Vol. 19: #4 • Tidbits Tallys Up the Dollar Bill • (1-22-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

DOLLAR DOLLAR BILL

by Janet Spencer

While those dollar bills in your pocket won’t buy as quite much as they did just a year ago, Tidbits thought it would be interesting to take a closer look at this ubiquitous banknote and scope out a few details about the bill itself. So pry open your wallet and follow along as we learn some hard facts about the dollar bill!

• The dollar banknote hasn’t changed since 1963. The $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills have all been redesigned in the last decade, with the Federal Reserve adding color and watermarks to keep a step ahead of the less-than-honest scoundrels among us. But the dollar bill has remained unchanged because this smaller denomination is seldom counterfeited.

• Another reason the dollar bill never changes is due to the lobbying efforts by the vendingmachine industry to prevent that from happening. Any modification of the bill would require an expensive overhaul of every machine nationwide each time the bill design is changed. The monumental cost of such overhauls would be

1. GEOGRAPHY: What is the second-longest river in North America?

2. MOVIES: Which 1973 movie advertised itself as a place “where nothing can possibly go wrong”?

3. GAMES: Which party game claims that it can “tie you up in knots”?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was the first to appoint an African American as a member of his Cabinet?

5. HISTORY: When was the Warsaw Pact between the Soviet Union and seven Eastern Bloc countries signed?

6. TELEVISION: Which TV game show often uses the phrase “Survey says ...”?

7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a female peacock called?

8. FOOD & DRINK: How many meals do Hobbits eat in a day, according to the movies?

9. ADVERTISING: Which product used a manicurist named Madge in its advertisements?

10. MEDICAL: What is a common name for the condition called septicemia?

1. The Mississippi. 2. “Westworld.” 3. Twister. 4. Lyndon Johnson.

divorce to be finalized.

• Edward’s advisors told him he could not marry Wallis and keep the throne. On December 10, 1936, he announced that he was abdicating the throne so he could be free to marry Wallis. His brother took his place on the throne, becoming King George VI.

• Edward fled to Vienna but joined Wallis in France the moment her divorce became final.

• Queen Elizabeth, who died in 2022, suffered various scandals during her long reign, but none that matched the fervor caused by her uncle, King Edward VIII. That scandal was precipitated by a love affair with his paramour, Wallis Simpson.

• Bessie Wallis Warfield was born in 1896 in Pennsylvania to wealthy parents and learned to be a debutante.

• She fell in love with a young pilot, Earl Winfield, and married him in 1916. Unfortunately, Earl was a drinker, Wallis was a flirt, and their union inevitably wound up in divorce.

• Wallis soon married again, to the wealthy socialite Ernest Simpson.

• They moved to London and began climbing the social ladder. This meant getting to know the royals. Wallis made quite an impression on Edward, the playboy prince and next King of England, regardless of the fact that he already had a mistress and she was married.

• Edward began spending more and more time with Wallis, who began showing up at parties wearing royal jewels, gifted to her by Edward. Whispered rumors abounded, but everyone looked the other way.

• Eventually, however, royal family members grew increasingly irritated by Edward spending time with another man’s wife when he should have been attentive to royal duties.

• In January of 1936, King George V died and Edward was crowned King of England as Wallis Simpson stood by his side.

• As King of England, Edward’s affair with a married woman could not continue. The Crown, Parliament, and the British Commonwealth were up in arms about the relationship. If Edward could not earn their support, a marriage to Wallis would create a constitutional crisis.

• Wallis fled to France to wait for her second

• Edward’s brother, King George VI, found a chateau in France for a marriage venue. None of the royal family attended the wedding. However, public opinion began to turn in their favor after such a highly publicized turn of events.

• In 1940, King George took pity on his brother and appointed him Governor of the Bahamas where they lived with a comfortable salary.

• However, they continued to feel the royal cold shoulder. They were not invited to Elizabeth II’s wedding to Philip in 1947. When King George VI fell ill, Edward was not invited to visit. Edward was invited to King George’s funeral after he died, but Wallis was not.

• When it became clear Edward was dying, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Philip paid him a visit. Edward died ten days later, on May 18, 1972. Following his death, the royal family extended a brief moment of hospitality towards Wallis. Queen Elizabeth II arranged for Edward’s body to be flown to England and for Wallis to stay at Buckingham Palace while she attended the funeral. Afterwards, the royals washed their hands of her and cut off all communication.

• Wallis entered a long slow decline – mental, physical, and financial. She died at her home in Paris in 1986. It was a surprise when the royal family arranged for her funeral to be held at Windsor Castle, and for her to be buried alongside Edward. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and the Queen Mother all attended.

• Shortly before her death Wallis had summed up her life in one sentence: “You have no idea how hard it is to live out a great romance.” □

Wallis Simpson

financially devastating to the industry.

• The last change made to the dollar bill was the addition of the line “In God We Trust,” which was added in 1963. This phrase started to be included on all U.S. currency following a law passed by President Eisenhower in 1956, making it the country’s official motto.

• The first face to appear on U.S. money was Salmon P. Chase on the $1 bill issued in 1862 during the Civil War. As Secretary of the Treasury, Chase was also the designer of the country’s first bank notes. George Washington took his place on the $1 bill in 1869.

THE COST OF MONEY

• The Federal Reserve spends about 5.6¢ to produce every $1 bill, which is a much better deal than the 2.06¢ it costs to produce a penny. While the $2 bill carries the same price tag, the bills get costlier from there due to the materials used in their composition. The $5 bill costs 11.4¢, the $10 bill costs 11.1¢, and the $20 bill costs 11.5¢ to produce. The $100 bill is the most expensive to produce, costing 13.2¢ each.

• While the $100 bill costs the most to produce, it’s not the costliest in terms of the proportion of the final product. While 5.6¢ represents 5.6% of the value of a $1 bill, the 13.2¢ required to print a $100 bill comes to just 0.132% of its currency value.

• According to the Federal Reserve, a dollar bill lasts about 5.8 years before being retired. That’s more frequent than the average $20 bill (7.9 years), $50 bill (8.5 years), and $100 bill (15 years). However, the dollar bill lasts longer than the $5 bill (5.5 years) and $10 bill (4.5 years).

• Central banks routinely collect and destroy worn-out banknotes in exchange for new ones.

This does not affect the money supply, and is done to maintain a healthy population of usable currency. Old bills are shredded and either burned or turned into compost.

• U.S. bills are printed by the Bureau of Engraving in only two places around the world; at its facilities in Washington, D.C., and in Fort Worth, Texas. The Fort Worth facility was opened in 1990 and helps serve the Western United States, providing a backup in case something happens to the D.C. facility.

• Because of the cost of reprinting the heavily circulated $1 bills, several solutions have been proposed. The Susan B. Anthony dollar coin was minted from 1979 to 1981, when production was suspended due to poor public acceptance. In 2013, a group of five senators, including Arizona’s John McCain and Iowa’s Tom Harkin, united behind an effort to switch to a $1 coin. This shift would save the government $13.8 billion over three decades. But for various reasons (the vending-machine lobby prominent among them), the effort was abandoned due to lack of support..

Approximately 92% of The world's currency is digital. This means that most of the money you earn, transact with, use to buy goods and services and so on exists only on computers and hard drives.

• Two-dollar bills are not all that rare, even though there are fewer of them in circulation than any other denomination. Because they are considered somewhat of an anomaly, many people save them or give them away as unique gifts. Currently, around 1.3 billion $2 bills are in the hands of consumers. By comparison, there are about 12.4 billion $1 bills in circulation; 9.4 billion $20 bills; and 13.4 billion $100 bills.

DESIGN OF THE DOLLAR

• The Latin words above and below the dollar bill’s pyramid are all about American exceptionalism: “Annuit Coeptis” means “He favors our undertaking,” and “Novus ordo seclorum” means “New order of the ages.”

• Across the bottom bricks of the pyramid are the letters “MDCCLXXVI” which are the Roman numerals for 1776, the year America declared its independence.

• The eagle on the back of the $1 bill holds an olive branch (representing peace) in its right talon, and arrows (symbolizing war) in its left talon. But on silver coins from 1801 to 1807, the eagle held them in opposite talons. European diplomats and journalists claimed putting the arrows in the eagle’s dominant talon was a symbol of aggression (assuming eagles are right-handed), and called it a reason to start a war. So America decided to switch the peaceful symbol to the dominant side on the dollar.

• The number 13—the original number of American states—appears on the $1 bill not just once, but repeatedly. There are 13 arrows, 13 olive branch leaves, 13 olive fruits, 13 stars above the eagle, 13 steps of the pyramid, and 13 bars on the shield. Plus, although this is likely a coincidence, “annuit cœptis” and “e pluribus unum” both have 13 letters.

Dollar Bill: Turn to page 15

QUIZ BITS

1. Which prints more money each year: The Monopoly game or the U.S. Government?

2. How many different ways are there of making change for a dollar?

(Answers page 16)

The Treasury Department imbeds threads in paper bills to protect against counterfeiting. If you have a UV light, allow it to shine through your bill to see the thread glow. On the $5 bill, the thread glows blue. On the $10 bill it glows orange. On the $20 bill it glows green. On the $50 bill it's yellow, and on the $100 bill it's pink.

Jay Saukkonen

By Lucie Winborne

* Research has shown that girls and women who watched the TV series “The X-Files” were more likely to believe in the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and to encourage their own daughters and granddaughters to pursue careers in those fields -- something called “The Scully Effect” after the series’ female main character, Dana Scully

* Pentheraphobia is the fear of your mother-in-law. There, you now have an official name for it.

* In 2006, actor William Shatner, beloved by “Star Trek” fans as Captain James Tiberius Kirk, sold his kidney stone, complete with stent and string, to a casino for $25,000. While Shatner retained “visitation rights,” the complete proceeds were donated to Habitat for Humanity.

* Whack, zoom, out of the way! A table tennis ball can travel off the paddle at a speed of 105.6 mph.

* All of the world’s pandas are technically owned by China. The country leases them to zoos in an act called panda diplomacy.

* On Dec. 19, 1881, Sir William Payne Gallwey, a retired conservative member of the British Parliament, died while out shooting on his estate, Thirkleby Park -but not from a gunshot. Instead, Gallwey suffered a fall and landed on a turnip, sustaining serious internal injuries to which he succumbed a few days later.

* Bananas get their curves by turning skyward as they grow, to absorb sunlight. ***

Thought for the Day: “Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”

-- Samuel Ullman

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

How

to

Properly

Store

Dry, Fresh and Cooked Pasta

it tightly in plastic or a sealed container. It is best to consume fresh pasta on the day it is made or purchased, but if stored in the refrigerator, it can be kept for an additional day.

HOW TO FREEZE FRESH PASTA

If you’re not planning to use your fresh pasta immediately, you can freeze it for longer storage. To freeze fresh pasta, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in a sealed container, label with the date and specific contents, and then place it in the freezer. Kept frozen, fresh pasta will keep for up to 3 months.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

I’m one lucky gal. My husband’s favorite menu item is pasta -- any shape or recipe. He would opt for a pasta dish every meal of the day if that were an option. And that’s great because he is as tall and slim as the day we married. While he has no desire to actually prepare pasta, I love to cook. Add these things together and it’s pretty much a no-brainer that pasta is the foundation of frequent, tasty pasta meals in the Hunt home.

You can be sure that we load up on pasta when our favorite brand (Barilla) is selling 10 (16oz.) packages for $10. But is that wise? What’s the shelf life of pasta? Where and how should we store pasta to make sure it will be delicious right to the last package, which if we’ve planned well should coincide with the next 10-for-10 sale?

HOW TO STORE DRY PASTA

One of the most economical and convenient foods available, pasta has become a staple in most home pantries. The key to storing dry pasta is to keep it in a cool, dry place.

The pantry is a great spot to store dry pasta, as long as it’s not near any heat sources or areas with high humidity. Avoid storing dry pasta in the refrigerator or freezer, as the cool, damp environment can cause it to become mushy and spoil more quickly.

When you’re ready to use your frozen pasta, thaw it in the refrigerator or at room temperature. To reheat it, place the pasta in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes, or microwave it in a covered dish with a little bit of water. Avoid reheating pasta in the oven, as this can cause it to become dry and overcooked.

While it is possible to freeze dry pasta in order to save space in the pantry, this should not be done with the intention of extending its shelf life. Dry pasta can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry and dark location for a prolonged period without freezing. If you are running out of pantry space, it is a good idea to consider other options for storing the dry pasta before resorting to freezing.

HOW TO STORE COOKED PASTA

Cooked pasta is a little trickier to store, as it can become soggy or develop an off flavor if not appropriately handled. Here are some tips for storing cooked pasta:

Before storing cooked pasta, it’s essential to let it cool to room temperature. This will help to prevent the pasta from becoming soggy or developing an off flavor. Once the pasta has cooled, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it as soon as possible.

PROOF

Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

To keep your dry pasta fresh, transferring it from the original packaging to an airtight container is a good idea. This will help to protect it from moisture, pests and other contaminants. Glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids work well for this purpose. Be sure to label and date the container so you know when you purchased the pasta and can keep track of its shelf life. When stored properly, dry pasta has an indefinite shelf life.

HOW TO STORE FRESH PASTA

Fresh pasta -- homemade or purchased from a refrigerated case in a grocery store -- is far more delicate than dry pasta and requires a bit more care when it comes to storage. Fresh pasta has not been dried and therefore does not have the same shelf life as dry pasta.

Fresh pasta should be stored in the coldest part of your fridge, typically the back of the bottom shelf. To prevent it from drying out, wrap

Following these simple guidelines, you can confidently store your dry, fresh and cooked pasta to ensure it stays fresh and retains its quality.

* * *

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.”

• The Coinage Act of 1792 created the U.S. Mint. At the time, some coins were made out of gold or silver, while most other coins were composed of more common metals. However, dishonest citizens often shaved off the edges of the gold and silver coins, so they could still spend the coins while keeping some of the valuable metal. As a precaution, ridges were added to the edges of the precious metal coins so that any shaving would be obvious and prevent the coins from being circulated.

• The U.S. Mint stopped making gold coins altogether during the Great Depression, and the Coinage Act of 1965 removed all silver from coins due to the silver shortage. It’s expensive to make new equipment to stamp out new coin

designs, so the ridges stayed in place even though there is no longer any precious metal contained in coins. Ridges also help the blind identify coins, particularly by being able to feel the difference between pennies and dimes.

• Dimes have 118 ridges; quarters have 119.

• President Lincoln appeared on a one-cent coin and became the first real person, as well as the first American president, to have his face appear on an American coin. Lincoln’s face replaced the Indian head penny in 1909 in order to celebrate his 100th birthday. The Lincoln Memorial on the back was added for his 150th birthday in 1959.

• The Native American on the Indian Head and Buffalo nickels was actually a combined image created from three different people: a Cheyenne named Chief Two Moons, an Iroquois named Chief John Big Tree, and a Lakota Indian Chief named Iron Tail.

• When the U.S. Mint began in the 1790s, one of the sources from which copper was purchased was from a firm owned by Paul Revere.

• Today the U.S. Mint produces an average of 14.7 million coins per day. How many paper bills does the U.S. Mint print every day? Not a single one. That’s now the job of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

• The coin valued at 1/100th of a U.S. dollar is called a cent, not a penny. The term penny originated with European settlers, but it has never been an official term in the U.S.

• The word “cent” comes from the Latin “centum” meaning one hundred, the same root word that gives us century, and percent.

• The word penny comes from the Old English “penning,” which in turn is thought to derive from the German “pfennig.”

• The nickel’s name is unique because it’s the only U.S. coin that is called by its metal content, even though it’s only 25 percent nickel. The rest is copper. Five-cent coins minted from 1942-1945 don’t actually contain any nickel at all. Due to the shortage of nickel during World War II, they were made of an alloy of copper, silver and manganese.

• The word “nickel” dates back to the 1750s in Sweden and Germany. One meaning of the German word nickel is “rascal,” and “kupfernickel” meant “false copper.” Miners

invented this name because nickel ore looks like copper, which is more valuable. Sometimes the miners thought they had found copper, but they were fooled by that rascally kupfernickel.

• The dime comes from the Latin “decimus,” meaning “one-tenth” as in decimal.

• The term “coin” comes from the Latin “cuneus” meaning “corner.” The word first meant “wedge” but came to mean “a thing that is stamped” or “a piece of money” because dies for stamping metal were wedge-shaped.

• The 1849 Double Eagle, a $20 American gold coin, is currently the rarest and most valuable coin in the world, with an estimated value of around $20 million. □

by Dana Jackson

Q: Who is the actor starring in the new detective series “Will Trent”? Also, who plays Angie on the show? She looks so familiar. -- E.M.

A: “Will Trent” is a police procedural series on ABC based on a series of novels written by Karin Slaughter. It stars Ramon Rodriguez, who played Renaldo on the critically acclaimed HBO series “The Wire,” Bosley on the short-lived “Charlie’s Angels” TV series a decade ago, and most recently Benjamin Cruz on the HBO series “The Affair.” He’s one of those recognizable faces with a solid resume, but never was the headliner until now.

“Will Trent” also stars Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski (who is best known for her role as Julia on the hit series “Parenthood”), Jennifer Mor-

rison (“House”), and Mark-Paul Gosselaar (“Saved by the Bell”).

***

Q: I really enjoyed Paul Reiser in the comedy series “Reboot.” It made me wonder whatever happened to Helen Hunt? The last time I saw her was in a Tom Hanks film about 20 years ago. -- H.A.

A: The daughter of respected acting coach Gordon Hunt, Helen Hunt was a child actress who guest-starred on numerous television productions in the ‘70s and ‘80s, including “The Bionic Woman,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Facts of Life.” She became a household name because of the hit sitcom “Mad About You,” opposite Paul Reiser, which was part of the Thursday night NBC lineup before “Friends” took its spot. Speaking of reboots, “Mad About You” returned for a limited run in 2019 as part of the Spectrum Originals subscription service.

Hunt won four consecutive Emmy Awards for “Mad About You” before moving on to a successful movie career. She starred in blockbuster hits like “Twister” as well as critically acclaimed indie films like “The Sessions,” the latter of which earned her an Oscar nomination. The highlight of

her career was winning an Academy Award for the film “As Good as It Gets.”

She co-starred with Tom Hanks in “Cast Away,” in 2000, and while her roles haven’t been as high-profile since, she’s been acting on camera and doing voiceover work steadily for the past decade. She recently narrated the Lifetime true crime series “Meet, Marry, Murder” and was a regular on the Starz series “Blindspotting.”

“Twisters,” a sequel to “Twister,” is coming to theaters in the summer of 2024, but whether or not Hunt is attached to that project has yet to be confirmed.

***

Q: I missed the first episode of “Chicago Fire” when it returned in the beginning of January. What happened to Stella? I’m glad she survived, but I don’t know the details. -- B.B.

A: When NBC’s hit show “Chicago Fire” went on hiatus for the holidays, it did so with a cliffhanger that left fans worried about the fate of characters Stella and Carver as they rushed into a burning building to save Pryma. Fortunately, all three made it to January when new episodes resumed.

However, Carver (Jake Lockett) was left feeling guilty because Stella (Miranda Rae Mayo) was seriously injured after jumping in front of him during an explosion. Pryma (Troy Winbush) also survived, but suffered a broken leg.

* * *

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

Chocolate Fondue

Fondue is French for “melted,” and this easy-to-make dessert will melt many a chocolate lover’s heart. It’s fantastic with fruit, but try other dunkables, too -- marshmallows or cubes of angel food or pound cake.

1/2 cup almonds, toasted and finely chopped (optional)

1. In heavy 1-quart saucepan or fondue pot, melt chocolate with half-and-half over low heat until mixture is smooth, stirring frequently. Stir in liqueur and vanilla; keep sauce warm.

2. To serve, arrange fruit on large platter. Spoon fondue into small bowl if you like. Place nuts in another small bowl. With toothpick, dip fruit into fondue, then roll into chopped almonds if you like a little crunch.

 Each serving: About 75 calories, 5g total fat (3g saturated), 2mg cholesterol, 2mg sodium, 8g total carbohydrate, 1g dietary fiber, 1g protein.

Lemony Bean Duo

Wax beans and green beans are tossed in a simple dressing and garnished with lemon and mint.

1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves 1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed 1 1/2 pounds wax beans, trimmed 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 lemon

1. Heat 7- to 8-quart covered pot of water to boiling on high. Meanwhile, finely chop half of mint.

2. To pot, add beans and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook 7 to 8 minutes or until just crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Drain well.

3. While beans are still warm, in large bowl, toss with oil, chopped mint, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Transfer to large shallow serving bowl. Grate lemon peel directly over beans, then tear remaining mint leaves and scatter over beans. Makes 12 side-dish servings.

* Each serving: About 55 calories, 3g total fat (0g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 120mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate, 4g dietary fiber, 2g protein.

* * *

For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/. (c) 2023 Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved

I think I have a height problem. According to the weight chart I should be four inches taller.

The counselor said my wife told him I never buy her flowers. I never even knew she sold flowers.

NEST HEADS

By John Allen

DIAMOND LIL by Brett Koth

1/22 National Bible Sunday

1/23 National Handwriting Day

1/24 Talk Like a Grizzled Prospector Day

1/25 Notice the Opposites Day

1/26 National Peanut Brittle Day

1/27 Holocaust Memorial Day

1/28 Local Quilt Shop Day

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Foxie Needs a New Henhouse

From a reader: Our Dachshund mix, “Foxie,” is one year old. We got Foxie last October, and she has never been friendly with strangers. My neighbor has tried to get her to warm up to him, but Foxie always growls at the poor guy. We have a good fence in the backyard, so she can’t get out, but she barks menacingly at passersby.

However, if I take her to the local dog park and let her loose, she’s terrific: calm, mellow, playful, never aggressive with other dogs or humans. But back at the homestead, or even out at the park on a leash, I am wary of anyone trying to pet her, especially children.

Sometimes when Foxie is napping, my 7-yearold daughter snuggles up to her, and Foxie starts to growl, warning my daughter to back off and let her sleep. To Foxie’s credit, I can imagine this being very annoying. But I was brought up to believe that a dog should never growl at a family member.

I don’t like that she growls at my daughter in those moments, and I don’t like that she barks at everyone who walks through the front door. Last Friday night, we had friends over, a family with an 8-year-old boy who knows Foxie and 4-year-old twin girls who were meeting her for the first time. Foxie barked at them all when they arrived, but the boy pet her and Foxie recognized him and ran off to play with him and my 9-year-old son. A few minutes later, Foxie was back in the house, and one of the twins reached out to her and said “doggie.” Foxie let loose a vicious little growl, and the girl started to cry.

Honestly, I fear Foxie might have bitten her hand if given more of a chance, and I worry that my daughter might get bit, as well. Foxie has never once growled at me or my son, but he is a very calming fellow.

I feel like it would be hard to get Foxie to stop growling at strangers; she’s always done it. My quandary is that my kids are crazy attached to her. Since my wonderful German shepherd died a couple of years ago, Foxie is the third dog we’ve tried to bring into the family. I admit I’ve chosen poorly. We had to give

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

Having a Pet Is Good for Us

The studies are clear: Owning a pet is good for us - in so many different ways.

For those of us who stay home much of the time, having a pet can be a boon to our physical and mental health. Play with a cat, you get laughter and stress relief. Walk a dog, you get exercise. (And don’t forget the social aspect when you meet up with other dog owners along the way). Blood sugar levels even out and blood pressure goes down. The studies bear all of this out.

On the other hand, those studies were written before the pandemic. Now we find that too many pet owners are having to relinquish their pets ... and those who would consider pet adoption are hesitant.

No matter how much we’d like to own a pet, there can be concerns that we need to consider before we adopt, and one of the the big ones

is pet food costs and availability.

In many areas, there have been difficulties keeping our pets fed. Ask neighbors who have pets if they’ve had trouble getting pet food over the past two years. Sometimes the manufacturers haven’t kept up due to supply chain problems.

But there are options that might ease your worry. Learn about ordering pet food online and having it delivered to your door. It’s also possible that your local food bank keeps a supply of pet food on hand. Meals on Wheels often delivers pet food. The animal shelter itself is sure to have a pet food bank. I searched for “free pet food pantries” near me and found dozens -- even a library and a local church!

Take a look at Pets for the Elderly (petsfortheelderly.org), especially the stories about seniors who’ve adopted pets. They work with 54 shelters in 32 states to help pet adopters who are over age 60.

If you still aren’t sure, consider becoming a foster parent to one or more pets. You’ll be able to try it out and see how the situation feels.

* * *

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

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

the other two (good) dogs to dear friends for whom they were better suited. I really wanted Foxie to be our keeper. I never imagined she’d be a growler.

What would you do if you were me? And yes, money is an issue.

I see four issues here, and you can see how one leads to the next:

1. Too little planning and prep.

2. Not knowing how to select an appropriate family dog.

3. Lack of training.

4. Child endangerment.

Chances are good that proper attention to issues 1, 2 and 3 would mean issue 4 never manifests.

Planning and preparation means researching breeds and training protocols, interviewing trainers, teaching your kids how to handle a dog, creating a safe and comfortable space within the home for the dog, and setting aside some money to invest in the dog’s education and care.

How to select the right dog for your family is a full column in itself. But there are methods to identify certain personality traits that you may want -- or want to avoid. There are also behaviorists and trainers who can help you make this very important decision.

The Art of DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

Cottage Style

Cottages -- it seems they never go out of style. The simple, warm-the-heart rustic decoration of cottages has a lot of followers in the interior design world. And it’s logical, thanks to the warmth of the wood and the elegance of the stone. It is a style that transports us to a simpler way of life, a world already past that many of us long for.

The materials and architectural elements of cottages are the main components of the cottage style: wooden beams, stone walls, arches and vaults are the embellishments of this style that often tries to fly under the radar. These elements create the perfect canvas for other decoration and furnishings that give that feeling of comfort and home.

There are cottages all over the world. Each country has its own version of these humble abodes, from the English countryside home to the Mediterranean rustic hideaway to the all-American Foursquare house or beachside shotgun cottage.

Cottage styles are generally favored by those who resist the imposition of technological and avant-garde design and prefer the natural tendencies of wood and natural fibers, reminiscent of the past. This style adapts perfectly to smaller houses. And although it is less used in urban environments, it can create a space with rustic airs, which always adapt to any environment.

The colors that predominate in cottage interiors are those of wood and stone, complemented by earthy tones: bone, beige, tan, sand

and terracotta, as well as some green and reddish tones. If a cottage has little lighting or few windows, I always recommend white for the walls and highlighting one wall in an intense color or with bold wallpaper.

To achieve a real casual cottage feel, choose a few handmade accessories and unique furniture that gives a human touch. Also think small-scale and add an occasional table or whatnot to display figurines. This approach will give every corner of your home a design touch that transmits life, stories and personality.

Use natural fibers such as yarn, cotton, wool or linen in carpets, cottons and linens for upholstery fabric and plain unlined fabric for curtains. Sofas, wingbacks and tablecloths may include natural patterns such as florals, stripes or plaids -- or a mix of it all for a look that seems like an accumulation over time.

Bamboo, wicker and wire are also good ingredients to throw in for a cottage look. Using decorative objects based on these materials will help you achieve the casual effect you’re looking for. You can’t forget plants and flowers, which will serve to decorate tables, windows, furniture and any other surfaces.

Finally, make sure to combine the old and the new for a look that is stylish but, above all, comfortable. Antiques may be the perfect pieces to add nostalgia, while a new upholstered sofa or chair will guarantee comfort, which is crucial to any design.

Cottage style is many things to many people, but it is most about a laid-back and unpretentious attitude toward everyday life.

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

In this case, there was insufficient attention paid to issues 1, 2 and 3, and now issue 4 is top priority. This Foxie’s in the wrong henhouse. They need to find a new home for Foxie -- without small children -- and get her some professional training to set her on the right path.

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 2012 CREATORS.COM

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Be Prepared

I got an email from a woman who had recently filed for widow’s benefits. She was writing to tell me that the process went very smoothly, and her benefits started within weeks of her application. She said one of the reasons things went so well is that she had done her homework and was prepared with all the information the Social Security Administration might need, including a death certificate and copies of her marriage papers.

I thought I’d help other readers (who haven’t yet filed for benefits) be prepared for their eventual encounter with the SSA. So today, I’m going to write a column about when and how to file for Social Security benefits.

First, let me clarify the “when to file” part. If you are filing for widow’s benefits (as was the lady who sent me the email), you will almost always do that soon after the death of your spouse. But most readers will be filing for retirement benefits. And as I’ve said repeatedly in this column, I am not a financial planner. So, I really can’t advise you about the best time to start your Social Security retirement benefits. That’s a decision only you can make, perhaps after consulting a real financial planner.

I’m just an old retired Social Security guy. All I can do is explain Social Security rules to you to help you make that decision. In my book, “Social Security: Simple and Smart,” I have a whole chapter devoted to this topic. So, you might want to check it out. You can order the book online at Amazon.com.

Whether you make that decision on your own or with the help of my book or a financial planner, once you decide the month you want your benefits to start, many of you still want to know how far in advance you should file for those benefits. And that is the “when to file” advice I am offering in this column.

Let me begin by pointing this out. Your Social Security eligibility date is always a month, not a day. For example, let’s say you were born Jan. 28, 1957, and you want your benefits to start at your full retirement age. The full retirement age for people born in 1957 is 66 and 6 months. So, you will reach full retirement age on July 28, 2023. But the day you reach FRA isn’t really an issue. It’s the month that is key. In other words, your eligibility date isn’t July 28, 2023. It’s just July 2023.

The Social Security Administration recommends that you file three months before your eligibility month. So, if you wanted your benefits to start in July, you could start the ball rolling sometime in April 2023.

I used to advise people that there really was no need to rush because most Social Security retirement claims are very simple and the SSA would process them in literally a matter of days. So, in the past, I would have told people whose eligibility date is July that they could even wait until June if they wanted and there would be a very good chance their first check would show up on time. But the fallout of the pandemic seems to have messed things up at the SSA. I’ve heard from so many readers who report to me about delays in either getting through to the SSA in the first place or in getting their benefits started. My motto for the time being is this: better safe than sorry. File your

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Social Security claim three months before your first eligibility month.

But don’t let me scare you. Once you contact the SSA, you’ve established what they call a “protective filing date” and your rights to benefits are guaranteed from that month forward. For example, let’s say you wanted your benefits to start in January 2023, but for whatever reason, you didn’t get around to filing your claim until January 25, 2023. Even though your claim might not finish processing until sometime in February or possibly even March, you will be paid back to January.

That’s the “when to file” message. About three months ahead of time would be ideal. Now let’s tackle the “how to file” issue.

Probably 90% of us have rather straightforward Social Security claims. That means you are just filing for your own Social Security benefits. In that case, I strongly recommend you file online at www.socialsecurity.gov. It’s simple and easy. I did so a few years back and it probably took me all of a half-hour to finish the process. Check the website yourself and see how easy it is.

If you do have a scenario that you think might be complicated (like trying to get a combination of retirement and spousal benefits), then you should probably do that in person. Call the SSA at 800-772-1213 to set up a phone or in-office interview.

And if you are filing for widow’s benefits, that must be done by phone or in person. Claims for widow’s benefits cannot be done online. That’s because there may be filing options a widow has that are more easily explained by talking to someone in person rather than dealing with a computer online.

What documents do you need to file for Social Security benefits? It depends on the kind of benefit you are trying to get. Think of it this way: you usually must provide some kind of evidence to support your eligibility for such benefits. For example, if it’s a retirement claim, you need to prove

you are old enough to qualify. So, to do that, you need a birth certificate. If you are filing for spousal benefits, you need to prove not only your age, but you also need to show you are married to the person on whose Social Security record you are applying, most likely with a marriage certificate. If you are a divorced spouse, you’d also need to provide your divorce papers. If you want to apply for widow’s benefits, in addition to proving your age and marriage, you also need a death certificate. In all cases, SSA wants to see original copies of these documents, or copies certified by the record issuer.

One document you don’t need is your Social Security card. I hear from panicky people all the time who tell me they are about to file for Social Security benefits, and they can’t find their SSN card. I tell them to relax. You do not need the card when you sign up for Social Security.

And speaking of Social Security numbers, many divorced women tell me they are pretty sure they might be due benefits on an ex-spouse’s Social Security record, but they don’t have the guy’s Social Security number and they are worried they won’t get the benefits without the number. In these cases, the SSA will be able to find the ex’s SSN. They might need some identifying information from you (like his name, date and place of birth, etc.), but you should be able to provide them with that.

* * *

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

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

1. The book of Joshua is in the a) Old testament b) New testament c) Neither

2. From John 3, who asked, "How can a man be born who is old?" a) Stephen b) Matthew c) Nicodemus d) Thomas

3. What notoriously wicked woman married King Ahab? a) Candace b) Shiprah c) Adah d) Jezebel

4. From Esther 5, who was the wife of Haman of Persia? a) Naaman b) Zeresh c) Delilah d) Not named

5. Where were Adam and Eve married? a) Eden b) Heaven c) Haran d) Not mentioned

6. Who wrote the most of the Book of Psalms? a) Solomon b) Moses c) David d) Micah

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. © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Family History of Breast Cancer Prompts Man to Get Examined

days after symptom onset.

The medicine is of most value to people who are at high risk of severe COVID. This includes people who are unvaccinated, people over 65 and people with high-risk conditions such as advanced HIV, organ transplantation or other severe problems with the immune system (including cancer chemotherapy and similar powerful drugs used for autoimmune diseases).

VETERANS

by Freddie Groves

ADVERTISING PROOF

PROOF

Helping Veterans in 2023

Final Changes DUE: 5:00 p.m.. Please review carefully. Double check:

Healthy, younger, vaccinated people with initial mild to moderate symptoms are at low risk for severe COVID (as of the time of this writing, with the omicron strains currently circulating) and do not benefit much from Paxlovid.

Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 Contact

DEAR DR. ROACH: My mother and both of her sisters had breast cancer in their 30s, with my mother eventually passing after her third bout at age 43. They all grew up in the same house that I grew up in. I’m now a 34-year-old father of three small children. I don’t want to die early because I need to be around for them, but the generalized advice I’m seeing is that I don’t need a cancer screening until my 40s.

Am I overly sensitive, or am I missing something that I should potentially screen for? -- M.M.

ANSWER: With your mother and two aunts having breast cancer at such a young age, I would be concerned about an inheritable cancer gene such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. This gene may not have been identifiable at the time they had their cancers, as the first test became available in 1996. It is worth a discussion with a genetic counselor to consider testing for you.

Men with the BRCA1/2 genetic mutations are at risk to develop breast cancer themselves and are recommended to do monthly breast selfexaminations starting at age 35, with a clinician exam yearly. A PSA test is also recommended for men who are positive for BRCA2 (and maybe for men with BRCA1), as men with these mutations are more at risk for prostate cancer at a younger age than average-risk men.

Although BRCA increases the risk of colon cancer, all men should get colorectal cancer screenings at age 45, regardless of BRCA status. Those with a strong family history of colon cancer should speak with an expert about the right time to begin screening.

I honor you for considering your family and expect you are doing as much as you can with your lifestyle to keep yourself healthy. A diet including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, with little to no processed meat, has been shown to reduce cancer risk as well as heart disease risk, which is still the major cause of death in industrial societies.

The most likely causes of death in men your age include motor vehicle accidents and suicide. These are not completely preventable, but driving safely, not texting while driving, never driving while intoxicated and seeking help with symptoms of depression go a long way at reducing your immediate risk so that you can continue to be there for your children.

***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I first tested positive for COVID eight days ago. Should I start Paxlovid now? -- P.M.

ANSWER: This medicine has made a huge reduction in the number of people who get so sick from COVID that they need to be hospitalized, but only when used properly. This means it has to be used at the right time -- ideally within 24 hours of getting sick and certainly within five days. It’s not likely to be of any help to you eight

MON., JAN. 2

Recently retired or unemployed, at loose ends and wondering what your next steps should be? If you’re looking for ways to help other veterans in your area, this year could be your most meaningful.

 Is anyone building homes for veterans in your area? Are any organizations ready to break ground and start building in the spring? Do you have construction, plumbing or electrical skills? Even if you don’t, there are jobs you can do to move the project along: reading blueprints and ordering materials, supervising deliveries, providing overnight security, painting walls and trim and much more.

 As a place to start, ask if the Habitat for Humanity near you is building a home for a veteran. You might end up as a Habitat employee in charge of volunteer resources or running a Habitat ReStore full of building materials.

 Raise a service dog puppy. These little guys need to spend the first year of their lives in a loving environment to get them ready for their all-important service dog training. You’ll get the pup ready by teaching him initial basic commands, keeping him healthy and getting him socialized out in public. At every step of the way you’ll be giving the puppy what he’ll need to help a veteran with PTSD, a physical disability or mental trauma. Look around online for organizations in your area that are raising and training service dogs for veterans.

 Volunteer on an Honor Flight. Keep an eye on the schedule in your area for the Honor Flights, those all-expenses-paid trips that take hundreds of veterans to Washington, D.C. They need volunteers for every trip to escort mostly elderly veterans to see all of their monuments and spend the day together. The 2023 schedule of trips will be up on the website in February (www.honorflight. org). Look for the map on the list of hubs around the country.

Is 2023 going to be your year to help yourself by stepping up to help other veterans?

Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.

M.D.

The Best ReacherGrabber Tools of 2023

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Can you recommend some good "grabber" tools for seniors with back or hip problems who need help picking things up off the floor? I bought a cheap one a few months ago that doesn’t work very well and would like to find one that does. Bad Back Betty

Dear Betty: A good “reacher-grabber” is a very practical and popular tool for anyone who struggles with injuries, arthritis or loss of mobility. It works like an extension of your arm allowing you to reach down and pick things up off the ground without bending or stooping over. It can also help with reaching and grabbing things in high overhead places, as well as areas that are difficult to get to.

But with so many different types of reacher-grabbers on the market today, finding a good one that works well for you is not always easy. Depending on your needs, here are some top-rated products to consider.

All-purpose: For retrieving small and medium-sized items, the “Ettore Grip’n Grab,” is a top option that can handle most chores. This 34-inch-long tool has a soft comfortable trigger handgrip and a rubberized jaw that’s strong enough to lift objects up to five pounds and up to four inches wide, yet sensitive enough to pick up something as small as a dime. The jaw also rotates and locks at 90 degrees for vertical or horizontal use to help you reach things in awkward spaces.

Lightweight: If you want a reacher primarily for retrieving small lightweight items

around the house, the “RMS Featherweight the Original Reacher” is a top pick. Available in 32 and 26-inch lengths, it’s made from ultra-lightweight aluminum and has a triggerstyle handgrip with a serrated jaw that provides a secure grip when lifting objects.

It also has a magnet built into the tip for picking up lightweight metal objects like a paperclip, and a small hook (or horn) that aids in retrieving things like clothes, shoes or keys. It even has a built-in clip on the arm so you can attach it to canes, walkers and wheelchairs. But, because of its super-lightweight design, it doesn’t work well at retrieving heaver items like canned goods from shelves.

Foldable: For easier storage, the top selling folding grabber is the “Zayad Reacher Grabber Tool,” which is 32-inches long and has a slip-joint in the arm that allows it to easily fold in half. It also has a soft ergonomic grip with a rubberized, rotating jaw that can lift objects up to three pounds and up to four inches wide.

Heavy-duty: For heaver-lifting jobs or for outdoor use, the “Unger Nifty Nabber” is a top choice. Available in 36 and 48-inch lengths, this sturdy tool has a rubber-coated heavy-duty claw that grips small, large, and odd-shaped items with ease. It also has a built-in magnet for picking up small metal objects, an ergonomic squeeze-grip handle and can lift eight pounds.

Where to Buy:

You can buy reacher-grabbers at many pharmacies, retail, medical equipment and home improvement stores. But, because it’s a specialty item, the selection is very limited. Your best bet is to buy one online at Amazon.com, which sells all of the top reacher-grabbers at prices ranging from around $10 to $20. Just type the product name in the search bar to find it.

* * *

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.

JUNQUE

by Anne McCollam Creators

Furniture Design Reveals History

Q: My mother purchased this sideboard eight years ago in an antiques shop. The store owner had no information on its origin. It has very unusual carving and hardware. There are two labels inside one of the drawers indicating where it was shipped from and to whom. Unfortunately there are no dates on either one. The top looks to be made of marble.

We are hoping that you can shed some light on its history and value.

A: Your sideboard is an example of Eastlake period of furniture. It was made in the Victorian Era in the years between 1870 and 1890. The shallow incised carving, turned spindles, burled panels, brass bail pulls, marble top and the overall rectilinear lines are representative of Eastlake design.

The value of your sideboard would probably be $1,000 to $1,500.

***

Q: Enclosed is the mark seen on the bottom of a small vase that belonged to my great-aunt around 70 years ago. The vase is aqua, stands 5 inches tall and is in perfect condition.

Can you tell me how much value it might have based on this information?

A: The mark you provided was used by Nelson McCoy Pottery Company. They made stoneware and pottery in Roseville and Zanesville, Ohio from 1848 to 1990.

Your vase is circa 1940 and similar vases sell in the range of $35 to $75. ***

Q: I have a coffee set that I inherited from my grandfather in Germany. There are six cups, six saucers, a coffee pot, a creamer and a sugar bowl. Each dish is decorated with a gold pattern over a dark blue glaze. The inside of the cups are all gold. “Echt Kobalt” is marked on the bottom of each piece.

I hope you can tell me what the value of my set is.

1848 to 1990.

A: “Echt Kobalt” means real cobalt and it refers to the dark blue glaze that decorated your china. There were several Bavarian porcelain factories that included these words with their marks. Your set was made in the mid 20th century and would probably be worth $275 to $400.

Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has recently retired and no longer receives inquiries nor answers reader letters. Due to the popularity of her column, this publication will continue to reprint previous columns of interest to our readers.

To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators. com

* On Jan. 25, 1533, England’s King Henry VIII secretly married Anne Boleyn. The bride was pregnant with the future Queen Elizabeth I, and the ceremony took place shortly before dawn with just a handful of witnesses present. Its stealthy nature was, of course, due to a lack of papal permission.

* On Jan. 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his “vehicle powered by a gas engine.” His first model, known as the “Benz Patent Motorwagen,” was financed by his wife and business partner Bertha’s dowry, had three wheels, and ran on an internal combustion engine similar to modern automobiles.

* On Jan. 24, 1935, the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company of Richmond, Virginia, sold the first canned beer, Krueger Cream Ale, to the public. When approached by the American Can Company, Krueger executives were unenthused, but American Can’s offer to install the necessary equipment for free helped seal the deal, to a nearly 100% customer approval rating.

* On Jan. 28, 1978, TV viewers were treated to their first sight of the mysterious Mr. Roarke and his sidekick, Tattoo, on a tropical beach with the debut episode of “Fantasy Island.” While there were hints that Roarke was immortal or at least centuries old, the real entertainment was in watching guests learn unexpected life lessons or, on occasion, carry out last wishes as they lived their enormously expensive dreams.

* On Jan. 27, 1993, French wrestler Andre the Giant (Andre Rene Roussimoff), who stood nearly seven and a half feet and weighed over 500 pounds, died of a heart attack after his father’s funeral. Afflicted with acromegaly, Roussimoff had declined potentially life-prolonging medical treatment for fear it might hamper his career.

* On Jan. 26, 2006, Western Union announced the end of its paper telegram service. The very first telegram had been sent by Samuel Morse, inventor of the Morse Code, to his partner, Alfred Vail, in May 1844. It read simply, “What hath God wrought?”

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

When someone affirms that a certain letter is indeed not a consonant, is that a vowel avowal?

"Your reputation as an atrocious hack golfer is legendary in this town. I will not lower our intern program standards to allow any student to serve as a caddy for your pathetic attempts to play the game."

Eastlake sideboard was made around 1870 to 1890.

Nelson McCoy Pottery Company was in business from

• Legislation preventing living presidents from appearing on U.S. currency was established to ensure that the United States would not appear like a monarchy since other countries were distributing currency featuring the face of their current king or queen.

• Some of the paper money in Canada is marked in the upper right-hand corner with Braillelike raised dots indicating the denomination, enabling blind people to discern between the values. The size of Euro notes get larger with their individual value for this same reason.

CURRENCY FACTS

• We may call it “paper money” but currency is actually composed of 75% cotton and 25% linen.

• A normal piece of paper can withstand 400 folds but a dollar bill can withstand around 8,000 folds before it tears.

• A study found over 100 different strains of bacteria on randomly tested dollar bills.

• The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing uses 9.7 tons of ink to make approximately $974 million in fresh currency every day.

• The word “money” comes from the Roman goddess Juno Moneta, who was thought to stand guard over the temple where coins were minted around 300 BC.

• The dollar sign $ originated with the Spanish abbreviation meaning “peso,” being a condensed combination of the letter P superimposed by the letter S.

• A stack of dollar bills laid flat reaching one mile high equals $14.5 million.

• There is nearly $1.7 trillion worth of U.S. currency in circulation.

• In the 1500s there was a silver mine near the town of Joachimsthal, in what is now the Czech Republic. Silver coins minted there were first called “Joachimsthaler” which was shortened to “thaler” before being transformed into “daler,” which became our “dollar.” □

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Changers

Jason Jenkins

Better Golf with JACK NICKLAUS

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.

Karate-Like Chop

Describing the downswing or approach to impact can be a difficult one to put into words. There are few images that adequately illustrate the feels that one sees with top players. One image that has caught my attention over the years is the comparison of the left arm’s approach to impact like that of a karate chop into a board.

Martial artists will typically use a karate chop strike with the pinky pad side of the hand, not the back of the hand. Most blows are done downward, where the golf arm swing would be approaching from the side. Imagine the left arm swinging across the chest approaching the ball as if there were a board near impact. The pinky side pad leads the way with possible help from a leading elbow as well.

Trying to “hit the board with the back of the hand” means an early squaring of the clubface and a weak impact. All top powerful strikes are lead by the karate like action and then followed by forearm rotation. I’ve never liked the phrase “pull the handle” at the ball, so I’ve preferred this imagery instead.

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

teaching staff and

one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100

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

Top Teachers in California in 2011.

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

WE ARE EXPERIENCING A CRITICAL BLOOD SHORTAGE.

GEOGRAPHY: What is the second-longest river in North America?

MOVIES: Which 1973 movie advertised itself as a place “where nothing can possibly go wrong”?

GAMES: Which party game claims that it can “tie you up in knots”?

U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was the first to appoint an African American as a member of his Cabinet?

HISTORY: When was the Warsaw Pact between the Soviet Union and seven Eastern Bloc countries signed?

LifeStream is experiencing a major blood shortage. Our shelves are almost empty. We are measuring our blood supply in hours instead of days. We need our community members to help us now by donating blood or surgeries will be cancelled. We are running out of blood and we are the only supplier of blood products to hospitals and medical facilities in the Coachella Valley. Please give blood. We can’t save lives without you.

TELEVISION: Which TV game show often uses the phrase “Survey says ...”?

ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a female peacock called?

FOOD & DRINK: How many meals do Hobbits eat in a day, according to the movies?

ADVERTISING: Which product used a manicurist named Madge in its advertisements?

What is a common name for the condition called septicemia?