TIDBITS® IS FLYING SOUTH WITHTHE BIRDS

by Patricia L. CookAs the daylight hours shrink and the weather cools, her-alding the coming of winter, wouldn’t you like to be like the birds and just head south? This Tidbits will explore the interesting phenomenon of bird migration. • According to freedictionary.com, migration is “seasonal

movement of a complete population of animals from one area to another. Migration is usually a response to chang-es in temperature, food supply, or the amount of daylight, and is often undertaken for the purpose of breeding.”

• If you spend time in cold climates, you can easily un-derstand the advantage birds gain by flying south in the winter. Cold temperatures and the lack of food make it quite unattractive to stay in the north where snow and ice cover the ground.

• Approximately 4,000 species of birds are regular mi-grants. That’s about 40 percent of the total bird species in the world. In North America, there are about five bil-lion land birds from 500 species that leave their nesting areas and choose to spend winter south of the border. It is estimated that more than 100 species that spend their summer breeding time in the United States leave the country in the winter for the warmer climates of the West Indies and/or Latin America.

• Much food needed by birds is not available in cold cli-mates during winter: seeds, fruits and insects are absent or covered with snow. Mice and small mammals, food for larger birds, hibernate or hide from the cold.

• Birds take their cues for timing migration from nature. The change in daylight hours, not the weather, is what spurs them to fatten up for their long journeys south. Weather is unpredictable, but daylight hours change the same way every year.

• The northern U.S. states, Canada and even as far north as the Arctic provide the breeding grounds for many birds. After breeding and spending long days tweeting and fly-ing in the north, birds start eating extra food to prepare for migration as the days get shorter. Many increase their size substantially to help them endure migration. Some fly extreme distances at amazingly high altitudes.

• Not surprisingly, larger birds fly faster than smaller ones. Speeds range from 20-50 miles per hour (32-80 km/hr). Some flocks fly for about 10 hours a day, which could be as much as 500 miles! Studies have shown that most birds fly lower than 10,000 feet (3 km), but some have been recorded flying as high as 29,000 feet (9,000 m)!

• The height record is held by bar-headed geese, known

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Page 2 For Advertising Call 251-285-4116 for crossing the Himalayas at heights up to 29,000 feet (9,000 m), traveling between central Asia and India.

• A mallard holds the record for the highest documented flight altitude for a bird in North America. The duck met his demise when he hit an airplane at 21,000 feet (6,400 m).

• A flock of whooper swans was observed at 27,000 feet (8,230 m) by a pilot as they moved from Iceland to West-ern Europe.

• The Arctic tern has the longest annual migration in not just the bird world, but also the entire animal kingdom! It flies from the far north, in or near the Arctic, where summer days are longest, to its wintering grounds in the southern hemisphere off of Antarctica, where days are longest from November to February, which is summer there. The Arctic tern probably encounters more sunlight during the year than any other creature on the planet. Arctic terns travel approximately 22,000 miles (35,400 km) for migration annually. They live many years with the longest on record living 34 years. That adds up to a lot of frequent flier miles!

• Another long-distance migrant bird is the red knot, which is a large beach shorebird that nests in the Arc-tic in the spring and summer. Before heading south, red knots increase their body weight by 40-50 percent. The extra weight, their “fuel load,” allows them to fly about 1,850 miles (3,000 km) without stopping. They are truly masters of long-distance aviation, flying more than 9,300 miles (14,967 km) from south to north in the spring and repeating the trip every fall. Of the five varieties of red knots, the rufa is known to winter at the southern tip of South America in Tierra del Fuego and breed in the sum-mer on the mainland and islands within the Arctic Circle.

• Not all migrant birds are large with big wings to make the trip. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are tiny birds that weigh as little as one-tenth of an ounce (2.6 g). They fly 500 miles (800 km), nonstop, across the Gulf of Mexico!

• Ornithologists, scientists who study birds, have studied migration for years and identified four North American routes, or flyways, that birds use for flying north and south. They are: the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific Flyways. They follow coastlines, major moun-tain chains and the Mississippi River valley. The land-marks help birds stay on course.

• The main reason migration persists in the bird world is for breeding success. Birds are able to raise more off-spring when they get away from extreme heat and cold. Long daylight hours in the spring, summer and fall pro-vide protein-rich food for birds that give them strength for breeding. Different species go to different areas de-pending on their eating habits and needs.

• The breeding grounds for snowy owls are in the far northern Arctic tundra. When snowy owls migrate, they go south, but may only go as far south as Canada. When the winters are exceptionally harsh or their food supplies are scarce, they will venture farther south and may be seen in the northern United States. Although considered a North American bird, they occasionally migrate to ar-eas of northern Europe and Asia.

• Harry Potter fans are probably aware that Hedwig, Harry’s famous companion, is a snowy owl. They are not known in real life for magic, but they are known for their striking white plumage and large size. While most owls are nocturnal, which means they are active at night, snowy owls are diurnal; they hunt and are active during the night and day.

• While you sit around the fireplace or enjoy your wood stove this fall and winter, read a book or two about birds that migrate to maintain their existence.

1. How many No. 1 hits has Joan Jett had?2. Dig back for this one: What year did the Kingston Trio release “Tom Dooley”? What’s the song about?3. How many minutes long was the

1977 Meat Loaf single “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”?4. Name the English duo who released “A World Without Love” in 1964.5. What was the first single that the Eagles released? What was on the flip side?6. Before Annie Lennox hooked up with David Stewart to form the Eurythmics, they were both with another band. Which band was that?

Answers1. Just one -- “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” in 1982. The song went to the top of the charts in multiple countries, but it the only big single she’s had.2. 1958. Dooley, a Confederate veteran, stabbed and killed his fiancee, and he was hanged for it. The old North Caro-lina folk song is based on a true story.3. Nearly 8 minutes (7:55). Right now, Meat Loaf is on the The Guilty Pleasure Tour, with U.S. dates to be an-nounced.4. Peter and Gordon. The song was written by Paul Mc-Cartney, who was dating Peter’s sister at the time, and was a No. 1 hit in both America and the U.K.5. “Take It Easy,” in 1972. The B-side song was “Get You In the Mood.”6. The Tourists, from 1977 to 1980.

Fall Harvest Carrot Salad

A crisp autumn day, a winning team and tailgating with family and friends before the Big Game. What could be more enjoyable during football season?

2 cups shredded carrots1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, rinsed and drained1/4 cup raisins1/4 cup chopped walnuts1/4 cup fat-free mayonnaiseSugar substitute to equal 2 tablespoons sugar2 teaspoons lemon juice1/2 cup fat-free whipped topping

1. In a medium bowl, combine carrots, oranges, raisins and walnuts. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sugar substitute and lemon juice. Fold in whipped top-ping. Add dressing mixture to carrot mixture. Mix gen-tly to combine.2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Gently stir again just before serving. Makes 4 (3/4 cup) serv-ings.

? Each serving equals: About 148 calories, 4g fat, 2g protein, 26g carb., 153mg sodium, 2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Fruit, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fat.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTI-FULHope and Liam compared notes about what happened in Aspen and what led him to marry Steffy. Tay-lor refused to believe that Steffy

conspired with Bill. Nick and Brooke renewed their friend-ship. Thorne demanded big changes at the top of Forrester Creations. Amber and Rick reminisced about their stormy past. Taylor was forced to choose sides in Ridge and Thorne’s disagreement. Amber’s self-esteem took a hit after her busi-ness meeting with Jackie. Wait to See: Jackie eavesdrops on Ridge and Eric’s private conversation.

DAYS OF OUR LIVESAbigail was worried that Chad was interested in Melanie again. Marlena sensed the tension between Will and Gabi. Someone was conducting illegal bets on Chad and Sonny’s new website. Jennifer rewarded Daniel’s kindness with a kiss. Kate was horrified to learn that her son Austin was living with Sami again. Sami wasn’t happy with the chemistry between Brady and Madison. At the Halloween party, Chad mistook Melanie for Abigail and kissed her. Maggie was shocked to learn that Daniel was her biological son. Wait to See: Bo sur-prises Hope with a romantic gesture.

GENERAL HOSPITALCarly and Shawn grew closer after he talked to her about his post-traumatic stress disorder. Jason and Sam discussed the pros and cons of having a baby. Kate made a lunch date with Sonny after their kiss. Lulu considered ending her secret en-gagement to Dante. Jason received a call assuring him that Franco was in Canada. Lucky traveled to Ireland to visit the church that Siobhan wrote about in her letter. Carly swore Jason to secrecy after telling him the truth about Jax. Dante had some tough questions for Michael. Wait to See: Sonny receives some news about Brenda.

ONE LIFE TO LIVETina encouraged Viki to pursue a romance with Clint. Todd was granted his freedom after Nora realized that he didn’t kill Victor. Rama and Vimal bonded after sharing their secrets. To-mas surprised Blair with a passionate kiss. Marcie reminded John about Brody’s violent past. Starr and Rick clashed during the music video shoot. Aubrey and Rex shared an unexpected connection. Tina wore Viki’s old wedding dress to the Hallow-een party. Cutter had a shocking surprise in store for Rex. To-mas asked Blair if she was still carrying a torch for Todd. Wait to See: John walks in on Natalie wearing her wedding dress. THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESSThe suspects in Diane’s murder were summoned to the ware-house, where video footage of the scene of the crime played before them. Nick was quick to point out that Adam, too, should be a person of interest. Genevieve turned Colin’s note-book in to the police as he was led away in handcuffs. Victor was surprised to learn that Nikki didn’t plan to return home after her stay in rehab. Lily welcomed Cane back into her life

after realizing all that he had done to protect her and the twins. Kevin said yes to Chloe’s marriage pro-posal. Wait to See: Nikki plans a trip.

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1. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the only food that koalas will eat?2. CARTOONS: What was the name of Fred and Wilma Flint-stone’s daughter?3. FAMOUS QUOTATIONS: Who once said, “It’s not that I’m afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens”?4. U.S. STATES: What is the motto of West Virginia?5. MOVIES: Who wrote the screenplay for “Mean Girls” and co-starred in the movie?6. GAMES: How many dots are on a pair of dice?7. GEOGRAPHY: Where are the Channel Islands located?8. HISTORY: What was the name of the motel where Dr. Mar-tin Luther King Jr. was shot?9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: When did Staten Island residents vote to secede from New York City?10. MEASUREMENTS: How many teaspoons are in a table-spoon?

Answers 1. Eucalyptus leaves 2. Pebbles 3. Woody Allen 4. Mountaineers are always free (Montani semper liberi) 5. Tina Fey 6. 42 7. Between Eng-land and France 8. The Lorraine Motel 9. 1993 10. Three

Q: When will Tori Spelling’s reality show return to Oxygen? It’s one of my guilty pleasures, and I have to admit that I miss it! -- Patty

T., via e-mailA: Tori and husband Dean McDermott will return for the sixth season of “Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood” on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Originally named “Tori and Dean: Inn Love” -- where the couple opened a B-and-B while Tori was eight months pregnant with their first child -- the new season will welcome the couple’s third child together, Hattie Margaret, who was born in October. Hattie joins siblings Liam and Stella, as well as Dean’s son, Jack, from a previous marriage.

***Q: Will “Swamp Wars” be back on Animal Planet anytime soon? -- Fred R., Baton Rouge, La.A: Animal Planet will be bringing back “Swamp Wars” for more drama as the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Venom

One unit carries on its battle against the lethal animals that threaten South Florida. A 12-episode second season begins on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, starting with six all-new episodes and another set of six episodes slated to air in 2012. This season has our heroes facing a Tegu lizard outbreak as well as Nile monitors and Burmese pythons -- you know, just the usual deadly invasive creatures. They also battle venomous lionfish, which are proliferating the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and have no known aquatic enemies.

***Q: I read and enjoy your articles that appear in our newspaper every Sunday.ÊI bet you can answer this: Will “Covert Affairs” on the USA channel be back?Ê-- Virginia G., Webster, N.Y.A: “Covert Affairs” begins airing the second half of its second season on Nov. 1, with six episodes left to round out the season. And I have even more good news for you, Virginia: USA has renewed “Covert Affairs” for a 16-episode third season, to begin airing summer 2012. In fact, all of USA’s original summer programming has been renewed, including “Royal Pains” and “Necessary Roughness.”USA co-presidents Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel said in a statement: “USA’s original programming blew through

all expectations this summer. It’s a rare and wonderful thing to announce the pick-up of our entire summer of programming.”

***Q: I remember reading in previous columns that you are a big fan of Syfy’s “Being Human,” so I figure you can tell me if/when it’ll be back for a second season? -- Johnny T., via e-mailA: I am, and I can. The werewolf/vampire/ghost paranormal drama will return for its second season on Monday, Jan. 16. As you’ll recall, last season saw the demise of Bishop at the hands of Aidan, with Aidan becoming the new leader of Boston’s vampires; Nora learned Josh is a werewolf, not revealing to him that he scratched her while he was in werewolf form; and Sally missed her window to the Great Beyond to help save Aidan.

PHOTO: Tori Spelling

HOLLYWOOD -- The Frankenstein monster rises again! A screen staple since the l930s when he was brought to life by Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney, Jr., Fran-kenstein fans have turned out for every film produced, even one with Robert

DeNiro as the monster. Now acclaimed director Stuart Beattie, director of “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003), “Collateral” (2004), “Derailed” (2005), “Austra-lia” (2008) and “G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra” (2009) is going to resurrect the monster in modern times.The handsome and capable Aaron Eckhart, no stranger to mon-sters after playing Two-Face in “The Dark Knight,” will play Adam Frankenstein, who has survived to present day due to a genetic quirk in his creation, and finds himself in the middle of a war between two immortal clans. It starts shooting in Australia in January for an early 2013 release. If that’s not bizarre enough for you, over in England, BBC3 recently had a live telecast of “Frankenstein’s Wedding: Live in Leeds” with David Harewood, a black man, portraying the Frankenstein monster.***Oscar-winning superstar Shirley MacLaine will finally get hers when The American Film Institute honors her with its 40th Life Achievement Award in June. Among her arsenal of classic films are “Can-Can” (1959), the film that shocked Russian Premier Ni-kita Khrushchev when he visited the set, and two directed by Bil-ly Wilder, “The Apartment” (1960) and “Irma La Douce” (1963), both co-starring Jack Lemmon.Her fairy-tale career began in l955 when Carol Haney, star of the Broadway hit musical “The Pajama Game,” broke her leg and Shirley, as understudy, had to sub for her. One night, Paramount producer Hal Wallis saw her in the show and signed her to a con-tract. Her first film was Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Trouble with Harry,” with “Dynasty” star John Forsythe.Shirley was Oscar nominated five times before she received the award for “Terms of Endearment” in l983. And let’s not forget her baby brother is Oscar-winning director/actor Warren Beatty. Talk about a lot of talent in one family! The 77-year-old Ma-cLaine will be seen in the upcoming Matthew McConaughey/Jack Black film “Bernie,” being released in March.***Get ready for “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters,” starring Jer-emy Renner as Hansel, and no less than three more films based on the fairy tale, including “Black Forest: Hansel and Gretel and the 420 Witch,” about a witch living in Pasadena, Calif., who lures teen-agers into her house with a special blend of marijuana. Seems eating them helps the witch maintain her youth. Some

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Answers1. Brett was on 13 All-Star rosters, while Schmidt was on 12.2. Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves in 1999.3. It was 1951.4. Phoenix hit 837 three-pointers in 2005-06.5. Detroit’s Steve Yzerman was 18 years, 267 days old when he played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1984.6. Alberto Tomba of Italy won the giant slalom in 1988 and 1992.7. Arnold Palmer (1960) and Mark O’Meara (1998).

1. Which Hall of Fame third baseman was on more All-Star Game rosters during his career: George Brett or Mike Schmidt?2. Name the last National League MVP before Jimmy Rollins in 2007 who was a switch-hitter.

3. When was the last time before 2007 that the University of Cincinnati football team won 10-plus games in a season?4. In 2009-10, the Orlando Magic set an NBA record for most three-point field goals by a team for a season -- 841. What team held the old mark?5. Who was the youngest player to make an NHL All-Star team before Carolina’s Jeff Skinner (18 years, 259 days) did it in 2011?6. Name the first Alpine skier to win the same event at two Winter Olympics.7. Before Charl Schwartzel won the 2011 Masters by finishing with four birdies, who were the only two golfers to win the Masters by finishing with two birdies?

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Jimmie Johnson’s quest for a sixth straight Cup title took a hit after a wreck at Charlotte Motor Speedway dropped him to eighth in the standings with five races left. (John Clark/NAS-CAR This Week photo)

The Ebb and Flow of Jimmie

Johnson

CONCORD, N.C. -- Think the Chase for the Sprint Cup varies week to week? Consider the extreme example of the driver who has won the past five championships.Jimmie Johnson offers evidence of how the NASCAR title format pun-ishes mistakes more than it rewards successes.Finishes of 10th and 18th in the Chase’s first two races left Johnson 29 points behind Tony Stewart, who won them both. Then Johnson finished second at Dover and first at Kansas, pulling to within four points of the lead, now occupied by Carl Edwards.Johnson crashed at Charlotte in the Bank of America 500, resulting in a placing of 34th. As a result, he is now eighth, 35 points behind Edwards. The point system changed this year, and each point has a greater value. Comparing point totals of 2010 with those of the current year, the gap between Edwards and Johnson, 35 points, is the equivalent of about 90 under the previous format.Five races remain. Johnson’s bid for a sixth straight title is in jeopardy, but he is far from conceding.“We just have to go racing,” he said. “That’s all there is to it. There are five races left, and right now all we have are those five races.“Definitely not the night we wanted. This is not going to help us win a sixth championship. I promise you, this team and myself, we won’t quit. We will go for every point we can from here on out, and hopefully we

are still champions at the end of the year.”The volatility is obvious in everyone’s results except Edwards, who has finished eighth or better in each Chase race (ninth or better in his last eight, dating back to the regular season), and Kevin Harvick, who has finished 12th or better in the Chase events. At the top, they are five points apart.The last four positions in the Chase standings are occupied by drivers in considerably worse situations than Johnson. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 60 points out of the lead, followed by Ryan Newman (-61), Jeff Gordon (-66) and Denny Hamlin (-86).

Brown Bag In BienvilleEvery Wednesday

September 28th - October 26th 11:30AM - 1:30PMBienville Square, Downtown Mobile

Live Jazz, Pop & Blues Music

4th Saturdays on the BlockOctober 22, 2011

Food, Art, Music & BeveragesUpper Dauphin Street

11am - 5 pm

Greater Gulf State FairOctober 21st - 30th

Games, Rides, Shows, Food MUCH MORE!Weekdays 4-10pm; Weekends noon-10pm.

Located at the Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds - 1035 North Cody Rd. Mobile AL

www.mobilefair.com

Taste of MobileOctober 27th, 2011.

Arthur Outlaw Mobile Convention Center 6:30pmLocal judges will select winners as restaurants, cafés, caterers & hotels showcase their best dishes! Those in

attendance will vote a People’s Choice Award. Admission is charged. *Proceeds bene�t Goodwill Easter Seals of

Gulf Coast.

To have your local event featured here, email your information to tidbitsofmobile@gmail.com.All submissions may not be run due to time and space limitations.

Taste of MobileOctober 27th, 2011.

Arthur Outlaw Mobile Convention Center 6:30pmLocal judges will select winners as restaurants, cafés,

caterers & hotels showcase their best dishes!*Proceeds bene�t Goodwill Easter Seals of Gulf Coast.

4th ANNUAL MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER OF SOUTH ALABAMA

October 29, 2011For more information or to create a team please visit our

website: makingstridessouthalabama.orgLocation: Bienville Square. Start 8:00 am

Greater Gulf State FairOctober 21st - 30th

Games, Rides, Shows, Food MUCH MORE!Weekdays 4-10pm; Weekends noon-10pm.

Located at the Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds - 1035 North Cody Rd. Mobile AL

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ARTOBERFESTWorks by more than 60 local artists;

Cathedral Square Gallery, Through Sun, Oct 30. Tue - Sat, 11 AM - 5 PM; Sun, 11 - 3 PM.

Upper Dauphin Street11am - 5 pm

Pet Of The WeekMy name is Annette and Iwas transferred from theCity Shelter. I was nastyand matted when I got tothe MSPCA but I am silkysoft now. I am a typicalplayful terrier! I give lovebites and will nibble you toget attention. I sound ferocious when I bark butin reality I am a big sweet-heart with a loud voice – amost excellent trait if youwant me to keep strangersaway from our house.

I love to play and I get along well with other dogs. If you are interested in adopting Annette or another great pet, call (251) 633-3531 or complete the pet adoption application online.

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A Dog’s Reading Room

Just in time for fall, here’s a selection of pet-related books to enjoy on a blustery evening. This month’s selection features odes to irrepressible dogs, humorous anecdotes, a bit of mystery and some training advice, of course.“A Pug’s Tale” by Alison Pace (Penguin Group) is the

author’s second foray into the wonderful world of pugs -- this time in a fictional setting. Heroine Hope McNeill and her beloved pug Max hunt down a priceless painting that’s gone missing from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.Psychologist and dog expert Stanley Coren pens a loving ode to Flint, his Cairn terrier, in “Born to Bark: My Adventures with an Irrepressible and Unforgettable Dog” (Free Press). But it’s also an autobiography of his own journey, with and without pets. Well-written and touching, this is an enjoyable and inspiring read.“All My Patients Kick and Bite” is veterinarian Jeff Wells’ second memoir about the joys and pains of caring for farm, domestic and “not-so-domestic” animals. From an escaped dog to an ornery llama, Wells’ anecdotes are humorous looks at caring for animals in a rural area.Finally, if you’re looking for a book that covers the basics of obtaining, training and raising a puppy, look for “The Dog Trainer’s Complete Guide to a Happy Well-Behaved Pet” (St. Martin’s Press). Author Jolanta Bental details everything from choosing a new dog to training and socializing, dealing with common behavior problems and keeping your dog healthy. Anyone considering getting a dog, especially first-time owners, should have a training and care manual close at hand, and Bental’s guide fits the bill.

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• On Nov. 8, 1847, Bram Stoker, author of the horror novel “Dracu-la,” is born in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland. Stoker’s villainous, blood-sucking creation, the vampire Count Dracula, became a pop-culture icon and has been featured in hundreds of movies, books and plays.

• On Nov. 10, 1903, Mary Anderson receives patent No. 743,801 for her “window cleaning device for electric cars and other vehicles to remove snow, ice or sleet from the window.” Anderson tried to sell it to a Canadian manufacturing firm, but the company said the device had no practical value.

• On Nov. 11, 1921, three years after the end of World War I, the Tomb of the Unknowns is dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia when an unknown American soldier is buried. A 2-inch layer of soil brought from France was placed below the coffin so that the soldier might rest forever atop the earth on which he died.

• On Nov. 7, 1940, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapses due to high winds. At the time, wind forces were not taken into consideration by engineers and designers. The remains of the bridge, at the bottom of Puget Sound, form one of the largest man-made reefs in the world.

• On Nov. 12, 1954, Ellis Island, the gateway to America, shuts it doors after processing more than 12 million immigrants since open-ing in 1892. First- and second-class passengers had easily passed through customs, but those in third class underwent medical inspec-tions to ensure they didn’t have a contagious disease.

• On Nov. 9, 1965, Roger Allen LaPorte, a 22-year-old member of the Catholic Worker movement, immolates himself in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York. Before dying, LaPorte, who was against war, declared that he did it as a religious act.

• On Nov. 13, 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. The long-awaited memorial was a simple V-shaped black-granite wall inscribed with the names of the 57,939 Americans who died in the conflict, arranged in order of death, not rank, as was common in other memorials.

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GETTING SPICY!Spices come from dried plant parts — the leaves, seeds, stems or others. Spices have inspired and been a part of many crucial events in world history. • Thousands of years ago, the people of Southeast

Asia were the only ones to enjoy many of the spices we know today.

• Prestigious and valuable, spices in the early years of civilization provided profitable business for countries that grew them, mainly China, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Spices played a part in the Christian Crusades from 1095-1300 A.D. and the Spice Wars from the late 1400s to the 1700s.

• Wealthy Europeans became interested in the profits and prestige of making bland meats and vegetables tastier in the 1400s. Trade for the five “noble spices,” pepper, ginger, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, was fought over by seafaring nations. Routes to find spices were dangerous as many merchants fought for control. Spanish, Portuguese, British and Dutch merchants lied, cheated, smuggled and even killed to control spice routes.

• When Columbus discovered the Americas, he was on a trip to find spices in “the Indies” of Southeast Asia. He named the American tropics the West Indies and opened the waters for shipping American spices to Europe.

• French spy Pierre Poivre, which translates Peter Pepper, also had an impact on the early spice trade. He smuggled spice plants out of Indonesia in the 1700s and made them available for plantation-building in tropical areas of the Americas and Africa. This helped lower prices by increasing supply.

• One spice still demanding a high price is saffron, which comes from the flower of a crocus species that only blooms for about two weeks. Each flower contains three stigmas, the tiny parts ground for the spice. It takes about 200,000 stigmas to produce one pound (.45 kg) of saffron. Fortunately, it only takes a tiny amount of saffron to flavor most dishes.

• Saffron was brought to Pennsylvania in the 1700s by a German Amish family and has been a flourishing crop and common in Amish dishes ever since. It is grown commercially in Iran, India, France, Spain, Greece, Turkey and Morocco. Saffron is used liberally in paella, the national rice dish of Spain.

• Cloves are the flower buds from tall tropical trees native to Indonesia. Buds are picked when they are pink and then dried to a dark brown color. Cloves are now grown in Tanzania, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Grenada as well as Indonesia. The trees, planted from seeds, must grow about five years before they flower and can live to be over 100 years old. Cloves are hand-harvested and are not just for flavoring foods. Clove oil, called eugenol, is used in perfumes, mouthwashes and more.

• The most common spice in the world, black pepper, comes from a climbing vine first cultivated in India. Arabs controlled the pepper trade to Europe for many years. Many European explorers began looking for pepper in their explorations. Ships brought pepper from Southeast Asia to America in the late 1700s. Salem, Massachusetts, once known as the “Pepper Port,” processed 7.5 million pounds (3.4 million kg) of pepper in 1805.

• Visit your local library to learn about more the spices that have had an impact on our world and our dinner tables.

Best Way to Treat COPD? Quit Smoking

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My moth-er is in her early 70s. She has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD. She had a bronchoscopic exam to remove a mucus plug. She was a very heavy smoker. She still smokes. She thinks

her kids don’t know, but we have seen the evidence. She is on oxygen. Her doctor thinks she has quit. What does this do to her life expectancy? How long can she live this way? -- J.S.

ANSWER: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, is two ill-nesses: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is a harmful stretching and destruction of the millions of air sacs found in the lungs. Through those delicate structures, oxygen reaches the blood. When they are damaged, a person cannot get enough oxygen and becomes breathless on even slight exertion. Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the air passageways, the bronchi. They fill with thick, pus-filled globs of phlegm. Air cannot pass through them. A cough that produces of sticky, tenacious sputum is its chief sign.Cigarette smoking is the major cause of COPD, but not the only one.It’s hard to watch people ruin their own bodies and hasten death. That’s what your mother is doing. Tell her that the most important treatment for COPD is total abstinence from smoking. Abstinence allows lungs to recover from the damage done from inhaling cigarette smoke. It doesn’t achieve a complete reversal overnight. It does prolong life.What does this do to her life expectancy? It shortens it. How long can she live? That can’t be foretold. Unequivocally, she will live longer and

enjoy her life more if she never lights up again. COPD is a major problem and the fourth-leading cause of death. The COPD booklet explains its causes and treatments. To order a copy, write: Dr. Donohue -- No. 601W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can-ada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have arthritis. Every time it rains, my pain seems to increase. I attend the Arthritis Foundation’s exercise classes, and we all have the same response to rainy weather. We’re wondering if this is due to increased humidity, low barometric pressure or just an “old wives’ tale.” -- E.S.

ANSWER: A drop in barometric pressure along with an increase in hu-midity has been demonstrated to cause a flare of arthritis. It’s the exact set of conditions that happen prior to a storm.Some arthritics experience more joint pain when temperature drops.***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I would appreciate reading your comments on the current rumor that microwaved food loses all nutritional value. -- C.T.

ANSWER: That’s not a current rumor. It’s a piece of misinformation that has been circulating since microwave ovens appeared on the mar-ket.It’s not true. Microwaving preserves vitamins and minerals better than almost any other method of cooking. Foods lose some of their nutri-tional value when they are boiled in lots of water; the water draws out some vitamins. Little water is used in microwave cooking.

Free Flu ShotsQuite a few communities are offering free flu shots, more so than in recent years. For those of us who don’t yet have Medicare, or have an insurance plan that won’t pay for a shot, these free clinics can be a big help.Ask about free shots at work, senior centers, local health departments and home health aide groups, at the hospital, town hall and local college. Go online to google.

com and put “free flu shot” in the search box, along with the name of your town.Even if you can’t find a free shot this year, get one if your doctor thinks you should have it.To find a flu shot online, go first to www.flu.gov and scroll down the right side to Flu Vaccine Finder, and put in your ZIP code. Also check www.INeedAFluShot.org and www.findaflushot.com.If you’re age 65 or older, ask your doctor if you should have the extra-strength shot for seniors. If you want to keep tabs on the spread of flu this winter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a web-site (www.cdc.gov/flu) with maps, information on prevention and more. Be sure to read the section on How Flu Spreads. Did you know that someone 6 feet away can spread it to others by coughing or sneezing?The vaccines this year include an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus and an influenza B virus, so keep your hand sanitizer ready. Use the wipes provided at the grocery store on the shopping cart handle before you even touch it. Learn not to touch your face with your hands.Remember, it takes a few weeks for the vaccine to become affective.

Page 8 For Advertising Call 251-285-4116

¥ It was French Renaissance essayist Michel de Mon-

taigne who made the following sage observation: “Noth-

ing is so firmly believed as what is least known.”

¥ If someone called you a “mumpsimus,” would you be

flattered or insulted? It seems that the appropriate reac-

tion would be to take offense. According to the Merriam-

Webster dictionary, a mumpsimus is “a stubborn person

who insists on making an error in spite of being shown

that it is wrong.”

¥ The English language is unique in the number of col-

lective nouns it possesses. For instance, a group of frogs

is known as an “army” and a group of crows is called a

“murder.” We have a “shrewdness” of apes, a “wisdom”

of wombats, a “congregation” of crocodiles, a “smack”

of jellyfish, a “wiggle” of worms, a “crash” of rhinocer-

oses, a “waddle” of penguins and a “scourge” of mosqui-

toes, to name a few. Geese flock together in “gaggles,”

unless they’re in flight, in which case they are collective-

ly known as a “skein.”

¥ In the Baltic region, it’s traditional for a bride to wear

black.

¥ You’ve probably never heard of Harvey Lowe, but in

the 1930s he enjoyed a certain amount of notoriety; in

1934 he won the first World Yo-Yo Contest. Now that you

know who he is, can you imagine what he had in com-

mon with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and

notoriously flamboyant entertainer Liberace? It turns out

that all three took out insurance policies on their hands.

¥ If you’re like 20 percent of the respondents in a recent

poll, you find it embarrassing to order tap water when

you’re in a restaurant.

***

Thought for the Day: “A great deal of intelligence can be

invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.”

-- Saul Bellow