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SAARP SOCIAL SERVICES

NEWSLETTER

Number 113

February 2016

adding life to your years

THE WINNERS

On the 11th of December 2015 we distributed a special newsletter requesting

people to update their e–mail addresses by the 15th of February 2016 and

promising a lucky draw for two demonstration Alcatel cellphones.

Congratulations to the two winners:

Mr GD Theilig of Bellville

Mrs ML Woods of Germiston

WATER IS LIFE – SAVE IT

Across the Riebeek Valley I can see a wind farm standing idle due to no wind.

Next to it is our water supply dam, almost empty, resulting in the Swartland

being declared a disaster area with severe water restrictions having been

introduced.

Meanwhile politicians, scientists and commercial interests prattle on about

future CO2 emissions. I wonder which will kill us first: to much CO2 or too little

H2O?

SAARP NEWS

WILLS – An essential service

Our membership base consists of people over the age of 50 years, but in

common with the rest of humanity, we should all have a valid WILL if we want to

diminish trauma and organise the assets we leave in an orderly and cost

effective manner as speedily as possible.

Due to changes that occur in all our lives all the time, the information which was

furnished when we compiled our wills has probably changed over time, which

means our WILL should also be reviewed on a regular basis.

We understand that the cost involved in compiling or changing a WILL, and

particularly the cost of executing the estate in the event of death, can be

substantial. This means that benefits from the estate to the surviving spouse

and other heirs can be substantially reduced by the costs levied by the

executing party who is finalising the estate.

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Being aware of this and taking account of the fact that it has always been our

aim to save members money, SAARP is now able to offer you the compilation if a

WILL at no cost, and the execution of the WILL at substantially reduced costs

– providing a bigger inheritance to your heir/s.

At the same time, as co-executors of your WILL, SAARP will try to ensure that

the estate is finalised in the shortest possible time.

We believe it is in your interest to look closely at your WILL, where it is in

safekeeping, and what the cost of executorship is in terms thereof.

If you are not 100% at peace with what you currently have in this regard,

contact us for a free professional review, a new WILL, free safekeeping and a

guaranteed executors discount.

For more information e-mail info@saarp.net and we will contact you.

SOCIAL MEDIA – SAARP has “weakened”

We are in the 21st Century, at last, and represented on the social media

mentioned below.

The following details from our Non-Executive Director, Helen Szemerei, will

help you to join us in this Century:

Ray

As per your request kindly find below the links to the SAARP Social Media

pages:

LinkedIn (SAARP) - https://www.linkedin.com/company/saarp

Facebook (SAARP) - https://www.facebook.com/SAARP-

937337743013224/?ref=hl

Twitter (SAARPZA) - https://twitter.com/SAARPZA

Users can either use this link and click through to each page or alternatively

search the name as indicated in brackets above. Once they have accessed these

pages, they can merely follow the ’like’ or ‘follow’ instruction which is a simple

click. These buttons are very clearly indicated on each of the respective social

media pages. I look forward to seeing more followers and the engagement of

members on these platforms.

Helen

SOCIAL CLUB NEWS

CONGRATLATIONS – John Young, Umhlanga Chairman

John has just celebrated his 90th birthday. He was born in Luton in England in

1926 and married Joan there in 1957. That means they have passed the 58th

wedding anniversary. All at Umhlanga hope, as I do, that he will continue as

chair. I have good news as, at the previous KZN reginal meeting, he and Hamish

MacCleod, the vice chair and treasurer, said that when they’d asked each other

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why they are still doing this they agreed that it was because they enjoyed it.

Full marks to both of them.

CAPE NATURE - Discounts

I have signed an agreement with Western Cape Conservation Board trading as

Cape Nature that gives all our members countrywide a 30% discount at any of

the 70 Cape Nature reserves in the Boland, West Coast and Garden Route

accommodation facilities. Any club wishing to have an event in one of the

reserves can arrange the event through us and get a 50% discount.

John Benwell

Managing Director

SAARP HOLIDAY CLUB

The following are examples of discounted off-peak holidays which our Holiday

Club has on offer for you and your families. To book phone Renske on 021 592

1279.

RESORT AREA DATE UNIT PRICE

Royal Atlantic Sea Point 15-19 Aug 1 bedroom R1 425

Royal Atlantic Sea Point 15-19 Aug 2 bedroom R1 710

Inverness Sea Point 15-19 Aug 1 bedroom R1 140

Suntide Winklespruit Upper south coast 15-19 Aug 1 bedroom R1 140

Suntide Margate Margate 22-26 Aug 1 bedroom R1 710

Magaliespark Hartbeespoort 20-24 June 2 bedroom R1 710

Dunkeld country est Dullstroom 20-24 June 1 bedroom R1 425

Waterberg game park Bosveld 20-24 June 2 bedroom R1 710

Riviera on vaal Gauteng 20-24 June 1 bedroom R1 425

Cayley lodge Drakensberg 20-24 June 2 bedroom R1 710

Kiara lodge Clarens 20-24 June 1 bedroom R1 425

Silversands Durban 18-23 July 1 bedroom R1 140

Dolphin view Umdloti 18-22 July 1 bedroom R1 140

Umhlanga cabanas Umhlanga 25-29 July 2 bedroom R1 710

NOTE 1: The above prices include 14% VAT.

NOTE 2: The price is for the entire period.

NOTE 3: All cancellations must be made 10 (ten) weeks before check-in

date.

PAYMENT: SAARP’s bank details are given below for your

deposits/transfers are:

Bank: ABSA Cape Town

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Bank Code: 632 005

Account name: SAARP

Account No: 405 745 1765

Please provide proof of payment using one of the following:

Fax: 021 592 1284

E-mail: renske@saarp.net

And remember to quote your ID Number and name.

HEALTH

FLU – Try to ward it off

To protect yourself against flu get vaccinated. Even though a flu vaccine is only

50 to 60 percent effective it does protect you against severe complications.

Studies suggest drinking green tea can help protect against flu as it contains

catechins, a type of antioxidant that can help protect against flu. Wash your

hands regularly as this can reduce the flu risk by up to 75 percent. Viruses

survive on surfaces for up to eight hours so touching doorknobs or countertops

and then then your mouth or nose enables the virus to enter your respiratory

tract.

AARP Bulletin December 2015

Apart from doorknobs and countertops here are some other virus traps:

1. Restaurant Menus

2. Lemon Wedges on drinks

3. Condiment Dispensers

4. Restroom Door Handles

5. Soap Dispensers

6. Grocery Carts

7. Airplane Bathrooms

8. Doctors' Offices

Do read the article here:

http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-03-2011/8-germiest-

places.html?intcmp=DSO-SEARCH-AARPSUGG-HEA-germs-public-places#slide1

LONGEVITY - Book clubs just as important as fitness

Taking part in social activities such as book clubs or church groups after

retirement makes people live longer and appears to be as important to health as

exercise, according to new research. A retired person’s risk of death is

dramatically lowered if they take part in such groups in the first few years

after stopping working, a study has found – suggesting that future retirees

should pay as much attention to keeping active socially as they do to planning

their finances and maintaining their physical health.

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If a person belonged to two social groups before retirement and kept this up

over the following six years, their risk of death was just 2 per cent, the study

found. However, the risk rose to 5 per cent if they gave up one membership and

12 per cent if they gave up membership of both. The researchers said social

groups could be defined as anything which a person sees as “an important part

of their identity”, from book clubs to church groups through to tennis club

memberships or involvement in trade unions. The study also examined how

changes in exercise levels after retirement affected a person’s risk of death –

and found that the impact was the same as giving up membership of social

groups. Those who exercised vigorously once a week before retirement and

continued to do so afterwards had a 3 per cent risk of death, rising to 6 per

cent if they exercised less than once a week and 11 per cent if they stopped

altogether.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-

news/social-activities-such-as-book-clubs-just-as-important-as-fitness-to-help-

you-live-longer-says-study-a6875596.html

HAPPINESS - People aged 65 to 79 'happiest of all'

The survey of more than 300,000 adults across the UK found life satisfaction,

happiness and feeling life was worthwhile all peaked in the 65 to 79 age bracket,

but declined in the over-80s.

Those aged 45 to 59 reported the lowest levels of life satisfaction, with men on

average less satisfied than women. That age group also reported the highest

levels of anxiety. Researchers said one possible reason for the lower happiness

and well-being scores among this age group might be the burden of having to

care for children and elderly parents at the same time. The struggle to balance

work and family commitments might also be a factor, they said. Meanwhile,

those who were younger or retired had more free time to spend on activities

which promoted their well-being, the researchers suggested. The "U-shaped"

pattern of happiness, which sees people's happiness dip in middle age, has been

observed globally.

The published results have been broken down by age, ethnicity, religion, marital

status, employment status, religion, and where in the country people live.

They suggested:

Married people had the highest levels of happiness.

People with jobs were happier than unemployed people, with part-time

workers the happiest.

Of those who followed a religion, Hindus were marginally the happiest

on average, followed by Christians and Sikhs, while those who followed

no religion were the least happy

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Women on average reported higher levels of anxiety than men, but

were more likely report better wellbeing and feel their life was

worthwhile

People of Arab ethnicity were found to be the most anxious ethnic

group, with people of Chinese ethnicity the least anxious

Northern Ireland held on to the crown for happiest of the UK's

nations, with people there also most satisfied and most likely to say

their life was worthwhile

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35471624

FOOD

SIX FOODS A TOP FOOD POISONING EXPERT WON’T EAT

Seattle attorney Bill Marler has represented many victims who were

hospitalized or, in several tragic cases, died from eating tainted food.

Seeing the worst side of foodborne illness has made Marler extremely careful

about what he eats. There are six foods he never eats:

Raw sprouts. Shun all sprouts — alfalfa, bean, clover and radish — when you see

them on the salad bar, or added to sandwiches. Sprout seeds need warm, humid

conditions to grow — the perfect environment for the growth of bacteria.

Bagged salad or cut fruit: The more food is handled or processed, the greater

the risk for contamination — witness the numerous foodborne illness outbreaks

from bagged salads. In restaurants, he chooses safer cooked vegetables over

salad.

Unpasteurized (“raw”) milk and juices. Marler won’t go near either raw milk or

unpasteurized juices. Raw milk can be contaminated with bacteria, viruses and

parasites. Pasteurization was developed 150 years ago for a very good reason.

Beef that isn’t well-done. Marler orders his burgers well-done — not

surprising, given what he knows about bacteria in undercooked beef. He also

asks if a restaurant needle-tenderizes their steaks by piercing them, a

technique that can transfer bacteria from the surface to the interior of the

steak. If they do, he orders his steak well-done. Otherwise, medium-well.

Raw or undercooked eggs. The risk of salmonella poisoning from eggs is much

lower than it was 20 years ago but it’s still a concern. Stick to well-cooked eggs.

Raw oysters or other raw shellfish. Raw oysters have been causing more

foodborne illness lately because there’s more bacteria in warming oceans, and

oysters, which are filter feeders, pick up every microbe in the water. Eating

them “is simply not worth the risk.”

http://blog.aarp.org/2016/02/05/6-foods-a-top-food-poisoning-expert-

wont-eat/?cmp=EMC-DSO-NLC-RSS---CTRL-020916-P1-

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1072621&ET_CID=1072621&ET_RID=1554613&encparam=xRFt/R1zIctQhb

OyU8zfo6RmN9nevV5HTXunpOObw5U=

DIET COLDRINKS – Can they cause weight gain?

Yes. Firstly it’s because we overestimate the calories we save by drinking it and

so we splurge on fries and cookies thinking it’s OK since we have cut down sugar

by using a diet drink. Resultantly we actually end up eating more food.

Secondly, recent research points to a change in gut bacteria caused by the

artificial sweeteners in diet drinks. This probably impacts insulin and thereby

causes weight gain. It is best to drink water and switch to sparkling water if you

crave the fizz.

John Whyte MD, author of AARP New American Diet: Lose weight, Live Longer.

December 2015 aarp.org/Bulletin

LIFE

LIFE LESSON - Cockroach Theory

At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady,

she started screaming out of fear. With a panic stricken face and trembling

voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of

the cockroach. Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got

panicky. The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but it landed on

another lady in the Group. Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to

continue the drama. The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of

throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter. The waiter stood firm,

composed himself and observed the behaviour of the cockroach on his shirt.

When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and threw it out

of the restaurant.

Sipping my coffee and watching the amusement, the antenna of my mind picked

up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach responsible for

their histrionic behaviour?

If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed?

He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos. It is not the cockroach,

but the inability of the ladies to handle the disturbance caused by the

cockroach that disturbed the ladies.

I realized that, it is not the shouting of my father or my boss or my wife that

disturbs me, but it’s my inability to handle the disturbances caused by their

shouting that disturbs me.

It’s not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs me, but my inability to

handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs me.

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More than the problem, it’s my reaction to the problem that creates chaos

in my life. Lessons learnt from the story:

I understood, I should not react in life.

I should always respond.

The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded.

Reactions are always instinctive whereas responses are always well

thought out.

Note: The origin seems to be lost is the mists of time. It has been floating

around the net for at least 6 years - probably longer - and attributed to more

than one source.

LIVES LOST - The biggest killers in SA

Cause of death

Years of life lost

(per 100,000 population)

1 HIV/AIDS 21711

2 Lower respiratory infections 2121

3 Neoplasms (cancer) 1698

4 Diarrheal diseases 1483

5 Tuberculosis 1456

6 Unintentional Injuries 1204

7 Interpersonal violence 1194

8 Cerebrovascular disease 1046

9 Chronic respiratory diseases 970

10 Transport (including road) injuries 948

Heart disease and diabetes are the 11th and 12th biggest killers. http://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/107181/this-is-whats-killing-south-africans/

WORLD

THE ELDERLY - Who will take care of China's elderly people?

China has the fastest-ageing population in human history but the state provides

very little support for elderly people. Ageing parents have traditionally been

looked after by their children - but in today's China that is not always the case.

China has a lot of orphanages for children. But the Ji Xiang temple has an

entirely different purpose - it's an orphanage for the elderly. Dozens of elderly

people are living their final years here. Some are too poor to go elsewhere.

Others have no children to care for them. But most have simply been

abandoned by their families. "In this area, there's not much family loyalty,"

explains the temple's head nun, Neng Qing. "Old people are really suffering. In a

neighbouring village, there was one old person who had eight children. Every

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morning, he went to each of the children's families but no-one even invited him

in for breakfast. The village contacted us, but it was too late. He had already

committed suicide."

At 81, Neng Qing still runs the whole operation, travelling into villages to rescue

elderly people who are dying from lack of care. "It's heartbreaking when we go

to pick up these people from their homes because some of them have been sick

for a long time. Sometimes, daughters-in-law make their husbands abandon their

mothers because they've lost the ability to work. They're in such bad health

that we have to carry them out on a stretcher, but then we nurse them back to

health”.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35155548

In South Africa we have the:

OLDER PERSONS ACT 13 OF 2006

Which states:

ACT

To deal effectively, with the plight of older persons by establishing a

framework aimed at the empowerment and protection of older persons and at

the promotion and maintenance of their status, rights, well-being, safety and

security; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

This Act obliges anyone who is aware of abuse of the elderly to report it

to the authorities under penalty of law.

BOOKS - NON-FICTION

BOOK Excerpt

The things that go well are largely unintended; the things that go badly are

largely intended. Let me give you two lists.

First: the First World War, the Russian Revolution, the Versailles Treaty,

the Great Depression, the Nazi regime, the Second World War, the

Chinese Revolution, the 2008 financial crisis: every single one was the

result of top–down decision-making by relatively small numbers of people

trying to implement deliberate plans – politicians, central bankers,

revolutionaries and so on.

Second: the growth of global income; the disappearance of infectious

diseases; the feeding of seven billion; the clean-up of rivers and air; the

reforestation of much of the rich world; the internet; the use of mobile-

phone credits as banking; the use of genetic fingerprinting to convict

criminals and acquit the innocent. Every single one of these was a

serendipitous, unexpected phenomenon supplied by millions of people who

did not intend to cause these big changes.

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All the interesting things are incremental, says the psephologist [one who

studies political elections] Sir David Butler, and very few of the major

changes in the statistics of human living standards of the past fifty years

were the result of government action. The Evolution of Everything: How Ideas

Emerge by Matt Ridley

COMPUTERS

COMMUCATION - Cellphone numbers may disappear

You can already make video and voice calls without knowing someone’s phone

number, and this trend is growing. With the advent of social media, a battle

for control of the way people connect to each other is underway. A person’s

Facebook account, for example, can easily replace their mobile number as the

best way to connect to them. Facebook’s VP of Messaging Products, David

Marcus, said, “With Facebook Messenger, we offer all the things that made

texting so popular, but also so much more. Yes, you can send text messages, but

you can also send stickers, photos, videos, voice clips, GIFs, your location, and

money to people.” You can make video and voice calls without needing to know

someone’s phone number. “You don’t need to have a Facebook account to use

Messenger anymore, and it’s also a cross platform experience – so you can pick

up where you left off whether you’re on a desktop computer, a tablet, or your

phone.”

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/cellular/152055-cellphone-numbers-may-

disappear.html

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING - Women write better code, study suggests

Computer code written by women has a higher approval rating than that written

by men - but only if their gender is not identifiable, new research suggests.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-

35559439?ocid=global_bbccom_email_14022016_technology

As the one time Chief Programmer of a life insurance company I agree

wholeheartedly. A colleague of mine, a lifelong software programmer adds:

“Women are way better at some things - programming, administration, multi-

tasking - this I why I cringe at all this “everybody is the same” nonsense . . . .”

SAARP’s SERVICES – For your benefit

SAARP SHORT TERM INSURANCE POLICIES

Members have saved up to R13 000 per annum on their SAARP policies

Choose from Auto & General, SANTAM or Alexander Forbes

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SAARP HOLIDAY CLUB

Get discounted top class holidays at amazing prices

SAARP MEDICAL GAP COVER INSURANCE

Choose from Guardrisk, Alexander Forbes and AIG

SAARP FAMILY PROTECTION PLAN

Funeral insurance at reduced rates

CAR HIRE A CHOICE OF THREE COMPANIES

AVIS, First Car or Holiday Autos

SAARP DISCOUNTED WILLS WITHOUT DRAFTING OR HOLDING COSTS

Discounted executor’s fees could vary from 20% to 50% off the legal

maximum

FREE WILL SERVICE – NO DRAWING AND HOLDING FEES

Warwick Trust

FINANCIAL INVESTMENT SERVICE

Warwick Wealth

SPECSAVERS

Affordable Spectacles

FREE MONTHLY e-NEWSLETTER

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SAARP, its suppliers, publisher, printer and contributors do not have any intention to provide specific medical

or other advice but rather may provide readers with information in terms of its rights under the Constitution of

South Africa. Information provided here is not a substitute for professional advice of any nature, more

particularly medical advice, care, diagnosis or treatment, neither is it designed to promote or endorse any

medical practice or treatment, programme or product. It is placed on record that SAARP does not endorse or

recommend any product advertised or mentioned in the editorial content of the Bulletin or website or the like.

Additionally and similarly, SAARP does not offer professional advice in any area, including, but not limited to,

law and finance. In all cases, should readers require advice, they should consult a properly accredited and

qualified specialist in the field.

Contact us at SAARP Tel: 021 592 1279

Fax: 021 592 1284

Call us and we’ll call you back to save your phone bill

e-mail: info@saarp.net

Or see it all at www.saarp.net

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LANGUAGE - Origins of a few English surnames

Ackerman: a ploughman or ox herder

Catchpole: an official who pursues those with delinquent debts

Chandler: a candle maker, or a retail supplier of specific equipment

Factor: an agent or steward

Fuller: someone who shrinks and thickens wool cloth

Keeler: a crew member on a barge or a keelboat

Roper: a maker of nets and ropes

Sawyer: a carpenter

Turner: someone who uses a lathe to turn wood for balustrades and spindles

Wainwright: a wagon maker

Webster: a weaver

WORD - What a brilliant one

throttlebottom, noun

: an innocuously inept and futile person in public office

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

SHORT FICTION – 100 words

Cheers

With satisfaction grey haired Jack surveyed the objects on the table before

him, whisky, glass, cigarettes, matches, ashtray, alarm clock set for midnight.

After a smokeless, drink free year, he would greet the New Year with his

favourite pleasures. Only his wife, watching from the passage painfully

remembered his drunken rants, his reeling home in taxis, the hangovers. “Come

join me, Lily,” he cajoled. “Rotten habits,” she murmured. At midnight the alarm

trilled, His eyes glistening, Jack reached for the bottle. “Ah, the food of life at

last.” Smirking, Lily moved away hoping her stupid husband enjoyed his doctored

tipple.

Isabelle Goodson born 1921 – a member of the Pinelands Writers’ Circle

QUIZ – How sharp are you?

1 Johnny’s mother had three children. The first child was named April. The

second child was named May. What was the third child’s name?

2 A clerk at a butcher shop stands five feet ten inches tall and wears size 13

sneakers. What does he weigh?

3 Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the

world?

4 How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by

four feet?

5 What word in the English language is always spelled incorrectly?

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6 Billie was born on December 28th, yet her birthday always falls in the

summer. How is this possible?

7 In British Columbia you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why

not?

8 If you were running a race and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place

would you be in now?

9 Which is correct to say, “The yolk of the egg is white” or “The yolk of the egg

are white?”

10 A farmer has five haystacks in one field and four haystacks in another. How

many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in one field?

Answers at the end of this newsletter.

SMILE

"Some people claim that marriage interferes with romance. There's no doubt

about it. Anytime you have a romance, your wife is bound to interfere." Groucho

Marx

"I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to

annoy for the rest of your life." Rita Rudner

A frustrated husband in front of his laptop: “Dear google, please do not behave

like my wife. Please allow me to complete my sentence before you start guessing

and suggesting.”

GLOBAL RECESSION

The recession has hit everybody really hard.

I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and

ask if they meant you or them.

McDonald's is selling the 1/4 ouncer.

A picture is now only worth 200 words.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to a human soul.

Joseph Addison (1672-1719), English essayist and poet

THOUGHT

Politics, as a practice, whatever its professions, has always been the systematic

organization of hatreds.

Henry Adams, historian and teacher (16 Feb 1838-1918)

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QUOTE

There are two ways to be rich.

One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.

Jackie French Koller.

Answers to Quiz. These illustrate several brain idiosyncrasies that affect how

we make decisions in the world.

1 Johnny.

2 Meat.

3 Mount Everest. It just wasn’t discovered yet.

4 There is no dirt in a hole.

5 Incorrectly (except when it is spelled incorrecktly).

6 Billie lives in the southern hemisphere.

7 You can’t take a picture with a wooden leg. You need a camera (or iPad or cell

phone) to take a picture.

8 You would be in 2nd place. You passed the person in second place, not first.

9 Neither. Egg yolks are yellow.

10 One. If he combines all his haystacks, they all become one big stack.

Ray Hattingh

PS "I regard giving up smoking as a defeat at the hands of the nanny state."

Alexander Chancellor

adding life to your years