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January 14, 2013 Vol. 3, Issue 1

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SECRET CODESby Janet Spencer

World War II• When Roosevelt and Churchill were

scheduled to meet in 1943, they knew the Germans were desperate to find out where the meeting would be. News was leaked that it would be at the place identified in code as Casablanca. The Germans figured that since “casablanca” was Spanish for white house, the meeting would take place at the White House. They sent all their spies to monitor the White House while Roosevelt and Churchill had an uneventful meeting in Casablanca, Morocco.

• On December 6, 1941, President Roosevelt sent a message to Emperor Hirohito in Japan pleading for peace. He sent the message by telegraph in a simple code used for every-day transmissions. In Japan, the telegram sat for ten hours unread due to a backlog of messages. Had he sent the message in a top security code, it would have reached the Emperor immediately. But it did not— and the next day, Pearl Harbor was attacked.

• Actress Lucille Ball reported that every time she walked near a certain area, she heard Japanese radio broadcasts coming across some lead fillings in her teeth. An investigation revealed a Japanese radio station hidden underground.

• On December 6, 1941, Japan was preparing to mount an attack on Pearl Harbor. A Japanese spy in Pearl Harbor walked right up to the telegraph office in town and sent a dispatch to his confederates describing where the warships were located. The telegram cost $6.82 and apparently nobody in the telegraph office thought it was suspicious.

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SECRET CODES (continued):• On Dec. 6, 1941, a new employee at the Office

of Naval Intelligence, Mrs. Dorothy Edgers (who had been employed there only a month), decoded an intercepted Japanese message that indicated Honolulu was to be the target of a Japanese attack. She showed it to her superior officer, who said it needed more work and could wait until Monday.

• In May of 1942, the Japanese were preparing to mount a major attack somewhere in the Central Pacific. The U.S. had broken the Japanese code and were aware of the impending attack. However, they didn’t know what the target would be. The Japanese called the target “AF” and the Americans could not figure out what place that denoted. Then they came up with a scheme: they had Midway send an uncoded message saying their water distillation plant had broken down and they were short on drinking water. Then they monitored the Japanese transmissions. Two days later, they intercepted a coded message from Japan reporting that “AF” was short of drinking water. When the Japanese descended on Midway, the American forces were ready and waiting.

• When agents stormed the Japanese embassy in Portugal, they seized a Japanese code book, thinking it would be helpful to the Allies. What they didn’t know was that the Allies had already broken the code. Now that Japan knew the code book had been stolen, they changed the code. It took a year before the U.S. could break the new code.

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► If your straw broom isn’t working as well as it did when new, try giving it a spruce-up. Beat any dust out of the ends, then trim off any bent straws. Trim a section from a leg of stretched out pantyhose or tights and wrap it around the bristles, about 2 inches up from the bottom. This keeps the bristles nice and tight, and it will collect dirt better.

► When you replace old brushes -- hairbrushes or toothbrushes -- wrap a length of masking tape around the handle. That way you can use them for cleaning and they will never be mistakenly used for the wrong purpose.

► “When cooking rice, add a little bit of lemon juice to the water. It doesn’t really flavor it, but it will keep it nice and white, plus it seems to be a bit fluffier when I do this.” -- R.E. in Mississippi

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

► “When my child was mostly finished potty training, I put her baby potty in the car with some wet wipes and plastic baggies. Seems like she had emergencies when we were driving, and it wasn’t always convenient to find a business with a bathroom in time. But it was easy to pull into a parking lot and let her take care of business.” -- E.E. in Maine

► Store extra plastic grocery bags in empty tissue boxes. They are easy to store this way, and you can keep them under the sink or in the car for easy access.

► “Keep your garage floor nice by lining the area where you park with carpet remnants. Road salt and other nasty business that your tires pick up will not corrode the floor. You can shake out the rugs outside.” -- C.Y. in New York

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or e-mail JoAnn at [email protected].

Oz BooksQ: I have five books by L. Frank Baum, author of the “Oz” series. How can I find out how much they are worth and, perhaps, a buyer? -- Lavonne, Willmar, Minn.

A: One of the best ways to find current book values is to go to www.abe.com. Type in the title and author, and you will be able to determine how much it is being of-fered for sale by various dealers throughout the world. Pay close attention to editions. A first edition is always more valuable than a later printing. Condition also is important. To find a buyer, you might consider listing them on eBay.

I looked up of the titles you listed, a 1919 edition of “The Magic of Oz,” and it is available for $10 by a bookseller in Tucson, Ariz.

***Q: My dad has a bottle of 7-Up that salutes “The Fight-ing Irish of Notre Dame.” What do you think it is worth? -- Amy, Knox, Ind.

A: I spoke to several soda-pop collectors, and they seem to agree it would be worth about $10. One of the better reference books is “Soda Pop Collectibles

Price Guide” by Allan Petretti. According to Petretti, 7-Up was introduced in St. Louis in 1929 by Charles L. Grigg.

***Q: I have a Sears & Roebuck catalog from the 1900s, No. 110. It is edited by Joseph Shroeder, Jr., and I wonder if it has any value. -- Frank, Mosinee, Wisc.

A: Your catalog is a reproduction that was published during the 1970s and ‘80s. The tipoff is the fact that it was edited. The original catalogs did not list edi-tors. The series included catalogs from 1896, 1910 and 1929, in addition to several others. Most of the reproduction catalogs sell in the $10 to $25 range, depending on condition.

***Q: I have a 21-jewel Illinois Bunn Special pocket watch. It is at least 60 years old and is in excellent working order. What do you think it is worth? -- Andy, Roanoke, Va.

A: There are many factors when determining the value of older watches. I recommend you show your timepiece to jewelers in your area for their opinion.

Write to Larry Cox in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to [email protected]. Due to the large volume of mail he receives, Mr. Cox is un-able to personally answer all reader questions. Do not send any materials requiring return mail.


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Q: I moved this fall from my hometown in South Florida to a small town in the Northeast. I’ve never dealt with freezing winter temperatures and snow before. My dad told me to watch out for frozen pipes, but how do I notice when they’re freezing, and what can I do to prevent it? What other problems should I watch for? -- New Guy in Portland, Maine

A: The first advice I received when I moved to a Northern state was “bend your knees when you’re shoveling snow.” But there was a little bit more to know. Fortunately, most homes built in the past 30 years or so in the Northeast have higher-grade insulation than homes in the South. So pipes don’t typically freeze at the first sign of frost the way they do in Florida. Still, you’re right to be on your guard.

Here are two common winter problems to look out for:

--Frozen pipes: During long or very low-temperature freezing spells, keep a tap at the highest level of your home dripping, so that water moves through the pipes. Inspect the pipes

By Samantha Mazzotta

Watch for Frozen Pipes, Ice Dams


SECRET CODES (continued):World War I

• When American decoding experts intercepted and deciphered a message from Germany to Mexico, they found that Germany was offering Mexico a large chunk of the United States if only Mexico would join with them in the war. This message was pivotal in pushing the U.S. into World War I.

• Zeppelin L-49 was returning to Germany during World War I after having bombed London. It was over France when it ran out of fuel. There was no way the aircraft was going to make it back to Germany. The captain, knowing they were doomed to be captured, knew it was essential to get rid of the code books. But he couldn’t burn the books because the zeppelin was filled with flammable gas. So he ordered his men to shred the books and toss the pieces of paper over the side. When they were captured, Colonel Richard Williams of the U.S. Army Intelligence was frustrated when he found that the code books had been destroyed. So he sent the troops out to search the ground following the path the airship had taken. By nightfall

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in areas where insulation is low or nonexistent, such as crawlspaces or basements. You may need to run a hand along the pipe: if you feel an area that’s especially cold, or see frost buildup on a section of pipe, it’s beginning to freeze.

If the pipe is swollen or already cracked, you’ve got a bigger problem. To prevent this from happening, drape towels soaked in hot water over the freezing pipe. Place a bucket underneath the towels and pour hot water over the area frequently to thaw the pipes. If the pipes have cracked or burst, shut off water to that section of the house and call a plumber.

--Ice dams: These form along the eaves of a house, particularly the corners, during long cold spells. They’re sometimes caused by damage or air leaks at the edge of the roof, where warm air from inside meets colder air. The bigger the ice dam, the more potential there is for roof damage to occur. If you can safely clear the dam during above-freezing temperatures, do so; otherwise, call a roofing specialist for an evaluation.

HOME TIP: Ice melt is a big help in keeping wintry walkways clear, but to prevent damage to nearby plants or lawn, be careful not to overapply it: Read the directions on how much of your selected product to use.

Send your questions or tips to [email protected], or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

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1. MUSIC: What is rap singer Eminem’s real name?

2. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the first president to attend a baseball game?

3. ANATOMY: What is another name for the breastbone?

4. ARCHITECTURE: What is a colonnade?5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a kookaburra?6. LITERATURE: Who wrote the novel “The

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continued on page 5

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If you’ve been dismayed by the high cost of heating your home -- even now, in the middle of winter -- there are steps you can still take to save money this year and even more next winter. Here are eight ideas:

1. Invest in a programmable thermostat, especially if you work away from home during the day. Lower the temperature a number of degrees and set it to warm the house before you get home. You’ll save the energy dollars you would have spent heating the whole house all day.

2. Drop the temperature. Every degree you lower the temperature saves 3 percent on your energy bill. Put on shoes and a sweatshirt, and you’ll stay warm even if the temperature is a few degrees cooler than you’re used to. Make use of a blanket or quilt for the times you’re watching television or reading.

3. Invest in the shrinkable clear-plastic sheeting that attaches to the interior of windows. If you’ve never used this product before, you’ll be surprised at the amount of cold air these sheets will keep out. You might want to leave them up for heat control in sunny windows this summer.

4. Buy inexpensive thermal drapes to block the cold at night, and let the sun warm your rooms during the day.

5. Consider investing in a space heater. Look at the infrared ones in a wooden case that do not get hot to the touch. Remember that these heaters will increase your electric bill, but overall you should experience significant savings from not running the furnace all the time. Use them in the room you’re in, but don’t try to heat the whole house or leave them running all the time. Commit to running the space heater for one month, and then compare your usage to previous bills. (Many of these machines are returnable within 30 days.)

6. Be sure floor vents aren’t blocked and that the heat isn’t going up inside the drapes.

7. If you have an unused second floor, invest in a thermal blanket that attaches over the opening at the stairs. This will keep all your heat from rising to the next floor. If you have an attic hatch, seal it off for the winter. Close the fireplace flue when not in use.

8. After you bake something in the oven, leave the door open (unless small children are around) and let the residual heat warm the room.

David Uffington regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Write to him in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send email to [email protected].

(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.8 Ways to Save on Heating Costs

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Hearty rigatoni topped with lean ground beef and a sauce studded with piquant green olives makes quick, filling dinner during the cold winter months.

• Salt• 1 large (10- to 12-ounce) onion• 1 cup green olives, jarred and pitted• 3 cloves garlic• 1/3 cup red pepper, roasted and drained• 12 ounces 90-percent lean ground beef• 12 ounces rigatoni pasta• 1 teaspoon dried oregano• Pepper• Chopped parsley, for garnish

1. Heat large covered saucepot of salted water to boiling on high. Chop onion and garlic. Reserve 1 tablespoon olive brine; drain olives. Halve olives; thinly slice red pepper.

2. To 12-inch nonstick skillet, add beef and 1/8 teaspoon salt; cook on medium 5 to 6 minutes or until browned, stirring and breaking up meat with spoon. With slotted spoon, transfer beef to me-dium bowl.

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they had collected 22 sacks full of tiny scraps of paper. Williams set his men to the task of reconstructing the book. By midnight they had put together a complete map of the North Sea showing the call sign positions for a U-boat rendezvous.

• William and Elizabeth Friedman were a married team of cryptanalysts who were instrumental in cracking many codes. Once the British sent them some sample messages from a new encoding device they were considering using throughout the British Army. Within three hours of receiving the five messages, the Friedmans had deciphered them. The first message, ironically enough, said, “This cipher is absolutely indecipherable.”

EARLIER WARS• A captured slave was brought to General

Lysander, leader of the Spartan forces around 400 B.C. A message the slave was carrying was handed to the General. There were many hostilities going on, so Lysander suspected the message would bear important information. However, it did not. Then he noticed the slave’s belt was decorated with a series of letters that made no sense. He took the belt and wrapped it around a thin rod. There, down the side of the rod, was a perfectly legible message. It said that the Persians— who were supposed to be allies of the Spartans— were planning to take over. Thus forewarned, Lysander rushed his forces back to Sparta and ruined the plot.

casionally. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water. Drain pasta; return to pot.

4. To same skillet, add onion, oregano and 1/8 tea-spoon freshly ground black pepper. Cook 3 min-utes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until golden, stirring often. Return beef to skillet. Stir in olives, red pepper and reserved ol-ive brine. Cook 2 minutes or until heated through.

5. To pasta in pot, add beef mixture and reserved cooking liquid. Heat on medium 2 minutes or un-til pasta is cooked, stirring often. Serve in shallow bowls; garnish with parsley. Serves 4.

Time-saving tip: To peel garlic faster, press down on it with the side of a chef’s knife; the peel will slide right off.

• Each serving: About 540 calories, 14g total fat (4g saturated), 55mg cholesterol, 790mg sodium, 73g total carbs, 5g dietary fiber, 30g protein.

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

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Go Left, Young ManMy son is only 3 years old, so I’m not putting too much strain on his left arm. “They” say that you can’t really tell if a kid is righty or lefty until he is 4 or older, so I’m holding out for lefty status.

You ask why. It’s because he’s not going to play football. Why? Because even though I know he’s far more likely to suffer a concussion in an unsupervised backyard foot-ball game that doesn’t require pads or mouth guards, it’s not worth fighting over. I wouldn’t want him to spend his entire life fighting off migraines, and if we’re not in it to win it, there isn’t much point anyway. Who wants their kid to aspire to be the third-string quarterback? In the fall, he can play soccer ... he’s got the prerequisite looks. (Aren’t most soccer players lookers?)

In the winter, he’s pretty much on his own. I’m a ter-rible basketball player, so I won’t be able to teach him how to hit a jump shot. Seriously, it’s worse than you can imagine.

A few years ago, a friend of a friend invited me to a pickup game at the local college. He warned me in ad-vance that it was pretty competitive. When I got to the gym, I looked the part in my vintage Jordan’s and Under Armour ... that is, looked the part of a giant tool who couldn’t even get a shot off because he was being guard-ed by a former college player who seemed a bit too tena-cious for a pickup game.

To make things worse, they had me playing the point. I could pass the ball pretty well, but my lack of on-court experience showed when I tried to run a fast break and threw up an alley-oop from midcourt. It was a real show-stopper in that everyone stopped playing and made faces indicating utter befuddlement.

“Was that a shot?” one guy asked. “A buzzer-beater?”“No,” I shot back (rhetorically ... not with a basketball). “I was setting you up for the dunk.”

After the laughter subsided, the guy I was passing to took the opportunity to provide me with a teaching moment.

“Look, dude ... I’m 50 years old,” he said. Then he point-


ed to his knee brace. It resembled scaffolding. You could get a few masons and build the foundation to a skyscrap-er around his knee. “I’ve got 10 pounds of steel wrapped around my knee.”

“Yeah, and we don’t really dunk, like, ever,” another helpful person. “We’re kind of happy when we find someone who can go to their left. Which you can’t.”

Real friendly guys.

Which brings me to my original point. If you’re a lefty, you need to play baseball or tennis ... baseball in particu-lar. I cannot think of any institution that employs, per capita, more lefties than the game of baseball (at least outside of the Massachusetts state Senate). Even crap-py lefties put together 10-season, journeyman careers. That’s job security.

Who’s looking out for ya, kid? Dad, that’s who. Now stop throwing off your back right foot, and we’ll work on your slider after Mickey Mouse. It’s time to step it up.

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

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SECRET CODES (continued):EARLIER WARS

• Around 300 B.C. Histiaeos was the governor of the ancient Greek city Miletus. He was being held under guard and couldn’t get any messages out— but it was imperative that he inform his people behind enemy lines that he planned to overthrow Darius, the king of Persia. He shaved the head of his servant and tattooed the message on his scalp. After the hair grew back, he sent the servant out on an errand. The message was delivered.

• During the Revolutionary War, messages were sent via Anna Strong’s clothesline. She signaled an American spy whenever a boatman was ready to carry secret messages across Long Island Sound. A black petticoat hung out to dry meant that the boatman was waiting. The number of hankies next to it indicated which cove he was hiding in.

• Paul Bernard was a French spy in World War I who sent his secret messages home by writing the essential information in the top right-hand corner of postcards, and then putting postage stamps over the writing.

• Thomas Jefferson invented a coding instrument called the wheel cipher that is still used by the U.S. Navy today.

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SILLY PUTTY• During World War II, Japanese invasions of

rubber-producing countries in the Far East vastly reduced availability of rubber in the U.S. In the 1940s, the U.S. War Production Board asked General Electric for help in developing a cheap substitute for rubber so that production of things such as boots and tires could continue. G.E. hired James Wright, who created a compound after accidentally dropping some boric acid into silicone oil in 1943.

• It stretched further than rubber; rebounded higher than rubber; was impervious to mold and decay; and could withstand all temperatures. The only problem was that scientists could find no real use for the stuff. In 1945, G.E. mailed samples to scientists all over the world, asking them to find a purpose for it.

• Paul Hodgson happened to attend a party where some of the stuff was brought out. It entertained the party-goers for hours. He teamed up with the owner of a toy store and Silly Putty outsold everything else in the company catalog with the exception of a 50 cent box of crayons. Still, the store owner wasn’t interested in pursuing Silly Putty, so Hodgson split off on his own. In 1950 Hodgson bought a huge glob of the stuff for $147 and hired a Yale student to separate it into one ounce balls and put it into plastic eggs, perhaps because Easter was coming up. Several months later when Silly Putty was mentioned in the “Talk of the Town” section of the New Yorker magazine, Hodgson’s phone rang off the hook and he collected a quarter million orders in only four days. A few years later, he was racking up sales of over six million dollars annually. Hodgson was soon a millionaire.

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Make a family reading resolution this year, and kick it off with a brand-new book

you publish with the youngest budding reader in your family. To get you started, here are some ideas for your first book, titled “Night Night Book.” Not only will your child have a one-of-a-kind book to enjoy, but also it has the added benefit of making the bedtime ritual extra fun!

Each page represents something in your children’s world they’re familiar with, something they see or use each day. As you read it over and over, new stories will emerge, giving a boost to language development and a love for books and reading.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

--Poster board or sturdy paper--Magazine pictures and photographs of people, places and pets familiar to your child (you might wish to use color copies of photos for this book)--Small, flat items (or simple drawings of items) familiar to child--Scissors--Glue--Markers

Here’s the fun:Collect photographs and magazine pictures as well as items familiar to your child such as paper labels

from food products. Cut poster board into 8-inch-by-8-inch pages. Make as many pages as you wish.

On the cover, glue a photo of your child and write the words “Night Night,” and your child’s name (for example “Night Night, Adam”).

Glue a picture or object to each page and print the name of it below, after the words “night night.” For example,

“night night shoes,” “night night blankie.” The final page of the book could be a poem.

For example,

“Now it’s time to say night night, The sun has set, The moon is bright. The stars are shining far away And now you’ll sleep until it’s day!”

Bind the book by punching two or three holes along the left side of the pages and attaching the sheets

together with safe, plastic, toddler links or metal rings.

Tip: To expand modern-language learning, write “Good night” in different languages on the pages, such as “Bonne nuit” (French) or “Buenos noches” (Spanish).

***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.”

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continued on page 9


Appealing a Denied Medicare Claim

Every quarter you’ll receive a Medicare statement. It’s important that you inspect this form -- going over every item -- and look for mistakes.

Kaiser Health News has issued a report showing how to handle any mistakes you find:

If a claim is denied, you’ll want to take steps to appeal. Hold on to your quarterly statement and circle the items in question.

If you have a computer, go to the Medicare site (www.medicare.gov) and click on Claims & Appeals. You’ll get a list of instructions. Down the page at Get Medicare Forms, you’ll find the forms you need for either a claim or an appeal. You also can file a claim online at the above link.

If your claim is denied, be sure to appeal within 120 days. If you’re denied again, file again, asking for a second appeal. If denied, for your next appeal include a letter describing what the payment was for. Include a copy of the previous denials of your claim.

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Your next appeal will be to ask for a hearing before an administrative law judge. This likely will be a conference call between you, your doctor and the judge.

Only 2 percent of errors are ever challenged when it comes to denied claims. Those who are denied a claim often give up. It takes energy and perseverance to have the corrections made, but it’s to your benefit, even if it takes a second or third try. It’s on the third try that you’ll have the most success, so don’t give up if you know you’re right.

For free help in filing appeals, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIPS) office. Find them by calling your local county office on aging.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to [email protected].


The AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans carry the AARP name and UnitedHealthcare pays a royalty fee to AARP for use of the AARP intellectual property. Amounts paid are used for the general purposes of AARP and its members. Neither AARP nor its affiliate is the insurer. AARP doesn’t make individual recommendations for health-related products, services, insurance or programs. You are encouraged to evaluate your needs and compare products. Insured by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, Horsham, PA (UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, Islandia, NY 11749 for New York residents). Policy Form No. GRP 79171 GPS-1 (G-36000-4). In some states, plans may be available to persons eligible for Medicare by reason of disability. All plans may not be available in your state/area. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Federal Medicare Program. This is a solicitation of insurance. An agent/producer may contact you. AARP and its affiliate are not insurance agencies or carriers and do not employ or endorse insurance agents, brokers, producers, representatives or advisors. Call to receive complete information, including benefits, costs, eligibility requirements, exclusions, and limitations.

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1. Name the singer who was born Patricia Louise Holte.

2. Who released an album entitled “Songs in the Key of Life”?

3. Name the group that sang these songs on their debut album: “500 Miles,” “Cruel War” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”

4. Paul McCartney came up with a tune, but no words. To keep the tune in his head, he wrote “place holder” lyrics. What was the song?

5. Name the song with these lyrics: “Oh, I know that the music’s fine, like sparkling wine, go and have your fun.”

Answers1. Patti LaBelle. Her first group was The

Ordettes, which became Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, and later, Labelle.

2. Stevie Wonder, in 1976. The chart-topping double album contained 17 songs, including the hits “Sir Duke,” “I Wish” and “Isn’t She Lovely?”

3. Peter, Paul and Mary on their self-titled 1962 album. Despite a breakup in 1978, the trio continued to work together on peaceful causes.

4. “Yesterday.” To keep the song in his head, he called it “Scrambled Eggs.”

5. “Save the Last Dance for Me,” by the Drifters in 1960. Shortly thereafter, R&B singer Damita Jo recorded an “answer song” called “I’ll Save the Last Dance for You.”


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Hyperactive Dog

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: As our adopted Australian shepherd, “Skip,” has grown, he has gotten more and more hyperactive. He tears around the house from room to room, and if I don’t catch him, he will chew up every shoe he can find. How can I stop this behavior? -- Carol in Tucson

DEAR CAROL: You probably won’t be able to completely change Skip’s behavior, because Australian shepherds are so naturally energetic. But that doesn’t mean you can’t curb that tearing around the house and the chewing to a manageable level.

First and foremost, Skip needs more exercise. Lots more exercise. The shepherd breeds were developed to do exactly what he’s doing: run, run some more and run even more -- all day long. As working dogs, they were invaluable in helping to herd sheep in pastures. So just taking Skip out for a walk a couple of times a day isn’t going to cut it.

Find a space where he can run off leash without disturbing other people or dogs, or if your yard is fenced, let him run there. Don’t just let him run alone. He needs to be supervised, and you

TM



should take the opportunity to work with him.That’s the second part of the solution. Work with Skip on basic commands including sit, stay, (lie) down, etc. Add in playful games like fetch. Aussies are extremely intelligent, and you might be surprised at how quickly Skip learns to follow commands closely, especially once he’s worked off some of that excess energy.

Chewing up your shoes may happen less if Skip gets more run-around time. While dogs chew instinctively, anxiety can exacerbate the problem. A slightly more relaxed Skip might curb the chewing, although you should still keep your more expensive shoes out of reach.

Send your questions or comments to [email protected], or write to Paw’s Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. For more pet care-related advice and information, visit www.pawscorner.com.


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SILLY PUTTY (continued):• Today, Binney & Smith, owners of

Crayola, own the rights to Silly Putty. It comes in 16 different colors including glow-in-the-dark, glitter, metallic gold, and hot flourescent colors. There’s also Silly Putty that changes color depending on the temperature of your hands. You can even buy a five-pound block of Silly Putty for only $79.

• In 2001 Silly Putty was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame located in Salem, Oregon. In addition, one of the original Silly Putty eggs is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

• Binny & Smith sponsored a contest asking people to submit their silliest uses for Silly Putty. The winner suggested using it to replace your stockbroker by throwing a ball of it at the stock page in the newspaper and investing in whatever stock it lifts from the newsprint. Second place went to the woman who said it could be used to form a fake swollen gland to get out of an unwanted date.

• What exactly is Silly Putty made of? Mostly it’s dimethyl siloxane, hydroxy-terminated plymers with boric acid. Add in a little thixotrol ST, a dash of polydimethylsiloxane, a pinch of decamethyl cyclopentasiloxane, and top it off with titanium dioxide, and that’s about all there is to it.

• You can make your own sort-of silly putty at home by mixing two tablespoons of Borax and adding it to one cup of water, mixing well. Seperately add half a cup of water to half a cup of white glue. Next add half a cup of your Borax solution to the glue and water mixture. Mix well and store in a plastic bag.

• It’s flammable and burns slowly with a bright white light. Microwaved for a few minutes, it becomes excessively sticky but reverts to its original form when it cools. It smells horrible when baked.

ALWAYS FREEALWAYS FREE

ALWAYS FUNALWAYS FUN

• It was humorist Jerome K. Jerome who made the following sage observation: “It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. There is no fun in doing nothing when you have nothing to do. Wasting time is merely an occupation then, and a most exhausting one. Idleness, like kisses, to be sweet must be stolen.”

• Though it is unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable, there is a law on the books in Tennessee which prohibits duelists, preachers and atheists from being elected to public office.

• According to most history books, the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter, S.C., in April of 1861, but that’s not entirely true. The first shots of the war between the North and the South actually were fired in January of that year in Pensacola, Fla., where a garrison of Union troops was stationed at Fort Barrancus. A contingent of Florida and Alabama troops marched on the fort with the intent to throw out the Yankees in their midst. However, the Southerners’ dedication to the cause was somewhat lacking; as soon as the Union soldiers fired at them, they beat a hasty retreat.

• Those who study such things say that the average lightning bolt has a temperature of approximately 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. For comparison, the sun’s average temperature is only 10,000 F.

• If you’ve ever been told to shut your pie-hole, you might have wondered where the expression came from. The term was first used in 1983, in the film version of Stephen King’s horror novel “Christine.”

***Thought for the Day: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.” -- Jim Henson

By Samantha Weaver(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.


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By Connie RoseI am one of those people who has stayed in pretty good shape my whole life. I eat right. I’ve always been active and done some kind of

exercise. I’ve never had a weight problem.Then six years ago my life changed. In a

freak accident, I fell on a marble floor injuring both knees — causing

considerable pain as well as broken blood vessels. After spending six

weeks on crutches, I did gain some mobility. I have never had strong legs and

this accident certainly didn’t help. I was anxious to resume my life.

After the six weeks, I slowly became mobile again. The pain in my right knee, in particular, was constant, especially when I walked or stood for long periods of time. My legs were weak and my balance not as good as it once was. I attempted my own therapy including swimming and walking, but nothing seemed to help.

At age 62, I was walking with a severe limp, ready to see an orthopedic specialist, and getting myself mentally prepared for knee replacement surgery.

That’s when someone suggested I visit 20 Minutes to Fitness. I’d heard about this unique 20-minute, once-a-week workout before. And I’d heard it was safe for people of all fitness levels.

I decided to give it a try for a month, hoping it might alleviate my pain. Between you and me, I secretly feared it might make things worse.

Those fears began to subside somewhat when I went for my initial evaluation and complimentary first session. It was explained to me that I would be working out on specialized equipment that would be specially calibrated for my level of strength and fitness.

By my side the entire time was my own personal fitness coach. She prepared each machine for me and made sure I used the proper techniques. She also encouraged me to make sure that I got the full benefit of this unique training. She was more than just a trainer — she was my cheerleader!

And then a miracle happened. After just a few sessions, I no longer felt pain in my knee. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true! As I returned each week, I could feel my muscles growing stronger and my balance improving. ALL THAT, AND IT TAKES JUST 20 MINUTES A WEEK!

Sound too good to be true? It’s not. Everything I do at 20 Minutes to Fitness is medically based. So it’s effective AND safe.

Let me tell you what else I like about 20 Minutes to Fitness. It’s “come as you are.” I can do this work out in my street clothes if I want. There is a changing room available if you prefer workout clothes. But, no need for showers — it’s a sweatless workout.

I have been visiting 20 Minutes to Fitness each week for more than a year now, and my knees are still pain free.

By the way, this workout is not just for people who have joint or muscle pain. Busy moms (and dads) work out here. Competitive athletes work out here. People who just plain hate to exercise (or don’t like crowded gyms) work out here.

In my case, I either had to resign myself to a more sedentary lifestyle or spend 20 minutes a week to get my life back. I’m glad I chose the 20 Minutes to Fitness approach.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Guess what, Lamb? You’re about to experience a new perspective on a situation you long regarded quite differently. What you learn could open more opportunities later.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The Bold Bovine is tempt-ed to charge into a new venture. But it might be best to take things one step at a time, so that you know just where you are at any given point.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) It’s a good time to go on that fun getaway you’ve been planning. You’ll return re-freshed, ready and, yes, even eager to tackle the new challenge that awaits you.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) The Moon Child loves to fantasize about magical happenings in the early part of the week. But the sensible Crab gets down to serious business by week’s end.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) What goes around comes around for those lucky Leos and Leonas whose acts of generosity could be repaid with opportunities to ex-pand into new and exciting areas of interest.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your concern about your job responsibilities is commendable. But you need to take some quiet time to share with some-one who has really missed being with you.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Aspects favor getting out and meeting new people. And as a bonus,

you might find that some of your newly made friends could offer important business contacts.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You might take pride in wanting to do everything yourself. But now’s a good time to ask family members to help with a demanding personal situation.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Pay more attention to the possibilities in that workplace change. It could show the way to make that long-sought turn on your career path.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your need to succeed might overwhelm obligations to your loved ones. Ease up on that workload and into some well-deserved time with family and friends.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Love rules for amorous Aquarians who can make good use of their ability to communicate feelings. Don’t be surprised if they’re reciprocated in kind.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Fishing for com-pliments? No doubt, you probably earned them. But it’s best to let others believe they were the ones who uncovered the treasure you really are.

BORN THIS WEEK: Your good works flow from an open, generous heart. Nothing makes you happier than to see others happy as well.(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

• On Jan. 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell is granted a medi-cal degree from Geneva College in New York, becoming the first female to be officially recognized as a physician in U.S. history. In 1857, she founded the New York Infir-mary for Women and Children.

• On Jan. 27, 1888, the National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C. Readership in its magazine did not grow, however, until it discarded the format of overly technical articles and used articles of general inter-est accompanied by photographs. “National Geographic” quickly became known for its stunning and pioneering photography.

• On Jan. 25, 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond, the “Cullinan,” is discov-ered. Worried that the diamond might be stolen in tran-sit from Africa to London, a phony diamond was sent as a decoy aboard a steamer ship loaded with detectives, while the real stone slowly made its way in a plain box.

• On Jan. 24, 1935, canned beer makes its debut when the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company delivered 2,000 cans of beer and ale to faithful Krueger drinkers in Rich-mond, Va. Ninety-one percent of the drinkers approved of the canned beer, prompting Krueger to give the green light to further production

• On Jan. 26, 1945, the most decorated soldier of World War II, American Lt. Audie Murphy, is wounded in France. Murphy was wounded three times, fought in nine major campaigns across Europe, and was credited with killing 241 Germans. He won 37 medals and decorations.

• On Jan. 21, 1957, Patsy Cline, one of the most impor-tant figures in country-music history, first gains national attention with her winning appearance on “Arthur God-frey’s Talent Scouts.” Cline wowed the studio audience with her performance of the now-classic “Walkin’ After Midnight.”

• On Jan. 22, 1973, the Supreme Court decriminalizes abortion by handing down its decision in the case of Roe v. Wade. For most of the country’s first 100 years, abor-tion was not a criminal offense, nor was it considered im-moral.



DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 17 years old. I have pimples all over my face. The only thing that helped was an antibiotic, but it made me sensitive to sunlight. My parents don’t want me to continue to use an antibiotic. Can you help? -- G.G.

ANSWER: Let’s start with a couple of mistakes made by most people with acne. Don’t scrub your face or any place where acne has broken out. Scrubbing causes irritation and worsens acne. Use a mild soap like Dove when washing. Don’t squeeze pimples, whiteheads or blackheads. You force bacteria into adjacent skin.

Acne develops because of clogged pores through which hairs grow and through which sebaceous (oil) glands empty their oil onto the skin. The first signs of trouble are whiteheads or blackheads. They indicate that the pore is plugged. Deep in the pore, down from the blockage, the oil glands continue to secrete oil and greatly distend the pore, which can rupture. Bacteria thrive on the oil. At this point, a pimple is born. Acne control involves unplugging the pore, eliminating the bacteria and putting the brakes on oil production. The oil production is in high gear because of the increase of male hormones at this time in life.

Benzoyl peroxide unplugs pores. Brand names include Clearasil and AcneClear, both available without prescription, as are many other brands.

From this point on, effective medicines require a prescription. The first choice is retinoids -- Renova cream and Retin-A. They’re often used on alternating days with benzoyl peroxide. The next step up is antibiotics. In creams and lotions, they aren’t absorbed very much. Clindamycin and erythromycin are two such products. If no progress comes from skin-applied antibiotics, then oral antibiotics are the next step. Tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline are examples. Your parents should reconsider their ban on their use. Even if they sensitize you to sunlight, simply stay out of sunlight when using them. They worked for you.

I haven’t listed all acne medicines. Bad acne, like yours, calls for treatment by the family doctor or a dermatologist.

***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am writing on behalf of several neighbors who have started soaking golden raisins in gin. Each of them takes nine

Health Bits

such raisins a day. They claim this was a method shown on television to remedy arthritis. Have you ever heard of this? Our curiosity is getting the best of us. -- E.G.

ANSWER: I have heard this many times. No one has proven it works. No reliable information suggests it might work. I don’t believe it’s a legitimate arthritis treatment.

However, if you like gin and like raisins, then the practice is OK, so long as you don’t go overboard on taking in too much alcohol.

The booklet on arthritis describes the different kinds of arthritis and their treatments. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No.

301W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./ $6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

***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

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1. Name the three Chicago White Sox pitchers to throw a perfect game.

2. In 2012, Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (29 years old) became the sixth-youngest player to get 1,000 career RBIs. Name three of the five younger ones.

3. Who were the first pair of rookie NFL quarterbacks to play in the same Pro Bowl?

4. Name the oldest head coach to win an NCAA men’s basketball national championship.

5. In 2012, Colorado Avalanche’s Gabriel Landeskog became the youngest player (19 years, 286 days) to be named team captain in NHL history. Who had held the mark?

6. How many times has the U.S. won women’s gym-nastics all-around team gold at the Olympics?

7. In 2012, Lydia Ko became the youngest LPGA Tour event winner ever at the age of 15. Who had been the youngest?

Answers

1. Charlie Robertson (1922), Mark Buehrle (2009) and Philip Humber (2012).2. Mel Ott (27 years old), Jimmie Foxx (27), Alex Rodriguez (28), Ken Griffey Jr. (28) and Lou Gehrig (28).3. Cam Newton and Andy Dalton, after the 2011 season.4. Jim Calhoun was 68 when UConn won in 2011.5. Sidney Crosby was 19 years, 297 days old when named captain of Pittsburgh in 2007.6. Twice -- 1996 and 2012.7. Lexi Thompson was 16 when she won an event in 2011.

By Chris Richcreek(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.


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• In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson completed the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson hired Lewis and Clark to explore the area. Lewis and Clark and their men left St. Louis on their journey in 1804, and stopped to spend their first winter with an Indian tribe in what is now North Dakota. There, they met a trapper from Quebec named Charbonneau, and his young Indian wife, Sacajawea.

• Sacajawea was born in what is now Idaho around 1790. When she was 12, she was kidnapped and carried hundreds of miles away, to where Lewis and Clark met her. It is thought that Charbonneau won her hand in marriage in a card game. When Lewis and Clark met her, she was pregnant, and soon gave birth to a baby boy named Jean Baptist.

• Lewis and Clark needed someone who was familiar with the territory to help guide them to the Pacific coast, and Charbonneau was a good match. Having his wife along was very advantageous for several reasons. First, she spoke Shoshone and served as an interpreter. Second, she was familiar with the country and helped make crucial decisions regarding which route they should take. Finally, having a woman and a baby along on the expedition convinced other tribes that the group of men was a peaceful party, and not a war party.

• There was one other reason why her presence was important. Lewis and Clark knew that they would need to abandon their boats in order to cross the mountain range that separates what is now Montana and Idaho. In order to do that, they would need to procure horses from the Indians. They hoped Sacajawea could help them negotiate a trade when the time came.

• After months of grueling travel, the explorers reached the head of the Missouri river in August of 1805, and began looking for Indians who could provide them with horses. Sacajawea recognized the area they were in, as it was very close to the place where she had been born. In an incredible stroke of luck, the first Indian scouting party they met was led by none other than Sacajawea’s own brother, who had not seen her since she had been kidnapped years before. It was an emotional reunion, which was made much harder when her brother was forced to tell her that their parents had died while she was away. Of course, Lewis and Clark and all their men were treated like family, loaded with provisions, and sold all the horses they needed to make the difficult crossing.

• Sacajawea, Charbonneau, and Jean Baptist remained with Lewis and Clark for the duration of their two-year journey, and eventually even moved to St. Louis at the request of Clark. Clark even adopted Jean Baptist as his own son, making sure the boy received the best possible education and ensuring he was given many opportunities to travel the world. Jean Baptist died at the age of 61.

• What became of Sacajawea is uncertain. It’s known that she gave birth to a baby daughter while she lived in St. Louis, who died as a child. Some claim Sacajawea died of a fever at the age of 25; others say she died an old woman in 1884.

• It is sad to reflect that if Sacajawea died in 1884, she would have lived long enough to see the genocide and subjugation of the Indian nation by the very nation of people she had assisted by leading them across the wilderness as a young woman.

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WOMEN IN HISTORY: SACAJAWEA

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