Vol. 21: #40 • Tidbits Has Sweet Dreams About Sleep • (9-28-2025) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

tidbits has sweet

Sleep dreams about

by Janet Spencer

In an average lifetime a person will spend more than 23 years sleeping. So dependent are we on this vital replenishment that weʼre able to survive a lot longer without food than we ever could without sleep. Follow along to learn some facts about this necessary activity that we all need to keep us going -- and we promise to keep it interesting so you donʼt doze off!

• Every living creature on Earth, provided they live longer than several days, follows a pattern of activity and rest keyed to the circadian cycle of day and night. Every metabolic function in the body is governed by a 24-hour internal clock that regulates all bodily processes.

• Sleep would seem a foolish thing for any creature to do. Not only does it make you vulnerable to predation, but it prevents you from doing anything useful. However, the fact that every creature sleeps, and that this has been going on since life began, shows that sleep indeed serves a vital function that outweighs any possible disadvantage.

• Medical science has long recognized this fact, but

TRIV

(Answers on page 16)

1.GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: The children’s novel “Black Beauty” is about what kind of animal?

2. MOVIES: Which actor narrates the 1980s film “Stand by Me”?

3. GEOGRAPHY: Which world city is home to Saint Basil’s Cathedral?

4. U.S. CITIES: Which major U.S. city sits on top of a working salt mine that has been operating since 1910?

5. LITERATURE: What is the name of the country where “The Hunger Games” takes place?

6. MATH: How many sides does a trapezoid have?

7. ASTRONOMY: How long does it take for light from the Sun to reach Earth?

8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many legs does a lobster have?

9. TELEVISION: Which TV drama always begins with a meeting and the warning, “Let’s be careful out there”?

10. LANGUAGE: How many letters are in the English alphabet? Answers

1. A horse.

2. Richard Dreyfuss.

BAD PROMOTIONS

• The West Michigan Whitecaps are a minor league baseball team located in Comstock Park, Michigan. In 2006, an ad campaign aimed at attracting youngsters to the game involved dropping $1,000 in small bills from a helicopter hovering over the playing field. Children lined up against the outfield fence as the cash fluttered to the ground. At the signal, they rushed en masse onto the field -- and the frenzy began.

• It was an instant melee causing numerous fights, injuries, tears and frightened parents. One sevenyear-old boy was trampled badly enough to require an emergency trip to the hospital, while a six-year-old girl suffered a split lip after being shoved to the ground with her face stepped on. The infamous cash drop was the first – and last – time the Class A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers ever conducted such a hazardous promotion.

• The minor league baseball team, the Fort Myers Miracle, celebrated the ten-year anniversary of Evander Holyfield losing his ear to Mike Tyson in a boxing match. On June 28, 2007 – exactly ten years after the famous “bite heard ‘round the world” – the Florida State League team gave away plastic ears to the first 1,000 people who came through the gates as they faced off against the St. Lucie Mets.

• Decorating stations were set up around the concession area, where fans could personalize their ears with a variety of items. A deep-fried confection called elephant ears were sold at the concession stand. Mike Tyson was invited to throw out the first pitch, but he was a no-show. Announcers described the event as a “lobeblow” ho-hum PR disaster.

• In 2007, the Cincinnati Reds hosted Ryan Freel Dirty T-Shirt Night, giving away T-shirts with dirt stains printed on the front to honor their hustling utility player. It was a colossal flop.

• While disco music was all the rage in the '70s, there were also many people who hated it, including “shock jock” Steve Dahl, who spewed anti-disco rhetoric on a Chicago radio station. The managers of Comiskey Park decided that an anti-disco demonstration was the perfect thing to entertain fans between games of a double-header with the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers.

• They planned to blow up a crate full of disco LPs to delight the crowd. The event, hyped on Dahl’s radio show “98 Rock” on WULP, promised a ticket price of just 98¢ to anyone who donated a disco record to be added to the demolition pile.

• Normal attendance usually ran 15,000 fans; organizers expected an additional 5,000. They had security on hand for 35,000; but in the end, over 50,000 disco-haters showed up, packing the stands well beyond maximum capacity. Disco records were flying around the stadium like Frisbees.

• The spectacle began at the end of the first game with a full-fledged fireworks display interspersed with ear-splitting dynamite explosions that fueled the crowd into a frenzy as the essence of alcohol wafted through the air. Shards of exploded records flew in all directions littering the field and injuring several people. Then fans stormed the field. Bases were stolen—literally -- batting cages were destroyed, dugouts were invaded and equipment was stolen.

• Riot police were called, and 39 people were arrested. The playing field was ruined, and the second game was forfeited to the Tigers.

• It was the only time that Disco Night was held, and it went down in Chicago baseball history as one of the most disastrous, never-to-be-repeated promotions ever conceived. 

Sleep (from page one) paralyzing facet of REM has not yet developed.

it wasn't until 1953 that Eugene Aserinsky, a graduate student at the University of Chicago, began to pioneer serious scientific studies in sleep research to learn some answers.

SLEEP CYCLES

• He became the first person to prove, using electrodes attached to the head to monitor brainwaves, that the human body goes through an average of five sleep cycles each night. He found that each cycle lasts about 90 minutes, with two phases for each cycle. Because the first phase involved “rapid eye movements,” he labeled it REM sleep, while the second phase, which had no eye movement, he called NREM sleep, for Non-REM sleep. He found that REM sleep always involved dreaming, whereas no dreaming ever occurred during the NREM cycle.

• The NREM brainwaves are deep slow waves one-tenth the speed of waking brainwaves, while REM sleep mimics the brain when it is awake, showing more activity. Neither of these cycles are similar to meditation, however.

• The split between NREM sleep periods and REM sleep periods shifts over the course of the night. The first 90-minute sleep cycle is primarily NREM sleep, with a bit more REM sleep at the end. However, as the night progresses, REM sleep becomes increasingly dominant, while NREM sleep decreases. The final cycle before waking is largely REM sleep with only short periods of NREM time. This cycle is present every night in every human. No one knows why.

EFFECTS OF CYCLES

• This means that if a person who normally sleeps until 8:00 am is required to rise instead at 6:00 am, they will miss only 25% of their sleep time, but they will also miss up to 90% of their REM Conversely, if a person who usually goes to bed at 10:00 pm stays awake until midnight, they will miss a significant percentage of their

• During waking hours, the brain is completely absorbed by processing incoming data. During sleep, however, all data connections have ceased. Now the brain can focus on other things.

• There are parts of our brain that are 30% more active during REM sleep than they are during wakefulness. During REM sleep, the brain appears to be wide awake while the body is sound asleep. Mere seconds before the brain shifts from NREM to REM sleep, the command goes out to paralyze all voluntary movement. The body becomes completely limp, allowing the dreams to play out without fear of damaging the body.

SLEEP BY SPECIES

• Every creature sleeps, including worms, other insects, frogs, fish, sharks, and even bacteria. However, as far as we know, only mammals and birds experience REM sleep.

• If you deprive a human of sleep, then allow them to catch up on sleep, which form of sleep will be more important as they rebound? Experiments show that the brain prefers NREM sleep above all else—to begin with. However, on the second night, REM sleep becomes more important, a trend that continues for the next several nights.

• Babies in the womb sleep nearly round the clock, and it’s not until the third trimester that they may be awake for short periods. Two weeks before birth, the baby spends around nine unbroken hours in REM sleep, increasing to 12 hours the week before birth.

byKaraKovalchik&SandyWood

• At no other time during life will a human experience more REM sleep than the week before birth. During this entire period, the infant’s brain is being wired with all the synapses necessary for a lifetime of emotions, memories, intelligence, thoughts, decisions, and actions. However, alcohol disrupts REM sleep for mother and baby alike.

• The body manufactures a chemical called adenosine which causes sleepiness. There are

1. What percent of humans are "early birds"?

2. What percent are "night owls"?

• Humans sleep less than any other primate, which average between ten and 15 hours, depending on the species. Yet humans have a disproportionate amount of REM sleep, devoting up to 25% of sleep time to REM, whereas other primates average only nine percent.

• Consider that most primates sleep in the tree tops where they are less than totally secure, whereas humans, even in ancient times, slept in caves, often with a fire for protection. It’s much harder to remain in a treetop bower during the total paralysis of REM sleep.

• Humans spend more time in REM sleep because we must navigate complex societies using enormous intellectual capacity. REM sleep nourishes these needs.

BODILY

FUNCTIONS

• Before birth, a fetus moves a lot during REM sleep. Most expectant mothers do not realize that when the baby is active, it’s asleep, because the

By Lucie Winborne

* Austrian-American composer Arnold Schoenberg feared the number 13 so intensely that he deliberately misspelled his opera “Moses und Aron” to have 12 letters instead of 13. He also died on July 13, 1951, which would seem to confirm his phobia.

* The first round of women’s golf was played in 1811 -- four centuries after the sport was invented.

* Almost all of the first major television networks -- NBC, ABC and CBS -- still exist today, but the second network to get off the ground, the DuMont Television Network, is mostly forgotten, though it aired the first two seasons of “The Honeymooners” and “Mary Kay and Johnny,” which is widely considered to be the first sitcom.

* Sloths are the only mammals known to never fart.

* Believe it or not, May is Zombie Awareness Month, which celebrates zombie media and recognizes ways to prepare for a zombie apocalypse. Participants are encouraged to wear gray ribbons to spread awareness of the potential dangers of the undead.

* We obtain 60% of our energy intake from just three plant species -- rice, wheat and maize.

* Spiders recycle webs by eating them.

* The sitcom “30 Rock” was known for its fast-pace writing, with one reporter calculating in 2014 that there was an average of 7.44 jokes per minute.

* After “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” first aired in 1966, Charles Schulz’s California office was inundated with shipments of candy sent from kids who were upset that Charlie Brown only got rocks in his Halloween goodie bag. ***

Thought for the Day: “Liberty means responsibility. That is why most people dread it.” -- George Bernard Shaw (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

How Opting for the Minimum Payment Changed My Life

could get my hands on. I developed a payback plan. I became a giver and a saver even while deeply in debt. After 10 years and $88,000 repaid, I was restless.

This was taking too long. So, as just another way to raise funds, I decided to try my hand at writing a subscription newsletter with the goal to help others do what we were doing. That was in 1992. It wasn’t an overnight success, but almost. And in the process, I developed a passion to learn all I could about personal money management.

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

At the time, it seemed like a good idea. But going for the minimum payment option “just this one time” turned out to be the worst mistake of my life. The day I opened that door and walked through it, I altered the course of my life.

I reasoned that I didn’t have enough money to pay the credit card balances in full, so what was I supposed to do? (Oh, hear me whine!) I’d catch up next month and pay everything down to $0 before my husband found out. All I needed was a little breathing room.

And with that, I made a 180-degree turn and headed down the road to financial devastation.

What was an option the first time I made only the minimum payments soon became my only choice. I deceived myself into believing even though I didn’t have enough money to pay for things now, somehow I’d have enough to pay for them later. I believed that banks and department stores wouldn’t lend me this much money if they didn’t know that I could afford it -- and wasn’t that a nice surprise.

It took 12 years to ruin my life, putting me in danger of losing my marriage, my family and my home.

The only thing that stopped me was that I ran out of credit.

With both of us unemployed and having just received notice that our home was scheduled to go into foreclosure, I arrived at the end of myself.

Owing more than $100,000 on all of my handy credit accounts -- and all of them in default -- there was no more credit. No more options. I was out of hope with nowhere to turn. It was in the darkness of fear and despair that I realized what I’d done to myself, my husband and my family.

Through my remorse and pain, I turned to God and made this promise: I would pay back all of the debt no matter how long it took or what I had to do, if I could only keep my family and my home.

For the next ten years, I did exactly that. I never worked so hard in my life. Overnight I turned into a cheapskate -- frugal beyond the legal limit, I’m sure. I worked every kind of job I

Here’s an example: My very first step was to make a vow that I would only buy groceries that I could pay for with cash (no checkbook, no plastic allowed). Wow, that was like dumping a bucket of cold water on my head. I had a new awareness of what things really cost. I had to keep track of what I was putting in my grocery cart.

The next step came quickly: I had to find a way to spend less to buy what we needed so I could still walk out with cash in my pocket. Finding ways to do that put a big smile on my face and gave me the confidence and the desire to take another step. And another and another.

It took 13 years to pay back a whopping credit card debt of more than $100,000 (an amount that would be closer to $300,000 in 2022 dollars), but we did it -- one cost-cutting hack or tip at a time.

For years now we have been completely debt-free. What joy and financial freedom we now enjoy! Debt-free truly is the way to be, and with some goal-setting, self-discipline and determination you can do it too!.

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.”

A Few Facts About

• About 25% of people snore occasionally, and one out of eight people is a chronic snorer. More than 45% of all adults snore occasionally.

• More men than women snore. About 40 percent of adult men and 24 percent of adult women are habitual snorers.

• Snorers are more likely to suffer from adverse health conditions such as heart problems, stroke, and hypertension than non-snorers.

• The decibel level of some snorers has been registered at only one decibel lower than a jackhammer at a distance of ten feet.

• Snoring is more common when sleeping on your back. Elevating the head of the bed can help reduce snoring.

• Ten per cent of snorers have sleep apnea, a disorder which causes sufferers to stop breathing up to 300 times a night. This significantly increases the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

• Sleep apnea will almost always cause patients to snore, but snoring won’t always cause sleep apnea. Being overweight increases the risk for sleep apnea. About 33% of those who drink four or more caffeinated beverages daily are designated at risk for sleep apnea.

• Snoring can become worse after drinking alcohol. Alcohol has a direct depressant effect on the tongue and other muscles in the throat, which narrows the upper airway space.

• Nasal congestion caused by allergies and colds can lead to snoring.

• There are over 300 U.S. patents on devices to prevent snoring and over 2,000 European patents.

• The word “snore” once meant the same as “snort.” Shakespeare was the first to use the word denoting human snoring during sleep.

• People who share a bed with snorers have their

sleep interrupted an average of 21 times a

compared to an average of 27 times per

for the snorer.

• It has been claimed that Italians snore more than any other European nationality.

• Singing on a regular basis decreases snoring because it strengthens throat muscles.

• When advice columnist “Dear Abby” ran a letter from a woman requesting help with her husband's snoring problem, Abby asked readers for advice. She was swamped with over 150,000 responses.

• Winston Churchill snored at the 35 decibel level, as measured by a naval officer on board a ship in August 1944.

• President Theodore Roosevelt once snored so loudly in the hospital that nearly every patient in the wing complained.

• Harry Christy of Lewiston, Idaho was elected Idaho's snoring champion in September 1944 at the Veterans Hospital in Boise. He won out over W.H. Gilman of Twin Falls, who had held the title for 17 years. Judges said Gilman's snoring had become "too jerky" to retain the title.

• According to a Baltimore newspaper, a 300-lb. taxi driver went to sleep in his cab after working all night, and snored so loudly that he attracted a crowd. A cop tried to wake him, to no avail. By the time he awakened, there were reportedly several hundred curious people watching him snore away.

• Travis Zellis was in jail in Cincinnati, serving a 90-day sentence for burglary. Soon after

his imprisonment, jailers began receiving complaints from other prisoners who couldn't sleep at night due to his profound snoring. Zellis was released early so the other prisoners could finally get some sleep. 

• Running your business successfully means making smart decisions. Make your advertising choice a wise one.

• An ad schedule in Tidbits means you reach a whole new audience that doesn’t see your advertising in the Desert Sun or in other valley publications. Plus, our lower Cost Per Thousand ad rates save you money.

• Extensive valley-wide distribution in over 600 newsstand locations - including Wal-Mart, Walgreens, and Revivals, as well as restaurants, coffee shops, medical offices and more!

• Over 70,000 faithful readers every week - cover to cover!

• Your 14 week ad campaign gets over 1 MILLION impressions!

• Survey results prove that 96.8% of readers notice and read the advertising in Tidbits (and you’re a perfect example)

Q: When does the new season of “Elsbeth” start? Also, is anyone else from “The Good Wife” or “The Good Fight” going to join the show? -- S.B.

A: Season three of the hit CBS series “Elsbeth” returns Sunday, Oct. 12, at 9:30 p.m. ET, with Carrie Preston returning as the quirky attorney she originated on “The Good Wife” and later played on its spin-off, “The Good Fight.” The first character to cross over to “Elsbeth” was Carter Schmidt, who is played by Christian Borle.

This coming season, Sarah Steele, who previously played Melissa Gold, will appear. The franchise’s creators, Robert and Michelle King, told Entertainment Weekly that Steele was “at the top of the list of actors from ‘The Good Fight’ that we wanted back.” They claimed, “She can read a medical chart and make it funny.”

Guest stars for season three also include

1. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (R) Zach Aguilar, Johnny Yong Bosch

2. The Conjuring: Last Rites (R) Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga

3. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (PG) Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt

4. The Long Walk (R) Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson

5. Toy Story (PG) Tom Hanks, Tim Allen

6. Weapons (R) Julia Garner, Josh Brolin

7. Hamilton (PG-13) Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo

8. Freakier Friday (PG) Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan

9. Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (R) Christopher Guest, Michael McKean

10. The Sound of Music (G) Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer

Annaleigh Ashford (“Happy Face”) and William Jackson Harper (“The Good Place”). In the season premiere, Stephen Colbert will play a fictional version of himself as a late-night talk show host, alongside Amy Sedaris (“Strangers with Candy”) and Andy Richter (“Conan”).

***

Q: I heard that the teen show “Euphoria” is coming back to HBO. Will it have the same cast? Aren’t they too old now to be high schoolers? -- P.M.

A: Yes, “Euphoria” is gearing up to start filming its third season this coming January with most of its original cast scheduled to return. It’ll have been four years since season two ended, but the new season will wisely take place after a time jump. Zendaya, Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney have all become huge stars since the series debuted, but they haven’t forgotten their roots and are expected to return.

Other stars returning include Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie and Maude Apatow. Eric Dane, who was sadly diagnosed with ALS this past year, is also expected to return, but he recently had to bow out as a presenter at the Emmy Awards at the last minute for unknown reasons.

Sharon Stone (“Basic Instinct”) recently confirmed that she has signed on with the show. It’s not known what role she’ll play, but the Oscarnominated star will surely make a memorable impression. ***

Q: I saw that the film “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” just released in theaters. Is it really the final film of the franchise? -- O.B.

A: With the film “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” out now, it would appear that the fi-

nal chapter of the beloved British historical drama has been written. “Downton Abbey’s” creator Julian Fellowes told Entertainment Weekly that this current film is the conclusion of the saga that he’s been telling since 2010. He said it’s the last time we’ll see this generation of characters.

However, according to EW, “the door has been left open for potential prequels, spin-offs following the children of these characters, and more.” In the meantime, you should check out the HBO series “The Gilded Age,” if you haven’t. Fellowes is the co-showrunner of the historical drama with Sonja Warfield, and it has recently been renewed for a fourth season. It takes place about three decades before “Downton Abbey” and has a starstudded cast that includes Christine Baranski (“The Good Fight”) and Carrie Coon (“The White Lotus”).

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.

Good Recipes from

Stovetop Chili

A quick weeknight chili that’s packed with buttery black soybeans, tender-crisp green beans and melt-in-your-mouth sweet potatoes. Serve with a chunk of warm cornbread.

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

2 cloves garlic, crushed with garlic press

1 jalapeno chile, seeded and minced

1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes in juice

1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and each cut crosswise in half

3 (about 1 1/2 pounds) medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks

1 teaspoon sugar

1 salt

2 cans (15 ounces) black soybeans, rinsed and drained, substitute black beans

Sour cream (optional)

1. In nonstick 5-quart to 6-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add onion and cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.

2. Add chili powder, cumin, coriander, garlic and jalapeno, and cook 1 minute, stirring. Add tomatoes with their juice, green beans, sweet potatoes, sugar, salt and 2 cups water; heat to boiling over medium-high heat, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon.

3. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 25 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Add soybeans and cook 2 minutes longer to heat through. Serve with sour cream, if you like.

 Each serving: About 275 calories, 5g total fat (1g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 635mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate, 11g dietary fiber, 14g protein.

Salt-Baked Fish

Baking a whole fish in a crust of kosher salt seals in the juices and guarantees exquisitely moist -- and surprisingly unsalty -- fish.

4 cups kosher salt

1 whole (1 1/2 to 2 pounds) red snapper, striped bass or porgy, cleaned and scaled

1 lemon

3 sprigs rosemary or thyme

1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Line 13-inchby-9-inch baking pan with foil; spread 2 cups salt in bottom of pan.

2. Rinse snapper inside and out with cold running water; pat dry with paper towels. From lemon, cut 3 slices. Cut remaining lemon into wedges. Place lemon slices and rosemary in cavity of fish. Place fish on bed of salt; cover with remaining 2 cups salt. Bake until fish is just opaque throughout when knife is inserted at

backbone, about 30 minutes.

3. To serve, tap salt crust to release from top of fish and discard. Slide cake server under front section of top fillet and lift off fillet; transfer to platter. Slide server under backbone and lift it away from bottom fillet; discard. Slide cake server between bottom fillet and skin and transfer fillet to platter. Serve with reserved lemon wedges. Makes 2 main-dish servings.

 Each serving: About 188 calories, 3g total fat (1g saturated), 66mg cholesterol, 800mg sodium, 6g total carbohydrate, 37g protein.

NEXT WEEK in

Holidays & Observances This Week

9/28 National Family Day

9/29 National Biscotti Day

9/30 National Love People Day

10/1 Yom Kippur begins

10/2 Guardian Angels Day

10/3 National Play Outside Day

10/4 Blessing of the Animals Day

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis

Aggression in Pups is not Normal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He should be concerned about his kids.

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

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

Seniors and Social Media

The list of scams against seniors keeps getting longer and longer. Just when we have a handle on the various types of fraud, here come new ones. But there’s one area where we do have some control: social media.

One place I’ve always been concerned about (and therefore have never joined) is the small neighborhood social media chat groups. So much gets talked about, and people generally feel safe because, after all, they’re chatting with their neighbors.

But you never really know who’s watching online. And you never really know what small piece of information could be the one that puts you at risk -- especially if a thief has been following the group and keeping notes about your innocent chat as clues.

Beware what you say online. If you announce on social media that you’re about to take a vacation, that’s a big flag to a thief that

All About Coffee Tables

Whether your own home is cozy and country or marvelous and modern, a question most homeowners ask themselves is “Which coffee table will look right?” There are so many shapes to choose from: square, rectangular, round, oval, and even freeform. Which one is right?

The answer is: It really depends on your lifestyle and how much space you have. Comfort and function trump aesthetics on this one, at least in my book.

The coffee table is an important piece of furniture, as it usually marks the center of any seating area. Its position at the center of a room or seating arrangement gives it the top spot in the hierarchy of furnishings. We often bestow on it a place of honor in holding things that are precious to us, such as photo albums, objet d’art and the eponymous “coffee table” books. And we can forget about propping up our aching feet after a long day at work.

your house will be empty during that time you're away. Or if you announce online that you’ll be joining an art class every Tuesday morning, or if you post your unlisted phone number in reply to someone’s question, etc., keep in mind that you're likely being watched.

Another place that’s jam-packed with information is newspaper funeral notices that are posted on social media. The “survived by” information is gold for thieves. With those names, plus the date and time of the funeral, thieves know when a house is likely to be empty.

Friend requests are another source of concern with social media. Beware, and be selective. Be certain you know who you’re letting in. Never click a link in social media, or anywhere else. Just don’t. You don’t really know where it goes or what you're getting yourself into.

Before you take your first step into social media, be certain you know how it works. Get good advice on how to fix your privacy settings, and use common sense in what information about yourself that you're now making public.

Remember: Seniors are targets.

email to columnreply2@gmail.com.

temporary solution. The four equal sides can accommodate sofas on all sides, usually implying the need for a much grander and larger space. Sometimes two rectangular tables can be paired to appear to be a large square. Make sure you have the adequate space before investing in one.

Who hasn’t heard of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table? Round coffee tables balance the sharp angles of sofas, entertainment centers and bookshelves. To soften, soothe and add stylish symmetry to your living space, just add a round coffee table. They are great and safe to use in public spaces and in homes where there are small children or seniors, because there are no sharp edges. Round tables are multi-directional, so everyone feels the front side is facing them. A benefit of this type of table is that they can fit in the smallest of spaces.

Oval coffee tables are awesome because they offer the benefits of a round table in terms of safety and accessibility and the same flexibility of use as a rectangular table. Since they are longer along one side, they are directional, and this makes them quite easy to work into a floor plan.

Nothing beats a classic. A rectangular coffee table can carry the long shape of a sofa and sometimes helps remedy the scale and proportions of a room by focusing attention on it - and not the room. Rectangular tables make entertaining easy. If the table is long enough, it is the perfect place for a bottle of wine, glasses and platters of snacks. It also can turn a boring night into the center of fun. Rectangular coffee tables provide the perfect setup for a friendly game of checkers or your fiercest board game battles.

Square coffee tables offer a more con-

And then there are the freeform coffee tables. These are the most recent addition to the bunch. They are almost always contemporary and a diversion from all other types of coffee tables. They can be found in the sculptural roots of trees or in sleek stainless-steel forms, sometimes topped with a glass or marble slab to serve as the top. Depending on the scale, freeform coffee tables usually work in a manner similar to that of a round or oval coffee table.

* * * Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

is never playful. If a dog is growling or showing his teeth, he’s warning you: Keep it up and someone’s gonna get bit.

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

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

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

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

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

My belief is not that aggressive dogs can’t or shouldn’t be worked with. It’s that aggressive dogs shouldn’t live in homes with children. It’s too risky. Period.

Woof! Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

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

COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

rate, or about $2,368.

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Why Widows Can’t File for Benefits Online

Q: My husband died several months ago. I’m 64. I’m getting my own retirement benefits, and he was getting his own benefits. His Social Security check was more than mine, so I think I am due widow’s benefits. When I tried to file a claim online, I wasn’t allowed to. I was told I need to make an appointment to file a claim in person. What’s going on? Is the government so biased and backwards that they think a woman can’t use a computer to file for benefits? Can you explain this?

A: Yes, I can explain what’s going on. But first, I must comment on your assumptions about government bias. I am always surprised, and frankly a little disappointed, that people just automatically assume the worst about the services they get from the government in general, and in your case, the Social Security Administration in particular. There is a very good reason why widows’ claims cannot be filed online. It has nothing to do with bias or backward thinking. It has everything to do with making sure you understand your options and make the best choice you can about when to start your widow’s benefits. And those options just can’t be explained to you by a computer. You need to talk to a human being and get the kind of help personalized to your own situation. (Perhaps advances in Artificial Intelligence will someday negate the need for a personal interview. But for now, you’ll need to talk to a real person.)

In your case, this person should explain that you would have two options. You could file for widow’s benefits now. But those benefits would be reduced because you have not reached your full retirement age. Or, if you think you could live on your own retirement benefit for a couple more years, then you could delay filing for widow’s benefits until your FRA and get a full unreduced widow’s benefit.

These options are open to you because something called the “deemed filing rule” doesn’t apply to widows. That rule generally says that when you file for one Social Security benefit, you are “deemed” to be filing for all other benefits you might be due at the same time. In other words, that rule would normally say that because you are already getting your own retirement benefits, as soon as your husband dies, you are deemed to (essentially forced to) file for widow’s benefits right away. But again, that rule does not apply to widows.

I will spend the rest of this column giving examples of the kinds of choices other widows might have when it comes to Social Security. Mary is 61 years old when her husband dies. Although she is now retired, she has worked much of her life. Her own full retirement age benefit is projected to be $1,850. Her husband’s full rate is $2,000. Mary could file for reduced widow’s benefits. At age 61, she would be due roughly 77% of her husband’s benefit, or $1,540 per month. She could receive that until age 67, when she could switch to 100% of her benefit, or $1,850. Or she could wait until age 70 to make the change, at which point she would get 128% of her retirement

And just to make it clear, Mary would have another option. If she waits until she is 62 years old, she could file for reduced retirement benefits first. She would get 70% of her $1,850 benefit, or $1,295. Then at age 67, she could switch to 100% widow’s benefits, or $2,000 monthly. (Unlike the retirement program, there is no bonus paid to widows if they delay filing beyond full retirement age.)

Here is another example. Many working women are still at their jobs into their 60s and even beyond. Let’s look at Ann. She is 64 and still working full-time. Her husband died several years ago. When he died, she filed for and received the little $255 one-time death benefit, but she wasn’t due any monthly widow’s benefits because she was still working. Let’s say her own full retirement benefit would be $2,200. Her husband’s full benefit would have been $2,500. Once Ann reaches age 67, her earnings no longer affect her Social Security eligibility. So, at that point, Ann should file for widow’s benefits. She would get $2,500 per month. Then, when she turns 70, she could switch to 128 percent of her retirement rate, or about $2,816.

All of these switching back and forth between benefit rules apply to women who become widows in their 60s or earlier. But the majority of women (and most of those reading this column) become widows later in life -- in their 70s, 80s and beyond. Women who become widows at those ages don’t have to worry about any of the options discussed today. When their husband dies, they will simply be switched to widow’s benefits on his record -- assuming he was getting higher benefits. Let’s look at more examples.

Lucia was 81 years old when her 84-yearold husband, Alfredo, died. He was getting $2,150 per month and she was getting $1,640. Now that Alfredo is gone, she will keep getting her own $1,640, and then she will get an additional $510 in widow’s benefits to take her up to Alfredo’s $2,150 level. Lucia would have to file a claim for widow’s benefits -- and she would have to do it via phone by calling SSA at 800-772-1213. Or if she prefers, she could call the same number and make an appointment to

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

2. From Judges 7, who had the vision of a barley cake tumbling into an army camp overturning a tent? a) Shepherd b) Cook c) Peasant d) Soldier

3. Which book could be summarized, "Pay attention, God has a master plan in the works we need to be a part of"? a) Isaiah b) Jeremiah c) Ezekiel d) Lamentations

4. After an angel delivered them from a Jerusalem prison, where did the apostles go? a) Temple b) Field c) Public square d) Disciple's home

5. Who had his servants set barley crops on fire because he refused to meet with Absalom? a) Solomon b) Jethro c) David d) Joab

6. From Acts 12, where did Peter encounter an angel? a) Rooftop b) Well c) Prison d) Garden

(Answers on page 16)

Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com

file a widow’s claim in person at her local Social Security office. By the way, Lucia would have to provide a certified copy of her marriage certificate as well as the death certificate as part of the application process.

Now let’s look at another 81-year-old widow -- Barbara. When her husband Frank died, she was automatically converted to widow’s benefits once she called SSA to report the death and supplied them with proof of death. Why is that? Because Barbara was getting only a dependent wife’s benefit on Frank’s account before he died. In other words, she didn’t have her own Social Security account. Because she has no claim of her own, and because she would have already had to supply a marriage certificate when she first applied for spousal benefits many years ago, the SSA already has all the information they would need to know she is eligible for widow’s benefits, so they simply push a few buttons and the conversion from wife’s to widow’s benefits is complete.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” 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 2025 CREATORS.COM

Here Are Changes People Can Make Now To Avoid Dementia Later

DEAR DR. ROACH: The females in my family on my mother’s side seem to develop dementia/Alzheimer’s on a fairly regular basis. It seems to become noticeable once the women are in their mid-70s or so. We girls are concerned as we head toward our elder years and wondered which sort of diet or supplemental changes we should look into? There seems to be so many articles and opinions that it’s hard to know where to start.

On the positive side, our father’s side of the family seems healthy and robust well into their 80s and 90s. Our extended family has females ranging from their mid-30s to 71 years of age. Are we being overly concerned? Could this be a genetic thing? Any suggestions would be helpful in calming some real fears that we have. -- E.J.

ANSWER: I don’t think supplements are going to be the answer for dementia. I haven’t seen any good data to support any of the supplements I see that are touted to prevent, slow, treat or cure dementia.

I do think that diet may help slow dementia, and one of the best diets according to the studies that have been done so far remains a Mediterranean-style diet. This includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, fish (especially fatty fish), limited amounts of red meat, and minimally processed foods.

Alcohol is increasingly likely to be problematic, and I recommend against more than occasional alcohol use for people who want to minimize their risk of dementia.

Regular moderate exercise has a pretty clear protective effect. Although cognitive exercises like games and puzzles help improve memory short-term, it’s not clear that they are preventing or delaying the onset of dementia.

Advanced imaging, such as PET scans, are beginning to show the ability to diagnose Alzheimer’s dementia in people with early symptoms. Early treatment to attack amyloids in the brain with lecanemab or donanemab slows the progression of dementia by approximately 25% to 30%. ***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I cared for my ailing mother, and even though I tried to minimize my stress, I gained a lot of weight and still have my “cortisol belly.” I need to get healthy! --

D.H.

ANSWER: Taking care of a family member is always stressful. Taking care of yourself as well is hard, and most of us aren’t able to eat, sleep, exercise, and take good care of ourselves as well as we should during a period of time when we are taking care of others. Most of us have other demands, including family and work. Although I often see the term “cortisol belly,” it isn’t the slightly elevated level of stress hormones that causes the abdominal weight

gain. (People who have Cushing’s syndrome develop a particular type of abdominal weight gain as a result of dramatically elevated cortisol levels, as a result of a tumor, or by taking high doses of steroids.)

In your case, it’s more likely that the result of not having healthy behaviors lead to your weight gain.

Losing abdominal weight is achieved through the same ways you would lose weight anywhere. I won’t ever say it’s easy, but a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise is going to improve your health, whether you lose a pound or not. I don’t recommend medication treatment to lose weight unless a person is very overweight (“morbidly obese” is the precise medical term) or has medical complications related to their weight.

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

(c) 2025 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

The VA Health and Benefits Mobile App

The VA Health and Benefits mobile app is very well done, and having the app can make it a lot easier for veterans to manage VA business directly from a phone or tablet. Many apparently agree, because by this summer there were over 3 million downloads of the app and 1.4 million use it every month.

There are several tools in the app, with the one for health care possibly being the most valuable. With the health care tool, you can send (and receive) secure messages to and from your health care team, see your appointments and put them on your calendar, get your records for vaccines and refill your prescriptions.

The benefits tools portion of the app can help you review your claim and appeal status, submit more evidence for your claims and check your disability rating.

The payments tool will let you see the payments the VA has sent you and update your direct deposit information.

If you have VA-related travel (mileage only) claims, you can now do that right on the phone. Coming soon: Lab and test results viewable right on your phone.

But the tools aren’t the only things you’ll find on the app. Being able to show your status as a veteran can come in handy if you’re in a store that gives a discount to veterans -- you’ll have the proof right there on your phone. You can locate the VA facilities near you and quickly access the VA’s crisis line. You’ll have secure sign-in with fingerprint or face recognition for access.

For more info about the app, see mobile. va.gov/app/va-health-and-benefits. You’ll find the download links for both iOS and Android. On that page you’ll also find a few short videos done by veterans who talk about their experiences with the app. If you want more information about the app, put “VA benefits app” in a search engine.

If you need help with the app, call 800-6982411. They’re available 24/7.

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

What Seniors Need to Know About This Fall’s Vaccines

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: With all the controversy going on now regarding vaccines, can you give me any updated information about which vaccines are recommended for Medicare seniors this fall? -- Senior Sally

Dear Sally: Even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently undergoing considerable changes and reevaluation of certain vaccines and their actual necessity, the overall fall vaccine recommendations for “older adults” basically remains the same as last year, with exception of the Covid shot. But there are a few new tweaks you need to be aware of. Here’s what you should know.

Flu Shots for Seniors

Just as they normally do, the CDC recommends a seasonal flu shot to everyone 6 months of age and older, but it’s especially important for older adults who have weaker immune defenses and have a greater risk of developing dangerous flu complications compared with younger, healthy adults.

For people age 65 and older, there are three different FDA approved flu vaccines (you only need one) that are recommended over traditional flu shots. These include: the Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, Flublok Quadrivalent (recombinant, egg free vaccine), and Fluad Quadrivalent.

These vaccines are formulated to create a more robust immune response, helping the body produce more antibodies, which makes them more effective in preventing the flu.

All flu vaccines are covered 100 percent by Medicare Part B as long as your doctor, health clinic or pharmacy agrees not to charge you more than Medicare pays.

RSV Shots

In addition to the flu shot, the CDC also recommends a single-dose of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine for all adults age 75 and older, as well as to high-risk adults between ages 50 and 74. These are people who have chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems, diabetes with complications, severe obesity, or who live in long-term care facilities.

RSV is responsible for 6,000 to 10,000 deaths and up to 150,000 hospitalizations each year.

The three RSV vaccines approved and available in the U.S. – Arexvy, Abrysvo and mResvia – are all covered under Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plans. But note that if you got an RSV shot last year, or when it first became available in 2023, you do not need to get a second dose this year. For now, only one dose of RSV vaccine is recommended.

Covid Booster

If you haven’t had a Covid booster shot lately, the Food and Drug Administration recently approved the 2025–2026 Covid-19 shot, which has been updated to target the dominant strain.

This vaccine has been recommended for all adults 65 and older and younger people that have a health condition that makes them vulnerable to severe Covid. However, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has just announced that they are no longer recommending Covid shots. Instead, they are recommending 65 and older adults and immunocompromised younger people should decide individually or with

Covid still causes at least 40,000 hospitalizations and approximately 47,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Covid shots are covered by Medicare Part B.

Pneumonia Vaccines

If you haven’t been vaccinated for pneumonia, you should also consider getting the pneumococcal vaccine this fall. These vaccines are now recommended by the CDC to adults age 50 and older, instead of age 65, which was the previous recommendation.

Pneumonia causes a whopping 1.2 million people to visit medical emergency departments in the U.S. each year and causes roughly 50,000 deaths.

If you’ve never been vaccinated for pneumonia, the PCV20 (Prevnar 20) or PCV21 (Capvaxive) are the top choices because they cover the most common serotypes.

Medicare Part B covers pneumococcal shots, and you only need to get it once.

Side-Effects and Safety

You should be aware that all these vaccines can cause mild side effects like pain or tenderness where you got the shot, muscle aches, headache, fever or fatigue.

Also note that it’s safe to receive these vaccines at the same time, but it may be best to spread them out a week or two because multiple vaccinations on the same day may cause increased side-effects.

Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. a doctor.

Your circa 1950 thermometer can be found selling on the Internet in the range of $60 to $135.

JUNQUE

by Anne McCollam Creators News Service

Vintage Thermometer Has Collectors’ Temperature Rising

Q: I have enclosed a photo of a tin thermometer that was in a 1950s-era home that I bought a few years ago. The home originally had an oil furnace, and I think the thermometer was given to the homeowner by the oil delivery person. It was hanging in the garage, and even though the tin is a little worn, it is still in good shape and functions accurately. At the top are the words “Standard Fuel Oil” and also a torch. They are both in a black and red circle.

The thermometer has both Fahrenheit and Celsius. Below the thermometer is the Standard Oil logo. On the back are the instructions to not use a hammer to nail the thermometer to the wall and only use a screw, and the words “Made in Chicago.” The overall measurements are 11 inches high and 3 inches wide.

What can you tell me about my thermometer?

A: Your tin wall hanging Standard Oil thermometer would appeal to advertising collectors. They were often found hanging in service stations and home garages. Their Standard Oil Company delivery person very likely gave it to the homeowner. It originally had a white background.

Q: This is a picture of the name that is on the side of a metal oil can that I have. The can stands about 6 inches high and is over 3 inches in diameter. The name is written in script and embossed. The metal looks like it is copper and is in excellent condition.

Any information you can provide will be appreciated.

A: You have an oilcan that was intended to be used to oil Ford Model A and Model T cars. The can is metal with a copper finish.

Oilcans that are marked are popular with collectors of advertising, oilcans, tools and automotive memorabilia.

Your oilcan was made in the early 1900s and would probably be worth $60 to $85.

Q: I have an old book titled “The Panama Canal.” It is illustrated with color photography from Earle Harrison’s original autochrome photographs. The book was published in New York by Moffat, Yard and Co. in 1913. The color photographs are beautiful and extremely interesting to study.

While I have no intentions of selling it, I would please like an evaluation of my book, whether you think it would be considered as collectible, and if so, what you think its value might be.

A: Your book is indeed collectible. I also believe it is currently selling in an antique bookstore at around $65.

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

* On Sept. 29, 1780, British spy John André, an accomplice of Benedict Arnold, was court-martialed, found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. He wrote to Gen. George Washington asking to be executed by firing squad instead, which was considered a more “gentlemanly” death, but though Washington attempted to have him exchanged for Arnold, the original sentence was carried out on Oct. 2.

* On Sept. 30, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson gave a speech before Congress in which he supported a guarantee that women would be granted the right to vote. The House of Representatives had approved a 19th constitutional amendment giving women suffrage, but Congress would not pass the amendment for another year.

* On Oct. 1, 1958, the American Express company issued its first charge card, made of purple paperboard, in the U.S. and Canada, to give traveling customers more flexibility.

* On Oct. 2, 1965, during a football game between the University of Florida Gators and the Louisiana State University Tigers, UF players tested a new sports drink developed in the school’s science labs to help them regain essential chemicals their bodies lost through sweating. The Gators won their match and the drink now known as Gatorade went on to make its investors wealthy.

* On Oct. 3, 2011, an Italian appeals court overturned the murder conviction of American exchange student Amanda Knox, who’d been found guilty of stabbing her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, to death in 2007. Imprisoned since her arrest, Knox flew back to the States the following day.

* On Oct. 4, 1970, singer Janis Joplin was found dead of an accidental heroin overdose in her Los Angeles hotel room after failing to attend a recording session. She was putting the finishing touches on the album titled “Pearl,” that would prove to be the biggest hit of her career.

* On Oct. 5, 1892, the infamous Dalton Gang attempted a daylight robbery of two Coffeyville, Kansas, banks simultaneously. After someone recognized a member and spread word of the crime, the townspeople ran for their guns and surrounded the two banks, then took justice into their own hands, killing all but Emmett Dalton, who, incredibly, survived prison and eventually ended up as a Hollywood screenwriter.

(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

Because

Sleep (from page 3) receptors in the brain that adenosine latches on to. The longer a person is awake, the more adenosine is manufactured, and the more brain receptors get plugged with it. Over the course of a day, the “sleep pressure” increases until bedtime. During sleep, adenosine levels plunge, and by the time the person awakens, the brain receptors have been cleared. The cycle then begins again.

• If you consistently fail to get enough sleep, adenosine is never completely cleared and concentrations remain high. This results in ongoing fatigue until the “sleep debt” has been reconciled.

• Caffeine is also able to plug the same receptors in the brain, delaying the urge for sleep. However, the body continues to manufacture adenosine, so when the caffeine wears off, the body suffers an immediate “caffeine crash” as the overload of adenosine rushes in to take its rightful place.

• On the other hand, THC and certain cannabinoids encourage the body’s production of adenosine, encouraging sleep.

• Throughout the brain, there are specialized cells called glial cells, from the Greek word meaning “glue.” Collectively it’s called the glymphatic system. These cells shrink by 60% during sleep, opening up space throughout the brain.

• During NREM sleep, the production of cerebrospinal fluid skyrockets, producing up to 20 times more than during the day. This fluid bathes the brain, moving through the open spaces and clearing out metabolic debris, including stress hormones that accumulate over the course of the day.

• It’s as if wakefulness causes a daily dose of minor brain damage. At the same time, sleep provides neurological sanitation services, repairing all the damage inflicted during the day, much like a janitorial crew arriving for cleanup chores. 

Grip Down Knock Down

Fighting gusty days on the course can be a frustrating experience for many golfers. Any slight curves can be swept offline, so trajectory control is a major concern if you’re trying to keep the ball in play. There are three simple steps to hitting those piercing, driving shots into the wind:

1. Take at least one club extra, perhaps two, so the lower loft aids you in your effort to hit the ball lower. By trying to hit “too much club”, you won’t be forced to swing very hard, which helps keep the spin rates down as well.

2. Grip down around an inch and stand slightly closer than normal. Don’t adversely adjust the ball position, so keep the rest of your set-up fairly normal. By gripping down, you’ll effectively stiffen the club shaft further improving the odds of hitting it low. Soft flex shafts help “kick” the ball up in the air.

3. Abbreviate the follow through by extending the arms through impact. High finishes usually equal higher trajectory shots, therefore picture a

warning, “Let’s be careful out there”?

10. LANGUAGE: How many letters are in the English alphabet? Answers

1. A horse. 2. Richard Dreyfuss. 3. Moscow, Russia. 4. Detroit, Michigan. 5. Panem.

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.

DIFFICULTY:

6. Four. 7. 8 minutes, 20 seconds. 8. 10. 9. “Hill Street Blues.” 10. 26.

by Linda Thistle