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May 21, 2013 The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

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The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

OVER 4 MILLION

Readers WeeklyNationwide! ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©2007

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Come along with Tidbits as we consider the marvel of engineering called the human foot!

• With 26 bones, 114 ligaments and 20 muscles, a foot is an amazing invention. A quarter of the bones in the human body are located in the feet. (Add in the bones in the hand, and that accounts for fully half of our bones.) Feet need to be structural marvels.

• Consider that the average adult travels around 1,000 miles a year on foot, taking about 10,000 steps per day. A typical 70-year-old human will have walked a distance equivalent to going around the circumference of the earth four times. The feet strike the ground 17,000 times in a 20 mile marathon run, but even a mile of gentle walking subjects the feet to about 80 tons of weight. Feet must be sturdy.

• Although 98% of us are born with healthy feet, 80 out of 100 Americans develop foot problems during their lifetime. At any given moment, about 30 million Americans suffer from foot problems, ranging from corns and ingrown nails to club feet and fallen arches.

• Four times as many women as men deal with foot problems, mostly due to high heels. Podiatrists trace 95% of the 500 known foot ailments to ill-designed shoes or improper foot care.

• High heels prevent the ankles from absorbing their normal share of the force of walking, shunting it instead to the toes. A three-inch heel puts more than seven times the pressure on the forefoot than a flat shoe. This promotes many foot ailments such as bunions, hammer toes, and neuroma, which is a painful thickening of the nerve that connects the toes. A study of 3,000 surgeries performed on the forefoot found that 87% of the bunion surgeries, 81% of hammer toe surgeries, and 89% of the neuroma surgeries were done on women’s feet.

• High heels also affect the knees. A study published in the British medical journal The Lancet showed that high heels cause strain and pressure on the joint that joins the kneecap and the underlying thigh bone. The rotational forces on the inner part of the knee joint were 23 percent higher when women participating in the study walked in heels than when they walked barefoot.

Turn the page for more!

Vol 2 Issue 21of the River Region

TIDBITS® ANNOUNCES

FEETby Janet Spencer

Page 2 Tidbits® of the River Region

FEET FACTS (continued):• Surprisingly, the big toe has only two bones, while the rest of the toes have three. Although nearly every bone in the body has an official name, one exception is the toe bones. They are known only as “metatarsal digits #1-5.” A fourth-year medical student at Yale decided to undo the injustice by bestowing names on the toes. He called them porcellus fori, porcellus domi, porcellus carnivorus, porcellus nonvoratus, and porcellus plorans domun. In Latin, these names translate as little pig at market, baby pig at home, meat-eating piglet, small pig that has not eaten, and piggy crying all the way home. Some orthopedic surgeons have picked up his names, but doctors have not yet gone hog wild over the idea.

• The measuring device in shoe shops is called a Brannock Device, after the inventor who designed it in the 1920s. The firm is still going strong.

• Not surprisingly, the place on the body where the skin is thickest is the heel of the foot, where it’s about 1/16th of an inch thick. Compare that to the thinnest skin on the body— the eyelids— at 2/1000 of an inch. Although the heel is the area on the body that is least sensitive to pain, it’s also the sweatiest area. The 125,000 sweat glands in a single foot can excrete as much as half a pint of sweat per day. Research done at the University of Miami centered on foot odor. How does a research team study foot odor? First you get a bunch of volunteers to sit with their feet in plastic bags. Then you have the laboratory staff sniff the feet. They discovered that people with foot odor had large numbers of a certain bacteria on their bodies— the same type of bacteria found in Limburger cheese. They also discovered that antibiotics can reduce the number of bacteria, and thus improve the smell of feet. Why some people carry large amounts of this bacteria and others don’t is still unknown, but is under investigation. It could be differences in a person’s sweat or pH balance. Since it’s not a good idea to take antibiotics to reduce odor, this valiant research team is now trying to find ways to keep bacteria from sticking to the skin, to prevent bacteria from getting a “foothold.” Around 80 million Americans suffer from smelly feet.

• One company called Sweet Feet combated foot odor with scented socks. Impregnated with various scents such as powder, citrus, strawberry, and peach,

the footsie socks threw off a long-lasting fragrance. The odor remained even through many launderings and the socks cost about $20 per pair.

• Many people do not wear the correct shoe size for their feet. Often this is because people stick to the size they were measured for when young and fail to realize that their feet change shape. Turn the page for more!

FOOT BINDING• The only thing worse for feet than high heels was the Chinese practice of foot-binding. A young girl’s feet were wrapped with a bandage ten feet long, strapped in a figure eight around the foot and ankle. It was tightened daily and pulled so taut that the four smallest toes were forced under the foot, breaking the bones. The bones in the arch of the foot would also break, forcing the arch into a sharp inverted “V” shape. Every two weeks the girl was given a pair of shoes two tenths of an inch smaller than the previous pair. Infection often resulted, sometimes followed by gangrene, amputation of toes, and even death. After two years, the ideally deformed foot fit a shoe only four inches long, and would proudly be called “lotus feet” or “lily feet.” Because women with lily feet could only put weight on their heels and couldn’t walk without pain, they hobbled with a mincing step which men considered charming. No one knows why the custom became habit, though it’s conjectured that the practice was popular because it prevented unhappy wives from running away. The practice began with the higher classes in order to prove that the family was so rich that the daughters didn’t need to work. However, a majority of low-class girls had their feet bound anyway in the hopes that they would find a high-class marriage. Only the most poverty-stricken families, whose daughters needed to work in the fields, failed to follow the practice. Beauty in the feet was considered more important that beauty in the face. Foot-binding was the norm in China for a thousand years, until being outlawed in the Revolution of Sun Yat-Sen in 1911. A 1997 study of elderly women in Beijing who had suffered from foot binding in their youth found they tended to fall easily, were often unable to rise from a chair without help, could not squat, and had higher rates of osteoporosis.

A gentleman in Iowa has gone back to school, although not in the traditional sense. He’s found his way to the local elementary school, where he volun-teers doing a variety of tasks -- not just a few hours a week, but every day. He’s 74 years old.Some days he spends time one-on-one with children who need help with math. Other times he helps those struggling with reading. During his “spare” time he reorganized the school’s library. His school feels lucky to have him.All across the country there are schools in trouble. They’re victims of budget cuts that take away valu-able resources, perhaps the resources that the kids need most. Instead of a reading specialist in each school, maybe that specialist is spread out over five schools, and too many kids are falling through the cracks. The federal infusion of “turnaround” dollars for the past three years is about to end. Less money will mean even fewer resources.It can be a vicious cycle. But it’s one that we can break -- by volunteering at our schools.Here are some things you can do:--Help struggling students with math and reading at all grade levels.--Answer phones in the front office.--Help with building maintenance on an ongoing basis.--Teach art classes.--Assist with field trips.--Give presentations on a topic you know a lot about.--Organize bake sales.--Catalog, repair and shelve books in the library.--Give music lessons.--Chair an afternoon special-interest club.We have the time; we have the experience. Who better than seniors to lend a helping hand at our local schools? To get started, call the school principal, the head of the PTA or the district offices.

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) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

Volunteer at Your Local Schools

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With all the gadgets and gizmos available that promise six-pack abs, you might think we should be a nation of strapping Adonises. However, the current U.S. obesity epidemic would indicate otherwise. Stephen Ball, University of Missouri Extension exercise physiologist, says sit-ups and crunches will tighten your abdominal muscles, but you will still have the same layer of fat sitting on top of those muscles.“Exercise equipment manufacturers mislead us with flashy infomercials showing beer bellies transforming into defined midriffs with the use of simple devices ... usually in just minutes a day!” Ball said. Aerobic exercises like bicycling, jogging or running are the best way to lose body fat, Ball says. These exercises raise your heart rate and cause your body to draw upon its fat stores for energy. The places where the body stores fat can affect health, Ball says. Exercise, and a sensible diet, will help shrink those problem spots over time.Bottom line, there is no device or magic bullet for getting into shape. According to Ball, a combination of strength exercises, aerobic exercise and a sensible diet will, over time, put you on the road to health and fitness. Include these belly-fat busters into a sensible diet:Eggs: They not only keep you satisfied longer, they also help you consume fewer calories all day long due to their high protein (about six grams per egg) and the healthy fat in the yolk. Organic eggs are high in omega-3s. When you combine omega-3s with exercise, studies have shown you can decrease abdominal fat.Almond milk: One cup of plain, unsweetened almond milk has 35 to 40 calories; a cup of skim milk has 90. It also contains no sugar and is fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Almond milk is available in a variety of flavors, including dark chocolate and vanilla.Chia seeds: These power-packed seeds help to lower blood sugar, reduce hunger and are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids.Blueberries: Berries are high in fiber and lower in sugar than other fruits, so they help keep blood sugar from spiking. Blueberries in particular help melt fat.Grapefruit: During a recent study, when obese adults on a calorie-restricted diet consumed either half a

grapefruit, half a cup of 100 percent grapefruit juice or half a cup of water before their three daily meals for 12 weeks, they significantly decreased weight and waist circumference, dropping an average of 15 pounds per person.Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah): This whole grain from Peru is a plant seed related to spinach that’s packed with fiber and protein to help keep you slim. My recipe for Quinoa with Cinnamon and Fruit is a great way to start the day, will keep hunger at bay and helps to blast belly fat!(Additional information provided by Stephen D. Ball, State Specialist and Associate Professor, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri.)

Quinoa With Fruit and Cinnamon

Quinoa is simple and easy to cook, like rice. In fact, you can cook quinoa in a rice cooker. Breakfast quinoa can be prepared ahead, covered and refrigerated for several days. To reheat, add some more almond milk and warm it in the microwave.

2 cups quinoa4 cups almond milk, plain or vanilla2 or 3 cinnamon sticks or 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons agave syrup, honey or brown sugar1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract1/8 teaspoon saltToppings: Toasted nuts or coconut, fresh or dried fruit, nut butters, chia or flax seeds

1. Cover quinoa with cool water and soak for 5 minutes in a 4-quart pot. Soaking helps quinoa to cook evenly and loosens any dust, chaff or saponin (usually removed in processing), which can give the quinoa a bitter taste. Pour the quinoa into a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cool, running water while stirring the quinoa with your fingers. Shake the strainer to remove any water. Set quinoa aside.2. Place milk and cinnamon (sticks or ground) in saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Watch carefully as the milk can bubble up quickly and scorch. Stir in the strained quinoa and return to boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Let quinoa and milk simmer about 10 minutes. Stir in sugar, vanilla or almond extract and a pinch of salt. Cover and continue to simmer until all the milk is absorbed, another 8 to 10 minutes.3. Remove quinoa from heat and allow it to sit five minutes with lid on. Fluff quinoa gently with a fork and serve with milk, fruit, nuts, chia or flax seeds, or whatever toppings you like, and serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.***Angela Shelf Medearis is an award-winning children’s author, culinary historian and author of seven cookbooks. Her new cookbook is “The Kitchen Diva’s Diabetic Cookbook.” Her website is www.divapro.com. To see how-to videos, recipes and much, much more, Like Angela Shelf Medearis, The Kitchen Diva!, on Facebook and go to Hulu.com. Recipes may not be reprinted without permission from Angela Shelf Medearis.

(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc., and Angela Shelf Medearis

Blasting Belly Fat

Tidbits® of the River Region Page 4

* On June 4, 1896, Henry Ford unveils the “Quad-ricycle.” The 500-pound vehicle had two driving speeds, no reverse, no brakes, rudimentary steer-ing ability and a doorbell button as a horn. It could reach about 20 mph.

* On June 7, 1913, Hudson Stuck, an Alaskan missionary, leads the first successful ascent of Mt. McKinley, the highest point on the American con-tinent at 20,320 feet. Stuck and two others began the climb in March and faced challenges of difficult weather and a fire at one of their camps, which destroyed food and supplies.

* On June 6, 1933, eager motorists park their automobiles on the grounds of the Park-In movie theater in New Jersey, the first-ever drive-in movie theater. Inventor Richard Hollingshead had come up with the idea in the driveway of his own house, where he perfected projection and sound tech-niques.

* On June 8, 1949, Hollywood figures, including film stars Frederic March and Edward G. Robin-son, are named in a FBI report as Communist Party members. The FBI report relied largely on accusa-tions made by “confidential informants,” supple-mented with some highly dubious analysis. Helen Keller also was on the list of radicals.

* On June 5, 1968, U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy is shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. Ken-nedy was shot by 22-year-old Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan, and died a day later.

* On June 9, 1972, a flash flood hits Rapid City, S.D., when 15 inches of rain fall in only six hours. The spillway for the Pactola Dam got clogged with debris, leading to the collapse of the dam and a devastating wave of water that crushed most of the nearby buildings and swept away 238 people.

* On June 3, 1989, with protests for democratic reforms entering their seventh week, the Chinese government authorizes its soldiers and tanks to reclaim Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. By nightfall on June 4, Chinese troops had forcibly cleared the square, killing hundreds and arresting thousands of demonstrators and suspected dissidents.

(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Register to win at www.riverregiontidbits.com and click on “Tommy Tidbits” or click the QR-Code above. Fill out the registration information and tell us how many times Tommy appears in ads in the paper for this week. From the correct entries, a winner will be selected. You must be 18 years of age to qualify. The gift certificates will range in value from $25 to $50 each week. En-tries must be received at the website by midnight each Saturday evening or at PTK Corp, PO Box 264, Wetumpka, AL 36092.

This week’s winner receives 4 DozenDonuts from Krispy Kreme Donuts

Last Week’s Ads where Tommy was hiding:1. Andy’s Heating & Air, p. 12. Leisure Isle Sales, p. 53. Stern Bros Inc, p. 74. The Gab, p. 12

Tommy Count______

• Jeana Yeager was born in 1952 in Texas. She studied drafting in high school, a skill that would later serve her well. At the age of 26 she earned her pilot’s license. She was most interested in becoming a helicopter pilot, but then became interested in high performance aircraft. She moved to California and got a job designing experimental planes. • In 1980, she met Dick Rutan at an air show in California, where he was a featured aerobatic flyer. Rutan and his brother ran their own aircraft company, designing new planes. Rutan hired Yeager to work with him, and they later fell in love. Over the next several years, she set several speed records as a test pilot for the planes Rutan was designing.• In 1981, Yeager and Rutan began working to design a plane that could circle the globe without landing or refueling. Yeager named the plane Voyager. Because it was a private endeavor, the plane was built using volunteer labor and donations. As it was being

designed and constructed, Yeager underwent extensive training in ocean navigation and communications, expanded her flying credentials, and became one of the first civilians ever to complete an Air Force water survival training course.• On December 14, 1986, the Voyager took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California, with Yeager and Rutan stationed in a cockpit about the size of a telephone booth. The wings, which were heavily loaded with fuel, scraped the pavement upon take-off and were damaged, but not badly enough to abort the mission. Traveling across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, over Africa, and then across the Atlantic before crossing the U.S., the flight was full of peril. They used much fuel avoiding a hurricane. • Libya refused to allow access to air space, requiring an unexpected detour. A fuel pump failed mid-flight causing an engine to shut down. Moreover, the craft was extremely difficult to fly. Unstable in the air, it required constant attention to keep it aloft. Constant engine noise left both pilots with hearing damage by the end of the flight, and chronic fatigue dogged their every moment.• Nine days after it had taken off, Voyager landed at Edwards Air Force, having traveled 26,366 miles at an average elevation of 11,000

feet. Whereas 3,500 people had been on hand to see them take off, about 55,000 people showed up to see them land, along with 23 news cameras. Yeager and Rutan had traveled 28,000 miles at an average speed of 116 mph. When they landed, they had eight gallons of fuel to spare, enough to have taken them only another 100 miles. • From a record standpoint, Rutan and Yeager became the first aviators to circumnavigate the globe nonstop, without landing or refueling in mid-flight. They also endured the longest flight up to that time, doubling the previous flight record for distance. President Ronald Regan awarded them with Presidential Citizen Medals of Honor, which had been bestowed only 16 times previously. They also received the Collier Trophy, aviation’s highest honor, and many other prestigious awards. • After the flight, Rutan and Yeager went on an extensive speaking tour in an attempt to raise enough money to pay off some of the debts incurred during the mission.• The Voyager is now displayed in the Smithsonian Institute next to other historic aircraft. Unfortunately, the relationship between Yeager and Rutan ended shortly after their historic flight, and they went their separate ways.

JEANA YEAGER

Tidbits® of the River Region Page 6

* It was Albert Einstein who made the following sage observation: “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of think-ing we were at when we created them.”

* According to some Native American tribes, all you have to do to make a wish come true is to catch a butterfly, whisper your wish to it and set it free.

* If you drive a white automobile, you have a lot of company. There are more white cars in the United States than any other color.

* You probably are aware that the names that foreign places are known by in the English language are not always the same as the names of those places in the local tongue. The capital of Russia is called Moskva in that country, and to Italians it’s not Venice, but Venezia. Not all names sound so similar, though; if you didn’t know the language, it would be nearly impos-sible to figure out that Ellinki Dimokratia is what Greeks call their country, and that Konun-gariket Sverige is Sweden to the Swedish. South Korea is known locally as Han Kook, China is Zhonghua Renmin Gonghe Guo, and Finland is Suomen Tasavalta.

* When Hernan Cortes reached the New World in the 1600s, he found the Aztecs drinking hot chocolate at their banquets.

* President Franklin Delano Roosevelt added both a swimming pool and a movie theater to the White House.

* You probably knew that cats were revered in ancient Egypt, but did you know that when a domestic cat died, the family went into mourn-ing? Yep. People would shave their eyebrows to demonstrate their grief over the passing of their beloved pet.***Thought for the Day: “The nice thing about being a celebrity is that if you bore people they think it’s their fault.” -- Henry KissingerÊ

(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

by Samantha WeaverRich coconut milk custard is nestled between a layer of toasted coconut crust and smooth chocolate in these decadent bars.

1 bag (14-ounce) sweetened flaked coconut1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1/3 cup confectioners’ sugarSalt1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature3/4 cups granulated sugar1/3 cup cornstarch1 can (14-ounce) coconut milk, shaken8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.2. In 13- by 9-inch metal baking pan, spread 1 cup coconut. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until golden, stirring once. Cool. Wipe out pan, line with foil; lightly grease foil.3. In food processor, finely grind toasted coconut. Add flour, confectioners’ sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt; pulse to blend. Add butter. Pulse until blended.4. With spatula, spread dough into even layer in pan. Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.5. In 2-quart saucepan, whisk granulated sugar, cornstarch and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Whisk in coconut milk until smooth. Heat to simmering on medium-high, whisking frequently. Simmer 2 minutes or until very thick, whisking. Fold in untoasted coconut. Cool slightly. Spread in even layer over cooled crust.6. Place chocolate in medium microwave-safe bowl. Micro-wave on High 2 minutes in 30-second intervals until almost completely melted, stirring between intervals. Stir mixture until smooth. Pour and spread chocolate over coconut filling. Refrigerate until chocolate is set. Cut into 1-inch by 2-inch rectangles. Store bars in airtight container in refrigerator up to 3 days. Makes about 4 dozen bars.

For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/.

(c) 2013 Hearst Communications, Inc.All rights reserved

Coconut Joy Bars

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Tidbits® of the River Region Page 8

To Your Good Health By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My doctor gave me some very unsettling news. He says I have cataracts in both eyes. I haven’t been able to sleep since he told me. My aunt was blind later in life. I don’t know the cause, but I do know that life was very tough for her.I haven’t contacted the ophthalmologist my doctor referred me to. I’m too scared. How are cataracts treated? How long is recuperation? -- S.M.ANSWER: If a doctor examined the eyes of most people over 60, the doctor would tell them they have the beginning of a cataract. Do you know what a cataract is? Right behind the pupil is the eye’s lens, a small, oval-shaped, perfectly clear structure. The lens focuses light on the retina in the back of the eye, so we get a clear picture of what we see.A cataract is a smudge in the lens. Proteins in the lens have stuck to each other to produce a stain in the lens like a thumbprint on the lens of glasses. Your cataract must not be large. You have no complaints of it interfering with your vision. Most cataracts result from aging. Smoking, alcohol excess, constant exposure to sunlight and long-term use of high doses of cortisone drugs also contribute to cataract formation.The evolution of your cataract to one that blurs vision is unpredictable. The process is painless. Difficulty seeing at night and difficulty reading fine print are early symptoms of cataracts affecting vision. Treatment is close to miraculous. When the lens smudge greatly affects vision, the eye doctor

Cataracts Are Commonat Older Ages

removes the lens and replaces it with a lens made of plastic or silicone. Cataract removal is done as an outpatient. You can be up and about by the evening of surgery or the following day. You’ll be astounded at the minimum inconvenience of the procedure and with the vision that results from it.***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: What’s the best time to take a multivitamin? I take one in the morning. That way I don’t forget to take it. -- L.M.

ANSWER: I believe this is the most frequently asked question I get.Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble vitamins. They’re better absorbed if they’re taken after a meal that has some fat or oils in it. Vitamins B and C are water-soluble and can be taken at any time.I’m not convinced that the timing of vitamin-taking is all that important. Take your multivitamin when it’s most convenient.***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I lift weights seven days a week. I see that I am making progress. My arms are much bigger than they were. I’ve been told I’m overdoing it by lifting every day. Am I? -- R.S.ANSWER: It’s not a good idea to perform the same weightlifting exercises on consecutive days. Muscles need a full 48 hours to recover, rebuild and grow after an intense exercise session. A day of lifting and then a day of rest is a good schedule. You can lift weights daily if you want to. Just don’t work the same muscles on consecutive days.***Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

(c) 2013 North America Synd., Inc.All Rights Reserved

History is written by the winners.President Harry Truman, the guy who dropped the big ones on Japan to end World War II, was a big fan of the expression. Years after his presidency, he was offered a “Frost/Nixon” sort of deal that would have had him visit Japan to meet the newly installed government. Truman had the gumption to fire the legendary Gen. Douglas MacArthur, but many still were surprised to learn that he agreed to go -- with one specific caveat:“I’m not going to kiss anyone’s ass.”Though he left office with one of the lowest approval ratings ever, Truman’s legacy has withstood the test of time, and he is now generally considered one of our greatest presidents.Some 60 years later, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was running a disastrous campaign for president. A few years earlier, when America was sucker-punched on 9/11, Giuliani took the mantle as “America’s mayor” and offered some semblance of calm under fire. Before that career turn, he was putting away the mob as a U.S. attorney.Now, Giuliani has picked up another mantle -- Mickey Mantle’s, to be precise -- and once again, another historic figure and hero to many, another person who figures large in the record books and looms large in our minds, is being subjected to the firing line.Almost two decades after his death and half a century after he hobbled off the field at Yankee Stadium for the last time, a two-bit auction house is claiming to sell an authentic bat of his. That would not be spectacular in and of itself, but this item is different, the auctioneers proclaim. For the bat in question has been X-rayed, and it has been deemed to be tampered with ... corked.Corking a bat is a tactic many sluggers have employed, in much the same way that pitchers use sweat and rosin to manipulate the movement of the ball. Essentially, the top part of a bat is removed, the barrel drilled out, replaced by cork sprig and capped with the same piece of wood to disguise the ploy. Corking a bat gives a hitter maximum surface, but shaves off a few ounces in weight, allowing for a rapid swing.The Mantle family is not amused. They have decided that they are not going to let Mickey Mantle -- a man who wasn’t allowed inside his house at night until he hit 10 straight balls off his surly father who had spent all day mining coal in Oklahoma -- be rewritten as a loser or a cheater. And the guy they hired to make sure of that? Rudy Giuliani.For the record, Truman never made the trip to Japan. One assumes there was too much downside for the ex-president and no need to assist his detractors in their attempts to rewrite history. Lifelong Yankee fan Giuliani, however, is going to be swinging away in court within weeks.Let the games begin.

Mark Vasto is a veteran sportswriter who lives in Kansas City.

(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

The Mantle of History

Q: In my mom’s home, I noticed that a few of the cover plates on the outlets don’t sit flush with the wall. Some are angled out so there is a small gap between the plate and the wall, for example. I tried tightening the center screw on the plates, but this didn’t help, and one of them cracked when I overtightened it. How can I fix this? -- Sarah in Syracuse, N.Y.

A: It’s likely that the receptacles themselves, or their housing, are misaligned. This can be caused by the screws holding the receptacle in place being loose, or the housing (the junction box) not being properly se-cured. Because the receptacle or junction box doesn’t sit straight, the cover plate doesn’t sit straight. Hence, the gap between the cover plates and the wall.Turn off power to the crooked outlets, at the circuit pan-el. To make sure power is no longer reaching an outlet, plug a radio or a lamp into each of the two outlets of the receptacle. If they stay off, power is most likely off. However, always treat electrical hardware and wiring as if it is live.Remove the cover plate and take a look at the small screws on either side of the receptacle. If they’re loose, tighten them so that the receptacle sits straight within the

Electrical Outlets Don’t Sit Straight

By Samantha Mazzotta

metal junction box.Straightening the receptacle should fix the cover-plate alignment problem. However, if it doesn’t, check to see if the junction box itself is straight. It may have been in-stalled at a bad angle. If this is the case, adjusting the box is more complicated. You’ll have to remove the receptacle, disconnecting its wires and labeling them so that you are able to reconnect them correctly. Then you’ll have to unscrew the junction box from the stud, use a level to find the correct angle, drill a new hole or holes in the stud, then attach the junc-tion box via the new holes, rewire the receptacle and put it back in place. This can be time consuming and frustrat-ing, because you are working in a tiny space. If you’ve never wired up a receptacle or light switch before, there are several risks involved, from damaging the receptacle to injuring yourself. In many cases, the first fix -- tightening the receptacle screws -- generally does the trick. However, if the second issue arises, consider the amount of work involved and whether you’re confident in doing it. If you’re not sure you can do it, consider having a licensed electrician come in to straighten the junction boxes and give the house’s entire electrical system a look over for any other issues.

HOME TIP: Use a small appliance, like a radio, lamp or a fan, to test whether power is reaching an outlet, by plug-ging the appliance into it.

Send your questions or home tips to ask@thisisahammer.com. My new e-book, “101 Best Home Tips,” is available to download on Amazon Kindle! Pick it up it today for just 99 cents.

(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Parents who have a child going away to college have more to worry about than partying and failing grades. Two things are a given: 1) New students on campuses will be approached to sign up for credit cards, and 2) students need to know in advance how to handle the financial responsibility.The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has issued a special edition of its Consumer News to

help young adults and teens manage their money and avoid financial scams. Here are a few places to start to get your student up to speed.Credit cards: Teach your child everything you know about credit-card use, even your own mistakes. Show them how to read the fine print on the disclosure, to be aware of the card’s limit (and how that limit can affect credit scores) and to pay off the full balance each month. Don’t apply for multiple cards (especially if the applications are being handed around on campus by zealous recruiters) and to take advantage of alerts from credit-card companies about payment reminders. If there’s any doubt about your child’s ability to handle payments, aim him or her toward a pre-paid card or one with a very low credit availability.Credit reports: Students need to know that potential employers will check their credit history during the job-application process. Insurance companies will do the same, with monthly premiums partially determined by credit scores. At some point, a graduate will need a loan, perhaps for a first car. An initial credit history, although short, will help secure a lower interest rate.

Picking a bank: As a student, your child will likely only need the most basic of services. If he or she is going away to school, start shopping on the Internet. You’ll need one close to campus that has the lowest possible fees. Check whether there are fees for falling below a minimum required balance, or for an excess number of ATM withdrawals or debit-card transactions. Plan to open an account at the same time you’re moving your student into the dorms.Guarding against fraud and scams: Your child needs to know to review bank and credit-card statements the minute they arrive, to keep personal information private, especially online, and to be suspicious of emails that appear to come from the bank.

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

(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

Money Managementfor Students

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1. Is the book of 2 Colossians in the Old or New Testament or neither?2. What chapter of Psalms has four verses (8, 15, 21, 31) that are alike? 4, 58, 107, 133 3. Song of Solomon and which other book (KJV) specifically mention the “apple tree”? Genesis, Ezra, Joel, Nahum4. From Genesis 4:26 who was Adam’s youngest son? Ishmael, Cain, Abel, Seth5. In John 11:16, who also was called Didymus? Simon Peter, Thomas, Silas, Judas 6. Which book has the longest line in the Bible at 89 words? Psalms, Proverbs, Esther, Revelation

1. Name the only two players to record 17 consecutive major-league seasons of at least 150 hits. 2. When Angels pitcher Nolan Ryan notched 383 strikeouts in 1973, whose American League record did he break?3. In 2012, Arkansas had the second-biggest fall in the AP college football poll, going from No. 8 to out of the top-25 rankings. Who had the biggest drop?4. Entering the 2013 playoffs, Jason Kidd was third on the list of NBA postseason career assists (1,239). Name the players in the top two spots.5. In 2013, Jaromir Jagr became the 12th NHL player to reach 1,000 career assists. Who was the 11th to do it?6. When was the last time an American driver won a Formula One Grand Prix race?7. Serena Williams, in 2013, became only the fourth woman to win a WTA tennis event six times. Name two of the other three to do it.

Page 11“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285

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1. Hank Aaron and Derek Jeter.2. Rube Waddell of the Philadelphia A’s, with 349 in 1904.3. The University of Michigan went from No. 5 to out of the poll in 2007.4. Magic Johnson (2,346 assists) and John Stockton (1,839).5. Colorado’s Joe Sakic, in 2008.6. Mario Andretti, in 1978.7. Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova.

BIBLE TRIVIA ANSWERS:

1) Neither; 2) 107; 3) Joel; 4) Seth; 5) Thomas; 6) Esther

Do you have a space in your home where you stash items because you can’t bear to get rid of them? My friend Vi, who lived to be 102, had a way of dealing with those things she couldn’t part with. Whether it was a snazzy shopping bag from a fancy store or another garage-sale treasure, she would put them in what she called her “just for now” room. She’d say with a chuckle and a twinkle in her eye, “These things are here just for now!” I’ve noticed that I’ve picked up on her approach. I not only have a “just for now” drawer in my kitchen and a “just for now” shelf in the entry closet, but also a growing “just for now” space in the garage. That’s where things like old wooden chairs without seats end up. If you have a sturdy wooden chair with a removable seat stored in an attic or garage in need of seat replacement, or if you find one for a few dollars at a garage sale, here’s a fun way to put it back in use, and you won’t have to pay for recaning it. Instead, weave Dad’s and Grandfather’s old neckties around the frame of the seat. You and your kids will be using the basic, simple weaving technique they learn at school when making paper place mats.Before you begin weaving about 30 neckties onto the chair, you might wish to sand it, apply a base coat or two of latex paint and then paint designs on the slats and legs with acrylic paint in playful colors. To weave the seat:--Place chair right side up. Make sure the old seat is removed completely. Wrap a necktie over front and rear seat support, and tie it tightly with a double knot underneath the chair. (It may be easier to tie the knot if you turn the chair upside down). Slide the tie to the left side of the chair.--Wrap around and knot a second tie next to the first. Continue adding and knotting about 15 more neckties to completely cover the seat space. --Weave horizontal rows with the basic over-and-under technique using the same number of additional ties. Simply weave a tie over and under the vertical ties, keeping them close together. Double knot each one tightly under the chair. When complete, your seat should be firm and comfortable.--Trim off excess tie length under the chair.***Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”

(c) 2013 Donna EricksonDistributed by King Features Synd.

Tie Memories to a Chair

Tidbits® of the River Region Page 12