Vol. 22: #14 • Easter Celebrations • (3-29-2026) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
by Kathy Wolfe
Easter falls on Sunday, April 5 this year but it’s not always on the same date. Follow along as Tidbits presents the facts on how that date is determined as well as other facts about this important observance that marks the end of the Lenten season.
• The calculation that determines the Easter date takes a bit of figuring. It always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the equinox. The spring equinox is usually, but not always, on March 20th. However, if the full moon is on a Sunday, Easter moves to the following Sunday. Therefore, Easter can actually fall on any date between March 21 and April 25 depending on these celestial conditions.
EASTER EGGS
• To Christians, Easter eggs symbolize the tomb of Jesus, from which He was resurrected from the dead three days after His crucifixion. Beginning centuries ago, during the Lenten season, the 40 days of prayer preceding Easter, eating eggs was
TRIV
TRIVIA NEWSFRONTAIVIRT TNORFSWEN
(Answers on page 16)
Beginning in 1986, owning an American Girl doll was the dream of many young girls across the nation. This week Tidbits supplies the history of this beloved brand, which sought to educate children about U.S. history.
• American Girl dolls were manufactured by the Pleasant Company, named for the founder, Pleasant Rowland in Wisconsin beginning in 1986. She started her career as a second grade teacher in Massachusetts, going on to write and publish children’s textbooks.
• Rowland had visited Virginia’s Colonial Williamsburg in 1984 and, inspired by her love of American history, pondered what she could do to blend learning American history together with playtime.
• She had saved $1.2 million from textbook royalties, and used this resource to launch a company that featured books written through the eyes of girls living in various historical periods.
1. GEOGRAPHY: Which Canadian province lies to the north of Washington state?
2. MOVIES: In the “Star Wars” movies, which character wields a purple lightsaber?
3. GAMES: In Monopoly, how much money do players get when they pass “Go”?
4. FOOD & DRINK: Which fastfood chain’s 1970s jingle began, “Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us”?
5. TELEVISION: What holiday did George’s dad invent in the sitcom “Seinfeld”?
6. ANATOMY: How many skin cells does the average human being shed in a minute?
7. U.S. PRESIDENTS: How many presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize?
8. ASTRONOMY: How many moons does Mars have?
9. LITERATURE: What is the name of Harry Potter’s pet owl in the novel series?
10. SCIENCE: What is the boiling point of water in Celsius? Answers
• The dolls were designed to accompany the stories of American history, which covered important moments including immigration, poverty, slavery, animal abuse, child labor, and war. Her goal was to help young girls understand the influence that women have had in the growth of the country.
• The first three dolls covered three different eras – Kirsten Larson, a Swedish immigrant who settled in the Minnesota Territory in the 1850s, Samantha Parkington, living in Mount Bedford, New York, in 1904, and Molly McIntire, a girl living in Jefferson, Illinois, during World War II.
• In 1986, the 18-inch dolls, produced by a German toy company, retailed for $65 for the doll alone, or $75 if the hardcover book was included. At the beginning, the dolls were available strictly through a mail-order catalog. In addition to the standard doll, clothes and accessories were available – purses, jewelry, headbands, shoes, hats, ice skates, beds, tables and chairs, fishing gear, and pets. In the company’s first two years, sales swelled from $1.7 million to $7.6 million.
• Pleasant Rowland was diagnosed with breast cancer during the company’s third year, but throughout her treatment, she never missed a day of work.
• In 1991, Felicity Merriman became the fourth historical doll, a ten-year-old girl with a love of horses living in Williamsburg, Virginia, during the American Revolution. The first black doll in the collection, Addy Walker, was added in 1993, with the accompanying book relating her story of escaping from slavery in North Carolina during the American Civil War.
• More contemporary dolls debuted in 1995, known as Truly Me dolls, available with variations in eye color, mold of the face, skin color, and hair texture, style, and length, a new line that introduced the company’s first AsianAmerican doll.
• Bitty Babies also made their first appearance that year, 15-inch baby dolls designed to help children get used to a new baby in the family. Josefina, the first Latina American Girl doll was unveiled in 1997, followed by Kaya, a Native American girl living in 1764, released in 2002.
• The dolls became customizable in 2017, when features and clothing specified by the customer could personalized in the new line that they named Create Your Own.
• Eight characters covering the years from 1764 to 1944 made up the historical line. The company has offered pioneers, immigrants, orphans, and the disabled in several ethnicities and looks.
• Pleasant Rowland sold her company to Mattel in 1998 for $700 million and became an acting VP on the Mattel board for two years.
• American Girl dolls were the second-best-selling doll after Mattel’s own Barbie. Rowland retired from American Girl duties in 2000. Since the launch of the dolls more than 36 million have been sold.
British Columbia.
Mace Windu.
$200.
prohibited, as believers abstained from meat and animal products. As the fasting ended, eggs were decorated as a festive way of celebrating the Easter Sunday resurrection. The breaking of the egg shells symbolizes His freedom from the tomb and death.
• It is also believed that while an angel rolled away the massive stone blocking the entrance, it was not to free Jesus from the tomb, but instead to allow people inside to see for themselves that He had indeed risen and had defeated death.
EASTER BUNNY
• How did a rabbit become a symbol of Easter? Eostre was the Germanic mythological goddess of fertility and Spring, with an animal symbol of a rabbit, due to their high degree of reproduction. As far back as 1682, a German folk tale told of a hare hiding eggs in gardens and bushes for children to find. German immigrants brought the tradition to Pennsylvania during the 1700s.
• Australians greet Spring with the Easter Bilby, a long-eared marsupial mammal that lives in burrows. The Easter Cuckoo brings candy and gifts to children in Switzerland, while in Russia, dogs lay the Easter eggs.
• About 90 million chocolate bunnies are produced worldwide every year. Bunnies weren’t always made of chocolate. Up until the mid-1800s when chocolate molds became commonly available to chocolatiers, bunnies were created by hand from cardboard or paper mache and filled with treats. The molds were used to create solid chocolate bunnies.
EASTER SWEETS
• In 1890, a Pennsylvania merchant ordered up a giant chocolate bunny to display in his shop’s window to attract customers during the Easter season. The bunny was such a hit, it earned Robert Strohecker the nickname “Father of the Easter Bunny Business.”
• Robert’s grandson Ben established Harbor
Sweets Chocolates in 1973, and the company continues to create handmade chocolates, including smaller versions of Robert’s original sculpture.
• In 2017, a team of nine professionals from Brazil’s Equipe da Casa do Chocolate Co. created what remains the world’s largest chocolate rabbit. The team worked for eight days on the sculpture that stood nearly 15 feet tall (4.52 m) and 7 feet wide (2.11 m). Final weight for the huge bunny was 9,359.7 lbs. (4,245.5 kg).
• Brazil is also home to the world’s largest decorated Easter egg, standing 54 feet, 10.3 in. tall (16.72 m) with a 35 ft., 8.35-inch diameter (10.88 m). The people of Pomerode, Brazil fashioned the egg in 48 days for their annual Easter festival in 2023, painting it in a multicolored Kashubian Slavic folk art style. But this egg wasn’t destined to be eaten, since it was made out of welded steel sheets on the inside and foam and canvas on the outside shell.
JEWELED EGGS
• In 1885, the Russian tzar Alexander III commissioned a jeweled egg from the House of Faberge as an Easter gift for his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna. The egg was known as the Hen Egg, with a white enameled shell on the
1. What country calls Easter "Paques"?
2. What flower is considered the "flower of Easter"?
Every year on the Saturday before Easter, celebrations in Mexico include igniting papier-maché effigies of Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus. The figures are stuffed wth fireworks that, when exploded, symbolize the destruction of betrayal and evil.
• The world’s largest edible Easter egg was made in 2011 in Tosca, Italy, measuring just over 34 feet tall (10.39 m), and more than 64 feet wide (19.6 m). The egg’s weight was 15,873 lbs. (7,200 kg), about the equivalent of two orca whales. Certified by Guinness World Records, this giant egg was made of chocolate and marshmallow and displayed at the Le Acciaierie Shopping Centre.
HOT CROSS BUNS
• Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, marking the end of the Lenten season. The ingredients contained in the buns symbolize elements of the crucifixion of Jesus, such as the spices representing the spices used to embalm Him. Orange peel signifies the bitterness of Jesus’ time on the cross, while the cross marking in icing on the top of the bun symbolizes the cross itself.
• Written accounts support the claim that 14thcentury monk Brother Thomas Rodcliffe was the first to bake and distribute the hot cross buns to the poor on Good Friday in 1361. In 1767, a nursery rhyme published in the “London Chronicle” contained the line “One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns.”
By Lucie Winborne
* The Beast from “Beauty and the Beast” is a combination of several different animals, with a lion’s mane, buffalo’s head and beard, gorilla’s brow, tusks of a wild boar, bear’s body, legs and tail of a wolf ... and eyes of a human.
* Sweden is so efficient at waste disposal that only 1% of its garbage goes to landfills.
* When making badminton shuttlecocks, the most prized feathers are said to come from a goose’s left wing.
* The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits any nation from trying to own the moon.
* A young man from Arizona saved a woman’s life by using CPR he’d learned from watching an episode of “The Office.”
* The German version of the term “average Joe” is Otto Normalverbraucher, or “Otto normal consumer.”
* The term mortician was invented as part of a public relations campaign by the funeral industry, which considered it more customer-friendly than undertaker.
* Beethoven was notably particular about his coffee, ensuring that his morning brew was made with precisely 60 beans per cup.
* A study has shown that dunking an Oreo in milk for three seconds renders the optimal balance between sogginess and structural integrity.
* “Family Feud” host Richard Dawson met his second wife, Gretchen Johnson, when she was a contestant on the show.
* Polar ice cap temperatures can plunge to a bone-chilling -189.67 degrees Fahrenheit.
***
Thought for the Day: “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”
-- John F. Kennedy
Inc.
by Mary Hunt
Don’t Be Scared; Be Prepared
into action.
Start small. Buy a few more of the items on your regular shopping trip. If you would normally pick up four cans of green beans, get six. Instead of one bottle of honey, get two. But if it’s on sale, get four.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
If there is one thing most people take for granted, it is food. U.S. supermarkets are always well stocked, and we don’t think much about how all that food gets there. When pushed to consider it, I wager most of us assume there are huge warehouses somewhere filled with enough food to feed the nation for some unknown period of time.
by Mary Hunt
The truth is, as a nation we have little to no warehousing backup in the event of a supply shortage. Our concentrated supermarket supply system uses a technology known as JIT (Justin-Time), a method made possible by computers and the internet.
Here’s how JIT works: Instead of every supermarket needing a warehouse to store large quantities of food to be sold locally, computers keep track of inventory, placing relatively small orders daily. This precludes the need for massive warehousing. Retailers know their orders will arrive “just in time” to keep the shelves filled.
But who cares about all of this, really? And why should we, as consumers, concern ourselves? The system, even with its occasional glitch and hiccup, seems to be working very well, so why the fuss?
Most people buy food for one week, give or take. Of course there are exceptions. For example, I have friends who shop once a month and then force themselves to make it last, while another family we know shops daily for just the next three meals -- a very expensive food habit that makes me want to chew my hair, as you can well imagine. My point is that multiple trips to the market based on individual choice allow us to enjoy fresh food without the hassles of having to manage reserves. The integrity of the food supply system never crosses our minds. We take so much for granted.
Not long ago, I had a conversation with an executive of Costco. I asked him how long a Costco warehouse club’s inventory of food would last if suddenly there were no more shipments arriving. He hypothesized that the shelves would be empty within three to five days. At the same time, the manager of my local Vons supermarket confirmed with a similar “less than a week” response.
Now, imagine that something happens to make the typical American household want a food reserve. This could happen if the current inflation were to morph suddenly into hyperinflation. As people were to see food prices escalating beyond reach, they would rush to buy and hoard reserve food while it is still within their price range.
Imagine what would happen:
The demand for food would quintuple or more within a short time. Shoppers would see empty shelves in the market, further stimulating panic buying, just as in a hurricane or blizzard. Remember Covid?
The best thing we can do to protect ourselves and our families is to prepare. The more food you have in storage, the less dependent you are on a system that some theorize has only a three-day supply in its distribution chain. I tell you this not to cause you to panic but to move you
For a normal short- to mid-term storage inventory, you should stock up on the foods that you are used to eating. If your family cannot tolerate red beans, don’t waste your time and money on a 25-pound bag because for some reason that seems like a good idea. Instead, invest in your favorite canned white albacore, for example.
Taking control of your family’s food resource is empowering and satisfying. The more you grow your food supply, the less dependence you’ll feel on others. The more nonperishable food you have in reserve, the better you will sleep at night.
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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.”
COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM
While you're getting set for coloring Easter eggs, Tidbits offers a few facts on the eggs themselves.
• It takes 24 to 26 hours for a hen to develop an egg. While some breeds lay eggs nearly every day, others are capable of laying only every other day, and sometimes only once or twice a week.
• The eggshell color depends solely on the breed of chicken. Most eggs found on the grocer’s shelf are white and come from White Leghorn hens. These hens don’t have any pigment genes, which result in only white eggs. Rhode Island Reds and Barred Plymouth Rocks hens are among those that produce brown eggs. The hen, possessing brown pigment genes, applies the color within the final four to six hours of the formation time. Although the egg is brown on the outside, the shell is still white on the inside, since the coloration properties don’t penetrate the shell.
• There are three breeds of chickens that lay blue eggs, with the color created by oocyanin, a by-product of bile production. The pigment permeates the shell, making the blue eggshells blue inside and out.
• Green eggs are produced by the Easter Eggs and Olive Eggers breeds. These are chickens that have been cross-bred between a blue egg breed and a brown egg breed.
• The unusual Araucana chickens, native to Chile, can lay blue, green, brown, and pink eggs.
• Although there are many exterior colors of eggs, all chicken eggs, no matter the breed, start out with white shells composed mainly of calcium carbonate.
• There is no difference in the flavor or nutritional value of an egg due to its color.
• If your egg carton has the words “cage-free,” it means the hens were raised outside of cages. “Free-range” hens roam around outdoors, while “certified organic eggs” come from hens that have been fed a specified diet.
• The dates printed on the carton aren’t expiration date. There are typically two dates –one for the pack date, when eggs were washed
and placed in the carton, and one as a “sell-by” date. The sell-by date is not an expiration date, since eggs are usually fine for consumption for 4 to 5 weeks after that date. Eggs typically reach the supermarket about 72 hours after being laid.
• How are egg sizes determined? The “size” is a measurement of the net weight per dozen eggs, not the actual dimensions of the egg. A dozen eggs weighing 18 ounces (510 grams) is classified as small, while 21 ounces (595 grams) denotes medium. A dozen large eggs weighs 24 oz. (680 g), and 27 oz. (765 g) indicates extra large. Thirty ounces (850 g) is the standard for a dozen jumbo eggs. The larger the egg, the thinner the eggshell.
• Several factors affect egg size, including breed of the hen, temperature of the environment where they live, the age of the hen, how much water they consume, and the quality of their nutrition.
• Iowa produces more eggs than any other U.S. state, close to 15 billion eggs every year. Ohio is in second place with about 8 billion.
• If you’re worried about salmonella in the eggs you eat, you’re actually very safe. About one in every 20,000 eggs might contain salmonella, a .0005% chance that you’ve stumbled upon one of those. If you eat eggs on a regular basis, the likelihood of that is once every 84 years.
March 29, 2026 5:30pm
Sunrise Park, at the corner of Sunrise Way and Ramon Road in Palm Springs
by Dana Jackson
Q: Is Dermot Mulroney really leaving “Chicago Fire” for good? It doesn’t appear as if his character is coming back since he was fired. -- O.C.
A: While no reason was given for Dermot Mulroney’s exit from “Chicago Fire,” it was preplanned and appears to be solely for storyline purposes. The actor has numerous upcoming projects, so it’s very likely that he needed some time off for other endeavors. Whatever the reason, it’s been reported that his character, Chief Pascal, will most likely return by this season’s finale.
In the meantime, Rob Morgan will take command of the battalion as Chief Hopkins. Morgan is a talented character actor whom you’ll recognize from “Stranger Things” and “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” but he’s probably best known as Turk Barrett in several Marvel productions like “Daredevil” and “Luke Cage.”
Q: When is the reboot of “Buffy the
1. Hoppers
(PG) Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan
2. Reminders of Him (PG-13) Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers
3. Undertone
(R) Nina Kiri, Adam DiMarco
4. Scream 7 (R) Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox 5. GOAT (PG) Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union 6. The Bride!
Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Minami Takayama, Rei Sakuma
Wuthering Heights
Margot Robbie, Jacob
Vampire Slayer” coming out? Have they finished filming yet? -- R.C.
A: Over a year ago, Hulu ordered a pilot episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale,” which was about a new teenage successor to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character, Buffy Summers.
After years of speculation, it was finally announced that Gellar would produce and co-star in a reboot with a young slayer to be played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong (“Star Wars: Skeleton Crew”).
Alas, Gellar recently learned that Hulu wouldn’t be picking up the series after all. It came as a shock because not only did it seem destined to be a hit, the already filmed pilot was directed by Oscar winner Chloe Zhao, who won Best Director for “Nomadland” in 2021 and was nominated again this year for “Hamnet.”
Gellar addressed her fans via social media soon after learning the news from Hulu, thanking Zhao for reminding her how much she loved the character and stating what an honor it was to “find [herself] back in Buffy’s stylish yet affordable boots,” if only for a bit.
According to Deadline, Hulu’s lack of faith in the project was based on “weeks of speculation about the fate of the project” and the fact that, despite her pedigree, “Zhao’s sensibility may not have been the perfect match for the reboot.” Hopefully, Gellar won’t give up, and “Buffy 2.0” will find a new home!
Q: Is “Lioness” returning for another season, and will Nicole Kidman still be in it? She’s in so many different series and movies lately. -- P.D.
A: Yes, “Lioness” is returning to Para-
mount+ for its third season. Production began in Texas back in October 2025 with star Zoe Saldana and new series regular Ian Bohen. And yes, prolific actress Nicole Kidman will also return as cutthroat CIA boss Kaitlyn Meade. You can also catch Kidman in her new series “Scarpetta” on Amazon.
Season one of “Lioness” premiered in July 2023 and season two in October 2024. An official premiere date hasn’t been announced yet for the upcoming season, but I would expect it by year’s end.
* * *
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
Courtesy of NBC
Dermot Mulroney as Chief Pascal in “Chicago Fire”
Good Recipes from
Spicy Cornbread
This deliciously moist and tender bread is best served warm. If you like, you can make it ahead and reheat it right in the baking pan, covered, at 400 F for 20 minutes.
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 tablespoons cold butter or margarine, cut up
1 can (14-ounce) cream-style corn
2 large eggs, beaten
4 green onions, sliced
1. Heat oven to 400 F. Grease 13-by-9inch metal baking pan.
2. In large bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt and pepper. With pastry blender or 2 knives used scissor-fashion, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. With fork, stir corn, eggs and green onions into flour mixture until just blended (batter will be very stiff).
3. Spoon batter into baking pan; spread evenly. Bake cornbread 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes to serve warm, or cool completely in pan to serve later.
4. Cut lengthwise into 4 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 6 pieces. Reheat before serving if you like. Makes 24 servings.
Each serving: About 130 calories, 4g total fat (2g saturated), 24mg cholesterol, 835mg sodium, 21g total carbohydrate, 1g dietary fiber, 3g protein.
Bagel Breakfast Bake
Avoid morning business in the kitchen by whipping up breakfast the night before with this bacon, egg and bagel bake.
4 “everything” bagels, toasted and chopped
6 large eggs
2 cups milk
4 ounce Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
4 slices cooked bacon, finely chopped
4 green onions, sliced, plus more for garnish
1. Arrange bagels in 2- to 2 1/2-qt. baking dish.
2. In large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cheese, bacon, 4 sliced green onions, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pour over bagels, pressing down slightly to submerge. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or up to overnight.
3. Heat oven to 350 F. Uncover dish and
bake 45 to 55 minutes until set.
4. Let cool 15 minutes before serving; garnish with green onion. Makes 6 servings.
* * For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/foodrecipes/ (c) 2026 Hearst Communications, Inc.
By John Allen
by Brett Koth
TIDBITS
NEXT WEEK in Famous TV Chefs
P.S.ShortFilmFestVisitors!
Holidays & Observances This Week
3/29
3/30
3/31
4/1
4/2
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Not for the Pet Product Cemetery
There are more useless, overpriced products cluttering the pet market than there is snow in the midwest this winter. it seems a good time to highlight some worthy pet products -- products that belong in the home and not as dead items in the pet product cemetery.
Canine car seats or crates: This may seem absurd to some, as dogs have been hopping into the backs of pickup trucks since Henry Ford unveiled the first factory-assembled pickup in 1925 -- with a pricetag of $281.
Clearly, times have changed. There are now more vehicles, moving at higher speeds, traveling for longer distances, on vastly more complex roads, not to mention highways. And that’s not all that’s changed. Most cities and many towns have passed laws or ordinances prohibiting animals from riding unrestricted in open truck beds. This is for the safety of the pet, as well as other motorists. Pets jumping or falling out of truck beds or car windows force oncoming drivers to swerve and possibly cause an accident. Car seats for dogs are as important as car seats for kids.
Pet-alert decals for home windows: I don’t know what genius came up with this simple idea, but it’s a winner. Pet owners can affix Pet Alert decals to a prominent window or glass door of their home. These bright red and white stickers include a place for the owner to fill in the details -- number of pets, type of pet and even your pet’s name. Emergency units responding to a call to your residence can determine whether there is anyone inside who might need rescuing. And the decals serve as potential deterrents to burglars and other ne’er-do-wells. Pet Alert decals can be ordered online, found in some pet supply stores or may even be available through your local fire department.
Microchip technology: Whoever says technology causes more harm than good has never lost a dog. About the size of a grain of rice, a microchip carrying an ID number is implanted into the animal by a vet using a hypodermic needle. The procedure is considered about as painful as a vaccination shot,
Medicare fraud is one of the big scams that thieves love. Approximately $60 billion per year is stolen from taxpayers through Medicare theft and fraud. Your job is to be the intermediary and foil their attempts. Here’s how:
Treat your Medicare number as though it’s as valuable as a credit card or access to your checking account. Don’t give this number to anyone but your doctor’s office.
If anyone calls asking for your Medicare card number, hang up. If you receive a text message asking for the number, delete it.
When you get a Medicare summary statement, go over it line by line to be sure that you actually received every service.
It’s true that now and then a service listed on your statement is genuine, even if it doesn’t seem to be. It’s possible that a coding error in the doctor’s office was wrong. Get to the bottom of it by calling them and asking for the billing depart-
Small Is Definitely Better
Some dream of having a large home with large spaces that could be classified as palatial. Architects and builders throughout the world once believed that the largest windows and the highest ceilings are what most people covet. And so the “McMansion” was born.
Many homeowners buy into the idea of larger is better -- except when they get the proposal for estimated costs. Then the nightmare begins.
Everything needs to be larger than life -- chandeliers, area rugs, sofas and chairs -- which means more fabric and more labor. Sticker shock enters the picture, and the house is left with halfcompleted rooms. Your dream of living and enjoying your home turns into an unfulfilled situation that is potentially full of resentment. It is best to put that dream aside and refocus your energy and desires on something smaller, attainable and sustainable.
ment to pull your file and determine whether the Medicare statement is correct or not. Mistakes can happen by human error. Ask specific questions about tests and lab work, as these are sometimes lumped together.
Sometimes, if the scammers do contact you, they’ll try to get you to accept delivery of a medical device that you don’t actually need in exchange for giving them your Medicare number. Don’t do it. This gives them an open door to submit false billings to the Medicare system.
Occasionally, too, you might be contacted with an offer to “review” your medical records to see if you need any additional services or devices or if you “need” genetic testing. Don’t do it.
What the scammers are looking for is your personal information and that Medicare number.
Remember: Medicare isn’t going to call you or send text messages or show up at your door. All communications to you will be via U.S. mail. If you think someone is trying to commit Medicare fraud, report it immediately at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).
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) KingFeaturesSyndicate2025
air hot or cold is enough to make some of these homeowners “house poor.”
Small can be especially beautiful and comforting. At the American Red Cross Designers’ Show House in Palm Beach, Fla., a sitting area and writer’s retreat functions well even though the size of the room is a mere 195 square feet. The room’s low ceilings are adorned with drapery hardware that nearly touches the room’s millwork, making the ceiling seem taller. The small scale of the furniture was selected to allow the span of the room to feel larger, particularly when seated. The seat heights are one inch to two inches lower than standard seat heights, thus allowing the room to read tall. Creating small seating areas rather than one seating area fools one into thinking the room is ample.
Yet another trick in designing for small spaces is the use of a monochromatic palette.
A neutral palette provides the ideal foundation for an eclectic mix of furnishings and textures.
The goal of this room is to create a timeless and elegant comfort by way of the colors of the beach: sandy creams and driftwood. Chrome surfaces shine, while luxurious linens and cotton fabrics from Beacon Hill’s Ankasa Iconic collection cover the array of vintage furnishings in the room.
and costs range from $25 to $65 -- far less than the cost of printing fliers and offering rewards should your dog go missing. The next step is to register your dog with an agency. Agency fees vary, but the chip is useless if your pet is not registered. The agency records the pet’s chip ID number, along with the correlating contact information for you and your vet. Most veterinarians and shelters are equipped with scanners that can read these chips, and that’s how some 1,400 lost pets are reunited with their owners every day. Collars with tags are important, too, but they sometimes disappear.
Products that improve visibility: Fluorescent leashes and collars may appear gaudy in the light of day, but they look downright smart when walking a dog late at night. And another useful tool for walking your dog in the dark is a flashlight.
While there are myriad pet products deserving of an immediate headstone in the pet product cemetery, each of these stands out as a worthy investment for pet owners.
Woof!
Although I have been fortunate to work on and design planned enlargements of already large homes and condominiums, I confess that I am an unabashed defender of smaller spaces and projects. As designers, we are taught to deal with all sorts of unusual conditions, but smaller spaces are far easier to design.
First, there is an economy of means: Fewer furnishings mean a lower cost right off the bat. Normal-sized windows are easier to dress, and window treatments can even be purchased readymade rather than from an expensive drapery workroom. The sheer cost of electricity to keep the
Making a small room memorable requires a handpicked selection of unique items; furniture and hand-embroidered fabrics are the finishing touches.
The image of this room proves that “livinglarge” in small spaces is possible, but it is dependent on the quality of the goods and a ruthless editing of the furnishings. In this case, small is definitely better.
* * * 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
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Raising the Cap on Taxable Income Has Drawbacks
I have probably written 100 columns about possible Social Security reforms. Well here comes column number 101!
What is prompting my discussion of the issue this time is that a certain reform proposal has been getting a lot of press lately. It is probably the most popular and most supported of all potential Social Security reforms. But there is one big drawback to the proposal that very few people ever mention. Today I will explain it.
I am talking about the recommendation to eliminate the wage base -- the amount of earnings subject to Social Security taxes. Or at least be dramatically increased.
Since the Social Security program began in 1935, the law has set a limit on the amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax. In 1935, the wage base was $3,000. It has gradually increased over the years. For many years now, that increase has been automatic based on growth in the national average wage index. The current (2026) wage base is $184,500.
What that means is that a rich guy like Elon Musk pays the same amount into Social Security as his plumber does. (Of course, that’s assuming Elon’s plumber is a very successful one!) But you get my point. Anyone making more than $184,500 per year pays the same amount in Social Security taxes. So whether you make $190,000 per year, $1.9 million, or even $1.9 billion, you pay the same Social Security taxes.
That is why millions of Americans, and many policy planners, pundits and newspaper editorial writers, support an increase to the wage base. Or again, even the total elimination of the
1. Which Old Testament prophet foretells details about the crucifixion of Jesus? a) Hosea b) Isaiah c) Ezekiel d) Daniel
2. What signal did Judas use to betray Jesus to the religious leaders? a) Embraced him b) Nodded/pointed c) Called out his name d) Kissed him
3. In John 11:45-53, who was the high priest who first called for Jesus' death? a) Joazar b) Herod c) Caiaphas d) Pilate
4. When Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" came upon the risen Jesus, who did he ask them to inform? a) Disciples b) No one c) Priests d) Pharisees
5. From John 20, which disciple doubted Jesus had risen until he could see the wounds for himself? a) Peter b) James c) John d) Thomas
6. How long did Jesus remain after his resurrection before he ascended into heaven? a) 3 days b) 21 days c) 40 days d) 77 days
(Answers on page 16)
or
wage base. But there is another side to this proposal that I have seen very few people write about. And here it is. Social Security benefit payments are directly tied to the amount of earnings on which you pay Social Security taxes. Simply put: the more you pay into the system, the more you are going to get out of the system.
In other words, if rich people pay taxes on their very high incomes, they are going to eventually get Social Security benefits based on those very high incomes. What that means is that much of the extra income from the higher taxes they pay will be offset by the extra Social Security benefits they will receive someday.
The current maximum Social Security retirement benefit is $4,152 per month -- meaning that someone who has paid taxes on maximum earnings all their life will get a monthly Social Security check of $4,152. I haven’t seen any analysis of how eliminating the wage base would affect future Social Security benefits. Still, I can see how, someday, with no limit on taxable earnings, rich people could be getting Social Security checks in the $20,000 to $30,000 per month range!
To stop that from happening, and to make this popular reform proposal work, what you would probably have to do is greatly increase, or even eliminate the taxable wage base, while at the same time setting a limit on the amount of benefits payable.
In other words, we’d be telling rich people this: “You are going to pay a lot more in Social Security taxes, but you’re not going to get very much more in Social Security benefits.”
I’ve heard from many readers over the years who support this proposal. And their arguments usually have an unspoken message along the lines of “Those rich people can afford it.” Or “It’s time that rich people pay their fair share.” But let me remind you that the current wage base is $184,500. Many of you may think of people making that kind of money as “rich.” But I’m sure a whole lot of people reading this column make that kind of money every year. And I’ll bet most of them think of themselves as “comfortable” or maybe “upper middle class.” But they don’t think of themselves as rich.
The point I am making in this column is that just as there are two sides to every coin, there are two sides to every Social Security reform proposal. In fact, here are some other possible reforms to Social Security. And I will give both sides of the coin for each of them.
• Proposal: Raise the Retirement Age to 70 by 2060 One side of the coin: People are living longer, healthier lives, and with enough lead time, they can plan for the delay in receiving their benefits.
The other side: Would you really want to work until you are 70? Employers will face higher health care costs for older workers.
• Proposal: Reduce COLAs Paid to Social Security Beneficiaries by Half a Percentage Point
One side of the coin: Economists believe the current formula overstates inflation for seniors.
The other side: COLA reductions are cumulative. The longer you live, the more you will suffer financially.
• Proposal: Reduce Benefits by 5% for All Future Retirees
One side of the coin: All retirees should share responsibility for shoring up Social Security.
The other side: Lower-income beneficiaries could not afford the reduction.
One side of the coin: All other pensions are fully taxed.
The other side: It would affect middle-income taxpayers the most.
• Proposal: Require All State/Local Government Workers Pay Into Social Security
One side of the coin: All working Americans should pay for Social Security.
The other side: It would jeopardize many well-run government employee pension plans.
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.
• Proposal: Means Test the Program Lowering Benefits to Wealthy People
One side of the coin: Ensures that Social Security is paid only to those who need it most.
The other side: Would turn Social Security into a welfare program.
• Proposal: Raise Social Security Payroll Tax by Half a Percentage Point
One side of the coin: The tax has not been increased in more than 40 years.
The other side: An extra tax burden would discourage savings and investment.
• Proposal: Make Folks Pay Income Tax on all Social Security Benefits (currently, only a portion is taxed)
the medicine, which can happen within a week.
DEAR DR. ROACH: Are there health benefits to taking fish-oil capsules? If so, what’s the proper dosage? I’m a fit, healthy 70-year-old male. --
C.S.
Betty McDonald - The Wellness Place
Case of Anaphylactic Shock Might Be Due To Methocarbamol
get it. My own health experience gave me passion to help others get out of pain
ANSWER: The benefit of fish oil is one topic in medicine where we seem to keep changing our mind due to studies that yielded some conflicting results.
B)
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Protecting Your Benefits
What is clear is that fish oil reduces triglyceride levels. In people with high triglyceride levels, especially people who are at a relatively high risk due to other reasons (such as diabetes and low HDL cholesterol), then fish oil is a reasonable treatment. Most experts prefer the pharmaceutical-grade icosapent ethyl (Vascepa) or EPA/DHA (Lovaza), which are highly purified and aren’t oxidized.
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DEAR DR. ROACH: My question is about methocarbamol (Robaxin). My relative has been taking this for about two years for back pain. He then developed a sudden severe allergic reaction and went into anaphylaxis. He fought it all night, not knowing what was happening, and by morning, he had to go to the hospital. Could this be due to methocarbamol? If so, can this happen again?
He has no known allergies, and this had never happened before. The only other thing was maybe burning a lemon-scented candle in his bedroom, but he’s burned candles before in his bedroom. He is 27 years old and in good health. --
B.G.
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Using the FSM neurotherapy protocols as used at Walter Reed & Cleveland Clinic.
ANSWER: Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction to a foreign protein or carbohydrate (called an “allergen”). It is caused by a release of inflammatory chemicals from immune cells. It can be antibody-mediated (more common) or occur without antibodies (less common).
For people who are at a lower risk, the benefit is probably modest; however, fish oil is generally safe. There may be a small increase in the risk of atrial fibrillation with high doses.
Using the FSM neurotherapy protocols as used at Walter Reed & Cleveland Clinic.
Using the FSM neurotherapy protocols as used at Walter Reed & Cleveland Clinic. Most Insurance Accepted Most Insurance Accepted Most Insurance Accepted Most Insurance Accepted
These chemicals can cause swelling of the airway and death through asphyxiation. They can also affect the heart and blood vessels, causing shock and circulatory collapse, which can also lead to death. The onset of symptoms is typically minutes to hours after exposure to the allergen.
In 95% of cases, the symptoms disappear, but there are cases of “biphasic anaphylaxis” where symptoms reappear usually within 12 hours. There are unusual cases of very delayed anaphylaxis, such as with alpha-gal syndrome -- a meat allergy that is acquired after tick exposure.
Medications are one of the most common causes of anaphylaxis, and I did find case reports of anaphylaxis with methocarbamol in a person who had been taking it previously. I found another case report of a person with prolonged anaphylaxis after methocarbamol.
It is uncommon but not impossible to develop anaphylaxis to a medicine that you have been taking for years.
If your relative isn’t taking any other medications and had no unusual foods on that day, I strongly suspect that methocarbamol was the cause and recommend never taking it again as it can absolutely happen again.
A candle smoke allergy is documented, and a variety of symptoms can be caused by candle smoke in sensitive individuals. I found a source saying that anaphylaxis from inhaling candle smoke is “rare” but could not find a welldocumented case.
Finally, methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant and isn’t always a good choice for long-term treatment. My experience is that in many people, the beneficial effects wear off as the body gets used to
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.
D)
If numbness and tingling are affecting walking, balance, sleep, or confidence…
So you can SLEEP through the night again
On a recent National Slam the Scam Day for 2026, the VA stepped up, along with other federal agencies, with an array of information to keep veterans safe from scams and fraud. Thieves don’t just work one day per year, however. We need to stay vigilant all year long to protect our benefits and personal information from getting to the scammers.
Why do they want us? Because we have income and benefits.
How do they approach us? Phone calls, emails, text messages, social media, phishing, impersonation, fake charities -- you name it, and the crooks have thought of it as a way to get to us.
If you’re approached, whether on the phone or in email, the more urgent the problem, the more likely it’s a scam. A scammer might pretend to be from the VA and try to claim there’s something wrong with your benefits -- and that you need to hand over your personal information so they can “fix” the problem on their end. They might want your bank account access info or password, your Social Security number, your date of birth. The answer is no!
Don’t do a direct deposit into another person’s account -- even if it’s a relative! If you need a fiduciary situation (where someone helps you with finances), have that person go through the accreditation process and be authorized to assist you. You’re protected that way.
If you’re told you need to hand over a fee to get claims assistance from the VA or to apply for increased benefits, it’s fraud.
Invest in a shredder and use it to grind up not only VA documents with personal information on them, but any documents that can go astray. Crooks also rummage through your even trash. If someone calls and claims to be from the VA and asks you to pay for something with a gift card or bitcoin, feel free to laugh as you hang up the phone. It’s an impostor. Immediately report it to the VA at 800-827-1000.
* * *
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 Causes Dizziness and
How to Fix It
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Can you tell me what might cause dizziness in older adults? I have minor dizzy spells from time to time and it has me a bit concerned. I’m not sure what causes this or whether it's something I should try to do something about or get help for. -- Dizzy Donna
Dear Donna: Whether it’s a moment of lightheadedness or the room-whirling sensation of vertigo, dizziness can be very unsettling. As many as 30 percent of people older than 60 experience dizziness at some point, and about 50 percent after age 85.
This unpleasant sensation only rarely signifies a serious medical condition. But it can knock you off balance, leading to falls and injuries. That’s why anytime you feel dizzy, you should lower yourself to a safe, seated position and let it pass. Here’s a brief rundown of what typically causes dizziness and what you can do to fix it.
Dizziness causes:
One of the most common causes of dizziness and vertigo in older adults is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This occurs when tiny crystals in the inner ear, which play a role in balance, become dislodged. BPPV is more likely as we get older because simple "wear and tear" can cause the crystals to shift out of their normal place.
The resulting dizziness is generally triggered by changes in head position. People with BPPV often complain that the room spins when they roll over in bed, get into or out of bed, tip their head back, bend over, or make other quick head movements. These episodes usually last only several seconds to a minute or two, and they may happen intermittently over a period of time.
A drop in blood pressure may also cause dizziness, even fainting, especially when changing position from sitting or lying down to standing, especially standing too fast. This so-called postural hypotension is often the result of problems with blood pressure medication.
If this is something that occurs on a regular basis, you need to be evaluated by your doctor. Certain sedatives, antidepressants, cough and cold medicines, and antibiotics can lead to dizziness, too.
Dehydration may be another culprit in postural hypotension. Staying hydrated is extremely important for balance, blood pressure, and general well-being. Declines in vision and hearing (including ear infections and impacted earwax) may also affect your balance.
When to Call a Doctor
Occasional dizziness that lasts only for a few seconds is probably no cause for worry, but you should still let your doctor know that you're experiencing it. If it persists for several minutes or recurs regularly, it's time to see your doctor right away.
Sudden dizziness or loss of balance, along with facial drooping, trouble speaking, nausea, and vision or hearing disturbances can signal a stroke. If any of these symptoms suddenly occur you need urgent medical attention, and is definitely a 911 call.
Treatment for Dizziness
If your doctor thinks you have BPPV, they can teach you the Epley maneuver, where you learn to turn your head and body in ways that can move ear crystals back into place.
For medication-related dizziness, your doctor can change your medication or dosage to reduce the side effects.
For persistent problems, your doctor can
check for infections, balance disorders, and more serious issues, such as tumors, congestive heart failure, an irregular heart rhythm, and conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
If none are found, your doctor may recommend vestibular rehab, which may help with dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems. Anxiety and depression can also cause dizziness in some people. Treating this may ease your lightheadedness.
* * *
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.
-- by Jim Miller
JUNQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, W. 57th STREET, 15th FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10019
A: You have an example of Willow Ware. Alfred Meakin Pottery has been located in Staffordshire, England, since 1973. The Willow Ware scene was inspired by a 16th-century Chinese design and has been produced in England since the late 1700s. The design has also been made by United States and Japanese factories. Although most Willow Ware scenes are blue and white, Meakin produced it in pink and white. The designs were transfer prints.
Pastel Flowers Adorn Porcelain Plate
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Q: I have enclosed a picture of a porcelain plate that is 8 inches in diameter. On the back is a lion in a circle and the words Selb, Bavaria, Germany, along with another word that is not clear. The plate is decorated with sprays of pastel flowers on the scalloped border against a white background.
I read your column each week and hope you can tell me how old my plate is and whether it has any value.
According to the legend, a powerful Mandarin official had a beautiful daughter. She fell in love with her father’s accountant. Because he was beneath the Mandarin’s social class, the couple was forbidden to marry. They ran away with the father in hot pursuit, but managed to escape on a ship. The angry father’s army eventually found them, and they were put to death. The gods took pity on the doomed couple and transformed them into doves.
• On March 30, 1858, Philadelphia inventor Hymen Lipman received a patent for the first pencil with an attached eraser. Years later, however, the U.S. Supreme Court erased the patent, ruling that his combination of two existing devices made Lipman’s invention unworthy of a patent.
• On March 31, 1995, pop star Selena Quintanilla Perez was shot to death in a Corpus Christi, Texas, motel by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar, who then engaged the police in a nine-hour standoff in the motel’s parking lot until her arrest. She was tried and convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
A: Hutschenreuther Porcelain Factory made your plate. The porcelain factory was founded in Bavaria, Germany, in 1814. They have made fine china dinnerware, limited edition plates and figurines. Your plate was made around 1930 and would probably be worth $25 to $40.
Q: This mark is on the back of a medium-sized platter that was given to me by an elderly friend. The plate is decorated with a blue and white Asian scene that includes several people, a bridge, a pagoda, birds, a ship and willow trees. It measures 12 inches by 10 inches and is in flawless condition.
My friend has since passed away, and now I would like to know more about my platter. I treasure my gift and would never part with it; however, I hope you can tell me something about its history, age and possible value it may have.
Meakin Pottery used this mark in the early 1900s. Your platter would probably fetch $30 to $50 in an antiques shop.
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.
To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com
COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM
• On April 1, 1970, President Richard Nixon, who was known to enjoy the occasional cigar himself, signed legislation officially banning cigarette ads on television and radio. The last such TV ad aired during “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” on Jan. 1, 1971.
• On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to send U.S. troops into battle against Germany in World War I. In his address to Congress that day, he called it “a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war.” Four days later, Congress obliged.
• On April 3, 1876, following a public fistfight the previous day between policeman Wyatt Earp (who won) and William Smith, a candidate for Wichita, Kansas, county sheriff, Earp was fined $30 and fired from his position.
• On April 4, 2007, syndicated talk radio host Don Imus incited a nationwide storm of criticism after making racially disparaging remarks about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, insulting their appearance, tattoos and, most infamously, dubbing them “nappy-headed hos.” He apologized on his show two days later but lost his job and a number of sponsors, though he was ultimately able to save his career.
"We need to have a discussion, Clarence. There's been talk among the employees about your abuse of the breakroom privileges."
Alfred Meakin Pottery made Willow ware.
Hutschenreuther Porcelain Factory was founded in 1814.
Easter: (from page 3)
outside and a golden yolk inside that opened to a golden hen and miniature diamond crown.
• Over the next 32 years, Gustav Faberge created 69 more jeweled Easter eggs, of which 61 have survived. Fifty of them were “Imperial Eggs,” exclusively for the Russian czars, eggs made from gold, silver, diamonds, and pearls, with each containing a “surprise” on the inside, such as mechanical devices or miniature portraits.
• Eight Imperial Eggs remain unaccounted for. The Russian Revolution of 1917 led to the overthrow of the Romanov dynasty, and many eggs were lost or sold. Faberge himself fled to Switzerland, where he died three years later.
• Three Faberge eggs are part of England’s Royal Collection, and American publisher Malcolm Forbes amassed a collection of nine, purchasing his first in the 1960s. One Imperial Easter Egg, made from solid 18-karat gold, was lost until 2012, when a flea market scrap metal dealer recognized it and purchased it for $14,000. Its current estimated value is $33 million, the world’s most expensive Easter egg.
WHITE HOUSE EGG ROLL
• Every year on the Monday after Easter, the White House hosts its annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the grounds. This annual tradition began in 1878 during the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes. In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison added music to the celebration, provided by the United States Marine Band.
• No Easter Egg Rolls were held during World War I from 1917 to 1920 or World War II from 1943 to 1945. White House renovations prevented the festivities from 1946 to 1952. Bad weather put a halt to the egg rolls during several years, and Covid-19 halted the fun in 2020 and 2021.
• President Ronald Reagan started a new tradition in 1981, when wooden eggs bearing autographs of celebrities became the day’s keepsakes. Today, wooden eggs are inscribed with the signatures of the President and First Lady, and are gifted to all those participants 13 years old and younger. Tickets to the event are free and are offered through an online lottery system. More than 40,000 participated in the 2025 Egg Roll last year.
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Game Changers
by Jason Jenkins
Long Equals Long
Lag putting is an essential part of the game that can either add or subtract strokes from your score each round. Controlling the speed on long putts can be more important than how accurate your read or aim of the putt had been. Hitting the first putt inside a makeable range should be the goal for most golfers when the putt is outside thirty feet.
One of the common mistakes seen in the long putting game is a belief that that backstroke is short or the same length for all putts. This restricted backstroke leads to an attempt to overly “accelerate” the putterhead through impact to create proper speed. This can be a very inconsistent and difficult way to control long putts.
By creating a more pendulum like swinging of the putter, speed is created easier through momentum and keeping a brisk tempo to each putt. Allow the wrists to give a little with long strokes so that the putter can swing freely without a rigid looking arm movement.
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.
