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Vol. XXII Issue No. 29

TIDTBITS GOES MINING FOR

GOLD by Kathy Wolfe

“Not all that glitters is gold” goes the old saying. How true it is, since there are several specific characteristics of gold that cannot be imitated. This week Tidbits digs deep for the facts about this lustrous metal that has been held as a precious commodity since the dawn of human history. OF ADVERTISING PROOF

• The element symbol for gold, the only metal that is12:00 yellow, NOON is Au, which comes from the Latin word efully. ng  Prices Doublecheck: Hours  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours “aurum,” which translates “shining dawn” or “glow of sunrise.” The old Germanic word “gulb” Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. sror corrections. means “yellow.”

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• If a material can be hammered into different shapes, it is said to be malleable. Gold is the most malleable of all elements, able to be pressed into a sheet thin enough to be nearly transparent, thinner than a sheet of paper. Just one ounce of gold (28 grams) can be hammered into a single sheet 300 feet square, an area the size of two side-by-side football fields. • Gold is also extremely ductile, meaning it can be Gold: Turn to page 3

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themselves in front of or cornering Pac-Man.

Classic

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When you think of Pac-Man, does the sound of “waka-waka” immediately echo in your brain? If you’re a fan of this influential video game, Tidbits thinks you’ll enjoy a look back at its history.

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• During the 1960s Toru Iwatani was a 24-yearold video game designer when he went to work for Namco, an abbreviation for Nakamura Manufacturing Company, founded in Tokyo in 1955 by Masaya Nakamura. At that time Namco was already producing electro-mechanical arcade games.

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television series “Casper the Friendly Ghost,” it Fax: 760-320-1630 started his creative juices flowing.

• It took a year and five months for Iwatani and his team to devise their concept of the game, how to make it challenging for the player, and to finally complete the project. Namco released Pac-Man in 1980.

• If Pac-Man is caught by a ghost, he loses a life. But if he can “eat” one of the four blue “power pellets” placed in the maze’s corners, the ghosts all turn a bright blue, and Pac-Man can eat them for bonus points during their “blue” time, before they turn white, then back to their normal colors. A player can also gain bonus points by eating the various fruits that pop up in the maze. • Each side of the maze contains a “warp tunnel,” which allows Pac-Man and the ghosts to go to the opposite side of the screen. • The highest possible score in the game is 3,333,360 points, which requires eating every dot, fruit, energizer, and ghost without losing a single life. This feat was achieved for the first time in 1999 in New Hampshire by 33-yearold Massachusetts native Billy Mitchell, who spent nearly six hours on a single quarter for his monumental achievement. Following the game’s completion, Mitchell announced his permanent retirement from Pac-Man, saying, “I never have to play that darn game again. There’s nothing more I can accomplish.” • As with many other popular toys and games, PacMan’s popularity prompted a large assortment of merchandise, which included toys, clothing, and a breakfast cereal. Introduced in 1983, the cereal was orb-shaped sweetened corn puffs mixed with mini-marshmallows in Pac-Man and ghost shapes. The cereal was on grocersʼ shelves for five years. • ABC aired a Pac-Man animated TV series for two seasons, beginning in 1982. The musical duo Buckner & Garcia released a hit single, “Pac-Man Fever,” in 1982, which reached No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

ADVERTISING PROOF • Iwatani proposed the name “Puck Man,” but it • Due to a programming glitch, it’s impossible play Pac-Man past Level 256. At that point, Final Changes DUE: 12:00to NOON was vetoed when it MON., was felt that mischievous Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 the breaks down and half the screen valleybits@msn.com vandals theNumber(s) “P” to another letter Prices game Please review carefully. Doublecould check:change  Phone PROOF Spelling  Hours ADVERTISING becomes distorted with random symbols. This on game consoles. The option of “Snapper” All Rights Reserved Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. MON., NOV. 3 “kill screen” is usually considered the end of the Finalwas Changes 12:00 NOON considered,DUE: but was also abandoned. It was game Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com 760-320-1630 decided that “Pac-Man” had a catchy sound,Fax: and Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours they went with it.

• Pac-Man has earned the title as the world’s most-recognized video game, with a global • The objective of Pac-Man is to eat all the “dots” Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 recognition rate of 94%.  and avoid the ghosts while navigating through Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

Property of an enclosed AdVenture maze of Media, passages and obsticles. As Inc. George Kouri Pac-Man makes his way through the maze, he c/o NewAmerica Funding must avoid four ghosts of various colors. Blinky, Property of 12th the pg redB&W ghost,26x chases Pac-Man, the pink AdVenture Media,while Inc. HOLD for run dates ghost Pinky and the blue ghost Inky position Phone: -760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 George Kouri NewAmericaFunding valleybits@msn.com 1/16 pg 4C 26x Rate Rights21 Reserved 9, 2025 Vol. - to No. 46 1. TELEVISION: What is Wal- November Isn’t itAlltime time put your Isn’t it to put your Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 ter White’s codename in the drama valleybits@msn.com mortgage in in REVERSE REVERSE mortgage “Breaking Bad”? Isn't time put your All Rights Reserved 2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: anditive Live alittle? little? and ato Which month of the year has the fewmortgage in REVERSE Let me show you how easily you can: est letters in its name? and live a little? 3. U.S. STATES: Which state is ● Cash in on your home’s equity known as the Prairie State? Coachella Valley homeowners for 20+ ●Helping Eliminate your monthly mortgage payment 4. LANGUAGE: What is the British years. Ask me how a Reverse Mortgage can ● work Stay for in your term for a bike’s training wheels? you. home and enjoy financial freedom! 5. ASTRONOMY: What is the Helping ValleyME homeowners for 20+ years. CALL TODAY! Earth’s only natural satellite? I'll separate the Facts from Fiction! CALL ME TODAY! 6. FOOD & DRINK: What is a more I’llGeorge separateKouri the Facts from Fiction! common name for the fruit sometimes Reverse Mortgage Consultant George Kouri called “alligator pear”? NMLS# 248717 Reverse Mortgage Consultant 7. MOVIES: What kind of creature ADVERTISING PROOF NMLS#248717 is Thumper in the animated movie 760-275-5905 PROOF FinalADVERTISING Changes DUE: 12:00 NOON 760-275-5905 “Bambi”? George.kouri@nafinc.com 8. LITERATURE: What is the name Please review carefully. George.Kouri@nafinc.com Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours Final Changes DUE: 12:00 NOON naf.com/GeorgeKouri of the python in “The Jungle Book”? naf.com/GeorgeKouri review Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours Contactcarefully. your Equal Tidbits representative immediately changes 9. GEOGRAPHY: WhichPlease countries Housing Opportunity. Borrower is responsible for paying taxes,with insurance, and other or corrections. property expenses. Borrower must occupy home as their principal residence. A new loan will and islands make up the geographic Office: your 760-320-0997 760-320-1630 require a newrepresentative credit check,email: appraisal, titlevalleybits@msn.com search, initial mortgage insurance premium, closingFax: Contact Tidbits immediately with changes or corrections. area known as Oceania? costs and fees. Consult your tax advisor. This is not a loan commitment or guarantee of any kind. Terms and conditions apply. Subject to borrower and property qualiﬁcations. Not all email: Fax: 760-320-1630 10. ANATOMY: What is a Office: more 760-320-0997 applicants will qualify. Rates and termsvalleybits@msn.com are subject to change without notice. All mortgage loan products are subject to credit and property approval. 2025 New American Funding, LLC. NMLS common name for cerumen? #6606. nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Corporate oﬃce 14511 Myford Rd., Ste 100, Tustin, CA 92780. www.newamericanfunding.com. Phone: (800) 450-2010. NMLS ID #6606.10/2025 Answers (Trivia Test answers page 16) Property of 1. Heisenberg. AdVenture Media, Inc. 2. May. Property of

Gold (from page one) drawn into thin wires. One ounce of gold (28 grams) can be stretched into a wire 50 miles (80 km) long, thinner than a human hair. In its pure form, it’s so soft it can be scratched with a fingernail. • King Croesus of Lydia (modern-day Turkey) is credited as the first to issue gold coins. In 550 B.C., Croesus developed a bimetallic monetary system, with both gold and silver coins of various sizes minted to represent different values. CALIFORNIAʼS GOLD RUSH

• The discovery of gold at California’s Sutter’s Mill in 1848 changed the course of growth in the western United States, as more than 300,000 eager hopefuls joined in on the Gold Rush to what later became known as the “Golden State.” • John Sutter and his partner James Marshall had opened a lumber mill in 1847 to sell sawn timber to settlers in the area, which then had a population of about 1,000. In January 1848, Marshall noticed flakes of gold in a pool of water, followed by the discovery of numerous small nuggets in the nearby stream. • They tried to keep their exciting find a secret, but word eventually leaked out and the news that “thereʼs gold in them-thar hills” spread like wildfire. By the end of the following year in 1849, some 50,000 “forty-niners” had rushed to the area in hopes of making their fortune. By 1854, that number had jumped to more than 300,000 gold-crazed hopefuls with picks, pans, shovels and dreams.

1. W s began in Antwerp, Belgium, solid gold medals throughout history, while the U.S. Geological ADVERTISING PROOF m had become too expensive. Survey’s numbers are smaller – 206,000 tons Mon., 3/2/2026 (187,000 metric tons) mined, with 70,550 tons Final Changes DUE: Olympic Committee 5:00 • The International then p.m s Tidbits of Coachella Valley

(64,000 metric tons) remaining.

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established a standard of gold medals comprised Contact your representative changes or correction of Tidbits a silver core and immediately six grams with of gold plating. • To visualize all the world gold that has been 2. W Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1 This now makes a “gold medal” 92.5% silver. mined thus far, imagine it filling three Olympicsize swimming pools. About 66% of that amount t Gold: Turn to page 15 has been mined since 1950. The countries with f the most untapped reserves are Russia, Australia, s South Africa, and China. Business Card • Spot Color • 13x UIZ IT S • About 45 percent of all gold mined is in the form March 8, 2026 • Vol. 22 #11 of jewelry. About 22 percent consists of gold 1. What is the clinical name for the bars, coins, and Exchange-Traded-Funds, while fear of gold? 15 percent is found in industrial, medical, dental, and decorative items. 2 What country is the largest

Swirlyz Yogurt ��

• Geologists claim that 99 percent of the world’s remaining gold remains hidden away beneath Earth’s surface, awaiting discovery.

producer of gold?

California's Death Valley was given that name after a group of men headed to the Gold Rush got lost in this barren wasteland when trying to take a shortcut. Fifteen members of the illfated group died from heat and dehydration when they made the choice to set out from their wagon train in search of a shorter route.

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1/16 pg BW “D” • If you’re looking for a spot that has the potential FREE June 28, 20 of Coachella Valley of holding million pounds of gold, start with Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 valleybits@msn.com PROOF the world’s oceans. Gold ore is believed to OPEN ADVERTISING AM 11 Changes DUE: All Rights Reserved 5:00 p.m.. be abundant in the depths of the sea, but the Final EVERY $ DAY!!carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s) Please review Spelling  Hours A) BY WEIGHT• NOT VALIDONPrices 10.95 QUART challenge, of course, is attempting to just get Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. to it! Abundant gold deposits are thought to beOffice: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 embedded in layers and layers of rock on the sea bed, but with no known method of mining it. 4 Million Readers Weekly Nationwide!

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STOP THE STRESS. GET ACCEPTED. • Estimates differ on how much gold has ever been • What’s the difference between the various karats With 30+ years guiding rising high school seniors, mined and how much remains to be mined. The ADVERTISING PROOF of gold? Pure gold is 24 karats, while 18-karat & homeschoolers to dream schools, 2x Teacher World Gold Council says that about 238,400 Mon. gold 7/6/26 Final Changes DUE: p.m.. of the Year Scott Cooper is your trusted instructor. gold is 75% pure. A 14-karat item is 5:00 58.5% tons (216,000 metric tons) have been extracted Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours pure, and 10-karat gold measures 41.7% pure

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• Standout essays & applications

• Scholarships & financial aid gold. What comprises the bulk of an item that is Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com 760-320-1630 • Interviews & career planning simply clad in gold? Just about any otherFax: cheaper • Personalized support that simplifies metal will do, but it’s sometimes silver, platinum, everything to secure your child’s future or more commonly copper, zinc, nickel, or even Join my fall cohort now. Limited spots! iron. Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

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ETS E G G U N LEDG W O N OF K

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Scott Cooper, M.A. Thailand is home to the 2x Teacher of the Year world's largest solid gold sculpUC Admissions Reader TCP #6941-A ture, the Golden Buddha, standing ADVERTISING PROOF ProudlyAdmitted.com Fully Credentialed M.A. Career Counseling 9.8 feet tall and weighing 12,125 Largest & Newest Fleet in the Palm Springs Area!p.m.. Final Changes DUE: 5:00 30 Years Experience Call/Text pounds. At one time, the statue Please review carefully. Double Phone Number(s) Spelling1990.  Prices  Hours Firstcheck: Class Service & Safety Since was plastered over with stucco Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. to conceal its worth, and reHuntington ArtFax: Museum Catalina Nethercutt Ad Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com 760-320-1630 mained covered for nearly 200 Automobile Museum & Botanical Gardens Island years. When the statue was Thurs., Apr. 30 Sat., July 18 Sat., July 18 Wed., July 29 relocated in 1955, some of Phone: 760.3 $60/person $145/person $85/person $86/person val the plaster was accidentally A chipped off, revealing the shining gold underneath. TRANSPORTATION All Rights Reserved

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Everyday CHEAPSKATE

by Mary Hunt

By Lucie Winborne

* Though cannibalism is, thankfully, no longer practiced, Fijians today have embraced this aspect of their history: You can buy cannibalism forks and humorous cannibal dolls in many Fijian gift shops.

The 10-Minute ‘Cool Down Your House’ Reset

There comes a point every summer Everyday evening when the house starts behaving like it’s hosting aCHEAPSKATE chili cookoff. by Mary Hunt The sun goes down. The birds settle in. The neighborhood quiets. Yet somehow your living room still feels like it’s stuck on HOT and a * NASA defines an astronaut as someone stale sigh that says “Good luck sleeping tonight.” who has flown 50 miles above sea level. That’s when most people march straight to the thermostat and crank the air conditioning * People are more likely to die in house fires while sleeping because the down another two degrees while muttering things sleeping brain responds poorly to smoke they wouldn’t say in front of the grandchildren. odors. Over the years, I’ve learned that houses often hold heat far longer than we realize, and * The U.S. maintains a Strategic Petrosometimes the fix is less about blasting cold air leum Reserve, the largest emergency oil and more about helping trapped heat find the exit. stockpile in the world. Our homes absorb heat all day long. Roofs bake. Walls warm up. Curtains trap sun* When “Harry Potter and the Prisoner light. Appliances quietly throw off heat like they’re of Azkaban” made its debut in Great trying out for a role in a volcano documentary. Britain, the publisher asked stores not to Even after sunset, all that stored warmth lingers sell the book until schools were closed inside like an unwanted dinner guest who keeps for the day, to prevent eager reader saying, “Well ... we should probably get going,” truancy. but never actually leaves. That’s where this little nightly “cool down * The first submarine used in warthe house” reset comes in. fare was the “American Turtle,” a small It takes about 10 minutes. It costs almost submersible invented by David Bushnell, nothing. And while it won’t turn your house into a during the American Revolution, in 1776. locker, it can make evenings Please review carefully. Double check:  Phonemeat Number(s)  Spelling  Pricesdramatically  Hours more comfortable. * Congress gave Native Americans the The secret is that the order matters. right to vote in presidential elections in Contact your Tidbits representative immediately withwait changes oroutdoor corrections. First, until the temperature 1924. is actually cooler than the inside of your house. Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 Sounds obvious, but every summer somebody * Beatle George Harrison’s song “Blue opens every window at 4 p.m. while it’s still 96 F Jay Way” has led to the repeated theft of outside and then wonders why the sofa feels like that street sign in Los Angeles. a toasted marshmallow. * After pirates kidnapped the entire Once the evening cools off, start by openmale population of the Tongan island ing windows on opposite sides of the house. of ‘Atu in the 18th century, the king of Property of Cross-ventilation is your best friend. You want AdVenture Media, Tonga had the remaining women and theInc. air moving through the house, not just sitting MON., MAY 18about it. children moved, and declared the island there thinking taboo. Next, turn on a couple of fans.  Box fans Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices Hours work beautifully for this. One fan should face your Tidbits representative with changes or corrections. *Contact The mimic octopus can impersonate immediately outward in a warmer room to push hot air out. more than 760-320-0997 15 different marine animals, Office: email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 Another fan can pull cooler evening air inward including lionfish and flatfish, to fool Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 from the shady side of the house. predators. valleybits@msn.com You’re basically creating a tiny wind tun*** nel without needing an engineering degree. Thought for the Day: “To change theProperty of rl’s Air Conditioning All Rights Reserved Then comes the step most people skip: AdVenture Media, Inc. world13x we must be good to those who pg H 4-C Remove heat sources before bedtime. cannot y 24, 2026 Vol.repay 22 - us.” No. -22Pope Francis Turn off unnecessary lamps. Shut down (c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc. the oven. Stop running the dishwasher until later ®

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Vol. XXII Issue No. 29

at night if possible. If you’ve ever baked lasagna at 5 p.m. during a heat wave, you already know that your kitchen can transform into the surface of Mercury. Close blinds and curtains before the next morning’s sun arrives. Sunlight pouring through windows can heat a room like a greenhouse. Blocking it early helps keep tomorrow’s heat from settling in. Make sure ceiling fans are spinning in the correct direction. Here’s a quick tip: Set your fan to High so it spins at its top speed. Stand directly under it. Do you feel the air blowing down on you? That’s your “forward” direction, perfect for summer. Can’t feel it? Find the button to reverse the fan’s spinning direction. Flip it to reverse. Now do the test again. Setting it to blow air down is going to make all the difference. And come winter, you want it blowing up to push the warm air down. (Hot air rises, remember?) Once you have it set correctly for summer, keep it set it on high speed for the greatest cooling impact. On especially brutal nights, consider the power of cooling yourself instead of the whole house. A lightweight cotton sheet instead of heavy bedding helps tremendously. A cold washcloth on the neck. Cool shower before bed. Ice water nearby. The funny thing about this little nightly reset is that it can become a habit surprisingly fast. Ten minutes of opening, closing, adjusting and resetting can make your home feel calmer, fresher and far more comfortable overnight. And when the electric bill arrives, you may notice something else cooling down 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.” COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM

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FORT KNOX Thirty miles south of Louisville, Kentucky, lies Fort Knox, one of the most secure vaults in the world, and home to nearly 5,060 tons (4,580 metric tons) of gold. This week, Tidbits takes a look at the history of this famous gold depository. • Fort Knox hasn’t always been home to much of the nation’s gold supply. Its original purpose when construction began in July 1918, was as a military training camp to train World War I soldiers along with a U.S. Army base. Fort Knox didn’t become the storage place for gold until 1936. Its name was selected to honor Henry Knox, Chief of Artillery during the Revolutionary War and the first U.S. Secretary of War. • The entire facility sits on 109,000 acres, but the depository itself is not very big, 105 feet by 121 feet. The walls of the edifice are constructed from 4-ft-thick (1.2-m) granite that is lined with cement, steel, and fireproof materials, strong enough to endure a nuclear bomb hit. • The security at Fort Knox is unparalleled. Its location alone is its first defense, in a remote area in inland Kentucky that is impossible to approach from any direction above or below without being observed. • The outer perimeter is equipped with cameras and motion sensors, sectioned off by another barrier with a ten-foot-high electric fence, and a blast-proof door. The next area is protected by more surveillance cameras and a large guard of U.S. Mint Police. An additional 30,000 military personnel are stationed nearby, along with tanks, helicopters, and military vehicles. • The facility has a biometric access system,

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 5

which uses physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or eyes for admittance.

Current market gold prices of nearly $5,000 per ounce place the ever-changing value at about $736 billion.

• Trip wires are installed throughout the facility. Intruders who might possibly manage to get past these security measures will immediately be confined in a blocked space from which it is impossible to escape.

• What is in the vault besides 147,341,858 troy ounces of gold? Items secured within its walls include the original documents of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

• The extraordinary vault is located deep underground at the facility, secure from outside threats, both human and natural, including earthquakes. The door to the vault is 21 inches (53 cm) thick, and weighs nearly 22 tons, and is torch- and drill-resistant.

•

So who actually enters the vault? No one! Members of Congress visited in 1974 to check the gold reserves. The last full physical audit took place in 1953. Only one U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, has been inside to tour this heavily guarded facility firsthand. 

• To say it is no easy task to access the vault is a gross understatement. No single person knows the complex network connections involved in the complete access procedure. Different teams of people must all enter different combinations in precise sequence to complete the code, and these passcodes randomly change every day. • The massive amount of gold bars inside Fort Knox represent about 56% of the U.S. total reserves. The remainder is distributed in secure sites across multiple facilities, including West Point, New York, and Denver, Colorado. • Each gold bar weighs 27.5 lbs. (12.5 kg) and measures 7 inches long (17.8 cm) and 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) wide. • There are two estimates of the worth of the gold inside Fort Knox, book value and market value. The U.S. Government holds to the value of gold set by the Par Value Modification Act of 1973, that of $42.22 per ounce, a book value of $6.22 billion, a price that has never been updated. CLIP AND SAVE

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Shemar Moore? I think I’ve seen all the episodes, but I’m not certain. -- S.A.

by Dana Jackson King Features News Syndicate

Q: Is it true that Zendaya and Tom Holland are married? There have been rumors about it, but was it ever confirmed? -- A.O. A: Fashion stylist and TV personality Law

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Roach let it slip back in March that engaged A-listers Zendaya and Tom Holland (both of the most recent “Spider-Man” franchise) secretly wed. Neither of the stars confirmed the nuptials until June, when the very private Holland pretty much admitted to a reporter that it was true. But he stayed mum on the details, simply stating that his relationship with Zendaya is “the hap- Zendaya and Tom Holland in piest [he’s] ever “Spider-Man: Far From Home” been.” The newlyweds are starring in the upcoming Christopher-Nolan-directed epic film “The Odyssey,” which will be released in theaters on July 17. They’ll also return in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” which releases in theaters on July 31. *** Q: What ever happened to the show “S.W.A.T.” with one of my favorite actors,

A: ”S.W.A.T” was canceled for the third and final time after eight seasons on CBS. I say the third time because it was given its first pink slip after season six but returned after viewers demanded it. Unfortunately, no amount of rallying by fans or by star Shemar Moore on social media could save it after season eight in 2025, when the series ceased production. Now “S.W.A.T.” is returning yet again but in the form of a spin-off. “S.W.A.T. Exiles” will air exclusively on the Starz pay cable channel beginning on Sept. 25 -- at least at first. According to People magazine, there have been discussions about a “second window under Netflix,” but these details haven’t been solidified yet. You’ll be pleased to know that Moore will be reprising his role of Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson Jr. in “an experimental S.W.A.T. unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits,” according to an article in TVLine. Ronen Rubinstein (“9-1-1: Lone Star”), Freddy Miyares (“When They See Us”), Lucy Barrett (“Charmed”), Zyra Gorecki (“La Brea”), and Adain Bradley (“All American”) will round out the cast. *** Q: I was surprised to see Lauren Koslow playing Jill Abbott on “The Young and the Restless.” Is she leaving “Days of Our Lives”? -- V.V.

Vol. XXII Issue No. 29

short notice. If you’re a longtime “Y&R” fan, you’ll remember that Koslow played Lindsey from 19841986 when she blackmailed Jill! Jill was played by Brenda Dickson in those days, but it was also during that time that Koslow met the man who’d become her future husband, “Y&R” makeup artist Nicky Schillace. * * * Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com. (c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

A: When Jess Walton, longtime portrayer of Jill Abbott on “Y&R,” couldn’t travel from Oregon to film scenes as Jill on the set in Los Angeles, “Y&R’s” head writer Josh Griffith (who used to write for “Days”) called on Lauren Koslow. The two soaps coordinated her schedule, allowing Koslow to film her short arc of just five episodes as Jill with

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Good Recipes from

The Perfect Burger Before you serve up any burger patties to your guests this summer, commit these six commandments to memory. 1. Your meat matters. Choose wisely. If you want a really juicy hamburger, use ground beef that’s a combination of 80 percent meat to 20 percent fat. The less fat, the drier the burger.

demic Champions”

2. Handle with care. Throw out the hamburger press. The best burgers are hand formed using just enough pressure and taking no longer than necessary to form a patty. Don’t press, mold and overwork. In your efforts to get a perfect-looking burger, you’ll wind up with a tough-tasting one. 3. Don’t turn your patties too soon. Let your burger get good and crusty before you flip it. You’ll know it’s ready to be turned when it releases easily from the grill grates or pan. If it doesn’t, don’t force the issue. 4. Do not, we repeat, DO NOT squish it. Nothing’s more luscious than a fat, juicy burger that dribbles down your chin. Avoid the urge to press down on your burger while it cooks, as you’ll force out the juices ... and most of the flavor along with them. 5. Take its temperature. Don’t risk putting a damper on your cookout with food poisoning. Make sure you’ve killed any disease-causing bugs by cooking your meat until an instant-read thermometer says 160 F. And no, the color of the beef is not a good way to judge doneness. 6. If you can't grill it, cook on cast iron, not a regular skillet. A cast-iron skillet is a good go-to when you have run out of gas, or just don’t want to face the hot, cold or rainy conditions in the backyard. Avoid the temptation to cook in a grill pan. While its ridges will give your patties

Chapel Christian School features one of the ’s most challenging educational systems, g Accelerated Reader, ACSI math, art, and usic programs at the Elementary level.

Page 7

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

grill marks, the space into between the marks 2. Oven-steam chicken 1 hour and 15 will be gray and spongy. Cook in a flat-bottomed minutes or until juices run clear when thickest cast-iron pan, and both sides will come out part of chicken is pierced with tip of knife, turnbrowned and crusty, contrasting nicely with the ing chicken over halfway through baking time to ADVERTISING PROOF juicy inside. ensure even cooking. Discard lemon and onion. MON., MAY 25 Final Changes 5:00 RefrigerateDUE: broth for use another day. Transfer Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Pri chicken to large platter; cover and refrigerate until ready to grill.

Make Ahead BBQ Chicken Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corre

Office: 760-320-0997 3. Prepare email: covered valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760It wouldn’t be an American summer getgrill. Place chicken together without grilled chicken brushed with bar- on hot grill rack over medium heat; cover grill becue sauce. To help you enjoy more time with and cook 10 minutes, turning chicken over once. your guests and not worry about under cooking, Cook chicken 5 to 10 minutes longer, turning we completely precook the chicken in the oven chicken over occasionally and frequently brushand keep it refrigerated up to 1 day. Then, when ing with barbecue sauce until chicken is heated you’re ready to dine, just warm up the chicken on through and sauce is browned. Heat additional the grill and brush on your favorite sauce. barbecue sauce to serve with chicken.

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Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 8

(Solution on page 16)

Donald Duck

by Walt Disney

Crossword Answers on page 16

NEST HEADS

By John Allen

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Week of July 12, 2026

Page 9

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

NEXT WEEK in

Cody’s

TIDTBITS GOES MINING FOR

TIDBITS PONDERS

Corner

A FEW OF LIFE’S

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

MYSTERIES

3. The Weekly “Brain Breaker”

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Bidder Beware

Holidays & Observances This Week Print Your Answers Here:

7/12

International Day of Hope

7/13

Barbershop Music Appreciation Day

7/14

Bastille Day

7/15

National Hot Dog Day

7/16

World Snake Day

7/17

Celebration of the Horse Day

7/18

Nelson Mandela Day

There have been times when my jaw has hit the floor and I swear it registered on the Richter scale. This week brought one of them. On Monday, I took a call from a man who was livid. “I’m steamed! I’m gonna take ‘em to court,” he railed, without offering any details, like who he was or what he wanted from me. “So tell me what happened,” I said. “I just got this dog, and he’s sick. I’ve already spent $700 on him at the vet clinic.” I asked him where he got the dog. And his reply marks the point at which my face went slackjawed. “On eBay.” American author Edward Abbey once said, “In the modern techno-industrial culture, it is possible to proceed from infancy to senility without ever knowing manhood.” This man is living proof of that theory. He went on to tell me that his $100 bid bought him a dog on the popular Internet auction site, and that the seller met him at a gas station on the side of a highway to deliver the merchandise: One dog. No papers. What was he thinking? He was thinking he wanted a dog and didn’t want to spend a lot of money. He was thinking he could learn everything he needed to know from pictures posted online alongside a brief description. What was eBay thinking? You’d be hardpressed to argue that providing a forum for the online auctioning of live animals is even a reputable practice. Turns out, eBay doesn’t allow this practice. Under Rules and Policies in the membership section of their website, they’ve posted a list of prohibited and restricted items for sellers, and the list includes live animals. How active eBay is in enforcing their rules, I don’t know. But they do provide a space for users to report violations. Online communities policing themselves is not a new concept. And the idea isn’t too far removed from the Neighborhood Watch groups that operate in many real-world communities. The key to the success of such organizations is that the ma-

Wuzzles solution Page 16

Tidbits® Word Search

(CryptoQuip Solution on page 14)

"Precious Passions" K

W Z

R M

U M

G M

M M

www.WordSearchMaker.com



� AMETHYST AMETHYST � AQUAMARINE AQUAMARINE � DIAMONDS DIAMONDS � EMERALDS EMERALDS GARNET GARNET

� GOLD GOLD � MOONSTONE MOONSTONE � PALLADIUM PALLADIUM

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

●



PERIDOT � PERIDOT � PLATINUM PLATINUM � ROSE QUARTZ ROSEQUARTZ � RUBIES RUBIES � SAPPHIRES SAPPHIRES � SILVER SILVER � TOURMALINE TOURMALINE � TOURQUOISE TURQUOISE

(Word Search solution page 16)

●

Mega Maze solution Page 14

Page 10

SENIOR NEWS LINE by Matilda Charles

Scams Against Seniors Worsen You might want to cut out this column and keep it by your phone or computer. The reason? Scams against seniors are getting more devious by the day. Consider a few examples: -- The local courts aren’t going to call you and say you will be arrested for not showing up for jury duty unless you pay a fine. It’s a scam. The bank won’t call and say you need to immediately move your money to a different account to keep it safe while they catch the thieves. It’s a scam. -- If anyone wants you to pay a fine using gift cards, it’s a scam. If an urgent message pops up on your computer saying you need immediate tech support for a virus - also a scam. -- If a stranger asks to “borrow” your cellphone for a fast emergency call, say no. In the wrong hands, the SIM card in your phone can be swapped or stolen in seconds. Scammers are making use of artificial in-

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

telligence (AI) to try to put things over on us and, unfortunately, they’re doing a good job. From official looking documents to fake voice cloning and lost package notices, they can make almost anything look authentic and believable.

Vol. XXII

Issue No. 29

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

jority of the players exercise sound judgment and a sense of responsibility. Instead of bidding on the dog, this man should have flagged the seller. Anyone who wants to become a dog owner has a responsibility to educate themselves on what If you get any urgent bank-related calls, it takes to raise a puppy and what it means to live hang up. Call the bank yourself to see if they with a dog for upward of 15 years. You have to pincalled you about a problem. point why you want a dog -- for protection, for companionship, for a special need, for the sheer joy of it Limit the number of people and compa-- in order to know what kind of dog would be best nies that have your phone number and email for you. And you have to learn a little something address. Make up a throwaway email address for about those breeds in order to narrow down the the times you need to provide one. best match for your lifestyle and energy level. Once you’re through with that phase of Invest in an inexpensive RFID-blocking your research and decision-making, you need face case to keep thieves in a crowd from being able time with some living, breathing, three-dimensionto skim information from credit cards in your al canines before you seal the deal. Off the top of ADVERTISING PROOF wallet or purse. We have to keep ourselves wise my head, our overpopulated shelters and rescues Final Changes DUE: Tues., 6/25/19 5:00 p.m.. to their schemes to steal your identification and great place to start. Please are reviewacarefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours your money: As for the angry man who wants to sue Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. someone over his sick pup, I’d suggest he760-320-1630 look in Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: If you think you’ve fallen for a scam, the mirror and rail against the guy staring back at act quickly. Change passwords. Call the bank him. After all, he’s the sucker who bought a dog on or credit card company to have your accounts eBay. paused. Report scam attempts to ReportFraud. Woof! ftc.gov. Remember: You don’t have to answer * * * Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the the phone just because it rings. * * * 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.

co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series Ultimate Home “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all ofRepairs Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him www.unclematty.com. Business Card, 4c, 26xatDiscount Rate

June 30, 2019 • Volume 15: Issue #27

CLIP AND SAVE

Traditional Decor Most people desire to live in homes that are stylish and reflective of their history and lifestyle. Purportedly, the most enduring and popular decorating styles are those based in tradition. If true, the roots of America’s decorating heritage could be traced to American colonial design and architecture. But wait a minute. The traditions of Americans come from diverse global origins. And not all traditional design is American. It can be English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Asian, etc. Most places from whence our citizens hail also have a traditional form of decor and furniture history. All of these traditions can be seen in one form or another in the variety of furnishing styles available in furniture stores today. While most trends come and go, traditional design always seems to emerge as a style that is beautiful and full of versatility. Whether decorating a small condominium in a city or a rambling mansion in the suburbs, traditional interiors endure with elegance and ease. American traditional decor is mostly influenced by English furniture designs. Americans’ love/hate relationship with all things English is most evident in our decor. An admiration for graceful designs, shapes and scale has been at the core of this infatuation. Over the years, true English details have evolved at the hands of local furniture designers to create new traditional designs more compatible with the scale of American homes. Another appealing side to traditional de-

sign is the use of antiques and heirlooms, which can be comforting and heartwarming. There is always an opportunity to use some family history as we decorate. Some collectors find an enormous emotional appeal to antiques because of all their dents, nicks and scratches. They help tell a story. And in a world of mass-produced and “dispensable” furniture, particularly, antiques are a great way to embrace a sustainable way of life. Collections are perfect to use as decoration as long as you don’t attempt to re-create a particular bygone era. Find ways to display select pieces on a Plexiglas pedestal or on a stack of books on top of a coffee table, or frame part of a collection in similar frames for a collage-type installation. Traditional designs are also quite adaptable to today’s lifestyles. They can be incorporated from “shabby chic” to “country” to “urban elegance.” The combinations are endless, whether you are looking to closely follow a specific style or create your own version of traditional. Don’t play it safe when decorating your home just so it has staying power. Decorate your home to please yourself. If you wish to add a trendy color or the latest “it” fabric, go ahead. This is one way to keep your traditional decor looking fresh and up to date. Allow your lifestyle a bit of input into your decorating style. The way you entertain either for business or for pleasure is sure to influence your style. Other family activities and habits will affect your version of traditional decor. Learn from history, and embrace your future decor. * * * 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. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

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Week of July 12, 2026

YOUR

SOCIAL SECURITY by Tom Margenau

Government Health Care: A Before and After Story I recently got a new knee. Or to be precise, I got my second new knee. About 14 years ago, I was limping around like an old man. X-rays showed the cartilage on half of my right knee was gone. So I had that “bone on bone” problem that lots of old people face. Doctors said I should get just half of my right knee replaced because the other half was just fine. So that’s what happened back in about 2012. But they warned me that the cartilage in the other half of my right knee would probably wear away eventually. And eventually turned out to be about 3 months ago. So that’s why a couple of weeks ago I was back in the hospital. This time, the doctors took out that 14-year-old half knee and gave me a brand new whole complete knee. But I’m not writing this column to share my boring medical history with you. Instead, I’m writing to share some views about how our attitudes toward government health care have evolved over the years. As you might guess, my recent medical procedures will end up costing many tens of thousands of dollars. But I’m really not all that concerned because the combination of Medicare and civil service health coverage I have will essentially pick up all those costs. And that got me thinking about some experiences I had about 50 years ago, shortly after I started working for the Social Security Administration.

1. The book of Nehemiah is found in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither 2. From Psalms 5:9, on referring to enemies, their throat is an open ....? a) Wound b) Sepulchre c) Window d) Scroll 3. In Matthew 10:34, who said, "I came not to send peace, but a sword"? a) Pilate b) Centurian c) Herod d) Jesus 4. Which prophet foretold about the ministry of John the Baptist? a) Levi b) Isaiah c) Ezekiel d) Elijah 5. What was unique about Balaam's donkey? a) Red color b) Never been ridden c) Could speak d) Was blind 6. From 1 Chronicles 20, Elhanan slew Goliath's ......? a) Father b) Brother c) Son d) Nephew (Answers on page 16) "Test Your Bible or Knowledge," bookgo with For comments more Bible aTrivia to 1,206 multiple-choice questions by Wilson Casey is www.TriviaGuy.com available in stores online.Synd., Inc. © 2019 Kingand Features

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Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Back in about 1975, a couple of years after I was hired by the SSA to work in one of their local field offices in the farm country of central Illinois, I was assigned to clean out an office storeroom. As part of that effort, I came across a stash of yellowing public information materials: things like old pamphlets and brochures dating back to the early days of the Social Security and Medicare programs. There were also some dusty 16mm movie reels that contained public information films intended to be used as educational materials to supplement speeches or other presentations that the SSA’s public affairs employees would make to various community groups and organizations. Luckily, I also found an old movie projector in this storeroom. I was pleased with that because I really wanted to watch some of the old PR films, mostly because of a fascination I had developed early in my career with the history of Social Security. But I must admit I also figured I might get a bit of a chuckle out of the old-fashioned film techniques and maybe the hackneyed messages the movies would contain. I wasn’t disappointed in either case when I watched one film from the early 1950s that showed an elderly couple all dressed up in their “Sunday best” -- a suit and tie for the husband and a dress and heels for the wife -- going to their local Social Security office to sign up for that new-fangled government program called Social Security. Contrast that with my Social Security-filing experience not all that long ago, when I nonchalantly sat at my computer in my pajamas to apply for benefits! But it was another government PR movie that I found even more fascinating. It was a film called “Welcome to Medicare -- 1966.” It was a movie produced by the SSA to introduce the American people to the then brand-new Medicare program. It told the story of an aging farm couple from Iowa. The husband, probably in his late 60s, had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. After learning that her husband would be OK but would require extensive hospitalization, which quickly used up what little health insurance they had, there was a scene in which his wife was talking to the doctors. She said something like this: “I want you to make sure Elmer gets the best care possible. And don’t worry, I’m going to go home and sell the farm so that we will be able to pay all of these hospital expenses.” And then we got to the pitch for the new Medicare program. One of the doctors tells her, “Oh you won’t have to concern yourself with that Mildred, for you see, the government has a brand new program called Medicare, and it’s going to pay most of Elmer’s bills. Why, you’ll just have to pay a small deductible out of your own pocket, and that’s all. So you’ll be able to keep the farm and once we get Elmer up and around again, he can go back to raising those fine hogs of his.” Mildred had the last line in the movie: “Thank God for the government and this wonderful new Medicare program!” Fade to black. And it just so happened that the very evening following my storeroom cleaning stint and viewing the old Medicare movie, I was watching TV at home with my wife. A commercial came on promoting a Medicare supplement plan. It featured several obviously well-to-do men playing golf. As a guy was getting ready to putt, one of his colleagues asked about his recent gallbladder surgery. “Oh, I’m doing just great,” he said, “but I tell you, I’m kind of ticked off because that darn government Medicare program stiffed me with part of the bill. Why, I had to pay $100 out of my own pocket!” And that led to a pitch from one of the other golfers for the Medicare supplement plan that would have picked up those extra expenses not paid by Medicare. Now I totally understand that both the old movie and the TV commercial I watched were fiction. But I think their messages did reflect the ten-

or of the times. And here is what struck me. I was amazed at how people’s expectations of their government had changed so dramatically in just a few years. In 1965, we had a woman who was willing to sell the farm in order to pay her husband’s hospital bill. And ten years later, we had a rich guy on a golf course griping because the government was forcing him to cough up a measly hundred bucks out of his own pocket to pay for his hospital stay! And also contrast that corny pro-government Medicare movie message with today’s everso-cynical anti-government health care mood that seems to envelop this country. As the Social Security and Medicare programs face a funding crunch, I’m reminded that so many Americans love all the benefits provided by Social Security and Medicare, as long as they don’t have to pay too much for them. (Social Security and Medicare taxes haven’t increased in over 40 years!) * * * If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easyto-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast. net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM

PonderBits What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant? Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines? No matter how much you liked the soap, never walk out of a public restroom smelling your fingers.

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Tidbits of Coachella Valley

M.D.

GLP-1 Agonists Might Help Obese Man With Drinking Habit DEAR DR. ROACH: My brother-in-law is a lovely man, but for years, he’s suffered from obesity. He also gambles and drinks alcohol too much. I hesitate to get too involved, but I recently read that the new weight-loss drugs based on GLP-1 agonists are also helpful in reducing alcohol and gambling addictions. This sounds too good to be true. Is it? -- D.N.A. ANSWER: The evidence is very strong that GLP-1 agonists like tirzepatide (Zepbound) and semaglutide (Wegovy) help people lose weight. About 80% to 90% of people will experience a weight loss of more than 5% of their initial body weight. For people who are severely obese, people with obesity and metabolic complications (diabetes, prediabetes or metabolic syndrome), and people with other weight-related complications (sleep apnea and arthritis), the benefits of these medicines probably outweigh the risks just for the weight loss effects. The evidence for GLP-1 agonists helping with alcohol use disorder is now quite strong, with studies showing significant reductions in alcohol-related hospitalizations and a reduction in problem drinking. The evidence for gambling disorders is preliminary based on the understanding of how these drugs work in the brain. There aren’t any strong clinical data at this time supporting the use of GLP-1 agonists for a gambling disorder. Still, given the clear benefits in weight reduction and problem drinking, these drugs might be a good choice for your brother-in-law -- if both he and his physician agree. It might also help with his gambling problem, which I’ve seen take a terrible toll on a person’s social, family and financial life. Finally, I was supervising a medical resident yesterday when we discussed the effect of these drugs on heart health. The evidence is also strong that these medications decrease the risk of heart disease -- both in people with and without diabetes. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed for this heart protection, but it isn’t exactly clear which ones are the most important. For those of us who lived through the approval of previous weight-loss drugs, which were later found to cause heart damage, the news about heart protection is welcome. Still, we’ve been using these drugs for less than 10 years, and it’s wise to use them only when there’s a clear benefit in doing so. *** DEAR DR. ROACH: What are the longterm health risks of being exposed to fumes, such as in hair or nail salons or automobile repair shops? Can these fumes affect your internal organs? -- C.R.C. ANSWER: The primary organ affected by fumes during occupational exposure are the lungs. Chest tightness, wheezing and allergic symptoms are common after an exposure to benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and other

substances that are commonly used in hair and nail salons -- often at levels that exceed the safe thresholds. Half of technicians in one study were affected. Auto body and paint workers are also exposed to the same (or very similar) chemicals, and they can develop asthma at a rate that is 80 times higher than the general population. In addition to effects on the lungs, occupational exposure to these chemicals increases the risk of some cancers, especially leukemia (benzene), sinus and nasal cancer (formaldehyde), and nervous system cancers (benzene). Although personal protection equipment can reduce these exposures, many workers don’t use them regularly. Improved ventilation and lesstoxic chemicals are needed to protect workers. * * * 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) 2026 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

Vol. XXII Issue No. 29

VETERANS  POST  by Freddie Groves

Fraud Task Force Kept Busy You have to love it when criminals get caught after they think they’ve gotten away with their crimes. As part of Trumpʼs executive order (signed in March) calling for an interagency Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, the VA’s Office of Inspector General (VAOIG) worked with numerous other government agencies to nail over 450 criminals. The total fraud for all the schemes was over $6.5 billion. Scammers on the newly created Most Wanted Fraudsters List included 90 doctors across 45 states, with authorities going as far away as Cyprus, Estonia and the Philippines to bring back the thieves. In the case of the VA, the task force dismantled fraud schemes that were stealing education, health care and benefits from the veterans who rightfully deserved these benefits. Agencies that didn’t talk to each other (and certainly didn’t seem to cooperate with each other in the past) are now required to work together to rout out fraud and save money. It’s about time. And ideally more agencies will take a look at the VAOIG and follow their lead, or at least learn from them. I’ve been a big fan of the VAOIG, and over the years I’ve said more than once, “Whatever their agency budget is, double it!” While other agencies appeared (at least from a user’s point of view when trying to get services) to struggle to do their jobs, the VAOIG just kept moving along, going after thieves, inspecting VA facilities, uncovering the deficiencies and making recommendations. In the past 12 months alone they’ve made 158 reports, 741 recommendations and saved $3.9 billion. If you want to report fraud, waste, abuse or illegal activity related to the VA, you can submit a complaint on the VAOIG website. See www. vaoig.gov/hotline/online-forms. Click on “Frequently Asked Questions” to be sure the issue you want to report is covered by the VAOIG. If it is, click on “Submit a Complaint.” If you need whistleblower protection, there is a link for that as well. Do your part to help with this long overdue criminal exposure. * * *

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

Week of July 12, 2026

make decisions on your behalf.

-- by Jim Miller

How to Make Sure Your End-of-Life Wishes Are Followed DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I had a living will/advance directive prepared about ten years ago documenting my end-of-life medical wishes, but I’ve read that these documents are often ignored. What can you tell me about this? --Troubled Tina Dear Tina: Yes, unfortunately, that can happen. Living wills aren’t always followed in practice, most often because the document isn’t available when it’s needed or never reaches the right people in time. They can also fall short because they aren’t medical orders, and the language may be too vague to guide doctors in an emergency. That doesn’t mean your wishes won’t be honored, but it does mean a little extra planning can help prevent confusion later. Here’s how to make sure your wishes are followed: Advance directive + POLST About 40 percent of older Americans have an advance directive. This typically includes a living will that spells out the care you want if you become incapacitated, and a health care power of attorney (or proxy) who is authorized to

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Tidbits of Coachella Valley

To strengthen those instructions, talk with your doctor about completing a POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) – sometimes called MOLST or POST depending on your state. Unlike a living will, this is a doctorsigned medical order that must be followed by EMTs and hospital staff. It translates your wishes into clear instructions for treatments such as CPR, breathing machines, and feeding tubes.

* * *

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.

These interventions can save lives but may also cause harm if you are very ill or frail. Discussing them ahead of time helps you weigh the trade-offs and makes it easier for your family to understand your choices, easing stress if decisions must be made quickly. Even if you already have an advance directive, adding a POLST can make your wishes clearer. Without one, first responders are generally required to attempt resuscitation and transport you to a hospital, where doctors may pursue aggressive treatment if your living will isn’t available or specific enough. Once your POLST is completed, make sure it is easy to find. Keep a copy on the refrigerator, carry one in your wallet, and save a photo on your phone. Share copies with your health care proxy, family members, and physicians so everyone is aligned. It’s also wise to ask your providers to add the form to your electronic health record, since medical information isn’t always shared between hospitals and care facilities. These steps can make a real difference in helping ensure your wishes are followed. If discussing these issues with family feels difficult, websites like The Conversation Project (theconversationproject.org) and Prepare for Your Care (prepareforyourcare.org) offer helpful guidance. One final note: if you’re planning surgery, you may want to temporarily suspend your POLST in case your heart stops briefly during the procedure. And if you haven’t yet created an advance directive, you can do so for free at caringinfo.org or mydirectives.com, or for a small fee – $5 to $7.50 – at fivewishes.org. Taking these steps now can help ensure your wishes are followed and ease the burden on your loved ones later.

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By Anne McCollam

Creators News Service

Beehive Mark on a Plethora of Porcelain Q: This is a photo of a pair of porce-

lain Austrian vases. Each is decorated with medallions of classical figures and signed in gold with the name “Kauffman.” Each scene is only on the front and surrounded by a dark green glaze and trimmed with gold, and each vase has gold handles. The pair is 8 inches tall and 5 inches wide. Marked on the bottom of each vase is a beehive shape with the word “Austria.” Also there are several numbers on the bottom of the vases. Any information that you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Q: I have enclosed the mark that is on a set of dinner ware that I inherited from my grandmother. It is a set for eight and includes the ser ving dishes. The dishes are decorated with pastel flowers against a yellow background and the set is in excellent condition. My grandmother only used the dishes on Sundays and holidays. Using the dishes always brings back good memories of dinners at my grandparents’ home. I hope to pass the set on to my daughter and would like to know more about its maker, vintage and value.

W.S. George Pottery Co. was founded in East Palestine, Ohio.

A: W. S. George Pottery Co. located in East Palestine, Ohio, made your dinnerware. They were in business from 1880 to 1959. “Lido” is the name of a specific shape that was decorated with several different patterns. “White” is the name of the pattern. The yellow background is known as canary yellow. W. S. George Pottery Co. became part of Royal China in Sebring, Ohio. Your dinnerware set was made around 1950 and would probably have a replacement or insurance value of $350 to $500.

* * *

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

The “beehive” mark has been copied by many porcelain factories.

A: The mark you described is often called

a beehive mark. It originally was a shield representing the Hapsburg family coat-of-arms in Vienna and used from 1744 to 1864. People mistakenly looked at the shield mark upside down, thus the name beehive. The mark has been copied by numerous porcelain factories throughout the years. The classical scenes are transfer prints of original art by Swiss-born artist Angelica Kauffman. She was an 18th century artist who painted neoclassical scenes. Your Austrian vases were made around 1900 and the pair would probably fetch $350 to $400 in an antiques shop. * * *

Vol. XXII

Issue No. 29

* On July 13, 2013, Patrisse Cullors, a Los Angeles community organizer, read a friend’s Facebook post expressing distress over the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who’d killed Trayvon Martin the year before, and replied to the post with the first instance of the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag. * On July 14, 1918, Quentin Roosevelt, a 20-year-old pilot in the United States Air Service and the fourth son of former President Theodore Roosevelt, was shot down and killed by a German Fokker plane over the Marne River in France. * On July 15, 1953, John Christie, one of England’s most notorious killers, was executed. Four months earlier, police and a tenant in West London had discovered the remains of four women, one of whom was Christie’s wife, at a house where he’d lived, and he was apprehended and confessed a week later. Detectives soon found additional bodies buried in the yard behind the house as well. * On July 16, 1862, Ida B. Wells, a future educator, investigative journalist and civil rights activist, was born into slavery in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Motivated in part by racism within the women’s suffrage movement, she would eventually found and co-found the NAACP, the National Association of Colored Women, and the Alpha Suffrage Club. * On July 17, 1996, a TWA Boeing 747 jetliner headed for Paris exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 230 passengers and crew aboard and creating a fireball seen along most of the Long Island coastline. A highly criticized investigation ended two years later with the conclusion that the tragedy had been caused by mechanical failure rather than a suspected bomb or missile. * On July 18 1995, “Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance,” a memoir by a law professor by the name of Barack Obama, was published prior to its author’s entry into the political realm. Thirteen years later, that largely unknown professor would be elected America’s 44th president. * On July 19, 1952, air traffic controllers in Washington, D.C., sighted UFOs flying over the White House and U.S. Capitol. More would appear a week later, but all were dismissed as simply a weather phenomenon. (c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

Puzzle Solutions

Danger of an allergic reaction from walking among too many daisylike flowers: an aster-risk.

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“The corporate cutbacks are going to effect our entire office staff, so I'm reducing my normal afternoons down to only nine holes."

Week of July 12, 2026

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 15

Gold: (from page 3) The gold medals handed out at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics now cost about $950 each, compared to the price of a bronze medal at $13. • Because gold is a “noble” metal, meaning it is immune to corrosion, oxidation, and rust, it is the perfect choice for electrical wiring, medical instruments, dentistry, and electronics. • A typical smartphone contains about 0.034 grams of pure gold. One ton of old phones has up to 80 times more gold than a ton of ore excavated from a gold mine.

TEE UP

• With each iPhone containing about $2.00 in gold, depending on the current price of gold, the amount salvaged is significant. Apple has recovered about $40 million worth of gold from broken iPhones and iPads. • For 20 years, the Tokyo Mint in Japan was home to the world’s largest gold bar, weighing about 551 pounds (250 kg) and 99.99% pure gold. It was manufactured by the Mitsubishi Materials Corporation as a demonstration of gold refining techniques. • In 2024, that bar was edged out by Dubai’s Emirates Minting Factory, when they created a bar that is 20 times the weight of the average gold bar, weighing 661.65 lbs. (300.12 kg), worth $25 million at the time of its creation. • The largest gold nugget ever found was discovered in Australia in 1869. Two prospectors weren’t digging deep – they found the nugget just 1.2 inches (3 cm) below the surface at the base of a tree on a slope. Known as the “Welcome Stranger” nugget, it yielded about 156 lbs. (71 kg) of pure gold. • The price of gold reached $4,000 per ounce for the first time in 2025, and today, it hovers around $4,400. Compare this to just ten years ago, when that price was $1,250. In 1850, in the midst of the California Gold Rush, the average price of gold was $20.67 per ounce. FINAL FACT

• A human body weighing 150 lbs. (68kg) contains about 0.2 milligrams of gold, equal to about one-tenth the weight of a single grain of rice. The gold is found in cells, organs, and bones, but primarily in the bloodstream. To date, this presence of gold does not have any known essential biological functions in the body. 

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TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE

Game Changers by Jason Jenkins

Get The Toe Up

Many amateurs may struggle hitting high, soft wedge shots around the green due to improper concept. Severely opening the clubface, using a lot of “wrist action” or making a big, aggressive swing are all poor ways for most golfers to play a high lofted shot. The backstroke hides one of the tour players’ top secrets in that they use the wrists, forearms, and set-up to create a “Toe Up” position with the clubhead. By minimizing the lean of the club at address, the clubface can rotate to a toe up position much easier with the hands and arms.

Still, the right arm must gently fold as the left arm makes an active rotation. Coupled with the left wrist staying bent (or cupped) as the wrist hinges, the clubhead can rotate away from the ball. This position can be checked when the clubhead is waist to shoulder high in the backstroke. Think “Toe Up” or vertically align the leading edge. Excessive leaning of the club at address, closing in the clubface, or using the left wrist in a “knuckles down” manner in the backstroke will all tend to make the clubface appear closed in this same area. Jason Jenkins was a 16-year member of the Jim McLean Golf School teaching staff. He was one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teacher Nominees 1999-2010 and has been named one of the Golf Digest Top Teachers in California. Jason teaches at GOLFTEC CENTER in Indio. Contact him at jjenkins@golftec.com

Play Better Golf with JACK NICKLAUS

Vol. XXII

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 16

Issue No. 29

26DOHC10764_TB_BackCoverDueJuly6.indd

ERVICE,

York, NY

1 EXT. 257

1. TELEVISION: What is Walter White’s codename in the drama “Breaking Bad”? 2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which month of the year has the fewest letters in its name? 3. U.S. STATES: Which state is known as the Prairie State? 4. LANGUAGE: What is the British term for a bike’s training wheels? 5. ASTRONOMY: What is the Earth’s only natural satellite? 6. FOOD & DRINK: What is a more common name for the fruit sometimes called “alligator pear”? 7. MOVIES: What kind of creature is Thumper in the animated movie “Bambi”? 8. LITERATURE: What is the name of the python in “The Jungle Book”? 9. GEOGRAPHY: Which countries and islands make up the geographic known as Oceania? Thistle Garea O F I G What U Ris aEmore! by LindaAnswer peekers captured on 10. ANATOMY: surveillence video and kept on file. TRIVIA TEST common cerumen? The idea of name Go for Figure is to arrive at theAnswers figures given at Answers Answers Weekly Weekly SUDOKU SUDOKU the bottom and right-hand 1. Heisenberg. columns of the diagram by fol-Answer2. May. lowing the arithmetic signs in 3. Illinois. the order they are given (that Stabilisers. is, from 4.left to right and top to The Moon. bottom).5.Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete 6. Avocado. its blank7. squares Rabbit. and use each of the nine numbers only once. 8. Kaa. 9. The four regions are Australasia DIFFICULTY: � (Australia and New Zealand), Polyne� Moderate Difficult sia, Melanesia�� and Micronesia. �� GO FIGURE! 10. Earwax. ©©2006 King Features Syndicate, 2010King King Features Synd.,Inc. Inc. ©©2020 2026 Features Synd., Inc. 2022 © 2026 ©2022 2026King KingFeatures FeaturesSynd., Synd.,Inc. Inc.

Games

October 23-29, 2006

Go Figure! answers

Quiz Bits ANSWERS

BIBLE TRIVIA Answers

1. (A) Old Testament 2. (B) Sepulchre 3. (D) Jesus 4. (B) Isaiah 5. (C) Could speak 6. (B) Brother

ANSWERS

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