Vol. 20: #8 • Tidbits Admires Opals • (2024-02-18) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

by Janet Spencer

It’s said that people in ancient Greece thought opals were formed from the tears of joy shed by Zeus. In reality, opal is formed in subterranean crevices in rock due to the coming and going of silica-laden water over mellennia. Follow along as we explore the facts about this precious, brightly-colored stone that is highly prized by kings and collectors alike!

• The word “opal” dates back to around 250 BC, starting with the Sanskrit “upala” which became the Latin “opalus” meaning “precious stone,” then morphed into the Greek “opalliois” meaning “changing color.”

THE OPAL ORIGIN

• Second only to oxygen, silicon is the most common element in the crust of the Earth. When it combines with oxygen, it forms silica, the major component of sand. When water slowly trickles through silica, some of the silicon dissolves.

• When silicon-rich water becomes trapped in Opals: Turn to page 3

two fingers together.

TRIVIA NEWSFRONT

1. TELEVISION: Which popular Netflix series features groups of teens nicknamed “Kooks” and “Pogues”?

2. HISTORY: When did Facebook launch?

3. MUSIC: Which pop music singer had hits with songs like “Changes” and “Let’s Dance”?

4. GEOGRAPHY: What country possesses the Isle of Wight?

5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of peacocks called?

6. AD SLOGANS: Which company’s advertising slogan is “the ultimate driving machine”?

7. LANGUAGE: What is the Latin phrase often shortened to “i.e.”?

8. MYTHOLOGY: What is the name of the maze that confined the Minotaur?

9. MOVIES: Which movie has the tagline, “Mischief. Mayhem. Soap.”?

10. LITERATURE: Shakespeare is believed to have written approximately how many plays?

Answers

1. “Outer Banks.”

2. 2004.

3. David Bowie.

If you want to be anatomically correct, the proper term for this finger is the digitus minimus manus, but for the rest of us itʼs the pinky. It may look somewhat insignificant, but youʼll be surprised to see how much power his little finger has!

• Whereas your thumb works alongside the index finger and your middle finger in precision work, your pinky works with the ring finger for sheer brute strength. The loss of the pinky means the loss of 50 percent of the gripping strength of the hand. Lose the ring finger as well, and you’ve lost 67 percent of the power of the hand. This is crucial for things like swinging a baseball bat, wielding an axe, using a hammer, or picking up a suitcase. That being said, however, the pinky has the least range of motion of any finger.

• How did it come to be called the pinky? Actually, the only thing that’s certain is that it has nothing to do with the color pink. The color pink sprang from a carnation-like flower called “the pink” that was pink in color. The flower had jagged edges, and when serrated scissors were invented that cut in a saw-tooth pattern, they were named pinking shears. However, the pinky finger has nothing whatsoever to do with any of this.

• There are two schools of thought concerning the name. First is the Dutch word “pink” meaning “small” or “narrow.” “Pinkie” therefore refers to anything that is diminutive in size.

• The second school of thought is composed of language scholars who point out that the German, Swedish, and Danish languages all use the word “finger” and the Dutch say “vinger.” But other Proto-Indo-European languages use the word “pengkrós” meaning “five in number” (as in five fingers), and “pengke” or “penkwe” are diminutive forms of the word, denoting the smallest of the five fingers. But no one really knows for sure which is the true origin of the name.

• It’s difficult to curl your pinky down towards the palm of the hand without the ring finger bending down as well. A muscle in the palm links the

• Give this a try: curl your middle finger down to your palm, then lay your hand flat on a table. Lift up your thumb and put it down again; lift your index finger and lay it down; raise your pinky and set it down. Now lift the ring finger. Bet you can’t!

• Fractures of the pinky finger and the metacarpal - the bone that extends from the base of the finger into the hand - occur about twice as often as fractures to any other finger and metacarpal, including the thumb.

• There are no muscles in the pinky or any of the five fingers. The fingers are all controlled by tendons connected to the muscles in the hand.

• Should you extend your pinky finger while having tea with the Queen? No, you should not, according to etiquette experts. This is considered pretentious snobbery.

• In the U.S., kids often “pinky swear” or “pinky promise” by linking pinkies. Children in Korea and China also do this, adding a thumb stomp to seal a deal. This likely harkens back to the 1600s in Japan, where gangsters would link pinkies when swearing an oath. If that oath were broken, the offender would lose part or all of his pinky.

• In China, holding up the pinky finger is just as offensive as holding up the middle finger is in the U.S. In India, holding up the pinky means, “Go away, I don’t want to speak to you.” In Turkey, people link pinkies to secure a bet. In Russia, when lovers kiss, then entwine their pinkies. In Indonesia, pointing the pinky finger down indicates a need to use the bathroom. And in many Western cultures, wiggling the pinky finger towards a man is a grave insult to his manhood.

• And lest we forget, the pinky is the number one choice for nosepicking, although social etiquette prefers you do this in privacy. 

Week of February 18, 2024

Opals (from page one)

cracks and fissures in underground rock, the water eventually evaporates, leaving the silicon behind. The silicon residue forms into gel-like balls that eventually harden into over time into microscopic spheres.

• The formation process continues relentlessly, repeated over thousands of years of sporadic rainfall, the rise and fall of the water table, or the coming and going of ponds, seas, and streams. Layer upon layer of silicon spheres collect in the same crevice, forming opal gems, each with its own unique coloration and design.

• Sometimes the spheres are piled up in neat and orderly stacks, and other times they end up in random disorderly heaps. Think of this in terms of marbles contained side-by-side on cookie sheets stacked one on top of another.

COLORATION

• When light hits an opal with a regular denselypacked lattice of spheres, the light bounces off the curves of the spheres and illuminates the gem in what is called the “play of light” or “the play of color.” These are called precious opals. When light hits an opal with sloppy disorganized piles of spheres, there is no refraction and no play of light. These lackluster stones are called common opals and display only a hazy-milky sheen or a common translucence. Opal miners refer to these rough and mostly worthless gems as “potch.”

• Different colors are refracted depending on the size of the spheres. Silicon balls 0.2 microns wide refract blue and violet light; silicon balls 0.25 microns wide refract green light; and silicon balls 0.32 microns wide refract red light. This process of white light diffracting into all the colors of the spectrum is called “opalescence.” Every opal is entirely unique

because of its own individual collection of silicon spheres.

• The background of opals, also called the body color, is most commonly white, grey, or green, though it can be all colors of the rainbow. The rarest background color is black, which sets off the play of colors in a spectacular fashion. Black opals are rarer than diamonds and almost as valuable.

WHERE IT'S FOUND

• Opal isn’t technically a mineral because it‘s amorphous, lacking a definite crystalline structure. Instead, it’s classified as a “mineraloid” along with amber, pearls, and obsidian.

• Because opals can form in the smallest subterranean crevices where water seeps in, there have been instances where opal has formed inside bone, teeth, seashells, leaves, snails, and wood, filling the tiniest cavities with opal. Petrified wood has the identical chemical make up as opal.

The largest opal yet discovered was found in southern Australia in 1956. Dubbed "Olympic Austrailis," this astonishing gem weighs over 17,000 carats (more than seven pounds) and is 11 inches long. Due to its amazing purity it was never cut down into jewelry but remains

and uncut.

• Australian opal miners have uncovered opallaced dinosaur fossils, the only place in the world where such phenomena have been found.

• One such example is called “The Virgin Rainbow” and it’s one of the world’s rarest and most expensive opals. It consists of the fossilized shell of an ancient ancestor of the cuttlefish, in which opal has taken the place of the cartilage. It has an estimated worth of over $1 million and is now owned by the Southern Australia Museum in Adelaide.

• Another example is the opalized, fossilized skeleton of “Eric the Pliosaur.” Pliosaurs were large and ferocious marine predators during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. These formidable reptiles grew up to 40 feet long. Eric is a seven-foot specimen discovered in 1987 in Australia, in which not only are parts of the bones made of opal, but also the contents of the stomach containing the animal’s last meal are as well.

• Archeological evidence suggests that humans

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

The French emperor Napoleon

were mining opal in Nevada 8,000 years ago, and in Kenya around 6,000 years ago. But the first historically recorded discovery of opals was in the fourth century B.C. in the area now called Slovakia. Slovakia was the main source of opals until they were later discovered in

Opals: Turn to page 15

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

By Lucie Winborne

● Researchers have developed an algorithm that transforms complex data into musical sounds.

● In 2003, Marvel successfully argued in a U.S. court that mutants were “nonhuman creatures” and, therefore, toys, in order to save on taxes, since X-Men action figures were being imported as dolls but toys have a lower tariff.

● An ostrich can run faster than a horse.

● Seventy-five percent of Japanese homes boast a high-tech toilet, the latest models of which eliminate the need for toilet paper, keep you warm, check your blood pressure, play the sound of running water to, um, drown out your business, and automatically open and shut so you won’t have to touch anything.

● Prior to the adoption of standard time zones in 1883, each city or town set its own local time based on the sun’s position.

● Six years after Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry stated, “They’ll put a man on the moon before I hit a home run,” he struck the only one of his career just hours after Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface.

● Actor George Reeves, who played Superman in the 1950s, once had to deflect a young fan who wanted to test his “invulnerability” by bringing a pistol to a live appearance. Reeves convinced the boy to hand over his gun by warning him that a bystander might be hurt by bullets that bounced off his Superman suit.

You read it in tidbits!

● A 2018 study found that wearing a necktie can reduce the blood flow to your brain by up to 7.5%.

Thought for the Day: “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein.”

-- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

(c)

by Mary Hunt

A Doctor’s Prescription for Overloaded Lives

Bill Smith sits down to his most dreaded chore -- paying bills. Every month, it’s the same story: Pay the most urgent, and leave the rest. There’s never enough money, no matter how hard he works.

blood pressure, chest pain, arrhythmias, hyperacidity, ulcers, back pain, headaches, fatigue, depression, withdrawal, confusion, worry, teeth grinding, jaw-clenching, compulsive shopping, hostility, paranoia, insomnia, burnout, breakdown, addictions -- need I go on?

The way to build margin into our lives is to simplify. That means downscaling, dejunking, reducing expenses and choosing to say no so we can give ourselves the gift of margin.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

Jane Miller flies into the school office frazzled and 30 minutes late because she was 20 minutes late getting out of the dentist’s office because she was 15 minutes late to her appointment. How will she ever get the kids home, their homework started and dinner on the table, and be back out the door in time to chair the PTA meeting at 7:00 p.m?

Tom Johnson gets up every morning at 4:30 to make the 5:30 train for his 90-minute commute into the city. He crams during every spare minute for the classes he’s taking at night. Getting his degree is no longer something Tom can put off.

It’s been weeks since Tom’s made it home for dinner. But what’s he to do? Without a promotion, they will never make it on their single income.

Bill’s, Jane’s and Tom’s situations could not be more different. Yet they share the same problem. They are stretched to the limit.

Bill is living beyond 120% of his income; Jane is presuming upon more than 120% of her time, and Tom is requiring more than 120% of his energy. All are overspent and overloaded and perfect candidates for all kinds of stress-related meltdowns.

Richard A. Swenson, M.D., author of the book “Margin,” explains: “Margin is that space between us and our limits. It’s something held in reserve for contingencies or unanticipated situations. As a society, we’ve forgotten what margin is. In the push for progress, margin has been devoured. We are besieged by anxiety, stress and fatigue. Our relationships suffer. We have unexplained aches and pains. The flood of daily events seems beyond our control.... we are overloaded!”

Sadly, most people regularly commit to a 120% life. It’s rare these days to see a life prescheduled to only 80%, leaving a margin for responding to the unexpected, says Swenson.

Pain characterizes the marginless life. Physical, emotional and spiritual pain is manifested in many different ways, such as increased

Life is too short to live stretched beyond the limit. If you yearn for relief from the pain and pressure of overload, Swenson suggests a daily dose of margin. The benefits of good health, financial stability, fulfilling relationships, peace and joy are what you can expect for your efforts.

I could not recommend Dr. Swenson’s book any more highly. It is an easy read, amazingly insightful, and absolutely helpful. Lifechanging, even!

* * *

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 2024 CREATORS.COM

• In the winter of 1886-87, western artist Charlie Russell was working for the O-H Ranch near Utica, Montana. When the ranch foreman needed to write to Helena to inform the owners of the ranch that all 5,000 head of the stock had died because of the harsh winter, Charlie painted a postcard depicting a starving cow beleaguered by coyotes. The drawing, entitled, “Last of the 5000” became one of his most famous paintings.

• This terrible winter was responsible for ushering in the modern methods of cattle ranching. Previously, cattle had been left to wander free on the Montana prairie, forced to find their own forage. No one brought in bales of hay. At most, there might be a trough of water provided. But that all changed after this disastrous winter. Here is what happened:

• May 1886: A very hot, dry month yields only a half inch of rain, and many days over 90° and 100°F (32° to 38°C) are reported. The calf crop in Montana is unusually large this spring.

• June: Only 3/4 inch (2 cm) of rain falls this month, normally Montana’s wettest month.

• July: On only eight days does the day’s high fall below 90°F (32° C) at Fort Custer. Nearby, Fort Assiniboine (“a-SIN-a-boyn”), named for a local tribe, reports 108°F (42°C). Prairie grasses wither and die everywhere.

• Despite the drought, cattle are shipped into Montana as fast as possible, until there are more than a million head on Montana’s ranges. At that time, Montana is still two years away from being declared a state. The human population of Montana Territory is about 132,000.

• August: Creeks that have never gone dry are now dry. Steamboats are unable to make it up the Missouri River to bring in supplies due to low water levels. Numerous prairie fires burn across the state, further reducing the amount of vegetation. Fort Custer reports 105°F (40.6°C) twice this month

• September.: The Great Falls Tribune reports only two inches (5 cm) of moisture in the past year, while 15 inches (38 cm) is normal.

• October: A Great Falls Tribune article predicts a mild winter.

• November: The first storm hits with six inches (15 cm) of snow, strong winds, and deep drifts.

A few days of drizzle after the storm turns the snow to slush. The temperature then plunges to below zero (-18°C), turning the slush into a crust that cattle are unable to break through to find forage.

• December: A storm begins on Christmas Eve and takes temperatures down to -37°F (-38°C) at Fort Assiniboine. The Missouri River freezes solid at Fort Benton by Dec. 27.

• January 1887: Another storm commences on New Year’s Day. Fort Benton reports that 32 inches (81 cm) of snow fell between Dec. 1 and Jan. 20. Fort Keough reports a record low temperature of -60°F (-45.5°C).

• February: A storm begins on January 29 and continues through February 4. Temperatures of -40° to -50°F (-40 to -55°C) are reported statewide, with wind chill factors dropping as low as -95°F (-70°C).

• The Great Falls Tribune reports that only the rich can afford coal oil. Fence posts are torn down for fuel, as is the old Fort Benton jailhouse. Great Falls runs out of potatoes, and wood sells for $20/cord ($641 in today’s dollars).

• Another storm hits on February 15. Fort Assiniboine’s average temperature for the first 10 days of the month is -20°F (-29°C). On February 27, the long awaited warm spell arrives. All the snow melts in 46°F (8°C) heat and causes massive flooding on the Missouri River.

• March: 60 percent of Montana cattle are dead, including 90 percent of the cattle that had been shipped in the previous summer. Many ranchers are bankrupt. The age of cattle range fencing and modern feeding and watering methods begins.

DEAR DR. CAMPOS: My right hand has been tingling for months. I am afraid it is carpal tunnel syndrome, which I know can only be fixed with surgery. My mother has a friend who has had two surgeries already and she still feels tingling. I am young and do not want to be disabled. What can I do? – M.G.

Answer: Greetings M.G., while it is possible the tingling in your hand is carpal tunnel syndrome, it could also be something else, so the first thing to do is get checked by a doctor. If it is carpal tunnel syndrome, then there are some non-surgical treatments you could try which, in my experience, are highly effective.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a compression of the median nerve (which goes into the hand) at the flexor retinaculum, a connective tissue that protects and stabilizes the tendons that flex the wrist and hand. When compressed, the median nerve can cause feelings of numbness and tingling, as well as hand pain and weakness. The discomfort of carpal tunnel can be continuous and long-lasting; it can become permanent.

The good news is that surgery is not the only effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. You can find full relief and recovery by addressing it conservatively. I would find a chiropractor who has experience in treating carpal tunnel effectively and give that a try before considering more invasive procedures. As your mother’s friend is experiencing, not every carpal tunnel surgery fixes the problem (~20% failure rate), so in my opinion, it is always best to try conservative first

DEAR DR. CAMPOS: Do you treat pregnant women? – J.B.

Answer: Yes, J.B.! I have had many mothersto-be as clients over the last twenty-four years. In fact, many of those children have themselves become chiropractic wellness clients, and some remain my clients to this day. So yes, I treat pregnant women, their children, and their entire families to boot.

Let’s face it, pregnancy can be rough on women’s bodies. Their internal environment shifts, their ligaments loosen, and they can develop things like neck pain, mid-back and lower back pain. So sciatica is quite common among pregnant women.

Further, giving birth itself is like a football game and marathon combined, as birthing mothers use their bodies to the fullest during the process.

Chiropractic is a wonderful healing modality for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum women alike. I have yet to meet a mother who has not completely appreciated the relief chiropractic has provided her. It is a must-do for every mother-to-be.

Dr.

OfficeCamposCranial@gmail.com

by Dana Jackson

Q: Whatever happened to Antonio Sabato Jr.? I saw that his character is back on “General Hospital,” but being played by a different actor. -- K.W.

A: Antonio Sabato Jr. recently expressed his disappointment on social media about not being asked to return to the daytime soap “General Hospital” in the 30 years since he departed it. He theorizes that his conservative political views aren’t in alignment with that of left-leaning Hollywood and that he’s been blacklisted from the ABC soap.

For whatever undisclosed reason, the soap recently recast the role he originated -- John “Jagger” Cates -- with actor Adam J. Harrington. ***

Q: How is Wendy Williams doing since her talk show was canceled? Is she in good health? -- K.J.

A: Wendy Williams was fired from her own syndicated weekday talk show in 2022 and replaced with Sherri Shepherd. Executives reportedly made the decision after not hearing from Williams for months and having 16 different hosts on rotation to fill her chair before ultimately choosing Shepherd. Toward the end of Williams’ very successful career, first in radio and then in television, she was reportedly battling addiction and entered rehab. She was also appointed a guardian by a judge.

Recently, Williams produced a two-part documentary about her recent struggles, which will premiere on Lifetime on Feb. 24. In a preview, she talks about her health issues, but a relative is also shown confronting her for possibly downing a

bottle of vodka in one day.

There are also hints of other health issues besides alcohol abuse, such a known thyroid disorder called Graves disease. One of her family members tells the camera that Williams is “losing [her] memory” and “anyone can look at her and tell this is not just alcohol; there’s something more going on.”

Since the film is produced by Williams and features those who love her, it’s probably not the most objective documentary, but it will at least give fans a glimpse into her life and how she’s been faring. She still has a huge fanbase who cares for her, but her future in show business remains uncertain. ***

Q: Is Catherine O’Hara going to be in a new show or movie anytime soon? I loved her in “Schitt’s Creek” and still watch the reruns. -- B.B.

A: While Catherine O’Hara has been making audiences roar with laughter since her “Second City Television” sketch-comedy days almost 50 years ago, she reached the pinnacle of her fame playing Moira Rose in “Schitt’s Creek.” The Canadian comedy series gained a huge following when it arrived on Netflix, and now at the age of almost 70, O’Hara is busier than ever.

She’s currently in the movie “Argylle,” star-

ring Henry Cavill and Bryce Dallas Howard, and you can still catch her in the Netflix film “Pain Hustlers” with Emily Blunt and Chris Evans. However, it’s her upcoming role in the highly anticipated second season of HBO’s “The Last of Us” that has people talking. No further details have been announced about her role. Production for the new season is set to begin this spring, but the series likely won’t air on HBO and Max until 2025. * * *

Send me your questions at

tra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

1. Split ................................ (PG-13)

James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy

1. Argylle (PG-13) Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard

2. Rings (PG-13)

Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe

2. The Chosen: S4.E1 NR Shahar Isaac, Paras Patel

3. A Dog’s Purpose (PG)

Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid

3. The Beekeeper (R) Jason Statham, Emmy RaverLampman

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

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer

5. La La Land (PG-13)

4. Wonka (PG) Timothee Chalamet, Gustave Die

Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (R)

5. Migration (PG) Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks

Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen

6. Mean Girls

7. Sing (PG)

(PG-13) Angourie Rice, Renee Rapp

animated

7. Anyone But You (R) Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell

8. Lion ................................ (PG-13)

8. American Fiction

Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman

(R) Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross

9. The Space Between Us .. (PG-13)

9. Poor Things

Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield

(R) Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo

10. xXx: Return of Xander

Cage .................................... (PG-13)

Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen

10. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (PG-13) Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

tarragon mixture to coat both sides.

Good Recipes from Tarragon-Rubbed Salmon with Nectarine Salsa

ated ready-to-use piecrust placed in 9-inch pie plate. Add buttermilk mixture.

Fresh nectarine salsa, made with jalapeño chiles, fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro, livens up any grilled dish, especially succulent salmon fillets.

2 tablespoons chopped red onion

2 large, ripe nectarines

1 small red pepper

1 jalapeño chile

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon dried tarragon

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper 4 pieces skinless salmon fillet

1 teaspoon olive oil

1. Grease clean grill grate. Prepare outdoor grill for covered, direct grilling on medium.

2. Meanwhile, in cup, place chopped red onion; cover with cold water and let sit 10 minutes. (This will take some of the sharpness out of the raw onion.) In medium bowl, stir together remaining salsa ingredients: chopped nectarines, chopped red pepper, finely chopped jalapeňo, lime juice, cilantro and 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside.

3. In small bowl, combine tarragon, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper. Brush salmon with oil and rub with

4. Place salmon on hot grill grate. Cover grill and cook salmon 8 to 10 minutes or until it turns opaque throughout, turning over once with large spatula. Transfer to platter.

5. Drain onion well. Stir onion into nec tarine mixture. Serve nectarine salsa with grilled salmon. Serves 4.

Tip: We love the ease of salmon fillets, but if you find it easier to cook and turn salmon steaks, simply use the 10-minutes-per-inch-ofthickness rule as a guide for your cooking time.

Nectarine Custard Pie

Juicy, ripe nectarines are delicious enough to eat unadorned; however, they’re just as tasty in this custard pie. And each one is loaded with potassium, magnesium and healthy fiber, but has a virtuously slim 62 calories. What could be better?

3/4 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

3. Bake 40 minutes or until just set, covering edges if over-browning. Cool completely. Serves 8.

4 cup chopped nectarines

1. Whisk buttermilk, sugar, eggs, all-purpose flour and salt in bowl until smooth.

2. Spread chopped nectarines in refriger-

2/18 Pluto Discovery Day

2/19 Presidents' Day

2/20 Hockey is for Everyone Day

2/21 World Kombucha Day

2/22 George Washington's Birthday

2/23 Iwo Jima Flag Raising Day

2/24 Forget Me Not Day

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Responsible Dog Breeder Seeks Responsible Dog Owner

A while back, I highlighted the focused attention a responsible breeder brings to the first five weeks of a dog’s life. But the work doesn’t stop at week five, and the benefits of perseverance last a lifetime.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi breeders Steve and Kelly Porter believe that “from the moment puppies enter the world, they begin to learn and understand. We work to get newborn puppies to be confident and comfortable with their surroundings. The result is a firm foundation for training, which will ensure a happy, mentally healthy and eager-to learn-dog.”

The Porters spend upward of 12 weeks “exposing every pup to as many textures and sounds and experiences with people, animals and objects as possible -- all in an effort to increase each puppy’s self-awareness and confidence.”

The intelligence behind the Porters’ puppyrearing methods is born of their knowledge of the stages of a dog’s development. Equally important are their efforts to devote space and time to promote the individuality of each dog. This provides a gauge for how and when to introduce a pup to the many faces of the world at large.

Every nuance of this process ultimately serves both the dog and his future owner. Responsible breeders make every effort to raise healthy, confident dogs. For most, the reward is in the journey, which ends not with the sale of a puppy but with the making of a perfect match.

Tidbits® Word Search

"S tellar Stones"

The créme de la créme of breeders don’t sell dogs; they interview people. They have more than a financial stake in their dogs. They have a heart investment. They have a bond. And they’re looking for an owner who will give “their” dog the love and attention he deserves -- and to which he’s become accustomed.

Some dog lovers have strong ideas of where a person should get their dog. Many people who

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

How to Get Financial Help

A survey released last month indicated that consumer sentiment was higher than it’s been in quite a while, specifically since the summer of 2021. This is supposed to be a good thing, according to the report.

The first thing I needed to do was look up the definition of “consumer sentiment,” and here's what I found: It’s basically a summary of how we feel about the state of the economy and our own finances. It's supposedly an indicator of how positive we citizens are about our nation's short-term and long-term economic growth.

According to the survey, this positivity was expressed by the majority of Americans everywhere, regardless of age, income, education and income. Where one happens to live didn’t matter in this study.

How they ever came to these positive opinion results is a mystery to me. One thing I can say for certain is that none of their participants live in my area.

The conclusions they gathered from their national poll bothered me - a lot. So I took it on myself to do my own informal poll of local friends and acquaintances, and here is what I learned:

-- Going to the grocery store these past two or three years has become an experience filled with tension and anxiety. We never know what prices will be this week, whether we’ll be able to buy what we need and still stick to our budget, or whether we’ll need to have soup and sandwiches for dinner three times this week instead of two.

-- Going to the food bank is still embarrassing, but we have to do it anyway, usually before making a trip to the grocery store and planning meals around what we've been able to pick up there. Then there are the increasing expenses of household utilities and interest rates.

This is a far cry from the survey's "positivity" findings that are supposedly factual.

If you don't see yourself in the "consumer sentiment" findings, and my poll more accurately fits your situation, consider looking into the National Council On Aging Benefits CheckUp. Every year billions of government dollars aren’t claimed, mostly because seniors don’t know about it. Specifically, there is money out there to help us pay for groceries, utilities, prescriptions, etc.

To get help, call the Benefits CheckUp helpline at 800-794-6559. You can also go online directly to benefitscheckup.org to see if you’re eligible for any of the help. You don’t need to sign up. You will still be shown a list of help options. I ended up with a list of over 80 programs.

* * *

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

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

turn to a breeder have a specific reason for doing so. There’s a reason farmers love collies. There’s a reason hunters have a proclivity toward retrievers. There’s a reason K-9 units are almost exclusively staffed with German shepherds and search-andrescue teams usually include a trusty hound dog.

Some people want dogs for protection. Others need dogs for physical or psychological reasons. There are even those people for whom a certain type of dog is literally prescribed.

The important thing is to know your options, and a good dog breeder is certainly one of them. So if you’re the proud owner of a golf course haunted by gophers, go and out and find the best Jack Russell terrier breeder around. You won’t regret it, and now you know what to look for.

Woof!

* * *

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

wife wants to file anyway. Who is right?

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Retirees With ‘Disabled Adult Children’

This is going to be a column about DACs. And what’s that? It’s the abbreviation the Social Security Administration uses to refer to “disabled adult children.” Here is some background.

Since almost the beginning of the Social Security program in the 1930s, minor children have qualified for benefits on a retiree’s record. A child gets an amount equal to one half of the retiree’s full retirement age benefit rate, subject to rules that limit how much a family with children can get in total monthly benefits. (Those rules are too messy to explain in today’s column.)

Benefits to kids usually stop once the child turns 18. But those benefits can continue indefinitely if the child is disabled. Let me clarify that a little more: More often than not, once retirees reach Social Security age, they no longer have minor children at home. But they possibly could have a disabled “adult child” still at home or living on their own or in some kind of facility that cares for disabled adults. And the law says if that “child” was disabled before the age of 22, he or she will get DAC benefits. And just like a minor child, that DAC will get an amount equal to 50% of the retiree’s FRA benefit rate. (When the retiree dies, that bumps up to a 75% rate.)

That all sounds relatively simple. But now, let me throw in a little twist. Very often, these disabled adult children will be getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits before mom or dad files for Social Security. SSI is a federal welfare program that pays a small monthly stipend (currently around $940 -- although it can be less) to old folks or disabled people who are poor. While a disabled child is young and living at home, the income and assets of the parents are counted in the SSI calculation and that usually keeps the child from getting SSI. But once the child turns 18, the parents’ resources no longer count. So lots of these “disabled adult children” get SSI benefits until one or both parents file for Social Security -- at which point the child is switched from SSI to Social Security DAC benefits.

And that switch must be made. Why? Because SSI is a welfare program, and welfare rules state that if a person is on SSI, he or she must file for any other benefits they might be due.

One other point. SSI benefits almost always come with full Medicaid coverage. (Medicaid is kind of like the welfare version of Medicare.) Although the rules can vary from state to state, they generally say that if someone loses their SSI because they start getting DAC benefits, the Medicaid coverage can continue.

To help clarify things even more, here are answers to questions from folks who have a disabled adult child.

Q: I am 64 and plan on waiting until my full retirement age to file for benefits. I will get $3,700 per month then. My wife is about to turn 62. She’ll get $1,400 per month if she files for her own Social Security. We have a 32-year-old developmentally disabled daughter getting $934 in SSI benefits. I don’t think my wife should file for Social Security because our daughter will lose her SSI. My

A: I’m not a financial planner. But I think your wife is right. If she files, your daughter will get an amount equal to one-half of your wife’s full retirement age benefit rate. If her age 62 benefit is $1,400, her FRA rate must be about $2,000. And half of that, or $1,000, would be your daughter’s DAC benefit. And that is more than your daughter’s current $934 SSI check. So your wife and daughter are financially ahead to file for Social Security. (And again, your daughter will likely keep her Medicaid coverage.)

Oh -- and when you file for your own benefits down the road, your daughter will be switched to 50% of your much higher monthly benefit.

And just coincidentally, I had another email from a couple with almost the same circumstances as those just discussed, with one difference. In this case, the wife’s FRA benefit rate was only $1,600, meaning their disabled daughter would be due $800 in DAC benefits. And they didn’t want the wife to file for Social Security because the DAC rate of $800 is less than the $934 check the daughter currently gets.

But I explained to them that even though the daughter would get $800 in DAC benefits, only $780 of that counts against her SSI check. (Don’t ask me why!) In other words, the daughter would get $800 in Social Security DAC benefits and $154 in SSI benefits ($934 minus $780 equals $154). So the daughter would end up with $954 in total monthly benefits -- compared to the $934 she gets now.

Q: I am about to turn 62. I am thinking of retiring and taking my Social Security. However, everyone I know tells me I’d be foolish to do that. They all tell me to wait at least until age 67 when I can get full benefits. And others suggest I wait even longer -- until age

70. What do you think? And FYI: my wife and I have a 22-year-old son who has been mentally disabled since birth. My wife is 60 and stays home to care for our son.

A: When I read the first couple lines of your email, I was ready to give you my stock response when people ask me if they should retire early and take reduced Social Security benefits or wait until a later date to get higher benefits. That response essentially tells people to decide if they want more money at the front end of their senior years -- by taking reduced retirement benefits; or more money in their later years -- by waiting until 67 or 70 to start their Social Security.

But the fact that you have a disabled son changes everything. And that’s because he, and possibly your wife, will be eligible for benefits as soon as you sign up for your Social Security. In other words, by waiting until a later age to apply for benefits, not only are you foregoing your own monthly checks, but you’d be throwing away tens of thousands of dollars in benefits due to your family.

As explained above, your son gets a rate equal to 50% of your full age 67 rate, even if you take benefits at age 62. And if your wife is not working, she is also potentially due benefits as the dependent caregiver of a disabled child. She, too, would get the 50% rate. But as I said earlier, the “family maximum” rules could limit what you all receive each month. You will have to talk to the Social Security people about that.

But the bottom line message to you is this: The combination of benefits due your wife and son make those reduced retirement benefits a pretty attractive option for you to consider.

* * *

ADVERTISING PROOF

Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling

Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com

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

2. From, 1 John 3:18, "Let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in ..."? a) Truth b) Abundance c) Touch d) Wisdom

3. In Proverbs 10:12, "Hatred stirreth up strifes, but love covereth all ______." a) Creation b) Enemies c) People d) Sins

4. Which Old Testament book reads like a love story? a) Esther b) Song of Solomon c) Ruth d) Habakkuk

5. Where does one find the phrase, "God is love"? a) Genesis b) Nehemiah c) Hebrews d) 1 John

6. From Hebrews 13:4, what is honorable in all? a) Forgiveness b) Honesty c) Marriage d) Love

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

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. (If ordering the “Simple and Smart” book from Amazon, click on “See all formats and editions” to make sure you are getting the 2024 edition.) Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM

© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Sudden Foot Pain After a Concert Becomes

Debilitating

DEAR DR. ROACH: My daughter and her friend went to a concert and had to climb stairs. They ended up walking about 2.5 miles in total. After returning home, my daughter had severe pain in both of her feet and was unable to stand or walk on them. She said it felt like someone was crushing them.

The pain did not get better, so she went to the emergency room a few days later. A doctor there performed an X-ray and said that the pain was due to bunions, although they did not even look at her feet. She also saw a foot specialist who told her that the diagnosis was neuropathy of the feet and recommended Neurontin for pain. He asked her if she has diabetes, but she does not. They told my daughter that she will have to live in pain for the rest of her life.

The doctor recommended getting some tests done on her nerves at the hospital, but she doesn’t have money to pay for these tests. What can be done to help her? How is it possible that the pain started so suddenly? She is in constant pain and is unable to walk. -- K.B.

ANSWER: “Neuropathy” is not a diagnosis; it’s a name for a diverse group of diseases that cause damage to the nerves, specifically signifying the nerves in the brain and spinal cord or those outside of them.

The recommendation of getting nerve testing done is correct. This does sound like neuropathy from the little bit of information I have, although neuropathies do not typically begin with exercise the way you described. I have seen several cases where muscles have become terribly inflamed and even break down after a period of unusually strenuous exertion (this usually gets better with time), but I would have expected the doctors to make that diagnosis.

There is a compressive neuropathy in the foot (tarsal tunnel syndrome) where the nerve is damaged by pressure from muscles, bones and connective tissue, but this happening to both feet at the same time would be surprising. Metabolic neuropathies, like B12 deficiency, cause symptoms on both sides but do not begin suddenly. I’d be worried about her lower spine.

I don’t know what your daughter’s financial situation is, whether she might be eligible for Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act, or whether there is a free medical clinic near you. I have had many patients make just enough money that they don’t qualify for Medicaid, but are unable to afford commercial insurance and don’t get it through work. ***

DEAR DR. ROACH: What is your opinion of laser therapy for joint pain? What are the risks and benefits? -- M.J.

ANSWER: Low-level laser therapy, sometimes called cold laser, is thought to improve circulation, lessen inflammation and decrease pain sensitivity when applied to the skin over a joint with osteoarthritis, such as the knee.

In several reviews of small studies, laser treatment provides a modest benefit in decreasing pain, disability and stiffness when compared to a treatment that appeared the same to the participant but did not use the same kind of laser.

(In the most stringent studies, even the person using the laser didn’t know whether it was set to the effective treatment or not.) Muscle strength was also increased. In these studies, no adverse effects were noted.

However, this therapy is still regarded as experimental, so it is not usually covered by insurance. Generally, insurance companies will cover treatments once enough evidence accumulates to prove them effective.

* * *

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

(c) 2024 North America Synd., Inc.

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

Double Benefits for Education

Per a Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VAOIG) report, veterans who are enrolled at the same time in two different education programs are receiving housing allowance benefits from both.

The two programs are the Post-9/11 GI Bill and VET TEC. Oddly enough, there’s no prohibition against the double payments because the way that the VET TEC program was established isn’t the same as other education programs (such as the Montgomery GI Bill) that specifically ban dual benefits. In other programs, a veteran must choose between one set of benefits or the other.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill program consists of three or four years of benefits that include books and supplies, tuition and a housing allowance.

The VET TEC program focuses on hightech training through specific providers. Benefits include the cost of classes and a housing allowance.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) took 30 random veterans to study and determined that all of them received dual housing allowance benefits, averaging $3,100.

They were also able to identify 249 veterans whose training and education programs overlapped, and calculated how many days that included and how much in housing benefits were paid. In the first example in the OIG report, the veteran received over $12,000 for 105 overlapping days. In the second example, the veteran received nearly $11,000 for 58 overlapping days.

The VBA tried, says the report, to halt the dual housing payments. They were informed by attorneys that it wouldn’t be “veteran-friendly” to reduce benefits and that no laws were being broken in paying the dual benefits. Only in other programs was the veteran required to only pick one program for benefits.

Congress stepped in with bill amendments to continue the VET TEC program past the end of the pilot period (the five-year pilot will end in April 2024), but according to the OIG report, the bills don’t prevent “the concurrent receipt of educational benefits, including monthly housing allowance payments.”

If you’d like to read the whole report, go to http://tinyurl.com/43z96am2.

* * *

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.

-- by Jim Miller

Do I Need to File a Tax Return This Year?

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: What are the IRS income tax filing requirements for retirees this tax season? I didn’t file a tax return for the past two years because my income was below the filing threshold, but I got a part-time job late last year, so I’m wondering if that means I’m required to file this year.

-- Retired Worker

Dear Retired: Whether or not you are required to file a federal income tax return this year will depend on how much you earned last year (in 2023), as well as the source of the income, your age and filing status. Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s IRS tax filing requirement thresholds:

For most people, this is pretty straightforward. If your 2023 gross income – which includes all taxable income, not counting your Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately – was below the threshold for your filing status and age, you probably won’t have to file. But if it’s over that amount, you will. Here is the breakdown:

● Single: $13,850 ($15,700 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2023).

● Married filing jointly: $27,700 ($29,200

if you or your spouse is 65 or older; or $30,700 if you’re both over 65).

● Married filing separately: $5 at any age.

● Head of household: $20,800 ($22,650 if 65 or older).

● Qualifying surviving spouse: $27,700 ($29,200 if 65 or older).

To get a detailed breakdown on federal filing requirements, along with information on taxable and nontaxable income, call the IRS at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the “1040 and 1040-SR Instructions for Tax Year 2023,” or you can see it online at IRS. gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf.

Check Here Too

Be aware that there are other financial situations that can require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirements. For example, if you earned more than $400 from self-employment in 2023, owe any taxes on an IRA, Health Savings Account or an alternative minimum tax, or get premium tax credits because you, your spouse or a dependent is enrolled in a Health Insurance Marketplace plan, you’ll need to file.

You’ll also need to file if you’re receiving Social Security benefits, and one-half of your benefits plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest exceeds $25,000, or $32,000 if you’re married and filing jointly.

To figure all this out, the IRS offers an online tax tool that asks a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file, or if you should file because you’re due a refund. It takes less than 15 minutes to complete.

You can access this tool at IRS.gov/Help/ ITA – click on “Do I Need to File a Tax Return?” Or you can get assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800-829-1040.

Check Your State

Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, don’t assume that you’re also excused from filing state income taxes. The rules for your state might be very different. Check with your state tax agency before concluding that you’re entirely in the clear. For links to state tax agencies see Taxadmin.org/fta-members

Tax Preparation Help

If you find that you do need to file a tax

return this year, you can free file through the IRS at IRS.gov/FreeFile if your 2023 adjusted gross income was below $79,000.

Or, if you need some help, contact the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TCE provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call 800-906-9887 or visit IRS.treasury.gov/freetaxprep to locate services near you.

Final Changes DUE:

Please review carefully.

Contact your Tidbits representative

Office: 760-320-0997 email:

You can also get tax preparation assistance through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide service. Call 888-227-7669 or visit AARP.org/ findtaxhelp for more information. You don’t have to be an AARP member to use this service.

beauty of the magical light, brilliant colors and the essence of the native people in Taos.

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

by Anne McCollam

Couse’s original paintings are highly desirable and very valuable, and many are in some of the finer museums in the United States. The railway officials commissioned the artists to paint scenes of Native Americans and landscapes that were used on calendars and posters to encourage travel by train to the Southwest. The Santa Fe emblem in the painting represents the railway line. W. J. Black was the printmaker, and the hole at the top was for hanging the original calendar.

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT. 257

Painting Captures the Beauty of the Southwest

Your print would probably fetch $25 to $50 in an antiques shop.

***

MOMENTS IN TIME #12345_20240205

FOR RELEASE FEB. 5, 2024

Q: This is a photo of a print of a painting of a Native American Indian. It is on cardboard, measures 14 inches wide by 12 inches high, and has a hole at the top. Marked on the lower border are the words “Copyright 1917 by W. J. Black -- The Pueblo Weaver -- Grand Canyon Line -- From Painting by E. I. Couse, N. A.” There is a Santa Fe emblem on the wall behind the weaver. Taped on the back is a printed explanation of the painting.

According to this information, the painting represents a young Pueblo man who is weaving a blanket for his soon-to-be bride. It was the custom among Pueblo natives for men to weave blankets and sashes. The older men of the tribe taught them. There is evidence the lower portion of the print has been cut off.

What can you tell me about my print?

A: Based on your information, you have the top portion of a 1917 travel calendar. The Grand Canyon Line was part of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company. The line ran between Williams, Arizona and Grand Canyon National Park.

The original oil painting titled “The Pueblo Weaver” was painted by Irving Couse. He was one of the founders of the Taos Society of Artists that began in Taos, N.M., in 1915. He captured the

Q: I have enclosed a drawing that I sketched of the mark that is on a set of dishes that must be over 60 years old. The set is a service for eight and is in perfect condition. Each dish is decorated with flowers that look like Queen Anne’s lace. They are pink, green and yellow, with pale brown stems against a cream background. The flower design is offset rather than in the center.

What can you tell me about my dishes and their possible worth?

A: Steubenville Pottery Company made your mid-20th century dinnerware. It was located in Steubenville, Ohio, from 1879 to 1960. The pattern is “Dainty Lace.”

Your dinnerware would probably be worth $150 to $250.

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

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

• On Feb. 19, 1906, American industrialist W.K. Kellogg teamed with Charles C. Bolin to found the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company, now known as the multinational food manufacturer Kellogg’s, after 25 years of working for his brother, John Harvey Kellogg, and buying out his in-debt brother’s business.

• On Feb. 20, 1935, DanishNorwegian explorer Caroline Mikkelsen became the first woman to set foot on Antarctica, though whether on the mainland or on an island is disputed. A small coastal mountain discovered that day is named for her.

• On Feb. 21, 1947, Edwin H. Land publicly demonstrated his instant camera, called the Land Camera, which could produce a black-and-white photograph in just 60 seconds. Two years later he put 57 Polaroid Land Cameras in Boston’s Jordan Marsh department store before Christmas, and they sold out within the first day after their demonstration.

• On Feb. 22, 1989, Tina Turner won a Grammy award at age 49 for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for her album “Tina Live in Europe,” featuring recordings from her Private Dancer and Break Every Rule tours.

• On Feb. 23, 2011, 77-year-old broadcaster Larry King announced plans to conduct a one-man comedy tour after retiring from his popular talk show on CNN. The new venture was set to begin in April of that year in Connecticut and end in June in Las Vegas.

• On Feb. 24, 1836, showman P.T. Barnum exhibited an African American slave, Joice Heth, with the claim that she was the 161-year-old former nursemaid to George Washington. After her death from natural causes, and a public autopsy by a respected physician who claimed she was no more than 79 or 80, Barnum eventually admitted to the hoax, which was frequently mentioned by his critics and followed him for the remainder of his career.

• On Feb. 25, 1993, the Florida Marlins introduced their 8-foot-tall, 250-pound mascot, Billy the Marlin. Reportedly, the team’s original owner, Wayne Huizenga, chose the name for the fan-friendly fish.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

"Your intoxicating beauty has made me forget my problems, my inhibitions, my wallet. Would you mind paying the check?"

Grand Canyon Line travel calendar was made in 1917.

Steubenville Pottery Company was in business from 1879 to 1960.

Australia in the late 1800s.

• The town of Coober Pedy in South Australia (population 2,500) is known as the “opal capital of the world.” The town’s name springs from an Aboriginal term “kupa-piti” meaning “white fellas’ hole” referring to the fact that many of the town’s homes are cave-like abodes dug into the side of cliffs and embankments to protect them from the scorching heat of the Australian desert.

• The opal fields of Australia are bigger than the opal fields of the rest of the world combined. Opals are Australia’s national gemstone.

• The first clue that there are opals on Mars came with the discovery of a meteorite which originated from Mars that fell in 1911 in Egypt. The traces of opal found in the rock suggested that there was once water on the planet for a long enough time to form opal. Photos of Mars taken in 2008 by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter showed images of materials that scientists concluded were likely opal. In 2018, the Curiosity rover found traces of opal on the surface of the planet.

• If you wear opals, be aware that they are not as resistant to damage as other harder gems. Avoid exposing them to extreme heat, ultrasonic cleaners, and harsh chemicals. Don’t wear them during heavy physical activity to avoid cracking. Jewelers recommend storing them in a soft cloth bag to protect from scratches, and some advocate keeping them sealed inside a plastic baggie to preserve their moisture. 

to orient the hand into a much better position. The thumb acts as a bridge to support the club and provides effortless “strength” as well. Don’t let the thumb be on the side of the grip by the top position since it can overly close the clubface in the swing.

1. TELEVISION: Which popular Netflix series features groups of teens nicknamed “Kooks” and “Pogues”?

2. HISTORY: When did Facebook launch?

3. MUSIC: Which pop music singer had hits with songs like “Changes” and “Let’s Dance”?

4. GEOGRAPHY: What country possesses the Isle of Wight?

5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of peacocks called?

6. AD SLOGANS: Which company’s advertising slogan is “the ultimate driving machine”?

7. LANGUAGE: What is the Latin phrase often shortened to “i.e.”?

8. MYTHOLOGY: What is the name of the maze that confined the Minotaur?

9. MOVIES: Which movie has the tagline, “Mischief. Mayhem. Soap.”?

10. LITERATURE: Shakespeare is believed to have written approximately how many plays?

Answers

1. “Outer Banks.”

2. 2004.

3. David Bowie.

4. England.

5. An ostentation or a pride.

6. BMW.

7. Id est (that is).

8. The Labyrinth.

9. “Fight Club.”

10. 37.

by Linda Thistle