Vol. 19: #26 • Books • (6-25-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

by Janet Spencer

Research participants who engaged in just six minutes of reading for pleasure were found to have a significantly slower heart rate and reduced muscle tension. It was shown that reading was even more effective for inducing relaxation than listening to music, drinking hot tea, or taking a walk. This week, Tidbits pages back through time to see how the advent of today's printed books all began.

THE HISTORY OF BOOKS

The first known written material ever found was the “Epic of Gilgamesh.” Written in cuneiform script on a series of 12 clay tablets, this lengthy poem was composed around 2100 B.C. in what is now Iraq. Discovered in the ruins of the Ashurbanipal library in 1853, it tells the story the king of the city of Uruk. Today, you can download the Epic of Gilgamesh as an e-book to your tablet or phone.

• The earliest known written documents that most similarly align with our modern-day books are known as codexes, which were developed around

(Answers on page 16)

• In 1852, British publisher Samuel Beeton purchased the British rights to the book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” directly from the author, Harriot Beecher Stowe. The American version of the book became the first book in the U.S. to sell more than one million copies. In Britain, the book also sold extremely well.

• This gave Samuel Beeton enough capital to expand his publishing business. He began two different periodicals, both of which were very successful. One was “Boys Own Magazine” and the other was “The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine.”

• Samuel Beeton married Isabella Mayson in 1856, when she was 21. She had helped raise 13 younger siblings and had a good grasp on what it took to run a household. Samuel believed in women’s equality, and put her in charge of his ladies magazine. She began by printing recipes that she swiped from other cookbooks or that readers sent in. She innovated by printing the list of ingredients before the cooking instructions, an improvement which is now standard. She breathed life into the fashion column, and included dress patterns in the magazine.

experience as a cook, and it showed in her questionable editing. For example, she recommended boiling pasta for an hour and forty-five minutes, and stated that mangoes tasted like turpentine. She declared lobsters to be indigestible, garlic offensive, and potatoes suspicious. She also claimed that cheese should only be eaten by sedentary people, and insisted that tomatoes should be avoided.

• New editions were introduced at intervals, and new guides were added as well, giving instructions on cooking, sewing, livestock care, natural history, and birdwatching.

• Isabella had four children, two of which died in infancy. Isabella herself died of childbed fever shortly after her 4th child was born in 1865. She was 28 years old.

• But “Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management” lived on long after her death. Most of the readers did not know she had died, and she became an iconic figure, similar to today's “Hints from Heloise.” Most assumed she was a middle-aged wealthy matron presiding over a high-class estate, and not a young woman from a lower-middle class background who died soon after the book became popular.

• Samuel Beeton’s fortunes faltered after the death of Isabella. He sold the copyright to the Beeton’s franchise to a larger publishing firm and went to work for them as a salaried employee. He died of tuberculosis in 1877 at the age of 47 and was buried next to his wife.

• “Beeton’s Book of Household Management,” now many times updated, revised, and edited, is still in print, and a Kindle version is available on Amazon. □

1. MOVIES: Which movie features the line, “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads”?

2. HISTORY: Which serious disease was declared eradicated in 1980?

3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What color is the “black box” that is used to record data on airplanes?

4. GAMES: How much does getting out of jail cost in the board game Monopoly?

5. LITERATURE: What kind of animal is the novel “Black Beauty” about?

6. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the youngest president?

7. TELEVISION: Who played the Penguin in the original “Batman” TV series?

8. GEOGRAPHY: What is the northernmost point of the United States?

9. ASTRONOMY: Which is the only planet in our solar system that spins clockwise?

10. FOOD & DRINK: Which fastfood restaurant chain claims that “We have the meats”?

Answers

Future.”

• It became a very popular monthly magazine under Isabella’s editorial control. In 1861, they condensed two years’ worth of magazine articles into a book called “Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management,” which also bore the impressive sub-title: “Comprising information for the Mistress, Housekeeper, Cook, KitchenMaid, Butler, Footman, Coachman, Valet, Upper and Under House-Maids, Lady’s-Maid, Maid-of-all-Work, Laundry-Maid, Nurse and Nurse-Maid, Monthly Wet and Sick Nurses, etc. etc.—also Sanitary, Medical, & Legal Memoranda: with a History of the Origin, Properties, and Uses of all Things Connected with Home Life and Comfort.”

• Nearly two million copies of “Mrs. Beeton’s Household Management” were sold by 1868, becoming one of England’s top-selling books.

• Isabella Beeton actually had very little

1. “Back to the

2. Smallpox.

3. Orange.

1.What’s

Week of June 25, 2023

Books (from page one)

250 B.C. by the Romans to replace scrolls. Codex pages were created by cutting individual sheets from lengthy parchment scrolls and binding them together in a stack, allowing for easier access to individual sheets.

• A Greek man named Chariton of Aphrodisias wrote a steamy romance on papyrus around the year 123 A.D. Entitled “Chaereas & Callirhoe.”

It is the oldest existing novel in the world. This work of fiction follows the adventures of a newlywed couple as her former suitors team up in an attempt to break them up. They experience a series of perilous adventures in Sicily, Persia, and Egypt, before ending up living happily ever after. The book, originally written in Latin, was resurrected, translated into Greek, and published in Greece in the mid-1700s.

THE ADVENT OF PRINTING

• Johannes Gutenberg spent 20 years in the mid1400s perfecting the first method of printing using moveable type and a press. He was a skilled metalworker and was familiar with tools. To typeset the entire Bible required 2,500 individual pieces of type for each single page. He used animal skin parchment because paper hadn’t been invented yet, and each Gutenberg Bible required the skins of 300 sheep. Ink was made from the finely ground dust of pine wood and soot.

• It took Gutenberg four years to produce the Bibles, each of which contained 1,284 pages and weighed 14 pounds. He printed 200 of them, 47 of which still survive. However, Gutenberg went heavily into debt to develop his technique and complete the work. The same year the Bibles were completed, his financier confiscated all his equipment and used it to make himself rich. Sadly, Gutenberg died in poverty, yet his name and the results of his remarkable accomplishment live on today.

• Prior to the invention of the printing press, each book had to be hand-copied. This was usually done by monks, simply because clergy were among the most literate citizens. They had to

know how to read in order to read the Bible. When Gutenberg invented his printing press in the 1440s, a domino effect occurred. Books became portable, popular and far less expensive, spurring a rise in literacy rates.

VALUABLE VESTIGES

• In the year 1640, just 20 years after the first pilgrims landed in Plymouth, the people of Cambridge, Massachusetts decided that the books of Bible psalms they brought with them from the old country were outdated. They commissioned local scholars to create a new translation of the original Hebrew Psalms. Using the latest in Gutenberg technology, they printed 1,700 copies of the “Bay Psalm Book.” It was the first book ever printed in North America. Of the original 1,700 copies, eleven still exist, and of those, only five are complete. One of the complete versions sold at auction in New York in 2012, fetching a price of $14,165,000.

to explore the mechanisms of intelligence.

• Amazon’s first generation Kindle e-reader, released on November 19, 2007, sold out in less than six hours, remaining out of stock for five months before being restocked in April of 2008. It cost $399, and with 250 MB of

Books: Turn to page 15

QUIZ BITS

1. Which U.S. state has the highest literacy rate?

2. Which U.S. state has the lowest

(Answers page 16)

2.What

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

When asked what book he would most like to have with him if he was stranded on a desert island, G.K. Chesterson replied, "Thomas's Guide to Practical Ship Building."

• The only book that’s ever fetched a higher price was Leonardo da Vinci’s “Codex Leicester,” a hand-written notebook containing da Vinci’s scientific notes and drawings. Bill Gates bought it for $30.8 million in 1994. However, it doesn’t officially qualify as a printed, published book since it is a diary.

DIGITAL DEBUT

• The world's first e-book was The Declaration of Independence, released in 1971. At that time, passionate technologist and futurist Michael Stern Hart was given access to a Xerox Sigma V mainframe at the University of Illinois. Inspired by a free printed copy of the Declaration of Independence, he decided to transcribe it into the computer. He made the file available to other users of the computer network, with the annotation that it was free to use and distribute. It marked the beginning of the legendary Project Gutenberg, an initiative dedicated to making books freely available in digital format. The first e-book in the world is still available at Project Gutenberg.

• In 1995, the first book ever purchased on Amazon was Douglas Hofstadter’s “Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: Computer Models of the Fundamental Mechanisms of Thought.” This newly published book used computer modeling

1.VERNALEQUINOX

2.CROCUS

By Lucie Winborne

* When Core Design animator Toby Gard wanted to make an interactive movie starring a male character looking for treasure in Egyptian pyramids, the character was deemed too similar to Indiana Jones, so the character was switched to a South American woman named Laura Cruz. Then Core wanted a more U.K.-friendly name, so employees went to the phone book for a new surname. We now know her as Lara Croft.

* In Mexico, the first slice of your birthday cake must be given to the person you love most.

* Florida mom Geraldine Gimblet spent her entire life savings on medical treatment for her daughter’s breast cancer ... then won $2 million in the lottery just days after making the final payment.

* Japanese warriors wore their hair in a small ponytail after shaving the front of their heads, but not to make a fashion statement. Instead, it helped to keep their helmets secure.

* To protect the giraffe’s brain from sudden changes in blood pressure when it drinks, the animal’s jugular veins have elastic walls and large oneway valves that allow the veins to significantly expand, preventing blood from flowing back to the brain when the giraffe’s head is lowered.

* It is illegal to gamble in a library in the U.K.

* The Battle of the Oranges is an annual festival held in Ivrea, Italy, in which participants pelt each other with the citrus fruit to commemorate the town’s liberation from a cruel medieval ruler.

* It took the writers of the Oxford English Dictionary five years just to reach the word “ant.” This was partly due to the level of detail necessary to trace word origins as well as their evolution.

Thought for the Day: “Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.”

-- Malcolm Forbes

by Mary Hunt

Six Common Money Blunders

cannot be avoided. Example: If you are in the 28% tax bracket, and pay $1,000 in deductible mortgage interest per year, that translates to a $280 reduction in your tax bill. If you pay off that mortgage, you lose the $280 tax relief. But guess what? You get to keep the $720. Who in their right mind would chose to pay $720 just to get back $280?

by Mary Hunt

I could be wrong, but I’m going to guess you’ve made a money blunder or two in your life. For many of us, it was a nonstop series of blunders that finally brought us to our financial knees. But I’m not talking about the kind of blunders that got us into trouble. We could list those in our sleep. These are the blunders commonly made while clawing our way back to financial freedom. Avoid these blunders and you’ll get there much faster.

No. 1: Not giving. Whether out of fear or forgetfulness, keeping all of your money is a serious blunder. Giving away some of your money to help a worthwhile cause or someone else who is in much worse shape than you will do amazing things to your life. Amazing things.

No. 2: Not saving. This is the blunder most often committed by the person so driven to right all the wrongs as soon as possible that he feels guilty keeping anything for himself. So when even a small emergency arises he has no choice but to run back to pilfer the credit cards that got him into trouble in the first place.

No. 3: Mistiming your mortgage prepayment. You should not even think about prepaying your mortgage until you have amassed a respectable emergency fund and paid off all of your unsecured debts. Prepaying your mortgage before achieving those goals is foolish because when something unexpected happens you’ll look to your home’s equity for a bail out. Never think of the equity in your home as a bank account from which you can make withdrawals at will.

No. 4: Misunderstanding deductibility. There is a myth that says you should not pay off your home mortgage, but that you should keep it forever because the interest is tax-deductible. That is an industrial-strength blunder! Deductibility is a “consolation prize” for the person who didn’t win. It softens the blow on expenses that

No. 5: Transferring balances. Hopping from one credit card to another as a way of getting in on all the low teaser rates can be a very expensive blunder. There are all kinds of explosives lurking in that fine print. With most cards, it is nearly impossible to stay out of punitive territory. meaning they’re going to find some reason to zap you with a big interest rate bump or other ridiculous fee. Then there are blemishes to your credit report for applying for too much credit, inflated fees and established floors on the interest rates (that number below which the variable interest rate cannot fall).

No. 6: Consolidating debts. It sounds great to pay off all your high-interest debts with one low-interest loan, and then have a single smaller payment. But that is usually a big mistake. Consolidation loans are typically tied to one’s home equity or a credit card with a lot of hidden fees and punitive rates in the fine print. That’s bad enough. But worse, the financially immature person keeps the accounts open (you know, the ones that were paid off with the consolidation loan), falls back into using them again, and sooner than later, runs them right back up to the max. Just don’t do it, hear?

Look in the mirror: Do you see yourself in any of these blunders?

* * *

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.”

IN LOVING MEMORY

John H. Winters

Dec. 14, 1941 -- June 13, 2023

Husband, father, grandfather.

John proudly served in the U.S. Navy before starting a construction company in the Coachella Valley that he owned and managed for many years He was an avid boater, fisherman, handyman and talented tinkerer, always ready to tackle anything that needed fixing.

John loved the Lord; his family was his first priority, and his wide circle of friends will miss him dearly.

He is survived by Donna, his wife of 65 years, and two daughters, Jami and Roni; 11 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. His son Donnie passed in 2009, and daughter Staci passed in 2020.

Your prayers are deeply appreciated.

-- The Winters Family

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

MEAD

• In 1931, the construction of Hoover Dam began on the border of Arizona and Nevada, just 25 miles east of Las Vegas. Named for President Herbert Hoover, the dam began impounding water from the Colorado River in 1935. The reservoir that resulted was called Lake Mead, named for Elwood Mead, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner who oversaw the construction and died just before the dam was completed.

• In 1963, Glen Canyon Dam was completed upstream from Hoover Dam. The new reservoir was named Lake Powell after geologist John Wesley Powell, who surveyed this region. In 1893 Powell declared: “You gentlemen are piling up a heritage of conflict and litigation over water rights, for there is not enough water to supply the land.” He resigned from his job with the U.S. Geological Survey a year later.

• About 96% of the water in the Colorado River begins with snow melt in the Rocky Mountains, with the rest coming from precipitation, groundwater, and other watersheds. The river winds 1,440 miles through Colorado and Utah, enters Lake Powell, goes through Glen Canyon Dam, then travels the length of the Grand Canyon before entering Lake Mead.

• Once the Colorado River exits Hoover Dam, it passes through Arizona and southern California before encountering the Morales Dam in Mexico, where what little water remains is diverted for agricultural use. The remaining water is usually expended by the time it finally reaches the estuaries, where the river enters the

Gulf of California at Baha, but they are now usually dry.

• Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the U.S. by volume, and the second largest in surface area only to Lake Powell. It could contain the entire average annual flow of the Colorado River for two years.

• Lake Mead is 115 miles long, up to ten miles wide, with 550 miles of shoreline. It’s twice the size of Rhode Island. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, established in 1936, became the first national recreation area in the U.S.

• Lake Mead finally filled to its maximum possible capacity in 1983. At that point, the surface stood at 1,225 feet above sea level. That was the first time that the spillways were activated.

• Today, 25 million people depend on the water from Lake Mead, while the turbines from Hoover Dam provide electricity for 40 million people including San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. About 90 percent of all the water in Las Vegas comes from Lake Mead.

• Water from Lake Mead is used to irrigate about 5.5 million acres of cropland. California and Arizona provide about 25 percent of the food grown in the U.S.

• The problem is that Lake Mead has been shrinking steadily since 2000 due to increased demand and persistent drought. In 2013, Lake Mead became smaller than Lake Powell for the first time ever, though Lake Powell is also

shrinking. Both reservoirs are currently at about 27 percent maximum capacity.

• Lake Mead fell to its lowest level ever in 2022, when it dropped to 1,041 feet. Hoover Dam cannot generate electrical power if the level falls below 950 feet elevation. When the pipeline leading to Las Vegas was about to go dry, a new pipeline was installed 90 feet lower, at 860 feet. It went into operation in 2015, and the original pipeline now sits high and dry.

• Water provided by Lake Mead and Lake Powell allowed the southwestern U.S. to flourish. However, the growing populations of the landlocked states and their resulting increased water demands will eventually require more serious rationing in order to save Lake Mead from total depletion. □

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

by Dana Jackson

Q: A friend keeps recommending the series “Call the Midwife” to me. She says it’s a British show that she watches on PBS. Is it available to stream anywhere? -- K.J.

A: If you don’t have PBS, you can find 11 seasons of “Call the Midwife” currently on Netflix. The historical drama takes place in the East End of London in the mid20th century and was recently renewed by the BBC for two more seasons. (Future seasons should be available on Netflix as well.)

The show wasn’t expected to be such a big hit, even when the Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave was tapped to narrate the series, but it’s won the hearts of viewers worldwide and has helped fill the void of those who miss watching “Downton Abbey.” ***

Q: Whatever happened to the actor Jesse Metcalfe? The last I saw him, he was on the newer version of “Dallas,” which I thought was a great show and wished had lasted longer. -- H.S.

A: Jesse Metcalfe’s first big television role was on the daytime soap “Passions,” where he played Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald for five years. He soon became a household name when he played Eva Longoria’s shirtless gardener (and lover) on the hit series “Desperate Housewives,” when it premiered almost two decades ago.

TNT’s reboot of the nighttime soap “Dallas” had a promising beginning back in 2012. It had a gorgeous young cast, with Metcalfe and Josh Henderson as the new generation of Ewings, and earned the approval of old fans with the return of original cast members Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray.

Nearly seven million viewers tuned in for the premiere of the new “Dallas,” but ratings declined steadily over the next three seasons. Low ratings, coupled with the death of Hagman in real life (and his iconic character of J.R. Ewing on-screen), surely contributed to the show’s demise.

While his career may appear to have slowed down after “Dallas,” Metcalfe has landed one role after another, including a long-running one on the Hallmark Channel’s family drama “Chesapeake Shores,” which lasted six seasons. You can also catch him in the recent Dennis Quaid film “On a Wing and a Prayer,” available on Amazon Prime Video.

***

Q: I read that “NCIS” is going to have a spinoff that takes place overseas. Will it be available to watch here in the U.S.? -- S.M.

A: ”NCIS: Sydney” is the latest installment

of the hit CBS franchise, but it’ll only be available on Paramount+ here in the U.S. The show is currently filming in Australia and will star Olivia Swann (“DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”) as Special Agent Michelle Mackey and Todd Lasance (“Spartacus: War of the Damned”) as Sgt. JD Dempsey.

According to Deadline.com, the show “will follow the eclectic team of U.S. NCIS Agents and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who are grafted into a multi-national taskforce to keep naval crimes in check in the most contested patch of ocean on the planet.”

Visit ParamountPlus.com for more information on the streaming service and how to subscribe.

* * *

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

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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

1. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (PG-13) Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback

2. Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse (PG) Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld

2. Rings (PG-13) Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe

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

3. The Little Mermaid (PG) Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King

4. Hidden Figures ....................(PG) Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer

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

4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (PG-13) Chris Pratt, Chukwudi Iwuji

5. The Boogeyman (PG-13) Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina

6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (R) Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen

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

6. Fast X (PG-13) Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez

7. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (PG) Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy

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

8. About My Father (PG-13)

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

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

10.

Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

©

Q:

A:

Robert De Niro, Sebastian Maniscalco

9. The Machine (R) Bert Kreischer, Mark Hamill

Past Lives (PG-13) Greta Lee, Teo Yoo

2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Vanessa Redgrave narrates the BBC series “Call the Midwife.”

Depositphotos

Good Recipes from Easy Pork BBQ

We used ready-made shredded barbecued pork, sold in tubs in the meat department, for the base, and added beans and fresh tomatoes for extra flavor and fiber. Serve with storebought cornbread.

16 ounces (half 32-ounce container) fully cooked barbecue sauce with shredded pork

1 can (15 to 19 ounces) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (15 to 19 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained

2 large plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch dice

In 3-quart saucepan, heat pork mixture with beans, tomatoes and 1 cup water to boil-

ing over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally. Serves 4.

 Each serving: About 380 calories, 6g total fat (2g saturated), 29g protein, 60g carbohydrate, 18g fiber, 30mg cholesterol, 1,245mg sodium.

Colorful Coleslaw

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup cider vinegar

1

1/2 teaspoon crushed celery seeds

2 teaspoons dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 head green cabbage

1/2 head red cabbage

1 small red onion

1 green pepper

1 red pepper

1. Combine oil, sugar and vinegar in small non-aluminum saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

2. Simmer for 5 minutes, and add celery seeds, mustard, salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

3. Toss dressing with cabbage, onion and peppers. Chill covered with plastic wrap for at least 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Serves 12.

(c)

GOOD NEWS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS!

CLAIM YOUR ERC CREDIT

Even if you've been denied previously, contact us for a second opinion! Our experts thoroughly know this system and what it takes to get you the payment you're due!

John Allen

NEXT WEEK in

TIDBITS TRAVELS WITH SOME

FAMOUS EXPLORERS

Cody’s

Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Up in the Air

For search-and-rescue dogs, saving lives is all in a day’s work. But these furry heroes don’t all work the same.

Nose to the ground. Nose in the air. Not to oversimplify things, but up or down, it’s all in the position of the nose.

Trackers, or tracking dogs, put their nose to the ground and get busy. These dogs work from a “last seen” starting point and require something with the missing person’s scent. Trackers don’t search; they follow. They are the dogs you call when a child goes missing on the way to school, when a dementia patient wanders off, when a prisoner escapes.

For air-scenters, it’s all up in the air -- especially the nose. These highly trained hounds pick up human scent in the air and follow it to its source, whether that be “somewhere” in a national park, in the wilderness, in a body of water or buried under 20 feet of snow in the case of avalanche victims.

Air-scenters also are the dogs brought in for what is considered the most challenging of searchand-rescue missions: the urban disaster. In this sense, urban as in the wake of the recent spate of tornadoes in Texas as it was Ground Zero on 9/11. “Urban disaster” refers to a large-scale search for survivors or casualties after the collapse of a building or buildings for any reason -- earthquake, flood, hurricane, tornado, fire, accident or terrorism.

Several years back, when an EF-5 tornado ripped through Moore, Okla., more than 100 people feared dead were rescued from the rubble and debris. Many of those survivors have an air-scenter to thank for that.

(CryptoQuip Solution on page 14)

FEMA’s certification requirements are the only national standards for search-and-rescue teams wanting to specialize in urban disaster work, and those standards are very difficult to meet. According to “How Search and Rescue Dogs Work” by Julia Layton, “Fewer than 100 dog/handler teams in the country are FEMA certified. Local SAR organizations have their own standards for ‘mission ready’ qualification, typically based on guidelines developed by organizations like the American Rescue Dog Association and the National Association for Search and Rescue.”

Generally speaking, in order to get anywhere near the rescue end of an urban disaster,

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 11

3. The Weekly “Brain Breaker”

Background"

SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

The Miserly Social Security Death Benefit

About a month ago, I wrote a column explaining what family members need to do when a loved one who was getting Social Security benefits dies. I primarily discussed what might need to be done about returning the last Social Security check (depending on the timing of the death). I also used that column to help a surviving spouse know what possible widow’s (or widower’s) benefits might be due and how to apply for them.

And I only briefly mentioned the $255 “death benefit” that is sometimes payable. I guess that was a mistake because I got lots of follow-up emails asking me about that most miserly of all Social Security benefits. It has an interesting history.

It didn’t start out as a death benefit, per se; at least not in the context it is thought of today. It certainly was never meant to be a “burial benefit” as many people call it.

As part of the thinking that went into the original Social Security Act passed in 1935, Congress realized that many of the new Social Security taxpayers would die before they ever had a chance to collect benefits. Or they would die without having earned enough “quarters of coverage” to be insured for survivor benefits for any dependents. So, they decided to compensate the families of a loved one who died with some form of reimbursement for the Social Security taxes that the deceased had paid into the system. They set up a one-time benefit they called the “lump sum death payment.” And it was originally intended to reimburse the family with an amount equal to 3.5% of the money the deceased had paid into the system.

It was supposed to be a temporary benefit because Congress knew that as time passed, most workers would be paying a sufficient amount of money into Social Security that they would be insured for survivor benefits. In other words, when a taxpayer died, the widow or widower (and any minor children) would get monthly benefits -- so this lump-sum payout would no longer be needed.

But as often happens with government pro-

grams, once you start paying a benefit, it’s hard to take it away. Over the years, there have been any number of proposals to eliminate the lump sum death payment. But as miserly as the benefit is, it’s a popular feature of the Social Security program, and politicians soon learned that to tamper with it meant an automatic loss in the next election. So, the “temporary benefit” never went away.

But occasionally, Congress has made some relatively minor adjustments to the original law. In 1954, they capped the benefit at $255 -- and it’s remained at that level ever since. And in 1983, when politicians were looking for ways to save money in the Social Security system, they restricted the payment of the one-time death payment only to a “spouse who was living with the deceased at the time of death.”

And that’s where we are today. We have an essentially meaningless “death benefit” paid only to a widow or widower. Perhaps 50 years ago, $255 paid the cost of a funeral. Of course, today, it barely covers the price of the flowers. If I were the king of the Social Security world, I would do one of two things. I would raise the death benefit to something meaningful, like $2,500. Or I would simply eliminate it.

But I’m a columnist, not a king. So, all I can do it explain the law and answer any questions you might have about it. Here are a few.

Q: My wife recently died. She was a homemaker all her life, so she was getting spousal benefits on my record. Everything went fine with stopping her Social Security checks. But I have two questions: When will I get the $255 death benefit? And will my benefit go up to give me credit for the spousal share that was being deducted from my checks?

A: I’m sorry, but the $255 death benefit is only paid on the account of someone who had worked and paid Social Security taxes. It sounds like your wife never did that because she was just

receiving spousal benefits, not her own Social Security. The money paid to a spouse is just an “add on” benefit. In other words, nothing was taken out of your retirement check to pay her. So, your benefit rate will remain the same.

Q: My husband died 5 years ago when I was in my late 50s. I don’t ever remember getting the death benefit. Was it automatic?

A: No, it’s not automatic. You must apply for the death benefit. I’m not sure, but it might be too late to file for it now. To find out, call Social Security at 800-772-1213.

Q: My father died on Feb. 25. My parents were divorced, although they were still close friends. My mother applied for and started getting divorced widow’s benefits on his record. But I have two questions: Why did she have to return his February check? And why didn’t she get the $255 death benefit?

A: If you go back and read that prior column I mentioned earlier, you will learn why no one was due the proceeds of your father’s February Social Security payment. In a nutshell, it’s because Social Security benefits are not pro-rated. Because your father didn’t live the entire month of February, the check for that month had to be returned. But there is an upside to that lack of proration. Your mother started getting divorced widow’s benefits for the whole month of February, even though she was a widow for only three days in that month.

As far the death benefit goes, the law says it can only be paid to a widow who was living with the deceased at the time of death. I assume your divorced parents weren’t living together. So that’s why the $255 can’t be paid to her. * * *

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

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

2. From Ephesians 6:16 (KJV), "Taking the ____ of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts." a) Oath b) Leap c) Sword d) Shield

3. From Luke 1:56, how many months did Mary stay with Elizabeth? a) One b) Two c) Three d) Four

4. From Matthew 24, among other signs, what did Jesus say would be clear signals of the end times? a) Deceptive lies b) Increasing lawlessness c) Growing persecution of believers d) All of these

5. From Psalms 27:1, "The Lord is my light and my a) Shield b) Salvation c) Rock d) Promise

6. Matthew, the tax collector, was also known by what other name? a) Levi b) Felix c) Reuben d) Mattmo

Sharpen your understanding of scripture with Wilson Casey's latest book, "Test Your Bible Knowledge," now available in stores and online.

(Answers on page 16)

For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com

Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

When It’s Time for a New Cellphone

Like it or not, sometimes we just have to buy a new cellphone. When the old one won’t hold a charge anymore or it won’t take the newest security updates, we have to cave in and begin a hunt for a new one.

Sometimes it’s easy. You take the old phone to the same store where you bought it and tell them you want an upgraded version of that phone. You look it over, press all the buttons, like it, and there you go ... a new phone.

But most of the time, however, it’s not that easy. Technology moves along so quickly, and so do the capabilities of new phones. If it’s been more than three years since your last phone purchase, talk to friends and family. Play with their phones and see how they feel in your hand. Look up cellphones on the internet and compare the features so you are already somewhat familiar with them before you even head to a phone store.

Your choice of phones depends in part on what you want it to do. If you want to keep things simple, check out RAZ phones and the Jitterbug lineup. The RAZ phones, for example, only do regular voice and video calls.

For fancier options, do you want to cruise the internet, send email, watch videos, make calls, take photos, send text messages or play games? Most of the phones out there now do all of this -- and more.

Decide in advance how you want to handle the purchase of the phone. Do you want it to be part of a monthly plan or pay the full amount up? Do you want to be on a monthly plan at all,

which may involve signing a contract?

Additionally, ask at the store whether they’ll give you anything for trading in your old phone and whether they’ll transfer your information to a new phone. Clerks in these stores are quite knowledgeable about the phones they sell, and will have no problem doing this for you, as well as help you establish a new PIN code and other security measures.

Isn't it amazing how we got by so easily a few years ago with no cell phone, and today we wouldn't want to be without one!

* * *

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.

a dog must demonstrate competency in the areas of basic obedience, professionalism, mental and physical ability, and tracking skills. But more than size or breed or physique, success as a SAR dog depends on obsession. Toy obsession. The toy is the reward. The deeper the obsession the more devoted to the mission.

Whether working with noses down on the ground or up in the air, SAR dogs do things we humans simply are not equipped to do. For that and for them, we should all be grateful.

* * *

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.

Possible Heart Disease Symptoms Are Written Off Due to Weight

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve been experiencing pain in my chest, dizziness and shortness of breath on exertion. The chest pain lasts for a few hours. At one point, it was so bad that I couldn’t walk a hundred feet, had to use a cane and severely limit my physical activity.

I’ve been to the doctor about this before. They take an EKG, which comes back normal, so they chalk it up to anxiety, then tell me I’m fat. (I am not unaware that I’m fat, but even when I was doing intense martial arts twice a week, I couldn’t lose the weight. And my physical therapist told me not to do yoga.)

If it makes a difference, I’m also a Type 2 diabetic and have fibromyalgia as well as PTSD. This is not the only issue that doctors have refused to treat because they decide to blame it all on my weight. My diabetes went unchecked for a while because my doctor only told me to lose weight, instead of ordering blood tests when I complained about the symptoms.

When these symptoms happen, my friends tell me to go to the doctor, but the doctors don’t do anything to change the situation. Why should I pay over $1,000 and waste a few hours for an urgent care visit and an EKG only to get told that I’m fat and anxious, when I can cover my chest with stickers, play on my phone and tell myself I’m fat at home for free? Who’s right, me or my friends? -- S.T.

ANSWER: I am very sorry to hear how poorly you are being treated. I have heard from many people that doctors do not take symptoms seriously in people who are overweight or obese. (There is strong evidence that this is true, and that women are also treated worse systemically. People with any mental health issue, such as anxiety or PTSD, are often disbelieved.)

While I understand that you are frustrated, your symptoms are very concerning. Particularly if you are over 50, they are highly suggestive of heart disease -- especially in a person with diabetes, which in itself increases risk of heart disease.

Given your poor experience, how much you are paying and your PTSD, I can absolutely understand why you are reluctant to go. However, you deserve to get good care, and I believe you will be able to find a doctor who can treat you well and not automatically write off any complaint due to your weight and anxiety. I’d recommend you be completely honest about your concerns.

When I have a patient with multiple ER or acute care visits for possible heart disease, I often recommend a more definitive test than an EKG and blood testing, which is the usual acute care evaluation when looking for damage to the heart muscle. This may be a coronary CT angiogram, which is highly sensitive and specific. (The

weight limit for this test depends on the scanner, but is typically 450 pounds.)

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If you have blockages in your heart causing your recurrent symptoms, it needs to be treated to prevent a heart attack. If blockages aren’t the cause, the EKGs usually aren’t helpful, and you’ll need a different type of evaluation to find out where these symptoms are coming from.

* * *

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

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

No More Masks at the VA

You can ditch the mask now if you visit a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility. Because, they say, the public health emergency is over.

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Grandfather CloCk repair Grandfather

While it appears that you can walk into a VA medical facility without a mask, there are still high-risk places within the facilities where masks are always required: chemo units, emergency and urgent care departments, open bay ICU units, transplant areas, dialysis and spinal cord injury/ community living centers. And, of course, if you have Covid or any other respiratory infection, or even suspect you do, mask up.

Additionally, if you, the patient (or a caregiver or family member) request that medical personnel wear a mask, they’re required to do so. Stand up for yourself. If you want a medical provider to put on a mask, say so.

Yes, Covid has faded, but it’s not gone. A couple of stats: Across the U.S., only 17% of people have had the newest booster, and only 69% got the original vax. Approximately 4,000 people are in the hospital every day because of Covid. Several states have 2,000 to 5,000 new cases each week. In my state, Covid hospital admissions rose 250% in one recent week in two different counties, yet the state is listed as low level for Covid.

One important fact, and something that might be our undoing long-term when it comes to the Covid battle, is that it’s no longer required for insurance to cover the cost of the at-home tests. Veterans, however, can still get two free tests when at a VA medical appointment, if you ask and they’re still in stock. (Check the expiration date if you get those.) It’s better to have a couple on hand at home than to pay over $20 each at a civilian pharmacy.

Do yourself (and those around you) a big favor and keep washing your hands thoroughly with antibacterial hand soap, even more than the 20 seconds that is generally recommended. Don’t let it get you at this late date. There have been 870,000 veterans treated for Covid. Don’t let your guard down just yet.

* * *

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

VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED

American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 66 in Palm Springs is seeking volunteer drivers. The drivers will drive a 9 passenger van known as the “AMVETS Express” from Cathedral City and Palm Springs to the Loma Linda VA Hospital and then return to the desert. The driver will work one day per week. The van departs Cathedral City about 6:30 AM and returns to the desert in the afternoon of the same day. The van operates Monday through Friday.

Applicants for the position of driver do not have to be veterans. Applicants are required to study a training manual and pass a complete physical exam. The drivers cannot be over age 70. The drivers are volunteers and are not paid a salary.

The AMVETS Express has operated since 2004 and it is the only free van transportation from the desert to the VA Hospital. Drivers are not permitted to accept tips from theerans and veterans who are having a mental health crisis to the hospital. We also transport many disabled veterans who cannot drive a car. For many veterans the AMVETS Express is the only way for them to receive their medical care. We transport about 22 veterans

Can I Collect Social Security from My Ex-Spouse?

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Is it possible to collect Social Security benefits from my ex-spouse? We were married for 12 years but have now been divorced for almost 20 years. Am I still entitled to anything? -- Never Remarried

Dear Never: Yes, depending on your specific circumstances you may very well be eligible for divorced spouses Social Security benefits. Here’s what you should know:

Who’s Eligible?

A divorced spouse can collect a Social Security retirement benefit on the earnings record of their ex-husband (or ex-wife) if you are at least age 62, were married for at least ten years, are unmarried, and are not eligible for a higher benefit based on your own earnings record.

In order to collect, your former spouse must also be at least 62 and eligible for Social Security benefits. But he doesn’t have to be receiving them in order for you to col lect divorced spouse’s benefits, as long as you’ve been divorced for at least two years.

Even if your ex is remarried, it won’t affect your right to divorcee benefits, nor will it affect your ex’s retirement benefits or his current spouse’s benefits.

Benefit Amount

A divorced spouse can receive up to 50 percent of their ex’s full Social Security benefit, or less if they take benefits before their full retirement age, which is 66 for people born in 1945-1954 but is gradually in creased to age 67 for people born in 1960 or later. To find out your full retirement age and see how much your benefits will be reduced by taking them early see SSA.gov/benefits/ retirement/planner/agereduction.html

ten years along with his Social Security number to get it.

Other Factors to Know

You also need to be aware that working can affect your divorced spouse’s benefits. If you start taking benefits while working, and are under full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced $1 for every $2 you earn above the annual limit, which is $21,240 in 2023. In the year you reach full retirement age, however, the annual limit increases to $56,520 and the reduction lowers to $1 for every $3 above that limit. See SSA.gov/ pubs/EN-05-10069.pdf for more details.

Another factor that can reduce your divorced spouse’s benefits is receiving a pension from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes (like a government). This is a rule known as Government Pension Offset (see SSA.gov/benefits/ retirement/planner/gpo-calc.html) which can reduce your benefits by two-thirds of the amount of your pension.

Divorced Survivor’s Benefits

You also need to know that when your ex-spouse dies (and if you were married for ten or more years), you become eligible for divorced survivor benefits, which is worth up to 100 percent of what your ex-spouse was due.

Survivor benefits are available to divorced spouses as early as age 60 (50 if

you’re disabled). But if you remarry before 60, you become ineligible unless the marriage ends. Remarrying after age 60 will not affect your eligibility.

Also note that if you are receiving divorced spouses benefits when your ex-spouse dies, you will automatically be switched over to the higher paying survivor benefit.

For more information visit SSA.gov/ benefits/retirement/planner/applying7. html and click on “Benefits for Your Divorced Spouse.”

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2.necessity

Keep in mind though, that if you qualify for benefits based on your own work history, you’ll receive the larger of the two benefits. You cannot receive benefits on both your record, and your ex’s work record too.

3.Loretta

4.DannyDeVito

5.CandyLightner

To find out how much your retirement benefits will be, see your Social Security statement at SSA.gov/myaccount. And to get an estimate of your ex’s benefits, call Social Security at 800-772-1213. You’ll need to show your marriage certificate and divorce decree to prove your marriage lasted at least

2.Accordingtotheproverb,whatis“the

3.WhatwastherealfirstnameofAfrican-

mark that is on a set of dinnerware that I have. The set is a five-piece place setting service for six, and it includes a platter and two bowls. The dishes are decorated with men and women in Colonial settings and trimmed in gold and filigree borders.

What can you tell me about the age, maker and value of my set?

by Anne McCollam Creators News Service

Love at First Sight

Q: I recently picked up this pair of glass cobalt blue dolphin candlesticks in Plymouth, Mass. Even though they are reproductions of Sandwich Glass Company candlesticks, I fell in love with them. Each stands 8 inches tall and 5 inches in diameter at the base. I paid $35 for the pair.

Did I get a bargain or not?

A: Boston and Sandwich Glass Company and Cape Cod Glass Company, both of Sandwich, Mass., made similar dolphin candlesticks in the mid-1800s.

Twentieth-century reproductions were made by several companies, including Imperial, Westmoreland and Heisey. In addition, there were reproductions that were made specifically for the Sandwich Glass Museum. Dolphin candlesticks were made in cobalt blue, clear, frosted, amber and Vaseline.

Your candlesticks were made in the mid to late 1900s. Most reproductions are in the range of $75 to $100 a pair. Yours are a bargain.

Q: I have enclosed a drawing of the

A: Sabin Industries made your dinnerware. They were founded by Samuel Sabin and located in McKeesport, Pa., in 1946. The “Crest-o-Gold” mark

was first used in the 1950s and showed they used 22K gold in the decorations. Sabin Industries purchased blank pieces of porcelain that were decorated by Sabin employees.

Your pattern is a decal and often referred to unofficially by collectors and dealers as George and Martha Washington. The pattern was actually inspired by 18th century French scenes and had no connection to George and Martha. In the mid1960s, the company was taken over by Chase Enterprises.

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

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

2023 CREATORS.COM

We are currently seeking consignments of single items and entire collections. Bonhams specialists are regularly in your area offering complimentary in-person auction estimates.

Schedule your appointment Morisa Rosenberg +1 (323) 436 5435 morisa.rosenberg@bonhams.com sell.bonhams.com

Part of an alarm clock producing the sounds of folks shooting the breeze: the schmooze button.

Cobalt blue dolphin candle sticks were inspired by antique Sandwich Glass candle sticks.

Sabin Industries was located in McKeesport, Pa.

Books (from page 3)

internal storage, it could hold up to 200 books at a time, provided they were text only with no illustrations, which gobble up memory. It also had a speaker and a headphone jack for listening to audio files.

PRINTED PAGES PREFERRED

• A 2020 survey shows that print is still the most popular book format in the United States with 75 percent of people surveyed preferring print over e-books or audiobook.

• Today, it’s estimated that over two million new books are published annually worldwide. Publishers in the U.S. turn out about 300,000 new titles every year. China, Britain, and Japan also top the list of countries that publish the most new books each year.

• In 2016, it was estimated that there were over 130 million unique books in existence, not including self-published books or e-books.

• New York Best Sellers account for just 0.5% of all published books each year: out of every 100,000 new titles, only 500 make it to the New York Times best-sellers list.

• The Bible is considered to be the world’s best-selling book, with over six billion copies distributed, in 300 different languages.

• “Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung” has sold an estimated one billion copies. Also known as the “Little Red Book”, this 116-page compilation of statements from the former Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party was first published in 1964.

• Powell’s Bookstore in Portland, Oregon is the largest bookstore in the world based on shelf space. It has 1.6 acres of retail floor space covering an entire city block.

• The oldest bookstore in the world is located in Lisbon, Portugal. Called Livraria Bertrand, it has been operating since 1732.

• India is the country that reads the most, with an average Indian reading 10.7 hours every week. Thailand and China come second and third, with 9.24 and 8 hours per week respectively. By comparison, Americans read half as much, with only a little over 5 hours a week.

• Reading improves your focus, memory, empathy, IQ, and communication skills. It can reduce stress, improve your mental health, and help you live longer -- so keep reading! □

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

Hip Slider

The backswing has many different allowances when it comes to arm movement, wrist action, and club travel, but the hips need to have a specific action for power and stability.

One of the most common faults in many amateur golfers is a sliding hip action with little to no rotation in the backswing. The hips will move only laterally, many times shifting the body weight to the outside of the right foot. The lack of hip and right leg rotation is one of the most common power leaks in all of golf.

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Final Changes DUE:

The correct right hip and leg action is a blend of rotation with a little weight shift. Mostly, the right hip has to turn as the arms are swinging the club back and over the right shoulder. With top players, the hips are continuously turning throughout the backswing.

The right thigh will also turn, but the weight should stay on the inside of the foot and towards the heel. Imagine someone squatting behind you and pulling your right pocket around, rather than to the side. Remind yourself on the practice tee, “Turn; don’t slide”.

ENROLL NOW for 2023-2024

NOT INDOCTRINATION

1. MOVIES: Which movie features the line, “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads”?

2. HISTORY: Which serious disease was declared eradicated in 1980?

3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What color is the “black box” that is used to record data on airplanes?

4. GAMES: How much does getting out of jail cost in the board game Monopoly?

5. LITERATURE: What kind of animal is the novel “Black Beauty” about?

6. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the youngest president?

7. TELEVISION: Who played the Penguin in the original “Batman” TV series?

8. GEOGRAPHY: What is the northernmost point of the United States?

9. ASTRONOMY: Which is the only planet in our solar system that spins clockwise?

10. FOOD & DRINK: Which fastfood restaurant chain claims that “We have the meats”? Answers

1. “Back to the Future.”

2. Smallpox.

3. Orange.

4. $50.

5. A horse.

6. Theodore Roosevelt (42).

7. Burgess Meredith.

8. Point Barrow, Alaska.

9. Venus.

10. Arby’s.