Vol. 18: #44 • History's Mysteries • (10-30-2022) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

History's

Mysteries

by Kathy Wolfe

The unexplained…the unresolved…the unanswered. This week Tidbits investigates some baffling happenings whose endings haven’t yet been written.

• In November of 1872, the merchant ship Mary Celeste left New York harbor with Captain Briggs, his wife, daughter, and eight crew members, destined for Italy. A month later the ship was discovered adrift in the Atlantic with no one onboard. The captain’s log and the life boat were missing, but otherwise the undamaged ship and its cargo was intact. Neither the life boat nor the travelers were ever seen again.

• The ship was reclaimed for commercial use but was plagued by so many strange mishaps and spontaneous onboard fires that many refused to sail on her. Three captains had died aboard the Mary Celeste before it ultimately shipwrecked, becoming permanently stuck in the Rochelais Reef off the coast of Haiti. What is left of the ship has been historically authenticated and is still there today. Many refer to it as the skeletal remains of a “ghost ship from hell.”

1. MYTHOLOGY: What are the Nereids in Greek mythology?

2. LITERATURE: Which 19th-cen tury English novel has the subtitle, “The Parish Boy’s Progress”?

3. ACRONYMS: In printing, what does the acronym DPI stand for?

4. GEOGRAPHY: Which city lies near the largest natural harbor in the world?

5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How does a bat find its prey?

6. HISTORY: Who is the youngest person to win a Nobel Peace Prize?

7. LANGUAGE: What does the Lat in prefix “super-” mean in English?

8. LAW: What is double jeopardy?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Who founded the American Red Cross?

10. MEDICAL: What vitamin defi

p.m..

NASA's exploration program includes space probing satellite missions launched for the purpose of gathering vital information from distant planets. They transmit photos and other important data back to Earth, and then, once their mission is accomplished, they are commanded to self-distruct. Here's a look at two such "suicide” missions.

• NASA’s Magellan spacecraft, launched from space shuttle Atlantis in 1989, was the first deep space probe launched by a space shuttle. Named after the Portuguese explorer, it was assembled using spare parts from prior missions. It was sent on a mission to rendezvous with Venus, which it reached on August 10, 1990.

• The spacecraft began returning high-quality radar images of the surface of Venus that showed evidence of volcanism, tectonic movement, turbulent winds, miles of lava channels, and many curious pancake-shaped domes.

discovered four of Saturn’s 82 moons, was NASA’s probe to Saturn. Piggybacking along was the European Space Agency’s Huygens (pronounced "hoy-gynz"), named for the Dutch astronomer who discovered Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. The ride-along Huygens was designed to land on Titan.

• Huygens was released from Cassini on December 25, 2004. Plunging into Titan’s atmosphere, the probe survived the two hour 27 minute descent and touched down on Titan’s frozen surface. It transmitted data for another 72 minutes before contact was lost.

• Huygens was the first landing on any celestial body beyond Mars. Data transmitted included 350 pictures that showed a shoreline with erosion features and a river delta. Huygens’ remains still lie on the surface of Titan.

• Cassini was the first space probe to orbit Saturn, entering Saturn’s orbit on June 30, 2004. The intrepid satellite was originally slated for only a four-year mission, yet it continued to remain in service until 2017. Cassini conducted nearly 300 orbits of Saturn, taking more than 453,000 pictures. It performed many fly-bys of Jupiter’s moons, studied Titan, and discovered six more moons including two that may harbor life. Cassini also examined Saturn’s atmosphere, revealed much about the make-up of Saturn’s rings, and sent back 635 gigabytes of data.

Office:

• Magellan completed its first 243-day cycle (the time it took for Venus to rotate once under Magellan’s orbit) of radar mapping on May 15, 1991, providing the first clear views of 83.7% of the surface.

• The spacecraft returned 1,200 gigabits of data. Keep in mind that at this point in history, NASA’s total data for all planetary missions combined equaled only 900 gigabits. Magellan was expected to last only a single cycle, yet it persisted through a second and third cycle, which mapped 98% of the surface and showed that 85% of Venus is covered with volcanic flows. Magellan accomplished three more cycles which ended in 1994, far beyond the expected lifespan of the space probe. Only then did it begin to malfunction.

• NASA controllers commanded the spacecraft to drop into the Venusian atmosphere. Contact was lost on Oct. 13, 1994, as it continued to gather data while it plunged to its demise. Magellan burned up in the atmosphere, concluding one of NASA’s most successful deep space missions.

***

• The combined Cassini–Huygens spacecraft was launched on October 15, 1997. Cassini, named after the French/Italian astronomer who

email: valleybits@msn.com

• In 2017, as Cassini neared the end of its life, NASA programmed it to fly in ever-closer orbit to the surface of Saturn in a “Grand Finale” before it was instructed to plunge into the surface, transmitting valuable data as it did so. Scientists feared that otherwise, an inoperative and out-of-control Cassini might end up crash landing into one of Saturn’s many moons, possibly contaminating it with bacteria that might have survived the voyage from Earth. □

email: valleybits@msn.com

• On June 1, 1937, aviatrix Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan departed Miami on a highly publicized 29,000 mile journey attempting to circumnavigate the globe. Their last contact was on July 2 from the vicinity of Howland Island in the central Pacific Ocean, just 7,000 miles from completing their goal.

• Earhart stated in her last radio transmission that the plane was low on fuel. Efforts to make contact with her after that were unsuccessful. Within an hour of that last contact, organized searches began, including 60 planes launched from an aircraft carrier that patrolled the area until July 18, looking for some sign of them, but finding nothing. The Earhart plane had disappeared without a single trace.

• The official version of her disappearance is that she ran out of fuel, crashed and sank in the 18,000-foot-deep ocean. However, news stories abounded with contradicting versions of the mystery, one claiming that the plane went down in the Marshall Islands and the pair were picked up by the Japanese, imprisoned and executed in Saipan. Another holds that they remained castaways and lived out their lives on a Pacific island. Scores of searches have been launched over the years, with the most recent in 2022, when a forensic expert published evidence claiming that bones discovered on

Nikumaroro Island may well be hers. However, conclusive evidence has never been proven and the mystery remains unsolved.

***

• In 1587, Englishman John White led a group of 120 colonists to establish a settlement on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. Just a few weeks later, his daughter gave birth to the first English child born in the New World. Shortly afterward, a shortage of supplies sent White back to England for povisions. His return to North Carolina was drastically delayed for three years by a naval war with Spain.

• When White finally landed back on Roanoke in 1590, the settlers had vanished without a trace. The buildings had collapsed and houses were dismantled. The only clue left to their whereabouts was the word “Croatoan” carved on a fence post and “CRO” on a tree.

• Some believe this referred to Croatoan Island (Hatteras Island today), 50 miles south. It was also the name of a small group of Native Americans in the area. Searches turned up no survivors, but it may well be that the settlers sought help from the tribes and were gradually assimilated.

• A 1709 publication quoted Croatans who claimed to have white ancestors, and early colonists reported encounters with gray-eyed Native Americans, but no records exist beyond these sketchy reports, and the answer for the mysterious disappearance of the 120 settlers is still unknown.

***

• In November of 1971, after paying $18.52 for a ticket, Dan Cooper boarded a Boeing 727 on Northwest Airlines Flight 305 in Portland, Oregon, along with 36 others, bound for Seattle. (A press communication later mislabeled the man as “D.B. Cooper,” and that version stuck.)

• Shortly into the flight, Cooper passed a note to the flight attendant, advising her that his briefcase contained a bomb. Thinking he was giving her his phone number, she stuck the unopened note into her pocket. Her indifference caused Cooper to speak to her, “Miss, you’d better look at that note. I have a bomb.” The note listed a demand for $200,000 in unmarked $20 bills and four parachutes.

• After hasty radio communication between the now-alarmed pilots and the Seattle police, Cooper received his requested cash and parachutes when the plane landed in Seattle.

He set the passengers free, and commanded the pilot to fly him to Mexico City, flying “low and slow” below 10,000 feet, and to open the rear cargo door. Five Air Force fighter planes tailed the jet, but not a soul witnessed Cooper’s jump into the cold, rainy night somewhere between Seattle and Reno, Nevada. D.B. Cooper has never been seen again.

• Nine years later, a family’s camping vacation led to the discovery of some of D.B. Cooper’s ransom money. An eight-year-old boy

Mysteries: Turn to page

QUIZ BITS

NUGGETS

In 2013, a California couple unearthed 1,400

in

buried in their back yard. It was later revealed that $30,000 worth of similar

had been stolen from the U.S. Mint in San Francisco in 1901. No one was ever convicted of the crime. Today the coins' estimated value nears $13 million.

1.VERNALEQUINOX

1.What’s

1. Who is Yeti?

2. Where does Nessie supposedly live?

By Lucie Winborne

* A border collie named Saul took a leaf out of another (albeit fictional) ca nine’s book, being praised as a “real-life Lassie” when he led two members of a search party to his owner after the man lay injured the woods while on a hike.

* Nutmeg can produce a hallucino genic effect if taken in a high enough quantity.

* It’s not just trees that help provide us humans with oxygen -- about half of that in our atmosphere is a byproduct of photosynthesis from the microscopic sea algae known as phytoplankton.

* Rhubarb grows so fast you can actu ally hear it!

* Legend holds that when a pope dies, it’s the custom to strike him on the head three times with a silver hammer to en sure he’s really deceased.

* A survey revealed that nearly half of the unmarried gents polled washed their bedsheets a mere four times a year, in stead of the recommended once per week. Singletons, there may be a les son in there.

* May never begins or ends on the same day of the week as any other month in any given year.

* Proof that crime doesn’t pay ... even in space! Earlier this year, Canada passed a law allowing prosecution of crimes committed by the country’s astronauts on the moon or on their way to it.

***

Thought for the Day: “Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shad ows will fall behind you.”

- Walt Whitman

Synd., Inc.

CHEAPSKATE

by Mary Hunt

A Valuable Money Lesson for the Kids

the opportunity cost. Let’s say you’ve got $10 in your pocket. You can either save it or spend it. If there are four things you want to buy with that $10, you have to make a choice. Let’s say you choose to buy a cool poster. You gave up the choice of saving it. So that becomes your oppor tunity cost.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE

by Mary Hunt

Don’t assume your kids are going to learn in school how to manage money well. There is a growing recognition for the need, but few children are lucky enough to learn about money matters in school. If you have kids, teaching them about money rests squarely on your shoulders. So, how are you doing with that? Don’t know where to start? Today, I’ve prepared an important but simple lesson for you to teach to them.

The secret to reaching your goals in life is to make good choices with your money. If you spend your money without thinking about your choices, you will probably make bad decisions. A wise person considers three important things before making a spending decision.

1. Values. What causes someone to go on a hunger strike, or climb a tree and not come down until “they” promise not to cut down any more trees? What causes a boy to host his 13th birthday party at a homeless shelter and give gifts to 300 children he’s never met? What causes a 16-year-old girl to skip lunch every day in order to pay for a tattoo? What causes you to do the things you do?

The answer is values. Values are things like kindness, love, self-worth, spirituality, re spect, fairness, compassion, creativity, thrift and faith. Make a list of your top seven values.

2. Wants versus needs. Sometimes it’s not easy to tell the difference between a want and a need. Basically, a need is necessary to sustain life, health or safety, or to comply with a legal obligation. Food, shelter, clothes, medicine and paying taxes are needs.

A video game is a want. But it’s not always that clear-cut. Are Lucky Brand jeans a need or a want? Well, clothes are a need, but paying a lot of money to get a certain brand crosses over to a want. There is nothing wrong with wanting things. It’s just important that before you make a spending decision, you are clear in your mind whether it is a need or a want.

3. Opportunity cost. What you give up when you make a spending decision is called

Every decision you make with your mon ey now and in the future will have an opportunity cost. If you can train your brain to calculate and think about the opportunity cost whenever you make a spending decision, you will start to make better choices with your money and have fewer regrets.

There’s a popular belief in our society that says “You can have it all!” That’s just the line from a commercial. It’s not true. You can’t have it all, but you can have enough.

You will make decisions every day of your life, and many of them will involve money. As you begin to make good decisions and prove you can be responsible with money, you’ll have more of it to take care of and your life will be less stressful and more enjoyable.

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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.”

Did you know there are about 2,700 languages in the world? India leads the way with its people speaking the most number of different languages and dialects numbering about 1,600. Here's a quick look at a few linguistic quirks some folks use to communicate with each other.

• The Inuit may have 50 words for snow, but the Italians have over 500 words for pasta. People in New Guinea have a hundred words for yams. The Maoris of New Zealand have 35 words for drunk. Tasmanians have a different word for every type of tree but no generic word that

simply means “tree.”

• The Ilocano language of the Philippines has a variety of different words meaning “this” including one form referring to an object in view, one for things that are not in view, and another for things that no longer exist.

• The Swahili word “kiplefti” denoting a traffic island was borrowed from the English “keep left.”

• It takes about 100 symbols on a keyboard to represent most common languages and their punctuation marks. On the other hand, the Japanese language requires about 7,000 keys on a keyboard to accurately be able to type the language. A keyboard loaded with the most commonly used Chinese characters would be the size of two ping-pong tables.

• A dog in the U.S. goes bow-wow; in France ouaoua; in Italy bu-bu; in Korea mung-mung and in Japan wan-wan.

• In the U.S. “John Doe” is a generic name for an anonymous man, and in England it’s “John Bull,” while in Dutch it’s “Jan Kees,” which translates literally as “John Cheese.” When pronounced in Danish, “Jan Kees” sounds like “Yon Kees” which is possibly the origin of the word “Yankees.”

• The “–chester” in places like Manchester, and the “–caster” in places like Lancaster both spring from the Roman word for “camp.”

• Mandarin Chinese is spoken by more people than any other language in the world. English is spoken as an official language in 44 countries, more than any other language. French is the official language in 27 countries and Spanish is spoken as the official language in 20 countries.

• About 10% of people living in the U.S. speak a language other than English in their home.

• About half of all English words came from other languages.

• Words whose equivalent don’t exist in English: - Culacino: Italian, the wet ring left on a table by a sweating glass.

- Sgriob: Gaelic, the itchiness of the upper lip before taking a sip of whiskey.

- Hygge: Danish, meaning instantly satisfying and cozy.

- Schadenfreude: German, literally “harm” plus “joy,” meaning taking delight in the misfortune of others.

- Sgiomlaireachd: Scottish, meaning “the habit of dropping in at mealtimes.”

• For centuries in Britain, some people spoke Old English while others spoke Old Norse, and the two languages eventually mingled. Many words were added to the vocabulary, and when two words were similar but not identical, often both words would survive, with subtle differences in meaning. Thus we have both wish/want; raise/ rear; no/nay; ditch/dike; shriek/screech; skirt/ shirt; bathe/bask; scatter/shatter; whole/haleand many others.

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• Centuries later, when the Norman French inhabited Britain, ten thousand words of French descent entered the English language, including words such as felony, traitor, justice, jury, prison, marriage, sovereign, parliament, govern, prince, duke, and baron.

by Dana Jackson

Features News Syndicate

Q: Whatever happened to Sandra Ber nhard? I remember her funny appearances on the “Late Night with David Letterman,” and she was in a few movies, but I haven’t seen her in decades. Is she still in showbiz? -- H.U.

A: The now 67-year-old actress Sandra Bernhard started out in stand-up comedy, before landing a scene-stealing role of a stalker in the Mar tin Scorsese film “The King of Comedy,” opposite Robert DeNiro. She followed that with more than 20 appearances on “Late Night with David Letter man” and also landed a recurring role on the hit sitcom “Roseanne” for several seasons.

In recent years, she’s had regular roles on sitcoms like “2 Broke Girls” and “Brooklyn NineNine,” as well as two Ryan-Murphyproduced series “Pose” and “Ameri can Horror Story.” Her biggest missed opportunity, though, was turning down the role of Miranda on “Sex and the City” due to “low pay” and a “terrible” script at the time. Cynthia Nixon went on to become a household name after being cast in the role, but Bernhard told Howard Stern in an interview that she doesn’t regret her decision.

Fortunately, she’s part of the Murphy uni verse and has a role in the new season of “American Horror Story: NYC” on the FX channel. She also recently wrapped filming for the upcoming comedy film “Out of Order!” starring Brooke Shields and Brandon Routh.

***

Q: When are the Hallmark Christmas movies starting? With Christmas decorations

in stores already, do the movies start in Octo ber, too? -- Y.J.

A: As a matter of fact, yes, Hallmark’s “Countdown to Christmas” schedule starts with the movie “Noel Next Door” on Friday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m ET, starring Natalie Hall and Corey Sevier. On Oct. 30, Kim Matula and Ian Harding star in “Ghosts of Christmas Always” at 8 p.m. ET on the Hallmark Channel. The schedule really picks up in Novem ber and, of course, throughout December, with hol iday films featuring favorites like Alison Sweeney, Aimee Teegarden, Jack Wagner and more.

Holiday-themed TV movies aren’t exclusive to the Hallmark franchise. The Lifetime network has just as many Christmas movies. Mario Lopez, Maria Menounos, Patti LaBelle and Jana Kramer are part of the Lifetime lineup. Even streaming gi ant Netflix has gotten into the game, with original movies like “Falling for Christmas,” which marks Lindsay Lohan’s big comeback, premiering Nov. 10. And there’s also the new GAC Family cable net work, which is posturing itself as a traditional alter native to Hallmark’s introduction of woke-leaning story lines in their Christmas movies.

***

Q: Are the Golden Globe Awards ever coming back to television? The Emmy Awards now resemble them, with celebrities sitting at tables nearby each other, but I wish the Em

mys would go back to rows of seating like the Oscars. -- G.H.

A: Yes, the Golden Globe Awards will return with a televised ceremony on NBC Jan. 10, 2023, preceded by the nominations being an nounced on Dec. 12. The network skipped broad casting it last year, after record-low ratings in 2021 and the discovery that there were no African Americans among its 87-member voting organiza tion, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. With a more-diversified panel and a post-pandemic increase in movie ticket sales, it’s hoped that the Golden Globes can return to being a celebrated, fun event.

* * *

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.

1. Halloween Ends

McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy

(R) Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak

2. Smile (R) Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher

Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe

3. A Dog’s Purpose ..................(PG)

Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid

3. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (PG) Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy

4. Hidden Figures (PG)

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer

4. The Woman King (PG-13) Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu

5. La La Land

Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

5. Amsterdam (R) Christian Bale, Margot Robbie

(PG-13)

6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (R)

6. Don’t Worry Darling

(R) Florence Pugh, Harry Styles

Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen

7. Sing (PG)

animated

7. Barbarian (R) Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard

8. Lion

Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman

8. Terrifier 2 (NR) David Howard Thornton, Jenna Kanell

(PG-13)

9. The Space Between Us (PG-13)

Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield

9. Bros (R) Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane

10. xXx: Return of Xander Cage (PG-13)

Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen

10. Top Gun: Maverick (PG-13) Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

Inc.

Good Recipes from

Ultimate Grilled Pizza Recipe

Quick-rise yeast gets mixed right in with the flour and salt and needs no proofing. Grilling pizza gives it a smoky flavor not unlike that from a wood-burning oven. If you like, grill onions, pep pers and sausages and then let guests personal ize their own pizzas.

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 package quick-rise yeast

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup hot water (120 F to 130 F)

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 tablespoons olive oil

8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese

12 fresh basil leaves

2 small ripe tomatoes

Salt and coarsely ground black pepper

1. Prepare outdoor grill for direct grilling over medium heat.

2. In large bowl, combine flour, yeast and salt. Stir in hot water and 2 teaspoons oil un til blended and dough comes away from side of bowl. Turn onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

3. Shape dough into two 10-inch rounds or four 6-inch rounds (do not form rims). Cover with greased plastic wrap; let rest 15 minutes.

4. Place dough rounds on hot grill rack over medium heat and grill until underside of dough turns golden and grill marks appear, 2 to 5 min utes. With tongs, turn rounds over.

5. Brush lightly with some remaining oil. Top with mozzarella, then basil and tomato slices. Grill until cheese begins to melt, 3 to 5 minutes

longer. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Makes 12 appetizer serv ings.

TIP: No time to make your own dough? Frozen bread dough from the supermarket or piz za dough purchased from your local pizza parlor is a great stand-in for homemade dough. Follow the thawing directions on the package if using frozen dough.

Fresh Blueberry Pie

The combination of cooked and raw ber ries give this pie a wonderful texture.

1 1/4 cups whole milk

2 egg yolks, beaten

1/4 cup plus 2/3 cup sugar

5 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons butter

4 cups blueberries

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 deep-dish pie shell (9-inch), baked and cooled

1. In 2-quart saucepan, mix milk, yolks, 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils and thick ens, stirring. Stir in vanilla and 1 tablespoon but ter. Transfer custard to shallow dish; cover surface

with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 2 hours.

2. Meanwhile, in 3-quart saucepan, stir 1 cup berries with 2/3 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, and 1 cup water. Heat to boiling over high heat. Cook 2 minutes to thicken, stirring. Stir in lemon juice and 1 tablespoon butter. Cool. Stir in remaining berries.

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Final Changes DUE:

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3. Spread custard in pie shell; top with berry mixture. Refrigerate at least 3 hours to set. Makes about 10 servings.

Contact your Tidbits representative

Final Changes DUE:

Please review carefully. Double check:

Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com

Contact your Tidbits representative

 Each serving: About 245 calories, 3g protein, 39g carbohydrate, 10g total fat (3g satu rated), 2g fiber, 53mg cholesterol, 145mg sodium.

Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com

* * *

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

by Brett Koth

NEXT

COWBOYS

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators

Howlin’ Halloween

10/30

11/1

11/2

Who doesn’t get goose bumps at the thought of Halloween? The scariest, spookiest, kookiest night of the year is right around the cor ner. Will it be a fun night -- or a fright night?

The magic of Halloween lies in all the pos sibilities. Limited only by the depths of your own imagination, free to fulfill your darkest or most delightful fantasies, it is the one night of the year when you can be anyone or anything you want. But remember: Under all that fake blood and face paint is a dog owner with certain basic responsibilities, even -- or especially -- on the night of the wandering spooks.

If your dog is like most, he can’t handle his “licker.” So keep the candy-filled goodie bags out of his reach. Chocolate, raisins and candies contain ing xylitol are toxic and potentially lethal to your dog. What’s more, ingested wrappers can lead to the added stress and high expense of emergency surgery. Limit his trick-or-treating to your gardenvariety dog tricks and dog treats.

Decorations and electrical cords should also be secured in such a way that your dog can’t chew on them.

Jack-o’-lanterns -- with their jagged grins and candlelit smirks -- are fire hazards that are best kept out of the dog’s path. Wagging tails and burn ing candles don’t mix.

Harry Houdini died on October 31, 1926. For the next decade, his wife held a séance every Halloween night in an attempt to assist the leg endary escape artist in making one last escape -from death. If you are the keeper of a four-legged Houdini, exercise caution when opening the door to trick-or-treaters. Leash your furry escape artist, even inside, to ensure his safekeeping during the high-traffic Halloween hours. Baby gates also are helpful, and chips or current ID tags are a must.

I believe in keeping dogs inside at night every night of the year, but this is especially im portant on Halloween. While the huge majority of revelers are good-hearted and well-intended, the occasional bad seed surfaces. You don’t want your

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

Challenging Workouts at the Rec Center

Two months ago the senior center comman deered a large space in the town’s rec center be cause we had protested and ultimately vetoed the idea of exercise classes to be held in a too-small space at the senior center.

It was a two-month test, warned the senior center, to see if we’d actually show up. They even brought in a too-young male coach to put us through our paces. Although we were suspicious about his age, by the third week we agreed he actually did know his stuff. And, yes, enough of us showed up each week to keep the program going.

Then he himself brought in an even younger female assistant who stayed at the front of the room demonstrating the exercises while the young male coach paced around the room, expression serious, studying us, stopping us in mid-move to instruct and giving praise where warranted.

Two weeks ago he brought in yet another

assistant and broke us into two groups across the rec center floor. He labeled us “Easy” and “Not Easy,” saying that some of us needed to take things more slowly while others needed to put more effort into the workout. Try as I might to get transferred to the Easy group, he was having none of it.

He worked hard on our behalf, badger ing the rec center to open up the weight room so he could give out some hand weights. He coaxed the local sporting goods store into donating some stretchy bands and yoga mats for us to use in our exercise lessons. Last week he brought in a diet handout listing proper foods for us to eat to build muscle.

We discovered just this week, however, that we’ve all been guinea pigs, that our too-young male coach was using us as his senior fitness specialist project for college. Color us shocked! We weren’t sure how we felt about that until we learned that he’d earned an “A” on the project.

The other good news is that they’ve hired our too-young male coach and his two assistants on a permanent basis. And we get to stay at the rec center. A win-win outcome for all of us!

* * *

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

The Art of DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

Fashionable Hardware

I remember not so long ago when a home renovation required changing all your hardware to “update” the home’s look. Just when you thought you had rid yourself of brass hardware of the gild ed ‘90s decade, or the satin nickel fin ish of the millennial, new finishes and redesigns of the old came to the market place. This will both dazzle and confuse you. Brass, chrome, nickel, oil-rubbed brass, copper, stain less steel and black stainless steel are just some of the metallic finishes available for the hardware of furniture, cabinetry and elsewhere in your home. Just like hemlines and shoulder pads, these details can make your home seem either out-of-date or in style.

Homeowners and designers alike find se lecting hardware a bit tedious. Questions such as the following arise: Should all hardware inside a home match? Which finish will look timeless? Is there a finish that feels more at home in a bath room or kitchen? Should a door’s inside and out side hardware be the same? Is it OK to change the hardware of an old home? Is there a signifi cant benefit of new hardware? These are all valid questions that do not have absolute answers, but I will attempt to simplify the subject.

Your hardware doesn’t all need to match. However, there should be continuity of color or design to keep a certain flow throughout the home. Part of the selection process is choosing

hardware that is in sync with the type of archi tecture and millwork used throughout the home. For example, choosing an ornate door handle or hinges for a contemporary home likely will not work aesthetically. Similarly, choosing simple geometric-shaped handles for a traditional pan eled door may not flatter the doors. Timeless is a good thing to aim for, but more important is keep ing things appropriate.

Considering the type of dwelling you have may help you find the answer to this design dilem ma. If dealing with a historic home, try to maintain its character and hardware. This may mean tak ing off all the hard ware and stripping off layers and lay ers of paint, rust or grime buildup from years of use. It may also require the ex pensive task of replating the hardware to its original condi tion. In the case of a newer home or architecturally in significant dwelling, it is quite all right to change hardware to keep the home’s appearance up-todate.

Hardware is one selection that should not be done to keep up with trends. Hardware, in fact may stay on a home longer than appliances, wall color, wallpaper and even flooring. Therefore, it is imperative to give the selection some serious thought. Improving and enhancing your home is about maintenance. If your hardware is worn or feels inexpensive, then by all means, improve the hardware, and this will in turn increase the value of your home.

* *

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubil lones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. His website is www.josephpubil lones.com. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and car toonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.cre ators.com.

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

dog to fall victim to a real-life lunatic. Now, for the topic of costumes. Here is a solid gauge for determining whether or not to dress up your dog for Halloween: Does he love it or hate it? You’ll know. If he struggles against it, he hates it. If it slides right on and he starts ham ming for the camera, it’s a go. Just make sure his costume is heat-resistant and flame-retardant and doesn’t obstruct his vision or hinder his breathing. Have a happy, safe and howlin’ Halloween! 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.

COPYRIGHT

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Social Security COLA for 2023

In mid-October every year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its much-anticipated re port on changes (usually increases) to the Con sumer Price Index over the past 12 months. Why is this little, esoteric government report -- actually called the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers -- so popular? Be cause for the past 48 years, it’s the report that de termines the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that Social Security beneficiaries will get the following year.

Because my column has a long lead time, what I am reporting here isn’t news to most of my readers. As I’m sure you’ve already heard, all 65 million Social Security beneficiaries’ checks are going up 8.7% in 2023.

And even though this is the biggest in crease in many decades, I always dread mention ing COLAs in this column because every single time I do, I am flooded with emails from readers complaining that the increase is not enough.

Yet here’s the rub: many economists and social planners believe Social Security COLAs are too generous! (I’ve explained why in past columns, but don’t have the space to get into that argument today). That’s why most discussions of long-range reform for Social Security include proposals to re duce cost-of-living increases.

OK, back to the 2023 Social Security COLA. Due to these increases, the average monthly retire ment check will be $1,827 in 2023, a $146 increase from the 2022 level. The maximum Social Security check for a worker turning full retirement age in 2023 will be $3,627, compared to $3,345 in 2022. And please note that $3,627 is the maximum for someone turning full retirement age in 2023. That does not mean it is the maximum Social Security payment anyone can receive. There are millions of Social Security beneficiaries who get much more than that, primarily because they worked well past their FRA and/or delayed starting their benefits until age 70.

Here’s another important point about the COLA. Many readers have been asking me if they must file for Social Security benefits in 2022 to get the COLA that’s paid in January 2023. The answer is no. The COLA will be built into the benefit com putation formula, so even if you don’t file for Social Security until next year or some subsequent year, you’ll still get the 8.7% increase.

Although this is a Social Security column, I must mention the upcoming decrease in the Medi care Part B premium, which is deducted from So cial Security checks for most people. In 2023, the basic Part B premium will be $164.90. That’s $5.20 less than the 2021 rate. And as has been the case for 20 years now, wealthy people will pay more than the basic premium.

I don’t want to get into this complicated issue of Medicare premiums other than to make this quick point. Even though they are linked in the minds of most older adults, Social Security and Medicare are entirely separate programs, admin istered by entirely separate federal agencies, and they have entirely separate rules and regulations

regarding their benefit and payment structures. For example, I already explained how Social Se curity COLAs are figured. The Part B Medicare premium increase has nothing to do with the CPI. Instead, by law, it must be set at a level that covers 25% of the cost of running the program. Taxpayers pick up the remaining 75%. (And again, wealthy people pay more than the 25% share).

Another measuring stick called the “na tional wage index” is used to set increases to oth er provisions of the law that affect Social Security beneficiaries and taxpayers. Specifically, this in cludes increases in the amount of wages or selfemployment income subject to Social Security tax; the amount of income needed to earn a “quarter of coverage;” and the Social Security earnings penalty limits.

The Social Security taxable earnings base will go up from $147,000 in 2022 to $160,200 in 2023. In other words, people who earn more than $160,200 in 2023 will no longer have Social Secu rity payroll taxes deducted from their paychecks once they hit that threshold. This has always been a very controversial provision of the law. (Bill Gates pays the same amount of Social Security tax as his plumber!) I think it’s a pretty good bet that any eventual Social Security reform package will in clude an increase in that wage base.

this coming year before you get the maximum four credits assigned to your Social Security account. People under their full retirement age who get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits but who are still working are subject to limits on the amount of money they can earn and still receive all their Social Security checks. That limit was $19,560 in 2022 and will be $21,240 in 2023. For every two dollars a person earns over those limits, one dollar is withheld from his or her monthly benefits.

There is a higher earnings threshold in the year a person turns full retirement age that applies from the beginning of the year until the month the person reaches FRA. (The income penalty goes away once a person reaches that magic age.) That threshold goes up from $51,960 in 2022 to $56,520 in 2023.

A couple other Social Security provisions are also impacted by inflationary increases. For ex ample, people getting disability benefits who try to work can generally continue getting those benefits as long as they are not working at a “substantial” level. In 2022, the law defined substantial work as any job paying $1,350 or more per month. In 2023, that substantial earnings level increases to $1,470 monthly.

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

2. Which mountain is associated with King David capturing the Jebusite forces? a) Zion b) Nepal c) Sinai d) Carmel

3. In Colossians 4, who does Paul call "our dear friend, the doctor"? a) Peter b) Mark c) Luke d) 3 Timothy

4. Jesus was about how much younger than John the Baptist? a) 6 weeks b) 6 months c) 1 year d) 3 years

5. From Mark 14, how long did Jesus say the poor people will remain among us? a) Seldom b) 40 days c) 400 years d) Always

6. In Genesis 42, which Hebrew gov erned Egypt? a) Darius b) Sisera c) Joseph d) Cornelius

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

Most people need 40 Social Security work credits (sometimes called “quarters of coverage”) to be eligible for monthly benefit checks from the system. In 2022, people who were working earned one credit for each $1,510 in Social Security tax able income. However, no one earns more than four credits per year. In other words, once you’ve made $6,040, your Social Security record has been credited with the maximum four credits or quar ters of coverage. In 2023, the one credit limit goes up to $1,640, meaning you will have to earn $6,560 (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.

Finally, the Supplemental Security Income basic federal payment level for one person goes up from $841 in 2022 to $914 in 2023. SSI is a federal welfare program administered by the SSA, but it is not a Social Security benefit. It is paid for out of gen eral revenues, not Social Security taxes.

* * *

PROOF

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.

Case of Enlarged Pelvic Veins Is Not a Cause for Concern

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 71-year-old female with no children, but I did have an ec topic pregnancy at age 43. Other than that, I have had no “female” issues. I was getting a CT scan for my spleen area, when it was dis covered that I had enlarged pelvic veins in my groin. I don’t have pelvic pain, nor do I have pain with sex. So, the only symptoms I do have, which may or may not be related, are bloating and some constipation.

I have seen a vascular surgeon and a urogynocologist to ask about this condition and if I need “treatment” for it. Both were rather vague, saying if I’m not experiencing pain, I should just get it imaged every year. Is that sound advice? Can the veins twist and cause blockage? Can they cause a blood clot? I can’t really get any info on it. -- J.F.

ANSWER: Although advanced imag ing like CT and MRI scans have led physicians to be able to make more precise diagnoses than before, there is an issue of what to do with “inci dental” findings. Many people have written to me about small tumors (which are far more common than we thought), but enlarged pelvic veins are another example of an incidental finding.

Some women do have a condition called “pelvic congestion syndrome,” which is a cause of pelvic pain that is worsened by prolonged stand ing or sexual activity. This condition is found in women in the reproductive age group, especially those who have had multiple children, but is not found in menopausal women. Since you aren’t in the age group and don’t have symptoms, you clearly don’t have pelvic congestion syndrome.

Dilated veins in the legs are simply called varicose veins, and they are often due to loss in function of the valves in our legs as we age. Pel vic vein enlargement is the same thing: Veins get bigger as we age.

There are cases of blood clots in the pel vic veins, but it is not clear whether a person like you is at increased risk. I don’t see the need to repeat the imaging studies.

***

DEAR DR. ROACH: Why do multivita mins invariably provide some ingredients with more than 100% -- and some with less than 100% -- of the daily requirement? Why aren’t all ingredients 100%? -- D.H.

ANSWER: 100% of the recommended di etary allowance (RDA) is intended to provide the nutrient requirements for about 98% of the popu lation. Most people will get what they need from food. Many North Americans feel that more vita mins are better or decide to take a vitamin pill as an insurance policy against an inadequate diet. Both of these have been reasonable hypotheses, but many studies have been done and have not shown any convincing benefit of taking vitamins in absence of a clear medical reason for deficiency.

Vitamin manufacturers put in large amounts mostly for marketing: People are more likely to buy the pill that has 1,000% of B12, for example, since it must be better than the one with 500%. In fact, your body will simply excrete more B12 if you take more, so the supplement with

Proof:

1,000% of a water-soluble vitamin like B12 is not any better for you.

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

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

Changes

Dr. Roach regrets

PROOF

However, a few nutrients in multivitamins are dangerous at high levels: Vitamin A has a high risk of causing birth defects at high doses, and beta carotene promotes lung cancer growth in smokers, as two examples. Responsible vitamin manufacturers don’t put in doses of vitamins that will be toxic if taken as directed.

5:00 p.m..

Fax: 760-320-1630

to

VETERANS POST 

by Freddie Groves

Changes for VA Small Businesses

If you hope to set up a business as a servicedisabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) or a veteran-owned small business (VOSB), your verification will no longer be done by the Depart ment of Veterans Affairs. Instead, as of the begin ning of 2023, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will be in charge.

No new applications will be accepted after Oct. 24, 2022, for either verification or reverifica tion, due to the transition to the Small Business Ad ministration. If you currently have a business and wonder about your next steps, go to vetbiz.va.gov and click on “See frequently asked questions con cerning this change.”

The Vets First Verification Program, using the Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE), will be your go-to for all types of assistance, includ ing working through the initial steps: Intake, As sessment, Federal Review and Decision.

The benefits are worth the trouble to be come VA-verified, if only for the set-asides that are at the heart of how the VA helps small businesses -- competition is limited, which helps veterans com pete for federal contracts. At least 3% of those con tracts are held for service-disabled veterans who own their businesses.

To be a SDVOSB or VOSB, a business must be owned 51% or more by a veteran who did not receive a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge, and be controlled on a daily basis by a veteran who has the managerial experience to run the business. In addition, the veteran has to be the highest paid person in the company, working full time and hold ing the highest position in the company. To qualify as a service-disabled business, the veteran must meet all of the above qualifications and also have a disability rating letter from the VA confirming a service-connected disability.

If you’re ready to start a business, check out www.va.gov/osdbu/verification/index.asp and scroll to the guides and forms.

If you’re still at the thinking stage and need direction and help in becoming an entrepreneur, go to www.va.gov/OSDBU/entrepreneur/in dex.asp for information on finding financial back ing, growing your business or doing business with federal agencies and more.

M.D.

JUNQUE

Candleholder Lights Up Collector

Q: This is a photo of an ornate por celain candleholder that is decorated with a cherub surrounded by pink flowers and green and gold vines. He is holding an egg in one hand. The overall height is 10 inches. The word “Germany” is marked on the bot tom along with blue double crossed lines. I purchased it at a house sale approximately 30 years ago, and, if I remember correctly, I paid $8. It is in mint condition.

I always thought it was pretty, and now I wonder if it is of any value.

Factory and Carl Thieme Porcelain Factory.

Your candleholder was made in the early 1900s and would probably be worth $75 to $125.

***

Q: I have enclosed the mark that is on the bottom of a china vase that I have. The vase is decorated with a portrait of a young woman and the background shades from tan to light brown. It stands about 12 inches tall and has brown handles and rim.

It has been handed down in my fam ily from my great-grandmother to me. I know nothing about its history or value. What can you tell me?

* On November 2, 1862, Mary Todd Lin coln wrote to her husband about the public sentiment against General George B. Mc Clellan’s cautious command, saying people “would almost worship you if you would put a fighting general in the place of McClellan.” The president followed her advice.

* On November 1, 1941, Ansel Adams shot a picture of a moonrise over Hernan dez, New Mexico, that would become one of photography’s most famous images. Ad ams made more than 1,300 prints of it dur ing his career including one that sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $609,600 in 2006.

A: Your portrait vase was made by the War wick China Company in Wheeling, West Virginia. The factory was founded in 1887. They made vases, dinnerware sets, wash sets, umbrella stands, jardi nieres, shaving mugs and hotel and railroad china. Many of their pieces were decorated with portraits of monks, Native Americans, images of flowers and also fraternal order related pieces.

The meaning of the word “IOGA” remains a mystery and often was included with their marks in the early 1900s.

Your vase is circa 1905 and can be seen sell ing in the range of $250 to $325.

* * *

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 October 31, 1955, out of loyalty to the crown, England’s Princess Margaret an nounced she would not marry Group Cap tain Peter Townsend. His divorced status would have forced her to give up her royal title, Civil List allowance, and place in the line of succession to the throne.

* On November 3, 1960, Congress pass es an act creating the Great Swamp Na tional Wildlife Refuge. Morris County, New Jersey, residents and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey wanted to turn the swamp into a regional airport.

* On November 4, 1985, Soviet defector Vitaly Yurchenko announced his return to the Soviet Union, claiming he’d been kid napped by the CIA. Yurchenko was award ed the Order of the Red Star by the Soviet government for the successful “infiltration operation.”

* On November 5, 1995, Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell announces offi cially that he is moving the team to Balti more. Months later, the NFL allowed Mod ell to move the team, but he had to give up rights to the Browns name.

A: Your figural candleholder is an example of Meissen-style porcelain. The crossed lines mark is similar to those used by Royal Porcelain Manu factory in Meissen, Germany. A number of manu facturers in Germany, England and France used a variation of the mark. Some of the major German factories that copied the mark are Plaue Porcelain Manufactory, Schierholz and Son Porcelain Fac tory, Kalk Porcelain Factory, Sitzendorf Porcelain

Both of the royal court attendants are pretty spiteful, but that one is a cattier courtier.

* On November 5, 2003, Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames, one of just 20 players in NHL history to score 600 goals, became the first Black player in the NHL to become captain. The previous year, Iginla was the first Black man to win gold in the winter Olympics when Canada beat the U.S. at hockey in Salt Lake City.

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

SOLUTION

FIGURE

Puzzle Solutions

"This is the only way I can keep him off that stupid golf course and get working on the chore list inside!"

The Warwick China Company was founded in 1887.

looking for firewood near the border between Washington and Oregon discovered $5,800 in decaying $20 bills along the banks of the Columbia River. The serial numbers confirmed it was the hijacker’s money. No other money has ever been found, and considering the rugged wilderness, the FBI has always maintained that Cooper could not have survived his daring caper. But no further evidence has ever been found of either the cash or of Cooper himself, and the incident remains an open case yet today.

• UFO or government cover-up? In the summer of 1947, 75 miles from Roswell, New Mexico, a sheep rancher discovered some unusual debris in his pasture – thin metal rods, chunks of plastic, foil reflectors, and strange, heavy paper-like material. It wasn’t long after the rancher contacted the authorities that soldiers descended on his property and quickly scooped the pieces into armored trucks, and left.

• While the U.S. military assured the public that it was simiply a crashed weather balloon, the strange pieces didn’t resemble that at all. Many insisted that the debris was a crashed extraterrestrial spacecraft, complete with alien passengers. The UFO supporters claimed that the craft came from outer space and its occupants had been captured, and the entire incident was being covered up by the military.

• Fifty years later, the military issued a report declaring that the mysterious wreckage was part of a top-secret atomic espionage project called Project Mogul. The report stated that the fragments actually were a type of weather balloon, but one whose real purpose was to gather classified information. Yet there are still those who subscribe to the UFO theory, as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the now-commercialized Roswell area each year.

• UFO reports have increased considerably in recent years as both military and airline pilots as well as civilian witnesses are coming forward with video evidence of their sightings. As the public demands more answers from the government, the military is now taking a serious look into these unknown aerial phenomena (UAPs) to try and determine whether they may pose a security or safety threat to the American people.

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

Changes DUE: 5:00

Which Waggle

PROOF

One of the signs of advanced golfing skills is the presence of some form of waggle or movement before a shot is struck. Players who freeze over the ball tend to be overly worried about a list of movement cues.

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.

By employing a waggle, you’ll tend to mini mize tension and improve focus on the shot at tend. The question lies in which waggle is right for you.

Traditionally, players employed a “hands” waggle where the wrists moved the club back and forth with little body movement. Today, players like Jason Day use a mini “one-piece” waggle. They take the club back a short dis tance with the shoulders and arms, while using very little wrist action. Both players are using movement to keep tension from creeping into the body.

When I work with a lot of beginning to in 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.

Tuck

Under

devgolfinstr@gmail.com