Vol. 22: #31 • Statue of Liberty • (7-26-2026) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
by Kathy Wolfe
As part of the salute to America’s 250th anniversary celebration, this week Tidbits turns our attention to the Statue of Liberty, our nationʼs revered symbol of our precious freedom and democracy.
• The vision for the Statue of Liberty came from French historian and abolitionist Édouard Rendé Laboulaye, who desired to celebrate the U.S. Centennial, the end of slavery and the Civil War. It was also to be a symbol of the friendship between the U.S. and France, who had been America’s strongest ally during the Revolutionary War.
• De Laboulaye approached French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi to create his vision. Bartholdi based his concept on Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty, modeling the torso and arms after his mother’s form.
• Gustave Eiffel, a French bridge engineer, was chosen as the engineer who would build the statue’s inner framework to ensure that the structure would withstand strong winds and the corrosive salty air of the sea. His work on the Statue of Liberty was
(Answers on page 16)
The world has been playing Milton Bradley games since 1860 when a 23-year-old lithographer experienced money troubles in his Massachusetts shop. Jump on the playing board with us as Tidbits presents the facts about this famed game maker.
• Milton Bradley had been producing graphic likenesses of Abraham Lincoln for sale in his print shop to great success, that is, until Lincoln grew a beard and the images suddenly became outdated.
• Now facing an idle lithography printer, Bradley turned to board games, creating The Checkered Game of Life, in which players progressed along a road from “Infancy to Happy Old Age,” while avoiding ruin along the way. Within months, more than 45,000 of his games had been sold.
1. ANATOMY: How many vertebrae are in the human spine?
2. U.S. CITIES: Which city is home to the Gateway Arch, known as the tallest arch in the world?
3. TELEVISION: Which 1970s sitcom introduced a neighbor named Phyllis Lindstrom?
4. HISTORY: When was the first heart transplant performed?
5. GEOGRAPHY: Where are the Cape Verde islands located?
6. MOVIES: Which 1991 film featured a villain named Max Cady?
7. MUSIC: When did Taylor Swift’s second studio album (“Fearless”) win the Country Music Association’s Album of the Year award?
8. SCIENCE: What is nephology?
9. MEASUREMENTS: What instrument is used to measure the depth of oceans?
10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby deer called?
Missouri.
World War II, when they did a complete turnabout by producing a universal joint used on the landing gear of fighter planes.
• They continued to produce game kits for soldiers during the war, and the profits generated by these two ventures kept the company afloat. But the losses had necessitated a reduction in the variety of games from an astonishing 410 titles down to 150.
• Milton Bradley debuted the childhood favorite Chutes and Ladders in 1943 to great success, along with the educational Game of the States, helping young students learn Americaʼs geography.
• A teacher recovering from polio created a game for hospitalized children, and in 1949, Milton Bradley introduced Candy Land, the perfect game for young children, as it required no reading or counting skills. The classic game became Milton Bradley’s best-selling item.
• The memory game of Concentration was introduced in 1959, based on NBCʼs game show of the same name. The show was cancelled in 1973, but editions of the game continued to be released every year until 1982.
• During the Civil War years, Bradley produced small versions of chess, checkers, backgammon, dominoes, and his Life game for soldiers to play during their inactive days. Their miniature size made them easy to carry and helped occupy them during times of combat boredom. The game sets sold for a dollar.
• By the late 1860s, Bradley branched out into educational materials, giving away large quantities free of charge. His company became the first in America to make croquet sets. He added jigsaw puzzles to his line in the 1880s, along with educational supplies – movable clock dials, toy money, and multiplication sticks.
• Bradley continued to introduce more games and educational supplies, and was eventually able to purchase McLoughlin Bros., the nation’s largest game manufacturer at the time.
• Milton Bradley died in 1911, and the company remained in family hands. The Great Depression created a dramatic slump in business, when people had no extra money for unnecessary goods like board games.
• The company continued to lose money until
• Milton Bradley had invented the original “Life” game in 1860, and in 1960, it underwent a drastic transformation, moving players through college, career, marriage, and family, adding plastic cars with holes for peg people and a 3D game board with mountains, buildings and a spinner wheel.
• In 1984, after 124 years of family ownership, Milton Bradley was bought out by Hasbro, who continued to use the Bradley name on their products. But in 2009, the name was dropped, with the Hasbro name replacing Milton Bradley.
• Yet Milton Bradley’s vision lives on through the many beloved games that were produced – Twister, Operation, Battleship, Easy Money, Aggravation, Candy Land, Cootie, Don’t Break the Ice, Kerplunk, Mousetrap, Uncle Wiggily, and hundreds of others.
Lady Liberty (from page one)
prior to his design of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, completed in 1889.
• For the statue’s location, Bartholdi decided on the 14.71-acre Bedloe’s Island in the Upper New York Bay. It was the ideal location as every vessel entering New York Harbor would sail past the statue. The Bedloe’s Island name was officially changed by an Act of Congress to Liberty Island in 1956.
• France paid for the statue, but required the United States to fund the construction of the pedestal. After Congress failed to come up with a funding package, Joseph Pulitzer, well-known publisher of the New York World newspaper, launched a campaign to raise the final $100,000 needed for the $250,000 pedestal, about $3.6 million in today’s dollars.
• Several cities – Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, and Baltimore -- had all offered to pay for the pedestal in order to gain the status of having the statue in their city. But New York Harbor was absolutely where it was to be, and changing this location was not negotiable.
• Pulitzer’s campaign succeeded in raising a total of $101,091, enough to cover the pedestal cost, and he printed the names of every single one of the 160,000+ donors in his newspaper, including the enormous number of names that had contributed less than $1.00.
• Construction began in France in 1875. In 1876, the stretching right arm and torch were completed and shipped in crated sections to Philadelphia to celebrate the nation’s centennial.
• Following those festivities, the statue’s individual parts were moved to New York’s Madison Square Park, where they were exhibited from 1877 to 1882 as part of the effort to raise more funds for the assembly. The head was displayed at the 1878 Paris World’s Fair.
• The digging of the islandʼs foundation began in America in 1883, excavating to a depth of 15 feet.
• Once Lady Liberty was complete in France, she was disassembled into 350 different pieces, each coded with a number, and packed into 214 crates, ready for the 27-day journey across the Atlantic to New York City.
• As the ship carrying the crates sailed into New York Harbor, it was welcomed by a throng of more than 200,000 citizens along the shoreline, as well as hundreds of flag-waving boats floating in the Harbor. The statue remained in its respective crates while the pedestal was being constructed.
• With the pedestal completed, the reassembly began. It had originally taken nine years to construct the statue, while fitting her back together required only about four months.
• While we call her the Statue of Liberty, Frédéric Bartholdi had given her the name “La Liberté eclairant le monde,” which translates “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
A Lasting Likeness
She was The model for the Statue of Liberty. Sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's model for the Statue of Liberty was the beautiful Frenchwoman Isabelle Boyer, who was first married to the American industrialist Isaac Merritt Singer - of sewing machine fame - and later to the Duke of Campo Selice of Luxembourg. In 1878, the 36-year-old Duchess de Campo Selice attracted the attention of the sculptor who forever immortalized her features in the face of Lady Liberty.
• The official dedication of the Statue of Liberty was October 28, 1886, with President Grover Cleveland presiding over the ceremonies. That historic morning, close to a million people gathered for the celebration, including New York City’s first ever ticker-tape parade.
• Upon completion, the statue was a dull copper color, not the green color seen today. When materials were chosen, her creators didn’t realize that copper would eventually oxidize and create a green patina called verdigris. By 1900, the color had begun to change, and by 1906 the nowfamiliar green patina covered the entire statue.
with your teen’s specific goals.
• Maximize Financial Aid: Proactive support identifying scholarships & aid options.
• Step-by-Step Guidance: Streamlining essays, resumes, & applications to lessen family stress. How Scott Guides Your Student to Success:
• While the statue may appear tall, its height is actually just 151 feet. The pedestal on which she stands is slightly taller than the statue itself, at 154 feet. The tip of the torch is 305 feet above the ground.
• The pedestal contains 40 blank discs, their placement ordered by Bartholdi. Bartholdi had conceived a fund-raising idea, intending that each of the then-current 38 states donate to the pedestal fund, and having the state names engraved on the discs. As it was, no state offered help, leaving the discs blank to this day.
• As part of the fund-raising campaign, American poet Emma Lazarus composed “The New Colossus” in 1883, a sonnet that begins “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of
1. Which U.S. state is the Statue of Liberty closest to?
2. How often is the Statue of Liberty struck by lightning?
By Lucie Winborne
* According to facial recognition software, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” is 83% happy, 9% disgusted, 6% fearful and 2% angry.
* The low air pressure of a twister can literally pull a person’s eardrum outward.
* In 1908, motor boating was included in the Olympic Games. Only a few races were held, however, and they were eventually discontinued due to inconsistent weather and mechanical failures.
* One acre of peanuts can make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.
* The first Europeans to discover the Great Lakes named them the “Sweetwater Seas” and believed that China bordered their shores.
* The skin of a jellyfish is so thin that the animal can breathe through it.
* A man once sued Anheuser-Busch with the claim that the company’s ads misrepresented his potential attractiveness to the opposite sex, if he would just drink their beer.
by Mary Hunt
How to Save Money on Groceries
you’re likely to fill it up with items -- and plenty that are not on your list. If you can, avoid a large cart and go for a basket or a smaller cart.
SHOP BY UNIT PRICE
The unit price (total cost divided by number of units) is often listed in the left-hand corner of the shelf label above the item price. Go for the version of the item that actually costs the least. That adds up. You’ll save a lot over time by just paying attention to the unit price.
Everyday CHEAPSKATE®
Feeding a family is complicated enough without worrying about the cost of groceries. But here we are in a world where food costs continue to soar. If you’re feeling a particularly sharp pinch at the supermarket, you’re not alone. Inflation and continued supply chain issues are impacting consumers around the globe. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to spend less and avoid unnecessary waste.
by Mary Hunt
Today I’m going to hit the lightning round bell to give you my course, Grocery Shopping on a Budget, at rapid speed. So buckle up and let’s go!
INVENTORY PANTRY AND FRIDGE
Every good home cook knows you’ve got to know what you have on hand before you head to the supermarket. Know what you have already and how to repurpose leftovers as ingredients for new meals.
EAT THE SALES
ADVERTISING PROOF
LESS MEAT
Meat is super expensive these days, particularly beef and lamb, so load up on vegetables. But that doesn’t mean you have to switch to tofu. Several times a week, make meat the side dish rather than the entree. Sear a single steak as a main ingredient in a big stir fry featuring vegetables and rice. You get the idea!
GO GENERIC
The store brand is going to be a lot cheaper than the name brand from a manufacturer who has to pay for advertising, shipping or shelf space. If the generic option is awful, return it for a full refund.
WHOLE VEGETABLES
Prechopped, prewashed, presliced options are convenient but also expensive. Buy whole and then wash, chop, grate, cut them yourself. Same goes for whole blocks of cheese. Over time, you’ll be paid handsomely in significant savings.
* The Persian epic “Explanation of Chatrang and the Invention of Nard” tells the story of chess being introduced to the royal court by an envoy from India.
Check the weekly flyer to know what’s on sale before you even get there. Build your meal plans around what’s on sale. Make it your goal to buy only items that are on sale -- authentically 50% the regular price. Once you reach that goal you will automatically save 50% or more every week!
MAKE A LIST
JUNK AND SWEETS
Stop buying all those expensive junk sweets. You know what I’m talking about. Instead, make cookies or other dessert items at home.
* During the 18th and 19th centuries, many British and American newspapers featured elegies for dead pets. Among them, one scholar found six for monkeys, 12 for canaries, 17 for cats and 53 for dogs.
pg H 4-C 13x
SMALL CART
ADVERTISING PROOF
May 24, 2026 Vol. 22 - No. 22
* Egyptians used vast amounts of linen to mummify a body -- in fact, the fabric on one mummy from the 11th dynasty measured 9,095 feet, enough to cover three tennis courts. ***
Now make a specific list of everything you will buy once you get to the supermarket. For goodness’ sake, do not enter the store without a clear plan for what you will put in your cart. Without that you are an impulsive accident just waiting to happen.
This may sound counterintuitive, but statistics bear this out: The bigger the cart, the more
It’s when the price of an item hasn’t changed, but there is less in the package than there was. It’s not unusual for manufacturers to raise their prices by 50% by giving you half the amount. Can you say rip-off?
BEWARE OF GROUPING
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Earl’s Air Conditioning
pg H 4-C 13x May 24, 2026 Vol. 22 - No. 22
Thought for the Day: “You’ve got to get to the stage in life where going for it is more important than winning or losing.” -- Arthur Ashe
Grouping is when stores typically put, for example, chips in a different aisle, but strategically next to the salsa. Your initial intention was to buy salsa, but into the cart goes the chips too. Stay aware!
EYE LEVEL
Shelf placement is everything and that’s where the pricier options are shelved. Check the lower- and higher-level shelves first to see if the brands stocked there are cheaper.
END CAPS
Inc.
End caps are those displays at the end of the aisles that highlight items. You’ll think they’re on sale, but beware, often they are no bargain at all. Don’t get sucked into a shiny, bright marketing ploy.
There you go -- a concise outline for grocery shopping on a budget. Learn it well and you will be on your way to mastering the grocery game!
* * *
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
Get ready to celebrate National Watermelon Day on August 3 as Tidbits presents these facts on the nation’s most-consumed melon.
• Watermelons (scientific name “Citrullus lanatus”) are native to Africa, where they were cultivated for the first time some 5,000 years ago. Seeds discovered at a prehistoric archaeological site in southwestern Libya revealed seeds that are dated to be more than 5,000 years old.
• There are more than 1,200 varieties of watermelon, grown worldwide. The types of watermelons differ in color, size, and taste. Besides the familiar red flesh, they can be yellow, white, or orange inside. From the outside, the Yellow Crimson variety looks just like the familiar green melon, but the surprise comes when it’s opened to reveal a yellow flesh with a sweet, honey-like flavor.
• China is the world’s largest producer of watermelon, cultivating more than 60 percent of the world’s supply, with India and Turkey in second and third places. In the Chinese culture, watermelons are a symbol of good fortune and happiness and it’s a Chinese tradition to offer watermelons as hostess gifts.
• The United States is the fifth largest producer, with more than 3.7 billion pounds a year, with Florida accounting for about 25 percent of the nation’s crop. The crop was grown there as early as 1576, brought to the area by Spanish settlers.
• Hope, Arkansas claims to have the world’s largest watermelon festival, which originated in 1926. After a local farmer harvested a giant 136-lb. watermelon in 1925, the community conceived the idea of holding a festival to celebrate the summertime fruit. It was immediately popular, and soon the attendance had grown to more than 30,000.
• The week-long watermelon carnival in Water
Valley, Mississippi draws upwards of 20,000 attendees to this town of 3,500 every August. First held in 1931, it features a parade, a car show, a 3K race, seed-spitting contests and a pageant to crown the queen of the carnival.
• It was at a watermelon festival in Texas in August 1995 that the record for watermelon seed-spitting was set. DeLeon, Texas resident Jason Schayot projected a seed 75 feet, 2 inches, almost one-fourth of a football field, to set a record that has yet to be broken after more than 30 years.
• At a 2013 watermelon festival in Sevierville, Tennessee, resident Chris Kent received the prize for the heaviest watermelon, one weighing 350.5-lbs. His prize wasn’t limited to that festival – Chris nabbed the record for the world’s heaviest ever, breaking his own 2010 record.
• How about the most expensive watermelon? The “Densuke” variety is grown exclusively on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Only about 10,000 of these black-skinned melons are produced every year, and they are mostly sold at auctions. A record price was set in 2008 when one of the extremely sweet Densuke melons weighing 17lbs. sold for $6,300.
• If a person is lucky enough to purchase directly from a grower, they can be bought for around $300. Auction prices continue to climb to as high as $4,000. There is a very limited supply for the Densuke, which grows to about 24-lbs., because they are very labor-intensive, requiring a lot of land, water, and constant attention to grow properly.
• For a fruit that is 92 percent water, watermelon
is surprisingly nutritious, rich in vitamins A, C, and B6. It also contains the antioxidant lycopene which may reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease. Watermelon is high in potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure and contributes to a healthier heart. Watermelon’s amino acid citrulline helps improve blood flow as well as reducing muscle tension and soreness and diminishing inflammation.
• Watching your weight? A cup of watermelon makes a great snack, with just 46 calories.
by Dana Jackson
Q: What’s next for Paul Anthony Kelly after his practically overnight success from playing John F. Kennedy Jr.? -- G.C.
A: The careers of both leads of the miniseries “Love Story” have taken off since it became a huge hit on Hulu. While Paul Anthony Kelly didn’t receive an Emmy nomination, his costar, Sarah Pidgeon, was recognized in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series category.
Kelly, however, is striking while the iron’s hot! He’ll appear in the upcoming 13th season of “American Horror Story,” the news of which was revealed at the Disney Upfront presentation in May. Kelly emerged on stage saying, “I guess every nightmare needs fresh blood ... and 13’s my lucky number.”
Kelly will also co-star with Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried in “The Housemaid’s Secret,” which is set for release in December 2027.
Q: I read recently that the longtime
(PG) Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga’aia
2. Minions & Monsters (PG) Pierre Coffin, Trey Parker
3. Toy Story 5 (PG) Tom Hanks, Tim Allen
4. Evil Dead Burn (R) Souheila Yacoub, Tandi Wright
5. Young Washington (PG-13) William Franklyn-Miller, Mary-Louise Parker
6. Obsession (R) Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette
7. Supergirl (PG-13) Milly Alcock, David Corenswet
8. Disclosure Day (PG-13) Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor
announcer for the “Jeopardy!” game show just had his 98th birthday, which is incredible! Are there any other announcers or hosts of game shows who started decades ago and are still working today? -- J.V.
A: Johnny Gilbert is the oldest game-show announcer who still isn’t retired. The famous voice of “This ... is ... ‘Jeopardy’!” has been with the show since 1984. According to 13News Now, ever since the pandemic, Gilbert has been recording the show’s intro, the descriptions of contestants, and the quiz categories from his home studio in Los Angeles.
Game-show hosts have some impressive genes because many of them have lived well into their 90s. Bob Barker of “The Price Is Right” passed away in 2023 at the impressive age of 99. He retired, however, in 2007, and Drew Carey is now the host. “Hollywood Squares” host Peter Marshall died in 2024 at age 98 but had retired at age 72.
“Tic-Tac-Dough” host Wink Martindale left us at age 91. He continued working in show business in some capacity right up until his passing. When asked when he was going to retire, Martindale famously asked, “Retire from what? From having fun?”
Bob Eubanks of “The Newlywed Game” fame is now 88 years old and has never officially retired. His memorable quote, “If you rest, you rust,” has not only guided him through his decades as a game-show host, but also through covering the Tournament of Roses Parade for 36 years.
Q: Is it true they’re making a sequel to the “Practical Magic” movie? Are Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock both in it, or will it be with new stars? -- K.E.
A: The answer is “yes” and “yes”! “Practical Magic 2,” starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock, will premiere in theaters this Sept. 11. Dianne Wiest (“Only Murders in the Building”) and Stockard Channing (“The Good Wife”) will also be returning as the aunts, along with new young witches played by Joey King (“We Were the Lucky Ones”) and Maisie Williams (“Game of Thrones”). The film is said to be based on “The Book of Magic,” a sequel novel to “Practical Magic,” which was released in 2021 by author Alice Hoffman. * * *
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
1. Moana
Courtesy of FX
Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr. in “Love Story”
Pineapple-Pom Fruit Melange
This herbaceous blend of pineapple, pomegranate seeds and grapes is much better than your average fruit salad.
1/4 cup sugar
1 sprig fresh rosemary, slightly bruised with side of knife
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch salt
4 large navel oranges
1 pound pineapple chunks
1 pound large seedless grapes, halved
1 1/2 cups pomegranate seeds
1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar, rosemary, vanilla, salt and 1/4 cup water. Heat on medium-high just until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; cool completely.
2. With a sharp paring knife, cut off tops and bottoms of oranges, then cut off peel. Working over large bowl, cut segments out of oranges into bowl; discard membranes. To bowl with orange segments, add pineapple, grapes, pomegranate seeds and rosemary syrup, tossing until combined.
3. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 1 day. Makes 8 servings.
* Each serving: About 160 calories, 2g protein, 40g carbs, 4g fiber, 310mg sodium.
Snack Cake
Save your knuckles from the sharp grater (and save precious time and money) with a
bag of shredded carrots. They make delicious quick-fix weeknight meals, simple side dishes and snacks, too. Chock-full of vitamin A, carrots combine a natural sweetness with a satisfying crunch. Here, they give a gingerbread cake mix an upgrade to a spiced carrot cake.
1 package (14 1/2-ounce) gingerbread cake mix
3/4 cup water
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 package (8- to 10-ounce) shredded carrots, about 2 3/4 to 3 1/2 cups
1 cup toasted walnuts
1. Heat oven to 375 F. Grease 9-inchsquare cake pan.
2. In large bowl, with wire whisk, stir cake mix, water, eggs and vegetable oil until just blended. Stir in carrots and chopped toasted walnuts.
3. Spread in prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Makes 16 servings.
Spinach and Strawberry Salad
1 pound strawberries, hulled and sliced
3 tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 container (12-ounce) baby spinach
10 ounces (2 cups) chicken breast meat, coarsely shredded
3/4 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
1. In a blender, puree 3/4 cup strawberries with lime juice, honey, oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Transfer dressing to large serving bowl.
2. To bowl with dressing, add spinach, chicken and remaining strawberries; toss to coat. Sprinkle salad with walnuts to serve. Serves 6.
* Each serving: About 220 calories, 13g total fat (2g saturated), 40mg cholesterol, 220mg sodium, 10g total carbohydrate, 8g dietary fiber, 19g protein.
By John Allen
by Brett Koth
TIDBITS KEEPS AN EYE ON
THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT
Holidays & Observances This Week
7/26 Federal Bureau of Investigation Day
7/27 Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
7/28 Buffalo Soldiers Day
7/29 Army Chaplain Corps Anniversary
7/30 Whistleblowers Appreciation Day
7/31 National Avocado Day
8/1 U.S. Air Force Day
“You are the same today that you are going to be five years from now -except for two things: the people with whom you associate and the books you read.” -- Charles Jones
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Educating Kopek
Without fail, the words “you’re pregnant” send people on a preparation binge. Homes are reconfigured, sharp objects are softened, baby goodies are bought, schedules on sleep are decided, preschools are booked and sports cars are sold -all within a matter of nine months.
In short, people who are going to have babies learn about babies.
If only it were so with dogs.
It’s come to my attention over the past 30plus years in the dog business that some folks just don’t get it.
The woman who was feeding her 10-pound pup five cups of food a day and complained because he was having “accidents” inside the house -- she doesn’t get it. Feed your Yorkie like he’s a Great Dane, and, yes, housebreaking is going to be an issue.
The man who told me his dog runs away, pulls on the leash, barks excessively and knocks down small children by jumping on them and then in the same breath said, “But he’s trained! He just has trouble with those four things” -- he doesn’t get it. Even the most basic of obedience training would be sufficient to equip dog and owner with the tools to prevent those problem behaviors.
As it stands, the mantra of so many firsttime dog owners seems to be: I got this dog, and he doesn’t listen.
As if puppies arrive at their new homes with an English-to-Canine translation book in paw.
Dogs don’t come with diplomas. Puppies don’t perform on command unless taught. And repeating the word “no” -- no matter how loud your voice or red your face -- does nothing to instill it with meaning. Why is it that so many people are flabbergasted that a puppy doesn’t understand what they’d never expect an infant to understand?
Ever traveled in a foreign country not knowing the language? If so, you can put yourself in your dog’s shoes. If you were traveling in Turkey and did not know Turkish, how would you feel if someone were flailing their arms and screaming “kopek” at you over and over again? Scared? Curious? Amused? Less convinced of the merits of in-
There is talk among the experts who track these things that the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) will rise 3.8% for 2027. This is down slightly from their guess of 3.9% just two months ago.
In other words, we can’t take that estimated increase in our Social Security benefit to the bank just yet. There is room for change between now and October, when the official 2027 figures come out based on July, August and September numbers.
One thing that’s not likely to change, however, is that seniors are struggling, especially the over 24 million of us who have only Social Security for income.
One thing that many of us object to is the method used to calculate Social Security increases each year. Those increases are based on the CPI-W, or Consumer Price Index for
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.
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. That index measures the spending habits of people who receive more than half of their income from clerical or hourly jobs. According to the Department of Labor, the average person in that group is 40 years old -- much younger than the typical Social Security recipient.
That’s not us. Consumers in that age group spend in different ways, more on transportation and clothing, while we spend a bigger chunk of our income on health care and prescription drugs.
Many of us, therefore, keep asking why the alternative CPI-E (Consumer Price Index for the Elderly) isn’t used to calculate Social Security increases. The answer: The Bureau of Labor Statistics considers the CPI-E to be experimental. After all these years, with so many millions of us on Social Security, we’re an experiment?
Take a look at the Senior Citizens League website (seniorsleague.org) and scroll through the articles, especially their recent survey of seniors and income. Their goal is to protect our benefits, whether it’s Social Security, Medicare or for veterans. Their numbers are solid and can be trusted.
* * *
Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com. (c) KingFeaturesSyndicate2026
can homes.
Another appealing side to traditional design 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 collagetype installation.
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 Ameri-
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
ternational travel?
What if he were saying the word “kopek” while pointing to and petting his dogs? You’d probably smile and say, “Dog!” And that wonderful feeling of connection would follow -- for both of you. The same feeling comes from successfully communicating with your dog. Dogs want to please their humans. They want to feel a sense of purpose. But many of the calls I take boil down to unwitting confessions of animal abuse: My dog won’t listen. I yell at him. I tell him “no.” I hit him with a rolled up newspaper. I put him in the bathroom and close the door. I take away his food. I leave him in the garage...”
And those conversations inevitably begin and end with the person blaming the dog. “He just doesn’t listen.”
Communication is tough. Newborns cry, and their parents struggle to figure out how to make them stop. Put-upon dog owners say “he doesn’t listen” when the more accurate statement would be “he doesn’t understand.” How could he? Education for children is mandatory, so the communication gap is temporary. Education for dogs isn’t required, but it most definitely should be. Woof!
Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.
lones
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Grocery Clerks, Managers and Maytags
Q: I want to share a little advice with your readers. I have had numerous dealings with my local Social Security office. And I have learned that you should never work with the clerks in the office. You should always ask for the manager if you want things done right.
A: The email this guy sent me actually went on a lot longer as he described the problems he allegedly encountered when dealing with the “clerks” in his local Social Security office. But there is no point in describing his issues to the rest of my readers. Instead, I’m going to comment on his “advice.” And to do so, I’m going to share a little story.
My wife and I were married in 1974. Our son was born in 1976 and our daughter in 1978. At the time of that second birth, we were living in Yakima, Wash. I was recently transferred to the Social Security Administration office there in the “Apple Capital of the World.” We were renting a small house that was actually a duplex. The owner, Floyd and his wife Ruth, lived in the other half.
Floyd was a nice guy, but I used to think of him as an “old codger.” Thinking back, I’d guess he was in his late 60s. I’m currently pushing 80. So who’s the even older codger now?
Anyway, Floyd and Ruth, a childless couple, kind of adopted us. They were constantly looking after us and trying to help us. And they especially doted on our 2-year-old son.
Their house was the first place we ever lived that did not have a washer and dryer. So we had to go buy a set. And Floyd quickly volunteered to take us to a local appliance store. He said that as a young and innocent couple, we needed his advice on how to deal with the business world. And as part of that advice, he told us: “Remember that you never deal with the grocery clerks. You always ask for the manager!” (By “grocery clerks,” he was referring to any front-line employee.)
We got to the store, and almost immediately, a “clerk” latched onto us and started showing us various washer/dryer combinations. We eventually ended up finding a pair that seemed to be just what we needed at a good sale price. I can’t remember now what it was, but for the sake of the story, let’s say the cost was $300.
Floyd turned to the clerk and said, “Just a minute, young man. I want you to get your manager.” He dutifully went off to find his boss, who eventually showed up. Floyd said to him, “These are my friends, Tom and Becky. They are a young married couple with two small children and not much money. I want you to give them a great deal.”
The manager looked at the sale tag on the washer/dryer we were interested in and said, “At $300, this is the best deal in the store.” Floyd said we’d take it if he would throw in free delivery. The manager said he could do that. (There was already a little note on the sale tag that said “Free Delivery.”)
Becky and I just rolled our eyes. The clerk and manager rolled their eyes. But old Floyd was just beaming because in his mind, we bypassed the “grocery clerk” and got the best deal possible from the manager!
So that is my long way of telling you that it is almost always advisable to simply work with the Social Security representative that was assigned to you when you entered the office. The biggest reason for that is that in the vast majority of situations, our Social Security business is rather routine. Or rather, it may seem complex to you, but SSA representatives are trained to handle these matters, and it’s just an everyday job to them.
Having said that, there obviously are times when a Social Security matter gets very complex or gets all wrapped up in red tape. Readers will occasionally send me emails describing such a situation. Frequently, they have been waiting for months to get their case resolved. They are at their wit’s end and are confused and frustrated and upset.
I usually give these folks two bits of advice. First, I suggest they try to talk to a supervisor or manager. If that person is doing his or her job, they may be able to cut through the red tape and get to the bottom of the matter.
I also suggest that they contact their local Congressional representatives. Those folks always have someone on their staff who works on Social Security and Medicare matters. And I can tell you from experience that when an SSA office gets a “congressional inquiry,” that case gets moved to the top of the pile.
I have a little space left, so let me add a final note to my Floyd story. The washer and dryer we bought were just basic Maytag models. And they lasted us for more than 30 years! But a while back, even though those original Maytags were working just fine, we convinced ourselves we needed new and improved machines. I’m talking fancy electronic models that had all kinds of doodads and buttons and gizmos. They came with instruction booklets that had about as many pages as a short novel!
But here is the thing. After about a year, we still hadn’t completely figured out how the dang things worked. Bells and whistles and lights kept going on and off and we had no idea what they
1. The book of Psalms is found in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither
meant. We got so frustrated that we sold them on Craigslist and went and bought a very basic nonelectronic Maytag washer and dryer, almost exactly like the ones we bought all those years earlier in Yakima. And 20 years later, they are still working just fine!
Oh, and I promise I got no compensation from the Maytag Corporation for writing this column!
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has all the answers. Email him 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.
Floyd turned to me and said, “See, Tommy Boy, by dealing with the manager, I got you the best deal in the store, and I got you free delivery!”
2. From Song of Solomon 1:15, what kind of eyes does the beloved say the Shulamite has? a) Kind b) Piercing c) Eagles d) Doves
3. Used both as a greeting and a farewell, what is the Hebrew word for "peace"? a) Shabbat b) Shalom c) Simcha d) Shass
4. In Matthew 6, what did Jesus say not to use when we pray? a) Impure thoughts b) Vain repetitions c) Self gratification d) Wandering vendettas
5. From Esther 1, King Ahasuerus ruled from what city? a) Ur b) Gershom c) Shushan d) Tarsus
6. Who was the first son of Moses and Zipporah? a) Haggai b) Zebudah c) Abishag d) Gershom
(Answers on page 16) For comments or more Bible
www.TriviaGuy.com
Daily Productive Cough Causes Patient to Wonder About COPD
DEAR DR. ROACH: I decided to practice using an inhalation spirometer, partly because I have a daily productive cough (small amounts three to four times a day). I smoked a pack of filtered cigarettes a day from ages 17-29. I smoke marijuana now.
My scoliosis is quite complex and has taken over 4 inches off my height. But at age 75, I volunteer as a stable hand for 6-8 hours a week, and they say that I’m the hardest-working volunteer! I’m lean and fit.
I do three inhalation tests in a row, and it’s always 2,400 mL. Do I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and should I report this to my primary care physician? He doesn’t know about my current marijuana consumption. -- C.R.
ANSWER: The diagnosis of COPD is made based on symptoms (usually shortness of breath, cough, and sputum production); frequent exacerbations of breathing troubles; and abnormalities on breathing tests (or if there’s no other explanation).
Your history of smoking tobacco and cannabis are compatible with a diagnosis of COPD, but you’d need pulmonary function testing in a lab.
The device that you have (which I think is an incentive spirometer) is very helpful for expanding the lungs, and it’s especially used after surgery. But the number doesn’t tell me a lot about your lung function.
The problem with COPD is that breathing gets obstructed, and although obstruction occurs with both inspiration and exhalation, it’s mostly when a person breathes out that symptoms occur. Some people have cough or sputum production without having any trouble breathing. This is most compatible with chronic bronchitis, which is one of the most common presentations of COPD; the other is emphysema.
Scoliosis, which is curvature of the spine, can cause a completely different lung disease called restrictive disease. With restrictive diseases, it’s not airflow that’s the primary problem; it’s the lung volume. With severe chest-wall deformities like scoliosis and kyphosis (when the spine is bent forward, sometimes called a “dowager’s hump”), the lungs can’t expand fully.
I’d discuss your lung symptoms with your physician, who’ll consider sending you in for pulmonary function tests. These tests will tell you whether you have an obstructive disease, like COPD, or a restrictive disease. You should tell your doctor about your cannabis use; he should know and be professional about it.
If you do have COPD, I recommend against smoking cannabis. Although the evidence isn’t as strong that smoking cannabis causes COPD the way
that smoking tobacco does, I still recommend against it in people with lung disease. If you want to use cannabis, take a gummy, since this doesn’t potentially harm your lungs the way that smoking does.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve noticed that when I wipe the cap of my glass water bottle, there’s a dark gray or black material inside the cap after I’ve refilled it. Is this mold? Should I stop refilling the water bottle? -- D.D.
ANSWER: The cap of your glass water bottle is made from aluminum. When you open and close the cap, the aluminum metal is exposed to air, where it reacts with oxygen to form aluminum oxide. This is the black material that you’re wiping off the cap. Aluminum oxide is inert and passes through the body, so you don’t need to worry about it.
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
TRIVIANEWSFRONT
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
The VA OIG at Work
The VA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) took a close look at expenditures for pharmaceuticals for one year and discovered that some of the money wasn’t spent as required. Specifically, the VA spent $11.7 billion on drugs during that year, and $11.4 billion was spent correctly via prime vendor contracts.
However, 3 percent ($322.5 million) was spent outside the required contract. While it’s a fraction of the whole amount, three hundred million is still three hundred million.
The purchasing rules say that employees have to document their attempts at finding the required drugs before they go straight to open market buying. Without compliance with those rules, the budget goes out the window, not to mention the potential for fraud.
The OIG had recommendations for the Veterans Health Administration and, truthfully, the VHA should have been embarrassed to have to be told those things: establish guidance for staff, do routine assessments of purchases and develop a way to keep an eye on purchases made outside the contracts.
Meanwhile the OIG has continued to go after the scammers who think they’ll never get caught. Such as the thief who impersonated a veteran for 30 years, stealing benefits, medical care and drugs. Prior convictions included stolen property, grand larceny, sale of drugs, forgery and more. When he was finally nabbed, he was staying in housing for veterans using the stolen name.
Then there is the husband and wife team who allegedly ran a drug abuse recovery program. They thought they could get away with wire fraud and excessive billing, and were caught.
And how about the company that billed both Medicaid and the VA for sleep studies that had been done by unqualified personnel, studies that were never done at all, and forged referrals. This went on for four years.
Sleep studies fraud must be a big thing, because at the same time there was another case across the country that had netted the thieves in excess of $2 million.
Do your part. To report fraud, see www. vaoig.gov/hotline/online-forms
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.
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
-- by Jim Miller
How Families Can Find Lost Money After a Loved One Dies
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: After our mom passed away, we discovered a few small accounts and an old insurance policy we didn’t know she still had. It made me wonder how often families uncover forgotten or unclaimed money like this after a parent dies. We would like to know if this is common, and if so, where should we start looking?
-- Searching Siblings
Dear Searching: This is actually quite a common occurence. After a parent or spouse dies, families often come across small, forgotten accounts, uncashed checks, or old insurance policies that slipped through the cracks over the years. In many cases, paperwork was misplaced, accounts were opened decades ago, or loved ones simply forgot the assets even existed.
According to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, billions of dollars in unclaimed assets are currently being held by state governments and federal agencies, waiting to be claimed by rightful owners or heirs.
Unclaimed property usually comes from financial accounts or benefits that became inactive because the owner moved, changed names or died. In many cases, heirs were never aware the money existed or did not know where to look. These assets can include savings or checking accounts, uncashed dividend checks, utility security deposits, life insurance proceeds, pension benefits, tax refunds, matured savings bonds and unpaid wages.
By law, banks, employers, insurance
companies and other institutions must turn these assets over to the state if they cannot locate the owner or next of kin after a set period, usually two to five years. Once turned over, the money is held indefinitely, so there is no deadline for families to file a claim.
Where to start
A good place to begin is MissingMoney. com, a free site endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators and the National Association of State Treasurers. It allows users to search for unclaimed property in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico at once. Hawaii is not included but can be searched through a link on the site.
When searching, check every state where your mother lived, worked or did business. Be sure to search under maiden names, married names and common misspellings. Using just a first initial and last name can also uncover accounts that do not appear under a full name search. Each state’s site will indicate whether property is listed and explain how to file a claim.
Other places to check
State treasuries are only part of the picture. Families should also check several other common sources of forgotten money.
Pensions and 401(k)s: To search for lost or forgotten retirement benefits your mom may have left behind with an old employer, use the U.S. Department of Labor’s Retirement Savings Lost & Found Database at lostandfound. dol.gov and the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits at unclaimedretirementbenefits.com. Or to search for unclaimed retirement benefits from private-sector plans that have closed down, use the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation search tool at pbgc.gov/workersretirees.
Savings bonds: It’s very common for people to lose track of U.S. Saving Bonds because they are often given to children as gifts. Then, as many years go by, they are forgotten and never cashed long after the bonds have reached maturity. To find out if your mom had a Savings Bond or other Treasury security visit your state’s unclaimed property office using unclaimed.org Search the state of residence at the time of the securities purchase or last known address.
Lost life insurance: To track down a lost or forgotten life insurance policy, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, an insurance regulatory support organization, offers
Other refunds: To search for money left at an FDIC insured bank or credit union that has gone out of business, visit closedbanks.fdic. gov/funds. Federal tax refunds can be checked at irs.gov/refunds or by calling 800-829-1954. FHA mortgage refunds can be checked at entp. hud.gov/dsrs/refunds. And unpaid wages are listed at dol.gov/agencies/whd/wow
As you can see, there are multiple ways of checking on unclaimed revenue that you and your siblings may be due, so the task of starting your search lies ahead for you.
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By Anne McCollam Creators News Service
‘Cinderella’ Casserole Collectible
Q: This is a photo of a glass-covered casserole dish that I have. It is yellow with a clear glass lid that is decorated with a sunburst design. The center is orange and the rays are bright yellow. On the bottom are the words “Pyrex -- 473 -- 1 Quart.”
It was a wedding gift 55 years ago and is in perfect condition. It was originally a set of three dishes of varying sizes but they disappeared over time.
I still use my dish and wonder if it has any value.
the re-release of the Disney movie in 1957. Baby boomers motivated by memories of Pyrex casserole dishes from the 1950s and early 1960s are showing interest in collecting them.
Your circa-1960 piece would probably be worth $45 to $65. ***
Q: This mark is on the back of an ironstone platter that I have. I found the platter in the attic of a house I owned 30 years ago. It is decorated with a floral border against a white background. The length is about 14 inches and the width is 11 inches and it is in very good condition.
I was wondering if you could tell me something about its history and if it has any value.
A: W H Grindley and Co. Ltd. made your platter. They have made ironstone and earthenware in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, since 1886. The letters “LTD” were added to their mark around 1925.
* On July 27, 1981, 6-year-old Adam Walsh was abducted from a shopping mall in Hollywood, Florida, and later found murdered. Afterward, his father, John Walsh, became an impassioned victims’ rights activist and host of the television show “America’s Most Wanted.” In 2008, the Hollywood police announced that the case against confessed killer Ottis Elwood Toole was strong enough to close the investigation into Adam’s death. Toole had died 12 years earlier.
* On July 28, 1942, Soviet Union premier Josef Stalin issued Order No. 227, aka the “Not one step backward” order, following German advances into Russian territory. The order stipulated that “panic makers and cowards must be liquidated on the spot. Not one step backward without orders from higher headquarters! Commanders ... who abandon a position without an order from higher headquarters are traitors to the Motherland.”
A: Your Pyrex casserole dish was made by Corning Glass Works Co. It is part of their “Cinderella” line of glass dishes. Corning Glass Works Co. is located in Corning, New York.
CorningWare was incorporated in 1915 when the “Pyrex” mark was first used. The “Cinderella” line was introduced in the late 1950s. The line featured handles that were shaped like spouts to facilitate pouring and was decorated with a variety of designs. The “473” number identifies the quart-size dish. It was accompanied by a 1 1/2 quart dish and a 2 1/2 quart dish. The pattern is “Sunburst” and sometimes called “Daisy.”
The name “Cinderella” was chosen due to
Grindley and Co. passed through several owners and was taken back by Grindley and Co. in 1988. They went into receivership in 1991 and then were taken over by Woodlands Pottery. Some of the pattern books and records from 1880 to 1930 have been preserved in the Stoke-on-Trent city archives.
Your circa-1930 piece would probably be worth $30 to $40 to a collector.
* * * Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has since retired and no longer receives inquiries nor answers reader letters. Due to the popularity of her column, this publication will continue to reprint previous columns of interest to our readers.
* On July 29, 1862, Marie Isabella “Belle” Boyd was arrested for the first time by Union troops and held at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C. A skilled though teenage spy who provided vital information to the Confederate army during the Civil War, she eventually parlayed her experiences into a book and acting career.
* On July 30, 1956, two years after urging insertion of the phrase “under God” into the Pledge of Allegiance, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a law officially declaring “In God We Trust” to be America’s official motto.
* On July 31, 1964, the unmanned U.S. lunar probe Ranger 7 took 4,308 close-up images of the moon before impacting with its surface northwest of the Sea of Clouds. The pictures were 1,000 times as clear as anything previously viewed through telescopes on Earth.
* On Aug. 1, 1782, Caroline Herschel discovered a comet after viewing it through a telescope -- the first such discovery credited to a woman. Her brother, astronomer William Herschel, had discovered Uranus the year before. The first professional female astronomer, she would go on to discover seven more comets in 11 years.
* On Aug. 2, 1992, Jackie Joyner-Kersee became the first woman ever to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the heptathlon.
(c)
2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
“I'm pretty sure it's a boy. Any time my hand gets even near the remote he kicks me."
W H Grindley and Co. Ltd. made ironstone and earthenware in England.
This Pyrex “Cinderella” casserole was made by Corning Glass Works Co.
Lady Liberty: (from page 3)
your teeming shore.” The poem was not included on the statue at its unveiling, and in fact, was forgotten until it was rediscovered in a bookshop in 1901. In 1903, it was engraved onto a bronze plaque and prominently installed on the pedestal.
• The skyline of New York City can be seen from 25 small windows inside the statue’s crown. The climb from the statue’s base to the crown’s observation deck is a tedious one, equivalent to a 27-story building. There are 354 steps in the rather compact area, with stairs just 19 inches (48.2 cm) wide in some areas as well as a spiral staircase. Each day, only 240 people are allowed to make the climb, and children under eight are not allowed. The crown also includes seven rays, symbolizing the seven seas and the seven continents.
• Lady Liberty’s torch is not the original from 1886. In 1982, ninety-six years after the dedication, it was determined that the statue desperately required restoration. A campaign was launched to raise funds, collecting more than $350 million toward the restoration of both the statue and Liberty Island itself.
• The torch, which had been leaking water since 1916 and was beyond repair, was replaced with an exact replica of copper, covered with 24-karat gold leaf. During the day, sunlight glimmers off the torch while at night it is illuminated by floodlights.
• President Ronald Reagan officiated at the grand re-opening of the statue on July 4th weekend, 1986 as part of its centennial celebration.
• The inside of the torch is not open to the public, but only to authorized staff who climb a 40foot metal ladder to maintain the floodlights. The original torch is displayed in a museum on Liberty Island.
• Lady Liberty holds a two-foot-thick tablet that is 23 feet, 7 inches long by 13 feet, 7 inches wide in her left hand. It is inscribed with JULY IV MDCCLXXVI in Roman numerals, the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Her left foot steps on a broken chain and shackle, symbolic of Americaʼs hard-fought freedom from enemy oppression and tyranny.
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TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE
Game Changers
by Jason Jenkins
Watching Won’t Help
One of the most tempting issues in golf is peeking to see if that six footer you just hit is going to go in or not. If there is anything golfers are more anxious to see the results on, it’s those pesky short putts.
The problem with looking for the majority of amateurs is that the whole body takes part in the watching activity. By allowing the legs, hips, chest and head to all turn toward the target in the follow through, the putter’s movements can be erratic. One time the putterface will close over too quickly. The next putt you’ll sense the need to keep the face open longer. Either way, it’s a poor way to be a great short putter.
Better players have built two main processes into their short putting mechanics. One is keeping the eyes and head facing the ground for that second past impact. The other is locking the hips in place so they won’t turn toward the target in the follow through.
Usually the head movement will create a cascading effect of faulty movements, so trust that you can watch the ground where the ball had been for that extra second.
