Vol. 22: #5 • Popcorn • (1-25-2026) Tidbits of Coachella Valley
by Janet Spencer
That buttered, salted and fragrant bucket of warm, delightful goodness you carry to your seat at the theater is, for many of us, a favorite part of the whole movie-going experience. This week Tidbits scoops up some interesting facts for you to munch on about popcorn, one of the most popular snack foods in the whole world!
• Unpopped popcorn has an extremely long shelf life. In ancient tombs of Peru, archaeologists found kernels a thousand years old that could still be popped. Popped popcorn was found in a cave in Utah which was still remarkably fresh, despite its age of about 2,500 years. The oldest known unpopped kernels, about 5,000 years old, were discovered in a cave in New Mexico.
• One dig near Mexico City uncovered pollen of the popcorn plant. It was almost identical to modern popcorn pollen, yet it was over 8,000 years old, revealing that humans have been enjoying popcorn for thousands of years. Cortez found the Aztecs
Popcorn: Turn to page 3
TRIV
(Answers on page 16)
1. LITERATURE: Who was the first Canadian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature?
2. MYTHOLOGY: What is the home of the Greek gods?
3. LANGUAGE: Which language is the second most spoken in Canada?
4. HISTORY: Which explorer sailed around Africa to discover a trade route between Europe and India?
5. MOVIES: What is the name of Elle Woods’ Chihuahua in “Legally Blonde”?
6. GAMES: In what year was the original Pac-Man video game released?
7. TELEVISION: What is the name of the town where “Hart of Dixie” is set?
8. FOOD & DRINK: Which popular fruit has seeds on the outside?
9. MEDICAL TERMS: What is the common name for alopecia?
10. GEOGRAPHY: In which country are the Cliffs of Moher located? Answers
Test answers page 16)
1. Short story author Alice Munro, 2013.
2. Mount Olympus.
Classic Games & Toys
Now one of the world’s favorite toys, the EtchA-Sketch, was introduced in America in 1960, but was not invented in the U.S. Follow along as Tidbits explores the origins of this classic toy.
• Andre Cassagnes was an electrician in France in the 1950s. He was assigned to a contract in a factory that manufactured an embossed wall covering and was installing a light fixture. The manufacturing process used a fine aluminum powder that had spilled onto the light switch plate. Cassagnes made some pencil marks on the cover, and when turning it over discovered that his markings also appeared on the reverse side of the plate’s protective decal.
• The surprising result piqued his curiosity. He began experimenting with the process and was amazed to see that he had devised a way to actually draw pictures without the use of a pencil and paper. Using the principle of electrostatic charge along with aluminum powder mixed with tiny beads to prevent clumping, he devised a stylus to scrape a glass surface and create images. His unique method also allowed the image to disappear with a simple upside-down shake.
• He felt he was on to something and began thinking of ways his discovery could be improved and marketed to the public. His original design featured a type of joystick handle that moved a pointed stylus to scrape away the powder, but he later modified it to the now-familiar knobs. The left knob creates a horizontal line, while the right knob is for the vertical. Using both at once results in diagonal, circular, and other more complicated lines, challenging users to refine their techniques. A quick shake of the container redistributes the aluminum powder, leaving a fresh slate.
• Cassagnes called his invention “L’Ecran Magique,” which translates “The Magic Screen.” Several French manufacturers passed up the opportunity, believing that Cassagnes
wanted too much payment for his idea. But he held off and ultimately sold the rights to the toy to the American firm Ohio Art Company for $25,000 (about $275,000 today). They ran a contest to name their new product, and the Etch-A-Sketch name was quickly chosen.
• Ohio Art launched the Etch-A-Sketch just in time for the 1960 Christmas season with a price tag of $2.99 (about $32 today). Over 600,000 units were sold the first year.
• Although the Etch-A-Sketch debuted with its signature red color, there have been some variations over the years. In 1971, Ohio Art offered “Cool Blue” and “Hot Pink,” and for the toy’s 25 th anniversary model, the company unveiled a silver Etch-A-Sketch with jeweled drawing knobs and a hand-carved signature at the top. This limited edition set buyers back $3,750. Other special editions have included Hello Kitty and Marvel themes. There are also miniature versions that attach to a keychain.
• The popularity of Etch-A-Sketch was revitalized in popularity when it was featured in a scene in the 1995 Disney Pixar movie “Toy Story,” which provided a substantial boost in sales for the company. But by 1999, sales had declined again to the point that the company was in financial difficulty. But they recovered again when the 1999 sequel “Toy Story 2” featured a scene with Andy’s toy named “Etch,” described by fellow toy Woody as having the “fastest knobs in the West.”
• Some professional Etch-A-Sketch artists have made their drawings permanent. California artist Nicole Falzone, known as the “Monet of the Magic Screen,” creates intricate portraits on an Etch-A-Sketch and preserves them by drillings holes in the back of the case, draining out the aluminum powder, and gluing the knobs in place.
• In France, the Etch-A-Sketch is still called “L’Ecran Magique,” while in Germany, it’s called “Zaubertafel,” which translates “magic board.”
• Sales of the unique toy have topped $100 million since its introduction.
Popcorn (from page one)
eating it when he invaded in the early 1500s, and Columbus carried some back to Spain.
• The British and Europeans used to refer to any small kernel as “corn” such as in Jack London’s 1913 novel “John Barleycorn,” named for the drinking song by the same name. Wheat, rye, oats, and barley were all called “corn” and the new corn from the New World was called “Indian corn” before being shortened to just “corn.” The words “corn” and “kernel” spring from the same root word “cyrnel” meaning “seed.”
• There are six types of corn: pod, sweet, flour, dent, flint, and popcorn. Only popcorn pops.
HOW IT POPS
• Popcorn has a thicker hull than other kinds of corn, and the hull is not permeable. A popcorn kernel must have a moisture content of about 15% in order to pop. When cooking, the hull is so tight that the water within the kernel cannot escape until it boils into steam. The starchy interior melts into a gelatin. When the pressure gets high enough, the hull bursts and the heat cooks the soft interior. A kernel will pop when it reaches an internal pressure of 135 psi and a temperature of 356°F (180°C). If the water content falls below 15%, the popcorn won’t pop.
• Popping results are sensitive to the rate at which the kernels are heated. If heated too quickly, the steam reaches high pressures too soon and ruptures the hull before the starch in the center of the kernel can gelatinize, leading to partially popped kernels with hard centers. Heating too slowly leads to entirely unpopped kernels because the tip of the kernel is not entirely moisture-proof. When heated slowly, the steam can leak out of the tip fast enough to keep the pressure from rising high enough to break the hull and cause the pop.
• Unpopped kernels are known as old maids, and kernels that pop part of the way but don’t fully open are called bridesmaids. Fully popped kernels are called flakes. Quality popcorn should
produce 98% flakes with less than 2% being old maids.
• There are about 1,600 kernels in a cup of popcorn, and a single ounce of kernels (about two tablespoons) expands to produce about a quart of popcorn. Each kernel expands to about 40 to 50 times its original size.
POPCORN TYPES
• Popcorn comes in two basic shapes when it’s popped: snowflake and mushroom. Snowflake popcorn has lots of “wings” giving it a better mouth-feel. Mushroom popcorn has very few wings and is rounded, meaning it holds up better when shipping the popped product because there are no wings to break off. Snowflake is used in movie theaters and ballparks because it looks and pops bigger. Theaters buy popcorn by weight but sell it by volume, so the more it expands when it pops, the more profit they make. Mushroom popcorn is used for candy confections because it doesn’t crumble.
According to Guinness World Records, the world’s largest popcorn ball was created in 2013 at the Indiana State Fair. With the help of Pop Weaver, Snax in Pax, and Indiana's Family of Farmers, the enormous popcorn ball weighed in at 6,510-pounds, and was eight feet in diameter.
• It used to be that any given ear of popcorn would yield various amounts of both snowflake and mushroom shapes, but popcorn growers began a concerted effort of hybridizing. This resulted in strains that reliably produce either snowflake or mushroom popcorn, a goal achieved in 1998. Growing conditions and popping environment also affect the snowflake-to-mushroom ratio.
MARKETING POPCORN
• American vendors began selling popcorn at carnivals in the late 19th century. When they began to sell outside movie theaters, theater owners were initially annoyed, fearing that the attraction it created would distract patrons from the movie event. They soon realized that popcorn could actually be a way to increase revenues, and popcorn has been served in movie theaters since 1912.
• Theaters generally make more money off concessions than from ticket sales to the movie itself. For every dollar spent on popcorn, 90 cents is pure profit for them. In fact, some movie theater owners have even referred to themselves as glorified popcorn concessionaires.
• Popcorn vendors on the streets of China and
Korea have a unique method of popping corn. Unpopped kernels are poured into a castiron pressure cooker that is sealed tight with a heavy-duty lid and then turned over a fire like a rotisserie. When the pressure gauge reaches the right reading, the canister is removed from the fire and a large bag is put over the lid. When the lid is released, all of the popcorn explodes at once and is poured into the sack. The same method is used for puffing rice.
• During the Great Depression, popcorn was
1. When did popcorn first become a viable commercial crop in the U.S.?
2. Which state grows the most popcorn?
There is no such thing as "hull-less" popcorn. All popcorn needs a hull in order to pop. Some varieties of popcorn have been bred so the hull shatters into tiny fragments upon popping, making it appear to be hull-less, but the
By Lucie Winborne
* The Statue of Liberty was originally brown.
* Parrotfish are among the sleepiest of sea creatures, averaging around a good 13 hours of rest per night. When not dozing, they spend as much as 90% of their time eating algae that grows on coral reefs.
* Reindeer eyes change color according to the seasons -- they’re golden in the summer and blue during winter.
* The @ symbol was invented more than four centuries prior to email.
* The U.S. Postal Service employs a sharp-eyed group of folks whose job is to determine where to send letters and packages with illegible addresses. They work their magic at the USPS Remote Encoding Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, the first facility of its kind and now the only one still standing.
* Pomatoes are potato plants that also grow tomatoes. The hybrid occurs when a tomato plant is grafted onto a potato plant, a relatively easy thing since they’re both members of the solanum genus of the nightshade family.
* Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting “The Last Supper” originally included Jesus’ feet.
* Portland, Oregon, was named in a coin toss in 1845 between Asa Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove when the two couldn’t agree on a suitable moniker for their new land claim.
* Cacti aren’t native to most deserts.
* The human stomach can expand to hold as much as a 2-liter soda bottle, since its inner surface, the mucosa, is lined with folds called rugae that unfold and stretch out to accommodate food as it arrives.
***
Thought for the Day: “If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience.” -- Robert Fulghum
Inc.
by Mary Hunt
Mortgage Lender Calls Every Hour All Day Long!
by Mary Hunt
DEAR MARY: We are one month behind on our mortgage payments and plan to catch up this month. We have told our credit union we will pay half on the 1st and the second half on the 13th. This will bring us current. Still, they call all day, every hour. When we answer they say they have to continue constantly calling us until the amount due is paid. That is their policy.
I say this can’t be true or allowed by law. It seems like harassment. --
Cindy M.
Dear Cindy: I can certainly understand your frustration, but I can understand your lender’s policy as well. I know of no laws they are breaking by calling you at reasonable hours during the day. (You may be confusing this with laws that protect you when a debt is turned over to a third-party collector.)
Look, when you signed the original loan document, you promised to make your payments on time, every month, in accordance with the agreement. You failed to do this. It’s not the end of the world, but you have to look at this from their standpoint.
If you broke your promise to make a payment on time, why should they believe that you will keep your promise to catch up on the 1st and 13th? If you didn’t have the money last month, what makes them confident you’ll have it this month in addition to your regularly scheduled payment?
Rather than feeling entitled to paying late on your terms, why not consider this through their eyes?
Untold thousands of people in this country have decided to walk away from their mortgages. But do they tell the lender this fact? No. They stop making their payments and then lie when the lender calls. They remain in the home until the lender can make it through the complicated
and expensive maze called foreclosure. The statistics are staggering. Many people manage to eke out years of making no payments, while still remaining in the home.
You missed a payment, and that’s a red flag for your lender. Frequent calls are keeping them at the forefront of your every thought, which you have to admit is pretty smart.
Here’s an idea: Tomorrow, call them before they can call you. Be kind and once again express your remorse for running late. Tell them exactly the day and time that you will be bringing them money, even if you’ve told them a dozen times. Then keep your promise. Show up in person. And be grateful for their long suffering.
***
DEAR MARY: Once each quarter we have our house and property treated for pests by Terminix. The results have been excellent, and we no longer have the problem with bugs that we had before.
Do you know of a homemade or storebought solution that we can use instead of paying quarterly? The payment is quite high, and although I was able to negotiate with Terminix to lower the fee, I know that’s just temporary. I am afraid if we don’t continually have our house treated, we may end up with an infestation again. -- Gloria
Dear Gloria: The reason that pest control performed by a professional service like Terminix is costly is that they use chemicals that are toxic and restricted for consumer use. The professionals know how and where to apply the chemicals in a way that doesn’t put you and pets in harm’s way.
There are do-it-yourself options for minor issues like ants and aphids. However, it sounds to me as if you have bigger problems that do warrant the services of a professional. Instead of trying to do this yourself, I suggest you shop around to find the most cost-effective service possible, and let Terminix know that you are doing that.
Also, consider scheduling your service every four months or just twice a year. That may be adequate as a maintenance option and will cut your costs.
***
DEAR MARY: Several years ago, I began following your advice to use cash, not credit or debit cards for day-to-day purchases. On paydays I’d stop at the bank and withdraw enough money to last until the next payday. I then challenged myself to have some of that money leftover in my purse, which would then go into a piggy bank at home.
I just want to thank you because this has really worked well for me! I am way ahead of their game. I still don’t use debit cards for purchases -- only cash. I feel like I have won and all from a lesson learned from you several years ago. Keep up the good work. We’re still listening! -- Carol
* * *
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
DAYS OF THE WEEK
Tidbits invites you to begin your day with these facts you probably never knew about whatever day that might be!
NAMING THE DAYS
• Our names for the days of the week have influences from the ancient Romans, AngloSaxons, and the old Norse. The Romans chose names of celestial bodies, such as Sunday being the “Day of Sun” and Monday as “Day of the Moon.” The Old English word “Mondaeg” also translates “day of the moon.” The Japanese word for Monday, “getsuyobi,” means exactly the same thing, “day of the moon.”
• How about Monday is various languages? The Polish say “Poniedzialk,” which literally means “after Sunday.” The Czechs say Pazartesi, while the folks in Iceland call Monday “Manudagur.” The Hebrew people refer to Monday as “Yom Sheni.”
• The Anglo-Saxon god of war, Tiw, was honored with the day we call Tuesday. That culture’s king of the gods was Woden, and the Old English word “Wodnesdaeg” has been modified to our Wednesday.
• The Romans named Thursday after Jupiter, their god of sky and thunder, using the Latin “dies Jovis,” or “day of Jupiter, but the Norse people’s god of thunder, lightning, and storms was Thor, leading to our name of Thursday.
• The Norse goddess of home, marriage, and fertility, Frigga, gives us our designation for Friday, although the Romans called it Venus’s Day after their ancient goddess of love.
• The planet Saturn is the source of Saturday. To the Romans, Saturn was associated with
agriculture, wealth, fun, and feasting. To the Hebrews, Saturday is “Shabbat,” the Jewish day of rest and the holiest day of the week, a family day when no labor is conducted.
MUSICAL DAYS
• The days of the week have made their way into some of our favorite music over the decades.
Kris Kristofferson had a hit with “Sunday Mornin’ Coming Down” in 1970 and Maroon 5 had success with “Sunday Morning” in 2004.
In 1966, The Mamas & The Papas recorded “Monday, Monday,” a song that composer John Phillips says he wrote in 20 minutes, telling the story of a dislike of Mondays because the person he loved left him on that day. The Carpenters released “Rainy Days and Mondays” in 1971, recorded just a few weeks before Karen Carpenter’s 21st birthday.
• “Ruby Tuesday” became the Rolling Stones’ fourth U.S. #1 hit in 1967. It’s a song written primarily by Keith Richards, whose girlfriend of two years had recently broken up with him. “Tuesday Afternoon” by the English symphonic rock band The Moody Blues was actually written on a Tuesday afternoon as the composer sat in the middle of field on a lovely spring day.
• Simon & Garfunkel released their debut album “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.” in 1964. A 1977 country song by Johnny Cash, “A Wednesday Car,” wondered about the quality of cars made on different days of the week, with the idea that cars made on Wednesday are better because workers are more focused than on Monday or Friday.
• David Bowie wrote “Thursday’s Child” after
being inspired by the autobiography of singer Eartha Kitt. Bowie also recorded a song about Friday in 1973, “Friday on My Mind,” while Van Morrison sang about “Friday’s Child” in 1971.
• Elton John gave permission for those who felt weary from the week’s pressure to cut loose with 1973’s “Saturday Night’s All Right for Fighting,” while the group Chicago had a more peaceful view of the upcoming weekend with “Saturday in the Park,” a hit that mentions “the 4th of July,” that was actually written on the 4th of July.
by Dana Jackson
Q: Who plays the woman who ended her engagement to the sheriff on the new show “Best Medicine”? Was she on “Schitt’s Creek”? -- D.D.
A: Abigail Spencer plays Louisa Gavin on the new Fox series “Best Medicine,” which is based on the long-running British comedy “Doc Martin.” She’s been a regular on many shows over the years. Her first television role was as Becca on the daytime soap “All My Children.” She also played a young Sally Draper’s schoolteacher on season three of “Mad Men” before landing main character roles on shows like “Rectify” and “Timeless.” In addition, Spencer has recurred on “Suits” and “Grey’s Anatomy” and co-starred alongside Jon Cryer in the short-lived NBC sitcom “Extended Family.”
Q: Is there going to be a sequel to the
1. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PG-13) Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana
2. Primate (R) Johnny Sequoyah, Jess Alexander
3. The Housemaid (R) Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried
4. Zootopia 2 (PG) Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman
8. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (PG) Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown 9. Song Sung Blue (PG-13) Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson 10. David (PG) Brandon Engman, Phil Wickham
movie “Sinners”? I heard there wasn’t, but I can imagine that the studio would want to make more money. -- F.B.
A: Never say never, but the film’s writerdirector Ryan Coogler states that he has no interest in making a sequel to “Sinners.” In fact, he made the movie in order to get away from directing franchise films. He achieved huge box-office success with Marvel’s “Black Panther” and its sequel, as well as all three “Creed” films. He told Ebony magazine last year that with “Sinners,” he was “looking forward to working on a film that felt original, focusing on originality rather than building a series.”
“Sinners” recently won a Golden Globe for Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, a newer award category that recognizes popular films. The unique period drama/horror film earned over $360 million at box offices worldwide.
Undoubtedly, Warner Bros. Pictures is prosequel, but it’s ultimately up to Coogler. According to MSN, Coogler secured the rights to his movie, “meaning that ownership of the film will revert back to him 25 years in the future.”
Q: When is “NCIS” coming back with new episodes? It seems like these holiday breaks are getting longer and longer. -- S.D.
A: According to TVLine, “NCIS,” “NCIS: Origins” and “NCIS: Sydney” will all return to CBS with new episodes beginning Tuesday, March 3. They were supposed to resume their current seasons a week earlier but have been postponed due to President Trump’s State of the Union address to Congress in February.
Emily Wickersham will return to “NCIS” as Ellie Bishop -- but just for one episode. The actress has been taking a sabbatical from Hollywood since she left “NCIS” eight years ago -- that is, until she popped up on the winter finale in December. Since her departure in 2018, she wed actor James Badge Dale (“Hightown”) and welcomed two children, both boys, into their family.
Showrunner Steven D. Binder told TVLine that Ellie is not the same person she was years prior, and she’s been away on a dangerous mission that has affected her deeply. Look for her brief return to kick off a new story arc for “NCIS” this spring.
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Abigail Spencer in “Timeless”
Good Recipes from
Pork Tenderloin with Peach Glaze
Pork tenderloin is as lean as skinless chicken breast, with only 3 grams of fat and 120 calories per 3-ounce serving. Grill with fresh peaches to add health-boosting fiber, carbs and vitamins A and C.
1 lime
1/2 cup peach preserves
1 (1 1/4 pounds) pork tenderloin
2 bunches green onions
1 teaspoon olive oil
4 medium peaches, each cut in half and pitted
1. Prepare outdoor grill for cooking over medium heat. From lime, grate 1 teaspoon peel and squeeze 1 tablespoon juice.
2. Make Peach Glaze: In medium bowl, stir preserves, lime peel and juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper until
blended. Spoon 1/4 cup glaze into small bowl.
3. Cut pork tenderloin crosswise in half, then cut each piece lengthwise in half. Place pork on hot grill rack; cover and cook 5 minutes. Turn pork over; brush with glaze from medium bowl. Cover and cook 5 to 6 minutes longer or until pork is browned on the outside and still slightly pink on the inside, brushing several times with glaze remaining in medium bowl. Transfer pork to cutting board.
4. Meanwhile, toss green onions with oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper. Place green onions and peaches, cut- sides down, on same grill rack; cook 3 minutes, turning green onions over once. Transfer onions to platter. Turn peaches over and brush with glaze from small bowl; cook 3 minutes longer or until browned and tender. Transfer to platter with green onions.
5. Slice pork and serve with peaches and green onions. Serves 4.
Each serving: About 330 calories, 5g total fat (2g saturated), 78mg cholesterol, 515mg sodium, 43g total carbohydrate, 4g dietary fiber, 32g protein.
Fish Tacos
Ready-to-use ingredients, such as shredded cabbage mix and bottled salsa, help you get this heart-healthy, Mexican-style meal on the table in just 15 minutes.
1. From limes, grate 2 teaspoons peel and squeeze 1/4 cup juice.
2. In large bowl, combine coleslaw mix and lime juice; set aside. In small bowl, stir lime peel into sour cream; set aside.
3. In 12-inch skillet, heat oil on mediumhigh until hot. On sheet of waxed paper, sprinkle tilapia fillets with chipotle chili pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt to season both sides. Add fish to skillet and cook 5 to 6 minutes or until it turns opaque throughout, turning over once. Meanwhile, warm tortillas.
4. To serve, cut fillets into 8 pieces. Place 2 pieces tilapia in each tortilla; top with slaw, lime sour cream and salsa. Serves 4.
* Each serving: About 360 calories, 12g total fat (3g saturated), 28g protein, 37g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, 12mg cholesterol, 790mg sodium.
Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/4 pounds tilapia fillets
Kitchen Lady 1/4 pg. 1C 13x
1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chili pepper
8 corn tortillas
1 cup salsa
Springs
By John Allen
DIAMOND LIL
by Brett Koth
Donald Duck by Walt
Holidays & Observances This Week
1/25 National Bible Sunday
1/26 National Peanut Brittle Day
1/27 Holocaust Memorial Day
1/28 National Pediatrician Day
1/29 Seeing Eye Dog Day
1/30 Croissant Day
1/31 Fruitcake Toss Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Defective Dog Trainers
A year ago, a woman in New York City who shall remain nameless adopted two Chihuahuas knowing both dogs had a proclivity toward aggression. The dogs did not disappoint: They bark when she is and isn’t home, they snap at fellow residents in the elevator, and they’ve bitten random strangers on the street.
In the last year, this woman has hired four different dog trainers, each drawing their own professional conclusions:
-- Love the dogs, tell them they are good boys, and keep them in their crates.
-- Ignore the bad behavior, and the dogs will eventually knock it off.
-- The dogs are mad at you, and that is why they bite.
-- Some dogs are just defective.
Apparently, so are some dog trainers. Which is why it’s important to do the homework and know what you want before you sign on with a trainer for you and your dog.
Yes: a trainer for you and your dog.
A highly specialized trainer trains a Seeing Eye dog and teaches the owner how to effectively communicate with the dog in terms of the dog’s education. Another specialized trainer trains a K-9 cop and educates the officer to ensure dog and dog owner speak the same language. That is essentially what you want from your dog trainer: someone who can teach you and your dog to speak the same language.
And that language is not the language of love.
I recently spoke with a woman whose dog urinates in the house. She told me how much she loves her dog and that she was sure they could work it out. But the problem persisted despite her immense love, and she eventually called a dog trainer. This “trainer” concluded that her dog was angry with her because she had a roommate. The woman asked, “What do I do?” The trainer advised, “Get rid of the roommate.”
My advice? Get rid of that dog trainer, and lose the notion that lots of love is the equivalent of lots of training.
Now and then, not too often but sometimes, you sense that inner click and come to the realization that you need to change doctors.
Maybe it’s because once again you don’t feel like your doctor is really listening to your concerns. Maybe it’s because once again tests are ordered without you getting a clear explanation about why they’re necessary. Maybe it’s because your health problem just simply is not improving. Maybe it’s because you see the physician assistant (PA) when you expect to see the doctor. Or maybe it’s just because you have a gut feeling it's time to go elsewhere for a fresh start.
Whatever the reason, if the time comes to make a change it won’t be easy, especially if you’ve been with your current doctor for a long time and have established some sort of routine patient/doctor relationship.
Once you’ve decided to go ahead with this, the first step is to “interview” another doctor. You’ll need to call around to see who’s taking new patients or inquire among friends for recommendations. Then check out the doctor online with
Office Revamp
As I am writing this column, the sounds of hammers hammering, scrapers scraping and saws sawing fill the background. As a matter of fact, I am sitting in an uncomfortable chair with a laptop on my lap in a passageway full of furniture and boxes. Most would consider this a great inconvenience, but to me, it is music to my ears.
After five years of working in my current office, I felt something was wrong or missing. Stacks of unopened marketing, piles of unfiled documents and searching for 20 minutes every time I was looking for something had taken its toll.
The irony of it all is that here I am, a respected interior designer, and my office looks like the inside of a blender. The old adage proves true: "In the cobbler’s house, the children have holes in their shoes."
reviews by other people to see what their experiences and opinions look like. Look at Healthgrades (www.healthgrades.com). Or do an online search by the doctor’s name and location.
Be sure the doctor is in your insurance network and make an appointment. Go in with a written list of questions, concerns and take notes of your visit. Be sure to bring a complete list of all your current prescription medications along with all of the over-the-counter aids you are taking.
Once you find a doctor you’d like to now establish as your physician, you’ll need to have your records transferred over from your previous doctor's records and notes, which provide a good reference to your medical history.
And this is where I part company with advice I was given. I was told that it’s best to transfer my records to a new doctor before going to my first appointment. Personally, I prefer to wait until after the initial meeting before doing that. I feel it's best to meet and get acquainted with the doctor first, and to sense my comfort level.
I also did not let the current doctor's office know I was leaving until I was certain.You’ll need to make that decision for yourself.
If you find you've matched yourself with the right doctor, the difficulty will be worth it.
Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.
(c) KingFeaturesSyndicate2025
that I had too much of everything and would need to throw some, well -- a lot -- of it out. I shivered at the task at hand, but heeded her advice. If anything, she would look at things with objectivity and force me to make decisions strictly based on utility and necessity. Only keep what you use and what is necessary. No what ifs.
The first couple of days were a struggle, but as things disappeared from sight, I have to admit it gave me a good feeling, and I looked forward to the next day of purging and making way for the future.
Sure enough, the future involved a compete revamp of my office. Yes, I embraced the concept of change and accepted the assessment of a professional -- just as I expect my design clients to do. New office space, shelving for inventory, new client bins, and out with the outdated computers. Nothing is quite finished yet, but I know that in a few more days, when things settle and I have a new and improved work area, I will at last be a happy camper.
Week after week, I extol the virtues of organization and neatness to my design clients and to the many readers of my column. I knew I needed help, but from whom? I needed to find a remedy to all this mess. I knew I couldn’t face doing all of this work myself while at the same time managing my projects, so I enlisted the aid of a colleague, Kimberly Armstrong of Life Organized by Design. A designer herself, Kimberly specializes in organization. The minute I received her card, I knew at some point I would need her help.
Even professionals need the help of consulting professionals. Her first assessment was
The environment and atmosphere of where you work can affect your mental, spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. It can get in the way of your focus and stamina and keep you from reaching your goals. Keeping in mind that your office is where you spend the majority of your time, my advice is to make it functional, clear of clutter and the most beautiful it can be. Success is on the way.
P.S.: This week’s photo shows mayhem. The finished office will be shown in a future column.
* * * 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
Anyone can hang their shingle and call themselves a dog trainer. It’s up to you, the diligent dog owner, to ask the questions that will elicit the trainer’s true competency. Here are some good ones:
-- Are you a licensed or certified dog trainer? Certification, required or not, indicates a dedication to the endeavor and a degree of practical education.
-- What behavioral problem do you specialize in? Aggression? Housebreaking? Basic obedience? Tip: Ask what their specialty is before you give any clues as to what you need help with.
-- What training method do you use? Punishment-based training -- shock collars and knees to the chest? Reward-based training -- treats for tricks? Praise-based training -- personality-appropriate correction in conjunction with affection and love? The latter, in my opinion, is the only approach that is both effective and humane.
-- What kind of results do you get? Ask for references.
-- Do you offer any guarantees? If the answer is yes, get them in writing.
And don’t rule yourself out. If you can put in the time to assess your pup’s personality and stick with a single personality-appropriate praise-based training method, you just might be the best candidate for the job. There are books, websites and DVDs available to help you if this is the path you choose. Visit unclematty.com for suggestions. However we do it, diligence is key. Learning to speak the same language through training will curb, if not cure, most behavioral problems. Contrary to the thinking of a handful of goofball dog trainers, loving him, ignoring him, psychoanalyzing him and blaming him will not. Woof!
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.
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
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
by Tom Margenau
Social Security Clickbait
I’m sure you’ve seen these little teaser links on the Internet that can sometimes be too irresistible to ignore. They have catchy titles like “20 Celebrities Who Have a Secret Past” or “10 Common Foods That Will Kill You.” This kind of comeon is called “clickbait.” Frequently, it’s a form of false advertising that is designed to entice people browsing the web to follow a link to read or view some content that is usually disingenuous at best, and totally misleading at worst.
And there is a growing number of Social Security-themed clickbait. As I mentioned in a recent column, one of the most common ones goes something like this: “6 Major Changes to Social Security Coming in 2026.” And I’m sure many people fall for that come-on and open the link because they sure don’t want to miss out on any major changes to the program that might affect them.
But if you take the bait and open the link, you will learn that the “major changes” coming in 2026 are simply routine updates to Social Security that happen every year. For example, one of those changes is the annual cost-of-living increase that every Social Security beneficiary gets every January. Another is the routine annual increase in the amount of money a working beneficiary under full retirement age can make before any penalties are imposed on his or her benefits. There is not a single “major change” contained in any of these come-ons.
An increasingly common clickbait scenario, frequently sent as an email, usually goes something like this: “Click here to get your annual Social Security statement.” Those are always false because the Social Security Administration rarely sends Social Security statements, or any other Social Security information, to people via email.
I have never been naive enough to take the
1. The book of James is found in the: a) Old Testament b) New testament c) Neither
2. From Joshua 10, the sun stood still while Joshua's army destroyed what army? a) Amorites b) Midianites c) Egyptians d) Philistines
3. How old was Abram when God changed his name to Abraham? a) 44 b) 69 c) 89 d) 99
4. From Genesis 9, who saw a rainbow in the sky? a) Adam b) Moses c) Noah d) Abraham
5. Who was David's oldest brother? a) Eliab b) Jonathan c) Agrippa d) Moab
6. How many sons did Jacob have with Rachel? a) 2 b) 3 c) 4 d) 5
bait and open those kinds of emails. But I have two friends who did. One guy told me he was sent to a page that was trying to sell him insurance. But far worse than that, another friend said he followed the link and it led him to a porn site!
Another common theme of Social Securityrelated clickbait sites involves “secrets.” Here are a couple I saw recently. “Three Social Security secrets no one knows.” And another: “The secret to how you are losing out on $3.4 trillion in Social Security.”
I guess the temptation of learning a secret sells. But when it comes to Social Security, there really aren’t any. There might be some information that you are not yet aware of. But all of that information is definitely not secret because it is readily available from places like the Social Security Administration website (www.socialsecurity.gov), a local financial planner or from reading this column.
And frequently, the so-called “secrets” are really just bits of information I’d bet most people are already familiar with. For example, here are those “Three Social Security Secrets No One Knows.” One: Your benefits are reduced if you take them before full retirement age. Two: Your benefits are increased if you delay filing until after your full retirement age. Three: There is no point in waiting beyond age 70 to file for Social Security.
The reduction for early retirement is pretty straightforward and relatively modest. It is roughly one-half of 1% for each month a Social Security check is taken before full retirement age. But here is an interesting and revealing point. The clickbait site says your benefit is “slashed” if taken early.
The site also says you get a “generous” increase if you delay your benefits until after your full retirement age. The delayed retirement credit you get is actually two-thirds of 1% for each month you wait after your FRA to file for benefits.
And why do these clickbait sites exaggerate the downside of early retirement and overplay the upsides to delayed retirement? Because almost all of them have one goal: to get you to wait until age 70 to start your Social Security -- and in the meantime, to sign up for financial services offered by the companies sponsoring the sites.
To illustrate this further, let’s recall that other clickbait come on I mentioned earlier -- the one that said: “The Secret to How You Are Losing Out on $3.4 Trillion in Social Security.” Well, I guess somehow the author of that website used some very dubious math to figure out that all retiring baby boomers in this country will be losing out on combined benefits of $3.4 trillion if they don’t wait until age 70 to start their Social Security checks.
So I guess my wife and I have missed out on part of that $3.4 trillion because we both took our Social Security benefits at 62. I’ve discussed our reasons for doing this many times in this column. In a nutshell, we both decided to grab our benefits
early because we wanted to have fun spending that money before we got too old to enjoy it. (And of course, it helped that I also had my civil service pension for all the years I spent working for the federal government.)
I am definitely not saying everyone should file for their Social Security as soon as they reach age 62. I am simply pointing out that there are various reasons why some people might not want to wait until age 70 to file.
As I’ve said over and over again in this column, I am not a financial planner. I’m just an old, retired Social Security guy. But I do know enough to tell you there are many obvious factors you need to take into account when deciding at which age to begin your Social Security benefits. Do you think you will live to a ripe old age, and you will want more benefits in the long run? Then wait until age 70. Are you unsure of your longevity and are looking for more cash up front? Then take Social Security before then. Are you trying to guarantee higher survivor benefits for your spouse after you die? Then wait until age 70. Or do you and your spouse prefer to have more of that money in your early 60s as opposed to just one of you having more money later on? Then file sooner.
I can also tell you that I’ve heard from enough financial planners over the years to realize that more and more of them are suggesting that most people would be wise to start their benefits at full retirement age.
So another message of today’s column is this. When deciding when to start your Social Security benefits, consider all the things going on with your health, your finances and your marital status. And maybe talk to a financial planner. But definitely do not rely on clickbait to make your Social Security decisions.
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM (Answers on page 16)
Patient Experiences Symptoms of Excess Thyroid After MRI
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a male who is 58 years of age. I recently had an MRI of my cervical spine, and just this month, I had a CT scan of my whole abdomen. Since then, I have had symptoms of dry eyes, weight loss and insomnia. I wondered if the contrast dye used for the MRI or CT scan can cause hyperthyroidism, as these are common symptoms for excess thyroid hormone. Do you think that I have hyperthyroidism? -- G.L.
ANSWER: You are quite right that all these symptoms are commonly seen in people with excess thyroid. The weight loss is due to the increased metabolism of people with excess thyroid hormone. Insomnia is also common for similar reasons. Palpitations, tremor, anxiety, frequent bowel movements, and heat intolerance are all classical symptoms of excess thyroid hormone.
You are also right that the iodine-containing dye from CT scans can precipitate hyperthyroidism in a person who is destined to get it. However, the risk of this occurring is low. There is no increased risk of thyroid disease with MRI dye.
You could, indeed, have hyperthyroidism, and if you saw your doctor, you would very likely be tested. (I would certainly do so if I had a patient with these symptoms.) My experience is that these symptoms are not specific to thyroid disease, and it is probably some other cause. So, I would not be surprised if your thyroid tests were normal.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently got married again after being single for six years and have had five urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 14 months. My primary care doctor, a urogynecologist, and a urologist have all agreed on estradiol cream. I was basically put on this treatment for a prolapsed bladder and to build up my vaginal walls since I am sexually active again.
After reading your recent column about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in older women, I am concerned since I underwent menopause 20 years ago (instead of under 10) and just started this treatment two months ago.
I might add that I had not had a UTI for 50 years prior, but vaginal dryness may be contributing to these UTIs. My doctor has not recommended a progestin, but I have also been introduced to taking a cranberry supplement once a day in tablet form to keep bacteria from multiplying.
Would you have recommended the same treatment knowing that I have not had a period for 20 years? -- L.E.
ANSWER: The risks from estrogen re-
placement in postmenopausal women are from systemic estrogen -- meaning estrogen that gets absorbed into the blood. This includes estrogen pills and patches.
Topical estrogen, such as vaginal creams, rings and gels, are not well-absorbed in the body and do not significantly increase the risk of heart disease, which is the major reason that I recommended caution to women who underwent menopause more than 10 years ago. Similarly, progestins need to be used in women with a uterus when they’re taking systemic estrogen -- but not topical estrogen. (Topical estrogen is absorbed slightly in women with atrophy of the vaginal lining, so it is always worth a consultation with an oncologist for women with estrogen-sensitive tumors, such as breast cancer.)
I don’t generally advise systemic HRT more than 10 years postmenopause, but there still may be some times when it’s appropriate after a thorough discussion between a woman and her doctor. In your case, however, the risk of heart disease, breast cancer or blood clots is negligible from topical estrogen.
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
VETERANS POST
by Freddie Groves
Thieves Don’t Always Do Prison Time
The reports from the VA’s Office of Inspector General are mind-boggling outlines of just how low scammers will go to steal money, and just how much they are able to take. Not all of them, however, will do prison time.
A recent report indicates that one man was able to scam over $1 billion by creating fake medical drug and device claims. This scheme used telemedicine as well as phone calls, the internet and junk mail to con vulnerable people into handing over their personally identifiable information.
Armed with that information, the thieves were able to generate fake doctor orders and use their partner pharmacies, telemarketers and equipment suppliers to ship out unneeded medicine and medical items -- and get paid for it all to the tune of $1.45 billion.
The head thief, CEO of the medical software company behind all the fraud, is not likely to have time to enjoy the fruits of his ill-gotten cash because, at age 79, he’s been sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined over $452 million in restitution.
Then there is the guy who stole VA grants to the tune of $1.3 million (and DOL grants for half a million) while pretending to run a nonprofit homeless veterans shelter.
He didn’t just apply for grants once, he did it multiple times. And not only did he spend some of that cash on himself, but he pretended to provide counseling services that the veterans never received.
While he could have received up to 10 years in federal prison, he was only sentenced to 42 months, followed by supervised release.
On the other hand, there is the pain doctor who is managing to not go to prison even after knowingly billing for multiple tests on the same patient on the same day. Instead, it’s been called civil, not criminal, but he does have to pay $13.6 million under the False Claims Act.
How is it the theft of that amount of money doesn’t result in prison time?
The Judicial system is broken.
* * *
Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
How To Turn Down the Volume on Tinnitus
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: What treatments are recommended to help with tinnitus? I started noticing a subtle ringing in my ears about 10 years ago, but it’s gotten much more bothersome since I turned 60. How can I get rid of this bothersome niusance? -- Ringing Ronnie
Dear Ronnie,Tinnitus is actually one of the most common health conditions in the country. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders around 10 percent of the U.S. adult population – over 25 million Americans – experience some form of tinnitus.
For most people tinnitus is merely annoying, but roughly 5 million people struggle with chronic tinnitus and 2 million find it debilitating.
While there’s no cure, there are a range of different strategies you can employ to reduce the symptoms to make it less bothersome. Here’s what you should know.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus (pronounced TIN-a-tus or tinNIGHT-us) is the sensation of hearing a ringing, buzzing, roaring, humming, hissing or whistling sound in one or both ears when no external sound is present.
The sounds, which can vary in pitch and loudness, are usually worse when background noise is low, so you may be more aware of it at night when you’re trying to fall asleep in a quiet room. Many have found that a simple white noise device works well to neutralize the sound.
Tinnitus itself is not a disease, but rather a symptom of some other underlying health condition. The best way to find out what’s caus-
ing your tinnitus is to see an audiologist, or an otolaryngologist – a doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat diseases (commonly called an ENT). The various things that can cause tinnitus are:
- Hearing loss, which is the most common cause.
- Middle ear obstructions usually caused by a build-up of earwax deep in the ear canal.
- Side effects of many different prescription and over-the-counter medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen, certain blood pressure medicines and diuretics, some antidepressants, cancer medicines and antibiotics.
- Various medical conditions such as high blood pressure, vascular disease, diabetes, allergies, thyroid problems, ear or sinus infections,
- Meniere’s disease, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, otosclerosis, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a tumor, an injury to the head or neck, traumatic brain injury, depression, stress and more.
Treatment Strategies
There are many ways to treat tinnitus depending on the cause. For example, if your tinnitus is caused by a wax build-up in your ears or a medical condition like high blood pressure or a thyroid problem, treating the problem may reduce or eliminate the noise.
Or, if you’re taking a medication that’s causing the problem, switching to a different drug or lowering the dosage may provide some relief. If you have hearing loss, getting a hearing aid can help mask your tinnitus by improving your ability to hear actual sounds.
Another strategy that can help suppress or mask the sound so it’s less bothersome is “sound therapy.” This can be as simple as a fan or white noise machine, or you can use sound therapy apps like ReSound Tinnitus Relief, myNoise or NatureSpace.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and psychological counseling can also be helpful, as can tinnitus retraining therapy (TNT). This combines counseling and sound therapy to train your brain to ignore the sound in your ears. The new MindEar app offers TNT.
There are even new innovations like the FDA approved device Lenire (lenire.com) that uses electrical stimulation of the tongue to alleviate symptoms.
There are also certain medications that may help. While there’s no FDA approved drugs specifically designed to treat tinnitus, some an-
tianxiety drugs and antidepressants have been effective in relieving symptoms.
Your audiologist or ENT can help you figure out the best treatment options. Other things you can do to help quiet the noise is to avoid things that can aggravate the problem like fatty foods, salt, artificial sweeteners, sugar, alcohol, tonic water, tobacco and caffeine. Also be sure to drink plenty of water as dehydration can worsen symptoms. And protect yourself from sustained loud noises by wearing earplugs.
• Extensive valley-wide distribution in over 600 newsstand locations - including Wal-Mart, Walgreens, and Revivals, as well as restaurants, coffee shops, medical offices and more!
• Over 70,000
-- by Jim Miller
grandmother. I have enclosed the mark that is on the back of each dish.
JUNQUE
by Anne McCollam Creators News Service
Tiffany Clock Was Made In Europe
Q: Many, many years ago, my mother gave me an old clock that was my grandfather’s. I have enclosed a photo of the clock for you to see. I’m almost 60 years of age, so I know it’s at least that old. It never worked, but would chime if you pushed the button on the top. At this point, however, the chime doesn’t sound any longer.
I’ve kept it on a shelf as decoration and even tried to shine it, to no avail. The porcelain face of the clock shows the name “Tiffany & Co.”
Could you tell me if something like this would be of any value, other than sentimental? I’d appreciate any information you could provide for me.
The set is a service for 12 and includes plates, cups, saucers, small bowls, a large serving platter and a vegetable bowl.
The dishes are decorated with white and yellow flowers along with green leaves in the center and trimmed in gold. The following words are also included with the mark: “22 Karat Gold.”
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
1901.
A: Your dinnerware was made by Cannonsburg Pottery. They were located in Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, from 1901 to 1978. They made semiporcelain dinnerware, hotel wares and toilet sets. Cannonsburg Pottery sold to department stores, mail-order houses and chain stores.
In the beginning, decorating was done by hand. In 1960, much of their wares were decorated using decals. The mark “22 Karat Gold” was first used with their marks around 1922.
The company was founded by W. S. George and was a family owned and operated business until 1976. It was then bought by Angelo Falconi, and by 1978 the company went bankrupt.
Your dinnerware set was made around 1930 and would probably be worth $475 to $700.
* On Jan. 26, 1875, a gang of men likely led by Pinkerton Detective Agency staff, who mistakenly believed that outlaws Frank and Jesse James were holed up in their family home, raided the house, leaving their mother, Zerelda James, permanently maimed and their 9-yearold half-brother, Archie Samuel, dead from an exploded flare meant to flush the brothers out.
* On Jan. 27, 1970, John Lennon composed and recorded “Instant Karma,” his third solo single prior to the Beatles’ official breakup, in one day. Though he remarked that he “wrote it for breakfast, recorded it for lunch, and we’re putting it out for dinner,” the song was actually released to the public almost two weeks later.
* On Jan. 28, 1777, poet, playwright and British General John Burgoyne submitted a plan to the British government that would isolate New England from the other colonies, which involved an invasion of 8,000 British troops from Canada moving south through New York and taking the Americans by surprise. Its failure that autumn launched severe criticism, and soon after Burgoyne retired from active service.
A: You have a carriage alarm clock that was sold at Tiffany and Company in New York. Many of the clocks they sold were made in Paris, France or Germany. They usually had beveled glass on four sides, porcelain faces, black numerals, visible escapements, 8-day movements and chimes that would strike on the hour and the half hour.
Your clock was made in the early 1900s If your clock were in mint condition or were restored it might be worth $950 to $1700. * * *
Q: I Hope you can tell me about a set of dishes that was passed down from my great-
* * * Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has recently retired and no longer receives inquiries nor answers reader letters. Due to the popularity of her column, this publication will continue to reprint previous columns of interest to our readers.
When you persuade many people to move to
* On Jan. 29, 1929, The Seeing Eye, America’s first school designed to train guide dogs for the visually impaired, opened in Tennessee. For the benefit of skeptical reporters, cofounder Morris Frank showcased his own dog, Buddy, on busy New York streets.
* On Jan. 30, 1994, American speed skater Dan Jansen set a new world record of 35.76 at the World Sprint Championships in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
* On Jan. 31, 1961, a chimp named Ham became the first hominid in space, after a 16.5-minute suborbital flight, paving the way for the first human in space three months later.
* On Feb. 1, 1917, Germany returned to the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare it had suspended in response to pressure from America and other neutral countries. The previous day, German chancellor Theobald Bethmann Hollweg had announced that “the destructive designs of our opponents cannot be expressed more strongly. We have been challenged to fight to the end. We accept the challenge. We stake everything, and we shall be victorious.”
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
Cannonsburg Pottery was founded in
Tiffany and Company clock was made in France or Germany.
"Nurse, turn up the volume on the game. I want to be able to hear what's going on when this guy starts screaming!"
Popcorn: (from page 3)
inexpensive at 5 cents a bag. The popcorn business thrived and became a source of income for many, including the Redenbacher family, originators of the famous popcorn brand. During World War II, sugar rations diminished candy production, and Americans compensated by eating three times as much popcorn as they ever had before.
• Orville Redenbacher was born in Indiana in 1909 and grew up on the family farm. At 12 he began growing popcorn, and made enough money selling it that it paid for his degree in agriculture from Purdue.
• In 1951 he bought a seed corn factory. Orville never forgot how profitable it was to sell popcorn, so he experimented with hybrids in order to find the perfect type of popcorn. Once he found the perfect strain, Orville went to work popularizing popcorn as a treat for the home, not just for the theater.
• Orville Reddenbacher’s popcorn went on sale for the first time in 1970. By the mid-1970s, he had captured one-third of the market. By the time he died of a heart attack in 1995, his was the top-selling popcorn in the nation.
• In the 1880s, Charles Cretors owned a candy store in Illinois where his workers made confections in the front window in order to entice customers inside. Charles added a newfangled steampowered peanut-roasting machine because the scent would also attract customers. However, the peanut roasting machine did not always work well, so Cretors tinkered with it, improving and modifying. By 1893, Cretors had created a diversified machine that could roast 12 pounds of peanuts, 20 pounds of coffee, pop popcorn, and roast chestnuts.
• He took his invention to Chicago’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 where many people got their first introduction to popcorn. Cretors understood there was more money to be made in selling the popcorn machines than in selling the popcorn itself.
• Today the Cretor’s Company is still in the Cretor’s family, run by his descendants. Cretor’s is the major supplier of movie theater popcorn machines as well as most of machines that make food at county fairs: hot dog roasters, cotton candy machines, snow-cone ice shavers, pizza ovens, nacho dispensers, and more.
Game Changers
by Jason Jenkins
Bunker Blues
We’ve all had that experience of getting into a deep greenside bunker, only to spend two to three swings before finally expelling the ball onto the green. It usually starts with a poor lie, or sometimes stems from an uncertainty of the texture of the sand.
For many seasonal golfers who play northern courses in the summer, this may be especially true. But a lot of amateurs simply hit too far behind the ball where all of the clubhead speed is absorbed by the extra sand. They think they’re hitting two inches behind the ball, but unfortunately are entering more like four to five inches instead.
Many times I’ve coached golfers to try to feel like they are going to hit right behind the ball on a downward blow. Their eyes should pick a spot perhaps even at the back end of the ball. The reality is that even though they’re trying to hit that visual spot, the club really enters the sand one to two inches behind the ball.
In practice, make a mark near the ball’s position in the sand and compare where your club really hit relative to that mark. When you can consistently hit two to three inches behind the mark, you’re bunker game will dramatically improve!
