Vol. 18: #45 • Cowboys • (11-6-2022) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

TIDBITS HITS THE TRAIL WITH

COWBOYS

by Kathy Wolfe

Yeee-haw! Hey buckaroos, this week Tidbits has some great tales rounded up for you about the rough and tough cowboys of the American West. So mount up and ride along as we hit the trail for the facts about this unique breed of horsemen for all you wannabe wranglers.

• Although we tend to think of cowboys as figures of the Old West, they actually had their origins in Mexico. In the early 1500s, the Spanish who were migrating to North America were developing ranches to raise cattle and other livestock. Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes imported horses to begin horse-breeding in Mexico, and by 1553, there were an estimated 10,000 free-roaming horses there.

• Mexico’s native cowboys were hired by ranchers to care for the livestock, and became known as “vaqueros,” from the Spanish word “vaca” for “cow. They became proficient in riding, roping,

1. ANIMAL KINGDOM: Which animal is believed to have the most powerful bite in the world?

2. TELEVISION: Where is the Dunder Mifflin office located in “The Office”?

3. LITERATURE: Which 20thcentury horror novel is set in the Over look Hotel?

4. MUSIC: Before his solo career, singer Harry Styles was part of which boy band?

5. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capi tal city of Denmark?

6. MOVIES: Which book is the 1922 silent film “Nosferatu” based upon?

7. BUSINESS: Which company goes by the nickname “Big Blue”?

8. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which state has produced the most presidents (8) by birth?

9. ANATOMY: What is a common name for the tympanic membrane?

10. U.S. STATES: Which state fea tures a full-size replica of the Parthe non?

Breathe in, breathe out, and focus on these facts about air.

• What is air? It most often refers to the Earth’s atmosphere, a mixture of assorted gases and tiny dust particles. Its composition is about 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Tiny amounts of other gases make up the remainder -- 0.9% of argon, 0.04% carbon dioxide, along with trace amounts of neon, hydrogen, helium, methane, and krypton

• Although air is primarily gases, there are also large quantities of tiny particles referred to as aerosols. These include dust and pollen, but also soot, smoke, and residue from cars and power plants. The air humans breathe also contains upwards of 1,800 different kinds of bacteria.

• The atmosphere around the Earth is divided up into separate layers, based on temperature and height. The first layer closest to our planet is called the troposphere, about 7 miles (11 km) in height. For each 0.6 miles (1 km) ascended into the troposphere, the temperature drops 6 or 7 degrees.

• You’ve heard the expression “lighter than air,” but it’s by no means light. Its weight pressing down on the Earth’s surface is what creates atmospheric pressure. Air pressure at sea level is high because the whole atmosphere is pushing, but low on a mountaintop because there is less atmosphere pushing down. It’s the difference in air pressure that causes your ears to “ pop ” at high altitudes.

• Air serves to insulate the Earth, preventing it from getting too cold or too hot. The gas ozone protects us from too much sunlight. Air also shields us from meteoroids, which creates intense friction causing them to burn and usually break into harmless pieces.

• When it’s a humid day, it’s because there is a large amount of moisture in the air. Relative humidity refers to the amount of moisture that can be held before turning to rain. Right before it rains, it reaches the highest level at 100%.

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• Humans consume about 13.2 gallons (50 l.) of oxygen per hour. During the process of breathing, called respiration, we take oxygen from the air and give back carbon dioxide. Our lungs put oxygen into the blood, which carries it to your tissues, and cells use it to produce energy. Plants use the carbon dioxide, combined with sunlight, to make food through photosynthesis.

• The layer above the troposphere is known as the stratosphere, where temperatures stop decreasing, maintaining a temp of around -67 degrees F (-550 C).

• The third layer of air is the mesosphere, about 32 miles (52 km) above Earth. In this layer’s upper section, the mesopause, the temperatures once again start decreasing. Temps are around -130 degrees F (-900 C).

• Above the mesosphere, about 56 miles (90 km) above the Earth’s surface, is the thermosphere, where temps actually rise dramatically, reaching 1800 degrees F (1,0000 C).

• Mountain climbers are well aware of how the air gets “thinner” as they scale the heights, requiring them to carry canisters of oxygen when climbing above 12,500 feet (3,800 m). There’s just not enough oxygen in the atmosphere for them to breathe because there are fewer air molecules at higher altitudes.

• When the body doesn’t get enough oxygen, whether through an interruption of breathing or an inadequate oxygen supply, asphyxia can be the result. Prolonged deprivation puts the body into unconsciousness and soon to death. The word asphyxia has its roots in the Latin language, meaning “stopping of the pulse.” □

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and herding. The most experienced vaquero was referred to as the Segundo, Spanish for “second,” the one who rode with the trail boss.

• Ranching spread north to what is now Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the early 1700s. Cattle ranches expanded further when Franciscan priests began establishing missions in California in the 1760s.

• The number of American cowboys dramatically increased immediately after the Civil War ended, in 1865. The Union Army had depleted the supply of beef up North, and the demand was high. A steer selling for $4 a head in Texas was worth $40 in the North. There were thousands of out-of-work soldiers with the War’s end, and many joined up with cattle drives to support themselves, along with European immigrants, Native Americans, and freed slaves.

• After making a fortune selling meat to the U.S. Union Army during the Civil War, Philip Armour opened up a meat packing plant in Chicago. Four million head of longhorn cattle were rounded up and cowboys began the long, grueling process of herding them toward railroad depots in Abilene, Kansas, Wichita, Kansas, and Ogallala, Nebraska, to begin their journey to Chicago.

• The cattle were driven just 15 miles each day to ensure that they didn’t drop too much weight before reaching the market. A herd of 3,000 required 8 to 12 experienced cowboys, led by the trail boss. A cowboy made about $25 to $40 per month. A typical drive lasted from as little as a few weeks up to five months.

• When not on the trail, cowboys broke wild horses, installed and repaired fences, assisted in building construction, and did cattle branding along with other various ranch chores. They slept in a communal bunkhouse, a barracks-like lodging with narrow beds. It was a large open room, with little or no privacy, often referred to

by the crew as the doghouse, dive, shack, dump, dicehouse, or the ram pasture. The wood stove was the center of the bunkhouse, where cowboys gathered to play music or cards. Poles were hung from the ceiling for the purpose of drying clothing.

• Cowboys typically worked 15 hours a day, whether in the saddle or caring for livestock. Out of necessity for protection from the sun, the tradition of wearing large hats with wide brims began, along with bandanas around the neck that could be pulled up as a mask to protect their nose and mouth from dust. Leather chaps strapped on the outside of trousers shielded their legs from thorny bushes, cactus, and rough terrain.

• In 1865, John B. Stetson founded his now-famous hat company, catering especially to cowboys out west. He designed his high-end felt hats with a dome-shaped crown and a large brim. The hat, known as the Boss of the Plains, served not only as a head covering, but as a drinking bowl for both the cowboy and his horse. By 1886, Stetson was the largest hat brand in the world. And by 1906, the company was producing two million hats a year. A Stetson was by no means an inexpensive hat – a new one sold for ten dollars back in the days of the cattle drives, often more than two week’s wages.

to which rancher. In Mexico, ranchers marked their herds with the family’s coat of arms. The Americans devised simpler symbols to be branded into the cattle’s hides, typically when a calf was about 60 days old. When it came time for the roundup and driving the cows to market,

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• Also in the 1860s after the Civil War, a German immigrant shoemaker named Charles Hyer was asked by a Colorado cowboy to make new boots for him that would be rugged and suitable for rough trail riding. Hyer went to work and fashioned a tall leather boot that was slightly angular and hugged the calf, with a matching slanted heel. He designed the boot both for protection from snake bites on the ground and for keeping the foot firmly anchored in the stirrups while riding. The tall heel sat securely in the stirrup in order to prevent the boot from slipping through.

• When other wranglers saw this new boot they immediately wanted a pair for themselves. Demand skyrocketed, and the cowboy boot was born. His handcrafted boots cost from $20 to $50 a pair, and cowboys were willing to pay the price even though it meant forfeiting a month’s wages or more to have them.

• As ranchers grazed their cattle on the public lands of the open plains, it was necessary to have a way to identify which animals belonged

The

1. In a cowboy's vernacular, what are "feedin' irons"?

2. Where does the point rider position himself on a cattle drive?

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Cowboy vaudeville performer and actor Will Rogers earned a place in the "Guinness Book of World Records" for his ability to throw three lassos at once.

first went around the legs of the horse, the second circled its neck, and the third looped the rider.

By Lucie Winborne

* In 2015, Colin Furze invented a me chanical alarm that would literally throw its user out of bed.

* A study in which researchers scanned actors’ brains while they answered ques tions revealed that their brain activity dif fered depending on whether they spoke as themselves or as the character they were portraying.

* Prior to 2011, any drink in Russia with less than 10% alcohol content was legally classified as a soft drink.

* On Aug. 20, 2013, a group of stu dents from Delaware built the tallest Lego tower in the world, standing at 112 feet tall and consisting of more than 500,000 pieces.

* Not that we think you’re likely to drop an ant from the Empire State Building, but if you do, you should know ahead of time that it will walk away unharmed. Due to its proportions and tough exoskeleton, its terminal velocity won’t be enough to kill or hurt it on impact.

* If the sun explodes, we won’t know it until just over eight minutes afterward.

* Pretty much everyone finds TV ads annoying, but at least they don’t normally last too long -- with the exception of a commercial for Old Spice that aired in Brazil in 2018 and ran a staggering 14 hours, earning it a Guinness World Re cord for the longest TV ad ever.

* Studies suggest that “Huh?” is the closest thing humans have to a universal word. This expression is understood and used in almost every language.

***

Thought for the Day: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”

-- Sir Winston Churchill

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

Useful Tips from Readers

POT REPAIR

Don’t throw out that busted terra-cotta pot. You can repair it quite easily. Moisten the breaks with water. Squeeze carpenter’s glue onto the broken edges and reset the pieces. Circle the pot with strips of masking tape to hold the pieces in place. Let the glue harden, and voila! Good as new. -- Victor G.

SELF-GRATING CHEESE

If you freeze a block of cheese, then thaw it. It will crumble. You don’t have to grate it.

-- Tanley M.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

Once again my very clever readers have reminded me that it’s the little ways we avoid spending money that add up. I hope you enjoy today’s tips as much as I have. Would you like to see your tip published in an upcoming column? Send it to me (cheapskate@unitedmedia.com) and I’ll see what I can do!

by Mary Hunt

WORKS THE SAME

I use the Clorox Ready Mop. The re placement pads are quite expensive, so I tried a strong paper towel in place of the Clorox Ready Mop replacement sheets. Works great! I tear away a bit of the towel to allow for the spray holes, and of course I have to replace the paper quite frequently, but it's worth the effort. You can also use a washcloth cut to allow for the spray holes as well, but I prefer to simply throw the paper towels in the trash rather than add to my laundry. -- Randy E.

BUT IT’S CHEAPER

Regarding the tip to use Calgon water softener to remove scum from tubs, it works great. But plain powdered borax, also obtainable at the grocery store, works just as well and at least in my area is much cheaper than Calgon. -- Nancy B.

LITTLE STUFF ADDS UP

A rich restaurateur I worked for told me he could tell whether a restaurant was profitable just by looking in the trash bins. If workers hadn’t been taught how not to waste good food, the restaurant would go out of business. The same applies at home. Check your trash cans and you may come up with a “teachable moment.” You’ll be amazed at what the kids, especially teenag ers, throw out. All the little things really do add up. -- Prof. Roger K.

REUSE PRODUCE BAGS

Rather than using expensive freezer bags to store meat, I use the store’s plastic bags from the produce department. I can conform them by pressing them so tightly it removes all of the air. I store frozen meat longer than you might recom mend and have not had any freezer burn. -- Tom H.

NO MORE SPLITS

To prevent molding from splitting, my father taught me to place the nails head down on a solid surface and then tap the point of the nail. This blunts the point, and the nail cuts through the wood rather than splitting it. This method works well on molding made from woods that have a pronounced grain such as fir, which is prone to splitting. -- Dave. R.

* * *

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.”

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

Movie goers have been in love with cowboys for decades. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous on-screen cowboys who brought the Old West to life.

• Tom Mix was the first movie cowboy, with his debut film “The Cowboy Millionaire” released in 1909. The following year came “Ranch Life in the Great Southwest,” a documentary that showcased Mix’s skills as a cattle wrangler. During the 1920s, he made upwards of 160 cowboy films, and Mix, along with his “Tony the Wonder Horse,” always saved the

day. Between 1909 and 1935, he appeared in 291 films, of which 282 were silent movies. He was making $7,500 a week starring in movies, but moved over to touring with a circus from 1929 to 1931 for a reported salary of $20,000 a week (about $350,000 in today’s dollars).

• John Wayne’s first leading role was in 1930’s “The Big Trail,” in which the 23-year-old Wayne (born Marion Robert Morrison) played a young fur trapper, not a cowboy, for the sum of $105 per week. The film was a box office flop. Wayne was a singing cowboy (via dubbing) in 1933’s “Riders of Destiny,” and received his first “A” movie break in 1930 as The Ringo Kid in “Stagecoach,” launching his career of 179 film and television productions. He was a cattleman driving his herd on the Chisholm Trail in 1948’s “Red River,” and again in 1972’s “The Cowboys.” But Wayne’s stardom wasn’t limited to cowboy films, as he starred in several war dramas and romance stories. But we remember him well for his 80 Westerns throughout his career.

first well-known cowboy role was that of Rowdy Yates on the longrunning TV series “Rawhide,” chronicling the saga of the adventures of an 1860s cattle drive. Eastwood was paid $750 per episode premiered in 1959. number had frequently six days a week. Eastwood went on to star in 12 notable Westerns, including “Fistful of Dollars,” “Pale Rider,” and “High Plains Drifter.” He’s a fourtime Oscar winner.

• Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones starred as two former Texas Rangers on a cattle drive to Montana in 1989’s four-part mini-series “Lonesome Dove.” The program received seven Emmy wins out of 18 nominations, including a Best Actor win for Duvall. It was watched by 26 million viewers. Duvall was a cattle drive cowboy again in 2003’s “Open Range” opposite Kevin Costner as their crew drove cattle cross-country. Duvall broke six ribs during the filming after being bucked off an ornery horse. There were 250 cattle on the movie set, handled by professional cowboys.

• A lighter version of the cattle drive movie was released in 1991, when Billy Crystal starred in “City Slickers.” His character along with two of this friends, all suffering from a mid-life crisis, embarked on a two-week Wild West cattle drive, where they were under the intimidating

eye of Curly the trail boss. There was nothing easy about this vacation, with the Manhattan residents experiencing lost cattle, assisting in the birth of a calf, and fistfights among crew and guests in this comedic “cowboy” movie. □

by Dana Jackson

Q: I’m really enjoying the new show “Fire Country,” but I always worry that a show I invest my time in will be canceled. How is this one doing with its ratings? -- U.T.

A: CBS recently ordered full seasons for three of its new series: “East New York,” “So Help Me Todd,” and “Fire Country,” so that should give you a vote of confidence. According to TVLine.com, the network didn’t announce specifi cally what consti tutes a “full season” for these particular shows, but I would say it stands a very good chance of be ing renewed for its second season as well.

“Fire Coun try” stars Max Thieriot (“SEAL Team”) as a recent ly released prison inmate fighting brush fires out west. It had the highest-rated season premiere this fall for a net work television show. It also airs on Friday nights, which is not an ideal time slot, since people not only have a lot of options for entertainment as the week end approaches. But with more than 8 million view ers tuning in, I would call it a win for CBS.

Thieriot himself has a lot invested in his new series, as he’s not just starring in it, but he also co-created the series with producer Jerry Bruck heimer.

Thieriot’s interest behind the camera be gan with directing an episode of “Bates Motel,” a series on A&E starring Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore. Thieriot played Dylan, the half-brother of the infamous Norman Bates. He then went on to direct a couple episodes of “SEAL Team.”

***

Q: Could you give me some informa tion on Gabe Rygaard from “Ax Men” and Darrell Ward from “Ice Road Truckers?” -- S.W.

A: Gabe Rygaard was the owner of Rygaard Logging after his father, Craig, retired at the end of season six of the reality series “Ax Men.” Sadly, Rygaard died in a car accident in 2016 in Washington state, where he lived. “Ax Men” aired on the History channel for 10 seasons. Rygaard’s death occurred after filming was completed for the ninth season. After a three-year hiatus, the show re turned for just one more season.

Another tragedy struck the families of the History Channel when Darrell Ward of the “Ice Road Truckers” fame died in a plane crash, also in 2016. He was piloting a single-engine Cessna on the way back from a fan event in Dallas when it crashed in Montana. Ironically, just before his death, he was set to start filming a new documentary series about plane wreckage locations. ***

Q: I think Niecy Nash is fantastic in “The Rookie.” What else has she been in? -- L.P.

A: Niecy Nash has been acting on screen since the mid-1990s, but it was her hilarious role

in the ensemble comedy “Reno 911!” that put her on the map. Since then, she’s effortlessly switched from comedy to drama in memorable lead and sup porting roles, including two limited series on Netf lix: “When They See Us” and “Dahmer -- Monster.” Nash is no doubt thrilled to learn that ABC just re newed “The Rookie: Feds” for a total of 22 episodes this season.

* * *

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

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

King Features News Syndicate

Good Recipes from

Beer Brat Skewers with Spicy Slaw

Bite-size bratwurst slices alternate with veggies in this kebab version of the Sheboygan, Wisconsin, classic, which is basted in a beer-nbrown sugar sauce.

4 tablespoons cider vinegar

3 tablespoons packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon packed brown sugar

Salt Pepper

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/2 head cabbage

1/2 cup beer

2 teaspoons lower-sodium soy sauce

2 medium onions

2 large red peppers

6 fully cooked bratwurst sausages

1. In large bowl, stir 3 tablespoons vin egar, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper and 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper until sugar dissolves. Add cabbage; toss to coat. Let stand.

2. Prepare grill for direct grilling on medi um-low.

3. In 3-quart saucepan, combine beer, soy

sauce and remaining 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vinegar and 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper. Heat to boiling on medium-high, stir ring. Reduce heat to maintain simmer and cook 15 minutes or until reduced to 1/3 cup, stirring often.

um-high.

2. Thread chunks onto skewers. Brush skewers with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper.

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4. While sauce simmers, cut onions, pep pers and sausages into 1-inch chunks; thread onto skewers. Grill 10-12 minutes or until onions are tender and grill marks appear on sausages, turning occasionally. Brush two-thirds of sauce all over skewers and grill 5 minutes or until sauce caramelizes, turning. Transfer to serving plates; brush with remaining sauce. Serve with slaw.

Serves 4.

Grilled-Melon Skewers

DUE: 5:00 p.m..

* * *

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Grilled melon is a great way to add some fruit to a backyard grilling party!

3 cups melon chunks (cantaloupe, honey dew or watermelon)

2 teaspoons oil

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

3 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

4 basil leaves, thinly sliced

1. Prepare grill for direct grilling on medi

For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our web site at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/.

Beach House Yogurt BZ 4C 26x disc rate Nov. 24, 2013 Vol. 9 - No. 48

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NEST HEADS

By John Allen DIAMOND

Brett Koth

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

p.m..

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Canine 911

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Emergencies are rarely convenient. Heart attacks happen on honeymoons. Strokes strike in the dead of night. Humans have entrenched sys tems to accommodate these events: dispatchers, ambulances, EMS paramedics, emergency rooms. Thankfully, so do dogs.

Emergency animal hospitals are where we turn when things go wrong with our animals after hours. Only Hollywood gets to plan its disasters head to tail. The rest of us have to plan for the pos sibilities. Having a good emergency clinic on speed dial is as important as having a diligent vet for regu lar checkups and maintenance.

I was reminded of this recently when I had a scare myself.

Something was wrong with my German shepherd, Nilo. He was listless. His breathing was labored. My heart sank. It was a Sunday.

I’ve had sick dogs. I’ve had injured dogs. I’ve lost dogs to cancer. Needless to say, I was wor ried and anxious as I helped Nilo into the car and drove him to Mother Lode Pet Emergency Clinic in Shingle Springs, Calif.

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Stepping into the clinic, I was probably more nervous than Nilo, who’s a pretty smooth op erator in most circumstances. But on this day, he wasn’t feeling well, which was obvious -- and not only to me.

Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 valleybits@msn.com

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Within seconds of our arrival, we were greeted by a canine nurse. Nurse Pug. She ap proached Nilo calmly, looked him over with gentle eyes and then lay down next to him on the floor and rolled onto her back. I’ll never forget her soft fawn coat, her sweet, smooshed pug face or the way she seemed to say to Nilo, “Don’t worry. It’ll be OK. Nurse Pug will take good care of you until the doc tor can examine you.”

Turns out Nurse Pug is the antidote to “waiting room disorder,” the symptoms of which include nausea, digestive upset, dry mouth or ex treme drooling, depending on the species. But Nurse Pug was just the beginning.

Dr. Heidi Hilleary and vet tech Tessa were

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

Social Security Benefit for 2023

It’s official: Our Social Security increase for 2023 will be 8.7%. They say it’s the largest increase in 40 years.

For the average senior, that’s going to mean a $146 monthly increase. Plus we’re getting a small “rebate” on that massive Medicare Part B increase we faced last year when the cost went to $170.10 to pay for Aduhelm, an Alzheimer’s disease drug that was said to cost $56,000 per year. (After facing criticism, manufacturers had to cut the cost in half, down to $28,200.) We’ll now save $5.20 on our Part B premium, with the aver age monthly deduction being $164.90. The Part B annual deductible will drop to $226, a $7 savings.

What’s disturbing is that only a few months ago the financial gurus were expecting we’d re ceive a 10.2% increase on Social Security, based on all the high prices we’ve been seeing this year and will likely see into 2023. Instead, they’ve low ered that to the 8.7% ... while prices have contin ued to rise.

The problem is how those annual increas es are calculated. They use the Consumer Price

Index for Urban Wage Earners And Clerical Work ers (CPI-W), which calculates the prices of goods and services for things those urban workers care about: clothing, education, electronics and so on. That CPI-W covers only 29% of the population.

Instead, they should be using the Consum er Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E), which focus es more realistically on goods and vital services that seniors spend a great, and rapidly increasing, percentage of their money on. These include rising medical expenses, prescription drugs, food, hous ing and so on.

The next time you call your senators and representatives (and it's your duty to do so), be sure to ask why including the Elderly index contin ues to be ignored. After all, they’ve been thinking about making such changes since the 1980s, and nothing's being done to correct this unfairness except to keep kicking that can down the road.

Meanwhile, don’t let the Medicare open enrollment period pass you by. You have the option until December 7th to make changes to your origi nal Medicare Advantage plan, supplemental plan and prescription drug plan. That deadline will be on us before we know it. Don't wait.

* * *

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

Details Everywhere

Accessorizing a home is what makes it personal ... your home. Adding that final layer will make generic store-bought furniture seem spe cial and show off your style. In any accessorizing situation, success or failure is measured by the attention to detail or lack thereof. Pay attention to the following tried-and-true tips that will make your home warm and read like a masterpiece.

-- For the book-lovers with a lack of ad equate storage, use your books as side tables, doorstops or bases underneath tabletop items.

-- Make sure to add color-coordinated pil lows and throws that play off the color of the cur tains or rug in the room.

-- A room full of antiques can be freshened up by pairing them with a bold modern wall color, adding a contemporary work of art or large blackand-white photograph to the mix.

-- Don’t overaccessorize a mantelpiece. Opt for a singular item such as a large vase or a work of art.

-- A playful geometric or sunburst mirror can help keep a room young.

-- Top a pair of plain etageres with a col lection of blue and white ginger jars for unexpect ed flair.

-- Add lots and lots of framed works of art to a room. This will impart drama and take the focus off underwhelming or dated furniture.

-- For a sense of casual elegance in a din ing room, pair a simple inexpensive contempo rary table with expensive period chairs. Your ta ble, topped with dishes and silverware, will hardly be noticed. Your chairs, on the other hand, will

shine.

-- Select one large work of art to make a statement rather than several smaller pieces.

-- Adorn a dining table with unexpected objets d’art such as a collection of small figurines floating amidst dishes and glassware.

-- A distressed wood floor can be livened with bold-colored stripes or a checkerboard of contrasting colors. This will eliminate the need for an area rug.

-- To give traditional decor a contemporary spin, use gauzy roman shades instead of heavy floor-to-ceiling drapes.

-- If you are tired of your wall color, add an overlay of white paint with a geometric stencil of your choice for a fresh style.

-- Nothing affects the mood of a room more than light. Adding a lamp or opening a win dow shade can change the spirit of your space.

-- A low cocktail table filled with candela bra of different heights and materials is a dramat ic centerpiece. Just keep track of the flames and melting wax at all times.

-- Use household items as accessories. A grouping of mason jars filled with garden flowers is always spectacular.

-- Create a focal point in any room, even if it means using furnishing out of context. For ex ample, a ceiling-hung pot rack can be placed in front of a window and atop a side table laden with a cascading vine or plant for a bit of a surprise.

As you can see, accessorizing can be wildly exciting. Your imagination is the only limit and can only make your accessorizing choices better, so focus on the details.

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)

on duty that day. These two embody the Mother Lode mission: to provide “comprehensive and com passionate expert emergency pet care.” Nilo was now in competent, caring hands, and that meant the world to me.

When all was said and done, Nilo’s blood work was good. He’s healthy and at home. He has a little arthritis creeping in, which was likely the source of his discomfort. Nothing we can’t manage. Can you hear my sigh of relief?

The whole experience served as a remind er to me to: 1) encourage dog owners to keep the number of a good emergency animal clinic on hand and 2) thank these people for the great service they provide.

The people -- and the pug -- at Mother Lode made all the difference, and I know there are veter inarians, technicians and support staff in emergen cy animal hospitals across the country who work crazy hours and provide huge relief: a place to go when crisis comes at an inconvenient time, quality care, unqualified dedication.

Thank you, Dr. Hilleary. Thank you, tech Tessa. Thank you, Nurse Pug. Thank you all.

Woof! * * *

Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

No Social Security Taxes Means No Social Security Benefits

Q: My husband is a 58-year-old farm er. He is a very stubborn man. He is opposed to paying any kind of federal taxes, including Social Security taxes. He will do anything near the end of a year to show a loss on his farm. He will buy equipment. He will buy seed or fertilizer. He will do whatever it takes so he can show a loss on his tax return and there fore not have to pay any Social Security selfemployment tax. He has been doing this all his adult life. He is also a very old-fashioned man. Even though I have a college degree in nursing, he will not let me work outside the home. I am 54 years old. So, we are ap proaching our senior years and I’m worried what’s going to happen to us financially. Will we be eligible for any kind of Social Security? I’ve heard of something called Supplemental Social Security for people who don’t qualify for Social Security. How does that work?

A: I’ve met stubborn guys like your hus band many times in my 50-year Social Security career. Or to be more precise, I usually meet the widow of guys like him who come to the Social Se curity office following his death wondering what benefits they might be due. They learn that be cause he didn’t put anything into the Social Secu rity system, he (or the widow) won’t get a dime out of the Social Security system.

That’s the fate that awaits you. So, I hope your husband has some investments or insurance or otherwise has put some money aside, because the two of you will get nothing from Social Secu rity.

You mentioned that other program that you mistakenly labeled “Supplemental Social Se curity.” I’m sure you are referring to the Supple mental Security Income program. SSI is a federal welfare program that is managed by the Social Se curity Administration. (As I always make clear to my readers, SSI is funded out of general tax rev enues, not Social Security taxes.)

SSI pays a small monthly stipend (current ly less than $900 per month) to disabled people and to people over 65 who are poor. How poor? Well, you’d have to have less than $3,000 in assets. With the farm (and with all that equipment your hus band is buying to avoid paying Social Security tax es), I am sure you guys would never qualify for SSI payments. So, all I can say to you is, “Good luck!”

By the way. I showed your email to my wife, and she insists I add this to my answer. She said: “What do you mean your husband won’t LET you work? It’s your life and you should be able to make your own decision about working or not. Tom says that if you spend the next 10 years nursing, by the time you are 64 years old, you will have earned a small but decent Social Security retirement pen sion. And you’d have your own income from your job during that time. Think about that.” Q: My husband and I own a small heat ing and air conditioning business in Northern

California. We’ve been doing this for about 30 years. He does most of the physical labor. I do all the office work (except taxes, which our ac countant does). My husband is 61 and I’m 57. We get occasional Social Security statements. He is scheduled to get $3,100 a month at age 67 and about $2,200 if he takes benefits at 62. My statement shows minimal earnings -and all from before we were married -- but not enough to get my own Social Security. I re member reading past columns of yours about how moms often get the shaft (pardon my French!) in a mom-and-pop business, but I can’t remember why that is. After all, we have been filing joint tax returns ever since we got married. Can you please explain again why his Social Security record is full and mine is vir tually empty?

A: Filing a joint tax return has nothing to do with the payment of self-employment taxes and the assignment of earnings for Social Security purposes. That happens with a tax form called the Schedule SE. And obviously, for all these years, your accountant has been putting only your hus band’s name and Social Security number on that Schedule SE. That means all the earnings from the business end up on your husband’s Social Security record.

(And by the way, your accountant isn’t the only one doing this. In my 50 years of working for the Social Security Administration or writing about Social Security issues, I’d guess that about 90% of the “pops” in mom-and-pop businesses get all the Social Security credits -- meaning 90% of the “moms” end up with a blank Social Security slate like yours.)

That’s the bad news. The good news is that it could work out for you, and that’s because you’ll get spousal benefits on your husband’s record. The combination of his high benefit and your spousal

rate could end up netting you guys more money than you would have received if you had split the business earnings -- meaning you each could have ended up with two smaller retirement benefits. Also, assuming he dies before you do, your widow’s rate will be more because it will be based on his high retirement benefit.

Q: My first husband and I ran a small business together for 25 years before we di vorced about 10 years ago. We both remar ried about two years later. I am now turning 62. My current husband is 58 and plans to work until age 70. My ex is 68. I don’t have my 40 quarters because my first husband took all the Social Security earnings from our business. Can I get any of my first husband’s Social Security now, and later switch to ben efits from my current husband?

A: No, you can’t do that. As long as you’re married to husband No. 2, you can’t get any Social Security from No. 1.

Your case provides a good example of how this tax-filing tactic of giving all the Social Security credit to pop in a mom-and-pop business can re ally mess mom up. You’re going to get absolutely no Social Security benefits for those 25 years you spent running that business with your ex. On top of that, you’re going to have to wait until your current husband files for his Social Security before you can get benefits on his record. In fact, that might be an incentive for your husband to file at full retirement age rather than waiting until 70.

* * *

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Secu rity -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-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.cre ators.com.

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

2. From Matthew 12, when a cast-out evil spirit returns to a person, how many com panions does it bring? a) 3 b) 5 c) 7 d) Many

3. In which book's 22:18 does it state, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"? a) Exodus b) Numbers c) Isaiah d) Hebrews

4. From 1 Samuel 16, what king of Israel was tormented by an evil spirit? a) Elah b) Saul c) David d) Solomon

5. Who called the city of Nineveh the mis tress of witchcraft? a) Ahab b) Nahum c) Lucifer d) Peter

6. What mark of the beast number comes from Revelation 13? a) 13 b) 7 c) 333 d) 666

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.

VETERANS

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Taking a Tetanus Vaccine With an Allergy Requires Careful Monitoring

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was told by my doctor that I need a tetanus booster shot, but when I was 17, I cut my foot and needed stitches. I was told then that I was allergic to the tetanus shot, so they gave me penicillin instead. Of course, that was a long time ago, since I’m now 81 years old. How could they have determined I was allergic to the shot, and is that even reliable? Can I be tested now? Or do I even need to be tested? -- M.N.

ANSWER: Reactions to vaccines are common, but they were much more common 64 years ago, when the purity of vaccines was far less than what it is now. One reaction that was common in the 1950s is called an Arthus reac tion, which causes painful swelling at the injec tion site within a few hours -- the worst swelling usually occuring around 24 hours later, and then slowly decreasing. You are unlikely to get that type of allergic reaction because of better vac cines, and because it has been so many years since you’ve taken the vaccine.

Very few people get anaphylactic reac tions. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition, which often starts with skin symptoms such as hives or swelling; respiratory symptoms such as nasal congestion, discharge or the sensation of the throat closing; gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain; and cardiovascular symptoms such as dizziness and fainting. Any history of anaphylaxis prevents you from getting the same trigger (vaccine or medi cation) again, if it can be helped. Only a care ful history of your symptoms at the time of the allergic reaction you had can provide an answer on which type of reaction it was. Blood testing for allergic reactions is not 100% reliable.

If you haven’t had a tetanus vaccine in over 60 years, the decision to get one now really is a judgment call based on your likelihood of exposures. If you do a lot of gardening or hik ing, it may be worthwhile to give you a vaccine with careful monitoring. If you were to develop a tetanus-prone wound, such as a deep wound that comes into contact with soil or manure, you would be recommended tetanus immunoglobulin as well as a tetanus vaccine. Penicillin alone is not effective in preventing tetanus: Meticulous wound cleaning is critical, in addition to the shots. ***

DEAR DR. ROACH: How do I know if I’ve been vaccinated for polio? -- S.A.

ANSWER: The first U.S.-transmitted case of polio in a decade was reported in Rock land County, New York, in July 2022. The person who contracted polio was unvaccinated: They probably contracted the case from a person who was vaccinated outside the U.S., since it was a vaccine-derived polio case. Occasionally, the weakened strain used for the oral polio vaccine can mutate and cause disease. The oral polio vaccine has not been used in the U.S. since 2000, but it is still used in other parts of the world.

The vast majority of American and Ca nadian adults are vaccinated for polio, as it is

required for school. So, most adults do not need vaccination, but it is routine for those traveling to endemic areas to receive a booster. Unfortunate ly, many children have not gotten their boosters on time due to the pandemic, and parents in the area of the case are recommended to get their kids’ vaccines up-to-date as soon as possible. Anyone exposed to a known case should get guidance from their physician, who will probably be in contact with the health department.

* * *

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

by Freddie Groves

Expanded Help for Veteran Caregivers

The Department of Veterans Affairs is giv ing a helping hand to veteran caregivers of all eras. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) has been expanded to include eligible veterans who served after May 7, 1975, and before Sept. 11, 2001.

At-home caregivers have been the glue that held together any number of veteran programs, and now more of them will get the assistance they need. The program assists caregivers with health insurance and access to health care through CHAMPVA, peer support, respite care (30 days per year), education and training, financial assistance and monthly stipend, certain travel expenses, re sources and more. The program includes both primary and secondary (backup) caregivers, al though there are different services for secondary.

At the same time, the VA is extending the length of time that Legacy participants, veterans and their caregivers can stay eligible for the pro gram. This date now runs through Sept. 30, 2025. “Legacy” means that a veteran was designed as eli gible before Oct. 1, 2020.

Eligible veterans include those who had a serious injury or a serious illness during active duty during any service era. The veteran must have a disability rating of 70% or higher, have been discharged or have a medical discharge and need at least six months of personal care services for as sistance such as feeding, supervision, safety and bathing.

To learn more about the Caregiver Support Program, call them at 855-260-3274 on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST, and on Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

For an online application and specific eli gibility criteria, go to www.va.gov/family-mem ber-benefits/comprehensive-assistance-forfamily-caregivers. Look for the link to VA Form 10-10CG.

In addition, the veteran needs to be en rolled in VA health care. Apply for that on VA Form 10-10EZ on that same webpage. Don’t send any medical records with your applications. The VA will ask for those later.

For even more information on PCAFC, go to www.caregiver.va.gov/support/support_ benefits.asp and click on “Fact Sheets.”

* * *

Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot person ally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to colum nreply2@gmail.com.

M.D.

What You’ll Pay for Medicare in 2023

Wright Capital Group 1/3 pg BW 26x disc.

down from $238.10 in 2022.

Monthly premiums for singles with an income between $123,000 and $153,000 ($246,000 and $306,000 for joint filers) will de crease from $340.20 to $329.70 in 2023.

Individuals earning above $153,000 up to $183,000 ($306,000 to $366,000 for joint filers) will see their monthly premium decrease from $442.30 to $428.60 in 2023.

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I’ve read that retirees will be getting a cost-of-living increase in our Social Security benefits next year, but what about Medicare? What will our Medicare Part B monthly premiums and other Medicare costs be in 2023? -- Planning Ahead

Dear Planning: From an entitlement program standpoint, 2023 is going to be a good year for retirees. Not only will you receive an 8.7 percent cost-of-living increase in your Social Security retirement benefits – the largest since 1981 – the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also recently announced that your Medicare Part B standard monthly premium will be lowered by 3 percent ($5.20) from the current rate of $170.10 per month, to $164.90/month in 2023.

Final

The reason for the reduction is a correc tion to last year’s hefty Part B premium increase, which was larger than it needed to be. The 2022 premium hike of about 14.5 percent was an nounced amid uncertainty about the potential im pact of a new Alzheimer’s drug called Aduhelm, which threatened to explode Medicare costs. That didn’t happen. The cost of the drug was cut roughly in half from an original $56,000 a year and Medicare sharply limited coverage. This cre ated a large financial reserve for Part B, allowing the program to reduce next year’s premium.

You’ll also be happy to know that in addi tion to the premium reduction, the annual de ductible for Medicare Part B will also be lowered by $7 from $233 in 2022, to $226 in 2023. And if you have a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the average premium in 2023 will be about $31.50, which is a 1.8 percent decrease from $32.08 in 2022.

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Those with incomes above $183,000 up to $500,000 ($366,000 to $750,000 for joint fil ers), your 2023 Part B premium will be $527.50, down form $544.30 in 2022.

Friday, Sept. 16, 2022

And single filers with income of $500,000 or more ($750,000 or more for joint filers) will pay $560.50 per month next year, versus this year’s premium of $578.30.

Low-Income Assistance

High-income beneficiaries with a Medi care Part D prescription drug plan will also pay a little less next year. If your income was over $97,000 ($194,000 for joint filers) you’ll pay a $12.20 to $76.40 monthly surcharge on top of your regular Part D premiums based on your income level.

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For more information on Medicare’s 2023 costs see Medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs

Final Changes

Low-Income Assistance or Extra Help is offered by the Social Security Administration. It pro vides beneficiaries, with limited income and resources, financial assistance towards the cost of paying plan premiums and may assist with deductibles and co payments.

Jennifer Jackson - Elder Care Services 1/16 pg. BW 6x disc. October 30, 2022 Vol. 18 - No. 44

* * *

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.

Some beneficiaries auto matically qualify and do not need to apply. Those who do not auto matically qualify will need to con tact the Social Security Adminis tration.

Property of AdVenture Media, Inc. Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 valleybits@msn.com All Rights Reserved

But the news isn’t all rosy. The deductible for Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) per ben efit period (which generally starts when you are admitted to the hospital) will be $1,600 in 2023, up $44 from this year’s $1,556. That applies to the first 60 days of inpatient care. For the 61st through 90th day, the coinsurance will be $400 per day, up from $389 this year. And for days 91 to 150, the charge will be $800 per day (up from $778 in 2022).

And the skilled nursing facility coinsur ance for days 21-100 will also increase to $200 per day, up from $194.50 in 2022.

Wealthy Beneficiary Breaks

High earning Medicare beneficiaries, which makes up about 7 percent of all Medicare recipients, will also receive a break in 2023. Medicare surcharges for high earners are based on adjusted gross income from two years earlier, which means that 2023 Part B premiums are determined by 2021 annual income.

So, if your 2021 income was above $97,000 up to $123,000 ($194,000 up to $246,000 for married couples filing jointly), your 2023 Part B monthly premium will be $230.80,

Property of AdVenture Media, Inc.

To qualify for Extra Help, annual income may not exceed 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The FPL varies geo graphically and is higher for both Hawaii and Alaska as compared to the other states.

The Social Security Ad ministration offers four levels of low-income assistance based on Federal Poverty Level data.

Once a beneficiary qualifies for low-income assistance, they will receive a “low-income sub sidy” until such time as they fail to meet the qualifications.

Qualifications for low-in come assistance are reviewed on an annual basis.

-- by Jim Miller

JUNQUE

by Anne McCollam Creators

Chair Rose in Value

Q: I have enclosed a photo of a Victorian side chair that I picked up for $35 this past spring. I took all the old material and springs out and had the chair re-glued. I also had it professionally reupholstered. I selected the fabric myself and chose the rose pattern to match the single rose on the crest rail. The wood is probably walnut. The chair is solid as a rock now. I recently gave it to one of our nieces since she likes roses.

I have put about $240 into the restora tion. Was it worth it? Can you also tell me its approximate age? I am guessing about 1870 to 1880?

A: The balloon-back, carved rose on the crest, the pierced carving, serpentine apron and cabriole legs are typical of Rococo Revival furniture in the Victorian Era. Your chair was made some time between 1860 and 1880 and would probably be worth about $425 to $475.

1933-1934 Chicago World’s Fair. It is a “treasure.” As a collectible, it would appeal to collectors of both Disney items and World’s Fair memorabilia.

Your bank would probably be worth $350 to $500.

* * *

Q: The enclosed mark is on the bottom of a porcelain vase that I inherited. The vase is approximately 12 inches tall and in perfect condition. It is decorated with multi-colored flowers heavily outlined in gold on the front, and there is also a small bouquet of purple flowers on the back. The background is cream and shades to gold. There are handles on ei ther side and everything is embellished with gold.

I would appreciate any information you can give me about my vase.

* On Nov. 7, 1991, basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson stuns the world by announcing his sudden retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers, after testing positive for the AIDS virus. Johnson was one of the first sports stars to go public about his HIVpositive status.

* On Nov. 8, 1960, John F. Kennedy, 43, becomes the youngest man and first Ro man Catholic ever to be elected president of the United States.

A: You have a vase that was made by Ernst Wahliss Alexandra Porcelain Works in TurnTeplitz, Bohemia, Austria. They were in business from 1894 to 1934. The number “2279” is a design number. The designs of most of their work were influenced by the ornate curves of Art Nouveau.

Your vase was made around 1900 and similar vases are selling in the range from $150 to $250.

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 Nov. 9, 1971, John Emil List slaugh ters his family in their Westfield, New Jersey, home and then disappears for 18 years. List had methodically devised a plan, saying the family was going out of town. By the time authorities discovered the bodies, he had vanished. List was found in West Virginia in 1989.

* On Nov. 10, 1903, U.S. Patent No. 743,801 is awarded to an Alabama woman named Mary Anderson for her windshield wipers. Anderson tried to sell the patent to a Canadian firm, but it said the device had no practical value.

* On Nov. 11, 1921, the Tomb of the Un knowns is dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery in an Armistice Day ceremony. The Tomb of the Unknowns is considered the most hallowed grave at Arlington and has been guarded by sentinels 24/7 since 1937.

* On Nov. 12, 1889, DeWitt Wallace, founder of Reader’s Digest, is born. By the end of the 20th century, the magazine had the largest circulation in the world, with more than 17 million readers in some 20 languages.

Q: I have a green Mickey Mouse toy bank that has been in our family since the 1930s. It is shaped like a treasure chest and has the images of Mickey and Minnie on the lid. The words “Be Thrifty - Save Coins - Mickey and Minnie At 1933-1934 World’s Fair” are also on the lid. It is in perfect condition. What can you tell me about it?

A: Your bank was made to commemorate the

Puzzle Solutions When the flea market offered free low-quality aquariums, a huge sign said "Tanks for nothing!"

FIGURE

SOLUTION

* On Nov. 13, 1953, Mrs. Thomas J. White of the Indiana Textbook Commission calls for the removal of references to the book “Robin Hood” from school textbooks, claim ing it was communistic. Attacks on freedom of expression in the U.S. during the Red Scare resulted in a number of books being banned, including John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath.”

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

Ernst Wahliss produced Art Nouveau inspired porcelain.

Victorian Rococo Revival Era was from 1860 to 1880.

the cowboys had the daunting task of separating the cattle by the multiple ranches using the open range. Branding wasn’t anything new, as the ancient Egyptians had been branding since around 3000 B.C.

• Open range grazing was pretty much history by the 1890s, when land became privatized. Ranchers employed the use of barbed wire and the big cattle drives dissipated. The Texas trail drives lasted just over 20 years, with upwards of ten million Texas longhorns driven north between the end of the Civil War and 1890. Cowboys were hired on by private ranch owners and most gave up trying to use an open trail.

• It didn’t matter what the person’s actual name was, if he was the camp cook he was typically referred to as “Cookie.” And, after the trail boss, he was considered the most important person in the camp! Some cowboys called the cooks “biscuit shooters,” “belly cheaters,” and “bean masters.” Cookie worked longer hours than the cowboys, as he was in charge of setting up and breaking down camp. Breakfast had to be ready when the cowboys arose, and Cookie cleaned up the mess after every meal. He was also responsible for locating the North Star each night and turning the tongue of the chuckwagon toward it to alert the cowboys which way to head out the following morning. For his extra efforts, the cook was one of the best paid crew members.

• Occasionally, cowboys would have free time following a drive, and would hold competitions against each other, testing their skills of roping and riding against each other. As the number of drives decreased with fencing divisions now on the open range and expansion of the railroads, many cowboys were left without employment. This led to competitions between neighboring ranches becoming more and more popular, leading to the modern-day rodeo. Prescott, Arizona, was the site of the first formalized professional rodeo on Independence Day, 1888, although Buffalo Bill Cody had previously awarded prize money to competitors at his 1882 Wild West Shows. Other events sprang up, including Cheyenne, Wyoming’s Frontier Days in 1897, followed by the Calgary Stampede in 1912, which has become one of the biggest rodeo events in the country. □

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

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

Keeping your eye on the ball has been a misleading phrase for decades of golf instruc tion. The worst misuse of the concept results when players try to keep their head down or the eyes facing the ground long after the ball has been struck.

These golfers get stuck not transferring weight correctly and inhibiting proper arms swing release in the follow through. It’s bet ter to simply allow the head to turn toward the target with the fol low through.

Players like Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson even turn their head toward the target before the ball is struck. “Looking off the ball” was a prin ciple made popular by teacher Jimmy Bal lard, who hated the eyes down syndrome.

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.

So if you do watch the ball take off in flight toward the target, you’ll truly be keeping your eye on the ball.

Tuck It Under

Game Changers

Jason Jenkins was a 16-year member of the Jim McLean Golf

teaching staff and was one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100

Nominees 1999-2010. He was named one of the Golf

by Jason Jenkins

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