Tidbits of Pulaski County Issue 76

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of Pulaski CountyIssue 76November 2, 2011

TIDBITS® IS FLYING SOUTH WITH

THE BIRDS by Patricia L. Cook

As the daylight hours shrink and the weather cools, heralding the coming of winter, wouldn’t you like to be like the birds and just head south? This Tidbits will explore the interesting phenomenon of bird migration.

•According to freedictionary.com, migration is“seasonal movement of a complete population of animals from one area to another. Migration is usually a response to changes in temperature, food supply, or the amount of daylight, and is often undertaken for the purpose of breeding.”

• Ifyouspendtimeincoldclimates,youcaneasilyunderstand the advantage birds gain byflyingsouth in the winter. Cold temperatures and the lack of food make it quite unattractive to stay in the north where snow and ice cover the ground.

•Approximately4,000speciesofbirdsareregularmigrants.That’sabout40percentofthetotalbirdspecies in the world. In North America, there are aboutfivebillion landbirds from500 speciesthat leave their nesting areas and choose to spend winter south of the border. It is estimated that more than 100 species that spend their summer breeding time in the United States leave the country in the winter for the warmer climates of the West Indies and/or Latin America.

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Games...........................................................Pg. 2Veteran’s Post (Military Life Column)............Pg. 2Tidbits Classifieds.........................................Pg. 3Community Calendar.....................................Pg. 3Pet Bits (Pet Advice Column)...........................Pg. 4Health Bits (Health Advice Column).................Pg. 4Dining Guide..................................................Pg. 5Strange But True (Fun Facts)..........................Pg. 5Trivia..............................................................Pg. 6Moments in Time...........................................Pg. 6Senior News Line..........................................Pg. 7Horoscopes...................................................Pg. 7Answers (Trivia & Games)..................................Pg. 7Home Improvement Tips...............................Pg. 8

Table of Contents:

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Page 2 Tidbits® of Pulaski County THE BIRDS (continued):

•Muchfoodneededbybirdsisnotavailableincold climates during winter: seeds, fruits and insects are absent or covered with snow. Mice and small mammals, food for larger birds, hibernate or hide from the cold.

•Birdstaketheircuesfortimingmigrationfromnature. The change in daylight hours, not the weather, is what spurs them to fatten up for their long journeys south. Weather is unpredictable, but daylight hours change the same way every year.

•ThenorthernU.S.states,Canadaandevenasfarnorth as the Arctic provide the breeding grounds for many birds. After breeding and spending longdaystweetingandflyinginthenorth,birdsstart eating extra food to prepare for migration as the days get shorter. Many increase their size substantially to help them endure migration. Someflyextremedistancesatamazinglyhighaltitudes.

•Not surprisingly, larger birds fly faster thansmallerones.Speedsrangefrom20-50milesperhour(32-80km/hr).Someflocksflyforabout10hoursaday,whichcouldbeasmuchas500miles!Studieshaveshownthatmostbirdsflylower than 10,000 feet (3 km), but some have been recorded flying as high as 29,000 feet(9,000m)!

•Theheightrecordisheldbybar-headedgeese,known for crossing the Himalayas at heights upto29,000feet(9,000m),travelingbetweencentral Asia and India.

Finally there’s a study that matches apples with apples: BaylorUniversity researchers soughtto compare the illnesses of veterans with the conditions of their actual deployment. Report-ed in the Environmental Health Perspectives September 2011 issue, “Complex Factors in the Etiology of Gulf War Illness” takes a look at veterans who served in Gulf War I back in 1990-1991.

The report says that one-fourth of Gulf War I veterans have pain, memory problems, gut and breathing problems, mood problems and head-aches -- illnesses that are grouped together and called Gulf War Illness, or GWI. The types of illnesses depend on the location served, says the research, and subgroups of those locations havebeenidentified.

For example, certain illness in veterans who served in Iraq or Kuwait are likely due to the pyridostigmine bromide pills given as a nerve gas antidote. Veterans who weren’t necessarily on the front lines were subjected to pesticides, with worse effects if their uniforms were treat-edwithpesticidesortheyalsoworefleacol-lars. Those in Kuwait were exposed to oil-well fires.Everyonegotmultiplevaccines.

Researchers used questionnaires and got down to map level, along the lines of, “Where you were? What was your role? How long where you there?” Participants were asked about each of19differentexperiences, suchas,whetherthey had actual contact with destroyed enemy vehicles or were within 1 mile of a SCUD mis-sile.

Bottom line: Itdependswhereyouwereandwhat you were doing. If you have a so-far un-diagnosed illness, this research can be helpful in establishing a claim with the VA.

Tofindthewholedocument(notjusttheAb-stract) put the whole title in Google -- “Com-plex Factors in the Etiology of Gulf War Ill-ness” -- and click the “More” menu at the top, then select “Documents.”

Study Pinpoints Gulf War Illness

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for FREE in Tidbits please email: [email protected] 4, 5pm - 10pmShop Local Event. Visit ItsAllHereLocal.com for more infoNovember 5, 8:30am - 11:30amMiles From Home / Grand Opening 5K Run/Walk start-ing in Crocker Park ending at the Loving Paws adoption centerNovember 5, 9am - 4pm36th Annual Waynesville Study Club Fall FestivalNovember 5, 1pmHaunted Hounds Pet Parade at Paw Park, FLWNovember 6, 2pmOSS Foundation’s 28th Annual Meeting in the Pulaski County Courthouse Community RoomNovember 11, 11amVeterans Day Ceremony & ParadeNovember 11, 7:30am - November 12, 12:30amVFW Post 3168 Veteran’s Day Celebration

November 19, 9am - 3pmRichland’s Christmas Bazaar at the Richland City Hall GymNovember 19, 9am - 5pmAnnual Holiday Craft & Antique FairNovember 19, 10am5k Turkey Trot at the Outdoor Adventure Center, FLWNovember 24 - Thanksgiving HolidayNovember 25 & 26, 7:30pmPFAA Production of Mistletoe MischiefNovember 26, 9am - 4pmShow Me Bazaar-Holiday Edition at the WHS gymDecember 1, 6pm - 9pmChristmas on the SquareDecember 9 - 17, 6pmChristmas in the park light display at Rolla Lions Club ParkDecember 4, 4pm - 7pmHoliday in the Park, St. Robert

Tidbits® of Pulaski County Page 4

THE BIRDS (continued):•A mallard holds the record for the highestdocumentedflight altitude for abird inNorthAmerica. The duck met his demise when he hit anairplaneat21,000feet(6,400m).

• A flock of whooper swans was observed at27,000 feet (8,230 m) by a pilot as they moved from Iceland to Western Europe.

•TheArcticternhasthelongestannualmigrationinnot just the bird world, but also the entire animal kingdom!Itfliesfromthefarnorth,inornearthe Arctic, where summer days are longest, to its wintering grounds in the southern hemisphere off of Antarctica, where days are longest from November to February, which is summer there. The Arctic tern probably encounters more sunlight during the year than any other creature on the planet. Arctic terns travel approximately 22,000miles(35,400km)formigrationannually.They live many years with the longest on record living34years.Thataddsuptoalotoffrequentfliermiles!

•Anotherlong-distancemigrantbirdistheredknot, which is a large beach shorebird that nests intheArcticinthespringandsummer.Beforeheading south, red knots increase their body weightby40-50percent.Theextraweight,their“fuelload,”allowsthemtoflyabout1,850miles(3,000 km) without stopping. They are truly masters of long-distance aviation,flyingmorethan9,300miles(14,967km)fromsouthtonorthin the spring and repeating the trip every fall. Of thefivevarietiesofredknots,therufaisknownto winter at the southern tip of South America in Tierra del Fuego and breed in the summer on the mainland and islands within the Arctic Circle.

•Notallmigrantbirdsarelargewithbigwingsto make the trip. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are tiny birds that weigh as little as one-tenth of anounce(2.6g).Theyfly500miles(800km),nonstop, across the Gulf of Mexico!

Keep Pets Safe This HalloweenBySamanthaMazzotta

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Last Halloween, our dog “Valiant” ran into the room as my kids were tearing into their trick-or-treat candy and ate several wrappers and a couple of pieces of chocolate. We had to rush him to the emergency pet hospital in another town. Fortunately, he only had to stay overnight for observation and he passed the wrappers without incident, but the veterinary assistant said that they see incidents like this every year at Halloween.

Please remind your readers not to let their pets near all the goodies being handed out, as they’re not healthy (and can even be poisonous) and they could ingest dangerous items like candy wrappers. -- Beth in Madison, Wisc.

DEAR BETH: Thank you for the reminder!Halloween is a fun holiday for kids and families, but

it can be a dangerous time for your pets if precautions aren’t taken.

--Keep candy bowls and treats on a high counter or shelf where pets can’t reach.

--Monitor your pets at all times as trick-or-treaters wander the neighborhood so they don’t ingest anything harmful, and to keep approaching children safe.

--If you’re having a Halloween party or if your pet isveryexcitable,confineittoaquietroomorkennelcage with food, toys and a blanket or cushion until the festivities are over. Check in periodically.

--If you see or suspect your pet has ingested chocolate, wrappers or any other dangerous item, contact the veterinarian or emergency pet clinic immediately.

To Your Good Health ByPaulG.Donohue,M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a problem with my feet swelling. They get so big that they hurt when I walk. My doctor is puzzled. He thinks maybe it’s due to my heart pills, but he can’t change them -- my heart doctor has to. I have had two heart attacks, bypass surgery and a defibrillator put in my chest. When I’m in bed, the swelling goes down to almost normal. When I am up, it returns, even if I am sitting. I’d appreciate any suggestions. -- E.L.

ANSWER: I believe I’m safe in saying your problem is chronic congestive heart failure. Your heart is pumping so weakly that blood circulates sluggishly. When you’re up or when you’re sitting, gravity pulls fluid out of your leg’s vessels, and it is the cause of your swelling. In the horizontal position in bed, gravity doesn’t have this effect, and the fluid stays in blood vessels. The swelling is called edema (e-DEE-muh).

During the day, take frequent breaks to lie down with your legs propped up higher than your heart. When you sit, rest your legs on the seat of a chair put in front of you. Walk as much as you can during the day. The contracting leg muscles push fluid back into circulation.

Limit the salt you eat; salt makes the body retain fluid. Read food labels. Most of our salt intake

Foot Swelling a Sign of Heart Problems?

comes from the foods we eat, not from adding salt at the table or in cooking. But don’t do either. Your total daily salt intake should be less than 5,700 mg, preferably 3,800 mg. If salt is on the label as “sodium,” your total daily intake should be 2,300 mg or less. A better goal is 1,500 mg.

Tell your heart doctor about your swelling. He might make changes in your medicines either by increasing the dose or switching to other medicines that make the heart pump with more force.

There are other causes of edema, but this is the one that seems to fit you best.

The booklet on edema explains its causes and treatments. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 106W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. ***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Several bouts of stomach pain brought me to the doctor. The pain is located in my upper right side. The doctor was certain I was having gallbladder attacks due to stones. She sent me for an ultrasound test of my gallbladder.

I don’t have stones. I have something called a liver hemangioma. My doctor says I don’t need any treatment. I never heard of this and wonder what your thoughts are. -- P.K.

ANSWER: A hemangioma is a small, ball-shaped mass of blood vessels. If 100 people had a liver scan, seven would be found to have a hemangioma. Women develop them more often than men do. They do not become cancers. They’re rarely a source of constant pain, unless they grow quite large and press on adjacent tissue. They don’t cause attacks of pain. Have you found out what causes your pain?

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THE BIRDS (continued):•Ornithologists,scientistswhostudybirds,havestudiedmigrationforyearsandidentifiedfourNorthAmericanroutes,orflyways,thatbirdsuseforflyingnorthandsouth.Theyare:theAtlantic,Mississippi,CentralandPacificFlyways.Theyfollow coastlines, major mountain chains and the Mississippi River valley. The landmarks help birds stay on course.

•Themainreasonmigrationpersistsinthebirdworldisforbreedingsuccess.Birdsareabletoraise more offspring when they get away from extreme heat and cold. Long daylight hours in the spring, summer and fall provide protein-rich food for birds that give them strength for breeding. Different species go to different areas depending on their eating habits and needs.

•Thebreedinggroundsforsnowyowlsareinthe far northern Arctic tundra. When snowy owls migrate, they go south, but may only go as far south as Canada. When the winters are exceptionally harsh or their food supplies are scarce, they will venture farther south and may be seen in the northern United States. Although considered a North American bird, they occasionally migrate to areas of northern Europe and Asia.

• Harry Potter fans are probably aware thatHedwig, Harry’s famous companion, is a snowy owl. They are not known in real life for magic, but they are known for their striking white plumage and large size. While most owls are nocturnal, which means they are active at night, snowy owls are diurnal; they hunt and are active during the night and day.

•Whileyousitaroundthefireplaceorenjoyyourwood stove this fall and winter, read a book or two about birds that migrate to maintain their existence.

• It was 20th-century Canadian-American economist John Kenneth Galbraith who made the following sage observation: “Faced with the choice between changing one’s mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.”

• The original jack-o’-lanterns were turnips, not pumpkins. The custom began in Ireland, where residents hollowed out and carved faces into large turnips for the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain. The turnips, placed on windowsills, were believed to ward off evil spirits. In Scotland, young men would dress in white and blacken their faces in an imitation of the dead.

• Peter the Great was known during his reign in the late 17th and early 18th centuries as “Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias.” In order to raise money, he taxed just about

anything he could think of, including births, burials, chimneys and even beards.

• By law, if you are planning to build in Washington, D.C., the edifice must be no taller than the Capitol building.

• You probably know that physicist Albert Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize. You might not realize, however, that the prize was for his work on the photoelectric effect of light, not for his more famous theory of relativity.

• If you are like the average American woman, you will spend a grand total of 60 days of your life in the practice of removing body hair.

• In 2010, the record for the world’s largest pumpkin was broken. The Atlantic giant pumpkin, grown by Chris Stevens of New Richmond, Wisc., weighed in at the Stillwater Harvest Fest at a whopping 1,810.5 pounds.***Thought for the Day: “You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t possibly live long enough to make them all yourself.” -- Sam Levenson

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Tidbits® of Pulaski County Page 6

Which franchise has won the most World Series: the Giants or the Pirates? Name the first athlete to be named all-Ivy League in both baseball and basketball. Only two NFL players have each tallied 10,000 yards receiving with one quarterback. Name the receivers and the

quarterback. When was the last time before Evan Turner in 2010 that an Ohio State men’s basketball player won The Associated Press Player of the Year award? In the 2010-11 season, Boston goaltender Tim Thomas set an NHL record for save percentage with a .938. Who had held the mark? When did soccer great Pele play his last official North American Soccer League game? How many championship fights was Joe Louis involved in during his heavyweight boxing career?

1. Is the Book of Haman in the Old or New Testament or neither?2. From Genesis 21, Abraham banished Hagar and whom else to the desert? Laish, Haman, Ishmael, Laban3. Samson was put into prison as a political enemy of whom? Romans, Isra-elites, Philistines, Assyrians4. From Matthew 17, whom did Jesus send fishing to find tax money? Andrew, Peter, Paul, Thomas5. After her first husband died, whom did Ruth marry? Isaiah, Ahab, Boaz, Jehu6. Which commandment (KJV) is, “Thou shalt not kill”? 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th

1. RELIGION: Which religious text is divided into chapters called “suras”?2. HISTORY: When did the War of 1812 end?3. TELEVISION: The character Jim Phelps starred in what long-running spy drama?4. MUSIC: What kind of instrument is a dulcimer?5. MONEY: What is the standard currency of Vietnam?6. FAMOUS PEOPLE: Who was Time Magazine’s Person of the Century in 1999?7. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the Baltic Sea located?8. ANATOMY: What is “necrosis”?9. NATURAL WORLD: Where is the geyser Old Faithful located?10. MOVIES: What 1970s film’s theme song was titled “Evergreen”?

GETTING SPICY!Spices come from dried plant parts — the leaves, seeds, stems or others. Spices have inspired and been a part of many crucial events in world history. • Thousands of years ago, the people ofSoutheast Asia were the only ones to enjoy many of the spices we know today. • Prestigiousandvaluable,spicesintheearly years of civilization provided profit-able business for countries that grew them, mainly China, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Spices played a part in the Christian Crusades from 1095-1300 A.D.and theSpiceWars from the late1400s tothe 1700s.• Wealthy Europeans became interestedin theprofitsandprestigeofmakingblandmeats and vegetables tastier in the 1400s.Trade for the five “noble spices,” pepper,ginger, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, was fought over by seafaring nations. Routes to find spices were dangerous as many mer-chants fought for control. Spanish, Portu-guese, British and Dutch merchants lied,cheated, smuggled and even killed to control spice routes. •WhenColumbusdiscoveredtheAmericas,hewasonatriptofindspicesin“theIndies”of Southeast Asia. He named the American tropics the West Indies and opened the wa-ters for shipping American spices to Europe. •FrenchspyPierrePoivre,whichtranslatesPeter Pepper, also had an impact on the early spice trade. He smuggled spice plants out of Indonesia in the 1700s and made them avail-able for plantation-building in tropical areas of the Americas and Africa. This helped lower prices by increasing supply.

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1. Andres Galarraga (1993), Todd Helton (2000), Matt Holliday (2007) and Larry Walker (1998, ‘99, 2001).2. The Boston Red Sox hit .302 in 1950.3. Virginia Tech had seven seasons (2004-10), while Boise State had five (2006-10).4. Bob Cousy had 715 assists in the 1959-60 season.5. Three times -- 1982, 1994 and 2011.6. Five times -- 1964, ‘66, ‘71, ‘73 and ‘74.7. Maria Sharapova (2004), Amelie Mauresmo (‘06) and Petra Kvitova (‘11).

1. “Who’s That Girl”2. Names of winds that affect different regions of the world: (sirocco/Mediterranean; mistral/France; Chinook/western North America)3. Every three years4. Jonathan Demme5. Cell6. Flash Gordon7. 18988. Concord, Mass.9. Freyja10. Ireland

ANSWERS: 1) Old; 2) Dorcas; 3) 9th;

4) Eutychus; 5) Judas; 6) Matthias

In some parts of the country, winter can be especially dreary. With fewer hours of daylight, it’s easy to get down in the dumps and just hibernate -- unless you get out of the house on a regular basis.

Volunteering can be the motivator to get out -- while helping others at the same time.

Here are some suggestions:

--Sign up for regular hours at the local animal shelter. Putting down trays of food and water at feeding time, playing with kittens to get them socialized, and taking small dogs for walks can be a day brightener for both you and the animals. It also helps staff when they have extra hands to assist.

--Read to pre-school children a few times a week. It teaches them to love books, and it helps them learn to sit still, two things that will help them be more successful in school.

--Sign up to be a Special Olympics coach.

--Sort and shelve books in the local library. Even a few hours a week will be a big help in this day of budget cuts.

--Work at the food bank on pickup day.

--Take a course in teaching adults to read. If you need motivation, consider not being able to read to your grandchildren.

--Answer phones at the Red Cross.

If these ideas don’t appeal to you, go online to Seniors Corps at www.seniorcorps.gov and look through the many volunteer opportunities in your area. Maybe you’d prefer cataloging photos at the historical society, raising a puppy to be a companion for a blind person, helping in children’s theater, being a museum docent, grocery shopping for the homebound or one of thousands more opportunities. No matter what your interest or skills, there’s a need!

Stuck in a Rut? Get Off Your Duff and Volunteer

ARIES (March 21 toApril 19)The pitter-patterof all those Sheep feet means that you’re out and about,rushingtogetmoredone.That’sfine,butslow down by the weekend so you can heed some important advice.TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You’re in charge of your own destiny these days, and, no doubt, you’llhavethatBull’s-eyeofyoursrightontarget.Butdon’tforgettomaketimeforfamilyevents.GEMINI(May21toJune20)Bepreparedforapower struggle that you don’t want. Look to the helpful folks around you for advice on how to avoid it without losing the important gains you’ve made.CANCER (June21 to July22)Congratulations!You’re about to claim your hard-earned reward for your patience and persistence. Now, go out and enjoy some fun and games with friends and family.LEO (July23 toAugust 22)TheBigCatmightfind it difficult to shake off that listless feeling.But be patient.Byweek’s end, your spiritswillperk up and you’ll be your perfectly purring self again.VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A problem with a co-worker could prove to be a blessing in disguise when a superior steps in to investigate and discovers a situation that could prove helpful to you.LIBRA(September23toOctober22)Thisisafa-vorable time to move ahead with your plans. Some setbacks are expected, but they’re only temporary. Pick up the pace again and stay with it.SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your creativity is recognized and rewarded. So go ahead and claim what you’ve earned. Meanwhile, that irksome and mysterious situation soon will be resolved.SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A new associate brings ideas that the wise Sagit-tarianquicklywillrealizecanbenefitbothofyou.Meanwhile, someone from the workplace makes an emotional request.CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Itmight be a good idea to ease up on that hectic pace and spend more time studying things you’ll need to know when more opportunities come later in November.AQUARIUS(January20toFebruary18)Arela-tively quiet time is now giving way to a period of high activity. Face it with the anticipation that it will bring you some well-deserved boons and benefits.PISCES(February19 toMarch20)Gowith theflow,ormakewaves?It’suptoyou.Eitherway,you’ll get noticed. However, make up your own mind. Don’t let anyone tell you what choices to make.BORNTHISWEEK:Youliketoexamineevery-thing before you agree to accept what you’re told. Your need for truth keeps all those around you honest.

The Tidbits® Paper is a Division of Tidbits Media, Inc. • Montgomery, AL 36106(800) 523-3096 • E-mail: [email protected] • All Rights Reserved ©2008

Information in the Tidbits® Paper is gathered from sources considered to bereliable but the ac cu ra cy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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GETTING SPICY! (continued) •Onespicestilldemandingahighpriceissaffron,whichcomes from theflowerof acrocus species that only blooms for about twoweeks.Eachflowercontainsthreestig-mas, the tiny parts ground for the spice. It takes about 200,000 stigmas to produce one pound (.45 kg) of saffron. Fortunately, itonlytakesatinyamountofsaffrontoflavormost dishes. • Saffron was brought to Pennsylvania inthe 1700s by a German Amish family and hasbeenaflourishingcropandcommoninAmish dishes ever since. It is grown com-mercially in Iran, India, France, Spain, Greece, Turkey and Morocco. Saffron is used liberally in paella, the national rice dish of Spain. • Cloves are the flower buds from talltropical treesnativetoIndonesia.Budsarepicked when they are pink and then dried to a dark brown color. Cloves are now grown in Tanzania, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Malay-sia and Grenada as well as Indonesia. The trees, planted from seeds, must grow about fiveyearsbeforetheyflowerandcanlivetobe over 100 years old. Cloves are hand-har-vestedandarenot just forflavoringfoods.Clove oil, called eugenol, is used in per-fumes, mouthwashes and more.• The most common spice in the world,black pepper, comes from a climbing vine first cultivated in India. Arabs controlledthe pepper trade to Europe for many years. Many European explorers began looking for pepper in their explorations. Ships brought pepper from Southeast Asia to America in the late 1700s. Salem, Massachusetts, once knownas the“PepperPort,”processed7.5millionpounds(3.4millionkg)ofpepperin1805.•Visityourlocallibrarytolearnaboutmorethe spices that have had an impact on our world and our dinner tables.

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