Vol. 22: #30 • Pondering Life's Mysteries • (7-19-2026) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
TIDBITS PONDERS
by Kathy Wolfe
If you’re like most folks, you probably have a natural curiosity about how different things originated, how they work or got their names. So this week Tidbits decided to look into a few of these questions for some answers. Follow along and see what we found!
LOVE LINE
• Did you ever wonder why wedding rings are worn on the third finger of the left hand? Back in ancient Egypt, it was believed there was a blood vein running from that finger that went directly to the heart. They called that vein “vena amoris,” the vein of love, and rings, usually made of bone, ivory or gold, were worn on that finger. Rings symbolized a never-ending circle, the unbroken continuum of undying love. As you know, the idea stuck.
VESTED INTEREST
• Men’s fashion dictates that the bottom of a vest remains unbuttoned, an unwritten “rule” that came into practice at the beginning of the 1800s. Up until then, vests were worn buttoned from top to bottom.
• But the Prince of Wales, England’s heir to the
on page 16)
1. MOVIES: Which 1997 film features a villain named Dr. Evil?
2. HISTORY: When was the Declaration of Independence officially signed?
3. GEOGRAPHY: The country of Eritrea is located on which continent?
4. TELEVISION: Which 1980s-90s sitcom includes a neighbor named Winnie Cooper?
5. U.S. CITIES: Which city is home to the Mall of America, the largest mall in the United States?
6. ANATOMY: What is the largest muscle in the human body?
7. SCIENCE: How much of Earth’s water is saltwater?
8. MEASUREMENTS: How many ounces is 3/4 of a cup?
9. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby goose called?
10. MUSIC: When was Taylor Swift’s first album released?
1. “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.” 2.
Games & Toys
HULK HANDS
This week Tidbits looks at a marketing phenomenon that began as a simple comic book character and morphed into a full-scale super hero icon, complete with spinoff merchandise that was a marketing blockbuster.
• The comic book story begins in May of 1962 when a nuclear physicist named Dr. Bruce Banner was involved in an explosion of a prototype gamma ray bomb. Unfortunately, an innocent teenager unwittingly entered the area just before the devastating blast. Banner heroically saved the teen from exposure to deadly gamma rays.
• Unfortunately, his courageous act put himself directly in the path of the lethal rays instead. The extreme dose of gamma radiation coursing through his body instantly changed his life forever.
• Instead of killing him, this event dramatically altered his physical state. The radiation affected his nervous system, which in turn interacted systemically with his entire body.
• Over the next several Marvel comic book seasons, Dr. Bruce Banner discovered a shocking pattern: Whenever he became emotionally stressed or enraged, he physically transformed from a mildmannered laboratory scientist into a towering, angry, lethal monster of a man. It was a Jekyll-andHyde transformation of fearsome proportions. His creator, Stan Lee and Marvel artist Jack Kirby, named his formidable alter-ego “The Hulk.”
• The Hulk became famous through countless comic books, a 1978-1982 TV series, and several TV movies. Children, teens, and young adults idolized The Hulk.
• In 2003 when the first feature-length Hulk film was set to hit theaters, the marketing team brainstormed for Hulk merchandise ideas. They wanted to create a Hulk gimmick similar to the popular Silly String web-shooter that strapped to the userʼs wrist. That item alone had become a mega-success for the Spider-Man series.
• It wasnʼt long before Hulk Hands were born, which consisted of green foam-rubber boxing gloves shaped like giant muscular clenched fists. These Fists of Fury let wearers bash away, theoretically without causing much damage.
• The packaging disclaimer carefully warned users not to use them for striking people, animals, or breakable objects. But despite the admonition, they were, of course, used for punching a sibling, a neighbor kid, or just about anything within reach.
• The Hulk Hands idea led to a lucrative marketing strategy. Now parents were required to purchase two sets to facilitate fair and balanced rock ‘em sock ‘em battles between kids. Psychologists said that for adults and kids alike, it was a form of anger management providing a catharsis for releasing tension and pent-up anxieties. Creative college kids boosted sales by hosting campus tournaments.
• The hands, colored “radioactive” green, were outfitted with speakers that emitted appropriate sound effects with every punch landed, including grunts, growls, groans, and the ever-popular catch-phrase: “Hulk smash!” A handle inside offered a firm grip on the 11-inch-wide gloves.
• When the $19.99 Hulk Hands hit store shelves, Hulk-mania quickly ensued. The giant green Goliath mitts were selling out even before the movie was widely advertised. Record sales gave new meaning to the term “smash hit.”
• Since their release in 2003, Hasbro has produced over half a dozen versions, varying in size, color, and function. One version clumsily grips objects. Another is made of teddy-bear-soft plush.
• Similar copycat products have also been released by other franchises: the Fantastic Four’s “Thing,” “Wrecking Fists,” “Smash Hands” for the Wreck-It Ralph movies, and “Dragon Fists” for Bruce Lee tie-ins.
• Hulk Hands have turned up in movies (“Stepbrothers”), made media appearances (“The Simpsons”), and are frequently seen at sporting events. A science-based YouTuber even published step-by-step instructions for making your own Hulk Hands weighted with lead. Each hand weighs 38 lbs, and they can smash through bricks, boards, and concrete. Definitely a musthave item for those on your gift list.
throne at the time, was a rather portly man and his girth at the waist prevented him from getting that final button fastened. Out of respect for his royal status, the men of the court followed suit by doing likewise.
• The practice was immediately adopted by men of the social elite, and before long leaving that last vest button undone was universally regarded as proper etiquette.
EGG-ZACTLY
• What determines the size of the eggs we buy at the grocery store – Medium, Large, Extra Large or Jumbo? It’s determined by the minimum weight per dozen. For example, a dozen Jumbo eggs must weigh at least 30 oz., while Extra Large dozens must weigh 27 oz., and Large at 24 oz.
• Why do chicken eggs vary in size in the first place? Generally, the older the chicken the bigger the egg. However, different breeds, such as the Leghorn, always tend to lay larger eggs regardless of age.
• White egg shells come from white-feathered hens. Brown egg shells come from red-feathered hens - period. The brown colored shells have nothing to do with being “organic,” regardless of a jacked-up price or advertising claims. The eggs inside both shells are identical.
TELLTALE TIRES
• Your car’s dashboard warning lets you know that one of your tires has low pressure, and even tells you how many pounds it’s down and which tire needs air. How can it possibly know that? Newer cars are equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that works with your car’s wheel speed sensors in the Antilock Braking System.
• Here’s how that works: If a tire’s pressure is low it reduces the tire’s size by a tiny degree, which also makes it roll at a slightly different speed. This small change tells that “Low Tire” dashboard icon to light up. The sensor knows
which wheel’s speed is out of proper sync and indicates on your information panel which specific tire has the problem and how low it is. Is today’s technology amazing, or what?
BOTHERSOME BITES
• Why do those pesky mosquito bites swell and itch so much? First of all, it’s just the females among them that’s causing the problem. When the ‘stinger’ of the female mosquito pierces your skin, she injects saliva into the wound to dilute the blood allowing her to suck it up more easily. The saliva produces an allergic reaction in the skin, resulting in all that swelling and itching.
NOM DE NUT
• It’s pretty obvious that macadamia nuts come from the macadamia tree, but what’s the origin of that name? This little nut was named after Dr. John MacAdam, a Scottish-Australian chemist, medical teacher, scientist, and politician.
• MacAdam promoted the cultivation of the nuts in Australia, and his friend, colleague, and Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Dr. Ferdinand Mueller, named the nut after him in 1857. Cultivation of the trees spread to Hawaii in the 1880s, the only area where the nuts are a commercially successful commodity.
WHICH WATCH
• When and why did folks make the transition from pocket watches to wristwatches? In 1907, Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, a pioneer in the airship and dirigible industry, asked French jeweler Louis Cartier to design a watch that he could fasten to his wrist to enable him to check his flying time in speed trials without having to awkwardly fumble through his pocket -- and Cartier gladly obliged. The army then used the invention during World War I for platoon leaders serving in the trenches to coordinate their maneuvers.
• It didn’t take long for watchmakers to recognize a new opportunity for selling the convenient timepieces to the general public, and a whole new product line was born in the jewelry industry.
MYSTERIOUS METHOD
• How does that little finger thingy at the doctor’s office find the amount of oxygen in your blood while the nurse is checking your vitals? The fingertip Pulse Oximeter measures the oxygen saturation in your blood by comparing the difference between how much red light and infra red light is absorbed. Normal readings range
from 95 to 100 percent, while values under 90 percent are considered low. The device also measures your pulse rate at the same time.
GENERATING JUICE
• Have you ever been curious about how river dams or waterfalls can make electricity? They use gravity and the force of water rushing
By Lucie Winborne
* The “Escape from Alcatraz Marathon,” created in 1980, is an annual event designed to show that it is indeed possible to survive an escape from Alcatraz, and includes a 1.5-mile swim to San Francisco, an 18-mile bike ride and an 8-mile run.
* In the seventh century B.C., the North African Berbers played a soccerlike game as a fertility rite.
* Iceland had a cat reality show called -- wait for it -- “Keeping Up With the Kattarshians,” in which four lucky kittens lived together in a furnished house and were filmed around the clock.
* Some police forces purposely assign at least one woman to their SWAT teams so their male counterparts will have a “den mother” to counteract some of the men’s more violent tendencies.
* The first arrest resulting from an emergency call occurred on July 8, 1937, at 4:20 a.m., when the wife of John Stanley Beard dialed 999 to report a burglar, Thomas Duffy, outside her home in England.
by Mary Hunt
Dreaming of an Organized Garage
bikes, a big freezer and garage refrigerator. We have bins that are somewhat organized. I won’t say we’re not 100% there yet, but we continue to work at it.
And to that end, I’d like to suggest a couple of neat tips and tricks that we’ve used to make tremendous progress.
CARABINER HOOKS
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
I like an organized home. When things get all chaotic and messy, I find that my mind kind of gets that way too. But when everything has a place -- and everything is in its place -- I feel a sense of peace. I can think straight, relax and enjoy.
by Mary Hunt
I like an organized garage too. At least I’ve enjoyed the pictures I’ve seen of garages that function in all the ways that garages are supposed to. Let’s just say I haven’t experienced this firsthand.
Faithful readers know that my husband is a woodworker -- a master craftsman. He remodels our homes, designs and builds heirloom furniture. This amazing talent does come with unintended consequences. Let’s just say the man does not possess a single iota of organizational talent. I’ll leave it there, although I could offer several pictures as examples to illustrate my point.
ADVERTISING PROOF
For 27 years (our last home in California), we had a two-car garage, also known as the hubs’ workshop -- and for the record, there was no space remaining in this garage for a vehicle of any size.
I know how hard it is to keep tools organized, and by organized I mean “able to be found.” A carabiner is an oblong metal ring with one spring-hinged side that is used especially in mountain climbing to connect stuff. They’re easy to open with one hand and come in all sizes from itty-bitty keychain size to big ones.
A carabiner is the perfect way to organize box-end wrenches and other items that have a hole in the handle. We have dozens of these, which should tell you just how many tools he has because you need many when you cannot find any of them.
MAGNETIC BOWLS
Random nails, brads, screws, bolts, staples and other small, pointy, metal objects can be quickly corralled in a magnetic bowl. Just remember, honey -- this is not a handy place to set your mobile phone, or anything electronic that does not play well with magnets. He will have a number of magnetic bowls to match the many different sizes of screws, bolts, nuts, nails and brads that master craftsmen (and auto mechanics) require to be really good at what they do.
MAGNETIC TRAYS
* It is illegal to ride an ugly horse in Wilbur, Washington.
* Of the roughly 300 million tons of plastic produced each year, half consists of single-use items.
* Over the course of several decades, African American blues musician Daryl Davis made a point of befriending KKK members and questioning them about their beliefs. As of 2017, 200 of those Klansmen had given up their robes as a result.
* People who worked at soda fountains were called soda jerks due to the classic jerking motion they used to pump out the soda water.
Thought for the Day: “It
moment to tell someone you love them, but it takes a lifetime to prove it.”
-- Erich Fromm
We moved to a home in Colorado with a beautiful, pristine, three-car garage -- complete with built-in cabinetry and extensive pegboarded walls. I worried that instead of a regular-sized chaotic, messy workshop we’d end up with an extra-large chaotic, messy workshop. And still no room for a vehicle of any size.
My husband promised me this would not happen -- that we will have room for two vehicles and it will be neatly organized and tidy, while still fully functioning so he can make me stuff.
I believed. He delivered to this extent: He turned one of the three bays into a really cool workshop. We have room for two vehicles, two
I think we will need a dozen or so magnetic trays to keep long objects like wrenches, pliers and screwdrivers organized and also handy when needed. Really, this is such a brilliant idea. I’ve seen how my husband works. He uses dozens of tools at the same time, and he isn’t about to run back to a cabinet or bin between every use.
HANGERS
Not clothes hangers, but a quick system that is excellent for keeping odd-sized things off the floor and visible so they are handy. We are working toward an entire wall for this purpose. Given the great reviews and reasonable price, he’s going to be one happy camper - I mean woodworker.
While we work toward completion, we are having a great time planning. In fact, the hubs is really getting into the ideas I’m coming up with for how two vehicles will be able to get along with a woodworking shop. While he promises me his shop will be confined to a single space, I’m not taking any chances.
I’ve been promoted to Shop Assistant, and you can be sure I’ll come fully prepared with carabiners, magnetic bowls and trays in multiple colors and sizes. And something else.
I’ve got my eye on a killer sawdust collection system.
You can find resources for the organizing items mentioned in this column at EverydayCheapskate.com/garage.
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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.”
• Henry Frank and Sam Gebo owned the Canadian-American Coal and Coke Company that operated in Alberta, Canada. In 1900 they investigated a promising coal seam that ran under Turtle Mountain near Crowsnest Pass, quickly establishing a mining operation there. The Canadian Pacific Railway ran a spur out to the mine, and a town was constructed nearby. Henry named the new settlement Frank, after himself.
• Frank and Gebo celebrated the founding of the town on September 10, 1901 with a huge party. By 1903 the town had a population of 600 serving the mine and the minersʼ families.
• Turtle Mountain’s geology consisted of many layers of limestone that folded across underlying levels of softer sandstone and unstable shale, with the coal seam beneath it all. There was a vast overhang on Turtle Mountain where layers had eroded away. Area natives referred to it as “the mountain that moves” and refused to camp there.
• Miners complained that the shafts they tunneled were unstable, with timbers going askew and low, menacing moaning sounds rising from deep within the ground. The mine continued to deepen, undermining the rock above.
• At 4:10 a.m. on April 29, 1903, the entire west face of Turtle Mountain suddenly gave way. In a deafening, rumbling roar, an estimated 120 million tons of rock and earth slid en masse down the slope to the valley floor, then rushed halfway up the hill on the opposite side of the river before finally stopping. Eyewitnesses later said the entire landslide episode lasted less than two minutes.
• The railroad was obliterated, the makeshift hobo campsite along the river was gone, the entire eastern portion of the town was buried,
and the mine entrance was completely blocked. The enormous thundering roar was heard in the distant town of Cochrane, 120 miles away.
• The devastating slide completely wiped out seven homes, several businesses, the cemetery, and all of the mine’s buildings. Entire families were gone. The death toll was estimated to be between 70 and 90, with the discrepancy owing to the uncertain number of people buried forever in the hobo camp next to the river.
• An ore train had just pulled out of the mine when they heard the roar behind them. The engineer immediately pushed the train to full throttle and made it across the Crowsnest Bridge mere seconds before it collapsed behind him.
• A brave brakeman risked his life running down the rock-strewn tracks waving a flag to warn an incoming locomotive of the danger ahead. Seventeen miners trapped in the mine tunneled their way out over the next 13 hours.
• When the mine tunnel was reopened a month later, people were amazed to find Charlie the horse had survived in total darkness the entire time, eating the bark off the timbers and drinking from puddles. After his rescue, he was plied with such an overabundance of oats, candy treats and brandy that he died within days.
• The railroad was repaired within three weeks. What remained of Frank was relocated to a safer area. By 1906, the population was 1,200, nearly double the pre-slide population.
• The mine closed in 1917 when the coal ran out. What’s left of Frank has been absorbed by the town of Crowsnest Pass. The landslide evidence is visible from the visitor center, which receives
around 100,000 tourists annually.
• The Frank slide was the deadliest in Canada’s history. Though it was blamed on an earthquake, it was more likely caused by undermining an already unstable condition, coupled with a warm wet winter, and a recent heavy snowfall. It was capped with a sub-zero night, causing water collected in rock fractures to freeze, expand, and crack the slabs apart.
• The mine denied any responsibility for the disaster.
by Dana Jackson
Q: Where can I watch reruns of the medical show “House,” and what ever happened to actress Jennifer Morrison? I haven’t seen her in anything in a while. -- M.E.
A: Jennifer Morrison, who played Dr. Allison Cameron on the Fox series “House,” departed the show after six seasons. She went on to star in the fairy-tale drama series “Once Upon a Time” on ABC, and most recently, she played the First Lady of the United States on Netflix’s “The Night Agent.”
She’s also developed quite a career as a director of episodic television shows like “Euphoria,” “Dr. Death,” and “The Five-Star Weekend.”
If you have a subscription to Amazon Prime Video or Hulu, you can watch “House” on these platforms.
Q: When’s the new movie about Facebook coming out, and why isn’t Jesse Eisenberg playing Mark Zuckerberg in it? -- E.P.
1. Minions & Monsters
(PG) Pierre Coffin, Trey Parker
2. Toy Story 5 (PG) Tom Hanks, Tim Allen
3. Young Washington (PG-13) William Franklyn-Miller, Mary-Louise Parker
4. Supergirl (PG-13) Milly Alcock, David Corenswet
5. Disclosure Day (PG-13) Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor
6. Obsession (R) Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette
7. Backrooms
(R) Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve
8. Jackass: Best and Last (R) Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O
A: It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 15 years since Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Network” came out -- the film that he wrote and directed about the early rise of Mark Zuckerberg’s life as a student at Harvard and how Zuckerberg launched Facebook. Jesse Eisenberg could have easily reprised his Oscar-nominated role of the future billionaire in its upcoming sequel, “The Social Reckoning,” but he declined.
Sorkin told Vanity Fair that he spent three days trying to change the actor’s mind, but Eisenberg stated that he “simply did not want to be conflated with Mark Zuckerberg anymore” and that he has his problems with Zuckerberg.
In the sequel, which will hit theaters on Oct. 9, 2026, another Oscar-nominated actor, Jeremy Strong (“The Apprentice” and HBO’s “Succession”), assumes the role of the billionaire.
Why a sequel? After the trailer for the movie premiered recently at CinemaCon, Sorkin stated, “There isn’t a life that Facebook’s algorithm hasn’t touched, and that influence has shaped everything. So, it’s time to say more.”
The film also stars Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”) as Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz and Oscar winner Mikey Madison (“Anora”) as Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.
Q: Was that really John Oliver I saw with jet-black hair on “General Hospital” recently? How did this happen? -- M.C.
A: Yes, even though he’s best known as the hilarious Emmy-winning host of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight,” he recently made his daytime soap debut on “General Hospital.”
Back in March, he had expressed a strong desire to appear on a soap during one of his “Last Week Tonight” segments. Not only did ABC’s “GH” respond with a resounding “yes,” but so did
Peacock’s “Days of Our Lives.”
He will appear in three episodes of “GH” in July as the head of the WSB (World Security Bureau) and has a mystery role on “Days” for another three episodes, which will air on Aug. 11, 12 and 14.
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
Courtesy of Fox
Jennifer Morrison as Dr. Allison Cameron on “House"
Almond Biscotti
A crunchy and delicious traditional Italian dessert.
3 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons amaretto (almond-flavor liqueur)
1 1/2 cup sliced almonds
1. Heat oven to 350 F. On waxed paper, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
2. In large microwave-safe bowl, heat butter in microwave oven on High 1 minute or until butter melts, stirring once. With wire whisk, stir in sugar, eggs and amaretto until smooth. With spoon, stir flour mixture and almonds into egg mixture until dough forms.
3. Divide dough in half. On ungreased large cookie sheet, with floured hands, shape 1 piece dough into 14 by 4-inch log (dough will be sticky). Repeat with remaining dough on another cookie sheet.
4. Place cookie sheets on 2 oven racks. Bake logs 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, rotating sheets between upper and lower racks halfway through baking. Cool logs on cookie sheets on wire racks 20 minutes. Reset oven to 325 F.
5. Transfer logs to cutting board. With serrated knife, cut each log crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick diagonal slices. Place slices, cut side down, on same ungreased cookie sheets.
6. Bake slices 25 to 30 minutes or until golden on bottom, rotating sheets between racks
halfway through baking. With spatula, transfer biscotti to wire racks to cool completely. Store biscotti in tightly covered container at room temperature up to 2 weeks, or in freezer up to 6 months.
Grilling Tip: Kabobs
Foods that are cooked together on the same skewer should heat quickly and take the same amount of time to cook.
Foods with different cooking times, like vegetables and meat, should be grilled on separate skewers.
Also, be sure to leave a little space between pieces on the skewer so the food cooks evenly.
If you like metal skewers, buy twisted or square ones, not round -- the food will twirl on the skewers less and cook more evenly. If you’re using wooden or bamboo skewers, shape isn’t a factor. But soak them in water for at least 15 minutes before using so they don’t burn. Just pat dry before putting food on them.
Chili Corn Chips
These tasty homemade chips are ready in just 15 minutes.
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
Bella Villaggio
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 (6-inch) low-fat corn tortillas
1/3 pg. • Full Color July 19 & 26, 2026 • Vol. 22: Issues #30 & 31
Nonstick cooking spray
1. Heat oven to 400 F.
2. In cup, mix cumin, chili powder and salt. Spray 1 side of each tortilla with nonstick cooking spray, sprinkle with chili-powder mixture.
3. Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges and place on ungreased large cookie sheet. Bake tortillas 8 to 10 minutes until crisp, cool on wire rack. If not serving right away, store in tightly covered container. Makes 4 servings.
Each serving: About 60 calories, 1g total fat, 110mg sodium, 11g carb., 2g protein.
By John Allen DIAMOND LIL
by Brett Koth
Donald Duck by Walt
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
Holidays & Observances This Week
7/19 National Ice Cream Day
7/20 Get Out Of The Doghouse Day
7/21 National Be Someone Day
7/22 Be A Good Team Member Day
7/23 Hot Enough For Ya Day
7/24 Tell An Old Joke Day
7/25 Hire A Veteran Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
New Dog on the Block
“The neighbor directly behind me got a new dog, a beagle, about 18 months old. Our backyards are not very large. My neighbor is a man in his early 80s. He takes off for a few hours two or three times daily and leaves the dog outside in his backyard -- where she barks, howls and bays the whole time.
“I figured out real quick that my neighbor is afraid to leave the dog in the house because he does not want her damaging the inside of his home. He was, however, concerned about the noise she was making.
“My husband and I politely advised him that his dog barks the whole time he is gone. We understand the dog is in a new territory, but the barking is bad. I asked him why he is not leaving the dog in the house, and he flat-out told me he does not trust the dog to be in the home alone. He seemed overwhelmed and confided that he had wanted a lap dog, but his daughter got him this dog.
“We want to be good neighbors and told him we would call if the dog continues to bark excessively. We want to give him some time to work with his new dog.
“Last Saturday, we were sitting in the backyard talking quietly, and the dog barked for an hour and a half. We peeked across the fence and saw that she was sitting by the back door barking to be let in. I spoke in a soft tone using the dog’s name to try to quiet her, but it did not work. My neighbor’s next-door neighbor also tried speaking softly to the dog, to no avail. My husband called our neighbor and spoke to him politely to let him know what happened.
Tidbits Word Search
“On Sunday, our doorbell rang and I answered it. My neighbor’s daughter was at the door with the dog on a leash. I told her the dog barks continually when her ‘father’ is gone and asked why she is not kept inside when he leaves.
She did not give me a straight answer. Instead, she told me that her father has early-stage dementia and she got the dog as a companion for him. She said she is going to train the dog, but in the meantime, when the dog is barking, we should spray her with a hose.
“It’s gone! There is no more Covid!” “It’s completely gone!”
Well, no.
I heard this exchange in the store today and had to step in. I’m probably the only one who is still, after six years, tracking local cases of Covid. And the truth, as I explained to the two ladies in the store, is that Covid is still out there.
As of this writing, Covid is launching again in three states, declining in 34 states, and remaining the same in 12 states. It is actually circulating to some degree in all 50 states.
It’s not likely that a worldwide pandemic will explode again like it did in 2020. After all, the thousands of people who contracted and survived Covid now have the advantage of natural immunity. Many people have also taken the vaccines and are thought to still have a tiny bit of immunity left over from that.
The keyword there, however, is tiny. And that immunity is waning more by the month. In other words, it is possible to get Covid now, despite prior shots and despite there not being a huge number of cases at the moment. It’s summer, people are traveling and the three states with the growing number of cases are tourist
hotspots.
While we don’t need to monitor our potential exposure every single minute like we did when Covid was raging around the world, we do need to remember that over 800,000 seniors died of Covid during the epidemic.
Some steps:
Identify which stores are likely to have test kits in stock should you need to replenish your supply.
Keep a mask handy if you’re going to be in a crowd.
Ask your doctor whether or not getting a booster shot is a good idea. Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer.
According to WHO (the World Health Organization), in the past four weeks there have been 246 Covid deaths around the world; 202 of them were here in the United States.
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Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.
(c) KingFeaturesSyndicate2026
Corner (from page 9)
“I told her I am not going to do that to her dog or any other dog. She then basically told me that this is the new dog on the block and we should deal with it.
“Could you please give us some advice as to how to deal with this?”
Dogs that are left outside all the time inevitably develop behavior problems that extend beyond excessive barking. As if that’s not bad enough.
This dog needs training. A housebreaking program and some solid obedience training would alleviate the man’s concerns about leaving the dog inside, where she belongs. It would also help him to better understand and fully experience the joys of dog ownership.
As it stands, this is the stuff lawsuits are made of. With dog ownership comes the responsibility of being a good neighbor. For the most part, this means confining your dog to your property, teaching him good manners and keeping the barking to a minimum. Anything less is asking for a visit from animal control. Or worse yet, finding yourself in court with someone you’re going to see every day until one of you moves.
Woof!
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Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Based on some recent emails I received, I think it’s time to bring up again a message I’ve delivered more than a few times in the past: Don’t worry. Be happy. And that message is meant for those people who are so darn intent on squeezing every last nickel they can out of their Social Security benefits.
I get the fact that people want to get all the benefits for which they are eligible. But I am talking about those folks who seem absolutely obsessed with the issue. I swear some people must lie awake nights and worry that they might make a decision they think will cost them thousands of dollars in lost benefits, but that is actually usually way less.
Because when it comes to Social Security, most of these folks are not between a rock and a hard place. Instead, they are between a pillow and a soft place. In other words, they really can’t go wrong no matter which Social Security decision they make. I’ve saved up a few emails from some of these readers, and I will share them with you today.
Q: I will turn 70 on Aug. 2, 2026. I want to make sure I get the full 32% bonus for delaying my retirement until that age. I’m really afraid that if I file for those benefits a little early, like in July, for example, that they will start my checks in July and I will lose my bonus. Should I wait until Aug. 2 to file?
A: First things first. In your case, the delayed retirement bonus would be about 21%, not 32%. I will explain that in a minute. And it sounds like you think that the 21% delayed retirement bonus is an all-or-nothing deal. In other words, you assume you get an extra 21% added to your monthly benefits if you wait until exactly age 70 to file. But that is not how it works.
Instead, the delayed retirement credits are calculated this way. You get an extra two-thirds of 1% added to your Social Security benefit rate for each month you delay retirement beyond your full retirement age. In your case, your FRA was age 66 and 4 months. If I’m doing my math right, that means you reached FRA in December 2022. So, for example, had you filed for your benefits in December 2023, 12 months after your FRA, you would have received an 8% bonus. (12 times two-thirds of 1% equals 8%.)
But if you wait until age 70 to file, that is 32 months beyond your FRA, giving you a roughly 21% delayed retirement bonus.
So, you can file for benefits tomorrow and just tell the Social Security people you want your benefits to start in August when you are 70. And if the worst-case scenario happens and they mistakenly start your benefits right away, you would end up getting about a 20% bonus instead of 21%. In other words, you would lose that 1% in your ongoing benefit rate. But you would have received one extra Social Security check, probably worth several thousand dollars. As I said, you are between a pillow and a soft place, so don’t fret it.
Q: I will be 67 next year. I have
worked all my life and have always paid taxes on the maximum amount of earnings that could be taxed for Social Security purposes. But my employer just downsized and I won’t make the max this year. So now I won’t get the maximum Social Security benefit.
I’m just sick over this. I’ve been waiting for a long time to get this maximum benefit and now it’s gone. Can I pay the difference myself to get back to the maximum?
A: No, you can’t pay the taxes on your own. But there is absolutely nothing special about the so-called “maximum” Social Security benefit. It is not like you get some kind of bonus for reaching that milestone. Like everyone else, you simply get a retirement benefit rate that is based on your highest 35 years of inflation-indexed earnings. So if you come up a little shy of the maximum taxable earnings this year, you might make up for it by having earned the maximum in all those prior years -- especially since those past years are adjusted for inflation.
But if you don’t end up with the maximum benefit -- so what? What’s the big deal if, instead of getting $4,152 per month, maybe you would start getting $4,142 per month? I don’t think that’s worth losing any sleep over.
And I need to make one more important point about this whole maximum retirement benefit business. That $4,152 figure I just quoted is the maximum monthly retirement benefit for 2026.
But that does not mean it is the absolute maximum amount of monthly Social Security benefits that anyone can get from the government. Indeed, millions of retirees get much more than that. $4,152 is the maximum benefit payable to someone turning full retirement age in 2026 who has paid taxes on maximum Social Security earnings for 35 years.
But many seniors work well beyond the age of their FRA, and they get much more than $4,152 per month because of delayed retirement credits paid up until age 70 and because the extra earnings they add to their Social Security account after FRA may be used to increase their monthly retirement check.
Q: I will be 63 in October. I want my
1. The book of Hebrews is found in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither
2. What remedy did Paul recommend for Timothy to help him alleviate a physical problem he had? a) Fasting b) Prayer c) A little wine d) Ritual cleansing
3. How many people did Jesus appear to after his resurrection and before he ascended to Heaven? a) 12 b) 27 c) 150 d) More than 500
4. From Acts 8, who baptized the Ethiopian eunich? a) Peter b) John the Baptist c) Philip d) Paul
5. What is the Hebrew word that is usually translated as "blessing"? a) Berakah b) Shalom c) Chumash d) Chosson
6. How old was Abraham when he died? a) 86 b) 100 c) 175 d) 196
(Answers on page 16) For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com
benefits to begin then. I understand I will get about 80% of my benefits if I do that. I don’t want to take any more reduction than that. How can I make sure my checks start in October?
A: You can do whatever you want to do, of course. After all, they are your Social Security benefits. So when you fill out your retirement application, just make sure you indicate October 2026 as the month you want your Social Security checks to start.
But frankly, I am a little confused why you are so worried that your benefits start exactly at age 63. Your monthly benefit rate is reduced by about one-half of 1% for each month they are taken before your FRA:
You were right that if you take your benefits at 63, you would get about 80%. But if, for example, they were to start a couple of months earlier, you’d get maybe 78 or 79%. In other words, you’d lose a few bucks per month, but you’d gain one or two extra Social Security checks.
Once again, it’s a pillow or a soft place. * * *
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. 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 2026 CREATORS.COM
Man With Hemicrania Continua Requires Indefinite Therapy
DEAR DR. ROACH: My future son-in-law was diagnosed with hemicrania continua several weeks ago by a neurologist and is responding to indomethacin. Could you provide a prognosis for this illness? The internet says that it can take anywhere from weeks to months to years. Is this likely the case?
M.I.L.
ANSWER: Hemicrania continua is an unusual type of headache syndrome. It’s often misdiagnosed, with 50% of people not receiving a correct diagnosis for eight years. The pain is on one side of the head (hence “hemicrania”), and the pain severity can be high, with over 70% of sufferers describing the pain as “excruciating.”
Although the pain can come and go, most people have or develop continuous unrelenting pain (hence the “continua”). In some people, these episodes of continuous pain can last for weeks or months and are followed by a pain-free period. This condition is usually diagnosed and managed by a neurologist.
The bad news for your future son-in-law is that most people have this condition not merely for months or years but for the rest of their lives, so they need indefinite therapy. The good news is that people who respond to indomethacin tend to keep responding to it.
Almost 50% of people were able to decrease their dose of indomethacin -- a potent but somewhat toxic anti-inflammatory drug that can affect the stomach and kidneys. Many people need medicine (such as ranitidine) to protect their stomachs. People who can’t tolerate indomethacin have other options such as melatonin, the anti-seizure drug topiramate, or nerve blocks.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent column on dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the AREDS2 vitamin and mineral supplement. I’m taking a generic version of them, even though my ophthalmologist (who’s a boardcertified retina specialist) says that mine’s in the early stages and that AREDS are only useful in later stages. But he says that there’s no harm in taking AREDS before then, and perhaps it’ll do some good.
I’m also taking a saffron extract, which appears to be the only thing that clinical studies have found to help during the early stages. I wonder if you have any thoughts on this. B.S.
ANSWER: There was a randomized, controlled trial on saffron for mild to moderate AMD in 2019, and saffron did show modest but statistically significant improvements compared to a placebo. People who took saffron had small improvements with visual acuity (both people who were and weren’t taking AREDS supplements benefited from saffron), as well as improvements with sophisticated measurements of retinal activity.
Since there weren’t any significant side effects, and there’s an added benefit on top of the AREDS supplements, saffron is a reasonable treat
ment. The dose that was studied was 20 mg per day, and I found it easily available at reasonable prices.
DEAR DR. ROACH: Does taking psyllium interfere with the body’s absorption of prescription medications? If so, how long should one wait after taking psyllium before taking prescription medications?
M.H.S.
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Getting Community Care
The VA spent over $36 billion on community care in fiscal year 2025, and it appears to be money well spent.
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ANSWER: Psyllium, which is in Metamucil but also can be bought in bulk, is a soluble, non-absorbable fiber that carries water with it as it passes through the GI tract, relieving constipation. It is safe and effective for most people with mild constipation, but can cause some bloating sensation, especially if started at too-high doses. It should be taken with plenty of water.
Psyllium can prevent absorption of medications. It should be taken one hour before or at least two hours after other medications.
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.
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The expenditures were courtesy of the 2018 MISSION Act, which lets veterans get their care out in the community from non-VA health care providers -- with the VA picking up the tab. Added to that in 2025 was the Dole Act (more specifically, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act), which lets veterans seek care in the community without frequent medical reviews or permissions from VA medical staff.
It used to be that veterans had to get a new referral every 90 to 180 days to keep getting care out in the community. Now, for 30 categories of care -- pulmonary, dermatology, podiatry and endocrinology, as a few examples -- new referrals will only be needed once a year.
Veterans in three states in particular benefited from that money: Texas at $3.3 billion, Florida at $2.8 billion and California at $2.1 billion.
If you’ve already been getting community care, find out from the community care office at your VA medical facility where in the permission and referral cycle you are so you know in advance when the next one will be required.
Since most of the medical categories will only need a yearly referral, get your schedule in writing so there isn’t a problem at the last minute with an expired authorization.
If you need medical treatment that the VA doesn’t provide, or if the wait times at your local VA hospital are too long, or if the driving time to your VA hospital is too long, you might qualify for community care. To get specifics, call the community care office for an initial referral.
If you already have a community care provider in mind, find out whether they are part of the VA network before you get care from them to be certain the VA will pay for it.
To learn more about getting medical care in your own community, go to department. va.gov/vha/community-care.
Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.
volunteer drivers and is available Monday through Friday. The pick up locations are in Cathedral City and Palm Springs.
We request that you do not make a reservation if your medical appointment is after 12 Noon as the van must return to the desert at that time. You can ask your doctor to schedule you for an early morning appointment if you explain that your transportation must return by 12 Noon.
You must make your reservation in advance by calling the reservation dispatcher at: (760) 832-8712
Doctor Visits Without the Drive: How Medicare Covers Telehealth
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I don’t drive much anymore, so getting to the doctor can be a hassle. They suggested telehealth visits, but I’m not very tech savvy. How does Medicare cover these kinds of appointments? --Trying to Keep Up
Dear Trying: You’re certainly not alone. Many older adults are running into the same issue. Getting to appointments is not as easy as it used to be, and the idea of using technology for doctor visits can feel a bit intimidating at first.
The good news is that telehealth has made it much easier to get care without leaving home, and it’s usually much simpler to use than people expect. Medicare covers many of these services, too, making it easier to stay connected with your health care providers. Here’s a look at how it works and what Medicare pays for.
What is telehealth?
Telehealth is simply a way to see or talk
to your doctor from home using a phone, tablet or computer. Visits can be done by video, where you and your doctor can see and talk to each other, or sometimes by a regular phone call.
And don’t worry, you don’t need to be a tech expert. Many doctor’s offices use simple systems and will walk you through it step by step. In some cases, all you have to do is click a link they send you or answer your phone at the scheduled time.
It’s also important to understand that telehealth visits are not just quick chats. They are considered full medical appointments. Your doctor can go over symptoms, review medications, discuss test results and recommend treatment, much like an in person visit.
Does Medicare cover it?
Yes, Medicare does cover many telehealth services. While telehealth has been part of Medicare for years, it was expanded significantly during the COVID 19 pandemic so people could safely get care from home. Those expanded benefits are still in place today.
Right now, Medicare allows you to receive telehealth services from home no matter where you live. Covered visits include a wide range of care, such as reviewing lab results, managing prescriptions, routine checkups, preventive screenings and even evaluating minor illnesses like colds, coughs or infections. In many cases, follow up visits and ongoing care for chronic conditions can also be handled this way.
Another big plus is flexibility. If you are not comfortable with video or do not have internet access, some telehealth visits can still be done using just a regular phone call. And it is not limited to your primary doctor. Many types of health care providers can offer telehealth services.
What’s ahead?
Here’s where things get a little uncertain. The expanded telehealth coverage that began during the pandemic is not permanent, at least not yet.
Under current law, these broader telehealth benefits are set to continue through Dec. 31, 2027. After that, Medicare will likely scale back coverage to more limited rules unless Congress steps in and extends the changes.
Even so, some telehealth services are expected to continue long term. Mental and behav-
ioral health care, diabetes education, nutrition therapy and certain dialysis related visits should still be covered. Audio only phone visits for mental health care are also expected to remain available.
If you are curious about telehealth, start by calling your doctor’s office and asking what options they offer. They can guide you through the process and help you feel comfortable before your first appointment.
It may feel unfamiliar at first, but many people find that once they try telehealth, it’s a simple and convenient way to stay on top of their health, especially when getting to appointments is difficult.
* * *
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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By Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Porcelain Set Made in Limoges, France
Q: Enclosed is a photo of a small round porcelain plate with a matching set of salt and pepper shakers. The plate is almost 6 inches in diameter and decorated with yellow flowers and green leaves. The shaker set is decorated with pastel flowers and green leaves. All the pieces are embellished with gold. The set has been handed down to me from my mother and is in mint condition.
Marked on the back of each piece is “T. & V. -- France.” Also, the letters “RWB” are on all three pieces and are most likely the initials of the artist who hand-painted the design. I have never seen a tray for a salt and pepper shaker set. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Q: I have a child’s porcelain handpainted dinner service for six and have enclosed a photo of the mark that is on each dish. The set includes large and small soup tureens with lids, six plates, six saucers, five teacups, one round and one oval serving platter, a teapot with a lid, a sugar bowl with a lid and a cream pitcher. The set is decorated with yellow and pink flowers and blue stripes on the edges.
The Ben Hecht family gave the set to my mother when she was a child. He was a well-known screenwriter, novelist, journalist and playwright.
Would you be able to tell me anything about the set and the value?
A: The letter “M” represents the Morimura Brothers. They founded a trading company with offices in New York and Tokyo, and exported china from Japan. The New York offices had both wholesale and retail showrooms. They sold china that appealed to the Western market. Children’s dinner sets are always popular with collectors.
Your set was made around 1940 and would probably be worth $175 to $200.
* On July 20, 1963, Jan and Dean’s song “Surf City” made it to the coveted top of the American pop charts. While its memorable opening line “Two girls for every boy!” was more wishful thinking than fact, it helped create an image of California as a paradise that featured plenty of sun, sand, endless waves and equally endless summers.
* On July 21, 365 AD, an earthquake off the coast of Greece, estimated by modern scientists to actually have been two tremors in succession, caused a tsunami that devastated the city of Alexandria, Egypt. At least 5,000 people were killed and 50,000 homes destroyed.
* On July 22, 1894, the world’s first automobile race took place, with 17 of 21 entrants completing the route from Paris to Rouen, France, covering a distance of 78.3 miles. The Paris-Rouen Trial paved the way for future such races and signaled the dawn of the motor age by showcasing the reliability of the automobile.
* On July 23, 1923, American gangster John Dillinger signed on with the Navy in an attempt to avoid auto theft charges. His military career was short-lived, however, as within months he had gone AWOL several times.
A: Tressemanes & Vogt Porcelain Factory made your set. They have been in business in Limoges, France, since 1883. Based on the information that the designs are not the same on the shakers and the plate, you do not have a matching set. The initials are those of the artist.
Your shakers and plate were made between 1892 and 1917. The three pieces would probably be worth $250 to $300.
* * * 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.
* On July 24, 1998, Steven Spielberg’s World War II epic “Saving Private Ryan” was released in theaters. Starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, the film was lauded for its realism and nominated for 11 Academy Awards, earning five.
* On July 25, 1941, automaker Henry Ford penned a letter from his desk in Dearborn, Michigan, to Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi, praising him and his civil disobedience campaign that aimed to force the British colonial government out of India.
* On July 26, 1797, future American president John Quincy Adams, the son of second president John Adams, married Louisa Johnson in London, England. For more than two centuries, Louisa would be the only foreign-born first lady of the United States. In 1828, their son John would wed Louisa’s niece, Mary Catherine, in the first White House wedding for a president’s child.
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
Do
“We thought your cruise ship picture in the travel brochure was just meant to be a joke.
you mean this is actually lT?"
Tressesmanes and Vogt of Limoges, France, made this porcelain salt and pepper set.
Morimura Brothers was a New Yorkbased importers.
Life's Mysteries: (from page 3) downhill through a containment funnel called a penstock, causing a turbine propellor to spin rapidly.
• This spinning energy causes opposing magnets inside a generator to rotate at high speed and generate electricity, a process called hydroelectric power. The same basic principle is used by wind generators, where the movement of air is harnessed rather than water.
CORKAGE CONNOISSEURS
• Wine-lovers everywhere can be seen opening a bottle and letting it “breathe.” But did you know the practice only needs to be done with red wines over ten years old? The bottle should be opened an hour in advance to allow any sediment to settle as well as to let the wine absorb oxygen. The procedure is useless for a one-year-old bottle of white wine. Letting red wine breathe improves the bouquet of some wines, releasing esters, ethers, and aldehydes, those compounds responsible for the fruity taste in wine.
• And why do some wine connoisseurs like to sniff the cork from the wine bottle? Actually, there’s no need to smell a cork; it’s really the wine itself that needs to be whiffed. The cork just needs to be checked for moistness, to ensure that the wine bottle has been stored properly on its side. The cork needs to be kept moistened in order to prevent shrinkage and prevent air from seeping in. A dry cork indicates that air has very likely entered into the bottle, damaging the wine.
MEASURING MOISTURE
• Don’t feel alone if you get confused when the weather reporter gives one number for humidity another number for dew point. What’s the difference between these two? Relative humidity is the ratio (percentage) of the amount of moisture that’s actually in the air, compared to the maximum amount of moisture that the air can hold at that temperature. Dew point, on the other hand, is the temperature at which the air needs to be cooled for the moisture content that it presently holds to become visible (i.e. fog, or the “sweat” on your cold pop can).
CONFECTION CONFESSION
• Most folks love the taste of a delicious pound cake for dessert, but how did it get that name? This tasty treat doesn’t actually weigh a pound, but takes its name from its ingredients. Prepared from its original recipe, it requires a full pound of flour, a pound of sugar, and a pound of butter (carbs and calories not included).
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Game Changers
by Jason Jenkins
Seve’s Weakness
As a young player growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, there were a plethora of great players to watch around the green, but none better than the late, Severiano Ballesteros. Seve was a genius when it came to the short game, and was more imaginative than any player before or after his prime.
Yet, one of Seve’s greatest secrets around the green was a simple grip trick that allowed him to create spin and height on shots much easier than his competitors. Seve many times used a “weaker” right hand position than normal, whereby the wrist was turned more palm downward and on top of the left hand. This served two main purposes:
1. The club was now more in his fingers rather than in the palm creating better feel. The index finger, in particular, “hooked” around the grip where it could apply force downward through impact.
2. By pre-turning the right wrist and forearm, there is very little room to rotate the arm any further. This helps prevent the clubface from closing through impact . Seve would have the face open noticeable at address with many shots, and his grip keep the face from closing too much as he went through impact.
