Vol. 19: #39 • BEVERAGES: Tidbits Gulps Down the Stories on Some Favorite Drinks • (9-24-2023)

TIDBITS GULPS DOWN SOME FAVORITE

by Kathy Wolfe

Drink up! This week, Tidbits has done some research and pours out some interesting facts we'll bet you never knew about some of the favorite beverages you enjoy. Cheers!

There are six different types of “true tea,” harvested from the camellia sinensis plant. The teas are categorized by their type of fermentation.

• Black tea is a fully oxidized tea, first exposing them to oxygen, then heating and drying the leaves. This results in a tea that is a dark brown color.

• Green tea doesn’t undergo an oxidation process at all, rather, it is steamed or pan-fired in a large wok, then dried, keeping a bright green color.

• The leaves for white tea are harvested before the plant’s leaves are fully open. Because only young leaves are reaped, the season for white tea is short, making this product more costly than other teas. The leaves are immediately withered and dried with no oxidation.

(Answers on page 16)

You probably don’t recognize the name Kia Silverbrook, but thereʼs a very good chance you use at least one of his inventions every single day. Let’s check into some of the innovations produced by this creative genius.

• When we think of inventors, Thomas Edison comes to mind immediately, with his 1,093 U.S. patents, and a world-wide total of 2,332. However, today’s most prolific inventor is Kia Silverbrook, an Australian scientist and businessman. Silverbrook’s name is listed on more than 10,000 U.S. patents!

• Following his graduation from the University of Sydney, where he studied electrical engineering and computer science, Silverbrook started work in 1979 at Fairlight Instruments, a company that developed the first polyphonic digital sampling synthesizer, known as the CMI, or Computer Musical Instrument. He invented the Fairlight CVI, a real-time video effects computer in 1984. He was also involved in developing innovations for the Australian military and the government’s Defense Science and Technology Organization, including a portable electronic tracking system.

faces and search for their eyes are thanks to Silverbrook’s genius. He has developed products in the field of computer graphics, digital music synthesis, video and audio production, liquid crystal displays (LCD’s), and genetic analysis. Silverbrook’s company Geneasys (Genetic Analysis Systems) has developed a medical diagnostic device capable of analyzing multiple diseases from a sample of DNA through the use of a standard smartphone.

• Silverbrook’s brains were also behind the first touch-screen display. He also created Netpage, a software system that makes printed paper interactive. A program user can scan a Netpage printed paper with a phone app, and it becomes live on the screen. He is responsible for various maps and global navigation systems, and for his work in cryptography, the process of using mathematical techniques to encrypt data for secure communications.

• One of Silverbrook’s newer ventures includes “Fractal Antenna Technology,” an invention that will improve wireless communications through these antennas with a much greater bandwidth than those presently in use.

• Silverbrook has so many ideas in the formulative stage that he started a separate company, Priority Matters, whose function is just to be in charge of maintaining records and the legal filings for his numerous patents.

• Why is Thomas Edison famous while Silverbrook is relatively unknown to most?

Final Changes

• Although most people are not aware of Silverbrook’s brilliance, his inventions have had a huge effect on our daily lives. He was instrumental in developing inkjet printing technology, inventing the first inkjet head and the first thermal inkjet print head, as well as the technology for 3D printing. We owe digital paper, interactive paper, digital printing, a phone with an internal printer and a camera with a built-in printer and cutting blade to Kia Silverbrook.

• He is also the mastermind behind digital photography, breaking ground with the first modern digital camera. Facial recognition and your camera phone’s ability to focus on people’s

1. GEOGRAPHY: Which European city has almost 2,500 bridges?

2. MOVIES: How many infinity stones exist in “Avengers: End Game”?

3. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many digits do pandas have on each hand?

4. AD SLOGANS: Which car manufacturer used the ad slogan, “Life is a journey. Enjoy the ride”?

5. LITERATURE: What is Hogwarts’ motto in the “Harry Potter” book series?

6. TELEVISION: Which show spawned the spinoff TV comedy “Laverne & Shirley”?

7. SCIENCE: How long is an eon?

8. MUSIC: What is the name of the band that John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney were in before The Beatles formed?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What does the Apgar score measure?

10. U.S. STATES: Which state has an active volcano named Mount St. Helens? Answers

1. Hamburg, Germany.

2. Six.

3. Six — five fingers and an opposable pseudo thumb.

Most of Silverbrook’s inventions are “behind the scenes,” owned by other companies, such as about 250 photography-related patents that were purchased by Google, Facebook, and Apple. Most of the details of devices sold by Apple, Samsung, and other major tech companies were actually bought from inventors.

• Although Silverbrook could boast owning almost five times as many patents as Thomas Edison, he is quick to say, “Having a lot of patents is like having a lot of legal contracts, it’s really nothing to get excited about.” 

Week of September 24, 2023

Beverages (from page one)

• Pu’erh tea is often referred to as fermented tea, with the fresh leaves hand tossed in a wok to stop the oxidation process. The presence of bacteria allows fermentation to take place.

• Oolong tea is partially oxidized. Leaves are withered under strong sun, then curled and twisted. Yellow tea is very rare. After undergoing a process similar to that of green tea, yellow tea adds an extra time-consuming step. After being dried in the sun or gently panfired, the leaves are wrapped in wet cloth to induce oxidation through steaming. Another drying round produces a yellowing effect on the tea leaves, and results in a smooth, mellow flavor.

• Many herbal teas are known for their health benefits. Those having trouble sleeping will often sip a cup of chamomile tea, known for its calming and sleep-inducing properties. Ginger tea can help with nausea and stomach upsets. Cinnamon tea can aid in reducing inflammation, stabilizing blood sugar, and boosting brain function.

SOFT DRINKS

• The term soft drink was originated to distinguish between flavored drinks and hard liquor, or distilled spirits. Soft drinks were introduced as a substitute in an effort to change the harddrinking habits of many early Americans.

• So where did soda get its name? The modernday soft drink didn't develop until the 18th century, when scientists started synthesizing carbonated water — also known as soda water. The “soda” part of the word is derived from the sodium salts within the water, which reduce the beverage's acidity.

• In the 1920s, Charles Leiper Grigg was manufacturing an orange soda he called “Howdy.” Sales of the beverage were disappointing at best, due to his main competition,

Tidbits of Coachella Valley Page 3

Orange Crush, which contained orange juice, which Howdy did not. Grigg set to work on a new innovation, a lemon-lime soda, and after two years and 11 failed formulas, in October, 1929, just two weeks before the legendary Wall Street crash, he launched “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda.”

• It wasn’t until 1936 that the soda became known as 7-UP. Originally a caramel-colored soda, the concoction actually contained lithium citrate, a substance now used to treat bipolar disorder. During that era, lithium was commonly used to elevate moods and improve health, and Grigg capitalized on this by marketing his beverage as a mood lifter. In 1948, the FDA banned the use of lithium in beverages, and a change in formula was necessary for 7-UP and many other notable soft drinks.

• The Coca-Cola Company didn’t respond to the colossal success of 7-UP until 1961, when it introduced Sprite. The formula had been developed in West Germany two years earlier and marketed as “Fanta Klare Zitrone,” or “Clear Lemon Fanta.” It took nearly 30 years, but Sprite passed 7-Up as the lemon-lime soda market leader in 1989, and it remains in that spot today, as well as the third best-selling soft drink in the world, sold in upwards of 190 countries.

• Fanta soft drinks were born in Germany out of necessity during World War II. When the United States established a trade embargo against Nazi Germany in 1940, the ingredients for CocaCola became unavailable. A German business introduced an alternative, calling the creation Fanta, from the Germany word “Fantasie,” which translates “imagination.” By 1943, Fanta dominated the German market with sales of three million cases.

• A Columbus, Georgia grocer named Claud Hatcher began bottling Royal Crown Ginger Ale in 1905, followed shortly by Royal Crown Strawberry, and Royal Crown Root Beer. His cherry-flavored Chero-Cola was a big hit in 1907. Hatcher might best be remembered for the fruit-flavored beverages he introduced in 1924 – orange, grape, and peach – under the name of Nehi. The name signified the product’s “knee-high” tall bottles. The Royal Crown Company was the first in the industry to sell canned soft drinks, as well as offering the first caffeine-free cola.

• Diet soda was introduced in 1952 by a Russian immigrant named Hyman Kirsch. He launched his “No-Cal Ginger Ale,” sweetened with calcium cyclamate, an artificial sweetener 30 to 50 times sweeter than table sugar. When a 1969 study showed that cyclamate was a potential carcinogen, it was banned in the U.S.

• Canada Dry introduced its own zero-calorie ginger ale called Glamor in 1954. Diet Rite Cola was presented by Royal Crown in 1958, followed by “Dietetic Dr. Pepper” in 1962 and Tab in 1963. Diet Pepsi came along in 1964. The Coca-Cola Company debuted their diet grapefruit/lime-flavored citrus soda known as Fresca in 1967. Sugar Free 7-UP was launched

by

1.What’s

2.What ������ �������� QUIZ BITS

1. What beverage was originally called Patio Diet Cola?

CLIP AND SAVE HOUR HAPPY M O N D A Y - T H U R S D A Y * A N Y M E N U I T E M - E Q U A L O R L E S S E R V A L U E BUY (1) GET (1) FREE PALM SPRINGS - PALM DESERT - SUN CITY (5PM - 7PM) ● ● ● CLIP AND SAVE 10-15-23

In December 1773, North American colonists rejected the edict by King George III that they pay taxes to England when they were denied any representation in Parliament. In retaliation, they dumped 342 crates of British tea into Boston Harbor. About 100 American patriots disquised as Mohawk Indians destroyed about 92,000 pounds of the imported tea, a value in today's dollars of almost $2 million.

CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

By Lucie Winborne

* More people from nudist colonies play volleyball than any other sport.

* New York’s Girl Scout Troop 6000, whose entire membership is homeless or living in shelters, has sold more than $1.6 million worth of Girl Scout cookies since 2017, earning not just national recognition, but money to benefit about 2,500 women and girls in more than 20 shelters throughout the greater New York area.

* Competitive trash collecting is a sport in Japan.

* Just in time for global warming, scientists have developed a paint that reflects the sun’s rays, potentially reducing the need for air conditioning by up to 40%.

* The oldest known photograph, taken by French photographer Nicephore Niepce in 1826, took eight hours to expose.

* In 5th-century Greece, handshakes were done to make sure that the other person wasn’t carrying a hidden weapon. The hand clasp proved that your hand was empty, and shaking it was meant to “shake out” any weapons hiding in the sleeve.

* Farm-raised salmon are fed carotenoids to give their flesh its trademark pink color.

* If a woodpecker goes too long without food, it will pin down other birds and peck at their heads until it can eat their brains.

* Holy flipping flapjacks! In 2012, Brad Jolly of Australia set the Guinness World Record for the most tosses of a pancake, with an astonishing 140 flips a minute.

In Investing, No Risk Means No Reward

the same time? Thanks. -- Bonnie

Dear Bonnie: The official Social Security website (ssa.gov) is remarkably useful and user-friendly. For people born in 1954, the full retirement age (FRA) is 66. However, for those born in subsequent years, FRA gradually increases by a few months. For example, for those born in 1955, the FRA is 66 and 2 months.

patronize advertisers,

Thought for the Day: “Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.”

Tell them you saw their ad in Tidbits!

-- Henri Nouwen

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Remember:

DON’T FORGET!

Tell the advertisers you saw their ad in Tidbits!

Remember to TELL OUR ADVERTISERS

YOU SAW THEIR AD IN TIDBITS!

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CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

DEAR CHEAPSKATE: This may be the ultimate in stupid questions but it’s been plaguing me for a while. Is there any value in converting my existing 401(k) into cash without removing the funds from my 401(k)? Do they even allow that? I hate losing all that lovely money as things dip and swirl. I would continue to contribute at my existing rate, 12%, including the company match of 3% for the 401(k).

-- Symantha

Dear Symantha: Employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k), typically have a cash option within the list of investments available to plan members. Look for a money market fund. If you move your account assets into that fund (which is perfectly allowable), the money is going to just sit there, not earning. It will be shielded from the wild swings in the market but will begin to lose value because you will not earn enough on your account to even keep up with inflation (reportedly 3.18% at this writing).

The very nature of investing is that you expose money to reasonable levels of risk with the expectation of achieving a profit or gain. Not all of the choices in your 401(k) plan carry the same level of risk. Just remember that in order to achieve a reward, you must be willing to take a reasonable level of risk. No risk, no reward.

The biggest problem with moving your account into a “cash position” is figuring how you will know when to move it back into investment funds that will give you a chance of achieving a gain. A better idea would be to contact your plan’s administrator and make an appointment to meet with an investment counselor to assess all of the options you have in your 401k plan. This person can help you match your tolerance for risk against the options you have in order to find the most comfortable place for the money you are contributing to your retirement account.

If you choose to take early retirement at age 62, there are earnings limits that may affect your benefits. In 2023, the limit adjusted for inflation is $21,240. This means that if you earn more than this limit in a year before reaching your FRA, Social Security will deduct $1 in benefits for every $3 earned above the limit.

In the year you reach your FRA, different rules apply. You can earn more without having your benefits reduced, and there is no earnings limit.

Please understand that these figures and rules can change over time, so it’s always a good idea to check the most up-to-date information from the Social Security Administration or consult with a financial adviser for personalized guidance regarding your specific situation.

I hope this helps and encourages you to continue your research as you make decisions for the future!

* * *

Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate. com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”

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DEAR MARY: In a past column, you said that full retirement age is determined by the year you were born. Where can I find this information? My husband was born in 1954 and I in 1955. Also, can a person continue to work full or part time (mostly for health insurance benefits), and draw Social Security at

Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

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Bill LeGrave Rolfing in the Desert (2 of 6) 1/8 pg BW 6x disc.

Sept. 24, 2023

In a series of 10 sessions, Rolfing® actually changes the way your body is structured. You become straighter, taller, more graceful, flexible and free-moving. Possibly many aches and pains will disappear. How does this actually happen?

ROLFING:® How Does it Work?

We manipulate connective tissue called fascia, a type of body tissue that holds the body together and gives it shape. Fascial planes shape broad areas of the body. Dr. Rolf’s discovery was that if you put certain kinds of pressure on fascia, the shape of the tissue will change in a lasting way. She worked with a very firm level of pressure. Since then, we have found that lighter pressure combined with your movement makes the body reshaping occur quicker.

Call to schedule an appointment or for a free consultation:

September 29 is National Coffee Day, so pour yourself a cup of Joe and learn about our favorite beverage while you peruse your favorite paper!

• When coffee was first discovered, it was called “Qahhwat al-bun,” from the Arabic for “the wine of the bean.” The name was shortened to “Qhawa,” then changed by the Turks to “Kahve,” and finally by the Dutch to “Koffie.”

• Only one beverage outranks coffee in popularity, and that's water! One-third of the tap water used for drinking in North America goes toward brewing coffee.

• When you’re grinding your own coffee beans, you aren’t really grinding beans at all, but rather pits of a cherry-like berry that grows on a bush or tree.

• For more than 150 years, Brazil has held the title of world leader in coffee production, with

about 40% of the world’s coffee grown there. Vietnam is a distant second, with only half of Brazil’s production.

• It takes 37 gallons of water to produce enough beans to make just one cup of coffee. A single coffee plant provides only enough beans in an entire year to fill just a one-pound bag of ground coffee.

• It might surprise you that the country of Finland consumes the most coffee, with an average of 27.5 lbs. per person annually. Norway is second and Iceland is third. The United States is way down the list at #25.

• There are specific conditions required for a coffee tree to flourish: High altitudes, tropical climates, and rich soil. As a result, there are only two U.S. states that grow coffee, Hawaii and California.

• One of the most expensive coffees in the world, Hawaii’s Kona coffee is grown in the Big Island’s Kona region in its mineral-rich volcanic soil. It was brought to the area in 1828 by Samuel Ruggles from cuttings he brought in from Brazil. About 7,000 acres are planted in coffee throughout Hawaii. About about 800 farms produce the state’s second largest-produced crop, behind sugar cane and pineapple.

• While there are over 100 different species of coffee, the two dominant species are Arabica and Robusta. Arabica, grown at higher altitudes, is the variety planted by most growers, and is referred to as “shade coffee.” The beans are slightly larger and more oval in shape and have more sugars and lipids than Robusta beans, with a sweeter and fruitier taste. Robusta beans, known as “sun-grown coffee,” are smaller and rounder in shape, with an earthy and sometimes bitter taste. Its caffeine content is 2.7%, compared to Arabica’s 1.5%, making it a popular choice for espresso blends and French press.

• It makes sense that every cup of coffee will contain a different caffeine content. The amount of caffeine depends on the type of beans, how the beans were roasted, and how it was brewed. A typical 8-oz. cup of drip-brewed coffee will contain about 115 mg of caffeine, while the same amount of instant will have 65 mg.

• Light roast coffee has more caffeine than dark roast because the longer coffee is roasted, the more caffeine is cooked out from the bean. Decaf coffee isn’t completely free of caffeine, and still contains from 2 to 12 mg. per cup.

• Drinking too much coffee can bring on nausea, muscle spasms, and even seizures, rapid

breathing,

shock. But don’t worry too much about the serious side effects, as you’d need to drink about 70 cups in a 24-hours period to have a severe overdose. 

by Dana Jackson

Q: I just saw that “Captain America” star Chris Evans got married. Is his wife an actress? The last serious relationship I remember him having was with Jenny Slate. I was hoping that would work out (I loved her in “Parks and Recreation”). -- K.K.

A: The last of the Hollywood Chrises has joined the other two (Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt) in wedded bliss by marrying his girlfriend, Alba Baptista, of almost two years during a ceremony in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Baptista is a Portuguese actress whose most recent Englishlanguage films are the charming film “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” and the Netflix action series “Warrior Nun.”

As for Evans and Jenny Slate, their relationship has been over since early 2018. They first started dating in 2016 after filming the movie “Gifted.” He raved about her in interviews, saying “Sometimes you just meet the same animal, and that’s just [what it’s like] with Jenny.”

Slate, who has been married before, found love again with writer and art curator Ben Shattuck. The couple wed last year and also have a little girl named Ida. While Evans and Slate made a cute couple, it appears they ultimately found happiness with others the way it was meant to be. ***

Q: When is the “Frasier” reboot debuting? Also, I’ve heard conflicting information about where it will air. Will it be on Peacock or Paramount? -- E.J.

A: Kelsey Grammer returns to television as his iconic character Frasier Crane this fall on Paramount+. We first met the hilariously uptight psychiatrist on “Cheers.” He was then given his own equally successful spin-off in the former show of “Frasier,” a sitcom that won 37 Primetime Emmy Awards and continues to run in syndication and streaming to this day. Now Frasier returns to his roots in Boston for a new sitcom filmed before a live studio audience.

Alas, the late John Mahoney is gone as Frasier’s cranky father, Martin, and David Hyde Pierce is reportedly not returning as Frasier’s brother, Niles.

A two-episode premiere of the new “Fraiser” will debut on Paramount+ on Oct. 12 with weekly episodes to follow. It’s reported that the same episodes will also air on CBS on Oct. 17 as a special event, but viewers will have to subscribe to Paramount+ to watch the rest of the season. ***

Q: What was the name of the funny show Ted Knight did where he had two beautiful daughters? There was also a hilarious guy who lived in the home, too, or at least nearby. -- L.D.

A: You’re thinking of “Too Close for Comfort,” which starred Knight as a cartoonist who worked out of his home in San Francisco. Nancy Dussault played his wife, and Lydia Cornell and Deborah Van Valkenburgh played his two grown daughters who rented the apartment below. Jim J. Bullock was a hoot as Monroe.

The show changed its name and concept to “The Ted Knight Show” during its final season. Sadly, the sitcom ended in 1987 after Knight lost his battle with cancer at the age of 62. * * *

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. The Nun II (R) Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet

1. Split (PG-13) James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy

(Go Figure solution page 14)

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

Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe

2. The Equalizer 3 (R) Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning

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

3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (PG-13) Nia Vardalos, John Corbett

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

4. Jawan (NR) Nayanthara, Shah Rukh Khan

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer

5. La La Land .................... (PG-13)

Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

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

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

Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen

6. Blue Beetle (PG-13) Xolo Mariduena, Bruna Marquezine

7. Gran Turismo (PG-13) David Harbour, Orlando Bloom

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

8. Lion (PG-13) Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman

8. Oppenheimer (R) Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt

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

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

10. xXx: Return of Xander Cage .................................... (PG-13) Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen

10. Bottoms

(R) Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Alba Baptista in “Warrior Nun”

Courtesy of Netflix

Good Recipes from

Italian Wedding Pasta

Though rich and flavorful enough to celebrate a special occasion, our baked wedding pasta remains light on calories by employing low-fat milk and lean ground turkey.

1 pound ground turkey

1/4 cup plain dried bread crumbs

1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh parsley leaves, chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed with press

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 large egg

1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese

1 package (16 ounces) farfalle or bow-tie pasta

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 1/2 cups reduced-fat (2 percent) milk

1 can (14 to 14 1/2 ounces) reducedsodium chicken broth

1 bag (9 ounces) baby spinach

Ground black pepper

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line 15 ½ by 10 ½-inch jelly-roll pan with parchment paper or foil.

2. In medium bowl, with fingertips, mix turkey, bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, egg and 1/4 cup Romano cheese just until blended; do not overmix. Shape turkey mixture into 36 1-inch meatballs; place in prepared pan. Bake meatballs 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, heat large covered saucepot of water to boiling over high heat. Add pasta and cook 2 minutes less than label directs. Drain pasta; return to saucepot.

4. In 2-cup liquid measuring cup, whisk cornstarch into milk. Add milk mixture and broth to pasta in saucepot; heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Boil 1 minute to thicken sauce slightly. Remove saucepot from heat; stir in spinach, 1/2 cup grated Romano, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add meatballs and gently toss to combine.

5. Transfer pasta mixture to 3-quart glass

or ceramic baking dish; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup grated Romano. Bake 20 minutes or until hot in the center and golden brown on top. Serves 8.

 Each serving: About 390 calories, 10g total fat (4g saturated), 25g protein, 49g carbohydrates, 85mg cholesterol, 380mg sodium, 4g fiber.

Roasted Almond-Crusted Plums

This dessert is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

6 large plums (4 to 5 ounces each), each cut in half and pitted

3 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup sliced natural almonds

1. Heat oven to 425 F. In shallow baking dish, arrange plums, cut side up, close together in one layer.

2. In medium bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in flour until blended. Stir in almonds. Sprinkle mixture evenly over plums. Bake until plums are tender, 25 to 35 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

 Each serving: About 204 calories, 9g total fat (4g saturated), 2g protein, 31g carbohydrate, 16mg cholesterol, 64mg sodium.

* * *

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

Coachella Valley Business Owners

NEXT WEEK in

Cody’s Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Uncle Matty’s Believe It or Not

Ask anyone who does anything for a living, and they’ll tell you a sense of humor is everything. Every year, week after week, my phone rings and my inbox chimes with the calls and emails that don’t make it into this column. Some people can’t or don’t want to be helped, and these are the times when you just have to laugh.

-- There was the woman who called to tell me she and her husband are the proud owners of five dogs, ages 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Their dogs get along; they don’t attack each other or their human companions; they don’t guard their food, jump the fence or chew up the Persian rugs. But their only problem is a smelly one, and they called to offer the perfect solution. All five dogs regularly use the carpeted floors throughout the house as a toilet. She wanted to pass along a tip they find quite helpful: air freshener. Lots and lots of air freshener!

-- There was the man who called to report that the four dogs he and his wife share their home with have turned their family into the neighborhood pariahs. The dogs bark nonstop, the neighbors despise them, and when the man told his wife he wants the dogs out, her only response was, “You first!” I gave him the number of a good marriage counselor.

-- There was the woman who called to complain that her dog yips and yaps incessantly all day long, on and on, and her husband thinks it’s not a problem. While she’s going nuts from all the barking, he simply removes his hearing aid. I suggested she invest in a good pair of nose-reduction headphones to even the playing field.

-- An all-time favorite of mine is the woman who waited until her dog had racked up thousands of dollars in damage by chewing holes in the walls of her home and destroying the rooftop of her convertible before she called me and declared she didn’t want to spend a lot of money on dog training. Who am I to argue with that math?

(CryptoQuip Solution on page 14)

-- And then came the newlyweds. Five days into their young marriage, the flushed bride

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

3. The Weekly “Brain Breaker”

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

Wrapping up the End of the Year

The end of the year is a perfect time to review where we’ve been in 2023 and gather some ideas about how we might do things differently next year. With prices on virtually everything rising almost on a daily basis, finding ways to save money is at the top of the list. For me, this includes close scrutiny of my expenses for for entertainment and groceries.

I've done some scouting around with various services that I use, looking for discounts and deals that are offered and ways I might be able to take advantage of them. Many of them I was never even aware of. Here are some costsaving options for you to consider:

Look at all your streaming services to see which ones you might be willing to stop using. Make calls to the cellphone services around you and see who has good deals, likely with bundling. Phone plans for seniors generally have a lower cost. A surprise for me: I recently changed cellphone companies. Since I was bringing my own phone number and did not want a deal to buy a phone, I was given a $200 promo gift card

The Art of DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

Details Everywhere

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

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

-- Make sure to add color-coordinated pillows and throws that play off the color of the curtains or rug in the room.

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

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

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

-- Top a pair of plain etageres with a collection of blue and white ginger jars for unexpected flair.

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

-- For a sense of casual elegance in a dining room, pair a simple inexpensive contemporary table with expensive period chairs. Your

to spend anywhere.

Consider the money you could save with a store affinity account. At my local grocery store, I typically accrue $5-10 per quarter just for buying the store brand and using the coupons offered.

On Walmart Plus, I often earn $3-$4 each time I place online orders for free delivery to my home because of the deals and discounts that pop up on the screen. Additional Plus benefits include travel, video streaming, 10 cents per gallon saved at several gas stations and more. The first 30 days are free to try the service, with a whole year costing $98. If you’re on SNAP, Medicaid or other programs, your cost would be half that.

Take a look at “500 Great Ways to Save for Dummies” by AARP. The book is on Amazon, both in paperback and for a Kindle e-reader, as well as thousands of other places online. This book might be one you want to keep and refer to for a long time. You can also ask your library or senior center if they will purchase the book to keep on their shelves.

Times are tough, and every dollar counts.

(c) KingFeaturesSyndicate

table, topped with dishes and silverware, will hardly be noticed. Your chairs, on the other hand, will shine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* * *

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph 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.

COPYRIGHT 2019 CREATORS.COM

called me for help in resolving a conflict. She has four Maltese dogs who love, honor and obey her. They also sleep with her. She just married her fifth husband, and the canine quartet won’t grant the mister access to the bedroom. Her new hubby, not surprisingly, is already fed up. She asked me to talk to him, so I said, “Sure. Put him on.” When a male voice said, “Hello?” I said, “Run! Go! Get out now!” Sometimes you just have to laugh. Woof!

COPYRIGHT 2012 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.

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

* * *

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.

-- by Jim Miller

Does Medicare Cover Second Medical Opinions?

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: The doctor I am currently seeing thinks I need a knee replacement, but I would like to explore some other treatment options before I agree to that decision. However, I am also wondering if Medicare will cover the cost of getting second medical opinions? What can you tell me about this? -- Limping Larry

Dear Larry: Getting a second medical opinion from another doctor is a smart idea that may offer you a fresh perspective and additional options for treating your knee so you can make a more informed decision. Or, if the second doctor agrees with your current one, it can give you some reassurance that it's the best choice.

The answer to your question is yes, Medicare does pay for second opinions if your current doctor has recommended surgery, or some other major diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.

If you’re enrolled in original Medicare, 80 percent of the costs for second medical opinions are covered under Part B (you or your Medicare supplemental policy are responsible for the other 20 percent), and you don’t need an order or referral from your doctor to get one. Medicare will even pay 80 percent for a third opinion, if the first two differ.

Most Medicare Advantage plans cover second opinions too, but you may need to follow certain steps to get it paid for. For example, some plans will only help pay for a second opinion if you have a referral from your primary care doctor, and/or they may require that you can only use a doctor in their network. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll need to call it to find out their rules.

Finding Another Doctor

To find another doctor for a second opinion you can either ask your current doctor for a name or two, or ask another doctor you trust for a referral, or you can find one on your own.

Whatever route you choose, it’s best to go with a doctor that’s affiliated with a different practice or hospital than your original doctor. Hospitals and practices can be set in their ways when it comes to treatments and are likely to conform to the same guidelines and give you the same or similar advice.

If you choose to find one on your own, use Medicare’s Care Compare tool at Medicare. gov/care-compare. This will let you find doctors by name or medical specialty in your area that accept original Medicare. You can also get this information by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227. Or, if you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, call or visit your plan’s website for a list of candidates.

After you’ve got a few doctors names, there are a number of free online resources to help you research them like HealthGrades.com

and Vitals.com

After you find another doctor, and before you get a second opinion, you’ll need to have your current doctor’s office send your medical records ahead to the second doctor, or you may have to pick them up and deliver them yourself. That way, you won’t have to repeat the tests you've already had done. But, if the second doctor wants you to have additional tests performed as a result of your visit, Medicare will help pay for these tests as well.

For more information, see the Medicare publication “Getting a Second Opinion Before Surgery” at Medicare.gov/publications – type in 02173 in the Keyword or Product number box.

by Anne McCollam

Child’s Rocker Is a Family Legacy

Q: The enclosed photo is of a child’s wicker rocking chair that was given to me when I was 7 years old. I will be 91 soon and am anxious to decide what to do with it. I would like to pass it on to a relative and would like to learn about its history and value. It is in excellent condition.

I will appreciate any information you can provide about the maker and value.

A: Children’s wicker rocking chairs were very popular in the early 1900s. Unless there is a manufacturer’s mark on the chair, it can be very difficult to identify the maker. Many similar ones were made by Heywood Wakefield and some were imported from China. It is always nice to pass one down in a family so another generation of children can enjoy it.

The value of your circa-1930 rocking chair would be in the range of $100 to $150.

where it was made and if it has any value. One aunt thinks it was made in Arkansas.

Please tell us anything you can about its background.

A: Your aunt is correct. Your vase was made by Niloak Pottery Company. They were located in Benton, Ark. from 1910 to 1947. The company was founded by Charles Dean Hyten, who started out making stoneware crocks and jugs.

When demand increased for stoneware, he, along with former Rookwood potter, Arthur Dovey, began experimenting with the clay in Arkansas. The process began with swirling several colors of clay and then putting it on the potter’s wheel. This marbleized appearance was called “Mission Swirl.”

Early ware can be recognized by a rough texture and clear waterproof interiors. “Niloak” is the word kaolin spelled backwards. Kaolin is a fine white to gray clay used in ceramics.

Their Mission Swirl line included vases, pitchers, candlesticks, tankards and umbrella stands. The line was so successful, the formula and technique were patented in 1928. During the Great Depression its popularity waned.

Your early 1900s vase would probably fetch $200 to $250 in an antiques shop.

* On Sept. 25, 1890, Sequoia National Park in central California, famed for some of the tallest and largest trees in the world, was established by the U.S. Congress as the country’s second national park. It receives more than 1 million visitors per year.

* On Sept. 26, 1738, Scottish philosopher David Hume signed a contract to publish the first two volumes of “A Treatise of Human Nature,” widely considered to be his most important work and one of the most influential in the history of philosophy.

* On Sept. 27, 1927, “Father of the Blues” William Christopher “W.C.” Handy, a skilled band leader from Northern Alabama, self-published “Memphis Blues,” considered the first blues song and described by Handy as “A Southern Rag.”

* On Sept. 28, 1978, Pope John Paul I died of a heart attack at age 65, just 33 days after being elected pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, making his reign one of the shortest in papal history. Discrepancies in the Vatican’s account of his death also led to a number of conspiracy theories about it.

* * *

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

Q: This mark is on the bottom of a pottery vase that I have. It is decorated with a swirl pattern of rust, cream, chocolate and blue. The glaze has a slightly sandy feel to it. It stands about 6 inches tall and is in mint condition. It has been in my family for generations, and no one knows exactly how old it is,

Puzzle Solutions

That company will deliver wood or stone fragments very fast. They even do overnight chipping.

* On Sept. 29, 1997, a number of American servicemen got themselves arrested in Turkey due to their salty vocabulary, namely, shouting profanities during an argument with locals at a bar despite the country’s ban on cussing in public places. The soldiers were released with just a warning.

* On Sept. 30, 2005, a United National health expert responsible for coordinating the response to the recent southeast Asian bird flu outbreak, or avian influenza, warned that it could kill up to 150 million people. Since 2003, the illness has killed both large numbers of birds and more than 60 humans in Asia.

* On Oct. 1, 2013, the U.S. government ceased all nonessential operations when Congress failed to reach a deal on the national budget, resulting in the closure of museums and national parks, and leaving hundreds of thousands of workers stalled at home. The shutdown ended shortly after midnight on Oct. 17.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

"You're going to get a lot of roll on this fairway. l think you should play it safe and just tap it off with your putter."

Child’s wicker rocker was made around 1930.

Niloak Pottery Company was located in Benton, Ark.

in 1970. Although Diet Coke is the nation’s most popular diet soda, it didn’t come along until 1982 with the catchy advertising phrase “Just for the taste of it.”

SOFT DRINK ALTERNATIVES

• Kombucha … you either love it or hate it! This beverage is a fermented drink made from tea leaves (usually green or oolong), sugar, bacteria, and yeast. Its base is known as a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast). Consumers vary in their opinion of the taste, with some saying it tastes like fizzy apple cider, while others say wine or vinegar. Some claim it has a sharp and tangy taste, others maintain its taste is acidic.

• While kombucha has grown in popularity at health food stores in recent years, it’s actually been around for about 2,000 years, originating in China.

• Holistic health consumers argue that kombucha has many health benefits, citing lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, strengthening of the immune system, and improved digestion, with a number of people claiming the drink can prevent cancer. Yet others experience upset stomach, infection, or allergic reactions.

• But there are plenty who love it – annual sales of kombucha are about $700 million a year in the U.S. Lots of people concoct their own homemade kombucha, a brewing process that takes between 10 and 14 days.

ENERGY DRINKS

• Are you one those who grabs a Red Bull to power up? It was the first energy drink to hit the market, from a company founded by an Austrian businessman, Dietrich Maeteschitz, in 1987, with the intention of helping truck drivers who needed an extra pick-me-up to get them through long drives.

• Red Bull wasn’t introduced in the United States until 1997. Although many claim it provides a powerful jolt of energy, in actuality, it contains the same amount of caffeine as an 8-oz. cup of coffee, 80 mg. Consider that a 16-oz. Starbucks Grande packs a hefty 330 mg. of caffeine. The product was a wise investment for Maeteschitz – when he passed away in 2022, his net worth was an estimated $27.4 billion 

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

Shoulder’s Plane Truth

Staying in posture, pivoting correctly, or keeping your body height in the swing are common mantras heard by pros and amateurs alike. The need for the body to turn and unturn in a simple, repeatable manner is often an overlooked part of consistent ball striking. Decades ago, Ben Hogan wrote about swing planes in the golf swing and related one of them to the shoulders. He felt like a plane of glass went through his neck down to the ball, and his shoulders would turn on that plane. While it’s a powerful image, it’s not a correct plane of movement for the shoulders.

When bent over with any club in hand, the body will turn so that the shoulders will turn on a slightly down tilted plane. This plane would bottom out ten to twelve feet in front of you. Try taking your golf posture with arms outstretched, then attempt to coil your body like the backswing. Your arms and shoulders would be tilted downward. They would neither point to the ball nor

THERE'S STILL TIME TO ENROLL

GO FIGURE!

10. U.S. STATES: Which state has an active volcano named Mount St. Helens? Answers

TRIVIA TEST Answers Answers

by Linda Thistle

1. Hamburg, Germany.

2. Six.

3. Six — five fingers and an opposable pseudo thumb.

4. Nissan.

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.

5. “Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon.”

6. “Happy Days.”

7. 1 billion years.

8. The Quarrymen.

9. The health of newborns.

10. Washington.