Bugs Bunny!

can ® Online! here www.issuu.com/valleybits/docs

the full Coachella Valley archive.

• Speaking of stuttering pigs, Porky Pig’s first appearance was in 1935’s Loony Tunes short “I Haven’t Got a Hat.” His name was derived from two childhood friends of that cartoon’s director Friz Freleng, brothers nicknamed “Porky” and “Piggy.” The character’s first voice artist was Joe Dougherty, who actually had a stutter, leading to Porky’s signature line, “Th-th-th-that’s all, folks!” spoken at the end of most cartoons. In 1937, Dougherty was replaced by Mel Blanc, who became Porky’s

Anytime.

the full Coachella Valley archive.

Anytime.

by Dana Jackson

King Features News Syndicate

Q: I saw that there’s going to be a holi day special about the Waltons family. Are any of the cast members from the original series starring in it? -- M.C.

A: “The Waltons” was a classic series that aired for nine seasons beginning in 1972 set in ru ral Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II. It was told through the eyes of John-Boy, the eldest son, played by Richard Thomas. Ralph Waite and Michael Learned played the patriarch and matriarch, respectively, of the large Walton family, which included six additional children be sides John-Boy.

Last fall, the CW network revived the fran chise with “The Waltons’ Homecoming,” a TV mov ie featuring an all-new cast set during the winter of 1933. Thomas returned to narrate the story and will do the same for the upcoming “The Waltons’ Thanksgiving.” Logan Shroyer (“This Is Us”) will play John-Boy, and Teddy Sears (“Chicago Fire”) will star as John Walton Sr.

According to Deadline.com, the latest spe cial is set in 1934 “as the Walton family eagerly pre pares for the annual Harvest Festival Fair in town ... and a young boy arrives that will dramatically change the Waltons’ lives in ways that they could have never imagined.”

“The Waltons’ Thanksgiving” will air on the CW on Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. ET. ***

Q: Is “9-1-1: Lone Star” ever return ing? I thought it was a big hit because of its ratings, so I was surprised that it didn’t pre miere with the other network dramas this fall. -- M.M.

A: More than 14 million viewers tuned in to the season one premiere of “9-1-1: Lone Star,” but the show has hovered around a still-impressive 8 million viewers in subsequent seasons. Despite be

ing a hit, its fourth season has been pushed back to a mid-season debut, with a target date of Jan. 2, 2023, for the first of its new episodes.

According to the “9-1-1” fandom website, “TK and Carlos’ wedding will be shown,” and “a storyline involving an extremist group planning an attack” will be investi gated by a new char acter, special agent Rose Casey, played by Amanda Schull (“Suits”). Also, look for Neal McDonough (“Yellowstone”) and D.B. Woodside (“Luci fer”) as additional new cast members.

“9-1-1: Lone Star” is in good com pany with its late start. Other scripted dramas not premiering until, at least, January in clude “The Blacklist,” “The Flash,” “Nancy Drew” and “Fantasy Island.” “Magnum P.I.” was canceled by CBS, then saved by NBC, and started filming new episodes this past September.

Q: I was sad to hear about Loretta Lynn’s passing, but what an amazing, long life she had. Who was the actress who played her in a movie decades ago? Also, who did the vo cals for the movie? -- Y.I.

Changes DUE:

A: Country music legend Loretta Lynn passed away at age 90 at her ranch, Hurricane Mills, on Oct. 4. Sissy Spacek won an Oscar for her performance and used her own vocals in the 1980 film “Coal Miner’s Daughter” about Lynn’s rise to fame. The movie’s soundtrack also won a CMA Award for Album of the Year. Beverly D’Angelo, who played Patsy Cline in the film, also performed her own vocals.

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityEx tra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

Amanda

Good Recipes from Shrimp and Pineapple Salad with Basil

We grill both the shrimp and the pineapple to create this one-of-a-kind main-course salad.

3 limes

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 cups (loosely packed) fresh basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, shelled and deveined

1 (3-pound) pineapple

12 corn tortillas

Olive oil cooking spray

1 bag (5- to 6-ounce) baby greens

2 medium heads Belgian endive, sliced

1. Prepare outdoor grill for direct grilling on medium.

2. Prepare dressing: From limes, grate 1/2 teaspoon peel and squeeze 1/4 cup juice. In blender, place lime peel and juice, oil, 1/2 cup basil leaves, salt and pepper. Blend until pureed.

3. Spoon 2 tablespoons dressing into medium bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat with dressing.

4. Cut off crown and stem ends from pineapple. Stand pineapple upright and slice off rind and eyes. Cut pineapple lengthwise into 8 wedges, then cut off core from each wedge.

5. Place wedges on hot grill grate and cook about 10 minutes or until lightly charred and tender, turning once. Place shrimp in grill basket on same grill grate with pineapple wedges and

cook 5 to 8 minutes or until opaque throughout, turning once. Transfer shrimp to large bowl. Transfer pineapple to cutting board and cut into 1/2-inch chunks.

6. Lightly spray both sides of tortillas with cooking spray and place on hot grill grate. Cook tortillas 4 to 5 minutes or until toasted, turning over once.

7. To bowl with shrimp, add greens, en dive, pineapple and remaining basil and dressing; toss to coat. Place 2 tortillas on each of 6 plates; top with salad.

 Each serving: About 350 calories, 11g total fat (2g saturated), 23g protein, 43g carbo hydrates, 140mg cholesterol, 420mg sodium, 6g fiber.

Watermelon Lemonade

Juicy melon perks makes up a refreshing drink that will be an immediate favorite for kids and adults alike.

5 cups seedless watermelon (1-inch chunks)

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup sugar

Ice

1. In a blender, puree watermelon, lemon

to

Serve over

Makes 3 1/2 cups, or 4 servings.

* *

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

NEXT WEEK in

TIDBITS INVESTIGATES SOME OF

History's Mysteries

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Curb Your Frustration

10/23 Mother-in-Law Day

10/24 United Nations Day

10/25 Senior Health and Fitness Day

10/26 Chicken Fried Steak Day

10/27 Cheer Up a Cranky Co-worker Day

10/28 National First Responders Day

10/29 National Stroke Awareness Day

Frustration is foe to both human and dog. Frustrated people make frustrated dogs; frustrated dogs make frustrated people. Frustrated people and dogs make mistakes out of frustration.

He shouldn’t do it.

He doesn’t listen.

He won’t come to me.

He should know better.

All said in that pinched, exasperated, tee tering-on-the-edge tone.

Have you trained him? I ask. I always ask.

And the answer is always no.

Then how would he know better from worse? How would he know what you want? How would he know what he’s hearing? How would he know?

Do I sound frustrated?

It may surprise some to know that chew ing, jumping, howling, barking, nipping, running and chasing are things dogs should do. These are normal and natural canine behaviors.

Training teaches a dog to behave the way you, a human, want him to behave -- which is typi cally a deviation from natural animal behavior.

Dogs jump to catch balls, to chase but terflies, to intimidate squirrels, to play with other dogs. Teaching your dog not to jump on you is the beginning of showing him that it is not OK to jump on humans in general. You are teaching him an ex ception to his normal dog behavior -- and he can learn this, from you, if you teach him.

Dogs chew because it feels good and satis fies a natural urge. You can’t take away the urge, but you can teach him that it is OK to chew on a Nylabone or a chew toy, and it’s not OK to chew on the leg of a chair. There is a difference. But you must teach him.

Dogs bark to communicate. It’s as natural as breathing. If you don’t want your dog to bark, ever, you shouldn’t have a dog. But it is reasonable and necessary to set limits on your dog’s barking. If he is trained to stop at “enough,” he will stop at “enough.” But you must teach him.

Wuzzles

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

© King Features Synd., Inc.

Cutting Down on Scam Phone Calls

Welcome to the season of increased scam telemarketer phone calls, either political or holiday related. This is the time of year that these nuisance calls hit their peak.

The National Do Not Call Registry is a government program intended to block unwanted sales calls. It’s a free service, and all you have to do is sign up either on your phone or on the inter net.

Call 888-382-1222 from the phone you want to block and follow the steps. Or go online to donotcall.gov and read the info. A word of warn ing: If you register your number online, you are also required to enter an email address. They’ll send you a note asking you to click a link in that email to complete the registration to stop unwanted calls -- if indeed they stop at all.

Blocking scammers on the registry doesn’t take care of the whole problem. The FAQ on the site says that certain types of calls are allowed: po

The Art of DESIGN by Joseph Publillones

Why White?

It seems like everything that’s old is new again. Throughout interior design history, time and again, designers are faced with the request to create an all-white decorating scheme. An all-white room can seem easy. Doesn’t it? What could possibly be so difficult about putting the same color on everything in a room? Well, sorry to burst your design bub ble, but monochromatic rooms -- especially all-white rooms -- often have a dozen or more shades of white.

Technically, white is the lightest color, but as an achromatic color, it has no specific hue. However, white can seemingly take on hints of other colors, as it reflects light and other items around it. Therefore, it is normal to notice nuanced other colors in white, such as yellow, pink, green, blue and black. White is the ultimate neutral. It can be paired with any other color for an up-to-date color scheme. But for some, white is most powerful as a stand-alone color.

All-white decorating schemes can be beautiful, as they exemplify simplicity and el egance. For some, it is the holy grail of design, the ultimate chic interior design. This decorating scheme is quite flexible. It can serve as a good foil for antiques and contemporary furnishings with equal aplomb. It is effective as a clean backdrop for artwork, allowing each piece to seem to float in

litical, charitable, debt collection, informational and surveys. Think about all the loopholes that leaves. I maintain that receiving a political call is still a sales call -- they’re trying to sell us on the idea of voting a certain way, and therefore political calls also should be blocked in the Do Not Call Registry. Surveys can be just as bad if the questions they ask are clearly skewed in one direction or another. I see charitable calls as scams if they ask for your personal banking or credit-card information. Ad ditionally, if you’ve ever previously done business with a company, they’re allowed to call you.

Cody’s Corner (from

Puppies nip. Dogs howl. And anyone who loves dogs derives an almost giddy satisfaction from watching them run and chase and play and come to a screeching halt to collapse in the com forting shade of a tree. There is simply nothing bet ter.

Final Changes DUE: 5:00

So, while there are holes in the system, you can take steps to stop at least some of the calls by registering with Do Not Call.

As an aside, I called the registry to verify that my phone is already listed. And, yes, it is, despite all the calls I still get, it’s been listed as a do-not-call number since 2006.

Final Changes DUE: 5:00

The extra dollar or two I pay on my my phone bill for Caller I.D. is well worth it. If I don't recognize the phone number coming in I simply don't answer. If it's a legitimate call they can leave a message and I'll simply call them back.

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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

At the heart of dog training is compromise. You want there to be joy in the activities you do to gether. When you are walking together, you should be walking together. You don’t want to be dragged down the street, and your dog doesn’t want to be yanked and jerked into submission. Teaching “heel” is the compromise. When walking in “heel,” you walk together. Otherwise, your dog gets to be a dog. He gets to sniff and explore and run and chase and thrill you to tears simply by being himself: a dog, a great dog.

Woof!

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Venice Motorcars LLC c/o Jay Saukkonen

1/16 pg 1C Open Rate

June 12, 2022 Vol. 18 -No. 24

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.

the room and letting the colors of each work of art and furnishing shine on their own.

Many homeowners swear by an all-white kitchen or an all-white bathroom. These are clas sic schemes that can be highlighted by colorful accessories, such as kitchen canisters and equip ment as well as colorful towels and bathmats.

It is important to note that all-white is not good everywhere. Light sources -- both natural and from lighting fixtures -- affect the how the color reads. White also changes appearance depend ing the finishes of a room’s surfaces. Shiny and glossy surfaces reflect light and help it bounce around, whereas matte surfaces will absorb almost any re flection.

White rooms, in or der to create interest, rely heavily on textures, such as a fabric with a woven pattern. Also, the grain of wood in a piece of furniture adds to its aesthetic ap peal.

Sometimes, a white room can look a bit stark. A white room can be tamed by adding different shades of white and offwhite, creating a warmer feeling. White can also be manipulated by adding soft shades of gray -- from pale oyster white to more definitive pale grays.

White rooms are easy to accessorize and make changes to. This is part of their staying pow er. This classic design scheme is around to stay and is always interesting in its various iterations. * * *

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

Social Security Pop-up Ads Are So Misleading

In the last month or so, I’ve written two columns about Social Security “news” articles I’ve seen in various publications with misleading head lines that are intended to lure you into reading the rest of the story. What’s contained in the article is never as dramatic or newsworthy as the exagger ated headline would indicate.

These Social Security ruses also show up in the form of “pop-up” ads while you are online. For example, today I was online at a news website when an ad with this headline popped up: “Seven reasons why you may not get your Social Security check!” Even though I knew the content was going to be mostly bogus, I just had to click to see where this was going. I also wanted to save my readers the anxiety of worrying that they may never get any Social Security, or that their current benefits might stop.

As always, these come-ons contain little molehills of truth hidden among mountains of mis leading information. So anyway, according to this particular pop-up propaganda, here are the seven reasons people may not receive Social Security benefits.

Reason No. 1: Moving to a foreign country

Well, that statement by itself is very mis leading. You can move almost anywhere on the planet and your Social Security benefits will follow you. But there is a small list of countries where So cial Security benefits cannot be sent. As the article eventually pointed out, your checks will be stopped if you move to Cuba, North Korea and most of those “-stan” countries that made up the former So viet Union (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, etc.) I’m sure 99.9% of the people who were lured into this pop-up ad have absolutely no intention of moving to any of those countries. So, my point is: Why scare all these folks with misleading informa tion that doesn’t apply to them?

Reason No. 2: Dying before reaching age 62

Well, duh! Of course you won’t get any So cial Security retirement benefits if you die before you are old enough to claim them! At least the arti cle correctly pointed out that your spouse or minor children will probably be due survivor benefits on your record.

Reason No. 3: Divorce (sometimes)

Actually, the vast majority of divorced women (and 95% of these cases involve women) will almost assuredly get benefits on their own So cial Security record, on the record of their former husband or on the record of their current husband.

(Many divorced women remarry and end up get ting benefits on their new husband’s account.) The only divorced women who would end up with no Social Security at all would be those who divorced before their 10th anniversary (you must be mar ried 10 years to qualify for divorced spouse bene fits), who never remarried, and who never worked, meaning they have no Social Security of their own. And in my 50 years of dealing with Social Security issues, I never met a single woman in that boat.

Reason No. 4: If you have too few Social Security credits

Well, this is another great big “Duh!” Who doesn’t know that you have to work and pay Social Security taxes for a minimum of 10 years to qual ify for Social Security retirement benefits? And in my half-century of Social Security experience, I’ve learned there are only two groups of people who don’t have enough Social Security credits by the time they reach retirement age. One group is mar ried women who choose to stay home and be fulltime mothers and homemakers. However, they will always qualify for benefits on their husband’s So cial Security record. The other group is made up of state, local and some federal government workers who pay into a separate retirement program and not into Social Security. But of course, they end up getting a pension from their own retirement sys tem.

Reason No. 5: Being a noncitizen

If you entered this country legally and have worked and paid Social Security taxes, you will qualify for benefits just like anyone else. And legally residing noncitizens who have never worked could get dependent or survivor benefits from a spouse’s Social Security record (assuming they meet all the other eligibility requirements). However, their ben efits may stop if they move out of the United States. The only noncitizens who will never get Social Se curity are those undocumented workers who came to this country illegally.

Reason No. 6: Having worked infrequently

This is just a rehash of the points made in Reason No. 4. (My hunch is the writer of this piece originally had six reasons, but his or her editor said seven were needed, so they added this redundant bit.) Anyway, once again, the rules say you must work and pay taxes for a minimum of 10 years to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits.

Reason No. 7: You failed the Social Security earn ings test

Well, this might be the only bit of realistic and helpful information in the entire piece. The “earnings test” referred to says this: If you file for Social Security, if you are under your full retirement age and if you are still working, one dollar must be withheld from your benefits for every two dollars you earn over a prescribed annual limit. That limit is $19,560 in 2022. I’ve written many past columns explaining why I don’t like this law. Social Security beneficiaries under full retirement age who are working and making more than the earnings limit always end up getting more Social Security benefits than they are due, and then they must pay back the overpaid amounts.

Here’s some good advice for my readers. Instead of clicking on these misleading pop-up ads, you should read my new book: “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” I just read the book from cover to cover for the first time since turning it over to my syndicator for publication, and I forgot how really good and helpful it is. Try it. You can get it for less than 10 bucks on Amazon.com.

* * *

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.

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

2. From Acts 20:3, how many years did Paul stay in Greece? a) Three b) Five c) Seven d) Eight

3. What is the shortest book in the New Testament? a) Luke b) Titus c) Jude d) 3 John

4. Who was the only woman to rule over Judah? a) Athaliah b) Deborah c) Eunice d) Dorcas

5. Which of these appeared earliest in the Bible? a) Jacob b) Abraham c) Moses d) Samuel

6. What does the biblical name of "Nabal" mean? a) Mighty b) Wise c) Thief d) Fool

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.

COPYRIGHT

Proof:

Physician Revokes Driver’s License Without Explanation

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife’s handicap parking placard expired, and she asked her primary care physician to fill out a renewal application. The new placard was received, followed by a letter from the DMV instructing my wife to return her license within 10 days because a medical professional had deemed it unsafe for her to drive. There was no discussion with my wife about driving.

My wife had a stroke about two years ago, but there are no obvious signs that she shouldn’t be driving outside of that. She recently had a Watchman device placed, but no one ever said she shouldn’t drive. My wife has had no symptoms since the surgery.

She saw the cardiologist who per formed the Watchman surgery, and he said she is doing well. She also saw her regular cardiologist, and he also said she is doing well. She saw both of these doctors after see ing the physician who notified the DMV that she should not drive.

I have seen the after-visit notes of all the doctors my wife has seen in the last three months. All say that she is doing well. The doctor involved said, in her notes, “She is doing well, no concerns.” She has not had any device implanted to maintain rhythm. Was it unethical to not discuss revoking my wife’s license with her before doing it? -- Anon.

ANSWER: The Watchman device is placed to reduce the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation (AFib), a rhythm disturbance of the heart. Its placement has no bearing on her driving, but AFib potentially does. AFib does predispose people to strokes and, occasionally, to a heart rate so fast that they can’t think prop erly. Conceivably, a person could have a stroke or a very fast heart rate while driving, but this is a very rare cause of motor-vehicle accidents. The most common medical cause for impairment while driving is epilepsy, which is a whole sepa rate discussion.

There are international guidelines to help clinicians decide whether a person with a his tory of arrhythmia is safe to drive. In the case of atrial fibrillation, the guidelines are consistent that only if a person is having symptoms or is incapacitated should they stop driving, and they may resume once the symptoms or incapacity is better. From what you tell me, she had no reason for her driving to be restricted. Unless her pri mary care physician knows something that you haven’t told me, this decision was not supported by consensus guidelines.

Was the decision ethical? I don’t think so. An ethical decision is one that minimizes harm, both to your wife and to the community. Your wife has been harmed, and I don’t think the commu nity is safer because she can’t drive. I don’t think she was treated fairly. Lack of truth-telling under mines trust, which is essential for ethical patient care.

It is possible that the decision to restrict her driving privileges was done in error, either by her physician or by the DMV. I do feel strongly

that her physician should have told her that her driving privileges would be restricted: This would have allowed for some discussion, perhaps with her cardiologists, and would remove the question of whether there was an error.

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VETERANS POST 

by Freddie Groves

Suicide Rates Are Down

The Department of Veterans Affairs recent ly released its 2022 National Veteran Suicide Pre vention Annual Report. Suicide numbers are down, they say, for the second year in a row.

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At the same time, they announced the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grants, a program that gives money to communi ty organizations to create suicide prevention pro grams, and authorized $174 million to be handed out over the course of three years to provide those services.

The list of groups that received the grants is impressive, with most receiving the maximum amount of $750,000. But it’s the groups that re ceived lesser amounts that arouse curiosity. War Horses for Veterans received one-third the maxi mum amount, yet they’re very hands-on, matching horses with veterans and first responders under stress to help them recover from trauma.

United States Veterans Initiative provides job assistance, rental assistance and much more, but they received only a small grant. Community Building Art Works received a similarly small grant to provide writing and art workshops for veterans and family members in all counties of three states. Legal Aid Society got half the largest amount to handle legal assistance for the whole state of Ken tucky.

Declining suicide numbers are no guar antee that veterans are under less stress. In 2020, there were 6,146 veteran suicides. That year had the lowest number since 2006, but we need to look at overall rates to see what it really means. While veteran suicide numbers fell by 9.7% between 2018 and 2020, the civilian numbers fell by 5.5%.

And just so you know, Staff Sgt. Parker Gordon Fox, for whom the grant is named, was a sniper instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia, when he died in 2020 of suicide at age 25. Fox, a talented musician, left his parents and many relatives, as well as his dog, Willie Nelson Fox, and a 1962 Gib son guitar.

If you or someone you know is in trouble, call 988 and press 1. Or go online to www.Veteran sCrisisLine.net, and chat or text to 838255.

There’s help 24/7. Don’t wait.

M.D.

by Jim Miller

Home Sharing: A Growing Trend Among Baby Boomers

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I saw a news segment on television a few months ago about home sharing programs for seniors and would like to learn more. I’m 68, divorced, and interested in renting out a room in my house to help make ends meet. What advice can you give me? --Interested Boomer

Dear Boomer: Because of inflation and rising housing costs a growing number of baby boomers are opting to rent out a spare room in their house as a way to generate some extra income, and for some, as a way for companion ship. To find a good fit, older homeowners often turn to “home sharing programs” that will match an empty nester with someone needing afford able housing.

Final

But be aware that home sharing isn’t for everyone. You need to carefully consider the pros and cons of renting out a spare room in your house and make a list of what you want and don’t want in a housemate/renter.

To help you figure all this out, a good resource is SharingHousing.com, a website dedicated to understanding the home shar ing concept. They offer various articles, online lessons and resource books that can help you determine if this is a good option for you, and if so, how to find and choose a good housemate.

Home Sharing Tools

If you decide to proceed in finding a housemate/renter, a good first step is to seek out a home sharing program in your area.

Home sharing programs, usually nonprof its, screen both homeowners and renters. They check references, handle background checks and consider lifestyle criteria when making matches. They can also help you with the leas ing agreement that the renter would sign that covers detailed issues like smoking preferences, pets, chores, overnight guests, use of common rooms, quiet hours, etc.

Most home sharing programs are free to use or request a small donation. Others, how ever, may charge the homeowner and potential renter a set fee for this service. To look for a home sharing program in your area visit the Na tional Shared Housing Resource Center website at NationalSharedHousing.org

If you don’t find a program that serves your area, you can also search for housemates through an online home sharing service like Silvernest.com. Or, if you’d rather have a younger housemate that can help out with some household chores, consider Nesterly.com. This is an online home sharing agency, available in a few select communities, that matches young renters with older adults looking to supplement their incomes and share their space.

If you don’t have any luck with any of

these home sharing sites, put a call in to your Area Aging Agency (call 800-677-1116 for con tact information) who may be able to offer assis tance or refer you to local agencies or nonprofit organizations that offer shared housing help.

You can also check with your local senior or community center, or local church you attend to see if you can post an ad on their bulletin board or in their newsletter. Or you can advertise in your local newspaper or online at sites like CraigsList.org or RoomMates.com

ADVERTISING

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If you find someone on your own that you’re interested in renting to, ask the prospec tive renter to fill out a rental application (see RentalLeaseAgreement.org to download and print one for free) and run a tenant screening and background check, and then call their refer ences. Tenant screening/background checks can be done at sites like E-renter.com or MySmart Move.com

* *

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.

How Much Will My Drug Plan Cost?

Medicare drug plans have different cov erage, formularies and costs. Some plans have a deductible, and some do not. Medicare drug plans are required to meet the Medicare “stan dard level of coverage” to be considered “cred ible coverage.” How much you pay for your 2023 new plan will depend on its premium, your cur rent medications, the plan’s NEW 2023 formulary and the in or out of network pharmacy at which you shop.

Lots of people in the Coachella Valley qualify for “Extra Help or Low-income subsidies” (LIS) and do not even know they could be getting their medications at a drastically reduced cost or even not having to pay for them at all. Some of these pharmaceutical companies have special programs available to help offset the huge price of some well-known medications. We help our client identify if they could qualify and provide information on how to apply for those benefits.

How is Part D coverage different from Part B coverage for certain drugs?

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) includes limited drug coverage. It doesn’t cover most drugs you get at the pharmacy. You’ll need to join a prescription drug plan to get Medicare coverage for drugs for most chronic conditions, for instance, high blood pressure.

Part B covers certain drugs, like injec tions you get in a doctor’s office, certain oral cancer drugs, and drugs used with some types of durable medical equipment, i.e. a nebulizer or external infusion pump. Under very limited circumstances, Part B covers certain drugs you get in a hospital outpatient setting. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for these covered drugs. Part B also covers the flu, and pneumococcal shots. Medicare drug plans cover other vaccines, and a few plans will even cover the shingles vaccine.

Note: Medicare Part A (Hospital Insur ance) or Part B generally doesn’t cover self-ad ministered drugs you get in an outpatient setting such as in an emergency room, observation unit, surgery center, or pain clinic. Your Medicare drug plan may cover these drugs under certain cir cumstances. You’ll likely need to pay out-of-pock et for the entire cost of these drugs and send in a claim to your drug plan for a refund of the portion not covered. Call your plan for more information.

Are you paying too much for your drug plan? This is your Medicare Annual Enroll ment Period to review and make any drug plan changes.

CALL US TODAY to schedule an ap pointment. Our services are always FREE to you.

Ref: https://www.medicare.gov/pubs/ pdf/11109-Your-Guide-to-Medicare-Prescrip-Drug-Cov.pdf

“The Wright Advice” is a column about YOUR Medicare and Health Insurance, by Doug Wright of Wright Health Insurance Agency.

Call or email Doug with your questions:

• phone: 760-264-4600

*Due to COVID-19, phone and virtual appointments are available.

• email: Doug@WrightHealthAgency.com Visit our website at: www.WrightHealthAgency.com

Property of AdVenture Media, Inc.

Local

Valley resident Doug Wright has

By

JUNQUE

Anne McCollam

Stoneware the Work of a Dynamic Duo

Q: This is a photo of a small, shallow pottery bowl that was given to me for a wed ding gift in 1995. It has varying shades of taupe glaze and is decorated with abstract shapes and flowers. Marked on the back are the words “Wishon Harrell - Muncie -- Ind. -1992.” It is in perfect condition and around 9 inches in diameter.

I have always wondered who Wishon Har rell is, and I would like to know more about the background on my bowl. What can you tell me?

A: Wishon Harrell is not the name of a single artist. Many collectors and dealers believe Wishon Harrell is the name of one potter. They are the last names of two artists who had studios in the 1990s in Muncie, Ind. and San Diego, Calif.

Jim Wishon hand threw clay on the potter’s wheel and Jerry Harrell decorated each piece. Al though in the past there has been little information on the two artists, recently more has become avail able. Harrell passed away sometime in the 1990s, ending an era of excellent, hand thrown stoneware collaboration. More of their work has been show ing up on eBay and prices can be found from less than $100 to as high as $1000. Similar stoneware bowls are selling in the range of $50 to $75.

gave my great-grandmother around 1920. The plate is decorated with pastel flowers and green leaves against a white background. It is 12 inches in diameter, has handles and gold trim. It is in mint condition.

It was passed along to me from my moth er. I would never part with it, but I would like to know more about its history.

A: Morimura Bros., Inc., located in New York City, used the mark you provided. The company imported porcelain from Japan. The word “Nip pon” is the Japanese word for Japan. This mark was used from 1891 to around 1920. In 1891, the McKinley Tariff required objects imported to the United States be marked with the country of ori gin. Your plate was designed to serve desserts or sandwiches. Your dessert plate would probably fetch $75 to $125.

Nippon Porcelain was imported from Japan.

* * *

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. 24, 1921, from among 77,000 United States servicemen killed on the West ern Front during World War I, the body of the first soldier to be honored is selected in the French town of Chalons-sur-Marne. Four bod ies were selected to become the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C

* On Oct. 25, 1983, President Ronald Rea gan orders 2,000 Marines to invade Grenada to protect the 1,000 Americans there at the time, many of them students at the island’s medical school. Codenamed “Operation Ur gent Fury,” the fighting was over in four days.

* On Oct. 26, 1881, the Earp brothers battle the Clanton-McLaury gang in a shootout in a vacant lot behind the O.K. Corral in Tomb stone, Arizona. The gunfight only took 30 seconds, but 30 shots were fired and several were killed. Two were charged with murder, but a judge later found them not guilty.

* On Oct. 27, 1904, the New York City sub way opens. The line traveled 9.1 miles through 28 stations. More than 100,000 people paid a nickel each to take their first ride. Today there are 26 lines, the longest running 32 miles.

* On Oct. 28, 1998, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act is signed into law. The act strengthened copyright protections and al lowed copyright holders to issue “takedown” notices to individuals or companies who en gaged in infringing use of a copyrighted work.

* On Oct. 29, 1969, Bobby Seale, a mem ber of the “Chicago Eight,” is gagged during his murder trial on orders of the judge to stop Seale’s outbursts. The “Chicago Eight” were charged with crossing state lines to cause an ti-war demonstrations in Chicago. Seale was eventually sentenced to 48 months in prison for the outbursts alone, but the murder por tion of his trial ended with a hung jury and the contempt charges were dropped.

* On Oct. 30, 1864, the town of Helena, Montana, is founded by four gold miners at a location they called Last Chance Gulch. Min ers flooded to the area by the thousands, find ing $19 million in gold in four years. By 1894, Helena was the capital of Montana.

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

FIGURE

COPYRIGHT

CREATORS.COM

I have enclosed the mark on the bottom of a porcelain plate that my great-grandfather

Jim Wishon and Jerry Harrell produced stoneware in Muncie, IN and San Diego, CA in the 1990s.

"Next time I get to choose the courseand for quality instead of the cheapest green fees!"

they’ve found food before. And they really experience the taste of that food! A human has approximately 9,000 taste buds, while the pig has an estimated 15,000!

• Not everything about pigs is good news, however. Pigs can carry parasites and diseases that can prove fatal to humans. Roundworm parasites known as trichinella can live and reproduce in swine, and humans can get the infection by eating undercooked pork.

• While most pigs are not aggressive, they have been known to charge and attack humans if they think their offspring are being threatened. Wild feral hogs cause upwards of $1.5 billion in damages to U.S. crops, forests, livestock, fences, and pastures every year. There are an estimated five million of this destructive species in 38 states today, with 2.6 million in Texas alone.

• A pig is sent to the slaughterhouse when it reaches between 250 and 300 lbs., around six months of age for most pigs.

• Besides the common culinary products bacon, sausage, bratwurst, ribs, chops, and ham there is a wide range of at least 185 different by-products produced from pigs. For example, pork gelatin acts as a gelling agent in many types of candy and marshmallows. It’s used in beer, wine, and fruit juices to absorb the cloudiness of the beverages, as well as a stabilizer in whipped cream and cream cheese. Pork glycerin is an ingredient in toothpaste, shampoo, soaps, and lotions. Pigs’ hair is often used as bristles in the manufacture of paint brushes, and is also an ingredient in some fertilizers and weed killers.

• In the medical world, because the human heart valve and that of the pig are very similar in structure and function, pigs’ heart valves are used to surgically replace heart valves for humans. A transplanted heart valve taken from a pig can work efficiently for 15 years and longer.

• Because pig hearts are very similar in size, anatomy and function as human hearts, research is underway to determine whether they could be successfully used for human transplantation. If so, it would greatly alleviate the existing shortages of donor human hearts.

Game Changers

Jason Jenkins

Play

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Contact

ADVERTISING PROOF

Hybrid Wins

When I’m on the course with a student who’s facing a long shot from the rough, they typically reach for their 3 wood without hesita tion. This particular problem is magnified when trying to carry a water hazard or bunker. It seems that the yardage takes precedence over the lie in most of the decisions.

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.

Unfortunately, when it comes to a battle between the 3 wood and a hybrid…. the hybrid wins.

Due to a poor lie in most of these cases, a low lofted (14 degrees), long shafted, high center of gravity clubhead makes it difficult to get a clean hit or much height on the shot. The hybrid, with its shorter shaft, higher loft (17 de grees), and lower center of gravity, gives aver age swing speeds a chance to hit pro-like shots.

especially when it comes to the small arch in the lower back.

players take the finish position

extra attention. The body is contorting into an unusual position and needs to be balanced to be

termediate

When

the finish position requires

with

lot of beginning to in

Tuck It Under

Play these difficult lies more like an iron shot as well, with a more descending strike intention. So the next time the ball sits down in the rough, pass over the 3 wood and grab that hybrid instead. It might save you a few strokes your next round.

Jason Jenkins was a 16-year

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Jim McLean

of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teacher

Office:

was

1999-2010. He was named one of

Digest Top Teachers in California in

Contact Jason at 760-485-2452 or devgolfinstr@gmail.com

JACK NICKLAUS

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Jason Jenkins was a 16-year member of the Jim McLean Golf School teaching staff and was one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100

Teacher Nominees 1999-2010. He was named one of the Golf Digest Top Teachers in California in 2011. Contact Jason at 760-485-2452 or devgolfinstr@gmail.com

Game Changers by Jason Jenkins

Poor finish position Correct finish position

Jason Jenkins was a 16-year member of the Jim McLean Golf School teaching staff. He was one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teacher Nominees 1999-2010 and has been named one of the Golf Digest Top Teachers in California. Jason teaches at GOLFTEC CENTER in Indio. Contact him at jjenkins@golftec.com

WE

A CRITICAL BLOOD SHORTAGE.

Linda