Vol. 19: #35 • Motoring Facts • (8-27-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

issued in January of 1886 to German mechanical engineer Carl Benz for his “Motorwagen,” a “vehicle powered by a gas engine.” Benz’s car had three wheels, one cylinder, less than one horsepower, and a top speed of 10 mph.

• Windshield wipers were patented for the first time in 1903. Alabama resident Mary Anderson was visiting New York City and noticed how streetcar

(Answers on page 16)

Who hasn’t heard of Dr. Scholl and his company’s various products for your feet? But how much do you know about the real Dr. Scholl? Tidbits invites you to put your feet up and learn more.

• Dr. William Mathias Scholl spent his early life in the late 19th century on an Indiana dairy farm. His father supported their family of 13 children with the farm as well as a carriagemaking business.

• Scholl’s grandfather, a shoemaker, had immigrated to America from Germany and taught the young William about foot care as well as his craft of cobbling. William loved shoemaking more than he loved farming, so at age 16, he left the family farm to work as an apprentice in a Chicago shoemaker’s shop. Scholl learned about constructing footwear, but became more interested in finding ways to remedy the discomfort and foot pain experienced by the shop’s customers.

• During the day, Scholl made shoes, but at night he began studying medicine at Chicago’s Loyola University, aiming for his M.D. degree. At age 22, in the midst of his studies, Scholl invented and patented an arch support, a new feature never before used in shoe construction.

• Two years later, in 1906, he founded the Dr. Scholl’s Company, touting the premise that “when your feet hurt, you hurt all over.” He purchased a building for manufacturing his new shoe product, and by 1918, he had more than 300 employees, who were leather cutters, press operators, machinists, and workers in the shipping department. His brother, Frank, helped with the company’s expansion, including shipments to overseas destinations.

• Although busy directing his company, Dr. Scholl continued practicing medicine in Chicago until 1946. By age 64, he had created more than 1,000

1. MUSIC: What was the last name of the three brothers who made up the pop music group The Bee Gees?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Where is Cape Flattery located?

3. LANGUAGE: Who is attributed the phrase “bread and circuses”?

4. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many walking legs does a lobster have?

5. LITERATURE: Which Russian novel begins with the line, “All happy families are alike”?

6. COMICS: What does Pokemon mean in English?

7. HISTORY: What does the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo celebrate?

8. GEOGRAPHY: Which European country has the longest coastline?

9. GAMES: What is the meaning of the word “canasta” in the card game?

10. MOVIES: In which movie did a female monster first appear?

1. Gibb

Answers

2. Washington state, at the most northwestern point of the contiguous

foot care products, which were now marketed globally. At this point, he decided it was time to devote his accumulated wealth to philanthropy, and use it for the benefit of others.

• In 1947, he established the Dr. Scholl Foundation, dedicated to providing funding to worthy nonprofit organizations in the areas of social services, hospitals and healthcare, civic, cultural, and environmental concerns.

• Having never married, upon his death in 1968, Dr. Scholl left the bulk of his estate to his Foundation. Since 1980, the Foundation has contributed over $312 million to various worthwhile entities.

• The sons of Dr. Scholl’s brother Frank had been active in the company for many years, and continued the legacy. Dr. Scholl’s nephew, also named William, had been educated at Cambridge University, where he majored in languages. During World War II, the younger Scholl had served as an intelligence officer, interrogating German and Japanese POW’s. After the war, he returned to the family business, where he designed a now-familiar item.

• In the 1960s, the company introduced “Dr. Scholl’s Original Exercise Sandal,” a wooden sandal with a contoured foot-bed to support the foot’s arch. During his travels in Germany in the late 1950s, the younger William had purchased a simple wood sandal, shaped it to fit the foot, and added a colorful leather strap across the toes. It was marketed with the slogan, “Looking good and doing you good.”

• Although designed with the intention of it being good for the feet, the sandal soon became a fashion statement, and within four years of its debut, sales had topped one million pairs. It was quickly adopted by the “hippy culture” of the 50s and 60s, and was especially popular when worn with a miniskirt. A further benefit is that this foot fashion is still available today. It's still considered trendy, and still performs healthy support and proper exercise for the foot muscles. □

DR. WILLIAM M. SCHOLL

CLIP AND SAVE

Motoring Facts (from page one)

drivers had to open windows to see during foul weather. She went home and devised a handleoperated, rubber-bladed device to remove snow, rain, or sleet from the front window of “modern electric motor cars.” Yet this ground-breaking invention didn’t catch on with automakers because it was considered a distraction. It wasn’t until 1922 that Cadillac became the first to make wipers standard on its vehicles.

• Cadillac was also the first company to offer an electric starter. The 1912 Touring Edition featured the starter that eliminated the need for drivers to hand-crank their vehicles. It was a welcome addition for those who had experienced broken arms and other injuries when the car’s engine suddenly kicked back during cranking.

with the same dull, monotonous, and repetitive assembly line tasks, they began quitting. Ford’s answer was to introduce a 40-hour work week, paying $5 a day for 8 hours of work. This was more than double their previous wage -- and for an hour less work per day. The result was a mob of over 10,000 job-seekers lined up at the Ford plant. Ford Motor built upwards of 15 million Model T’s between 1908 and 1927.

• If you think a hybrid car is something fairly recent, think again! Ferdinand Porsche debuted the first hybrid at the Paris World’s Fair in 1900. Electricity was generated by two small gasoline engines that powered a generator that sent power to each wheel hub. In 1900, 38% of cars on the muddy roads were electric, 40% were powered by steam, and 22% by gasoline.

the U.S. can be linked to aggressive driving behaviors, with young men the most likely to exhibit road rage. About one-third of drivers experience some degree of road rage, but less than two percent actually take overt action. While some might scream, swear, honk or flip the finger, high-anger drivers might tailgate, change lanes quickly, brake-check, run red lights, and even deliberately bump other car. V.A. researchers have discovered that PTSD is linked to road rage, with veterans exposed to combat trauma being more likely to engage in aggressive driving.

• A person’s chances of being struck by a car in the U.S. are about one in 4,292. The first pedestrian to be struck and killed by a car was

Motoring Facts: Turn to page 15

1.What’s 2.What

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Retractable headlights became popular in the mid-to-late 1960s, but actually these "hidden headlamps" first appeared on the Cord 810, making their debut at the 1936 New York Auto Show. The Cord's lights weren't motorized, but rather had to be turned up by handcranks on either side of the dashboard.

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• In the late 1890s, New York inventor Joseph Jones was out for a drive with his wife in a steam-powered car he had built. When Mrs. Jones asked how fast they were going, Jones had to admit he had no idea, so she challenged him to figure it out. He created the first gauge to measure automobile speed in 1899, receiving a patent in 1903 for his “speedometer,” a “device by which at a glance can be determined the speed at which an automobile is traveling.” Not surprisingly, Jones made a fortune on his invention, and in 1906 began construction on a building at the corner of Broadway and 76th St. in New York City, to house the Jones Speedometer Company. Completed in August 1907, building costs were $500,000, or about $13.5 million in today’s dollars.

• When Henry Ford implemented the first moving automotive assembly line for the manufacture of the Model T in December 1913, he cut the production time of the vehicle from 12.5 hours to just 93 minutes. When workers became bored

• In the 1950s, Swedish aviation engineer Nils Bohlin designed ejector seats for Saab fighter airplanes. In 1958, the Volvo Car Corporation hired him as their first chief safety engineer, tasking him with developing a three-point front seat belt for their vehicles. Bohlin’s seat belt was introduced in Volvo cars in 1959, a belt that secured both the upper and lower body, with straps joined at the hip. While the belt’s safety benefits were realized immediately, the U.S. didn’t mandate seat belts until 1968.

• More than a million people die in traffic accidents around the world every year, with about 400,000 of those in the U.S. Car accidents are the number one cause of death for Americans under age 35. About 9% of U.S. fatal motor vehicle accidents are caused by distracted driving. In fact, texting while driving is the cause of 11 teenage deaths every day. About 10,000 deaths are attributed to drunk driving annually. One in five highway accidents is caused by the driver falling asleep at the wheel. During a crash, about 40% of drivers don’t have time to even hit the brakes.

• What are your odds of being in a car crash? Although it varies depending on where you drive and how often, the odds are about one in 366 for every 1,000 miles driven. A person’s lifetime odds of dying in a motor vehicle crash are about one in 100, a probability of 0.9 percent..

• AAA reports that more than half of crashes in

QUIZ BITS

1. At what impact speed are airbags designed to deploy?

2. What carmaker's name translates "the present age" in Korean?

(Answers page 16)

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

When seat belt

inventor Nils Bohlin died in 2002, Volvo estimated that his invention had saved more than a million lives since its use was instituted. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administrtion claims that seat belts save more than 11,000 lives every year.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

By Lucie Winborne

* A microwaved baseball will fly much farther than a frozen one, as warmer balls weigh less and move faster due to less air resistance.

* Each strand of a human hair can contain traces of 14 elements, including gold.

* During a period in his artistic career, Pablo Picasso primarily used shades of blue in his paintings, reflecting his melancholic state at the time.

* It’s not just humans who use “baby talk” with their offspring: Mother bottlenose dolphins have been observed altering their whistle pitch and range when communicating with their calves.

* Hawaii had no mosquitoes until the 19th century, when they were unintentionally introduced by trading ships docked in the harbor.

* A law student at Spain’s University of Malaga once etched tiny notes into the sides of blue Bic pens before taking an exam. While points could perhaps be awarded for the learner’s creativity, it also resulted in a repeat of the entire year.

* The world record for nonstop video gaming -- 138 hours and 34 seconds -was set by Carrie Swidecki in 2015, when she beat her own previous world record.

* Hamburger University, established by McDonald’s to train restaurant managers and owner-operators, has a lower acceptance rate than Harvard University and awards its graduates a Hamburgerology degree.

* A Eulachon’s flesh is so oily that this fatty fish will burn like a candle when dried.

* From the “too much of a good thing” files: A 41-year-old man from the Netherlands referred to only as “Jonathan” was banned from donating sperm after fathering over 550 children.

* Cheetos were invented by USDA military scientists during World War II as a result of their being tasked with finding a way to utilize surplus cornmeal.

Thought for the Day: “The only way to have a life is to commit to it like crazy.”

-- Angelina Jolie

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

5 Steps to Take When You Feel Like Giving Up

Thoughts of giving up are suggestions you give yourself because you’re in a negative mood. Or you haven’t slept well for how many nights? Those thoughts swirling in your head are terrible suggestions and need to be held captive and rejected. Eat a decent meal, drink two big glasses of water and get some sleep. Things may look much different in the morning.

NO. 3: SEEK AND ACCEPT HELP FROM OTHERS

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

Ever feel like you’ve reached the end of your rope and you just cannot hang on another minute? You’re not alone. Everyone goes through seasons of self-defeat, disappointment, pain and anguish.

by Mary Hunt

It’s no wonder that we feel that way. What with the economy, rising unemployment and rising prices -- to say nothing of global uncertainty, blatant lawlessness, social division and rumors of national collapse in headlines -- it really is enough to make you want to pull the covers up over your head and sleep until everything gets better.

Just so you know, trying to cope that way is not an option. Instead, here are five proactive steps you can take that will give you the courage to keep going.

No. 1: VERBALIZE HOW YOU FEEL.

I would caution against making this a public dissertation. Write it out journal style. Tell God how you feel. Say that you are angry and bitter or that you’re afraid to face the day. However you choose, find a way to pour out your heart. It is cleansing to release the knots of swirling negative thoughts. While your situation may not change, the way you feel about it will.

NO. 2: RECOGNIZE YOUR THOUGHTS AS SUGGESTIONS.

You really do not have to go through this by yourself. Once you determine where you are stuck, seek out help. If you are struggling with credit card debt, for example, go to NFCC.org to find a certified credit counseling organization in your area. Or pick up the phone and call NFCC (800-388-2227). Make the call. Ask for help. If it’s a medical situation where you cannot afford the cost of meds, reach out for help. Simply asking for help is going to open a new world of resources you may not know exists.

NO. 4: TOUGH IT OUT UNTIL THE TIDE TURNS. Get up and keep moving, even when life puts you in difficult situations. Even when it’s not your fault and you feel you’ve been treated unfairly. Even when it is your fault -- you’ve made terrible choices, and now you are paying a terrible price. Remember these words from Martin Luther King Jr: “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but by all means, keep moving.”

NO. 5: CHOOSE JOY.

Maybe you can't control the circumstances around you, but you can control the way you respond to them. Even when you are at the end of your rope, you still possess something very valuable: your attitude. You can choose your thoughts. You can simply yield to fear, worry and anguish, or you can instead choose joy You can either focus on all that you do not have and all the stuff that’s coming at you, or you can choose to rise above all that and focus on what you do have -- even if that is just the air that you breathe. Embrace it. Choose to think only about things that are lovely, true and pure.

I do not personally know anyone who has a perfect life. On the contrary, we’re all on this journey, and the road can get rocky from time to time. I’ve come to realize that what I’ve been through can either beat me down and make me bitter, or I can choose for my experiences to make a positive difference in another’s life.

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended 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. 1/16th page

CAR FACTS

• The world’s largest manufacturer of motor vehicles is Toyota, cranking out about 10.5 million vehicles a year. Toyota also holds the record for the best-selling car of all time, the Corolla, with one sold every 40 seconds around the world. The first Corolla rolled off the assembly line in 1966, and by 1974, it was already the best-selling car in the world.

• Volkswagen is Toyota’s biggest rival, producing about 8.5 million a year. Ford comes in at #6, with sales of about 6.4 million. How about Ferrari? That company produces just 9,000 of their luxury vehicles a year.

• Toyota might be the largest manufacturer, but they’re far from the most profitable. For 2022, Tesla, Inc. had the largest net profit, BMW was second. Toyota was down the list at #7.

• After Chattanooga mechanic Ernest Holmes helped six men pull a Model T out of a Tennessee creek using blocks and ropes in 1916, he came up with the idea of assembling a

system of poles, pulleys, and a chain to connect to his 1913 Cadillac, which became the first tow truck. Holmes continued to tweak his invention and filed a patent in January, 1918. Many improvements to his tow truck followed, including vehicle lifts, cables, cranes, creepers, and jacks, all of which he quickly patented.

• Homes' business was a huge success, and during World War II, he was the supplier for the U.S. war effort, furnishing upwards of 6,000 military wreckers. During this period, his company grew to more than 200 employees.

• In later years, the Holmes Company became the official wrecker service for NASCAR. The heritage of the company lives on today, after being purchased from Holmes’ grandsons by Miller Industries in 1990. It’s still located in Chattanooga, along with the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum.

• What’s America’s favorite color when it comes to cars? The most popular color at 23.5% is white, with second place going to black at 21.2%. Gray is next at 16.8%, followed by silver at 12.9%, placing almost 75% of all vehicles in a neutral color category. Blue is the next favorite with 9.0% and red at 8.6%. Are you looking for an orange pickup? There aren’t a lot of those on the market -- only 0.3% of all pickup listings are orange. Same with pink, a color avoided by both car and truck owners. You have about a 0.31% chance of spotting a pink car, or one in 330 cars.

• The average American spends over 51 hours a year idly stuck in traffic, compared to 1982’s figure of 16 hours. That is, unless you live in Chicago, which claims to have the worst traffic in the entire country. Chicago drivers waste 155 hours of their lives every year just sitting in traffic. That's almost four forty-hour work weeks worth of time! Boston isn’t far behind at 134 hours annually.

• Every 32 seconds, a vehicle is stolen in the United States. More than a million vehicles were stolen in 2022, up 7% from the previous

year. California, Texas, and Washington lead the pack in stolen vehicles, although Illinois had the largest increase, up 35% from 2021.

• The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that the most stolen vehicles in 2021 were the 2004 Chevrolet full-size pickup, the 2006 Ford full-size pickup, and the 2000 Honda Civic.

• The 2011 Ford Crown Victoria was the last car to be fitted with a cassette tape player.

• Today's average car has about 30,000 parts, right down to every screw, nut, and bolt. □

by Dana Jackson

Q: Is it true they’re doing a new “Snow White” movie like they did with “The Little Mermaid”? When will it be released? -- A.J.

A: Yes, Disney is planning a live action remake of the 1937 animated classic “Snow White.” It’ll be a musical, starring Rachel Zegler as the title character and Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”) as the Evil Queen.

For those unfamiliar with the name Rachel Zegler, she was a high school student who auditioned for the lead role of Maria in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of another classic “West Side Story.” She’s since moved to Hollywood and starred opposite Zachary Levi in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.” She’s also featured in the upcoming film “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.”

The “Snow White” screenplay was written by Greta Gerwig, director of the billion-dollar blockbuster film “Barbie,” and Erin Cressida Wilson (“The Girl on the Train”). Barring any delays, the film is set to hit theaters in March 2024.

Q: Is “Virgin River” returning anytime soon with new episodes? I hope it didn’t get canceled. -- K.F.

A: Season five of the beloved Netflix series “Virgin River” will premiere on Sept. 7. According to TVLine.com, Mel’s (Alexandra Breckenridge) high-risk pregnancy causes her to “rethink her future at the clinic, while Jack’s [Martin Henderson] new glamping venture is sure to suffer as a dangerous wildfire hits the town.” Also, don’t forget -- they still have a wedding to plan.

Joining the cast this season as a “mystery woman” is Kandyse McClure (“Battlestar Galactica”). Returning cast members include Annette O’Toole as Hope and Tim Matheson as Doc, the latter of whom has been facing health challenges due to his degenerative condition. Expect bigger stories from Preacher (Colin Lawrence), Brie (Zibby Allen) and Brady (Benjamin Hollingsworth), as all three of their portrayers have been moved up to series regulars. Lexa Doig, who plays Paige, and Barbara Pollard, who plays Melissa, have both been bumped down to a recurring status.

Even though Ricky (Grayson Gurnsey) is off at basic training, he will be back at some point, hopefully before the end of the upcoming season. Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told TVLine in

2022 that the character is a “fan favorite” and “everybody loves him.”

***

Q: What is the latest regarding the tragedy on the set of Alec Baldwin’s movie “Rust?” Is anybody going to prison for what happened to the poor woman who died? -- N.B.

A: Alec Baldwin, who was both the producer and star of the movie “Rust,” learned in January that the charges of involuntary manslaughter against him had been dropped. Prosecutors, however, have stated that Baldwin could still face charges pending further investigation. The film set’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is set to go on trial in December for the same charges Baldwin faced, as well as a charge of tampering with evidence. She has pleaded not guilty.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed when a prop gun carrying live rounds was fired by Baldwin on set. “Rust” director, Joel Souza, was injured in the shooting, but survived. * * *

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

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

1. Split (PG-13)

James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy

1. Barbie (PG-13) Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling

2. Rings ............................... (PG-13)

Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe

2. Oppenheimer (R) Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt

3. A Dog’s Purpose ..................(PG) Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid

4. Hidden Figures ....................(PG)

3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (PG) Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr.

4. Meg 2: The Trench (PG-13) Jason Statham, Jing Wu

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer

5. La La Land .................... (PG-13) Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

5. The Last Voyage of the Demeter (R) Corey Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi

6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter ...................................... (R)

Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen

6. Haunted Mansion (PG13) LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson

7. Sing .......................................(PG) animated

8. Lion (PG-13)

7. Talk to Me (R) Ari McCarthy, Hamish Phillips

Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman

8. Sound of Freedom (PG13) Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino

9. The Space Between Us (PG-13) Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield

9. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One (PG-13) Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell

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

Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen

10. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (PG-13) Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

Rachel Zegler (“Shazam! Fury of the Gods”)

Depositphotos

Good Recipes from Tomato and Shrimp Salad

A light supper favorite, drizzled with lemon-Dijon dressing and sprinkled with chunks of feta -- serve with a piece of Tomato Focaccia bread. The ideal end-of-summer meal, especially when served alfresco.

1 pound large shrimp

Salt

3/4 pound green beans, each cut crosswise in half

1 pound ripe tomatoes (about 4 small), each cut into 8 wedges

1 pound Kirby cucumbers (about 4), peeled and each cut lengthwise into quarters then cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces

1 large lemon

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano leaves

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

1. Shell and devein shrimp, leaving tails on if you like. Rinse with running cold water. In 4-quart saucepan, heat 2 inches water to boiling over high heat. Add shrimp and 2 teaspoons salt; cook 1 minute or until shrimp turn opaque throughout. Drain shrimp; rinse with running cold water to cool and drain again. Place shrimp in large serving bowl.

2. In 10-inch skillet, heat 3/4-inch water to boiling over high heat. Add beans and 2 teaspoons salt; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium; cook, uncovered, about 5 minutes or until beans are tender-crisp. Drain beans; rinse under running cold water to cool and drain again. Place beans, tomatoes and cucumbers in bowl with shrimp.

3. Prepare dressing: From lemon, grate 1/2 teaspoon peel and squeeze 3 tablespoons juice. In small bowl, with wire whisk or fork, combine lemon peel, lemon juice, olive oil, shallot, oregano, mustard, sugar, pepper and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Toss dressing with shrimp and vegetables in bowl. Sprinkle with feta cheese. Makes 4 main-dish servings.

 Each serving: About 300 calories, 14g total fat (5g saturated), 27g protein, 18g carbohydrates, 205mg cholesterol, 1,105mg sodium.

Healthy Tuna Salad

This deli and diner staple may be tasty and convenient, but it’s not always the healthiest meal choice. One popular sandwich-shop version has more than a third of your daily fat quota -- 24 grams, 4 of which are saturated -- in a mere 1/3 cup. A serving of our healthy tuna salad is almost double the size, with a fat tally that’s 18 grams slimmer, thanks to a mix of low-fat mayo and nonfat yogurt. Plus, veggies add flavor, crunch, fiber and vitamins.

2 can chunk light tuna in water

2 medium stalks celery

1 medium carrot

1/2 medium red pepper

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

3 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Pepper

1. In medium bowl, combine tuna, celery, carrot, red pepper, mayonnaise, yogurt, lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black

pepper. Makes about 2 1/2 cups, or 4 main-dish servings.

* * * For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our Web site at www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/.

NEXT WEEK in ELEVATORS

Cody’s

TIDBITS LOOKS AT THE UPS & DOWNS ABOUT

Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Yellow Journalism

People who have little dogs tend to agonize like Hamlet over the question of: To housebreak, or to paper train?

Those with big dogs don’t think twice about it. Owners of Great Danes and Newfoundlands unanimously agree that they don’t want their dogs doing their business in the house. Which is exactly what paper training is: teaching your dog to do his business in the house.

The truth about paper training is that you really can’t do it. Not successfully. Not consistently. It isn’t natural. In fact, it goes against a dog’s very nature.

Dogs are territorial. When walking your dog, I’m sure you’ve noticed that his sniffer kicks into overdrive. That’s what dogs do: They go outside, they sniff around, they lift their leg and they mark their territory. Usually, they mark more than one spot. Left to their own devices, they’d mark many more spots than the average dog owner will tolerate on a single excursion.

Paper training your dog means expecting him to go on the same spot every day, day after day, month and month, year after year, without fail. It means asking him to forgo a very basic instinct. This is why housebreaking is the better choice for big dogs and small dogs. Housebreaking is teaching your dog to do his business outside and only outside. It allows your dog to be a dog, and it allows your house to remain clean, sanitary and free of unpleasant surprises.

I talked to a man with a 7-year-old Yorkie the other day. From Day One, his dog was paper trained. And those piddle pads worked for four years, when suddenly and without warning, everything changed. This man and his wife spent the next three and a half years dodging puddles and picking up poop. Now, their house stinks, their carpets are a mess, and they called me right after the straw broke the camel’s back. That’s right. He stepped in it on the living room carpet.

When you have a little dog, it’s easy to get lazy. And paper training is the lazy man’s solution to the age-old question of what to do when your dog has to go. Plop some newspaper on the kitchen floor and call it yellow journalism.

This little dog problem -- what I call toy dog syndrome -- affects many people. Its symptoms involve the following thought process: little dog, little

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

3. The Weekly “Brain Breaker”

Tally"

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

Your Skills Are Needed

Already dreading winter and those long days indoors? I know, I know... It's still summer, but those days will be here sooner than we think.

If you live in the frigid northern tier of states as I do, one key to staying active during cold weather is to give yourself a reason to get out of the house on a regular basis. And volunteering in the community is the perfect way to do this! And it's not too early to be thinking about this. If the desire is there, maybe all you need is an opportunity. See if the following ideas spark those desires:

Manage a Red Cross blood drive. Teach a skill such as tennis or hockey to children. Lay a kitchen floor for another senior who can’t afford to hire help. Sign up to be a police or court translator. Pack and deliver Meals on Wheels. Teach a weekly balance class to other seniors.

You don’t have to be especially physically active to volunteer. There are plenty of sit-down opportunities. Work one-on-one with a

The Art of DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

Are You in the Mood?

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

Creating the right mood involves doing research via home magazines and online, perusing the many pages to see what you are attracted to. Are you trying to go for a casual, laid-back, beachy mood?

Or are you more of a candlelight romantic looking for soulful and elegant surroundings?

Regardless of your style, you can create a mood. Of course, some styles better lend themselves to setting the perfect mood, but more on that later.

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

Have you ever entered a room and gotten goosebumps or an overall warm feeling? I liken this feeling to being in love. It’s a euphoric sensation that you can’t really explain. Is it magic?

small child for reading and writing skills. Answer phones at the library or animal shelter. Manage the check-in desk at a local race event. Teach an adult to read or speak English. If you speak a second language, tutor a high-school student. Check www.seniorcorps.gov for loads of opportunities, both near you and far away. The Corps has nearly a quarter of a million seniors.

In some places the needs are great, and if you’re over age 55, they’ll make use of your life experience. You might help other seniors to stay in their homes by offering support services, drive people to appointments, help veterans find employment or work on environmental issues. If there’s a natural disaster, you’ll be able to support the first responders. Call them at 1-800424-8867. Check the Global Citizens Network at www.volunteermatch.org for opportunities in advocacy, youth, community, children and more. If you want to travel for a good reason, consider Habitat for Humanity. They’re building housing in 70 countries around the world.

And you thought it was going to be a long, dreary winter ...

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

urine, little poop, little trouble. And so the decision is made to paper train the little guy.

After three and a half years of narrow escapes and smelly messes, this couple still argued, “But it’s such a small amount!”

Housebreaking is thought to be the harder road to climb. But if that’s true at all, it’s only in the short term. Here are a couple of tips to get you off on the right foot:

-- Start young. Older dogs can be housebroken, but it’s much easier to instill good habits than to break bad ones.

-- Begin training in the spring or summer. Cold, harsh weather makes it harder for humans to stay the course with the training program. And housebreaking means taking your dog outside to eliminate several times a day.

Once you understand the housebreaking process and what it involves, it’s really just a matter of consistency on your part. Feed, water, walk. Feed, water, walk. That consistency coupled with an age-appropriate diet for your dog is the key to successful housebreaking.

For detailed information on housebreaking your dog, check out “When Good Dogs Do Bad Things” in your local library, or visit unclematty. com. Woof!

* * *

No, it’s usually the clear and thorough thought process of an individual who sat down to dream about their perfect room and put all the ingredients together.

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

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

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

* * *

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.

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

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

SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Going to the Top Is the Wrong Way

Let’s say you own a Honda Civic and you’ve got a problem with it. Maybe it leaks oil, or maybe it has trouble starting. Would you go to Honda’s headquarters in Minato City, Japan, to get it fixed? Of course not. You’d go to your local Honda dealer.

Or maybe you’ve got a Maytag washing machine that’s on the fritz. Would you contact Maytag’s headquarters in Benton Harbor, Michigan, for repairs? No, you wouldn’t. You would find a local appliance repair shop and have them look at it.

So, I’m always surprised when people with a Social Security question or problem think that they should contact Social Security Administration headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, for help. Why in the world do that when you’ve got a local Social Security office probably just a few miles down the road? (There are about 1,200 Social Security offices around the country.)

A few months ago, I wrote about people who travel all the way to the SSA’s headquarters in the Baltimore suburb of Woodlawn because they want to take their Social Security issue “all the way to the top” and then end up talking to a representative from the nearby Randallstown, Maryland, Social Security office who is out-stationed there just for instances like these.

I was reminded of all this when I got an email this week from a woman who was asking a fairly simple question. She is 68 and is getting about $2,000 per month in her own retirement benefit. Her 74-year-old husband gets about $3,000. She was asking if she would get widow’s benefits on his record if he should die first.

And here was my answer: “Yes, you can switch to higher widow’s benefits if he dies first. Because you are over your full retirement age, you’ll be bumped up to what he was getting at the time of death.”

After getting my answer, she thanked me and told me it was so much clearer than the reply she got from the SSA headquarters in Baltimore. It turns out she had previously sent them the same question. And she shared the reply she got. Here it is.

“Thank you for contacting the Social Security Administration.

We apologize for the delay in answering your inquiry. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused.

When a claimant starts receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, other family members also may be eligible for payments.

They include the following:

--A spouse, if they are age 62 or older;

--A spouse, at any age, if they are caring for the worker’s child who is disabled or is younger than age 16;

--The worker’s biological child, adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild or grandchild.

When a child is adopted after the natural parent’s death, survivors’ benefits can be paid to the child on the natural parent’s Social Security record. The adoption of a child already entitled to survivor’s benefits does not terminate the child’s benefits. However, a child adopted by someone else during the lifetime of the natural parent can receive benefits on the natural parent’s record only

if the child was either living with or receiving support from the natural parent at the time the parent died.

Payment of benefits on the natural parent’s Social Security record to a child who was adopted by someone else during the natural parent’s lifetime is consistent with the purpose of Social Security benefits -- to replace support lost by a child when the worker dies. The requirement that the child must have been dependent upon the worker is intended to assure that the child lost a source of support when the worker died.

To receive benefits, the child must meet the following criteria:

-- be unmarried; and

-- be under age 18; or

-- be 18-19 years old and a full-time student (no higher than grade 12); or

-- be 18 or older and disabled from a disability that started before age 22. (The child’s disability also must meet the definition of disability for adults.)”

This response from the SSA headquarters people went on and on for another couple paragraphs. I just can’t squeeze it all in the space of this column. And guess what? It never answered her question!

I’m not going to defend my former colleagues at the SSA. But I am going to explain what happens when you “go to the top” (in this case, the SSA headquarters) to get an answer to a simple question. I know what happens because I used to work in an office in the same department as the folks who handle these questions.

SSA’s headquarters probably get thousands of routine inquiries each day. And there is a staff of about a hundred people whose job it is to answer these letters and emails. When I worked there, it was called the Office of Public Inquiries.

Regular readers of this column know that I’ve pointed out many times that I’m essentially asked the same questions over and over again.

Well, guess what? The same happens with OPI. So rather than “reinvent the wheel” by coming up with new answers each time to the same old questions, they have prepared “canned” responses for the hundreds of different questions they might get.

So, for example, when this lady’s email came in, someone looked at it and said something like, “We need to reply with Paragraph 212 that explains which dependents can get benefits and then Paragraph 449 that explains this and Paragraph 652 that explains that.” Then someone puts together a response that includes those canned paragraphs and the reply goes out.

But it sounds like in this lady’s case, they forgot to add the paragraph that explains widow’s benefits. That’s just another example of why you shouldn’t “go to the top” to get your Social Security questions answered or your Social Security issues resolved. Instead, for help, rely on your local Social Security office, the SSA’s toll free number (800-7721213) or the agency’s website at www.socialsecurity.gov. Or rely on your friendly Social Security columnist. And for the most comprehensive help, buy his books listed below!

* * *

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answers. 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 Nahum is in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither

2. Which book may be summarized as "Yes, salvation is by faith, but faith without action is useless"? a) Romans b) James c) Titus d) Jude

3. Who platted the crown of thorns that Jesus wore? a) Herod b) Pharasees c) Priests d) Roman soldiers

4. From Ecclesiastes 3, there is a time to weep and a time to __? a) Laugh b) Hate c) Dance d) Sing

5. In Jeremiah 3:8, to whom did God give a bill of divorce? a) Adam/Eve b) Egypt c) Boaz/Ruth d) Israel

6. The apostle Paul was born in Tarsus of ____? a) Cilicia b) Beersheba c) Gath d) Cana

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

2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

Most Common Cause Behind Teary Eyes Are Dry Eyes

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 74-year-old woman who loves to read the newspaper every morning. I have a problem that’s not serious, just annoying. My eyes tear up frequently while I read, causing me to wipe them. After I’m done reading, the problem stops. I see my ophthalmologist every year and have my vision glasses updated as needed. I am not yet a candidate for cataract surgery. Could you enlighten me about a probable cause for this irritating problem? -- A.H.G.

ANSWER: By all means, ask your ophthalmologist at your next visit, but the most common cause I see for watery, tearing eyes are ... dry eyes! This apparent paradox is caused by the fact that your eyes have three different fluids.

One of them, called meibum, is a longlasting, oily material secreted by the meibomian glands, found around the edges of the eyelids near the eyelashes. This covers the eye and prevents fluid from evaporating quickly. Without this fluid, the lacrimal gland (near the temple above each eye) then has to make a lot of its watery secretions, which cause symptoms of tearing.

Most commonly, the meibomian glands get clogged up by secretions becoming dry. Gently cleansing the eyelash area with warm water and baby shampoo helps many people unclog these glands. Artificial tears lubricate the eye and will reduce the symptoms of watery eyes (and maybe some eye irritation, too, which you might not have mentioned). ***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am about to undergo gallbladder removal due to recurring pain from gallbladder sludge. Should I be taking replacements for the bile salts that I will no longer be able to produce, and if so, what is the best type of replacement? -- S.C.

ANSWER: Your liver makes bile salts, which are necessary for fat absorption. The gallbladder doesn’t make them at all; it just stores the bile until you eat a meal, at which point the gallbladder contracts and the bile salts are released into the small intestine to help you digest fat. Most bile salts will be reabsorbed later at the end of the small intestine, recirculating them for

I only have a step ladder. I never really knew my real ladder.

My wife said I never listen to heror something like that.

I didn't think a therapist was supposed to say "wow" that many times during your first session.

In people without a gallbladder, the liver itself will continuously release bile salts into the small intestine, rather than on an as-needed basis by the gallbladder. Sometimes, the ability of the terminal ileum (the part of the intestine where bile salts are reabsorbed) gets overwhelmed, and bile acids enter the colon, causing diarrhea. This is very common in the first few weeks after gallbladder surgery, but the small intestine usually “learns” to absorb more bile salts.

The colon also learns to live with bile salts, and the diarrhea mostly goes away. However, some people continue to have diarrhea after surgery, and medication to restrain bile salts (such as cholestyramine) can make a huge difference.

After surgery, avoiding a high-fat diet is prudent for a month or so to minimize the amount of bile needed.

* * *

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.

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

Stand Down Season Is Still Going

Stand Downs are going on across the country, and have been since early spring. The good news is that while summer will be wrapping up soon, the Stand Downs won’t be. Depending on the state, some of the events will go on all the way through October and even into November.

Stand Downs are the one-, two- or three-day events for homeless veterans and those who are at risk for homelessness. Depending on the length of the event and where it’s held, the services provided can be wide-ranging.

Government agencies, veteran service groups and others come together to provide a long list of services, including: legal advice, mental health counseling referrals, clean clothes and showers, haircuts, medical screenings and dental care -- all the way to employment search assistance, benefits counseling for VA and Social Security, referrals for drug abuse and more.

Go online to www.va.gov/homeless/ events.asp and find your state in the drop-down menu. If you’re near a state line, check both states. If no events are listed yet, keep going back to look, as new events are still being added. When you find an event near you, give the contact person a call to verify time and place. If you need a ride to an event, tell them.

If you would like to volunteer to help, either by yourself or as a member of a veteran service group, let the Stand Down organizers know. Are you a restaurant cook and can take a day off to help? Retired barber who can give haircuts? Have a truck and can haul set-up gear? Let them know.

If you are a homeless veteran or are about to become homeless, or you know a veteran who needs help, don’t wait until a Stand Down to reach out. Call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. They staff the phones 24/7 and will have people who can help. You can also call the nearest VA medical center and ask for the homeless coordinator.

* * *

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.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

-- by Jim Miller

Retirement Planning Tips for Single Women

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: What retirement planning tips can you recommend to single women? I’m a divorced 58-yearold women with a teenage son and very little saved for retirement.

-- Financially Vulnerable

Dear Vulnerable: It’s an unfortunate reality, but many single women – whether they’re divorced, widowed or never married – face much greater financial challenges in retirement than men.

The reasons behind this are because, on average, women tend to earn less money – about 82 cents for every dollar that men make, and they have shorter working careers than men due to raising children and/or caring for aging parents. Less money earned usually translates into less money saved and a lower Social Security benefit when you retire.

In addition, women live an average of five years longer than men, which means their retirement income needs to stretch farther for living expenses and healthcare costs. And, according to some studies, women tend to have less confidence about financial issues than men, which means they don’t always manage their money as well as they should.

Because of these issues, it’s very im portant that women educate themselves on financial matters and learn how to save more effectively. Here are some tips and resources that may help.

Start Saving Aggressively

If your employer offers a retirement plan, such as a 401K, you should contribute enough to at least capitalize on the percentage the company may match. And if you can swing it, contribute even more. In 2023, you can save as much as $22,500 in a 401(k), or $30,000 to those 50 and older, due to the catch-up rule.

If you don’t have a workplace plan, consider opening a Traditional or Roth IRA. Both are powerful tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts that let you contribute up to $6,500 annually, or $7,500 when you’re over 50. And if you’re self-employed, consider a SEP-IRA, SIMPLE-IRA and/or a solo 401(k), all of which can help reduce your taxable income while putting money away for retirement.

Also, if you have a high-deductible health insurance policy (at least $1,500 for self-only coverage or $3,000 for family coverage), you should consider opening a health savings account (HSA). This is a triple tax advantage tool that can be used to sock

away funds pre-tax, which will lower your taxable income; the money in the account grows tax-free; and if you use the money for eligible medical expenses, the withdrawals are tax-free too.

Pay Off Debts

If you have debt, you need to get it under control. If you need help with this, consider a nonprofit credit-counseling agency that provides free or low-cost advice and solutions, and can help you set up a debt management plan. To locate a credible agency in your area, use the National Foundation for Credit Counseling website at NFCC.org (800-388-2227), or the or the Financial Counseling Association of America, FCAA.org (800-450-1794).

Find Help

To help you educate yourself on financial matters like retirement planning, saving and investing, health care, annuities and more, a top resource is the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement at WiserWomen.org

And to help you get up to speed on Social Security, visit SSA.gov/people/women. This web page, dedicated to women, provides helpful publications like “What Every Woman Should Know,” along with links to benefit calculators and your personal Social

Security account to help you figure out your future earnings at different retirement ages.

You should also consider getting a financial assessment with a fee-only financial advisor. Costs for these services will vary from around $150 to $300 per hour. Although the service is not cheap, it can be very beneficial to help you set-up a retirement plan you can follow. See NAPFA.org or GarrettPlanningNetwork.com to locate an advisor in your area.

by Anne McCollam Creators News Service

Inheritance Is Handy

Q: Enclosed is a photo of an item that my husband received along with several other things following a friend’s death. We are unable to identity what it is. It appears to be brass. It is 12 inches tall and has a 4-inch petal shaped base. There are three sets of small hands that can be moved up or down on the center. Each set is spring loaded so they can be squeezed to open the hands. I have examined the item and have been unable to find any identifying marks or names.

It will be very much appreciated if you can tell us what this is.

A: Your stand was used to clip anything you chose. Photos, notes, postcards, jewelry, hand towels are just a few of the options. There are similar stands that have butterflies or turtles rather than the hands. Some were made by Glo-Mar Art Works located in New York.

Similar clip stands were made in the early to mid-1900s and would probably be worth $35 to $50. * * *

Q: I have enclosed a picture of the mark that is on the back of each dish in a set of dinnerware that I have. The set is a service for eight and includes two platters, a cream pitcher and sugar bowl.

Each piece is decorated with gold wheat, gold and gray leaves against a white background and trimmed in 24-Karat gold.

Puzzle Solutions

If you ingested a bill depicting Abe Lincoln, what would that provide you with?

Dietary fiver.

The set also includes a matching set of glass tumblers and juice glasses. They are also decorated with images of wheat. Is there any value to my set?

“Eternal Harvest” dinnerware was made in Japan.

A: Your set was made by Correct Table Service Company in Japan around 1950. The pattern, “Eternal Harvest” was made from the 1950s to around 1972. Many pieces can be found selling on the Internet. Your set would probably be worth $150 to $300. * * *

Q: I have a cast iron turtle spittoon that has been in our family since the late 1800s. It is operated by stepping on the turtle’s head to open the lid, exposing the container inside. It is marked with the words “Golden Novelty Company -- Patd. Nov. 20 -- 91 -- Chicago -Ill.”

Can you tell me what it's worth?

A: There is not the interest in collecting spittoons as there was in the past. It would probably be worth $350 to $450.

* * *

Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has since 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 COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

* On Aug. 28, 1789, William Herschel, court astronomer under England’s King George III, discovered Enceladus, one of Saturn’s innermost moons, while using his new 40-foot telescope for the first time. Enceladus reflects almost 100% of the sunlight that strikes it and has at least five different types of terrain.

* On Aug. 29, 1998, a strike by 6,200 Northwest Airlines pilots seeking a 15% pay raise left 70,000 frustrated passengers high and dry around the U.S. The pilots had been in contract negotiations for more than two years, and an agreement was finally reached on Sept. 10 after the strike had cost the airline $26 million per day.

* On Aug. 30, 1951, Sgt. John R. Rice, a decorated World War II veteran and part-Native American soldier killed in the Korean War, was refused burial in Sioux City, Iowa’s Memorial Park Cemetery on the grounds of his ethnicity. After hearing the news at a press conference, President Harry Truman authorized a telegram to Rice’s widow, Evelyn, offering her a plot in Arlington National Cemetery, which she accepted.

* On Aug. 31, 1888, 43-year-old Mary Ann “Polly” Nichols, a prostitute from London’s East End and married but separated mother of five, was found brutally murdered near Whitechapel Road, becoming the first known victim of serial killer Jack the Ripper.

* On Sept. 1, 2013, new internet restrictions imposed by the Vietnamese government prohibited the country’s users from discussing current affairs, with social media and other sites, including blogs, limited to sharing personal information but not news stories. The law was criticized by both internet companies and a number of human rights groups.

* On Sept. 2, 1969, the original “Star Trek” TV series aired its final episode after running for just three years. While it never rose higher than No. 52 in the ratings, it remains a beloved cult classic, eventually generating movies and other series.

* On Sept. 3, 1908, J.M. Barrie’s play “What Every Woman Knows” debuted at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre. Written prior to the women’s suffrage movement, the show’s theme suggested that “every woman knows” she’s really the invisible power behind the success of the men in her life.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

"I've had it with you, you bad boy!!" Dig up my lawn one more time and I'm going to have you neutered!"

Brass clip stand from the early to mid 1900s is designed to hold small items.

Henry Bliss in 1899. As the 69-year-old Bliss stepped off a New York City streetcar he was run over by a taxi cab.

• The world’s first parking meter was installed in Oklahoma City in July 1935. The cost to park in that city’s business district was five cents an hour, with meters placed every 20 feet along the curbs. Although Oklahoma City lawyer and newspaper publisher Carl Magee received the patent, he had solicited the help of two engineering professors from Oklahoma State University to design the meter. The idea caught on quickly, with more than 140,000 parking meters operating in the U.S. by the early 1940s. It took a little longer to reach across the Pond as city officials in London didn’t adopt the use of parking meters until 1958. □

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

It Rolling

While it may seem obvious to state that putts should get rolling as soon as possible, there is a hidden aspect of why you may be struggling to control distances on longer putts. To the naked eye, all putts seem to immediately roll after impact, but many putts take flight and bounce for a short duration.

All putters have some degree of loft, or inclination, to the putter face. The loft can be altered by the lean of the putter shaft by impact as well. When a putt is struck, two main things influence its roll or flight:

1. The effective loft at impact, which should be fairly minimal for most situations.

2. Where on the ball the putterhead made its contact. You can think of it as hitting below, on, or above its “equator”. Contact too low creates lift and backward spin.

In order to get the best immediate roll on your putts, practice hitting putts with two coins stacked behind the ball. Don’t let the putter strike the coins. Secondly, try leaning the putter shaft

target through impact to

GO FIGURE!

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once. DIFFICULTY: