Vol 22: #28 • Winnie the Pooh • (7-5-2026) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

TIDBITS ROMPS WITH

Winnie the Pooh

by Janet Spencer

Winnie the Pooh is a timeless classic that offers gentle storytelling, friendship, and humor, the perfect tale for all ages who want to enjoy an engaging and entertaining read. Follow along as Tidbits explores the background story of how the tale originated, and grew to become a respected part of classic children's literature. It began back in 1914:

• At the start of WWI, Harry Colebourn of Winnipeg, Canada, volunteered to serve in the Army. On his way to report for duty, he encountered a man selling a young black bear cub whose mother had died. On impulse, Colebourn bought the cub for $20 and brought it with him to England. He named the cub Winnipeg, or Winnie for short.

• The bear soon became his brigade’s mascot. When they were transferred for duty in France, Colebourn placed Winnie at the London Zoo, intending to later transfer her home to the Winnipeg Zoo. But Winnie had become so popular with Londoners, and the gentle bear obviously enjoyed visits from children so much that Colebourn finally decided to make her residency there permanent.

1. MOVIES: Who was the only actress to appear in the 1961 and 2021 film versions of “West Side Story”?

2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which month of the year has the most letters in its name?

3. SCIENCE: What protects the Earth from solar winds?

4. TELEVISION: What is the name of the bar in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”?

5. U.S. STATES: Which state is home to the first Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop?

6. LITERATURE: What are the names of the two brothers in the “Hardy Boys” novel series?

7. LANGUAGE: What is a polyglot?

8. FOOD & DRINK: Which herb is most often used in traditional pesto?

9. ANATOMY: Membranes called pleurae cover the surface of which human organs?

10. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of South Korea?

Air Rifle Company.

• When sales slumped during the Great Depression, the firm pursued kid-friendly tie-ins by recruiting a variety of famous cowboy actors to endorse the Daisy BB gun.

• Stephen Slesinger pioneered multi-media promotions. First with “Tarzan” and then with “Winnie the Pooh,” by showing the success of coordinating TV, radio, and newspaper promotions. In 1938, he envisioned a westernthemed newspaper cartoon strip to promote in a similar manner. All he needed was an artist.

• Fred Harman had previously worked as a newspaper, catalog, and Disney illustrator. When Slesinger and Harman collaborated, they created a Western cartoon called “Red Ryder.”

• Red Ryder was depicted as a cowboy hero, traveling the Rockies on his horse Thunder, accompanied by his Indian sidekick Little Beaver. His girlfriend Beth, ranch hand Buckskin, and arch-enemy Ace Hanlon also appeared regularly. At its height, the Red Ryder serial cartoon ran in 750 newspapers, from 1938 until 1967.

• Building on the comic strip’s success, Slesinger launched Red Ryder into comic books, TV serials, 26 movies, radio shows, and extensive merchandising, including Red Ryder decoder rings, posters, lariats, bullwhips, cap guns, holster sets, and coin banks.

• Later, Slesinger decided that Red Ryder should have a BB gun instead of a cap gun. As a result of this decision, he approached the Daisy Air Rifle Company.

• In 1886, the Plymouth Iron Windmill Co in Plymouth, Michigan, manufactured metal windmills. Each windmill purchase included a free gift: a metal air rifle, made by the same designer as the windmills.

• The air rifle soon outpaced the windmills in popularity. As a result, the company shifted its focus and began producing air rifles exclusively. In 1895, the firm changed its name to the Daisy

• In 1940, Slesinger and Daisy Air Rifle agreed to rename one of Daisy’s top carbines the Red Ryder Daisy Carbine Air Rifle. Slesinger’s promotional strategies helped the company sell over a million units in a year.

• The iconic Red Ryder air rifle became embedded in American pop culture years later. The 1983 movie “A Christmas Story” was set in the U.S. in 1940, the same year Red Ryder first started promoting the air rifle. In the film, young Ralphie Parker begs his parents no less than 28 times to buy him a “Red Ryder range model air rifle for Christmas. This model comes with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time!”

• In the film, Ralphie’s mom repeatedly denies his request, saying, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” But Ralphie does at last get his precious Red Ryder air rifle for Christmas, and promptly nearly shoots his eye out when a BB ricochets and shatters his glasses, demonstrating that his mom’s warning was indeed justified.

• Despite the ongoing allure among kids for owning one of these nifty Red Ryder rifles, air guns and children do remain a volatile mix. A 2019 Pediatrics study found that nearly 14,000 children were treated annually for non-powder firearm injuries—including BB guns, air rifles, and paintball guns—between 1990 and 2016. About 15 percent of those injuries involved the eye.

• The agreement between Red Ryder and Daisy Air Rifle is still in place, holding the record for the longest continuous license agreement in the history of the licensing industry. While the Daisy Air Rifle is still being manufactured, few people today even know who the original Red Ryder was. But the universal desire to have one of these for their very own hasnʼt changed. 

• At about this same time in London, a man by the name of Alan Alexander Milne never wanted to be a soldier; his lifetime goal was to be a writer. After being wounded in WWI, he was assigned desk duty, producing war propaganda. After the war, he worked as an editor for “Punch,” a magazine of humor, satire, and political cartoons. His writing career gained momentum as he wrote 18 plays and three novels.

• Milne’s career shifted in 1924 when he published a collection of playful poems for children, dedicating the book to his young son.

• The book was called “When We Were Very Young,” and was illustrated by Earnest Shepard, a cartoonist and illustrator who also worked with Milne at “Punch” magazine. It sold well.

• Alan and Daphne had one child, Christopher Robin Milne, born in 1920. Alan moved the family from London to Cotchford Farm, an acreage surrounded by fields and forests with plenty of room for their son to play and explore as he grew.

• On Christopher’s first birthday, he received a stuffed bear, which he named Edward. After a number of visits with his father to the London Zoo, Christopher had grown so fond of the zooʼs tame bear that he changed his own bearʼs name to Winnie.

•

•

• Each Christmas and birthday, the family added a new stuffed toy, each with a new name: Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, Roo, and Tigger. Amused by his son’s imaginary tales about these toys, Alan decided to write his own tale to go with them, which he named “Winnie-the-Pooh.” The title was based on his son’s actual collection, with the characters named after his stuffed animal

collection. Only Owl and Rabbit were invented, inspired by wild animals that visited their farm. The surrounding countryside became “The Hundred Acre Wood.” “Pooh” was the name given to a local resident swan.

• The book, with whimsical illustrations by Earnest Shepard, was released in 1926 and sold quickly: about 32,000 copies in the UK and 150,000 in the U.S. in one year.

• Milne followed with another book of poems, “Now We Are Six” (1927), and “The House at Pooh Corner” (1928), both illustrated by Shepard. Their popularity led to a phenomenal explosion of Winnie the Pooh mania.

WINNIE TRIVIA

• Pooh was originally unclothed. His red shirt was added in 1932.

• Kanga was a “he” in Milne’s original notes but became the only female character in the books.

• The downtrodden Eeyore the donkey once stood with his head high, supported by tight stuffing and stiffened fabric. Over time, the neck stuffing would weaken and eventually droop.

The town of White River, Ontario, where the original Winnie was first found as a cub by Harry Colebourn, hosts an annual Winnie-the-Pooh festival every August. The celebration features an historical re-enactment of the original purchase of Winnie, along with a parade, a fish derby, a spaghetti supper, and a bingo tournament.

• The original stuffed bear had a mechanism that allowed it to growl.

• Illustrator Earnest Shepard based his drawings on his own son’s teddy bear, Growler, not Christopher Robin’s bear.

• Alan Milne’s father (Christopher Robin’s grandfather) operated a private boarding school, which Alan attended. One of his teachers was a young H.G. Wells, who later became an iconic science fiction author.

Researchers

OCD and microcephaly (due to his Very Little Brain); Piglet has gen-

Eeyote

and Tigger has a "recurrent

• The publisher of the books (Methuen Publishing) was most well known for non-fiction works, including Albert Einstein’s “Relativity, the Special and the General Theory: A Popular Exposition” published in 1920.

• Disney acquired the rights to Pooh in 1961. It is now one of Disney’s most profitable franchises, earning $3 to $6 billion annually—just below Mickey Mouse and above Disney Princesses and Star Wars.

• In Milne’s original books, Winnie-the-Pooh was hyphenated. Disney dropped the hyphens after acquiring the character.

• Poohsticks is a simple game introduced in “The House at Pooh Corner.” It involves players dropping sticks into a river from the

1. This Rolling Stones guitarist bought the Milne's Cotchford Farm and drowned in its swimming pool in 1969. 2. Winnie the Pooh has his own start on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. How many other fictional characters do?

By Lucie Winborne

* Time slows down so dramatically near a black hole that if you stood close enough to it, years could pass for the universe while just minutes passed for you.

* After trading $3 billion worth of PepsiCola to the U.S.S.R. in exchange for vodka, submarines and other military hardware, the Pepsi company briefly had the sixth largest military in the world.

* The tradition of carrying the bride across the threshold started in medieval Europe when many people believed that a bride was especially vulnerable to evil spirits through the soles of her feet. To guard her from such attacks, the chivalric groom would carry her into their new home.

* Los Angeles has the world’s largest Korean population outside of Korea.

* In J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” dragon blood is revealed to be an effective oven cleaner.

by Mary Hunt

12 Things Worth Stocking Up On in July

by Mary Hunt

It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the year, but July has arrived -- and with it comes a handful of opportunities to save money, plan ahead and make the most of the season.

When people think about stocking up, they often focus only on sales. That’s certainly part of the equation. But timing matters too. Some products are at their peak, some are being cleared out, and others are available only for a short window each year.

Here are a dozen things worth putting on your radar this month.

1. SUMMER PRODUCE

July is one of the best months of the year for fresh fruits and vegetables. Watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, plums, blueberries, strawberries and sweet corn are widely available and often reasonably priced. If your family enjoys fresh fruit, buy extra when prices are good. Freeze berries for smoothies, slice peaches for desserts, or stock the freezer with corn for later in the year.

ADVERTISING PROOF

2. ICE CREAM

Vendors would rather clear out inventory than store it for another year. Post-holiday markdowns can be substantial. Even sparklers for future celebrations are often available at a fraction of their pre-July 4 price.

6. FROZEN TREATS AND CONVENIENCE DRINKS

July also brings plenty of promotional giveaways from convenience stores. Keep an eye on local ads and loyalty programs for free or discounted frozen drinks, ice cream treats and other summertime favorites. A little planning can turn a family outing into a very inexpensive treat.

7. BARBECUE AND PICNIC SUPPLIES

Retailers compete aggressively around the Fourth of July, which often translates into discounts on paper goods, serving trays, grilling tools, coolers and outdoor entertaining supplies. If you’re hosting gatherings later this summer, now is a smart time to buy what you’ll need.

8. OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND PATIO ITEMS

By mid-summer, many stores begin marking down patio furniture, outdoor cushions, umbrellas and garden accessories to make room for fall merchandise. Selection may be thinner, but the savings can be significant if you’re flexible on color and style.

9. FURNITURE

* During WWII, the Polish army adopted a brown bear named Wojtek into their ranks. The animal was fond of cigarettes and beer, and even received a promotion from private to corporal.

Final Changes DUE: 12:00 NOON

MON., MAY 18

Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours

Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

* A sloth can take up to two weeks to digest a single meal.

July happens to be National Ice Cream Month, and retailers know it. Grocery stores frequently feature sales on cartons, novelty treats and frozen desserts throughout the month. If you find a favorite brand at a significant discount, there’s no harm in making a little room in the freezer.

Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630

* Actress Roseanne Barr once attempted to run for president and got as far as filing with the Federal Election Commission, under the “Green Tea Party Ticket.”

Earl’s Air Conditioning

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Many furniture manufacturers introduce new collections earlier in the year. By July, retailers are often eager to move older inventory to create showroom space. If you’ve been shopping for a sofa, recliner, dining set or occasional chair, it’s worth taking a look at clearance sections before buying new arrivals at full price.

10. MAJOR APPLIANCES

3. HOT DOGS

ADVERTISING PROOF

May 24, 2026 Vol. 22 - No. 22

* Lightning isn’t limited to thunderstorms, but can also occur in volcanic eruptions, wildfires and snowstorms.

Final Changes DUE: 12:00 NOON

MON., MAY 18

Summer and hot dogs go together like fireworks and picnic blankets. July is also National Hot Dog Month, which means special promotions are common at supermarkets. Watch for buy-one-get-one-free offers and larger family packs that can be divided and frozen for later cookouts.

Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours

* During certain periods in feudal Japan, executions of condemned criminals were used by some samurais to test their new swords. ***

4. HAMBURGER AND HOT DOG BUNS

Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630

Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630

Buns have a short shelf life, which often leads stores to mark them down quickly. If you spot deeply discounted packages, buy several and

Holiday promotions around Independence Day frequently include some of the year’s better appliance deals. Refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, air purifiers, dehumidifiers and room air conditioners are often discounted as retailers prepare for incoming inventory.

11. SUMMER CLOTHING

Retailers are already thinking about fall -- even if the temperature says otherwise. That means swimsuits, sandals, shorts and lightweight clothing often begin their markdown cycle in July. If you can buy next year’s summer wardrobe this month, you’ll likely pay much less than you would in May.

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May 24, 2026 Vol. 22 - No. 22

Thought for the Day: “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.” -- Tom Brokaw

If your local laws allow fireworks, the best time to buy is often right after Independence Day.

12. BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES

It may seem early, but back-to-school promotions start appearing in July. Watch for loss-leader pricing on notebooks, pens, backpacks, dorm accessories and even laptops. Buying gradually throughout the month can help spread out expenses and prevent a last-minute spending spree in August.

The best stocking-up strategy isn’t buying more. It’s buying smarter. July may not be the biggest sale month of the year, but it offers plenty of opportunities to purchase things you’ll use anyway -- often for less than you’ll pay later.

* * *

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.”

• When we think of the Hawaiian Islands, what springs to mind is generally the 400-mile stretch of the eight main islands: Maui, O’aho, Hawai’i, and others. However, the archipelago stretches about 1,600 miles and encompasses 137 islands, some of which barely rise above the water.

• Russian explorer Yuri Lisianski “discovered” a small atoll in 1805, already well-known to natives, and named it after himself. Uncertainty surrounding the pronunciation and spelling of his name resulted in others calling it simply Laysan’s island.

• One of the birds that nest on Laysan Island was subsequently named the Laysan albatross. There are 22 recognized species of albatross, with the Laysan albatross one of the smaller varieties with a wingspan of around six feet. By contrast, the largest of the species, the wandering albatross, has a wingspan of about 12 feet.

• Another island in the Hawaiian archipelago is called Midway. Its name comes from its position, almost exactly halfway between North America and Asia, and precisely halfway around the world longitudinally from Greenwich, England. This atoll is small, measuring only 2.4 square miles. Located 1,310 miles northwest of Honolulu, it is not considered part of the state of Hawaii.

• Midway played a key WWII role in the Battle of the Pacific. It is also a vital nesting site for the Laysan albatross. About 70 percent of the world’s population of them breeds there. The U.S. Navy left the island in 1993, and the atoll became the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

• In 1956, the U.S. Geological Survey sent a crew to Midway to study its birds and band them for identification.

• In 1956, ornithologist Chandler Robbins placed ID tag #Z333 on the leg of an adult female albatross. Because the bird was incubating an egg and Laysan’s albatrosses don’t mate until at least age five, her age was estimated to be at least five years. Thus, she must have hatched in 1951 or earlier. The bird has been tracked every year since its original banding.

• Although the albatross mates for life, she has outlived several partners over the decades. Because of wear, her identification band has been replaced six times. Over the years she has laid between 50 and 60 eggs (one each season) and successfully raised at least 30 chicks. Previously, it was believed that the Laysan albatross lived 40 to 50 years, but her return to Midway for the 2026 mating season confirmed she is now at least 75 years old.

• In 2006, a field biologist who replaced her leg band dubbed her with the name Wisdom. One of Wisdom’s sons has nested near her in the past, which now lets Wisdom watch her grandchicks grow up.

• When not nesting, Laysan albatrosses spend their time foraging across the entire North Pacific Ocean, traveling to Alaska, the Bering Sea, and Japan. It’s been estimated that Wisdom has flown over 3,000,000 miles since 1956, which is equal to 120 times the Earth’s circumference.

• Other birds have lived longer. For instance, Cocky Bennett, the cockatoo, died in 1916 at the verified age of 120. However, Wisdom is the oldest known wild, free-range bird.

• Chandler Robbins returned to the wildlife refuge regularly throughout his life to check on the bird

he banded in 1956, including visits when he was in his 80s and 90s before his death at 99 in 2017. And Wisdom, the albatross he banded, is still healthy and continues to live on. 

by Dana Jackson

Q: Did they ever say the cause of death for actor Patrick Muldoon? He wasn’t even 60 years old. I loved him on “Days of Our Lives.” -- B.B.

A: Actor Patrick Muldoon (“Melrose Place” and “Days of Our Lives”) died suddenly at age 57 this past April. People magazine reported, according to his death certificate, that he died from a myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack) -- and that a pulmonary embolism and a hereditary clotting disorder were also factors.

Even though he was best known for his soap roles and the movie “Starship Troopers,” in recent years, Muldoon produced projects in Hollywood, including the 2024 comedy film “Riff Raff,” which starred Jennifer Coolidge (“The White Lotus”), Bill Murray (“Lost in Translation”), and Ed Harris (“Dutton Ranch”).

Q: I’m a big fan of Nathan Fillion and “The Rookie,” but I haven’t heard much about the spin-off “Feds.” Is it returning for another

1. Toy Story 5 (PG) Tom Hanks, Tim Allen 2. Disclosure Day (PG-13) Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor 3. Obsession (R) Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette 4. Backrooms (R) Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve

5. Scary Movie

(R) Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans

6. Masters of the Universe

(PG-13) Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes

7. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (PG-13) Pedro Pascal, Brendan Wayne

8.

season? -- K.S.

A: ”The Rookie: Feds,” which premiered in 2022 and starred Niecy Nash-Betts, was unfortunately canceled after just one season. It had the misfortune of being delayed by the writers’ and actors’ strikes in Hollywood, and when it did premiere, it attracted only 2.2 million viewers, which is small potatoes in network television.

Co-creator Alexi Hawley explained to Deadline how ABC had other plans that didn’t include a renewal of “Feds.” He stated, “A lot had to do with the forces that led to strike ... the consolidation of the industry, the economic impact of the streaming wars ... on different companies. I do feel it was not a creative decision. It was a business decision.”

According to TVLine, the fact that the spinoff aired at 10 p.m. ET on a Tuesday was a problem, which has long been considered ABC’s “death slot.” Interestingly, “The Rookie” airs at 10 p.m. on Mondays and is approaching its ninth season.

ABC is hoping that another spin-off, “The Rookie: North,” starring Jay Ellis (“Insecure”), will attract better numbers than “Feds.” Look for it to debut mid-season in early 2027 with 10 episodes.

Q: Is there actually going to be a new version of “Little House on the Prairie”? Are they sure that this is really a good idea? -- G.M.

A: Yes, a reboot/revival of “Little House on the Prairie” based on the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder is coming to Netflix this July. The original series aired on NBC from 1974-1983. The new series’ showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine told Entertainment Weekly that “the spirit of the original show is going to overlap.”

Don’t worry, it’s not a modern retelling of the novels or an original, classic TV show. It’s

still set on a farm in the late 19th century but will feature new characters, alongside some familiar names from the Ingalls family. According to the cast list, troublemaker Nellie Oleson (played by Willa Dunn) will also be making an appearance. * * * Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.

(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

Tidbits is in need of independent contractor help distributing our newspapers to businesses in the Coachella Valley. A retired husband/wife team is preferred, who wish to supplement their monthly income by driving and distributing to a specified delivery route in the LaQuinta/Sun City area. Requires year-round commitment of one day per week, either Thursday or Friday, during regular business hours. One person needed to drive; the other to place copies at delivery locations.

Interested parties must posess a responsible work ethic, furnish their own vehicle and auto insurance, and have a friendly demeanor when dealing with the public. Interested couples call Erik at 760-320-0997 for more details.

Healthy Fried Chicken

The crunchy coating is what seals in the juices, giving this Southern standard its fingerlicking flavor. Too bad it also absorbs so much fat. By stripping the bird of its skin, baking instead of frying, and ditching the batter for panko crumbs, our crispy cheat carves off 240 calories and 22 grams of fat per serving.

1 1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cut-up chicken

1 1/2 up panko (Japanese-style) breadcrumbs

1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon peel

1. In large self-sealing plastic bag, place buttermilk, ground red pepper and 3/4 teaspoon salt; add chicken pieces, turning to coat. Seal bag, pressing out excess air. Refrigerate chicken at least 1 hour or preferably overnight, turning bag over once.

2. Heat oven to 4250 F. Spray 15 1/2-by10 1/2-inch jelly-roll pan with nonstick spray. In large bowl, combine panko and lemon peel.

3. Remove chicken from marinade, shaking off excess. Discard marinade. Add chicken pieces, a few at a time, to panko mixture, turning to coat. Place chicken in prepared pan.

4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until coating is crisp and juices run clear when thickest part of chicken is pierced with tip of knife.

TIP: For browner coating, after chicken is cooked, turn oven to broil. Broil chicken 5 to 6 inches from source of heat 1 to 2 minutes or until golden.

Cookies ‘n’ Cream Shake

Kids will love their favorite combination mixed up in a glass.

4 scoops vanilla ice cream 4 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, coarsely chopped 1 cup milk

In blender, combine ice cream, cookies and milk and blend until mixture is smooth and frothy. Pour into 2 tall glasses.

 Each serving: About 332 calories, 19g total fat (10g saturated), 52mg cholesterol, 326mg sodium, 35g total carbohydrate, 7g protein.

Cantaloupe Boats

Drizzle honey and toasted almonds over raspberries, frozen yogurt and sweet melon for a quick and simple summer treat.

1/4 cup sliced almonds 1/4 cup honey

1 medium ripe cantaloupe, cut into quarters, with seeds removed 1 pint vanilla frozen yogurt 1/2 pint raspberries

1. In small nonstick skillet, toast almonds over medium heat just until golden, stirring frequently. Remove skillet from heat and stir in honey; set aside.

2. To serve, place cantaloupe quarters on 4 dessert plates. Top with frozen yogurt, raspberries and warm almond mixture.

 Each serving: About 330 calories, 8g total fat (3g saturated), 64g carbohydrate, 8g protein, 2mg cholesterol, 125mg sodium.

NEXT WEEK in

Holidays & Observances This Week

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis

Keeping a Cool Canine

As summer heats up and several states turn to burn bans and water rationing to combat prolonged droughts, dog owners must pay careful attention to keeping their canines cool.

Some dogs, particularly the snub-nosed breeds like pugs, bulldogs, boxers and Lhasa apsos, will make this easy on us and simply revert to air-conditioned hibernation until temperatures outside relax.

Others, no matter the climate, will not forsake their beloved backyard. It is with these stalwarts in mind -- guardians of the yard, lovers of the swimming pool, keepers of the garden -- that I offer the following guidance.

Limit summer walks to early morning or late evening, and keep them relatively short. As a general rule, if the sidewalk is too hot for your bare feet, it’s too hot for your dog’s paw pads.

If for some reason your dog is not allowed to luxuriate indoors, he’ll need a covered shady spot to retreat to at any given time of day and have cool, fresh drinking water available at all times. The ideal outdoor water bowl is weighted to help prevent spilling, and it’s smart to have two or more bowls per dog set out.

Many dogs are natural swimmers, but don’t set Fido loose in the pool (or lake or river) until you know two things with certainty: 1) He really does know how to swim, and 2) He knows how to get out of the pool. Even great swimmers will tire and drown if they aren’t taught how to exit a swimming pool. And if your pool has no steps and no shallow end, your dog has no exit and no resting place, so you’ll need to keep it covered.

But it’s not just dogs and pools that don’t always make for happy endings. Doggie doors are installed to give a dog free access to both yard and house. But they also give small children free access to yard and house. If you have all four -- pool, doggie door, dog and child -- make sure both dog and child know how to swim and how to get in and out of the pool unassisted. Otherwise, keep the pool covered.

Easier, cleaner, safer options for utilizing water to cool your dog down are outdoor misters

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

Stay Aware of Recalls

Sometimes the list of recalls mentioned on the evening news makes us wonder what else we’re not hearing about. Here are a few current ones:

There is a recall on 25-milligram blood pressure medication chlorthalidone tablets due to what the FDA says is “failed dissolution specifications.” Over 11,000 bottles across the country are affected.

And we have the 125,000 vehicles that are being recalled again because the repairs weren’t completed correctly the first time the vehicles were recalled. While there are a few issues in those recalls, the problem with the clutch might be the most important -- it can leak fluid and cause a fire.

with listeria and vitamins with salmonella.

And the pancake mix we use for Sunday morning breakfasts? Undeclared soy and milk. How about the cheese bread and garlic croutons? Salmonella. How about the fruit ice pops we give to the grandkids? Milk, pecans, pistachios and both yellow and red dye.

Our pets aren’t left out of the mistakes. One freeze-dried brand of cat and dog food has levels of vitamin B-1 that are too low for FDA standards.

Sometimes recalls don’t immediately make it to the evening news, and it’s up to us to stay on top of these things. Start a weekly habit of checking the various government recall websites. Go to www.foodsafety.gov and click on “Recalls.” Or see the food safety website (www. fsis.usda.gov/recalls). Go online to www. recalls.gov and you have a choice of consumer products, vehicles, boats, food, medicine, cosmetics and environmental product recalls to review. You can click on recent recalls or do a search through the recalls.

In some cases we really have to wonder how mistakes were allowed to get out the door in the first place. We have dark chocolate raisins that have undeclared peanuts in them. We have saline nasal spray with mold in it, ricotta cheese *

Stay aware -- and stay safe.

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

Accessorizing Can Be Delicious

Accessorizing is the final frontier in decorating. After all of the main furniture pieces have been arranged in a room comes the uncertain task of adding items of interest, objet d’art, books, art, decorative pillows and knickknacks so that they look natural and enhance the decor.

Accessorizing is unsettling but fun. There is an art to the placement of accessories so that your room doesn’t look cluttered or overwhelming. But first, the overall style of your room will dictate the kind of accessories to be used. Quite simply, a minimalist interior will not require too many accessories, but just a few pieces that have a certain punch or wow factor to them. On the other hand, a traditional or eclectic interior design style will rely on layers upon layers of small to large accessories that tell a story. What is your story?

great way to accessorize your interiors. If it is an art collection that you own, even better. All forms of art including painting, sketches and sculpture are the building blocks of decorating.

Another viable way to decorate is by using your leisurely activities as a source. If you play sports, show your prowess by displaying your trophies and accolades as accessories in a library or bedroom. Photographs of any leisure activity such as sailing in Biscayne Bay or trotting on your favorite horse in Middleburg, Va., can also be used as art. Books are also accessories. Books, books and more books give any room an air of literacy and intelligentsia. Most rooms benefit from even a small stack of books, as they make a place feel lived in and are an antidote to boredom. Books can even be a conversation starter when family and friends are over.

Some accessories start out as random buys while traveling. Bringing home a piece of your travels is the best way to go, as they will revive the memories of your journeys every time you enter your home. These accessories tell the viewer that you have had the good fortune of travel. One wall of a room might be filled with hand-carved aboriginal boomerangs bought in the Australian Outback. In another room over a sofa might be a bucolic painting of the Hudson River Valley that was purchased at a flea market in Chelsea. The opportunities are endless.

Collections that are of wide interest are a

Family portraits and pictures are fine to use throughout your decor. A favorite design trend is to create groupings of black-and-white family photos for areas such as entrance halls or hallways. Stacks of sterling silver frames on skirted tables or end tables make classic and distinguished final touches.

Nothing says “ta-da, I’m finished decorating” quite like flowers, whether a single stem in a vase, a small tight bouquet of roses or an over-the-top, touch-the-ceiling fresh floral arrangement. Flowers add a touch of luxury and thoughtful panache.

Accessorizing is like using spices when cooking. Depending on how much you use, the results will be insipid, overdone or simply delicious. Make your choices of accessories personal, not generic. Throw in a dash of humor, and your rooms will love you for it.

* * * 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

Corner (from page 9)

and wading pools. Misters are essentially fans that blow mists of cool water droplets. Wading pools are shallow, easy to clean, and simple to enter and exit. Just keep in mind that the pool does the dog no good if the water itself is hot.

Know that dogs get sunburned, so keep daily exposure to the sun in check.

Know also that they get heat exhaustion, usually while sitting in a parked car waiting for their owner to return from some “quick” errand. It only takes a few short minutes for a parked car to heat up to unbearable temperatures. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy panting, salivation, fatigue and muscle tremors. If your dog appears to be suffering heat exhaustion, move him to a shady spot, wet his body down with cool, damp towels, offer him small amounts of water and call his vet immediately. Heat exhaustion is serious, and the best way to avoid it is to leave the pooch in the comfort of his air-conditioned home while you go about your business of the day.

Summer and water go together like Bonnie and Clyde. And water is essential for life. But the water of some rivers, creeks, lakes, bays and beaches is not safe to drink. No matter how wet the activity you have planned, always bring along more than enough clean drinking water for you and your dog.

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.

COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

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YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Divorced Men and Social Security

Over the 29 years I’ve been writing this column, I have probably written a hundred columns directed at divorced women. But after answering some emails this week from men who had questions about benefits for divorcees, it dawned on me that I’ve almost never written a column for divorced men. So today, I’ll make up for that.

At the outset, I should point out that I will be concentrating on the benefits a husband’s exwife can receive from his Social Security account -- and the effects those benefits have on his own Social Security or on benefits due to a subsequent wife. Why? Because those are the kinds of questions I get from divorced men.

I will briefly cover what benefits a divorced man might be due on his ex-wife’s Social Security record. But frankly, that rarely happens. Because women traditionally have earned less than men, and because women take time off from their careers to raise children, they end up with smaller Social Security benefits on their own record, which is why there are millions of women getting benefits off a husband’s or ex-husband’s Social Security account. But there are only a handful of men getting spousal benefits from a wife’s record.

If you are that rare, divorced man whose ex-wife consistently made more money than you, meaning she is due a higher Social Security benefit than you are, then the same eligibility rules for divorced women would also apply to you. What rules?

First of all, you’ve got to be old enough,

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

2. From Acts 17, in what city were Paul and his companions accused of turning the world upside down? a) Antioch b) Thessalonica c) Smyrna d) Galatia

3. How long did it take Nehemiah to get the wall rebuilt around Jerusalem? a) 31 days b) 52 days c) 144 days d) 280 days

4. From Genesis 3:15, the snake is supposed to strike at what part of man? a) Heel b) Hand c) Throat d) Eyes

5. From 2 Kings 9:33, who died after being thrown to the ground from a high window? a) Jehu b) Joram c) Jezebel d) Ahab

6. From Revelation 12, what angel fights against Satan? a) Angel of the Lord b) Gabriel c) Cherubim d) Michael

(Answers on page 16)

which means at least age 60 for divorced widows and widowers and at least age 62 for a wife or husband whose ex-spouse is still alive. Second, the marriage to the ex must have lasted at least 10 years. Third, you can’t be currently married. (If you remarried after the divorce, but that second marriage ended and you are unmarried now, you are potentially eligible for benefits from the first ex.) And fourth, you can’t be due higher benefits on your own Social Security account. However, there can be an exception to this rule for widows and widowers.

Here is a quick example. Bob is 62 and just retired. He is divorced and never remarried. He has learned that his ex-wife recently died. His own retirement benefit is higher than hers was. But he would have the option of taking reduced divorced widower’s benefits now and then switch to his own full retirement benefits at 67 or even higher benefits at 70.

But as I said, men very rarely qualify for divorced spousal benefits. And that’s why a divorced man’s interest in Social Security rules for divorcees almost always has to do with how his ex might qualify for divorced spousal benefits from him and how it affects his own benefits. Here are some sample questions.

Q: My first wife and I were married for 30 years before getting divorced 5 years ago. I have remarried. My ex hasn’t. She is 62 years old. My current wife is 45. I am 65 and not yet drawing Social Security. My ex says she is going to file against my Social Security. Can she do that without my permission?

A: Your ex-wife does not need your permission to file for divorced wife’s benefits on your record. If the law says she’s due benefits, she’ll get them no matter what you say. So if she is not currently working, she’ll be due benefits on your record unless her own retirement benefit pays her a higher rate. And by the way, your ex can file for benefits on your account even if you haven’t filed yourself.

Q: My wife and I are about to turn 67. We are thinking of filing for Social Security. My wife’s own benefit is so small, I’m sure she will get higher benefits on my record. But I was married once before and my ex-wife is already getting divorced wife’s benefits on my account. Is that going to reduce what my current wife will be due on my record?

A: No, it won’t. Any benefits paid to an exspouse are just “add-on” benefits. They don’t take anything away from what you are due or what your current wife will be due on your record.

Q: I am 76 years old. I waited until I was 70 to file for Social Security. The primary reason I did this is so my wife will get the highest widow’s benefits possible when I die. But I just learned that my first wife, to whom I was married for 20 years, is going to get half of my benefits upon my death. And my current wife will have to settle for the other half. This doesn’t seem fair.

A: Well, it might not be fair if it were true. But it’s not true. When you die, your current wife will get 100% of your benefit -- assuming she is over her full retirement age when you die. And assuming your ex hasn’t remarried and is over her full retirement age and isn’t due higher benefits on her own record, she also will get the 100% widow’s rate. As explained above, any benefits paid to your ex do not offset any benefits due to your current wife.

Q: I can’t believe my ex-wife is get-

ting my Social Security. When we divorced in 2018, I very specifically added a clause to the divorce decree stating that my wife would not be able to get any of my Social Security. And yet now I learned she’s telling her friends she is getting benefits on my account. I’m going to call my lawyer and take legal action!

A: You can call your lawyer if you want. But you aren’t going to stop this. That clause you added to your divorce decree isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. Federal law overrides anything you or your lawyer might scribble onto your divorce papers. And if that law says your ex is due spousal benefits on your account, she’s going to get them.

Q: I’ve been married and divorced five times. Is each of my ex-wives going to get some of my Social Security? No wonder the system is going broke!

A: Actually, it’s pretty uncommon for more than one ex to get benefits on your account. Why? Because the only way all your ex-wives would collect on your record is if they all have remained unmarried and if all of them have never worked. Or to put that another way, all your exes who have remarried and all of your exes who have worked and will get their own Social Security won’t be collecting divorced spousal benefits from you.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easyto-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast. net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM

Opiate Prescriptions

for Pain Provide No Relief for Patient

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have horrible neck, shoulder, back and hip pain, which are all from different traumas. I’ve been seeing a pain doctor for the past 14 years. I started out by taking 5 mg of Vicodin and 4 mg of trazodone. Over the years, my prescriptions have been raised to 7.5 mg of oxycodone four times a day and 800 mg of ibuprofen three times a day. I see my doctor every two weeks, and during these visits, I normally get shots (different ones in different places).

My problem is that my pain medicine isn’t working anymore. Will I have to keep raising the dosage? I can’t take it easy as I’m my husband’s sole caregiver. He’s had multiple strokes, and his leg was just amputated. Is there any other medication I can add to my current list that might help? Or is there a better pain medicine than oxycodone? -- A.S.

ANSWER: I’m very sorry to hear about your predicament. Being a full-time caregiver while trying to deal with your own medical problems is a very difficult situation that many of my patients (and their caregivers) have been in.

The most important advice I have is that opiates like hydrocodone (Vicodin is a brand name for hydrocodone and acetaminophen) and oxycodone aren’t good long-term options for most people. As you’ve found, the dose often needs to be increased just to maintain the same pain relief.

The body gets used to the dose of opiates -- a response that is called “tachyphylaxis,” which is caused by decreasing the sensitivity of the receptors that opiates bind to in the brain. I’ve seen people get on exceedingly high doses of strong opiates without receiving adequate pain relief. Unfortunately, side effects of high-dose opiates can include severe constipation, to which the colon doesn’t become accustomed.

While I don’t know the details of the traumas that led to your chronic pain, a pain medicine specialist will usually use a combination of different medications to help. This might include injections; low-dose or microdose opiates; antidepressant medicines that help with chronic pain, such as duloxetine or amitriptyline; antiseizure medicines that help with pain, such as gabapentin; and physical therapy.

Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen sometimes provide significant pain relief when used in combination with other medicines. However, very high doses (you are on the highest recommended dose) can cause toxicities.

I do want to make it clear that tachyphylaxis is the usual response to opiates, especially at a high dose, but it isn’t universal. I have patients who do very well with moderate amounts of opiates and remain on a stable dose with adequate control of their pain. Physicians should always consider the risks of opiates before prescribing them for long-term use. ***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m an 82-year-old

woman with sluggish gut issues. I recently heard a doctor say, “Don’t take fiber supplements because they mess up your gut,” and “Don’t take laxatives. Take stool softeners, and it’s OK to take them every day.”

I’m skeptical of both statements. What do you say? Thank you. -- E.G.

ANSWER: The only statement I wholeheartedly agree with is that it’s OK to take stool softeners (such as docusate) daily. I disagree with the recommendation against fiber supplementation. Fiber is very helpful for both diarrhea and constipation, and it also has other benefits, including modestly lowering cholesterol.

However, when fiber supplementation isn’t enough, then laxatives such as polyethylene glycol 3350 (MiraLAX) are a very reasonable choice. People who need laxatives every day should still discuss this with their physicians to be sure that there’s not some other medical reason for the constipation.

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

Avoiding Foreclosure on a VA Home Loan

The VA Partial Claim Program begins now. The purpose? To help veterans avoid foreclosure on their homes.

The program was started last summer when the VA Home Loan Reform Act was signed into law. In this partial claim program, the VA can pay up to 25% of the unpaid principal.

Veterans in danger of losing their home to foreclosure should call the mortgage servicer to find out about eligibility to participate in the partial claim program.

To be eligible, you must have a VA loan, not FHA or conventional. The home has to be your primary residence; no vacations homes or investment properties can qualify. You have to be at risk of default on the loan. And, the biggie here, you have to prove you can make your payments.

It’s not a handout, but it can be a hand up. One of the first steps is that the VA will advance funds to bring the mortgage current and then the veteran needs to prove he or she can stay current by making payments on a trial basis for three months.

If a trial repayment doesn’t work, it’s possible that a loan modification might (although those can be risky if the interest rate goes up on the new loan).

There are a number of ways for veterans to keep their homes (it helped 173,000 veterans last year alone). Some of those include making modifications to traditional loans, disaster modifications, and 30- and 40-year loan modifications. If you’re having trouble dealing with your mortgage servicer, call the VA at 877-827-3702 and press 6 to get help.

Mortgage servicers have until November this year to get the program into their system. For information on avoiding foreclosure, see www.va.gov/housing-assistance/homeloans/trouble-making-payments. Scroll down to see the seven ways to avoid foreclosure.

As always, beware the possibility of scams. If you suddenly receive calls about foreclosure help, don’t give any information. Instead, call the VA or mortgage servicer yourself to be sure who you’re talking to.

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.

-- by Jim Miller

What to Do When Medical Bills Pile Up

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I am 63 and recently had an unexpected hospital stay that left me with huge bills I can’t afford to pay. I had Affordable Care Act health insurance, but after my premiums went up in January I could no longer handle the payments and had to drop my coverage. I'm now overwhelmed by these high medical bills. What can I do to get help? --Struggling Patient

Dear Struggling: You’re definitely not alone. Medical debt is a very common problem. About 1 in 12 Americans are dealing with it, and many had insurance when the bills started piling up. The good news is there are ways to reduce what you owe and make it more manageable. Here are some steps that can help.

Carefully check your bills

Medical billing errors are more common than you might think, so start by taking a close look at every bill and explanation of benefits you receive. Watch for duplicate charges, services you did not receive or prices that seem off.

If something does not look right, call your

provider’s billing office and ask for an itemized bill. Do not be shy about asking questions. Even small mistakes can add up.

Ask about help

Most hospitals, especially nonprofit ones, are required to offer financial assistance programs, often called charity care. Depending on your income, you may qualify to have part or even all of your bill forgiven.

Call the hospital billing office and ask specifically about financial assistance. You can also visit DollarFor.org, a nonprofit that helps patients apply for charity care programs at no cost.

Negotiate costs

If you do not qualify for assistance, you still have options. Many hospitals and doctors are willing to work with patients, especially if you reach out early.

Ask if they can lower the bill or offer a discount if you can pay something upfront. You can also request a no interest payment plan to spread the cost out over time. If this feels overwhelming, a medical billing advocate can help. The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates, at aphadvocates.org, can connect you with professionals who review bills and negotiate on your behalf.

Find programs

Since you recently lost coverage, it is also worth checking whether you qualify for Medicaid, especially if your income has dropped. You can apply through Healthcare.gov or your state Medicaid office.

Another helpful tool is BenefitsCheckUp. org from the National Council on Aging, which can point you to programs that help lower health care and prescription costs.

Get support

You do not have to handle this on your own. There are several trusted organizations that offer free or low-cost help. The Patient Advocate Foundation (patientadvocate.org) provides case management services and can help you find financial assistance. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (nfcc.org) offers nonprofit credit counseling and guidance on managing debt. You can also visit NeedyMeds.org to locate programs that can help lower the cost of prescriptions and other medical expenses.

The most important thing is to act sooner rather than later. Ignoring medical bills can lead

to collections and even more stress, but many providers are willing to work with you if you reach out to them for help.

Start by reviewing your bills, then explore assistance programs and payment options. With some persistence, you can often lower what you owe and set up a plan that fits your budget. Medical debt is common, even among people who had insurance, but it is often negotiable, and there are real resources available to help you through it.

* * *

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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By Anne McCollam Creators News Service

Glass Was Made in Sandwich, Massachusetts

Q: Enclosed you will find a picture of a Sandwich Glass Co. threaded blue bowl and matching under-plate. I bought it a few years ago in Sandwich, Massachusetts, for about $130. The color is “electric blue” and the bowl stands 2.5 inches high and is 3 inches in diameter. The under-plate is 4.5 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep. Both the bowl and under-plate have ruffled edges. They are in mint condition. There is no information in my Sandwich book on the value.

A couple of years ago, I wrote to you concerning this piece, but I have misplaced your answer. Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

made around 1880 and would probably be worth $175 to $200.

* * *

Q: This mark is on the back of a plate that has six depressions and one in the center. It is white and trimmed in gold and the edges are scalloped. It measures 8 inches in diameter. It was among my grandmother’s things that I went through after she passed away.

I have no idea what it was used for, how old it is or if it has any value. I would appreciate your learned opinion.

Haviland oyster plates were popular in the Victorian Era.

A: You have an oyster plate. Each depression is for an oyster and the center depression is for sauce. Oyster plates were very popular in the Victorian Era.

Haviland and Co. made your plate. The firm was founded by David Haviland in France in 1842. In 1865 he established a factory that both produced and decorated porcelain. Prior to that, porcelain had to be sent to Paris to be decorated. Much of the wares were marketed for United States buyers. They continue to make exceptional porcelain in Limoges, France.

Your oyster plate was made around 1900 and would probably be worth $100 to $200.

* On July 6, 1900, Warren Earp, youngest of the famous gunfighting Earp brothers, was murdered at the Headquarters Saloon in Willcox, Arizona, by John Boyett. Reportedly, Warren had imbibed too much alcohol and begun abusing some of the customers. While Boyett was tried for murder, he was declared innocent on the grounds of acting in self-defense.

* On July 7, 1456, Joan of Arc’s conviction for heresy was overturned at an appeal proceeding held at the archbishop’s palace in Rouen, France. Sadly, she had been burned at the stake 25 years earlier.

* On July 8, 1853, Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry sailed into Japan’s Tokyo Bay with a squadron of four American vessels. At first officials refused to speak with him, but under threat of attack they accepted letters from President Millard Fillmore, making the U.S. the first Western nation to establish relations with Japan since the country declared itself closed to foreigners two centuries previously.

A: Sandwich Glass was founded in Sandwich, Massachusetts, in 1824 by Deming Jarves. It became the Boston and Sandwich Glass Co. in 1826. They made free blown, free blown threemolds and pressed glass in clear and color.

Nicholas Lutz, a master glassblower and designer, immigrated to the United States from France in 1869. He joined the Boston and Sandwich Glass Co. in 1870 and developed his threaded and ribbon glass designs. He was also known for his beautiful paperweights and marbles. Your bowl and under-plate were probably two of his pieces.

Your bowl and matching under-plate were

* * *

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 9, 1948, baseball star Satchel Paige made his Major League debut with the Cleveland Indians, becoming, at age 42, the oldest rookie in the sport’s history. As he notably remarked, “Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter.”

* On July 10, 1962, the United States Patent Office issued Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin a patent for his three-point automobile safety belt. Consisting of two straps joined at the hip level and fastened into a single anchor point, it reduced injuries by holding both the upper and lower body and decreasing the impact of the swift deceleration that occurred in a crash.

* On July 11, 1978, a truck carrying liquid gas crashed into a wall at a campsite of vacationers in San Carlos de la Rapita, Spain, resulting in an explosion that killed more than 200 people, with others suffering severe burns. The crash’s cause was unknown, though some witnesses reported seeing a fire on the vehicle prior to the accident.

* On July 12, 1990, two days after Mikhail Gorbachev was re-elected head of the Soviet Communist Party, Boris Yeltsin, president of the Republic of Russia, announced his resignation from the party.

“All the X-rays and lab reports are back, and they confirm what I've suspected all along. You're not big-boned, you're straight-up fat."

Winnie the Pooh: (from page 3) upstream side of a bridge and then racing to the downstream side to see whose stick emerges first. This is the entirety of the game. The game was inspired by a real-life moment when Christopher accidentally dropped a pine cone into a river at a bridge in Ashdown Forest, East Sussex. This bridge, originally called Posingford Bridge, was later renamed Poohsticks Bridge in honor of the game and is now a popular tourist destination, attracting crowds of Pooh fans.

• Poohsticks has evolved into the annual World Poohsticks Championships, held since 1984. Sticks are provided; they must be dropped, not thrown. The winner is the first to cross the finish line at a point downstream. Entry costs £5 per stick; all fees go to charity.

• Winnie the Pooh has been translated into over 50 languages, including Latin. The Latin version, “Winnie Ille Pu” was released in 1960. The “Times” reviewed it, calling it “the greatest book a dead language has ever known” and saying that it was “a Latinist’s delight, the very book that dozens of Americans, possibly even 50, have been waiting for.” Surprisingly, it became the only Latin book ever to make the bestseller list, where it stayed for 20 weeks, going through 21 printings, and selling 125,000 copies.

• Christopher Milne grew up, married, had a child, opened a bookstore, and wrote his autobiography. He gave his editor the entire collection of original stuffed toys. Only Roo is missing, having been lost on an outing to an orchard in 1930.

• In 1987, the editor donated them to the New York Public Library in Manhattan, where they are kept in a climate-controlled display. 750,000 people view them every year. When officials in England pushed for their return to Britain in 1998, then Mayor Rudy Giuliani pledged to protect them at all costs, but they remain in New York.

• Alan Milne died in 1956 at the age of 74. He resented that Pooh overshadowed his career as a serious writer. Artist Earnest Shepard also regretted being knowns as a children’s illustrator rather than a serious artist. Christopher Robin Milne died in 1996 at age 75, harboring resentments about having lived his life in the shadow of a fictional toy bear.

• The real Winnie died in 1934, living to be 20 years old—two years older than the average American black bear in the wild. Whether she herself had any lifetime resentments remains unknown. 

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Game Changers

by Jason Jenkins

Flaring Up

Little attention is placed on the orientation of the feet, yet your swing’s balance may be in their balance. Foot orientation has a strong influence on the body’s ability to turn and shift weight during the swing.

Since the backswing and forward swing will have different speeds, forces, and directions, the foot placement may vary for each individual. Your flexibility may play a large part in determining what position each foot will take.

Since the forward swing requires a complete rotation of the body toward the target and a majority of the weight on the left leg at the finish, the left foot is typically flared outward 10-40 degrees. The flaring of the foot allows the leg and the hip to unturn more freely in the follow through.

The backswing is attempting to control the body turn and weight shift, so the foot flare may be more minimal from 0-20 degrees.

Ben Hogan wrote several times that he preferred the right foot to be “square” while the left foot flared out a “quarter turn”. Many amateurs may allow a little flare with the right, then double that for the left foot.

Thistle