Vol. 19: #15 • Some Favorite Children's Books • (4-9-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

TIDBITS READS SOME FAVORITE Children's Books

by Kathy Wolfe

Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading books aloud to children has great influence in stimulating their imagination, expanding their understanding of the world, and helping them develop language and listening skills. International Children’s Book Day occurs during the month of April, so follow along as Tidbits explores the pages of some of these favorite reads

• The day starts out badly for a young boy in Judith Viorst’s 1972 book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Having gone to bed chewing bubble gum, he wakes up with it stuck in his hair. Arising from his bed, he trips on his skateboard. In the bathroom, he drops his favorite sweater in the water-filled sink.

• At school, his teacher points out his poor performance in front of the class. The dentist finds a painful cavity. He falls in the mud. Lima beans are on his plate for dinner. In a world of “happily ever afters,” we might expect the boy’s

The names of Margret and H.A. Rey may not be familiar, but undoubtedly you know of their highly-recognizable creation – the stories of Curious George. This week Tidbits looks at the extraordinary lives of these prolific authors and illustrators.

• Both of the Reys were born to Jewish families in Hamburg, Germany, she as Margarete Waldstein, and he as Hans August Reyersbach.

• Although they first met when Margret was a teen at her sister’s 16th birthday party, years passed before they met again, in the unlikely country of Brazil. Each had fled Germany to escape the rise of Nazism and the inhumane persecution of Jews. They married when Hans was 37 and Margret was 29, and moved to Paris.

• In 1940, and just hours before the Nazis seized the entire city of Paris, the couple escaped on bicycles, hand-built by Hans from spare parts. They took only what they could carry on their backs, which included a bag containing their first Curious George manuscript.

• They reached the France-Spain border after four days of pedaling, and bought tickets to Lisbon. From there, it was another trip to Brazil, where Brazilian passports enabled them to get into the United States.

• George wasn’t the little monkey’s original name.

The Rey’s had first featured him in a picture book called Cecily G. and the 9 Monkeys, published in France in 1939. George’s name was Fifi. But in 1941, he became George in the first book published in New York City. Entitled simply Curious George, it began in an African jungle, where the Man in the Yellow Hat captured the monkey and brought him to America. The book deal was $1,000, with an initial run of 7,500 copies

• The book was an immediate success, and the publishers commissioned the couple to pen more adventures of this curious little monkey. Curious George Takes a Job was next, opening with George living in a zoo, Following his escape and subsequent adventures, he is rescued by the Man with the Yellow Hat, and brought to live at his home.

• The Reys created seven George stories in all, from 1941 to 1966, including Curious George Rides a Bike, Curious George Gets a Medal, Curious George Learns the Alphabet, and Curious George Goes to the Hospital. His miscellaneous adventures involved rescuing an ostrich, wrecking a dinosaur exhibit, getting sent into space, kidnapping a cow, joining a circus, and going to prison! Several new stories were composed by ghost writers “written and illustrated in the Rey style.”

• Curious George animated TV films were produced from 1979 to 1982. For six decades, the name of the Man in the Yellow Hat with his bright yellow suit and wide-brimmed hat was never mentioned. A 2006 film named his as “Ted,” and a deleted scene revealed his surname as “Shackleford.”

• Following Hans’ death, at age 73, Margret became a Professor of Creative Writing at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

• That original 1941 book has never gone out of print. More than 30 million copies of George books have been sold, with no end in sight. They’ve been translated into 16 languages. In Norway, the little monkey is known as “Nysgjerrige Nils,” while the Japanese call him “Hitomane Kozaru.” □

1. AD SLOGANS: Which company was advertised with the slogan, “Think Outside the Bun”?

2. TELEVISION: Which TV show spawned the spinoff sitcom “Mama’s Family”?

3. U.S. CITIES: In which city would you find the USS Arizona Memorial?

4. ANATOMY: What are the bones that make up the spine known as?

5. GEOGRAPHY: What is the lowest point in the United States?

6. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the traditional material in a 40th anniversary gift?

7. MOVIES: What is the name of the tow truck in the animated movie “Cars”?

8. CURRENCY: Which former president is depicted on the U.S. $50 bill?

9. LANGUAGE: What does the texting acronym SMH mean?

10. LITERATURE: Where do Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends live?

Answers

1. Taco Bell.

2. “The Carol Burnett Show”

3. Honolulu, Hawaii (Pearl Harbor).

Margaret & H.A. Rey

Children's Books: (from page one)

day to improve… but it doesn’t. The lesson for kids? Life isn’t always pleasant, and everyone has bad days now and then.

• Author Laura Numeroff released If You Give a Mouse a Cookie in 1985, a story that goes round and round until the end when it brings the reader back to the original request. A boy named Oliver gives a cookie to a mouse named Quinley, which sparks the request for milk, which leads to a straw, which in turn triggers a successive cycle of requests, all ending back with the cookie. Her mouse book spawned a series of 17 more books, including If You Give a Moose a Muffin, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, and If You Take a Mouse to School.

• Pippi Longstocking has her roots in Sweden, where her story was first published in 1945 in Swedish as Pippi Langstrump, which literally translates “long stocking.” Her full name is Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Ephraim’s Daughter Longstocking. The name was created by author Astrid Lindgren’s daughter Karin, who had been confined to bed with a long illness. Her mother invented bedside stories about the nine-year-old freckled redhead with sideways pigtails, who lived alone in an old house with her monkey Mr. Nilsson and her horse.

• Pippi had great wealth due to a suitcase of gold pieces left to her by her father, who had been lost at sea. She was also gifted with supernatural strength. Publishers rejected the first manuscript in 1944, but it was accepted by another, and three chapter books were published from 1945 to 1948, followed by short stories and picture books. The stories have been translated in 76 languages, including Japanese, in which Pippi is known as Nagakutsushita-no-Pippi.

• Eric Carle was working as a graphics designer and illustrator in the late 1960s, when he provided the illustrations for a colleague’s book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? On a day when he was bored with nothing to do, he started fooling around with a hole punch, punching holes in sheets of paper. He conceived the idea of a bookworm chewing his way through words on pages, and proposed the idea of A Week with Willi Worm to a publisher.

• The editor didn’t find the character appealing, so the pair brainstormed until they came up with a caterpillar and a butterfly. This led to Hungry Little Caterpillar, who eats his way through various food items, including apples, pears, plums, strawberries, oranges, pickles, cheese, salami, and cupcakes, giving him a stomach ache from those that are unhealthy. Carle used die cut holes in the pages as the caterpillar progressively ate his way through the book.

• Immediately popular upon its publication in 1969, The Hungry Little Caterpillar has sold more than 50 million copies, with a copy sold every 30 seconds. It’s been on the Publisher Weekly’s bestseller list for over 1,100 weeks, and has been translated into 60+ languages. Carle, who died in 2021 at age 91, wrote more than 70 books that have sold over 170 million copies.

In his children's book, Make Way for Ducklings, author Robert McCloskey named the mama duck Mrs. Mallard, and her eight ducklings Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Quack, Pack, and Quack Quack. Bronze statues of the duck caravan, the tallest of which stands 38 inches, were installed in Boston Public Gardens in 1987. The caravan stretches 35 feet in length.

• The much-loved bedtime story Goodnight Moon, written by Margaret Wise Brown, was published in 1947, experiencing poor initial sales of just 6,000 copies at $1.75 each. (It’s now estimated to have sold 48 million copies.)

1.What’s

unpublished manuscripts, thirty of which were published after her death.

• Harold and the Purple Crayon was the first of a series of ten “Harold” books written by cartoonist and illustrator David Johnson Leisk,

Children's Books: Turn to page 15

QUIZ BITS

1. Theodore Geisel used a pseudonym to write children's books. What was it?

2. What was the title of Beatrix Potter's most famous book?

(Answers page 16)

2.What

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

E.B. White penned Stuart Little before writing his famous Charlotte's Web. White received the inspiration for Stuart Little from a dream he had in 1926 while traveling by train. "I dreamed about a tiny boy who acted rather like a rat. That's how the story of Stuart Little was conceived." The mouse was the second son born to his human parents.

1.VERNALEQUINOX

2.CROCUS

• The story consists of only 130 words and was written in just one morning. Brown told the tale of a bunny’s ritual of bidding good-night to all the things he sees in the “great green room,” including a red balloon, a brush, a bowl of mush, and the moon. After authoring more than 100 books under four names and seven publishers, Brown died from a blood clot at the young age of 42. She left behind more 70

By Lucie Winborne

* In 2009, six geologists were convicted of manslaughter for failing to predict a deadly earthquake in Italy. Though exonerated, they faced high levels of shame from the general public afterward.

* Compared to average shoppers, chefs are more likely to buy generic store brands for sugar, baking soda and other common kitchen staples.

* Lacrosse descends from a version played by Native Americans in the 17th century. Matches could last several days with as many as 1,000 players per team, on a field with goals up to six miles apart. Game sticks were so treasured that they were often buried with the athletes after death.

* Thomas Edison attempted to create ghosthunting equipment, and an assistant died while testing it.

* The state of Texas keeps a database of more than 500 executed inmates’ last words, going back to the 1980s.

* Ever been annoyed by the decibel level of a rooster’s morning wake-up call? You’re not the only one who finds it loud: When the birds crow, they lean their heads back, covering their ear canal, which acts as an earplug to protect themselves from being deafened by their own vocalizations.

* After plagiarizing work for his directorial debut, actor Shia LaBeouf plagiarized a public apology from a Yahoo! answers question about ... plagiarism.

* You can buy a room on a cruise ship and live on board for an annual fee.

* In the 1800’s, bananas were seen by some as an “immoral fruit,” due to their shape. Fruit companies combatted this perception by issuing postcards of women eating bananas to advertise that they weren’t taboo.

Thought for the Day: “Extraordinary things are always hiding in places people never think to look.” -- Jodi

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Picoult

by Mary Hunt

Which Is Better: Fresh or Frozen?

more beneficial nutrients overall in the frozen samples, in everything from broccoli to blueberries.

Of course, eating produce within minutes of harvest is the healthiest option. However, frozen can be almost as good and is often better than items sold as fresh because unless you pick it yourself, you have no idea how long it has been since that produce was harvested.

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Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

Frozen fruits and vegetables take a lot of heat because most people assume that, if it’s frozen, it must be of a lesser quality and nutritional value than the same items fresh in the produce department.

by Mary Hunt

Is it true? Is fresh really better than frozen? And if so, is the difference great enough to spend more money to make sure we’re always eating fresh fruits and vegetables?

According to nutritionist Cynthia Sass, frozen foods get a bad rap with the false assumption that most of the nutritious qualities are being processed out of them. But the truth is, some of the healthiest foods in the market are in the freezer section.

MATURITY

Ask any nutritionist and you’ll learn that the minute a fruit or vegetable is picked, it begins to lose nutrients. The amount of time between harvest and consumption impacts its nutritional value. Because most frozen fruits and vegetables are frozen very shortly after they are harvested, those items scheduled for flash freezing are actually fully ripe. That means they are chock full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Freezing actually locks in many of their nutrients.

On the other hand, the fresh produce in your supermarket could have been harvested as far as 1,500 miles away -- much of it in South America -- and had to travel by truck to get to the store. It may also have been picked before it reached its nutritional peak and then artificially ripened during transport.

NUTRITION

Frozen produce has been proven to be just as nutrient-rich, and even superior in nutrients to fresh items, retaining most of their antioxidants and vitamins.

Scientists from Leatherhead Food Research and the University of Chester carried out 40 tests to measure nutrient levels in produce that had been sitting in a fridge for three days compared to their frozen equivalents. They found

Frozen goodies like spinach and strawberries have no additives because additives are not necessary to preserve quality. "Naked" produce (e.g., no added salt or sugar) is the norm. That’s why frozen fruits and vegetables carry a single-word ingredient lists -- the fruit or veggie itself. Always check the ingredients, but I bet you’ll find at least a dozen varieties in the freezer aisle with absolutely nothing added.

CONVENIENCE

Even the freshest produce comes with a prep requirement. Sometimes that extra time is just too much at the end of a stressful day. Know the feeling? Frozen produce magically preps itself. It comes washed, peeled and chopped. Frozen produce can save you a ton of time, making it more likely that you’ll cook and eat at home rather than opting for takeout.

Rejoice! March is the best time of the year to load up the freezer because frozen foods are on sale at their lowest prices of the year during National Frozen Food Month. * * *

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

• Randolph Caldecott was a renowned English illustrator of the Victorian Era, whose drawings changed the face of children’s picture books. Fifty years after Caldecott’s death, an award was proposed to honor the illustrator “who had created the most distinguished picture book of the year.” In 1938, the Caldecott Medal was awarded for the first time to Dorothy Lathrop for her work on Animals of the Bible.

• The bronze medal features Caldecott’s illustrations, with one side featuring his work on a 1782 poem, and the reverse based on his drawings for the nursery rhyme “Sing a Song of Sixpence.”

• Two mallard ducks searching for a permanent home are the foundation of 1942’s Make Way for Ducklings. Mrs. Mallard is about to hatch her eight ducklings when she and her mate land on an island in the Charles River in the city of Boston. A week later, it’s time to move the family to their forever home in the lagoon of Boston Public Garden. Stuck at a busy intersection in the city’s downtown, the family is helped by the friendly policeman Michael, who stops traffic along the route to the Garden.

• Author and illustrator of the book, Robert McCloskey, brought six ducklings to live in his New York City apartment to study for his illustrations. He studied illustrations of ducks at the city’s American Museum of Natural History, and consulted with an ornithologist to make his artistry just right. The book was awarded the 1942 Caldecott Medal. The mallard family was re-created in bronze by sculptor Nancy Schon, with the statues installed in the Public Garden in 1987.

• Kids are familiar with the four movies in the Jumanji franchise, but might not know their origin. The adventures began with Chris Van Allsburg’s 1982 Caldecott-winning picture book. It’s the story of an enchanted board game filled with wild animals and jungle features that becomes real, sending the dangers of the game board into the home of the children playing

it, including wild monkeys, huge spiders, untamed tigers, and a monsoon. The book was adapted into the first film in 1995.

• Four years after Jumanji, Chris Van Allsburg nabbed the Caldecott Medal once again, with The Polar Express, the story of a young boy’s journey on a train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. As a child, Van Allsburg had played on a real steam locomotive on display in his Michigan hometown, and used it as his inspiration for his illustrations. The book was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film in 2004.

• Arnold Lobel introduced his beloved characters Frog and Toad in 1970, with stories of the loyal friendship between the two. Frog and Toad navigate life’s circumstances, from

the menial, such as a lost button, to adventures of flying a kite and planting a garden.

• Lobel penned a series of four Frog and Toad books, winning Caldecott Honors in 1970 and a Newbery Honor Award in 1973. Lobel was the Caldecott Medal winner in 1981 for his illustrations in Fables, containing 20 tales each containing a moral, such as “Nothing is harder to resist than a bit of flattery” and “A first failure may prepare the way for later success.” Lobel was also the author of 1977’s popular Mouse Soup.

• A childhood illness initiated his love of drawing, when Lobel spent most of second grade at home, keeping himself occupied by drawing pages and pages of pictures. □

by Dana Jackson

Q: Has Tom Sandoval from the reality show “Vanderpump Rules” done any acting? I could swear that I saw him in one of those Lifetime movies recently. It was about a nurse who takes a pregnant woman’s baby. -- K.L.

A: Some people would argue that all reality stars are actors essentially. In the case of the cast of Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules,” several of them have moonlighted on scripted dramas, including Sandoval in the 2019 TV movie you referred to, “Dying for a Baby.” He followed that up with another role in the 2021 Lifetime thriller, “The Wrong Real Estate Agent,” which starred Vivica A. Fox.

Tom Sandoval is about to find out if the proverbial saying, “Any publicity is good publicity,” is true, as he was just outed in the tabloids for cheating on his girlfriend, Ariana Madix, with another one of their “Vanderpump Rules” castmates. Madix, too, has an acting resume outside of Bravo, but nothing of note. That could change with the project she’s currently filming, the Lifetime movie “Buying Back My Daughter,” where she’ll play a police officer with a personal connection to the story. ***

Q: I heard that “Blue Bloods” might get canceled. How many years has it been on TV? Tom Selleck is my mom’s favorite actor. I hope I don’t have to break any bad news to her. -- I.W.

A: ”Blue Bloods” has been a solid success

for CBS during most of its 14-season run, but when it wasn’t on the list of shows already renewed for next season, viewers began to panic. Apparently, negotiations have reached an “impasse,” according to Deadline.com, and budget cuts might be the only way to save the show. Unfortunately, this usually means trimming the cast. and for your mother’s sake, I hope it isn’t Tom Selleck who is let go.

According to TVLine.com, “the show boasts seven full-time series regulars, plus five heavily recurring players who appear in every episode.” Cutting some of those salaries might ensure the show’s

return for a 15th season, but the question remains -- who and how many? ***

Q: What happened to the period piece drama “Sanditon”? Wasn’t it on Netflix? I tried to find it, and it’s gone. -- A.K.

A: ”Sanditon” recently had its third and final season premiere on PBS. The series is set during England’s Regency era, in the early 1800s at a seaside resort called Sanditon. It’s based on the unfinished novel by Jane Austen and stars Rose Williams.

Andrew Davies, the Emmy and BAFTA award-winning screenwriter who has adapted classics like “Pride & Prejudice” and “Sense & Sensibility,” has done a wonderful job carrying out Austen’s original vision.

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. John Wick: Chapter 4 (R) Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne

2. Creed III (PG-13) Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson

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

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

3. Shazam! Fury of the Gods (PG-13) Zachary Levi, Asher Angel

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

4. Scream VI (R) Courteney Cox, Melissa Barrera

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

5. 65 (PG-13) Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt

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

6. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (PG-13) Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly

7. Sing (PG) animated

7. Cocaine Bear (R) Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich

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

8. Jesus Revolution (PG-13) Kelsey Grammer, Kimberly Williams-Paisley

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

9. Champions (PG-13) Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson

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

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

10. Avatar: The Way of Water (PG-13) Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Good Recipes from Cabbage-Patch Hash

1 pound boneless chicken breast

1 head (small, about 1 pound) green cabbage

6 medium (about 1 1/2 pounds) red potatoes

1 large onion

2 medium green peppers

1 medium red pepper

Olive or salad oil

Salt

2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary, or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1. Cut chicken breast into 1-inch chunks. Cut cabbage into quarters; discard core, then cut cabbage into 1-inch pieces. Cut potatoes, onion, and green and red peppers into 1/2-inch pieces.

2. In 5-quart Dutch oven over mediumhigh heat, in 1 tablespoon hot olive or salad oil, cook chicken and 1/2 teaspoon salt until chicken is lightly browned and just loses its pink color throughout. Remove chicken to large bowl.

3. In same skillet over medium-high heat, in 1 tablespoon hot olive or salad oil, cook cab bage and 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring quickly and constantly, until cabbage is coated with oil. Stir in 1/2 cup water; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium; cook cabbage, stirring frequently, until tender-crisp. Remove cabbage to bowl with chicken.

4. In same skillet over medium-high heat, in 2 tablespoons hot olive or salad oil, cook pota toes, onion and 3/4 teaspoon salt until potatoes are lightly browned. Stir in green and red pep pers, rosemary, and black pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until all vegetables are tender. Return chicken and cabbage to skillet; heat through.

Leaving the Valley or unable to leave home

Enjoy Tidbits every week Online!

Serves 5.

 Each serving: About 305 calories, 9g fat, 24g protein, 34g carbohydrate, 58mg cholesterol, 106mg sodium.

“Leftover” Mashed-Potato Pancakes

A great way to use leftover potatoes. In fact, make extra so you can enjoy this easy dish a second time.

1 1/2 cups mashed potatoes

2 tablespoons plain dried breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

1. Shape potatoes by hand into eight 2-inch patties. On waxed paper, combine breadcrumbs and Parmesan. Coat patties with breadcrumb mixture, patting crumbs to cover.

2. Heat nonstick 10-inch skillet over medium heat; melt butter. Add patties and cook until golden and heated through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Makes 4 servings.

 Each serving: About 129 calories, 3g protein, 16g carbohydrate, 7g total fat (3g saturated), 11mg cholesterol, 319mg sodium.

* * *

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

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The future looks bright

Donald Duck by Walt

By John Allen

Tidbits Word Search

NEXT WEEK TIDBITS REMEMBERS SOME REMARKABLE BEARS

Cody’s

Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis

Creators News Service

Aggression in Pups is not Normal

I’m currently working with an aggressive dog. His owner is a single woman who lives on a ranch. No children are at risk. The woman is responsible, stable and willing to work with the dog in a humane way for the best possible results and the best possible relationship. At the end of our time together, that’s what she’ll get.

The following letter from a reader describes a situation I’m not willing to work with:

“We have three kids -- 12, 11 and 11. We’ve had Great Danes before and have a 4-year-old female now, along with our new puppy, Romeo, who is 4 months old and weighs 80 pounds. He’s rough on our adult Dane, he’s been a bit rough on our cats, and we’ve all felt a tooth on our skin.

“Romeo is probably going to weigh 200 pounds and definitely has an alpha ‘attitude.’ He shows a strong sense of dominance: He growls at being told no, barks back at me, growls when being pinned to the floor and will stare into anyone’s eyes. When taken by the collar, he growls at the kids and sometimes bites at them to get their hands off. It is difficult to discern the difference between ‘puppy mouthiness’ and ‘aggression.’

“Most of his growling starts when being punished. He’s been smacked (not hard) with my hand, as I was trained to do in years past. I’ve done a lot of finger pointing and pinning, but he’d keep growling, so I’d up the ante until he stopped. Everyone kept telling me I should never let him get away with the growling.

“The good things are: I can give him all those tests on your website; I can give him a bone and take it out of his mouth or his dish; I can have him lie on his back while I examine his feet and mouth; and he’ll relax for a half-hour during puppy class.

“He’s a sweet lovey-dovey Great Dane who will be neutered at 6 months. I’m concerned about him, and I’m concerned I might be doing something wrong.”

My response: He should be concerned about his kids.

The difference between “puppy mouthiness” and “aggression” is all in the growl. A growl

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

� JACK KENT

� JOSEPH JACOBS

� JUDITH VIORST

� KARIN LINDGREN

� LAURAN NUMEROFF

� LEWIS CARROLL

� MARGARET BROWN

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

Rising Cost of Home Insurance

When I got my home insurance bill and it showed a massive payment for my policy renewal, I actually laughed. I flipped the page over, believing I’d received someone else’s mail by mistake ... probably a neighbor down the street. But when I saw my own name and address, I wasn’t laughing anymore. I quickly grabbed my calculator and discovered to my horror that the new amount was a full 45% increase over last year.

Still ever hopeful, I called my insurance company, wondering if someone else’s home had been plugged into my account. No, it hadn’t. The amount listed was indeed for my home, as were the numbers for out buildings, personal property and temporary living expenses.

I called several neighbors: Has your insurance gone up? No, they all said. I discovered the likely reason for that during a call to a friendly local

The Art of DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

The Latest Word: She Shed

Remember the days of the rec room or the man cave, located in the basement, an empty room or the garage? These bonus rooms have generally been reserved for men, partly because people felt that the home was ruled, or at least managed, by the matriarch of the family. The man would typically be at his place of work for eight or more hours during the day, and was the one who "brought home the bacon" and returned home tired.

Times have slowly changed, and with the advent of female empowerment, more stay-at-home dads and the proliferation of open floor plans, the household matriarch began to also want a space of her own. Hence, the concept of the "she shed" was born.

Although the name may infer that it is a shed outside the home, she sheds can be found almost anywhere in the home, just like its man cave predecessor. She sheds are merely a place to chill, relax, gather your thoughts and perhaps enjoy a hobby or watch an uninterrupted television program -- in a space that deliberately displays aesthetics with a female slant.

She sheds are the place to pull out all the stops and allow your personality to shine through. If you like country decor, this is the place. If you like rhinestones and sparkles, well, why not?

From a cup of tea to a glass of wine, or from the meeting of your book club to a night of bunco,

insurance agent. They’re no doubt in the middle of a policy period, he said. Their sickening surprise will come when their next premium notice comes due and all the price increases hit them.

There are several reasons why a policy can increase, such as material and labor (which is the big one right now), additions to the house, number of prior claims, your deductible, your credit score, and even the breed of dog you own.

After several calls to different insurance companies, it’s not looking good. What I get so far is that if I decide to gamble and lower my coverage level, I run a risk that something will happen and I’ll be stuck for mammoth amounts of money that insurance won’t cover.

The only thing that’s going to save a few dollars is to pay the whole year upfront and not have to pay the monthly budget fees with every payment.

Take a deep breath before you open your next policy renewal envelope. Good luck.

Cody’s Corner (from page 9) is never playful. If a dog is growling or showing his teeth, he’s warning you: Keep it up and someone’s gonna get bit.

When we spoke on the phone, the man told me he grew up with aggressive dogs. He was raised on a philosophy of dominance, which is why he so casually admits to hitting, pinning, pointing and yelling as his methods of “training.”

Romeo growls in response to this abuse, which is his only way of saying he doesn’t like it. That’s what growling is: a dog’s means of communicating his dissatisfaction, of issuing his warning. Rattlesnakes have rattles. Dogs have growls.

Hubby received a lot of bad advice before calling me: His vet suggested Romeo might grow out of it. A trainer encouraged him not to worry, that Romeo just needs someone to dominate him. I told him the truth: Aggression in puppies is not normal. It is not safe to keep Romeo in a house with children.

How does it happen that a 3-month-old pup is aggressive?

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Final Changes DUE:

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@ gmail.com.

(c) KingFeaturesSyndicate

creating the perfect backdrop that defines you and your style are of utmost importance. Keep in mind this is the room all your girlfriends will rave about and yearn to replicate.

Final

The interior design style of your room can be almost any style you want it to be. It can range from glamorous to sporty, as studious as a small library to serene and spalike. It should, however, be able to meld with the decor of the rest of your home, while also accommodating what is important to you.

The activities you foresee for your room, as well as the size of your room, will help determine the furniture you will need. Certainly, you will need some sort of sofa to sit on, but why not a chaise lounge to sprawl on? Will you be using this room to double as a home office? Then perhaps choose a desk and a desk chair comfortable enough to sit on while working on the computer, writing a note or working on a craft project. If you will have the girls over for a game of canasta or mah-jongg, then you will need a game table with four chairs and small tables for drinks and sandwiches. She sheds can also be places for quiet relaxation. This could be a minimalist room for meditation and yoga, requiring an area rug or wallto-wall carpeting and lots of pillows to allow one to recline or sit cross-legged on the floor.

Let’s not forget other essential components of a she shed: a designated area for a coffee or tea bar, a wine fridge, a cabinet for cards and, on occasion, tasty snacks. Game on!

* * *

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.

When Hubby visited the breeder where he found Romeo, he met Romeo’s mother, who promptly growled at him. Sometimes it’s as simple as bad breeding. That’s when you as a future dog owner must be vigilant. Keep looking. Puppies should be playful. Their mothers should be relaxed.

My belief is not that aggressive dogs can’t or shouldn’t be worked with. It’s that aggressive dogs shouldn’t live in homes with children. It’s too risky. To go back a few years and quote President H.W. Bush, “Not gonna do it. Wouldn’t be prudent.” 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.

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Social Security

Rumors Don’t Pass the “Look, Sound and Quack Test!”

I’m sure you’ve heard that old saying that goes something like this: “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck -- it’s a duck!”

Well, I offer you another version of that old chestnut. And it goes like this: “If it looks like a crazy Social Security rumor, sounds like a crazy Social Security rumor and quacks like a crazy Social Security rumor -- it’s a crazy Social Security rumor!”

Almost every day, people send me emails in which they regurgitate some wacky rumor or myth they’ve heard or read about Social Security. For example, today I got an email from a woman who was complaining about the fact that she was turned down for Social Security disability benefits -- not because she wasn’t disabled, but rather because she didn’t meet the requirement that says she must have worked and paid Social Security taxes in five out of the last 10 years. (That “five out of 10” rule applies only to disability benefits, not retirement benefits.)

After I explained this rule to her, she wrote back and said, “If that’s the case, then how come people who sneak into the country illegally and never work are getting Social Security disability benefits?”

And in another email I got, also about the disability program, a guy complained that his claim was denied. But he said he expected that because he heard that “all disability claims are automatically denied the first time around.”

Both of those rumors don’t pass my “look, sound and quack” test. In other words, they look like crazy rumors, sound like crazy rumors and quack like crazy rumors. So, guess what? They are crazy rumors!

In the first case, no one who hasn’t worked and paid Social Security taxes is getting Social Security disability benefits or any Social Security benefit for that matter -- on their own account. I had to add that caveat because there are people getting Social Security who may not have worked and paid into the system. A good example of that is a woman who never worked outside the home and now collects spousal benefits on her husband’s record. But of course, her husband did work and pay Social Security taxes.

And another caveat. There are certainly some people getting Supplemental Security Income disability benefits who may not have ever worked and paid Social Security taxes. But SSI is a federal welfare program managed by the Social Security Administration, and SSI is not a Social Security benefit and is not paid for out of Social Security taxes. Still, many people confuse the SSI program with Social Security.

Having added those caveats, I can certainly say that no one who entered this country without proper documentation is getting disability or any other benefits from Social Security.

In the second case, it’s just a flat-out lie that “all disability claims are automatically denied the first time around.” In fact, about 35% of first-time

claims are approved. (That number is lower than might be expected because lots of people file for Social Security disability benefits out of desperation -- usually meaning they are just unemployed but not disabled -- and figure it can’t hurt to file for Social Security disability because they are out of work.)

These are just two of maybe thousands of Social Security rumors that are out there floating around -- mostly on the internet -- that don’t pass the “look, sound and quack” test. I’ve always joked that I could write a book called something like “The Top 1,000 Social Security Myths.” But that huge missive would be unwieldy and as thick as the Encyclopedia Britannica!

So instead, I have written a book called “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can get a hard copy of the book for less than 10 bucks at Amazon.com. You can get an electronic version of the book at Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers. The book is divided into two broad sections: political and policy myths, and program and practical myths.

Here is just a sampling of the politically oriented myths that I take on in the first part of the book.

--Social Security is going broke (Hint: the program has fiscal problems that are fixable, and those reforms will keep the system from going belly-up)

--Social Security is a Ponzi scheme

--The government has stolen Social Security money and used it for other purposes

--Illegal immigrants get Social Security benefits

readers, I am a Social Security expert but not much of a Medicare expert.

Here is a sampling of the myths covered in the program and policy part of the book.

--My retirement benefit is based on my highest three years of earnings (or last five, or highest 10 -- just pick your number)

--If I stop working, or work part-time, before I start my Social Security, I will be messing up my future Social Security check

--There are secret or hidden rules about Social Security

--I can take reduced benefits from my spouse and later switch to full benefits on my own record

--All disability claims are denied the first time around

--Children can only get benefits from a deceased parent’s Social Security record

My faithful readers will know that I have written another book about Social Security. It’s called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easyto-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” While there is bound to be some overlap in topics covered in any two books about Social Security, there are important differences between my two books.

I recommend you read the “Simple and Smart” book if you are looking for a practical guide to how Social Security works, with important information about how and when to file for various kinds of Social Security benefits. And it has tips for dealing with issues that crop up once your benefits start.

ADVERTISING PROOF

The second half of the book deals with program myths and is further subdivided into sections clearing up myths about retirement benefits, spousal and widow’s benefits, benefits for children, disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income payments. There is also a small section on Medicare myths -- although, as I always point out to my

Final Changes DUE:

And you should read the “Myths/Facts” book if you are sick and tired of hearing and seeing all the Social Security mumbo-jumbo rumors that just don’t pass the “look, sound and quack” test.

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.” 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 Gethsemane is in the

a) Old testament b) New testament

c) Neither

2. Which Gospel is the only one that mentions Christ's tomb being sealed?

a) Matthew b) Mark c) Luke d) John

3. From Matthew 28:2, who rolled back the stone from the door of Jesus' tomb and sat on it? a) Simon b) An angel

c) Roman guards d) Not specified

4. When the two Marys came upon the risen Jesus, who did he ask them to go to and inform? a) Thomas b) Peter

c) Disciples d) Pilate

5. Which disciple doubted that Jesus had actually risen? a) Peter b) Thaddeus

c) John d) Thomas

6. How long after his resurrection did Jesus remain before his disiples watched him ascend into heaven? a) 3 days

b) 12 days c) 30 days d) 40 days

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

(Answers on page 16)

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

© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Taking Zinc as Daily Supplement Won’t Change Hair Loss

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am having trouble finding a reliable recommendation for the daily supplement zinc. I purchased 50-mg pills, but I think this may be too much. I am 74 and female, and I would like to include zinc in my daily supplements, as my hair has begun thinning quite a bit straight down the top of my head. -- R.M.

ANSWER: Zinc is an important nutrient, and it is certainly true that zinc deficiency may lead to hair loss. However, most people with hair loss do not have a zinc deficiency, and there is no convincing data that giving extra zinc to a person with normal zinc levels will help with hair loss. Hair loss along the midline is consistent with female pattern hair loss, which is very common among women in their 70s and usually has nothing to do with zinc.

Very high amounts of zinc supplementation can be dangerous (and impair your body’s ability to absorb other trace metals such as copper), but 50 mg is a safe amount. Still, the most effective therapies for female pattern hair loss include minoxidil (usually topical, but lowdose oral is increasingly used), spironolactone and finasteride. A dermatologist is the expert on hair loss and can give you a better diagnosis by exam than I can by your description. ***

DEAR DR. ROACH: My youngest son has to have both of his hips replaced. He is only 37, but is in a very strenuous job of being a boilermaker in an oil refinery. This is the hardest job in a heavy industry. His doctors are telling me that his hips deteriorated due to alcohol consumption -- is this even possible? Even if he can get through this ordeal, he is still locked into this physical type of work.

The doctors say he will need another hip replacement in 10 to 15 years if he stays in this line of work. Do you agree with these statements? -- B.M.

ANSWER: Let’s take them one by one. The most common cause of hip disease requiring hip replacement is osteoarthritis of the hips, but it is quite unusual to see someone of your son’s age require a hip replacement. Alcohol is not a recognized risk factor for osteoarthritis of the hips, but it is a known underlying cause of a much less-common condition: osteonecrosis of the hips, also called avascular necrosis.

The more a person drinks, the more likely they are to get this rare condition, even though most heavy drinkers will never get this condition. Not every person with osteonecrosis of the hip will require a hip replacement. It is frequent to have both sides of the hip affected with disease.

Untreated congenital hip dysplasia may also lead to severe hip damage requiring a total hip replacement, and it is also one cause I see in a person of your son’s age.

Prognosis after a modern hip replacement is very good. More than 90% of people are doing well, pain-free and without complications 15 years after surgery takes place.

Of course, some kinds of activities such as heavy lifting and high-impact movements could make the surgical prosthetics wear out faster, but regular activities such as walking, stair climbing and most sports that are not high-intensity or high-impact can be done without damage to the prosthetic.

Although further alcohol use will not affect the prosthetic hips or other bones, many other body systems are very much affected by alcohol. So, if he has been a heavy drinker for some time, it is now time to stop. His doctors can help him find many available resources.

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

Employees Banned From Working at VA

After all the instances of fraud unearthed by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General over the years, I was not surprised to see this special report of something else they uncovered: “Stronger Controls Help Ensure People Barred from Paid Federal Healthcare Jobs Do Not Work for VHA.”

Those who are excluded from getting a VA health-care job are those who previously committed “healthcare fraud, patient abuse, controlled substance violations, or acts subject to license revocation,” among other things such as Medicare fraud.

The Health and Human Services OIG keeps a list of those excluded people, but the VA OIG recently ran a test sample of a single pay period, and yes, they found people on that list employed by the VA.

What apparently happened was that the human resources (hiring) staff didn’t correctly do as they were required by federal law, which is run the names of potential new hires through the list to make sure they hadn’t been excluded from employment. In instances of surname changes, the previous last names weren’t checked even though they were noted on the hiring documents.

But that wasn’t the only error. The VA’s Office of Integrity and Compliance was also required to do a monthly computer check of all Social Security numbers of people being paid to make sure excluded people hadn’t slipped through the employment cracks. They pointed to a computer coding error as the reason they weren’t.

Enter the OIG, who made recommendations so it doesn’t happen in the future. One of those recommendations is to do a comprehensive audit of the Social Security numbers of all VA employees to see if any additional names show up.

There will be new training, of course, of the people who didn’t follow policy, plus written guidelines, plus redundancies with multiple eyes looking at data and processes.

You have to love the VA OIG and the people who work there. Surely they have the highest satisfaction level of any who work in government.

* * *

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.

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

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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 the passengers. The AMVETS Express takes homeless veterans 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 per month. Because we only have three drivers right now on some days we cannot operate for lack of a driver. To apply please call

-- by Jim Miller

Fun Part-Time Jobs Ideas for Retirees

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I'm a 68-year-old retiree and interested in finding an enjoyable, no-pressure part-time job that can occupy some of my time and produce a little extra income. Can you write a column about some low-stress part-time jobs out there that fit this description? -- Part-Time Retiree

Dear Retiree: Working part-time in retirement can be an ideal way to occupy your time and earn some extra income. The key, however, is finding the right gig that’s fun and satisfying for you. While there are literally hundreds of different part-time job opportunities out there for retirees, here are a few possibilities to explore:

Pet Services: If you love animals, consider pet sitting and/or dog walking. Pet sitters who attend to a pet’s needs when their owner is away, can earn $15 to $40 per visit. Dog walkers can make $10 to $30 for a 30-minute walk.

To find these jobs, advertise your services in veterinarians’ offices or online at sites like Craigslist.org or Care.com. Or, if you’d rather work for an organization that offers these services, visit Rover.com

Teach or Tutor: Depending on your expertise, you could substitute teach or tutor students privately on any number of subjects. Substitute teachers typically make between $75 and $125/day, while tutors can earn between $15 to $30 per hour.

To look for substitute teaching positions, contact your local school district to see if they are hiring and what qualifications they require. To advertise tutoring services, use websites like Wyzant.com and Tutor.com.

Or, if you have a bachelor, master or doctoral degree, inquire about adjunct teaching at a nearby college or university.

Driver: If you like to drive, you can get paid to shuttle others around using Uber or Lyft apps, or become a food delivery driver through Instacart or Uber Eats. Drivers make around $15 - $20 per hour.

Final

Babysit: If you like kids, babysitting can be a fun way to put money in your pocket. Hourly rates vary by location ranging anywhere from $10 to $40 per hour. To find jobs or advertise your services, use sites like as Care.com and Sittercity.com

Tour guide: If you live near any historical sites or locations, national parks or museums (anywhere that attracts tourists), inquire about becoming a tour guide. This pays anywhere from $10 to $40/hour.

Write or edit: Many media, corporate and nonprofit websites are looking for freelancers to write, edit or design content for $20 to $60 per hour. To find these jobs try FreelanceWriting.com, FreelanceWritingGigs.com and Freelancer.com

Consult: If you have a lot of valuable expertise in a particular area, offer your services as a consultant through a firm or on your own through freelancer sites like Upwork.com, Fiverr.com, Freelancer.com or Guru.com

Translator or interpreter: If you’re fluent in more than one language you can do part-time interpretation over the phone or translate documents or audio files for $20 to $40/hour. Try sites like Translate.com, ProZ.com or Gengo.com to locate translation jobs.

Public events: Sporting events, festivals, concerts and shows need ticket takers, security guards, ushers, concession workers and more. The pay is usually $10 to $20/ hour. Contact nearby venues to apply.

Tax preparer: If you have tax preparation experience or are willing to take a tax prep course you can find seasonal work preparing tax returns at big-box tax firms like H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt for around $17/hour.

Bookkeeper: If you have a finance or accounting background you can find freelance bookkeeping gigs at sites like Upwork. com and Fiverr.com, or through firms like BelaySolutions.com.

Librarian assistant: If you love books, public libraries hire part-time workers to shelve books, send out overdue notices, help patrons, etc. Contact your local library to see what’s available.

If you don’t find these options appealing, try FlexJobs.com, which lists thousands of flexible work-at-home jobs from more than 5,700 employers. Membership fees start at $10.

provides security and safety in your bath, or any other area in your home. We provide professional installation and a selection of styles and finishes.

by Anne McCollam Creators News Service

Ironstone Gives Collectors the Blues

Q: This is a photo of an antique platter that is part of a service for a 12-set of dishes that I inherited. It was given to my grandparents when they were married around 1900. The set includes serving pieces, and it is in mint condition. Marked on the back of each dish is a crown and the words “Clive -- Royal Semi Porcelain -- Wood and Son -- England -- Reg. 349589.”

I am planning on having the set insured and want to know what the replacement cost might be. Also, anything you can tell me about the history, vintage and value of my set of dishes will be appreciated.

Q: I have enclosed the mark that is on the back of a set of dinnerware that belonged to my mother-in-law. The set is a service for eight.

Each piece is decorated with a garden scene of a man playing a musical instrument and serenading two women. They are all wearing 18th-century clothes, and the edges of all the dishes are trimmed in gold. I remember my mother collecting each individual piece when she went to the movies. What can you tell me about my dishes?

Limoges China Company was in business from 1900 to 1955.

A: Limoges China Company made your dishes. They were located in Sebring, Ohio, from 1900 to 1955 and produced china to compete with fine porcelain made in Limoges, France.

One of the manufacturers in Limoges, France, objected to them using the “Limoges” name, and the name was subsequently changed to the American Limoges China Company.

In the early 1900s especially during the Depression, movie theatres often offered premiums to encourage attendance.

Your set was made between 1930 and 1940 and would probably be worth $200 to $350.

* * *

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

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

A: You have a set of ironstone Flow Blue dishes that was made by Wood and Sons. They have made ironstone and earthenware in Staffordshire, England, since1865. Cobalt Blue was used to create the patterns on white backgrounds from 1820 to the early 1900s. During the process, the color bled or flowed outside the design and appeared blurry, thus the name, Flow Blue.

Myriad patterns were decorated with Asian scenes, landscapes and floral motifs. Although most examples were made in England, many were made in the United States. “Clive” is the name of the pattern and “Reg. 349589” is the British Registry number that shows the design of your dishes was registered in 1899.

Your set should be insured for at least $5,500 to $7,500.

Puzzle Solutions

If only I could reverse the bad effects that aging is having on my body. I'm feeling so youthless.

* On April 10, 1971, a U.S. table tennis team began a week-long visit to the People’s Republic of China at the invitation of China’s communist government as part of an effort to build better relations between the two countries.

* On April 11, 2006, the Amsterdam Historical Museum presented an exhibition of Anne Frank’s private letters. One of them, which was disapproved of by her father, Otto Frank, talked about her friendship with the boy who shared her family’s hiding place. Most of the letters were sent to Anne’s relatives in Switzerland.

* On April 12, 1954, Bill Haley and his band the Comets recorded the rollicking “Rock Around the Clock.” While the song was released in May, it didn’t hit No. 1 on the pop charts until July 1955, after being used as the theme song for the movie “Blackboard Jungle.”

* On April 13, 1999, Jack Kevorkian, aka “Dr. Death,” was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison for the second degree murder of 52-year-old Thomas Youk, who was in the final stages of ALS. Youk’s assisted suicide the previous year was videotaped and shown on the Nov. 23, 1998, broadcast of “60 Minutes.” Kevorkian served eight years before being released on parole for good behavior.

* On April 14, 1956, Ampex Corp. demonstrated its first commercial videotape recorder, the VR-1000. CBS was one of the early TV companies to adopt the technology, which allowed a one-hour long program to be recorded on a single reel of tape.

* On April 15, 1981, Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke relinquished the Pulitzer Prize she had received just two days earlier for her feature “Jimmy’s World,” published in the Post on Sept. 29, 1980, about an 8-year-old heroin addict, after admitting she made up the story.

*On April 16, 1942, the citizens of the Island of Malta were awarded the George Cross by King George VI in honor of their heroic struggle against nearly continuous bombing by German and Italian forces during the early stages of World War II.

©2023 King Features Syndicate

Flow Blue Ironstone was made by Wood and Sons in England.

"Goliath here will be the 4th man on our Best Ball team. His putting is absolutely atrocious, but he can drive a 500 yard green on the fly."

under the name of Crockett Johnson. Johnson had already gained fame for the comic strip “Barnaby” from 1942 to 1952. Harold came along in 1955. The four-year-old boy creates a world of his own with his magical purple crayon, drawing a path and a moon in order to take a walk in the moonlight, among many other adventures. The books were adapted into a 13-episode HBO series in 2002, which won an Emmy award.

• Jack Kent was an artist and author of numerous children’s books, who wrote and illustrated the tale Socks for Supper, a cute little story about a poor old rural couple who had only their own home-grown turnips to eat. Weary of their monotonous diet, the wife decided to knit a pair of socks to trade for some food from their farmer neighbors who had a cow. But the only yarn they had was from her husband’s wool sweater, so she used that. The neighbors gladly traded a bucket of their milk and a wedge of cheese for the socks, and the poor couple at last had a delicious meal on their table at suppertime.

• But the milk and cheese soon ran out and they again had only turnips to eat. So the wife decided to knit another pair of socks, unraveling more yarn from the old man's sweater, and again the neighbor’s wife gladly accepted them in trade for more milk and cheese. They continued to barter this way until the man’s sweater had only enough yarn left to cover his neck -- only enough to knit one more sock.

• The old man returned to their neighbor’s farm hoping this time to trade half a pair of socks for half a bucket of milk and cheese. To his surprise the farmer's wife was delighted, saying one sock was exactly what she needed to finish the sweater she had been kitting for her husband for Christmas, using the yarn she had unraveled from all the previous socks. She took the last sock and gladly gave him the usual amount of milk and cheese.

• But when she had finished the sweater and presented it to her husband, she was dismayed to see that it was far too big for him and didn’t fit at all. Now feeling badly that the old man no longer had a sweater of his own, the lady came to the old couple's home and gave the sweater to him. He happily tried it on -- and it fit him perfectly. □

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

A good finish should have the left leg straight, the right thigh up close to the left leg, the right foot up on the toe, and the upper body arching back slightly. The trick is that the hips are now “tucked under” the upper body or the stomach is pushed forward. Many beginners, or players who don’t have good core strength, will finish with their hips pushed out behind their upper body. Learn to correct the finish by tucking the hips under or pushing your belt buckle forward in order to feel the correct position. Good leg work will assist in correct hip positioning as well.

Controlling chips around the green can be a complicated matter for most golfers. What club do I use? How much swing length? Do I hinge my wrists or not? All are valid questions when deciding how to judge the distance needed to chip it close enough for a one putt.

A great standard for greenside chips that don’t require much air time to get on the green is the knee high stroke. Standard chipping set up has the feet close together, ball right sided, and the club and body leaning toward the target slightly.

The backstroke agenda is to bring the club head back to a knee high height using a firm arm and wrist backstroke. Too much wrist hinge and you’ll go waist high or higher. Too little motion doesn’t give you the height to have a slight downward strike.

Knee Highs ADVERTISING

When I work with a lot of beginning to intermediate players, the finish position requires extra attention. The body is contorting into an unusual position and needs to be balanced to be effective. Advanced players take the finish position for granted, especially when it comes to the small arch in the lower back.

Tuck It Under

Game Changers

Keep the body weight left sided during the entire process. It’s helpful to finish the chip stroke with even a slightly lower clubhead height than achieved on the backstroke. Be firm with the lead wrist through impact preventing a high follow through. Knee high and hold can be a great mantra for your stroke shape on these shots.

ident is depicted on the U.S. $50 bill?

9. LANGUAGE: What does the texting acronym SMH mean?

GO FIGURE!

10. LITERATURE: Where do Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends live? Answers

TRIVIA TEST Answers Answers

by Linda Thistle

1. Taco Bell.

2. “The Carol Burnett Show”

3. Honolulu, Hawaii (Pearl Harbor).

4. Vertebrae.

5. Death Valley, California.

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

2. The Tale of Peter Rabbit

1. Dr. Seuss