Vol. 19: #42 • The Sound of Muzak • (10-15-2022) Tidbits of Coachella Valley by Tidbits of Coachella Valley

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TIDBITS TUNES INTO THE

by Janet Spencer

We're all familiar with the lilting background music we hear while riding in elevators, on hold waiting on the phone, or strolling the supermarket aisles, but have you ever wondered who made this happen? This week Tidbits looks back more than a century ago to see how these background melodies were first introduced to the general public and became a subliminal mood soother called Muzak. ADVERTISING PROOF

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and ultimately went on to modernize information CMG Home Loans c/o George Kouri Premium Frontrepresentative Page - 13-Week Rotating Series Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes Contact or corrections. your Tidbits immediately with changes Contact or correc your T ADVERTISING PROOF ADVERTISING PROOF AD technology through the medium of sound. Property of Office: Office: Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-0997 760-320-1630 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320 760-32 MON., MAY 22 MON., MAY 22 AdVenture Media, Inc. Final Changes DUE: 12:00 NOON Final Changes DUE: 12:00 NOON Final Ch • Squier eventually graduated from the U.S. Military Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices Please review  Hourscarefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling Please Prices review  Hours carefu Property of 24 Property of 25 11,Loans 2023 Vol. 19 - No. June 18, Loans 2023 Vol. 19 - No. CMG June Home Home CMG Academy inrepresentative 1887, earned aMedia, Ph.D., thenorjoined the CMG AdVenture Inc. AdVenture Media, Inc. Contact your Tidbits immediately with changes corrections. Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. Contact your T July 2Kouri“ “ 27 July 9 Kouri“ “ 28 c/o George c/o George c/o G military. He rose through the ranks to become a Office: Office: Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 760-320 July 23 “ “ 30 July 30 “ “ 31 Property of Property Premium Front Page Premium Front Page Prem CMG Home CMG Home Loans CM Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax:of760.320.1630 Aug. 13in Loans “ AdVenture “ Media, 33 Aug. 20 “ “ 34 Major General the Signal Corps, the branch of Inc. AdVenture Media, Inc. valleybits@msn.com Mayc/o28, 2023 Vol. 19 No. 22 May 28, 2023 Vol. 19 No. 22 May George Kouri c/o George Kouri c/o2 Sept. 3 “ of managing “ 36 the Army in charge communications Premium Front Page Premium Front Pr AllPage Rights Reserved Property of Property of CMG Home Loans CMG Home Loans CM Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 AdVenture Media, Inc. AdVenture Media, Inc. and information systems. May 28, 2023 Vol. 19 - No. 22 May 28,Short 2023 Vol. - No. 22 M c/o George Kouri valleybits@msn.com c/o George Kouri valleybits@msn.com c/o on19Retirement Income?

Fixed Income and Short on Cash? INSIDE:

Muzak: Turn to page 3 Premium Front Page Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 All- No. Rights May 28, 2023 Vol. 19 22 Reserved valleybits@msn.com Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 All Rights Reserved valleybits@msn.com

Premium Front Page Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 All- No. Rights May 28, 2023 Vol. 19 22 Reserved valleybits@msn.com

Start Receiving Monthly Payments On Your Home’s Equity!

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GET RID of Your Mortgage All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved Celebrity Extra............................. Page 6 Good Houskeeping ........ Page Home! 7 Payment andRecipes Stay in Your Comics & Puzzles........................ 8-9 LetColumn.................................. me show you how simply a Reverse Mortgage will Let me show you how simply a Reverse Mortgage will Pet 9 turn your hard-earned home equity into a regular monthly turn your hard-earned home equity into a regular monthly Your Social Security.................... 11 home! 7070-you 6you 627 76 0still 0still -2 -2 27 7 7505 income while own and live in5 your income 76 while and your home! 5 5-59 5-own -5 -5live 59 9 90in5 05 0 Doctor's Advice .......................... GEORGE GEORGE KOURI Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s) KOURI 12 Spelling  Prices  Hours GEORGE KOURI GEORGE KOURI GEORGE KOURI GEORGE KOURI GEORGE KOURI GEORGE KOURI Loan Officer Loan Officer Loan Officer Loan Officer GEORGE KOURI GEORGE KOURI Call me Today! Call me Today! Antique or Junque........................ 14 GEORGE KOURI GEORGE KOURI Loan Officer Loan Officer NMLS ID# 248717 248717 NMLS ID# 248717 248717 MON., DEC. 31changes or corrections. NMLS ID# ID# 248717 NMLS ID# ID# 248717 Loan Officer Loan Officer NMLS ID# NMLS ID# NMLS 248717 NMLS 248717 Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s) Spelling  Prices  Hours NMLS ID#  248717 NMLS ID# 248717 760-275-5905 760-275-5905

ADVERTISING PROOF 760-275-5905 760-275-5905 Final Changes DUE: 5:00 p.m.. ADVERTISING PROOF ADVERTISING PROOF Final Changes DUE: 5:00 p.m.. Final Changes DUE: 5:00 p.m.. NMLS ID# 248717 NMLS ID# 248717 e: gkouri@cmghomeloans.com

e: gkouri@cmghomeloans.com

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w: www.gkouri.com w: www.gkouri.com e: gkouri@cmghomeloans.com e: e:Number(s) gkouri@cmghomeloans.com e: gkouri@cmghomeloans.com gkouri@cmghomeloans.com Please review carefully. check:  Phone  Spelling  Prices  Hours w: www.gkouri.com w: www.gkouri.com w: www.gkouri.com w: www.gkouri.com Office:Double 760-320-0997 Fax: 760-320-1630 e: gkouri@cmghomeloans.com e: gkouri@cmghomeloans.com e: gkouri@cmghomeloans.com e: gkouri@cmghomeloans.com ADVERTISING AD w:PROOF www.gkouri.com w:PROOF www.gkouri.com PALM SPRINGS BRANCH PALM SPRINGS BRANCH w: www.gkouri.com w: www.gkouri.com Contact your TidbitsADVERTISING representative immediately with changes or corrections. w: www.gkouri.com w: www.gkouri.com w: www.gkouri.com w: www.gkouri.com 340 S. Farrell Dr., Ste A203 340 S. Farrell Dr.,BRANCH Ste A203 PALM SPRINGS BRANCH PALM SPRINGS PALM SPRINGS BRANCH PALM SPRINGS BRANCH Palm Springs, CASPRINGS 92262 Palm Springs, CASPRINGS 92262 PALM BRANCH PALM BRANCH FinalTidbits Changes DUE: 12:00 NOON Final Changes DUE: NOON Final Cha Contact your representative immediately with or corrections. 340 S. Farrell Ste A203 changes 340 S. Farrell Ste A203 12:00 340Dr., S. SPRINGS Farrell Ste A203 340Dr., S. SPRINGS Farrell Ste A203 Branch NMLS ID# 2475202Dr., Branch NMLS ID# 2475202Dr., Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 PALM BRANCH PALM BRANCH

ADVERTISING PROOF ADVERTISING PROOF ADV ADVERTISING PROOF ADVERTISING PROOF AD ADVERTISING PROOF PALM SPRINGS BRANCH PALM SPRINGS BRANCH Final Changes DUE: Final Changes 12:00 NOON DUE: Final Chan 12:00 340 S. Farrell FarrellDr., Dr.,Ste Ste A203 S. Farrell FarrellDr., Dr.,Ste Ste A203 Office: 760-320-0997 valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 Final Changesemail: DUE: Final 12:00 Changes NOON DUE:DUE: 340 Final 12:00 Ch 340 S. A203 340 S. A203 Final Changes 12:00 NON 340 S. Farrell Dr., Ste A203

Borrower is still responsible for taxes and insurance. This ad is not from HUD or the FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency.

CMG Mortgage, Inc. dba CMG Home Loans dba CMG Financial, NMLS# 1820, is an equal housing lender. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act No. 4150025. To verify ourFHA complete list ofnot stateapproved licenses, by HUD or any government agency. Borrower is (DFPI) still responsible for taxes and insurance. This adis isnot not from HUD or and was Borrower is still responsible for taxes and insurance. This ad from HUD orthe the FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency. please visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing and www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. CMG Mortgage, Inc. dba CMG Home Loans dba CMG Financial, NMLS# 1820, is an equal housing lender. Licensed by the Department of Financial CMG Mortgage, Inc. dba CMG Home Loans dba CMG Financial, NMLS# 1820, is an equal housing lender. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act No. 4150025. To verify our complete list of state licenses, Protection and Innovation (DFPI) under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act No. 4150025. To verify our complete list of state licenses, please visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing and www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

CMG Mortgage, Inc. dba CMG Home Loans dba CMG Financial, NMLS# 1820, is an equal housing lender. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act No. 4150025. To verify our complete list of state licenses, please visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing and www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

Borrower is still responsible for taxes and insurance. This ad is not from HUD or the FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency.

CMY

HALLMARK Palm Springs Premium Front Pg. Banner January 6, 2019 Vol. 15 - No. 2

340 S. Farrell Dr., Ste A203

Palm Springs, CA 92262 Palm Springs, CA 92262 Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  92262 Prices Please review  Hourscarefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling Please Prices review  Hours carefull Palm Springs, CA Palm Springs, CA 92262 PalmID# Springs, PalmID# Springs, Branch NMLS 2475202CA 92262 Branch NMLS 2475202CA 92262 Branch NMLS ID# 2475202 Branch NMLSID# ID# 2475202 Branch NMLS ID# 2475202 Branch NMLS 2475202 George Kouri George Kouri Palm Springs, CA 92262 Palm Springs, CA 92262 Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or 92262 corrections. Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or 92262 corrections. Contact your Tid Palm Springs, CA Palm Springs, CA Please review carefully. Double check: Phone Number(s) Please review  Spelling carefully.  Prices Double  Officer Hours check: Number(s) Please review Spelling carefully.  Pr Please review carefully. Double check: Phone Number(s) Please  Spelling review Please carefully. Prices  Hours Double check: Phone Phone Number(s) Please  Spelling review carefu Prices review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Loan Officer Loan Branch NMLS ID# 2475202 Branch NMLS ID# 2475202 Branch NMLS ID# 2475202 Branch NMLS ID# 2475202 Office: 760-320-0997 NMLS email: Office: 760-320-0997 NMLS email: Office: 760-320-0 valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 ID# 248717 ID# 248717 Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. Property of

Contact Tidbits representativeimmediately immediately with changes Contact or or corrections. your Tidbits representativeimmediately immediately with changes Contact or or correcti your Ti Contact youryour Tidbits representative withContact changes your corrections. Tidbits representative with Contact changes your Tidbi corre AdVenture Media, Inc. please visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing and www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

Office: 760-320-0997 Office: 760-320-0997

CMG Mortgage, Inc. dba CMG Home Loans dba CMG Financial, NMLS# 1820, is an equal housing lender. Licensed by the Department of Financial ProtectionInc. anddba Innovation (DFPI) Loans under the Residential Mortgage Lending Act No.housing 4150025.lender. To verify our complete listDepartment of state licenses, CMG Mortgage, CMG Home dbaCalifornia CMG Financial, NMLS# 1820, is an equal Licensed by the of Financial please www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing and Residential www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Protection andvisit Innovation (DFPI) under the California Mortgage Lending Act No. 4150025. To verify our complete list of state licenses,

4 Million please visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing and www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Readers Weekly Nationwide!

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Assisted Living Community Luxurious studios or one bedroom apartments with kitchenettes, 24-hour staffing, delicious daily meals included, licensed nurse. Exciting, stimulating activity program, scheduled bus transportation for shopping, doctor visits; much more.

please visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing and www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

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Office: Office: email:valleybits@msn.com valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-0997 760-320-1630 email:valleybits@msn.com valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320760-320 Office: Office: email: 760-320-0997 Fax: 760-320-1630email: 760-320-099 Fax: 760-

Borrower is still responsible for taxes and insurance. This ad is not from HUD or the FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency.

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

AdVenture Media, Inc.

Borrower is still responsible for taxes and insurance. This ad is not from HUD or the FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency.

Borrower is still responsible for taxes and insurance. This ad is not from HUD or the FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency. CMG Mortgage, Inc. dba CMG Home Loans dba CMG Financial, NMLS# 1820, is an equal housing lender. Licensed by the Department of Financial

ProtectionInc. anddba Innovation (DFPI) Loans under the Residential Mortgage Lending Act No.housing 4150025.lender. To verify our complete listDepartment of state licenses, CMG Mortgage, CMG Home dbaCalifornia CMG Financial, NMLS# 1820, is an equal Licensed by the of Financial please www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing and Residential www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Protection andvisit Innovation (DFPI) under the California Mortgage Lending Act No. 4150025. To verify our complete list of state licenses, please visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing and www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

Property of AdVenture Media, Inc.

Property of

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

AdVenture Media, Inc.

Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 valleybits@msn.com

Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 Ask about our Move-In Specials. valleybits@msn.com

760-322-3955

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Page 2

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

PEOPLE WORTH REMEMBERING

TRIVIA NEWSFRONT

(Answers on page 16)

One in a series

• July 4, 1826 dawned as a very special day in the life of America. The date signified, of course, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. And in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it was the day that Stephen Collins Foster was born. • From a very early age, little Stephen demonstrated a talent for music, plunking away at the familyʼs upright piano. When the Foster family moved to Ohio aboard a steamboat, Stephen became enamored of the folk songs sung by the deck hands. • Unimpressed with Stephen’s endless tunetinkering, his father warned him that musicmaking would never provide him income sufficient to support a family. But in spite of this, Foster, now grown, began composing for troupes of black-face minstrels who seasonally visited every port of call along the inland waterways. • E. P. Christy, a well-known impresario of these white troubadours, commissioned several early Foster works, and cleverly conned the innocent composer out of his copyrights. Still, the two men were to collaborate for several years. • That Stephen Foster’s catchy tunes quickly caught the nation’s ear is confirmed by a New York newspaper, which groused about his present-everywhere songs that were warbled, hummed, and sung nearly everywhere. His tunes include well-known songs such as “Old Folks at Home,” “Swanee River,” “Camptown Races,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Old Susanna,” “Nelly Bly,” “Old Black Joe,” and literally hundreds of others that have since faded into obscurity.

• In the summer of 1850, Foster married Jane McDowell, soon to be immortalized as “I Dream of Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair.” They produced a daughter, their sole offspring. But shortly afterwards, he left his wife and child, choosing to pursue his musical calling in New York City. • Foster’s fame peaked during the 1850s with sales of his published individual song sheets sometimes reaching more than 100,000 copies each. But as the Civil War erupted and escalated, his luck abruptly changed. His sheet music sales

Vol. IXX Issue No. 42

plummeted, causing him to sell rights to his songs for a pittance, and then wasting even that paltry income on drink. Sadly, nothing he now wrote seemed to capture anyone’s fancy, as the public was caught up in the horrors of the war. Romantic folk songs of his ilk had been replaced by military marches and stirring patriotic songs. • One late night in 1864 a policeman patrolling the streets off Broadway heard groans from the root cellar where Foster dwelt, and found him lying on the floor, bleeding at the neck. He had apparently fallen, shattering a glass pitcher and deeply gashing himself in the neck. Although he was quickly transported to the hospital, Foster died within hours from severe loss of blood. At the moment of his death he had 38 cents in his possession – one penny for each year of his life. In his trousers pocket was a scrap of paper with a simple sentence fragment written on it: “Dear friends and gentle hearts.....” • Foster’s death was as his birth had been – unnoted and unsung. But during his brief career he had, for a time, actually made a modest living with his musical craft – one of the first Americans to do so. More than 200 of his songs appeared in print. He was among the first composers to depict black persons as sensitive human beings, experiencing genuine pain, sorrow, love, and joy. He wrote about the masses and he wrote for simple enjoyment. His work fostered the mid-century interest in parlor singing, and his easy pieces were readily performed on newlyaffordable musical instruments. • Stephen Collins Foster did much to make music a shared national experience. And, fortunately for his times and ours, he was a “Beautiful Dreamer” even when “hard times came knocking at his door.” 

Week of October 15, 2023

Muzak (from page one) • He established a communications school for the Signal Corps and a research lab. He was particularly interested in telephones and radios, and studied ways to use them to improve military communications. Over the course of his career, he received 65 patents. • At a time when music could only be transmitted through spotty AM radio transmissions, Squier discovered how to transmit music through a wire using a phonograph on one end and a receiver on the other end. Squier’s groundbreaking discovery involved the invention of multiplexing, in which numerous signals can be sent through the same wire by dividing the bandwidth. This innovation later became the foundation for fiber optics, the internet, cable TV, and streaming. But at the time, Squier was only interested in music. MAKING MUZAK

• Squier’s idea was to send music into people’s homes just like electricity. He earned several patents for delivering music and information via wiring, subsequently in 1922 naming his corporation Wired Radio. • He sold his idea to a utility conglomerate, which charged customers $1.50 monthly on their electric bill for a choice of three music channels delivered to their homes over telephone lines. However, radios became so pervasive so quickly that people weren’t willing to pay for music when they could get it for free on their radio. • Next Squier brainstormed the idea of selling musical subscriptions to businesses. He renamed the company Muzak, a combination of “music” plus the “-ak” he simply swiped from Kodak, a made-up name that he liked. • Although Squier died at age 69 in 1934, when his business was still young, a succession of other companies took over the Muzak brand and turned it into an American icon. Muzak was piped into its first businesses in 1934.

S GETEDGE G U N WL KNO F O

In 1991, 7-Eleven Stores in Southern California started blasting Muzak into their parking lots at high volume to discourage undesireable riff-raff from hanging around in groups and harassing their customers.

1. W s Page 3 m s

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

background for secretarial pools. • Throughout the 1930s, the Muzak corporation recorded hundreds of instrumental songs from • But its soothing sounds weren't appreciated by their studios in Manhattan, recording up to 12 everyone. When officials at the Washington, tracts per day. By the 1940s, their music library D.C. transit system started piping Muzak into included over 7,500 recordings. its vehicles in 1948, a few unhappy commuters Muzak: Turn to page 15 MOOD MUZAK • Research showed that up-tempo music increased factory production, while down-tempo tunes slowed shoppers. Muzak was piped into supermarkets, warehouses, department stores, 1. What rock star offered $10 million office buildings, hotels, restaurants, dental to buy Muzak outright for the offices, elevators, and other places where express purpose of shutbusiness owners appreciated a steady stream of ting it down? background music that was never interrupted by 2. What rock star was disradio announcers or ads. appointed to be turned ��

QUIZ BITS

• During the 1950s, Muzak introduced “Stimulus Progression” where the tempos and styles of the music changed in order to influence and counterbalance the natural circadian rhythms of the human body. • In factories, production rates typically dipped both before and after lunch, so up-tempo, upbeat songs were scheduled during those time periods, featuring brass rather than strings. Programming gradually ramped up in tempo and in volume over a 15-minute period, followed by a short period of silence, before starting all over again. These segments prevented listener fatigue.

• When World War II began and factory production ramped up, Muzak found a true niche. By the middle of the war, a survey showed that 76 out of 100 factories were using Muzak. In the late 1950s, Muzak claimed its music was being listened to by 50 million Americans daily. Eisenhower had Muzak piped into the White House during his administration, and JFK had it in Air Force One. NASA added Muzak in the Apollo 11 space capsule to keep the astronauts calm. • Officials at Muzak consistently claimed that listening to Muzak would calm nerves, boost productivity, and convince shoppers to spend more money. Although it seems like pseudoscience, study after study showed that people generally are happier, calmer, and more productive when pleasing sounds are in the background. It boosted morale and offered relief from monotonous tasks. It cut down on absenteeism and reduced employee turn-over. One study, commissioned by Muzak, claimed that their music reduced typing errors by a whopping 38.9 percent when it was played in the

2. W t f s

down when he asked Muzak to cover his songs? (Answers page 16)

1. 2.

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 4

Everyday CHEAPSKATE

by Mary Hunt By Lucie Winborne

* Like verbal language, sign language has tongue twisters, known as “finger fumblers.” * In Japan, ramen noodles are a fuel source for more than just humans: The Amaterasu Railway’s sightseeing train uses biodiesel made out of leftover ramen oil, which has the added benefits of curbing CO2 emissions and supporting local businesses. * Physarum polycephalum, a type of slime mold, can solve complex mazes and other spatial problems even though it has neither a brain nor a nervous system. * There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. * A bald eagle, upon catching a fish that may be too heavy for it to lift, will use a movement strikingly similar to the human breaststroke to maneuver its prey to the shore. * Minnie Mouse’s first name isn’t Minnie, but Minerva. * Janine Sugawara sued the makers of Cap’n Crunch cereal for falsely advertising its contents by not using real berries. Her complaint was quickly dismissed, however, when the judge pointed out that there’s no such thing as Crunch Berry. * And speaking of the good captain, his full name is Horatio Magellan Crunch, after explorer Ferdinand Magellan. * You are more likely to have a weird or scary dream while sleeping on your stomach. * During the 1980s, American Airlines found it could save an annual $40,000 simply by removing a single olive from its first-class meals. *** Thought for the Day: “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” -- Dr. Seuss (c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

CLIP AND SAVE

11-15-23

How Far Would You Go to Save Gas? Hypermiling may sound like the latest popular adrenaline-inducing extreme sport, but not so, unless you consider extreme gas conser® vation a sport. Some drivers and online groups have adopted “hypermiling” as a way to combat by Mary Hunt high gas prices by changing the way they drive. It’s a hyperactive driving technique for saving money. Hypermiling discourages aggressiveness behind the wheel (a good thing) because of its negative effect on a car’s miles per gallon. But enthusiasts have also been known to use dangerous methods like “drafting,” which is tailgating larger vehicles to reduce wind resistance, rolling through stop signs and overinflating tires to save on gas (please, no!) I first heard the term hypermiling from friend, author and colleague Matt Bell, (by the way, his latest book, “Trusted: Preparing Your Kids for a Lifetime of God-Honoring Money Management”, is a must-read). Hypermiling is a method of increasing your car’s gas mileage by making skillful changes in the way you drive. Sure, it’s a bit of work, but it allows hypermilers to save gas, which makes it a lot easier for them to endure rising oil and gas prices. According to Matt, one hypermiler he knows routinely gets more than 50 miles per gallon from his 2005 Honda Accord, which is more than twice its Environmental Protection Agency rating. How does he do that? This driver’s gas-saving tricks include always trying to park in such a way that he can pull forward instead of wasting gas backing up. Sticking to the speed limit, using cruise control when it’s safe and appropriate, and turning off the engine if he’s going to idle for more than 30 seconds are other ways this savvy hypermiler wrings every possible mile out of his gasoline. He keeps his tires inflated to their maximum recommended pressure, and if he’s running a series of errands, he drives to the farthest destination first to warm the engine to its most efficient temperature, while also increasing gas mileage. Other hypermilers say they let their foot off the gas the minute they see a red light in front of them. And they think ahead, even if they don’t see a red light; maybe there is a big street coming up or maybe there is a “stale” green light (a light that has been green for a long time and is due to turn amber before too long). The minute they see brake lights in front of them, hypermilers take their foot off the accelerator pedal or hit the cancel button on their cruise control to stop burning gas. Hypermilers don't make a quick getaway from a red light or stop sign. That’s because fast acceleration burns a lot more gas. If you have an automatic transmission, hypermilers suggest that you allow the automatic transmission to start moving the car slowly under its own very small acceleration -- even for a second -- so that when you start using the gas pedal the car is already in motion. Of course, this will not work on hills, only on flat or downgrade roadways.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE

Vol. IXX Issue No. 42

The principle here is that it takes a lot of gas to move a heavy vehicle from a completely stopped position. But allowing the transmission to get it going at engine idling speed, even if that is only for one or two seconds, you will use less gas when you do begin to accelerate. Whether you’re into the extreme sport of hypmiling or not, all of us can reduce our gasoline costs by simply buying the cheapest gas. Websites like GasBuddy.com track local prices every day. A quick log-on will help you take the shortest trip to the station with the cheapest price. Just make sure you start off slowly. And whatever you do, when you see a red light or brake lights ahead, back off that accelerator! Right there, you’ll reduce your chances of running out of gas before you get to the station. * * *

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. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.” COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

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Week of October 15, 2023

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

• Peridot is one of only two gems that form in the molten rock of Earth’s upper mantle; the other is diamond. Other gems, including quartz, form in the crust.

Article #4

• Peridot is the most common gem of the various gems found in meteorites, indicating that other celestial bodies are also rich in silicon, oxygen, iron, and magnesium. Other gemlike minerals found in meteorites include diamond, black diamond (carbonados), opal (found only in Mars-based meteorites), and moldavite (a type Dr. Nicolas Campos of ‘space glass’).

PERIDOT: THE GEM Feel adventurous? Here's the recipe for the yellowish-green gemstone called peridot: Melt a load of silicon until it’s runny. Beat in oxygen at the ratio of four parts oxygen to one part silicon. Fold in a generous serving of iron, and add a touch of magnesium to taste. Let cool. Wear with pride.

1/3 page, BW, 13x

• One of NASA’s telescopes identified olivine - No. star, 42 with in the10-15-2023 gassy cloud Vol. of a 19 forming crystallized particles swirling in the currents like green rain.

• Some pronounce it “per-ruh-dot” but most mineralogists say “per-ruh-doh.” Whether or not it settles the matter, there’s a rhyme that says: “A mineral called peridot / is really olivine on show.” The name may have come from the Arabic “faridat” meaning “gem.”

• Olivine/peridot has been found on the surface of Mars by the Mars Rover. • Some of Hawaii’s lava flows are rich in olivine and peridot. As the mineral erodes out of basalt over millenia, it breaks down into sand. There are beaches featuring green sand, where you can walk on millions of granules of olivine and peridot.

• Eight main elements make up Earth’s crust. The top two are oxygen and silicon. When oxygen and silicon join under heat and pressure, they form silica. There are many types of silicate minerals. The most well-known silicate is quartz, composed of pure oxygen and silicon. Quartz is the second most common mineral in the crust of the earth, after feldspar, which is also a silicate. Silicate materials make up 90% of Earth’s crust.

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Page 5

Live Life Live Life

Fullest to the

with

Nicolas Campos D.C.

Can Chiropractic Ease FINAL APPROVED BY DR. CAMPOS: the Pain of Scoliosis? 9/1/2023

DEAR DR. CAMPOS: I am a 45-yearold woman with scoliosis. I have had pain between my shoulders every day since breastfeeding my children years ago. The pain is worse some days more than others, but it is always there. Is this cureable, or something I will just have to live with? – M.S.

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Answer: Hello M.S. – Scoliosis is a spinal condition characterized by an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, typically in a sideways “S” or “C” shape, when viewed from the back. Women are more likely to develop scoliosis than men, and the condition can vary • The San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona in severity, with some cases causing more sigis the source of nearly 90 percent of the world’s nificant physical and functional limitations than others. known supply of peridot. The pain associated with scoliosis is • Another type of silicate is called olivine (rhymes • Cleopatra famously owned an extensive rarely severe. It is generally of the low grade, with green). Olivine is formed when oxygen and emerald collection, though some historians and sore, achy type that is always there. With silicon join in hot magma underground, along scoliosis, muscles of the spine and surrounding geologists theorize that many of her green gems areas overwork, and these are the cause of the with iron and magnesium. It’s the iron that gives might actually have been peridot. relentless discomfort. Chiropractic and myofasolivine its green color. • The world’s largest cut and polished peridot came cial (muscle) release is a phenomenal way to • The ratio of iron to magnesium determines the from an island off Egypt. It’s almost 312 carats relieve the pain from scoliosis. No, you do not have to just live with shade of green, ranging from brownish green and is on display in the Smithsonian. Keep in scoliosis pain – there is a solution. People Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours to pale yellow-green. The more iron there is, mind that an average diamond engagement ring with scoliosis fill chiropractic offices precisely the darker the green. The more magnesium, the is one or two carats in size. because they get so much relief from the work. your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. lighter the green. OtherContact gemstones including • Peridot is the traditional gemstone gift for 16th Find a chiropractic office that has success Office: 760-320-0997 email: anniversaries valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 rubies, sapphires, and even diamonds, can come treating scoliosis and stick with it – I think you wedding and is also the birthstone in many colors, but olivine is always green. will be pleasantly surprised. for the month of August.  *** Olivine is the eighth most common mineral in Dear Dr. Campos: I am fifty pounds the earth’s crust. overweight, my low back hurts, and now my • When magma cools and hardens into rock, shoulders hurt too. Sometimes it is all I can olivine is mixed with other igneous rock, like do to get out of bed in the morning. I cannot keep living like this. I need help. – M.N. mint-green chocolate chips embedded in a big

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basalt cookie. Most olivine is cloudy with many flecks and flaws called inclusions. However, there are pockets of pure olivine that are clear as glass, and this gem-quality olivine is called peridot. Peridot shines like emerald when properly cut and polished.

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Answer: M.N. it sounds like you have three separate problems here. Low back pain, bilateral shoulder pain, and excess weight. I do not know by how much your weight is in excess, as you did not disclose height or weight, but fifty pounds for a small person is far more impactful than for a large person. While weight can be a major factor in both areas you describe, it is far more impactful on your lower back. When taken in order of least to most critical, the shoulders in this case might be the easier to treat (which is not always so), and then the low back pain. Excess weight is most difficult because it is a multi-factorial issue. The good news is that the shoulders and lower back are treatable. Significant relief can be had through safe, effective chiropractic 2 Eblocking, GAP RELand LIF perhaps a stability care, pelvic 91 KEback, EW - 8as 0Q2the primary weightbelt. The lower 0 1 Y A M 4 Y AM is working day and bearing area of the body, night to keep you upright and mobile. Add a few extra pounds and it will bog down your lower back even more. A stability belt can add support to the pelvis and sacrum, and, through STcompression, NESERallow P healing of the ligaments and joints. ™TNORFSWEN * * *AIVIRT

dooW is ydnaaSCranial & kihclavoand K araSports K yb Dr. Campos Chiropractic Doctor in Palm Desert. While he cannot answer every cinquestion odras ehvia t htemail, iw 169he1 will ni tichoose h 1# a one dah orohtwo W .each 1 individual week to ?”wamay L-niemail -rehtoquestions M“ answer here. Readers to

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Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 6

ers. For more details, visit www.graceland.com/ gh23. *** Q: Does Chrishell Stause act anymore, or does she just sell real estate on the reality show “Selling Sunset”? -- L.H.

A: Despite achieving the most fame as a

by Dana Jackson King Features News Syndicate

Q: Do soap operas still have those big fan gatherings at Disney World like they did years ago? I went to one once and had a blast. -- C.I. A: You’re thinking of ABC Super Soap

Q: Is it true that “What Not to Wear” is coming back? Will it have the same two hosts? I thought they had a falling out. -- K.T. A: Stacy London and Clinton Kelly were co-hosts of TLC’s makeover reality show “What Not to Wear” for nine seasons. Now, 10 years later, there’s no confirmation that the inspiring series is returning to airways, but the former feuding cohosts are going on tour together. Their tour, aplty named the Stacy & Clinton Show, will touch on their infamous feud and other behind-the-scenes stories of “What Not to Wear.” It kicks off in Birmingham, Alabama on Oct. 5. * * * 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. CLIP AND SAVE

Courtesy of ABC

Weekend, which was held annually at Disney’s theme parks from 1996 until 2008. Fans of “All My Children” enthusiastically greeted stars like Kelly Ripa (Hayley) and Susan Lucci (Erica), while “One Life to Live” devotees cheered on David Fumero (Christian) and Kamar de los Reyes (Antonio). “General Hospital” remains the lone ABC soap that Kamar de los Reyes still exists to this day (Antonio in “One Life to Live”) and hosts its own fan gatherings, but none that are Mickey Mouse adjacent. Instead, for the past four years, “General Hospital” has had its biggest fan gatherings at none other than Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate. This year’s three-day event will be held at various locations within the Graceland campus from Oct. 27-29. In addition to six panels and photo/autograph opportunities with “GH” stars, there will be a themed costume party, a casting call where fans can act out scenes with the stars on stage, and a Live Nurses Ball, like the one featured on the soap. This year’s list of stars expected to be in attendance include Maurice Benard (Sonny), Laura Wright (Carly), Cynthia Watros (Nina), Lynn Herring (Lucy) and Walt Willey (Jackson), among oth-

reality TV star in Netflix’s “Selling Sunset,” and for her very public divorce with “This Is Us” star Justin Hartley, Stause is still doing what she first set out to do in Hollywood -- act in scripted dramas. In fact, she can be seen starring in an upcoming Lifetime thriller “You’re Not Supposed to Be Here” on Nov. 4. She and Diora Baird (“Cobra Kai”) play a vacationing couple who are expecting their first child together. Their planned peaceful getaway turns into a nightmare when the townspeople appear to be hostile. Earlier this year, Stause starred in another Lifetime film based on a true crime tale -- “A Rose for Her Grave: The Randy Roth Story.” As for “Selling Sunset,” look for its seventh season to debut on Netflix either later this year or in early 2024. ***

Vol. IXX Issue No. 42

11-15-23

February 13, 2017

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Week of October 15, 2023

Good Recipes from

Great-Grannie's Coffee Cake This super simple coffee cake is celebrity Tyra Banks's family recipe.

Seafood Bake with Crispy Topping Succulent fish and seafood become a decadent dinner when mixed into a creamy sauce topped with a crispy, shredded potato crust. 1 cup lowfat sour cream 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons lemon zest Kosher salt Pepper 1 1/2 pounds mixed seafood (such as salmon and shrimp) 1 package frozen leaf spinach 2 cups frozen shredded hash browns

Page 7

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

4 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups packed brown sugar 1 cup granulated sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 3 large eggs 1 1/2 cups buttermilk 2 teaspoons cinnamon

2. Into mixture in large bowl, stir baking powder, baking soda, eggs, buttermilk and cinnamon to topping. Spread batter in greased 13inch by 9-inch pan; sprinkle with topping. Bake 45 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. * * *

1. Heat oven to 350 F. In large bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and nutmeg until no lumps remain. Stir in vegetable oil. Reserve 1 1/2 cup mixture for topping; set aside.

1. Heat oven to 425 F. In a large bowl, whisk together sour cream, cornstarch, mustard, lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. 2. Add seafood to the sour cream mixture and toss to coat. Squeeze spinach of excess moisture, roughly chop, then fold into the seafood mixture. Divide among 4 shallow 1-cup baking dishes and place on a rimmed baking sheet. 3. Sprinkle hash browns over the top and lightly brush with olive oil or coat with cooking spray. Bake until bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. (For an extra golden-brown top, broil for 1 to 2 minutes.) 4. Serve with a green salad. Makes 4 servings TIP: Use leftover potatoes to make crispy potato fritters: In a medium bowl, combine 4 eggs (beaten), 2 cups frozen shredded hash browns (thawed), 3 scallions (thinly sliced) and 2 ounces ham (sliced into thin strips). Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet and cook spoonfuls of the mixture until golden brown, 3 minutes per side.

THERE'S STILL TIME TO ENROLL

Page 8

Vol. IXX Issue No. 42

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

(Solution on page 16)

Donald Duck

by Walt Disney

Crossword Answers on page 16

NEST HEADS

By John Allen

Tidbits® of Coachella Valley Published and distributed weekly by AdVenture Media, Inc. P.O. Box 4308 Palm Springs, CA 92263-4308 Phone: 760-320-0997 Fax: 760-320-1630 Email: valleybits@msn.com www.TidbitsPalmSprings.com All rights reserved. Publisher: Erik D. Long Editor: David L. Long Distribution By:

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“In business as in life, we practice the Golden Rule” News content in the Tidbit s® Paper is provided by both Tidbits Media, Inc. and other news sources con sidered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information published cannot be guaranteed. Tidbits® of Coachella Valley does not accept political advertising or news matter of any nature submitted for publication. Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising from any business, individual or group for any reason deemed inappropriate or not in the Publisher’s best interest. Published news matter and advertising content does not necessarily reflect the views of the Publisher or of AdVenture Media, Inc. Tidbits® of Coachella Valley is not an adjudicated publication and therefore cannot accept official legal notices for publication. All copy, photos and graphic illustrations submitted for advertising publication are subject to publisher’s prior approval. We do not offer mail subscription service. So there.

Week of October 15, 2023

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 9

NEXT WEEK in

Cody’s

TIDBITS SAVORS THE SCENT OF

Corner

Perfume

3. The Weekly “Brain Breaker”

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Tiny Terrors The island of Malta boasts the best weather in the world and some say the best dog: the Maltese. The Maltese is a toy breed and one of the most popular companion dogs, favored for its compact size and its affectionate and playful demeanor. But that doesn’t mean all Maltese pups play nice. Just the other day, a woman called me to discuss her beloved Maltese, a wonderful dog whose teeth have found a resting place in the epidermis of her landlord, in her neighbor, her best friend and a random stranger in a supermarket. As if that weren’t enough, this woman has four children, ages 7, 5, 3 and 3 months. She called me because she wanted to know what to do. And I told her: 1) Invest in a professional trainer. 2) Once the dog is trained, find him a home without children. The question that follows is always: Why do I have to get rid of the dog if I go to the expense and trouble of having him trained? The answer: You can’t train aggression out of a dog. You can teach the dog manners, establish boundaries and learn ways to modify his behavior, but a dog that has bitten four people can never be fully trusted around small children. Which inevitably begs the question: Why should I bother training the dog if I’m going to have to give him up? The answer: Who is going to knowingly adopt an aggressive dog? A dog in need of a home is at an extreme disadvantage if he has never been trained. If he’s never been trained and has a history of biting, it’s almost mission impossible. And if you aren’t forthright about the dog’s history and temperament, you aren’t doing the dog any favors because the next owner -- not having as deep a bond -- might just drop him at the local shelter at the first snarl. There are some dogs that are just not suited for human companionship. But the vast, vast majority of dogs would be just fine with the right person or family. In the case of the Maltese Snapper, a professionally trained version of this dog would surely

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Print Your Answers Here:

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Wuzzles solution Page 16

Tidbits® Word Search

"Music Makers" K

M M

G O

W F

W H

C M

O W R

W C

www.WordSearchMaker.com



� CASSETTETAPES � CASSETTE TAPES COMPACTDISC � COMPACT DISC EARBUDS � EARBUDS EARPHONES � GRAMOPHONE � MUSICGRAMOPHONE APPS � MUSICMUSICAPPS BOX MUSICBOX � EARPHONES AM/FMAMFMRADIO RADIO

(CryptoQuip Solution on page 14)

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

●



MUZAK � PANDORA PANDORA � MUZAK �PHONOGRAPH PHONOGRAPH SIRIUSXM � SIRIUS XM SPOTIFY � SPOTIFY �STEROPHONIC STEREOPHONIC �VINYLRECORDS VINYL RECORDS YOUTUBE � YOUTUBE

(Word (Word Search Search solution solution page page 16) 16)

Mega Maze solution Page 14

Page 10

SENIOR NEWS LINE by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

Cellphone Safety If you’ve been carrying a cellphone for several years and are now quite comfortable using it, you might be tempted to add more functions just for fun and to to make it handier and even more valuable to you. However, there needs to be a line drawn somewhere. Beware the types of apps you install on your phone (you probably already know this, but "app" is short for “application).” But did you know that there are nearly nine million different apps out there to attract users? The thing to ask yourself before you add any app is this: If technology experts who run large computer systems struggle to keep those systems safe from scammers around the world, how much success are the techs at your bank or grocery store likely to have with cellphones? It boils down to this alarming fact: The more apps you have on your phone, the more at risk you are of welcoming trouble you don't want. Clicking the wrong thing on an app, or even downloading an innocent-looking new app, can automatically install malware on your phone (and that "mal" in malware stands for malicious).

The Art of

DESIGN by Joseph Publillones

Colorful or Full of Color? So often during the summer months or during holidays, we take vacations to visit family or to faraway places to get a bit of respite from work, school or from life in general. On any outing, you might visit a restaurant, a hotel lobby, museum or historic home that inspires you and gives you the desire to redecorate or to paint the walls of your home. Now the question is what color. And once you have decided on a color palette, the other dilemma is whether you want your home to be colorful or full of color. These are two distinct approaches on how to integrate color into your home. One approach is to paint each room of your home a different color. This will give you rooms that are distinct in their flavor and can each be decorated in their own style in accordance to the color palette chosen. The colors can either contrast or complement each other from room to room as the homeowners desire. Some prefer an obvious transition from room to room including drastic color changes that some may consider shocking, like a yellow room next to a glowing fuchsia room next to an apple green room. It takes some confidence and real knowledge of colors and decorating to pull this off. Of course, the latter is an extreme example to demonstrate a point, but the same holds true for more subdued combinations -- say, a pale sage

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

At the very least, it can automatically send your phone number back to awaiting scammers who have a malicious agenda ready to set into action. You might think, "So they have my phone number. So what? A lot of people do." But did you know that armed with only your active phone number, they can do a reverse search for you on Whitepages and potentially find your home address? And then through a series of other connecting points, they gain your banking information - and much more. They can lock you out of social media, barrage you with scam text messages and calls, have all your calls forwarded to another number or lock you out of your phone completely until you pay a ransom. They can send out scam messages that appear to have come from you. And if you access email on your phone, your area of risk widens substantially. Some suggestions from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to keep your phone safe: Lock it. Depending on the brand you have, used a passcode or a screen lock. Keep the software updated. Back up your data. Learn about backing up to the “cloud” or to your computer. And before you add any app to your phone, ask yourself if you really trust it. * * 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.

room next to a rose pink room followed by a baby blue room. Whether you contrast or complement colors, the transitions from room to room allow each one to read as individual and unique in style. Historical homes and estates have used this bold color preference for centuries, mainly in formal rooms. Another approach with regard to color is the sprinkling of colors in small bits. Regardless of whether your walls and backdrop are safe and tempered neutrals or more strident colors, you can always use this approach, as it is relies on colors extrapolated from your works of art, accessories and other items such as your case goods or hard furnishings. This method of using color is most versatile, as it allows you to change the focused color over time. This second approach is for those who may be hesitant to commit to a bold color but like color enough to weave it in through different rooms. For those who rent an apartment or home, this may be the best way to decorate with a favorite color without the permanence of the color being on the walls. So, as you may see, there is a difference between a home full of color and a colorful home. Not everyone may like an orange room like I do, but there is always room for touches of the color here and there. Color is an exciting way to express your personality. Let yours shine through like the notes of a trombone or as light as the plucking of a violin’s string. * * * 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.

Vol. IXX

Issue No. 42

Cody’s Corner (from page 9) work its way into the heart of an experienced adult dog owner. And then everyone would get their happily ever after. To do nothing, though, would be the ultimate in irresponsibility. To do nothing would mean continuing to subject children to a dangerous situation. To do nothing would mean further diminishing the dog’s chances of a good life. To do nothing should not be an option. My experience with dogs and their owners tells me that the big trouble is with the littlest dogs. Owners of big dogs tend to zero in on the importance of training. The impetus is the idea that with big dogs come big messes and big trouble. But the truth is that without proper training, trouble comes a knockin’ regardless of size. Woof!

* * *

Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com. COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM

Week of October 15, 2023

YOUR

SOCIAL SECURITY by Tom Margenau

Don’t Know Much About Medicare I just got my annual Medicare guidebook called “Medicare and You 2024” in the mail. I’m assuming this booklet is mailed to everyone in the country who is on Medicare. So, if you are on Medicare, I’m sure you got one too. Regular readers of this column know that I’ve pointed out a thousand times that I am a Social Security expert but that I know very little about Medicare. Still, I get questions from readers all the time asking me about Medicare. My reply is almost always the same. I refer them to a Medicare expert. And that would be someone called a “SHIP” counselor. That stands for State Health Insurance Program counselor. To find the SHIP nearest you, go to www.shiphelp.org. But I am going to spend the rest of this column relaying some interesting tidbits about Medicare. It won’t be anything even close to a “guide” to Medicare. If you’re looking for that, read the 2024 edition of “Medicare and You” I mentioned at the beginning of this column. So here are my Medicare tidbits. They are just some interesting pieces of information about the Medicare program I’ve learned over the years. The first tidbit is this: why don’t I know anything about Medicare? Many of you probably think I should because I worked for the Social Security Administration for 32 years, and in most people’s minds, Social Security and Medicare are inextricably linked. Part of the reason for that is because the Social Security payroll tax (6.2%) and the Medicare payroll tax (1.45%) used to be lumped together as a 7.65% FICA tax deduction. (FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act.) But FICA, which used to be shown on everyone’s pay stub, is kind of a dying term. For many years now, pay stubs have listed the Social Security tax and the Medicare tax separately. Still, people link the taxes and thus link the programs. Another reason people lump Social Security and Medicare together is because you usually have to deal with the Social Security Administration to get enrolled in Medicare. Why is that? It makes for an interesting story. When Medicare was first passed in the 1960s, Congress didn’t know what to do with the program from an administrative standpoint. So, they essentially dumped it on the SSA and said, “You guys figure out how to run Medicare.” The SSA created a whole separate division to do that, called the “Bureau of Health Insurance.” It was always kind of a stepchild within the agency because, after all, our primary job was to maintain earnings records for all working Americans, take claims for Social Security benefits and pay monthly benefits that would be based on those earnings. This Medicare stuff was as foreign to most SSA employees as it was to most Americans. Top government administrators finally figured this out and decided that Medicare, with all its complexities, needed a dedicated agency to run it. So, in 1977, the Health Care Financing Administration was created. (In 2001, it changed its name to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.) But still, a connection between Social Security and Medicare continues. Because HCFA, and

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

then CMMS, don’t have field offices around the country, they farmed out the Medicare enrollment process to the SSA. So that’s why still today, you will usually work with the SSA to sign up for Medicare. Also, the Medicare Part B premium comes out of your Social Security check. (More about that in a minute.) But other than that, the SSA has nothing to do with the Medicare program. Let me share an interesting personal tidbit about Medicare and my early days with the SSA. I was hired by the SSA in 1973 and my first job was one that helped Social Security beneficiaries with any issues they had after they went on the program, like changes of address or maybe some kind of problem with their Social Security checks. But it also included Medicare post-entitlement issues. And here is what that meant in real life. Nice little old ladies would show up at my desk with a shoebox full of medical bills and say, “Would you turn these in to Medicare for me?” Gosh, those were the old (and not necessarily good) days! There is one more piece to this story. I was hired in March 1973 to work in the Litchfield, Illinois Social Security office. But the office was a few weeks away from opening and I was waiting in the nearby Springfield, Illinois office to be sent to a training class. While I was waiting, Litchfield had a little “grand opening” celebration, and I was invited. I don’t know why, but the Litchfield office manager introduced me by saying, “Tom will be our Medicare expert.” OMG! After the ceremony, I think every old person in Litchfield came up to me with Medicare questions. I can’t remember now how I ducked those questions. And here I am today, 50 years later, still ducking questions about Medicare. But I hope, dear readers, at least you now understand why I don’t know much about the program. And here are a couple more little Medicare tidbits I do know that I hope you find interesting. For example, did you know that the Medicare payroll tax, currently 1.45%, only pays for the hospital insurance part of the program, more commonly

1. The book of Obadiah is in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither 2. What phrase did Jesus use three times in resisting the temptations of Satan? a) Get behind me ... b) I obey the Father's will c) It is written d) Is it not truthful that ... 3. In ll Peter 1, what were holy men moved by in regard to prophecy? a) Kindred Spirit b) Sins of Israel c) Stirring of their souls d) Holy Spirit 4. From Judges 6, which judge thrashed wheat by the winepress? a) Gideon b) Joash c) Neco d) Hosea 5. Who was Saul's daughter who married David? a) Jephthah b) Ohola c) Rahab d) Michal 6. Shechem was the son of ...? a) James b) Hamor c) Jacob d) Timothy Sharpen your understanding of scripture with Wilson Casey's latest book, "Test Your Bible Knowledge," now available in stores and online.

Page 11

known as Part A? The other main part of the program, “doctor’s insurance,” or Part B, is paid for by a monthly premium usually deducted from someone’s Social Security check. And even though people always complain about the amount of that premium, currently $164.90, it actually only pays for 25% of the cost of running the program. The taxpayers pick up the other 75%. For years, many have argued that senior citizens should pay a bigger share of the Part B costs. That’s why in the early 2000s, Congress decided that wealthy Americans should pay more. And they do. Trouble is, sometimes people are temporarily “wealthy” because they sell some property or cash in some investments. So, for a couple years, they pay the wealthy person’s premium before going back to the regular premium. And this leads to all kinds of problems and questions. If you have such questions, contact the SHIP I mentioned earlier. One last little tidbit. I’ve been talking about the Part B premium, which comes out of your Social Security check. You probably know that those checks are paid one month behind. So, the Social Security check you get in October is your September Social Security payment. But did you know that the Medicare premium that comes out of that check you get in October is for the month of October? In other words, the check is for the prior month, but the Medicare deduction is for the current month. Weird, huh? * * *

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

Page 12

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Vol. IXX

Issue No. 42

Your husband should see an epileptologist as soon as possible. I strongly feel that it’s unwise for nonexperts to prescribe anti-seizure drugs, except as a treatment until a patient can MON., OCT. 9 be seen by an expert. I have seen that done many times, andcheck: it is done improperly, at least Please review carefully. Double  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours by Freddie Groves according to the expert a patient eventually sees. Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. M.D. Contact your Your husband needs a timely and comprehenOffice: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com sive reevaluation. Epileptologists recognize that Fax: 760-320-1630 new onset seizures in an adult require a more This is certainly a new one. A famous (and timely appointment. expensive) university and a professor were caught * * * Dr. Roach regrets Property that he is unable to answer Envoi Cremations not paying the Department of Veterans Affairs what of individual letters, but will incorporate AdVenture Media,them Inc. in the column was owed for patents, to the tune of $1.5 million. c/o Gill Giddens whenever possible. Readers may email questions to The professor in question worked at the 1/12 pg 4C 6x disc. ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. university in various research positions, including October 8, 2023 Vol. 19 - No. 41 DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband (c) 2023 North America Synd., Inc. as the Chair of one department. His list of titles and experienced seizure-like episodes without Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 positions is quite impressive, not to mention his tonic/clonic body movements in high altitude. valleybits@msn.com long list of honors and awards. In other words, this These episodes occured while he was travelAll Rights Reserved guy is no slouch. He’s clearly bright and is working ing, being physically active in Colorado and in an important medical field. At the same time he skiing in France. Both episodes happened held a part-time position at the VA. at least 12 hours after physical activity. Our Both the professor and the university were general physician back home felt that these under disclosure agreements, which meant that were not true seizures, instead a reaction to any discoveries or inventions the professor made possibly being dehydrated in high altitudes. at the university would be reported to the VA. A vast amount of testing resulted in While at the university, having created three invennothing unusual going on with his cardiovascular system or his brain. But just recently, tions, the professor applied for three patents with he had another episode two days after being the VA’s part clearly noted. Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 active, hydrating at sea level and banging his What’s key here is that part of the funding head -- with more body movement this time. for the research came from VA grants. In other Please review carefully. Double check:Cremation  Phone Number(s) Affordable Services Made Easy Spelling  Prices  Hours I have been researching online, and words, taxpayers paid for some of it. Affordable Cremation Services Made Easy seizure-like reactions seem to occurContact due toyour Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. Years later, the royalty payments started electrolyte imbalances. It is very hard to get rolling in from those three patents. During one Office: email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 to a neurologist without an excessive wait760-320-0997 round of submitting paperwork for the patents, the Arrange by phone, in person or online time. Do you think anti-seizure medications Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours detail about the VA having supported the research Arrange by phone, in person or online 855-693-6864 , 24/7 760-810-4473, 24 / 7 are warranted? -- S.S. was omitted. Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. 855-693-6864 , 24/7 Notified about the lapse, the professor reServing the Coachella Valley Desert Medicalemail: Advances Office: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 ANSWER: It’s important to separate a 760-320-0997 Serving the Coachella Valley filed and the VA pounced, wanting to claim an ownseizure (which anyone can get if there is enough 1/8 pg. BW 6x www.envoicremation.com ership interest in the inventions ... and the royalwww.envoicremation.com stress to the brain) from epilepsy, a condition FD2457 September 24, 2023 • Vol. 19 - No. 39 ties. FD2457 where the person is susceptible to recurring seiThe Department of Justice got involved zures. of PaidProperty advertisement. with the end result that the university and the AdVenture Media, Inc. For it to be considered epilepsy, a perprofessor have to pay $1.5 million under the False HUMAN INTEREST STORY - by M Greenwald, MD son generally needs at least two unprovoked Claims Act for failure to share the patent royalties. seizures (with no unusual stress to the brain) I was prepared to hate the guy, truly. I at least 24 hours apart. Only epilepsy is treated found dozens of professional videos online wherein Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 with long-term anti-seizure medicines. valleybits@msn.com he talked about the research, and I was prepared to There is indeed a risk of developing seilabel him a swindler, a low-life, a thief. Instead, I’m Rights Reserved zures while at a high altitude. In addition, there A medical clinicAll is bombed. A 54-year-old woman from left pointing the finger of blame at the university itare many other conditions that can provoke a Kiev has rheumatoid arthritis and no longer has access to self. They should have had someone to watch over seizure. You mentioned electrolyte imbalance, her medication. Her doctor and medical clinic are gone. the details and to handle paperwork matters such but sodium (too much or too little) as well as too as correctly filing patents so the professor could little amounts of magnesium and calcium are Prior to the war, she was treated with Humira, a keep doing his work. among the most common. Low blood sugar is a biologic therapy proven to reduce pain and the crippling * * * frequent cause. Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personeffects of rheumatoid arthritis. The Humira was donated Some recreational drugs cause seizures, ally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them for her use by AbbVie Pharmaceuticals. The annual cost into his column whenever possible. Send email to columbut withdrawal from drugs, especially alcohol, is ADVERTISING PROOF nreply2@gmail.com. for Humira is $70,000. Her pain and loss of function has more common. Metabolic diseases of the kidney returned, but she cannot afford $70,000. What can she do? 5:00 p.m.. (c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc. and thyroid are also common. Sleep deprivation, Final Changes DUE: Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours brain injury (especially stroke, but also trauma), TheTidbits Ukrainian woman immediately recently moved to the United brain tumors and brain infections are all common Contact your representative with changes or corrections. triggers that your husband probably received an Office: States. AbbVie, sponsor of the clinical program, asked 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 evaluation for. Desert Medical Advances, a local clinical rheumatoid Property of Had it only been the first seizure, my arthritis office, to step in. Desert Medical Advances AdVenture Media, Inc. advice likely would have been the same as (DMA) is a clinical research office working in the your physician’s, although I probably would Coachella Valley since 1987 in RA and lupus. DMA has have suggested a consultation with an epilep4 Million provided Readers$160 Weekly million in free biologic medications via tologist (a neurologist with special expertise in Nationwide! FREE of Coachella Valleythan 30 years. FDA approved grant programs for more seizures). Now that he has had a second -- and The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read DMA willPhone: now provide the HumiraFax: through the original 760.320.0997 760.320.1630 unprovoked -- seizure, my suspicion that he has valleybits@msn.com FDA approved clinical program to the refugee at no cost. epilepsy is much higher. (In hindsight, it’s clear that the first reaction really was a seizure.) All or Rights Reserved Arthritis can Anyone with Lupus Rheumatoid Most people experiencing their first contact DMA for FREE biologic medication. seizure while at a high altitude were eventually found to have epilepsy after further testing, Call us today: including an electroencephalogram (EEG). The Desert Medical Advances high altitude doesn’t cause the seizure; it just 69730 Hwy 111, #101 • Rancho Mirage increases the risk of a seizure in a person who has an underlying propensity for it. This may also RUN TO occur with many medicines, especially those GOOD HEALTH used for depression.

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Protecting Your Pets After You’re Gone DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: What is the best way to ensure my pets are taken care of after I’m gone? I have two dogs and a cat that are my four-legged family, and I want to make sure they’ll be well taken care of after I die. -- Solo Senior Dear Solo: It’s a great question, and one contemplated by just about every person who is a pet owner. Every year, about 500,000 cats and dogs enter shelters when their pet parents experience an emergency or pass away. Without a proper plan in place for the future care of your pets in this unfortunate situation, they are at a high risk of ending up in a shelter. And if they are not adopted by someone else, they could be euthanized. To avoid this frightening scenario and ensure your furry family is cared for both physically and financially after you’re gone, you should consider including them in your estate plan. Talk to your attorney about how to insert them in your will or trust in accordance with your state’s laws. Here’s what you’ll need to do. Wills

If you already have a will or are planning to make one, you could simply add in a trusted caretaker clause for your pets, along with an alternative if your first choice falls through. You should also set aside money in your will for your pet’s care with an explanation of how the funds should be spent. To determine how much to leave, multiply your pet’s annual food, care and medical costs by their life expectancies. You may want to add a separate document, called a letter of instruction, describing your pet’s routine, food and medications. But be aware that even with this provision in your will, the caretaker is not legally obligated to follow your instructions, spend the money as you intended or send the pet to another caretaker that you’ve named. Once the money is distributed to the caretaker, it’s strictly an honor system. Trusts

Another option is to create a pet

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to leave them to an animal retirement home, trust, which provides more legal protections. MON., AUG. 28 Final Changes DUE:society, a rescue, humane pet care program 12 Depending on your state’s laws (see aspca. Please review carefully. check:  Phone Number(s) or otherDouble animal welfare group. Many of  Spelling  org/pet-care/pet-planning/pet-trust-laws), these organizations find new homes for pets you could set up either a revocable petContact trust, your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or c or offer lifetime care but may require a fee or which can be changed or canceled during Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 7 donation. Talk to your veterinarian about the your lifetime, or an irrevocable pet trust that options available in your area. can’t be reversed. A pet trust can be completely separate or part of an existing trust * * * that encompasses your other assets. Send your senior questions Property ofto: Savvy Senior,

J P.O. Arthur LawNorman, Firm Box 5443, OK 73070, or visit AdVenture Media, Inc. SavvySenior.

12th 4C is 13x org. pg Jim Miller a contributor to the NBC Today show and Along with appointing a trustee to author of “The Savvy Senior” book. manage your trust’s finances, you name your Sept. 3, 2023 Vol. 19 - No. 36 pet’s caretaker (who could also serve as the Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 trustee), and any alternative caretakers, as valleybits@msn.com well as an optional trust protector for added All Rights Reserved oversight of the trustee given that the beneficiary (your pets) can’t defend their own ● Wills rights. Unlike a will, the caretaker has a fidu● Trusts ciary duty to follow your letter of instruction if ● Power of Attorney you include one. ● Healthcare Directives

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and Living Wills The cost for a living trust ranges ● New to California? anywhere between $1,000 to $3,000, while Update your existing a will typically costs between $200 and Estate Planning $1,000. There are also cheaper do-it-yourself Documents! resources for making a simple will or trust, Arthur, Esq. “Don’t die without it!” Joshua Attorney at Law  like Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust (Nolo. com, $99) and Trust & Will (TrustandWill. J. Arthur Law Firm com, $159). Or, if that’s more than you’re 777 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way willing to pay, you can make your will for free Suite 200 PROOF at FreeWill.com or DoYourOwnWill.com. ADVERTISING Palm Springs, CA

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Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Vol. IXX

Issue No. 42

Q: I have enclosed the mark that is

ANTIQUE -- OR -JUNQUE by Anne McCollam Creators News Service

Best Built Sewing Machine Is Built to Last Q: Enclosed is a photo of an old portable sewing machine. It is electric, has a hard plastic carr ying case and is in good working condition. On the top are the words in gold, “Best Built Sewing Machine Supply Co., Inc.” It has been in storage for over 40 years. I would like to know if it has any value as a collectible, where it was made and how old it is.

on the bottom of a porcelain chocolate pot set that I have. It was a gift from my godmother. She always had it in her antique china cabinet, and I admired it whenever I visited her. She told me it had been her grandmother’s and she wanted me to have it. The set included a pot, six cups and six saucers. It is decorated with pastel colored flowers, green leaves, gold trim against a white background, and it is in perfect condition. I would never part with it, but I would like to know more about its histor y. Who was the manufacturer; what is its age; and what is its value? Mark of Reinhold Schlegelmilch company on R.S. Prussia chocolate pot made around 1880.

A: You have a fine example of R.S. Prus-

sia porcelain that is highly desirable. This mark was used by Reinhold Schlegelmilch in Tillowitz, Silesia, Germany. They were in business from the 1870s to 1956. Your chocolate pot set was made around 1880 and would probably be worth $350 to $475.

* * *

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

Best Built Sewing Machines were made in Japan between the 1940s and 1960s.

A: Your sewing machine was made in Ja-

pan around 1960. Between the 1940s and 1960s, a dozen or so Japanese companies produced a plethora of sewing machines based on the popular Singer Model 15. They gave them a variety of names that appealed to the United States’ market that included “Sanger” and “Happy Lite.” The Japanese factories also made sewing machines for large American retailers such as Sears, Wards and other large department stores. Additionally, they made them in colors from pink to red to blue. Even though they were sturdy and operated as well as the American Singers, there is not a demand for these sewing machines as collectibles. In most cases, their value is low and can be found selling from $50 to $175. Occasionally, one pops up on the Internet in the $200 to $500 range. In my personal opinion those sellers are overly optimistic, and I can’t document any actually selling at pricing that high. ***

Puzzle Solutions

What should be the favorite fruity beverage of church members who aren't ordained? Layman-ade.

On Oct. 15, 1946, Herman Goering, commander in chief of the Luftwaffe and head of the Gestapo, dies by his own hand. He was found guilty at Nuremberg and committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide tablet he had hidden from his guards. On Oct. 16, 1987, 18-month-old Jessica McClure is rescued after being trapped for 58 hours in an abandoned water well in Midland, Texas. McClure had fallen through the 8-inchwide opening of an abandoned well in the backyard of her aunt’s home day-care center. After dropping about 22 feet into the well, the little girl became stuck. On Oct. 17, 1973, the Arab-dominated Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announces a decision to cut oil exports to the United States. In December, a full oil embargo was imposed, prompting a serious energy crisis and gasoline rationing in the United States. On Oct. 18, 1767, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon complete their survey of the boundary between the colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland, as well as areas that would become Delaware and West Virginia. The Mason-Dixon line created the boundary at a northern latitude of 39 degrees and 43 minutes. On Oct. 19, 1931, David Cornwell, later known as spy novelist John le Carre, is born in Poole, England. He published his first spy novel, “Call for the Dead,” in 1961. The novel, like his second, “A Murder of Quality” (1962), featured spy George Smiley. On Oct. 20, 1968, 21-year-old Oregonian Dick Fosbury wins gold medal and sets an Olympic record when he high-jumps 7 feet, 4 1/4 inches at the Mexico City Games. It was the international debut of Fosbury’s unique jumping style, known as the “Fosbury Flop,” which, according to one journalist, “looked like a guy falling off the back of a truck.” On Oct. 21, 1797, the USS Constitution, a 44-gun U.S. Navy frigate built to fight Barbary pirates off the coast of Tripoli, is launched in Boston Harbor. During the War of 1812, the Constitution won its enduring nickname “Old Ironsides” after witnesses claimed that the British cannon shots merely bounced off the Constitution’s sides. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc,

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Western Air Cooling and Heating Golf Caddy - Prem. Position filed a lawsuit that made its way to the Supreme Oct. 15, 2023 Vol. 19 - No. 42 Court. But the Court handed down a ruling in 1951 stating that the transit system had a First Amendment right to put Muzak in their vehicles.

Muzak (from page 3)

MUZAK MUTATIONS

• Innovation followed innovation as the years are not passed. In the early days, Muzak required an comfortable until you operator to flip record albums 24 hours a day. are. By the 1950s, it moved to tapes that could run eight hours at a stretch. Next there were FM GET A subcarriers. In the 1970s, Muzak uploaded its music onto computers for the first time, NEW revolutionizing the system. In the 1980s, Muzak launched a broadcast satellite, making it the first satellite subscription radio service, beating XM and Sirius by several decades. Next they formed a ADVERTISING PROOF partnership with Dish Network, offering up toChanges 60 Final DUE: 5:00 p.m.. Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours different music channels for private residences. year-roundProperty comfort! of

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Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. • Muzak’s music never included voices because Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 it was thought that lyrics might interfere with FREE the rhythm of whatever a listener was doing, of Coachella Valley The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read whether it was shopping, typing, or working Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 valleybits@msn.com on an assembly line. An exception was made INTEREST for the worldwide broadcast of “We Are The All Rights Reserved World” in 1985. Songs with vocals were added LOW monthly payment financing available,O.A.C. for the first time in 1987. By 2009, Muzak had 3 million songs in its catalog, including nearly 100 different channels distributed by satellite or IP. 4 Million Readers Weekly Nationwide!

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• Unfortunately, as streaming music platforms proliferated – Sirius, Spotify, Pandora – Muzak’s market share diminished, and the company declared bankruptcy in 2009. The firm was subsequently bought out by Mood Media of Ontario, Canada, for the sum of $345 million. Mood Media also bought up Muzak’s main rival, DMX. In 2013, the Muzak trademark was officially retired. • The word “Muzak” has been a registered trademark since 1954, but it has come into the American vernacular as a generic term referring to any soothing ambient background music, in just the same way that Xerox, Kleenex, Popsicle, and Chapstick are now common generic terms. Today, George Owen Squier would be amazed to see how his idea has so greatly influenced the daily lives of almost the entire world. 

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While it’s easy to get down and out about your golf game, sometimes one simple reminder can bring your game back to a state of contentment and enjoyment. Usually a golfers’ posture or address position gets a little out of whack, and the golf swing suffers from what it had been months ago.

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Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours Jason Jenkins Jenkins was was a 16-year member Jason member of of the theJim JimMcLean McLeanGolf Golf Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changesTop or 100 corrections. School teaching staff.and Hewas was oneofofGOLF GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 School teaching staff one Magazine’s Teacher Nominees Nominees 1999-2010. 1999-2010 and has named been named the Teacher He Fax: was one ofone the ofGolf Office: 760-320-0997 760-320-1630 Also on Golf Digest Top Teachers in California. Jason teaches at GOLFTEC Digest Top Teachers in California in 2011. CENTER in Indio. Contact him at jjenkins@golftec.com Contact Jason at 760-485-2452 or devgolfinstr@gmail.com

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1. GEOGRAPHY: Which body of water lies between Alaska and Russia? 2. TELEVISION: What city is the setting for the dramatic series “The Wire”? 3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: What is President Joe Biden’s Secret Service code name? 4. MOVIES: What is the name of the island in “Jurassic Park”? 5. MUSIC: What is the pop band that The Dude dislikes in “The Big Lebowski”? 6. SCIENCE: Which metal conducts electricity best? 7. HISTORY: What is believed to be the oldest system of writing? 8. ANATOMY: What is the longest muscle in the human body? 9. U.S. STATES: Which two states don’t observe Daylight Savings Time? 10. ASTRONOMY: In which con- by Linda Thistle Gstellation O FcanIyouGfindUtheRHorsehead E ! Answer peekers captured on surveillence video and kept on file. TRIVIA TEST Nebula? The idea of Go Figure is to Answers arrive at theAnswers figures Answersgiven at Weekly Weekly SUDOKU SUDOKU the bottom and right-hand Bering columns1. of theStrait. diagram by fol-AnswerBaltimore, Maryland. lowing 2. the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that 3. Celtic. is, from4.left to right and top to Isla Nublar. bottom).5.Use only the numbers The Eagles. below the diagram to complete 6. Silver. its blank squares and use each 7. Cuneiform. of the nine numbers only once. 8. Sartorius, which stretches from DIFFICULTY: the pelvis to the knee. � 9. Arizona and Hawaii. � Moderate �� Difficult 10. Orion. �� GO FIGURE! ©©2006 Features Syndicate, 2010King King Features Synd.,Inc. Inc. ©2020 ©©2023 2022 2023King KingFeatures FeaturesSynd., Synd., Inc. Inc.

Issue No. 42

Games

October 23-29, 2006

Go Figure! answers

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ANSWERS

1. Staton Island, New York 2. Cleveland, Ohio 3. Warner Brothers 4. Lyndon B. Johnson 5. The release of the Iranian hostages in 1981 BIBLE TRIVIA Answers

1. (A) Old testament 2. (C) It is written 3. (D) Holy Spirit 4. (A) Gideon 5. (D) Michal 6. (B) Hamor

ANSWERS

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