Lead Story (pg 1): SERVICE ANIMALS - 2nd Story (pg 2): (one in the FAMOUS LANDMARK Series) THE STATUE OF LIBERTY - Veterans Post (pg 5): Veterans Treatment Court - Celebrity Extra (pg 6): James Spader, Titanic in 3D, A Giftet Man on CBS - Everyday Cheapskate (pg 7): Mom's Expensive Friends - Casey’s Corner (pg 9): He's All Bark - Lifelong Health (pg 10): A Colonoscopy Is a Trial and a Proven Lifesaver - Your Social Security (pg 11): Agency Checkup Nothing To Fear - To Your Good Health (pg 12): Not All Chest Pain Comes From the Heart - Senior News Line (pg 12): Community Garden - Senior Advice (pg 13): Thinking Pennies - Antique or Junque (pg 14): Metal Beer Tip Trays Are Popluar Collectibles - A Sporting View (pg 14): - MasterStrokes Golf Tips (pg 15): First Things First Second Things Second
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
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TIDBITS GOES TO WORK WITH
SERVICE ANIMALS
This week, Tidbits takes a different look at “man’s best friend” to show how dogs and other animals are of great value to humans far beyond their role as household pets. • Many service animals are dedicated to onlyonepersonintheirservicelifetime.Adogmaybe trained to help a blind or deaf person as a personal companion and helper for about 10years, usually until the dog dies or becomesincapableduetoitsownhealthproblems.
• Police canines serve the public at large byaiding law enforcement officers in trackingand subduing combative criminals, locatingconcealedweapons,drugsandexplosives.
•Themilitary has long recognized the value ofusing animals trained to perform dangerous tasks that would be too risky if attempted by humans.Pigeons, horses and chickens aswellas dolphins, beluga whales, sea lions and other marinemammals have been successfully usedfor these purposes.
•Militarycaninesarehighlytrainedandspecial-izedmembers who honorably serve alongsidetheir human companions. Much of the workperformedbytheseintelligentanimalsiscloselyguardedasclassifiedinformation.Accordingtothe U.S. Department of Defense, about 3,000dogshaveworkedassentriesinthedetectionofbombsandlandminesandperformingsearch,
by Patricia L. Cook
SEE PAGE 3
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(Answers on page 16)
Page 2 Tidbits of Coachella Valley Vol. VIII Issue 13
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Viewed by millions as a treasured national landmark, the Statue of Liberty is consideredthe most enduring of all American symbols.Follow along as Tidbits looks at the history and significanceofthisfamousiconthatistheverysymbolofourAmericanfreedomandopportunity.•“LadyLiberty,”assheisaffectionatelycalled,was a gift from the people of France to thepeople of theUnited States in recognition ofthe friendship formed during the AmericanRevolution.
•TheideaforastatuetobegiventotheUnitedStates was born at the home of Edouard de Laboulaye, near Versailles, France, in thesummerof1865.Laboulayeisconsideredthe“Father of the Statue of Liberty.” Unfortunately, hediedbeforeitscompletion.
• French sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdiwas commissioned to design the sculpturewith the plan for it to be presented in 1876to celebrate the centennial of theDeclarationof Independence. Gustave Eiffel, France’smost respected engineer, who later designedthe Eiffel Tower, was commissioned to helpBartholdiwiththegiganticstructure.
•WhiletheFrenchwereresponsibleforbuildingtheStatueandreassembling itonce itarrivedin America, themassive pedestal base uponwhichitwastobeplacedwastobedesignedbyAmericans.Bedloe’s Island in theheartofNewYorkHarborwaschosenasthelocation.
• Funding for both projects was difficult,especially for theAmericans. Both countriesheldauctions,lotteriesandothereventstoraise
the needed funds.•When Joseph Pulitzer became the owner and
editor of the New York World newspaper in 1883, he made a nationwide appeal forAmericans to contribute anything they couldto avoid the national embarrassment of not providing an appropriate setting for the generousgiftprovidedbytheFrench.Hispleawas heard; donations both large and small pouredinfrompeopleallacrossthecountry.
• Construction of the Statue was completed inFranceinJuly1884andwasthendisassembledinto350numberedpieces,whichwerecarefullypackedinto214woodencrates.TheywerethentransportedbyshipfromFrancetotheUnitedStatesontheFrenchfrigateIsere.
2. Which group released “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”?
3. Who sang “Crazy for You,” and when?
4. Which female artist was given the nickname “Little Miss Dynamite?”
5. “Shut Down Turn Off,” “Remi-niscing” and “Lady” were 1978 releases by what rock group?
6. Name the band that netted hits with “Happy Together “and “She’d Rather Be With Me.”
Answers1. “Hair,” in 1967. The song has
been widely used, including on two episodes of “The Simpsons.”
2. Aerosmith in 1987. It was written by band member Steven Tyler, now of “American Idol” judge fame.
3. Madonna, in 1985. The song was used in the soundtrack for the film “Vision Quest.” Madonna wed Sean Penn that same year. The marriage lasted two years.
4. Brenda Lee (born Brenda Mae Tarpley), for her powerful voice in a small package: Lee was 4 feet 9 inch-es tall. Her first No. 1 hit was “I Want to Be Wanted” in 1960.
5. Little River Band. “Reminiscing” was used in the recent Will Ferrell film “The Other Guys.”
6. The Turtles, in 1967. They were originally a surf group called the Crossfires. More recently, “Happy Together” was used in a Nintendo commercial.
Four high school seniors sufferingfrom “spring fever” skipped theirmorning classes and went to thebeach instead. After lunch, theyreturned to school and told their
teacher that they were late becausethey’d experienced a flat tire whilecarpooling together to the school.
Much to their relief, she smiled.“You missed a test today,” she
continued, “but you can make it upright now. Take seats apart fromone another and then get out apencil and a piece of paper.”
She waited for them to sit down,and then began. “Question One:Which tire on the car was flat?”
1. What’s the properscientific name for themoment that the springseason begins?
2. What flower istraditionally thefirst to bloom asspring
Unscramble this word:
S A L A N U NThis word means: springflowers that last one season
A N N U A L S
“Spring is Nature’s way ofsaying ‘Let’s party!!’”
~ Robin Williams
FILLER PAGE 1
1Q09 - WEEK 12MAR 15 - MAR 21
Fabio . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/15/59
Rodney Peete . . . . . . 3/16/66
Rob Lowe . . . . . . . . . 3/17/64
Charley Pride . . . . . . 3/18/38
Glenn Close . . . . . . . 3/19/47
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QUIZ BITS
Answers page 16
Week of March 25, 2012 Tidbits of Coachella Valley Page 3
NUGGETS OF
KNOWLEDGE
Brigade”areage(1-3yearsold);bold,curiousandfriendly personalities; and a love of food! If after some testing and training, a dog is not deemed appropriate for the work, it is put up for adoption.
Four high school seniors sufferingfrom “spring fever” skipped theirmorning classes and went to thebeach instead. After lunch, theyreturned to school and told their
teacher that they were late becausethey’d experienced a flat tire whilecarpooling together to the school.
Much to their relief, she smiled.“You missed a test today,” she
continued, “but you can make it upright now. Take seats apart fromone another and then get out apencil and a piece of paper.”
She waited for them to sit down,and then began. “Question One:Which tire on the car was flat?”
1. What’s the properscientific name for themoment that the springseason begins?
2. What flower istraditionally thefirst to bloom asspring
Unscramble this word:
S A L A N U NThis word means: springflowers that last one season
A N N U A L S
“Spring is Nature’s way ofsaying ‘Let’s party!!’”
~ Robin Williams
FILLER PAGE 1
1Q09 - WEEK 12MAR 15 - MAR 21
Fabio . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/15/59
Rodney Peete . . . . . . 3/16/66
Rob Lowe . . . . . . . . . 3/17/64
Charley Pride . . . . . . 3/18/38
Glenn Close . . . . . . . 3/19/47
Holly Hunter . . . . . . . 3/20/58
Rosie O’Donnell. . . . . 3/21/62
If you’re in “spring cleaning”mode, take some time to make
sure that all of your vitalelectronic appliances (TV,
computer, stereo equipment)are plugged into adequate surgeprotectors. It’s also advisable tobuy a fresh supply of batteriesthat fit both your flashlight
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rescue and recovery operations. Many of theseanimalshavebeenonactivedutytoursinIraqandAfghanistaninrecentyears.
•MilitarydogsaretrainedinSanAntonio,Texas,attheMilitaryWorkingDogCenteratLacklandAirForceBase.Germanshepherds,Dutchshepherdsand Belgian Malinois are considered the mostdesirable breeds for miliatry use. Some of these dogs are purchased from breeders, but most arefrom the military’s own breeding program.
• When the Navy SEALs stormed the PakistancompoundofOsamabinLadenonMay2,2011,fourof thefirstfeetonthegroundwerethoseofCairo, a highly trained Belgian Malinois. In aprivatemeetinglaterbetweentheSEALteamandthe president, the only team member whose name wasrevealedwasCairo,thewardog.
•Thelighter,morecompactBelgianMalinoisbreedisconsideredthebestforoperationsundertakenbySEAL teams, such as tandemparachute jumpingand rappelling. DogslikeCairoaretrained to detectand identify both hostile and/or hiding humans and explosives. Thedogs are capableof moving muchfaster than their most physically fitSEALcompanions.
• Like other members of the SEALs, Cairo wasequipped with super-strong, flexible body armorandhigh-techequipmentthatincluded“doggles.”Doggles are specially designed canine gogglesequippedwithnight-visionandinfraredcapabilitythat allow dogs to see body heat, even through concretewalls.
• Some amazing information released from thePentagon in October 2010 revealed that aftersix years and $19 billion spent in developingthe “ultimate” bomb-detector technology, dogsare still the most accurate! Detection using themostadvancedequipment, likedronesandaerialdetectors,yieldeda50-percentsuccessrate.Whenadogwasinvolved,therateroseto80percent!
•SomeotherhighlytraineddogsthathelpkeepournationsafearethedetectordogstrainedtosafeguardAmericanagriculture.TheNationalDetectorDogTraining Center (NDDTC) in Newnan, Georgia,trainsdogsandofficersasteamstopreventpestsandagriculturaldiseasesfromenteringtheUnitedStates through airports, postal facilities, cargowarehouses, international borders and seaports.
•AnotherbenefitofthisprogramisthattheNDDCTacquires its dogs through animal shelters andanimalrescuesaswellasthroughownerdonations.Itisimportantfordogsinthisprogramtobedocileandnon-threateningwhenworkingaroundpeopleincrowdedplacessuchasairports.TheNDDCTcurrently trains beagles and beagle mixes forairportsandLabradorretrieversandLabmixesforborder patrol work and for warehouses and postal facilities.
• Occasionally JackRussell terriers are also usedbytheNDDCT,mainlytoworkinGuamfindingbrowntreesnakes,whichare“adangerousthreattotheecologyandeconomyofGuam.”AccidentallyintroducedtoGuaminthe1940sorearly1950s,thesnakes causepoweroutages andhave eradicatedmostofGuam’snativeforestbirds.
• The characteristics the NDDCT looks for indogs that will serve in the “Agriculture Beagle
1. What is the difference between a “service animal” and a “therapy animal”?2. What government was the first to use dogs to detect agricultural quarantine items?
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Therapy animals arenot the same as “service animals.”
They are used to visit hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation cen-ters, schools and other facilities. A program called “Pet Partners” es- tablished in 1990 as part of the non-profit Delta Society based out of Bellvue, Washington, is the only national registry that
requires training and screening of
animal-handler teams.
By Samantha Weaver
Page 4 Tidbits of Coachella Valley Vol. VIII Issue 13
theshipanditscargo.• The Isere arrived safely in New York Harborin June 1885, ten months before the pedestalconstructionwascompleted inApril1886.TheStatueremainedunassembledincratesforoverayearbeforereconstructionwasactuallybegun.Although the statue commemorating the 1776centennialwasactually10yearslate,Americanappreciationandgratitudefor thegenerousgiftcouldnothavebeenmore.
• It took four months for French workmen tore-assemble the Statue on her pedestal. Shewas dedicated on October 28, 1886, in frontof thousands of spectators. President GroverCleveland proclaimed that “Liberty” would“magnify France beyond the seas.” ThededicationwasfollowedbyafireworksdisplayandNewYorkCity’sfirst“tickertape”parade.
• TheoriginaltorchwasactuallydisplayedattheCentennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876.Today, it is located in the statue museum atFortWoodonBedloe’s Island. In 1984, itwasreplacedbyanew,coppertorchcoveredin24kgoldleafthatreflectssunlightinthedayandislitby16floodlightsatnight.
•MuchsymbolismwasbuiltintotheStatue.Thecrownhas25windowssymbolizinggemstonesand heaven’s rays shining over the world. The sevenraysonthecrownrepresentthesevenseasandcontinents.Chainsandabrokenshackleatthe Statue’s feet represent America’s freedomfrom oppression and servitude. Lady Liberty is holding a book bearing the inscription July 4,1776,thedateofAmerica’sIndependence.■
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● It was noted American science fic-tion author Philip K. Dick who made the following sage observation: “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”
● The first chocolate factory in the United States was established even before the states were united. Back in 1765, two en-terprising men named John Hanan and James Baker chose Dorchester, Mass., as the site for their factory, which they mechanized by using waterpower.
● If you’re like the average American, you eat 23 quarts of ice cream every year.
● You might be surprised to learn that the given name of iconic Apache leader Geronimo, Goyathlay, translates as “one who yawns.” And the very name Apache isn’t what the tribe originally called itself; it’s word from the Zuni Indian language, and it means “enemy.”
● In a scant 100 years, from 1500 to 1600, the population of the city of London quadrupled in size.
● Singer and songwriter Roger Miller, best known for his hit song “King of the Road,” had a passion for music early, even though his family was poor. When he was in grade school, he spent his weekends picking cotton so he could save up enough money to buy a guitar. After eighth grade he quit school and went to work herding cattle and riding in rodeos.
● Interestingly, the word “pudding” came into the English language from the Ger-man word “puddek,” which means “sau-sage.” * * * Thought for the Day: “We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien phi-losophies and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.” -- John F. Kennedy
Week of March 25, 2012 Tidbits of Coachella Valley Page 5
WARNING: Reading Tidbits is habit forming
Amtrak California Thruway Bus ServiceAmtrak CaliforniaSM now offers convenient Thruway Bus service from five locations in the Coachella Valley providing seamless connections to Pacific Surfliner® trains in Fullerton and San Joaquin® trains in Bakersfield, serving 175 destinations in the Golden State.
On board the train, relax and skip the traffic while enjoying wide, comfortable seating, complimentary Wi-Fi® and a variety of snacks and beverages in the Café car. And passengers age 62+ ride at 15%-off best available rail fares. For schedules and fares, visit AmtrakCalifornia.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.
Amtrak California Thruway Bus service is provided exclusively to passengers connecting to/from Amtrak California trains. Connecting Thruway Bus passengers must purchase a rail segment as part of their travel itinerary. Bus-only trips are not permitted. AmtrakConnectSM Wi-Fi® service may not be available in all areas at all times. Available bandwidth is limited and access to certain websites will be restricted. Fares, routes, schedules and services are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. The term Wi-Fi® is a registered mark of the Wi-Fi Alliance®. Amtrak, Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin are service marks of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
Now more connections to more trains.Amtrak CaliforniaSM now offers convenient Thruway Bus service from five locations in the Coachella Valley, providing seamless connections to Pacific Surfliner® trains in Fullerton and San Joaquin® trains in Bakersfield, serving 175 destinations in the Golden State.
On board the train, relax and skip the traffic while enjoying wide, comfortable seating, complimentary Wi-Fi® and a variety of snacks and beverages in the Café car. And passengers age 62+ ride at 15% off best available rail fares. For schedules and fares, visit AmtrakCalifornia.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.
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Veterans Treatment Court Veterans who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) sometimes act out and commit crimes as a result of their mental-health issues. Veterans Treatment Court was developed as an intermediary stop for veterans who would have ended up incarcerated for their crimes. VTC works in conjunction with local Department of Veterans Af-fairs facilities to decrease the number of veterans who become involved with the justice system and divert them to mental-health treatment. In areas that are on board with the VTC program (most major metropolitan areas are), when a veteran is arrested for a non-violent crime that was committed due to substance abuse or mental health issues, the vet-eran is sent to Veterans Treatment Court. In VTC, eligible veterans receive mental-health assessment and treatment, likely through the VA. While in treatment, which might include weekly visits to the court to check in, the judge will watch progress. Once the treatment is finished, the original charge can be reduced or dismissed. Any failure on
the part of the veteran -- drug use, for example -- can lead to punishment such as fines, re-arrest or jail time. The VTC program isn’t only about interven-tion with the justice system. Help also is available for housing, transportation, job training and search, and medical and mental-health treatment. Another program, Veterans Justice Out-reach, centers on assisting veterans whose mental illness led to the commission of crimes. Rather than jail, each veteran is assigned to a justice outreach specialist at a VA medical center for assessment, treatment planning and referral. The specialist co-ordinates with the court system and also may train local law enforcement about dealing with veterans who have PTSD or traumatic brain injury and provide services to incarcerated veterans. For more information, go online to www.ptsd.va.gov and put VJO in the search box.
Write to Freddy Groves in care of King Features Weekly Ser-vice, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to [email protected].(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
Q: The addition of James Spader to “The Office” as Robert California has really helped with Steve Carell’s leaving. Now I hear that James is leaving the show. Is it true? -- Donald D. in Minnesota
A: James Spad-er won’t be back next season. Executive pro-ducer Paul Lieberstein (who also plays Toby) says that it was always James’ intent to stay only one season. In fact, he was scheduled to be in only last year’s fina-le but, as Paul stated, James’ scenes were so compelling, “those two scenes became a sea-son.” ***
Q: I am thrilled to hear that “Titanic” is being rereleased soon in 3-D. Can you tell me when it will hit theaters? -- Jeanette F., Gary, Ind.
A: Look for the big boat on the big screen starting Friday, April 6, and be prepared for even more thrills than the original release. Because of the
new 3-D effects, it can only make the sinking scenes even more intense. And believe me, they were scary enough to begin with -- even for the actors involved. I spoke with “Titanic” co-star Eric Braeden, who portrayed John Jacob Astor, and he told me about filming his drowning scene. Eric, who also has played billionaire businessman Victor Newman on “The Young and The Restless” since 1980, revealed to me: “That was one of the scariest moments in this business for me, because you had all that water com-ing from the sides, and 150 tons of water coming from the top. Once the water reaches a certain level, then everything that is not bolted to the bottom just crashes through the room. With the water rising and rising, and then suddenly 150 tons comes on top -- it was one of the scariest moments I’ve spent in this business.” ***
Q: My husband and I love “A Gifted Man,” and wonder if it’ll be back this fall. -- The Crouses, Virginia Beach, Va.
A: Things are not looking good for the CBS medical drama, which stars Patrick Wilson. Its rat-ings have been pretty low, and two of the series’ stars have been cast in other fall shows as backup. You can sign a petition for CBS to keep the show at tvseriesfi-nale.com/tv-show/a-gifted-man-petition-22315.
Write to Cindy at King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475; or e-mail her at [email protected].
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Even our attention to safetyis a relief. When you fill your prescription at Walgreens, rest assured that it is carefully checked for potentially unsafe drug interactions with
other prescriptions you’ve filled at Walgreens and over-the-counter medications that you tell us about.
If there’s a problem, we’ll work with your doctor to provide you with another option.
Walgreens makes it easy to switch your prescription from a different pharmacy. Just bring in your prescription bottles. No need to call your doctor or wait for your current prescription to run out.
To learn about other services that will help you feel better about your pharmacy care, visit Walgreens.com.
Chorus DirectorDESERT CITIES CHORUS is searching for a new director. We are a chapter of Sweet Adelines Inter-national and we are an energetic, dedicated group of women who sing 4-part harmony, barbershop style. We are looking for someone to improve and strengthen our vocal production.
Do you have a question for Mary? Email her at [email protected], or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630. Mary Hunt
is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal fi-nance member website and the author of “7 Money Rules for Life,” released in January 2012. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Week of March 25, 2012 Tidbits of Coachella Valley Page 7
by Mary Hunt
EverydayCHEAPSKATE®
by Mary Hunt
EverydayCHEAPSKATE®®
by Mary Hunt
Page 7 Tidbits of Coachella Valley Vol. VIII Issue 8
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Mom’s Expensive Friends Dear Mary: My mom is a widow, and re-cently she’s made new friends. I’m happy for her, but there’s a problem. These women seem to have a lot of money -- shopping at expensive stores and going on trips. My mom is on a fixed income, but she’s been living like her pals. I know this because she’s asked for my help in paying her bills. I don’t mind, but I’m worried she might be digging herself into some serious debt. What can I do? -- Beth, Texas
Dear Beth: It’s time for a heart-to-heart with your mom. Start by telling her how happy you are that she’s rebuilding her life and making new friends. Then move on to her current situation and her fi-nances. Say something like: “I’m concerned about your future. Can I help you work up a budget that lets
you have fun with your friends without jeopardizing your security?” Then suggest she broaden her circle by joining a choir, book club or other activity that will be fun but won’t drain her bank account. * * * Dear Mary: My husband insists on bal-ancing our checkbook, and I’ve always let him handle it. Now I know why. While he was away, I decided to do it and was surprised to see he had written a check to his parents. After looking at past statements, I discovered he’s been writing them a check every month since they retired last year. I am hurt that he has been doing this all along behind my back. We’re certainly not rich, but I wouldn’t have refused to help them in this way. How should I bring the subject up with my husband? -- Betty, Illinois
Dear Betty: A man who cares this much about his parents must be a good guy, but I see your point. It’s never wise to hide financial matters from your spouse. The question is why he felt he had to. I suggest you say: “I’m hurt you didn’t include me in this decision, but I’d like to talk about it now. I care about your folks, too.” He’ll appreciate your willing-ness to help them. Plus, he’ll realize it’s foolish to introduce doubt to your trusting relationship.
Page 8 Tidbits of Coachella Valley Vol. VIII Issue 13
Crossword answers on page 16
(Solution on page 16)
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He’s All Bark Barking is as natural as breathing. Triggered by a state of excitement, barking is a dog’s means of communicating anger, loneliness, fear, playfulness or a need for something. Excessive barking is barking’s obnoxious cousin. It’s an exaggeration of natural canine behav-ior that can only be eliminated by either giving in to the dog’s demand or reconditioning the dog. I’d advise the latter -- quick. The excessive barking of an overindulged or neglected dog has ruined friendships, destroyed relationships and added to the overwhelm of courts already jammed with frivolous concerns that are largely solvable without the aid of lawyers and judg-es. Time and money are wasted. Friends and cred-ibility are lost. And if you’re a renter, you may come home to find yourself staring at a notice to vacate. Don’t ignore complaints about your dog’s ex-cessive barking. Instead, first find out whether you have a dog problem or a neighbor problem. Do a lit-tle sleuthing. Leave the dog with a friend or relative, or board him at a local kennel for a few days. During that time, ask your neighbor whether the barking has been a problem. If he complains even when the dog isn’t there, you have a neighbor problem. But if the dog turns out to be the culprit, there are adjust-ments that can and should be made to your behavior, the dog’s environment or the dog’s temperament. Possible reasons behind excessive barking: tethering, improper confinement (e.g., in a room behind a closed door), outside distractions (e.g., construction, stray animals, lawnmowers, a steady stream of strangers), bad weather, separation anxi-ety, heightened territorialism, lack of exercise, ge-netics, temperament, hunger... There’s a cartoon that features an impatient pup sitting next to an empty food bowl at the feet of his master, an artist consumed with the masterpiece-in-the-making on the easel before him. The caption: “And how about some dinner? One of the great masters, indeed.” Some problems come with simple solutions: --Don’t tether your dog to a tree in the yard. Instead, invest in a dog run or fence the yard. --Ensure he gets sufficient exercise: two or three vigorous walks every day, with some spirited games of fetch thrown in for good measure. The amount of exercise required depends on the breed of dog.
BREAKS A FEW
EGGS
Page 10 Tidbits of Coachella Valley Vol. VIII Issue 13
--Don’t close your dog off in a room by him-self. Dogs are social animals. When inside, keep him confined to one area of the house with a baby gate so he can see his world. --Before you leave the house without him, close window blinds and drapes, and play soothing music or low-level talk-radio to ease the pain of sepa-ration and mask exterior distractions. --Give him a Nylabone toy to while away the hours until you return. Boredom can lead to mind-less barking. --Don’t make a big fuss out of every good-bye. This only heightens his anxiety when you leave, which can result in a long tedious barking session on the heels of every departure. --Don’t forget dinner and water. A satisfied dog is a quiet dog. Barking problems that are more a matter of DNA are less likely but more complex, and require a reconditioning of the dog. This demands patience and persistence on the part of the dog owner. Con-sidering the problems brought on by excessive bark-ing, the effort is worthwhile. For information on effective reconditioning techniques and tools -- including the Margolis Ma-neuver and the proper use of the human voice in dog training -- visit unclematty.com or read “When Good Dogs Do Bad Things,” available at your local library or online at unclematty.com.
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. Send your questions to [email protected] or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619. COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM
Colonoscopy Is a Trial and a Proven Lifesaver March is colorectal cancer awareness month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women. The disease is slightly more common in men, affecting 55 per 100,000, compared with 41 per 100,000 women. And of these, 20.7 per 100,000 men and 14.5 per 100,000 women die from the disease. The lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is 5.1 per-cent. If the cancer is diagnosed while localized to the colon, survival rates are 95 percent. If it has spread to regional lymph nodes, the chance of survival drops to 69 percent, and if spread more distantly, the survival rate is less that 11 percent. The key to survival is early detection. Yet, despite the prevalence of this illness, screening tests for colorectal cancers are done far too infrequently. I guess we all find the idea of a day and a half of bowel cleansing followed by a visit to a gastroenterologist, sedation and examination just too darn embarrassing. So I will say this as strongly as I possibly can -- screening for colorectal cancer saves more lives than any other cancer-screening program. And thank goodness the message is getting through. Ac-cording to the CDC, the number of Americans being adequately screened for colon cancer has increased from 52 percent in 2002 to 65 percent in 2010. Screening involves annual testing for micro-scopic amounts of blood in the stool. This involves placing a small amount of stool on a card and mailing it back to your physician for testing. Although an early feature of cancer and conditions that lead to cancer, bleeding from the bowel can also occur from hemor-rhoids, diverticulosis and malformations of blood ves-sels in the colon. Anyone who has blood in their stool that is either visible or present in microscopic amounts, must have further testing to exclude the presence of cancer or polyps that have the potential of becoming cancer-ous. For most people, a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer should be done initially at age 50. I had my first colonoscopy at age 40 because colorectal cancer is very common on both sides of my family. Relatives of colon cancer victims are at much greater risk of developing the disease. Many families, such as ours, have genes that predict a high risk. Further-more, the cancer tends to occur, on average, 10 years earlier than expected and consequently, screening should commence at a younger age. The goal is to find and recognize polyps be-fore they become malignant. A study published in the
New England Journal of Medicine showed that iden-tifying and removing polyps reduces the risk of death from colorectal cancer by more than 50 percent. It takes anywhere from three to five years for a polyp to develop and another five years to become malignant. If a colonoscopy is done and polyps are identi-fied and removed, the procedure should be repeated after three years. If the colonoscopy is totally normal, it should be repeated every five years. Most polyps that are identified during the colonoscopy can be im-mediately removed and sent to the laboratory for mi-croscopic testing. Suspicious looking lesions can also be biopsied and an early cancer diagnosed. In some cases, surgery will be needed to remove the cancer. The worst part of the colonoscopy is the prepa-ration. I have tried them all, and they are no fun. Some recommend the use of Fleet’s Phospho-Soda prepara-tion. This involves a liquid diet for two days and then taking a few ounces of a liquid that causes diarrhea. The following morning, you are supposed to insert a Fleet’s enema and hold it in place for 15 minutes. My record is 30 seconds! Today, this approach is not used as much because of a slight risk of kidney failure. Most gastroenterologists recommend drinking a liter of GoLYTELY that, rest assured, cleans your bowel com-pletely. Many put off having colonoscopies because of its unpleasant nature. Don’t put it off! Colon cancer is a killer and a colonoscopy can save your life.
Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the book “Breaking the Rules of Aging.” To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More informa-tion is available at www.drdavidhealth.com COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM
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Agency Checkup Nothing To Fear Q: I am a certified public accountant. One of my clients, who signed up for his Social Security about a year ago, just got a letter from Social Security’s “Office of Quality Assurance.” The people there want to redo his claim for ben-efits. And they are asking him to bring in his military discharge papers (he was in the Army 40 years ago), his W-2 records for the past 10 years and other documents. What’s going on? He’s very worried about this.
A: Tell your client to relax. This really is a “no big deal” kind of thing -- from his perspective, anyway. But it is a big deal to the Social Security Ad-ministration. The SSA’s Office of Quality Assurance takes a small sampling of Social Security cases and rede-velops them. It’s not really to see whether he’s be-ing paid correctly, although they will check into that. But your client shouldn’t worry about this, because historically, Social Security benefit calculations have a very high degree of accuracy. Statistics show that people, in part because of these kinds of reviews, are getting the correct benefit amount about 99 percent of the time. Instead, this quality review is more of a checkup on Social Security’s internal claims process-ing procedures. For example, as part of a normal application, the SSA almost never asks for military records, because one’s military service (and any possible Social Security credit one might be due be-cause of that service) already is recorded in Social Security files. But as part of this review, the SSA asks to see your client’s military papers to help verify that its records of military service are accurate. And by the way, if he can’t easily put his hands on his mili-tary records, the SSA will help him obtain them. The same is true for his W-2 forms. The administration just wants to help document that its earnings records are accurate, which, again, they are almost all the time. Although I’m not totally sure of this, I think these reviews are voluntary. So if this is really both-ering your client, ask him to check with the SSA about opting out of the review. * * *
Q: My husband died at age 52 about 12 years ago. I am now 62 and thinking of retir-ing. Someone told me I should consider filing for widow’s benefits. But because my husband died so many years ago -- when wages were less than they are today -- I’m sure I will get much more on my own record, even though I made less than he did when he was alive. Do you think I should file for widow’s benefits?
A: I think you will be surprised at the amount of your potential widow’s benefits. Even though he died many years ago, the wages used to figure your husband’s basic Social Security rate (and your widow’s benefit) are indexed for inflation. And they base your widow’s benefit on his retirement benefit -- as if he were getting retirement when he died. So if he made more money than you did, I’ll bet your widow’s rate will be higher than your own retirement checks.
But that doesn’t automatically mean you should file for widow’s benefits. As I’ve explained many times in this column, widows have options when it comes to Social Security. For example, it might be financially advantageous for you to take re-duced retirement benefits on your record now and switch to full widow’s benefits at 66. Another option would be to take reduced widow’s benefits now and switch to your own Social Security at age 70, when you would get your full ben-efits plus a 32 percent delayed retirement bonus. The folks at your Social Security office can go over the numbers and your options with you at the time you retire. * * *
Q: My husband and I are self-em-ployed. Quite a few years ago, we incorporated our business. We did this on the advice of our accountant, who said we would pay less in tax-es this way. In fact, for many years, we paid no taxes at all. Recently, I hurt my neck and back in a car accident. I filed for Social Security dis-ability benefits, but my claim was denied. They said I’m not “insured.” What does that mean? I have my 40 quarters from work I did before we started this business.
A: It means there are consequences to not paying taxes. There are two “insured status” require-ments you must meet to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. The first is that you must have at least 40 Social Security credits, often called “quar-ters.” You said you have that. But the second half of the insured status rule says you must have been working and paying Social Security taxes in recent years. Specifically, the law says you need to have paid Social Security taxes in five of the past 10 years. I have seen situations similar to yours hun-dreds of times during my career with the Social Se-curity Administration. Self-employed people are able to “cook the books” in order to lessen or even elimi-nate their tax burden. It always sounds like a great idea because, generally, no one likes paying taxes. But that smaller tax burden always results in smaller Social Security payments. And sometimes, as in your case, it results in the loss of Social Security benefits. I just hope that you took some of that money you saved by not pay-ing Social Security taxes and bought yourself a good
disability insurance policy.
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Mar-genau has the answer. Contact him at [email protected]. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syn-dicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM
Week of March 25, 2012 Tidbits of Coachella Valley Page 11
NARFENational Active and Retired Federal EmployeesAre you a retired (or active) Federal Employee?
www.NARFE.org/chapter587
• The Palm Springs NARFE Chapter 587 meets at 11 AM on the first Wednesday of every month during season at the Palm Springs IHOP (471 So. Indian Canyon Dr. at Ramon Rd.)• NARFE works to protect your earned benefits.
For more information call Carol: (760) 832-8377 or Ann: (760) 324-2005 or (904) 477-1724
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.
nine numbers only once.
DIFFICULTY: �� Moderate �� Difficult ��� GO FIGURE!
The idea of Go Figure is to arriveat the figures given at the bot-tom and right-hand columns ofthe diagram by following thearithmetic signs in the orderthey are given (that is, from leftto right and top to bottom). Useonly the numbers below the dia-gram to complete its blanksquares and use each of thenine numbers only once.
DIFFICULTY: ��� Moderate �� Difficult ��� GO FIGURE!
Not All Chest Pain Comes From the Heart DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 38-year-old woman who has a very stressful job. It is also very well-paying, so I don’t want to give it up. I think it might be giving me chest pain. The pain comes and goes unpredictably. Sometimes I am just sitting at my desk, and I get a squeezing sensation in my chest. At other times, I had been hurrying around. I have had several EKGs, been examined by three doctors, had a stress test and a radio-active stress test. The doctors say my heart is healthy, and the chest pain could come from stress. In speaking with people I trust, I have been told to have a heart catheterization. What do you think? -- P.A.
ANSWER: None of your three doctors told you that. Don’t you think they might know more than your friends? You have to be guided by advice given to you by those who have had experience in assessing people’s complaints. There’s no pattern to your chest pain. Heart pain, in contrast, causes chest pain when a person is physically active. That pain goes when the person rests. Your kind of pain is not suggestive of a heart disorder. Your doctors have told you that your heart is healthy. You have had EKGs, stress tests and even a radioactive stress test. Those tests would have disclosed a heart problem if you had one. Furthermore, you are only 38 years old -- not an age for heart problems to occur. You mention no family history of heart trouble at early ages. With a catheterization, a thin, pliable tube is inched from a groin blood vessel to the site where the heart arteries are found. There, dye is injected so doctors can visualize the health of heart arteries. The doctors can spot any obstructions, like choles-terol buildup, in those arteries. It’s an amazing test. However, complications can arise from any proce-dure that invades the body. When the detection of heart disease can be accomplished in no other way, information from a catheterization is justified. In your case, it’s not.
Stress is the most likely cause of your chest pain. Coronary artery disease is the No. 1 cause of death in most of the world’s countries. The booklet on that subject explains in detail its symptoms and its treatments. To order a copy, write: Dr. Donohue -- No. 101W, 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. *** Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an or-der form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.
(c) 2012 North America Synd., Inc.All Rights Reserved
Community Garden I signed up for a small plot in our commu-nity garden. It was a big step, going public this way. While others can grow glorious mounds of colorful flowers, my past attempts had humble results that were best relegated to pots on the porch. For the second year, the local land trust has divided up one of its properties and made small rectangles of land available at a low cost to seniors who want to garden. I was able to select my own site -- near one of the faucets and the hose. For those of us who don’t have a green thumb (as I have proven to myself again and again that I do not), the land trust is holding a series of weekly how-to gardening classes, designed to help us get the most out of our little plots of dirt. Different types of mulch, how to under-stand the three numbers on the labels of fertilizer, planting seedlings versus seeds, soil pH, staying organic -- all are topics we’re learning about. It’s not hard, and it is interesting. This weekend I went to the community gar-den and located my plot. It’s weedy and flat, with cold, hard-looking soil. It was used last year, so I assume all the rocks are gone, but still, I wondered: How am I ever going to succeed in transforming this barren plot of dirt into a space full of beautiful and healthy flowers? I made my decision while standing there looking at the weeds. I won’t grow flowers. I’m going to grow vegetables for the two homeless shelters near me and for the food bank. This time my attempts to succeed with a garden will be differ-ent: The land trust will provide hands-on help and advice. I hope the food bank is prepared for a del-uge of carrots, beans and tomatoes.
Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot person-ally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to [email protected].
Thinking Pennies! Q: When we retired several years ago we thought our finances were planned well enough to satisfy our lifetime needs. We had counted on our investments and pensions to provide a nice vacation every year and gener-ally allow us to live comfortably without money worries. We do not feel quite so secure any-more. For one thing, my career employer may go bankrupt, and I might loose my pension in-come. Add to this the inflation that’s creeping up on us and the dollars we do have are now buying less. What advice do you have these days for retired seniors in situations like this?
A: Commit yourselves to creating a worst-case budget and live with it. Anticipate rising expens-es in taxes, medical care, fuel costs, groceries, and just about everything else. Our economy is no lon-ger on solid ground, so sacrifice and save everything now that you can. The November election will be a pivotal point for our financial futures. Make an honest list of where all your dollars go and rethink your priorities. Eating at home is con-siderably cheaper than eating out. Go in with friends and buy food cheaper in bulk at the big box grocers, and don’t feel ashamed to make the suggestion. Ever notice all the upscale cars parked outside the dollar and thrift stores? Money is getting tight and almost everyone on the income scale is feeling the pinch. Skip the theater and watch movies at home by checking out DVDs at the library. Gas prices are still rising. Think twice before driving somewhere on an errand. What other stops can you make now to avoid other trips later? Can you get by with one car instead of two? Keep your old clunker if it still runs ok, especially if it’s paid for. Lower your home and auto insurance premiums by opting for larger de-ductibles. I am sure you could come up with a long list of your own - and I suggest that you do so. Inflation is when you learn you have to make twice as much to keep up with your standard of liv-ing, before you need to declare bankruptcy!
Q: Whether we are watching television, talking with neighbors or reading the daily newspaper, we find ourselves in “Club Negative.” Why is it that our society appears to have lost any sort of positive outlook? Is it just me, or is this the way it is now?
A: I reluctantly have to agree with you. I blame part of our sour attitude on the media gatekeepers who seem to think that only bad news is worthy of the headlines. Once let loose, pessimism seems to feed on itself. As for me, I miss the can-do spirit I grew up with. During the Great Depression, we had no choice but to roll up our sleeves, dig in and solve our own problems. We knew what it was like to want and not
get! In today’s world people want and expect instant gratification. The trouble is it takes to time to find solutions to our problems. Things like saving for a rainy day could be held up as a good example. We should focus on maintaining a healthy outlook, accepting and being thankful for what we have, and finding satisfaction in helping others. Remember, we all choose our own attitudes and have to live with them, so choose positive !
Doug Mayberry makes the most of life in a Southern California retirement community. Contact him at [email protected]. To find out more about Doug Mayberry, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
● On April 1, 1700, English pranksters begin popularizing the annual tradition of playing April Fool’s jokes. In keeping with the fun, in 1957 the BBC reported that Swiss farmers were experiencing a record spaghetti crop and showed footage of peo-ple harvesting noodles from trees.
● On March 29, 1806, the Great National Pike, also known as the Cumberland Road, becomes the first highway funded by the national treasury. The initial appropriation of $30,000 was made by congressional act and covered the first leg through the Appa-lachian Mountains to Wheeling on the Ohio River.
● On March 30, 1867, the U.S. govern-ment puts the finishing touches on a deal to purchase Alaska. It paid Alaska’s owner, Russia, $7.2 million, or roughly 2 cents per acre of land. For some, the deal was deri-sively known as “Seward’s Folly,” after U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward.
● On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower is dedicated in Paris. Gustave Eiffel’s tower was greeted with skepticism from critics, who argued that it would be structurally unsound. Within a few decades the tower came to be regarded as an architectural masterpiece.
● On March 26, 1937, America’s first monument to a comic strip hero is unveiled in Crystal City, Texas. The 6-foot-tall, bright-ly colored concrete statue of Popeye was unveiled in Popeye Park during the city’s second annual Spinach Festival.
● On March 27, 1964, the strongest earthquake in American history, measuring 8.4 on the Richter scale, slams southern Alaska, creating a deadly tsunami. Some 125 people were killed and thousands in-jured. The tidal wave devastated towns along the Gulf of Alaska and caused car-nage in British Columbia, Canada; Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States.
● On March 28, 1979, the worst accident in the history of the U.S. nuclear power in-dustry begins when a pressure valve in the Unit-2 reactor at Three Mile Island in Penn-sylvania fails to close. As engineers strug-gled to understand what had happened, the reactor came within less than an hour of a complete meltdown.
(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
14Page 14 Tidbits of Coachella Valley Vol. VIII Issue 13
Metal Beer Tip Trays Are Popular Collectibles Q: This is a photo of a metal tray that I bought at a garage sale. Marked along the top edge are the words “Christian Feigenspan Brewing Co. Newark, N.J.” At the bottom of the edge are the words “A. Asti -- Amer. Can Co -- 71-A -- PON.” The tray is round and measures 13 inches in diameter, just less than 2 inches deep. It is decorated with a portrait of a Victo-rian young woman. It is in excellent condition. What can you tell me about this tray?
A: You have a beer tip tray that was made by American Can Co. for Christian Feigenspan Brew-ing Co. The brewery was founded in Newark, N. J., in 1875 and closed in 1943. They started out as Chris-tian Feigenspan and Co., and the name was changed to Christian Feigenspan Brewing Co. in 1933. Angelo Asti is the name of the artist who created the original painting of the young woman. “PON” stands for the “Pride of Newark.” Based on the 1933 name change, your tray was made sometime between 1933 and 1943. Your beer tray would probably be worth $65 to $125.
Q: I found a Jackie Kennedy paper-doll set stored away in my basement that I had as a child. It is probably over 30 years old, still in the original, unopened package and still in perfect condition. Printed on the front are the words “Jackie -- She’s Magnetic” and the full color paper doll is 11 inches tall. There are a variety of outfits and accessories that go with the set, all unopened. I am curious to know if this can be con-sidered a collector item and whether the set has any value.
A: Paper dolls are always a collectible item, and your set would probably fetch $15 to $20 in an antiques shop. * * *
Q: Enclosed is the mark I found on the back of a set of porcelain dinnerware that I have. The set includes a service for eight, and there are seven pieces in each place setting. They are decorated with floral urns against a cream background and tan bands at the edges. The set is in mint condition. Could you please tell me the history of my dishes as well as the vintage and value?
A: Your dinnerware was made in Czecho-slovakia. Epiag stands for the association of porce-lain factories known as “Erste Bohemische Porzellan Industries AG.” “Moresque” is the name of the pat-tern and was inspired by Moorish design. Your set was made around 1925. Five-piece place settings can be found selling for $70 to $75 each.
Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P. O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters. 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
Christian Feigenspan Brewing Co. operated from 1875 to 1943.
Circa 1925 dinnerware
was made in Czechoslovakia.
Many golf instructors teach that one grip works for all your shots, but tour players change their grip with the type of shot they are playing. Your hands are the only part of your body in direct contact with the club. How the hands are positioned in the grip in relation to the clubface directly affects how the ball spins through the air. Let’s start with what I call a “square” grip, with the thumbs square to the grooves on the clubface at the 12:00 position, as in the photo. This grip keeps the clubface square through impact and eliminates any ball spin to the left or right. Any grip away from this po-sition changes the clubface angle and causes the ball to spin through the air. There will be times when you want to spin the ball away from trouble to the left or right of the course. A strong grip is when both thumbs are placed to the right at the 1:00 position, which produces a slight draw to the ball in flight. Thumbs placed at the 2:00 position closes the clubface and produces more of a hook. The strong grip on a tee shot produces more top spin and a longer roll. Shorter approaches to the green call for a square grip, which produces more back spin and gives you less roll. Practice using your grip to provide the spins you want. Mastering these techniques will give you more flexibility, more strategy options and in-creases your ability to shoot lower scores.
Spin the Ball Away from Trouble by Changing Your Grip
It is a common rule of some golf instructors to have one gripfor all your shots. Well, it is a common practice by tourplayers to change their grip according to the type of shot theyare playing.Your hands are the only part of your body that put you indirect contact with the club. How the hands are positioned onthe grip in relation to the clubface will directly affect how theball spins through the air.Let’s start with what I call a “square grip”, as seen in thephoto. I call it a square grip because the thumbs are squareto the grooves on the clubface. This grip will keep theclubface square going through impact and eliminate any spinto the left. Now what you do from this position influences the clubface angle and consequentially the spin of the ballthrough the air.A strong grip is when the two thumbs rotate to the right. Forexample if the grooves stay at 12:00 and the thumbs are at 1:00 this will promote a slight draw. But if the thumbs rotatemore to 2:00 than the clubface will close down more goingthrough impact and produce more of a hook.When you are on the golf course their will be times when youwant to spin the ball away from trouble. If the trouble is onthe left, than go to a square grip so the ball will spin to the right. If the trouble is on the right than go to a stronger grip sothe ball will spin to the left.Spinning the ball can also be very effective in improving yourshot making abilities on the course. When hitting a tee shot,go to a stronger grip which will produce more top spin andgive you more roll for a longer tee shot. When you’re hitting ashort approach to the green, you may want to have that ballstop quickly when it hits the green, so go to your square gripto produce more back spin.Practicing your shot making with different grips will onlyincrease your chances of shooting lower scores.
Rob Stanger is recognized by Golf Magazine as a 2007-2008 TopTeacher in the West Region. To view more tips or video golfinstruction go to www.mydesert.com or www.robstanger.com. Youcan contact him at 760-409-8628 for inquiries about your golf game.
Square your hands to the clubface toimprove your contact with the ball
8
Spin the ball away fromtrouble: Change your grip
Spin the Ball Away from Trouble by Changing Your Grip
It is a common rule of some golf instructors to have one gripfor all your shots. Well, it is a common practice by tourplayers to change their grip according to the type of shot theyare playing.Your hands are the only part of your body that put you indirect contact with the club. How the hands are positioned onthe grip in relation to the clubface will directly affect how theball spins through the air.Let’s start with what I call a “square grip”, as seen in thephoto. I call it a square grip because the thumbs are squareto the grooves on the clubface. This grip will keep theclubface square going through impact and eliminate any spinto the left. Now what you do from this position influences the clubface angle and consequentially the spin of the ballthrough the air.A strong grip is when the two thumbs rotate to the right. Forexample if the grooves stay at 12:00 and the thumbs are at 1:00 this will promote a slight draw. But if the thumbs rotatemore to 2:00 than the clubface will close down more goingthrough impact and produce more of a hook.When you are on the golf course their will be times when youwant to spin the ball away from trouble. If the trouble is onthe left, than go to a square grip so the ball will spin to the right. If the trouble is on the right than go to a stronger grip sothe ball will spin to the left.Spinning the ball can also be very effective in improving yourshot making abilities on the course. When hitting a tee shot,go to a stronger grip which will produce more top spin andgive you more roll for a longer tee shot. When you’re hitting ashort approach to the green, you may want to have that ballstop quickly when it hits the green, so go to your square gripto produce more back spin.Practicing your shot making with different grips will onlyincrease your chances of shooting lower scores.
Rob Stanger is recognized by Golf Magazine as a 2007-2008 TopTeacher in the West Region. To view more tips or video golfinstruction go to www.mydesert.com or www.robstanger.com. Youcan contact him at 760-409-8628 for inquiries about your golf game.
Square your hands to the clubface toimprove your contact with the ballSquare your hands to the
clubface to improve yourcontact with the ball.
Empowered Golf by Rob Stanger College Golf Center, Palm Desert, CA
Rob Stanger is recognized as a 2005-2008 Golf Magazine Top Teacher West Region, and teaches in the desert at The College Golf Center. You can contact him at 760-409-8628 or at www.robstanger.com for inquiries about your golf game. Proof created by:
AssistanceDogs, ofwhich there are three types:Guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired,hearing dogs for the deaf and hearing impaired, andservicedogsforpeoplewithdisabilitiesotherthan those related to vision or hearing. While the latter two are relatively new, guide dogs for the blind have been around and formally trained for over70years.
• A revised definition of “service animal” wasrecently passed in the United States, effectiveMarch15,2011:Itreads,“Serviceanimalmeansany dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individualwith a disability, including a physical, sensory,psychiatric,intellectualorothermentaldisability.Otherspeciesofanimals,whetherwildordomestic,trainedoruntrained,arenotserviceanimalsforthepurposesofthisdefinition.”
• The definition is part of the Americans withDisabilitiesAct,whichprovidesfederalprotectionfor service animals to accompany their personinto public places, Service animals are not pets;theyareworkingdogs.(Miniaturehorsesarealsopermittedunderspecificconditions).
•Sinceservicedogsaretrainedtomeettheneedsofthepeopletheyserve,anybreedcanbeused.Theyare trained to standards established by dog trainers, animal behaviorists, people with disabilities and veterinarians.Aservicedog isan invaluable, lifechangingadditiontothepersonitserves.Itnotonlyallows them to gain freedom and independence,but it develops a close bond while providingprotection,affectionandcompanionship!■
TODAY’S TIP BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
2009
THIS WEEK’S TIP BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
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1st Quarter 2009Week 1
Dec. 27 - Jan. 2Page 8
PHOBIAS (continued):
• Some phobias relate to what’s up above,such as the sun (heliophobia), the clouds(nephophobia), the moon (selenophobia),and the stars (siderophobia). Some folks arejust afraid of looking up – they are calledanablephobes.
•Not all phobias seem that abnormal oruncommon.Lotsofpeoplemighthaveafearof death, known as necrophobia. But thosewith an extreme form might be terrified ofbeing buried alive.A nosocomephobe has afearofhospitals,averminophobeisafraidofgerms,andahydrophobehasanirrationalfearofwater.
• Individuals suffering from extreme agora-phobiararelyleavetheirhomes,duetotheirfearofpublicoropenspacesand the inescapablesituationsthatmayoccurthere.Onlyhomeissafe.
• Somephobiascanbea learnedbehavior thatcomes from listening to others describe atraumaticevent.Anindividualinone’slifecantriggeraphobia,suchaspeladophobia,thefearofbaldpeople.Thosewithnosto-phobia,afearof returninghome,maybeable tocontributetheirpanictoaspecificincident.
• Peoplewhoareafraidoflookingintomirrorshave cataptrophobia, while those with cyberphobia have a fear of working withcomputers.A person with an anxiety aboutmemories is a mnemophobe.
2. Which group released “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”?
3. Who sang “Crazy for You,” and when?
4. Which female artist was given the nickname “Little Miss Dynamite?”
5. “Shut Down Turn Off,” “Remi-niscing” and “Lady” were 1978 releases by what rock group?
6. Name the band that netted hits with “Happy Together “and “She’d Rather Be With Me.”
Answers1. “Hair,” in 1967. The song has
been widely used, including on two episodes of “The Simpsons.”
2. Aerosmith in 1987. It was written by band member Steven Tyler, now of “American Idol” judge fame.
3. Madonna, in 1985. The song was used in the soundtrack for the film “Vision Quest.” Madonna wed Sean Penn that same year. The marriage lasted two years.
4. Brenda Lee (born Brenda Mae Tarpley), for her powerful voice in a small package: Lee was 4 feet 9 inch-es tall. Her first No. 1 hit was “I Want to Be Wanted” in 1960.
5. Little River Band. “Reminiscing” was used in the recent Will Ferrell film “The Other Guys.”
6. The Turtles, in 1967. They were originally a surf group called the Crossfires. More recently, “Happy Together” was used in a Nintendo commercial.
The idea of Go Figure is toarrive at the figures given atthe bottom and right-handcolumns of the diagram by fol-lowing the arithmetic signs inthe order they are given (thatis, from left to right and top tobottom). Use only the numbersbelow the diagram to completeits blank squares and use eachof the nine numbers only once.
DIFFICULTY: �� Moderate �� Difficult ��� GO FIGURE!
Go Figure!answers
Weekly SUDOKU -Answer-
Weekly SUDOKUby Linda Thistle
Place a number in the empty boxes in such a waythat each row across, each column down and each
small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
The idea of Go Figure is toarrive at the figures given atthe bottom and right-handcolumns of the diagram by fol-lowing the arithmetic signs inthe order they are given (thatis, from left to right and top tobottom). Use only the numbersbelow the diagram to completeits blank squares and use eachof the nine numbers only once.
DIFFICULTY: �� Moderate �� Difficult ��� GO FIGURE!