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May 2012 Volume 2012-20Of North Idaho

TIDBITS® LOOKS BEHIND THE MAGIC

by Blue Sullivan

Cinema in America has entertained us with over a century of movie magic. Yet, during the making of some movies, equally unbelievable stories unfold-ed before the films ever hit the big screen. •In Steven Spielberg’s terrifying 1975 classic, “Jaws,” you don’t see much of the actual shark until very late in the film. That wasn’t just an aesthetic choice. It was due to all of the problems Spielberg and the crew had with the mechanical sharks that were used during filming.•Three different mechanical sharks were employed during the filming of “Jaws.” All were nicknamed “Bruce” after Steven Spielberg’s attorney, Bruce Ramer. •All three mechanical versions of “Bruce” proved unreliable from the beginning of the shoot. The ani-matronics stalled the first time one was put in the water, and the sharks sank to the seafloor several times, leaving divers scrambling to recover them.•After completing the filming of “Jaws,” the studio had so little confidence in the film that the three Bruces were dumped on the Universal back lot. No efforts were made to preserve them, and none of the three original sharks remain.•A fourth “Bruce” was made from the same mold as those used in the film. Although it never had a place in the filming of “Jaws,” it was employed at the Uni-versal Theme Park from 1975 to 1990.•In Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 horror classic “The Birds,” people in a California beach town are sud-denly terrorized by swarms of birds. As outlandish as the premise sounds, it was inspired by an inci-dent only two years before where birds in Monterey Bay suddenly began crashing into local houses. •Many years later, the strange real-life occurrence that inspired “The Birds” was explained as the re-sult of toxic algae in the birds’ water supply.•In the 1976 suspense blockbuster “The Omen,” a couple (played by Gregory Peck and Lee Remick) takes on the care of an orphan who may literally be the devil’s spawn. The filming of this movie was so crazy it inspired the documentary “The Curse of the Omen.”•Not one, not two, but three planes associated with “The Omen” were hit by lightning during the shoot. Among those onboard during these three separate incidents were star Gregory Peck, screenwriter Da-vid Seltzer and executive producer Mace Neufeld.

Continued on page 13

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FAMOUS LANDMARKS:THE MIGHTY VULCAN

The colossal Vulcan statue overlooking the Bir-mingham, Alabama, skyline has a rich history over a century long. Vulcan, the ancient Roman god of the forge (a furnace shop that heats and molds metal), was first associated with Birmingham in 1885 when his image was used as advertisement for the hardware and home furnishings store George C. Kelley Company.He was one of the rare ugly gods of ancient liter-ature, and before the Vulcan statue was erected, Birmingham residents clashed over whether to create a statue of Vulcan or Mercury, the hand-some god of commerce and travel, as a symbol for their city.•In the early 1900s, Alabama State Fair Manag-er James A. MacKnight elected that a statue of Vulcan would best represent the city’s growing industrial capabilities to be presented at the fair.•Built in 1904 from the design of Italian artist Gi-useppe Moretti, the Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world and the largest met-al statue to ever be made in the United States.•Vulcan is 56 feet tall and made from 100,000 pounds of iron. Its pedestal is 124 feet, making Vulcan a combined 180 feet.The statue was originally planned to be 50 feet tall; however, when residents learned that a 52-foot statue of Buddha stood in Tokyo, they opted to increase Vulcan’s height. •After receiving the commission, Giuseppe Moretti was only given six months to complete the project.•Moretti constructed the full-size Vulcan plaster cast with 16 assistants in an abandoned church in New Jersey before it was transported to Bir-mingham. •When Vulcan arrived in Birmingham, he was not assembled correctly, with his left hand turned the wrong way and his right hand backward. As a result, he could not hold his hammer and spear.•Vulcan’s hammer represents the tool he used in his forge, and the spear is a depiction of his completed work.•Since Vulcan originally couldn’t hold his spear, he was used as a marketing ruse. At different times, he held a giant ice cream cone, a soda bottle and a jar of pickles.•When Vulcan was first assembled, the Com-mercial Club’s Vulcan Committee charged 10 cents to see him.•Between 1896-1900, Vulcan became part of Bir-mingham’s Mardi Gras tradition, with the king of the celebration parading around as King Vulcan.•In 1946, Vulcan’s spear hand was given a light-ed torch to encourage safe driving. On days no one was killed in a car accident, it glowed green. If a fatality had occurred, it glowed red.•Harsh weather conditions caused Vulcan to crack and be removed from his pedestal in 1999. He was restored and returned to his place atop Red Mountain in 2003. •After repairs were made to the 50-ton statue, and he was put back in his place, city leaders also created a corresponding revitalized histori-cal park, now called Vulcan Park and Museum.•Today, Vulcan Park and Museum is available to book for events, and has hosted corporate par-ties, cocktail parties, luncheons and wedding ceremonies and receptions.

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Free Online Courses From Top Universities

Free education is as close as your computer. Universities around the world are providing free courses, and all you have to do is log on. Known as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), free courses have allowed millions to expand their knowledge without ever step-ping into a classroom.To explore what’s available, go online to www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses and scroll through the list of classes available from uni-versities all over the world. Yale, Berkeley, Ox-ford, Brandeis -- they’re all here. While Open Culture says it lists all available free online courses, click through the links and wander around the sites of the schools them-selves. You’ll find more details about what is offered and find out how to enroll, as well as the format of the presentation of the material.For example, if you’re taking a class on Shake-speare from Oxford University and don’t have a copy of the play, you can download an ebook version. For the class lectures, you can listen online or download the mp3 audio file.(While you’re on the Open Culture site, look around in the free area for movies, language lessons, textbooks and more.)You won’t be issued a degree from the univer-sities, but more schools are finding ways to ac-knowledge the effort that students put in.MITx is the free online program at Massachu-setts Institute of Technology. Pass the class and you can earn a certificate of completion that confirms the work you’ve done. Not all classes are current. Some courses consist of a set of video lectures, the video notes and the assignments that were given.Overall categories include Explore Architecture and Planning, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Health Sciences and Technology, Humanities, Arts, History, and Writing and Humanistic Stud-ies.Classes from Stanford tend toward the techni-cal. For example, Making Green Buildings as-sumes a certain amount of background in con-struction, but you’re not left in the lurch if you have questions. Besides the videos and text of the lectures, there is a Q&A forum where you can post questions and get answers. While you can’t get a certificate for completing a course, you can get a “statement of accomplishment” if you pass the class.Before you sign up for any courses, plan how you’ll get the most out of this free education. The Gates Foundation has created an ebook, “The Edupunks’ Guide to a DIY Credential,” available for free on Open Culture.

Big Scammer Nabbed

Two years ago, New Mexico’s attorney gen-eral slammed shut a charity that was set up to help veterans. The reason given at the time was that some of the officers in the U.S. Navy Veterans Association had fictitious addresses in the paperwork. Added to that was the fact that the charity was spending barely 1 percent of the money it raised on veterans. That was the first indication that something wasn’t right, and more details quickly surfaced.The 80-odd people who were supposedly on the board of directors couldn’t be found, and the “headquarters” was a mail drop. Only “Bobby Thompson” could be located, but wasn’t talking. With the NVA shut down and nine states and two government agencies af-ter him, Thompson went on the run.Thompson (aka Ronnie Brittain, which was also a false identity), alleged director of the or-ganization, was wanted for money laundering, corruption and identity theft.Fast-forward two years: Thompson, or who-ever he really is, has been caught. In a bar. In Oregon. His pockets were stuffed with multiple false identification documents. The U.S. Mar-shals have him in hand.He’s accused of conning well-meaning folks out of $100 million over eight years. Let me repeat that amount: One Hundred. Mil-lion. Dollars.Think what that money could have bought, how many veterans could have been helped had the money been used for legitimate pur-poses.If there is that much money being donated to veterans causes, if there are that many people opening their wallets, that’s fantastic, but let’s get it right. Know where that money is really going, and how it’s going to be used.If you want to donate money, check out the or-ganization first. Use these websites to do your research: Charity Navigator: www.charitynavigator.org/Charity Watch: www.charitywatch.org/GuideStar: www.guidestar.org/

Mold Is Hazardous to Home and Health

Q: For a few months now, I’ve noticed a mil-dewy odor in the downstairs bathroom. I keep the bathroom clean, and I even pour a cup of vinegar down the drains once a month, but the odor comes back. For now, I’m using an air freshener to mask the smell, but how can I lo-cate and get rid of it? -- Gaia M., Baton Rouge, La.

A: That mildew smell is most likely from mold growth. If you can’t visually locate a patch of mildew or mold in the bathroom, such as in lower corners of the wall or the shower, con-tact a plumber. It’s very likely that a water leak somewhere behind the wall is causing the mold problem.Even a small amount of mold in a home can trigger allergies or breathing problems in many people. It’s also a warning signal that water is damaging important parts of your home -- not just the drywall but the wood framing, sheath-ing, foundation and more.A leaky supply or drainpipe can mean water is dripping behind the walls. A plumber can inspect these pipes without causing damage to the rest of the bathroom. The plumber will then recommend the best action to take to stop the moisture damage and remove the mold. If mold is affecting carpet or wallpaper in the area, you’ll need to replace those items as well.If dampness is a constant problem in the bath-room, make sure the room is getting adequate airflow, even if the original problem is repaired. An exhaust fan is fairly inexpensive and quick-ly removes humidity from the bathroom -- for example, after a hot shower. In many states a fan is required by building codes, and the plumber likely will recommend you install one if there isn’t one already.

HOME TIP: Clean up mold with a mild deter-gent rather than bleach, which can irritate your lungs.

Send your questions, comments and tips to ask@thisisahammer.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

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TRIVIA PAGE

1. Who had a hit with “There! I’ve Said It Again” and when?2. Who wrote “Lyin’ Eyes”? Name the band that released the song.3. Which entertainer was responsible for “You Can’t Rollerskate In a Buffalo Herd”?4. Name the duo that wrote and released “The Boxer.”5. What are Car, Scratch, Melt and Security?6. Which duo released “Maneater”?

1. POLITICS: How long did Margaret Thatch-er serve as prime minister of Great Britain?2. LANGUAGE: What does the Greek prefix “ornitho” mean?3. HISTORY: How did the Native American leader Crazy Horse die?4. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the highest wa-terfall in the world?6. LEGEND: What was the name of King Ar-thur’s legendary sword?7. ART: Who painted “Christina’s World”?8. ENTERTAINERS: How many times were actors Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor married?9. LITERATURE: Which one of Charles Dick-ens’ novels was unfinished at his death?10. MATH: What does the symbol “r” stand for in geometry?

¥ On May 31, 1859, the massive clock-tower bell known as Big Ben, located at the top of the 320-foot-high St. Stephen’s Tower, rings out over the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, for the first time. Just two months later, however, the heavy striker cracked the bell.

¥ On May 30, 1911, the inaugural India-napolis 500 is run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. With the exception of a break in 1917 and 1918 for World War I and from 1942 to 1945 for World War II, the 200-lap, 2 1/2-mile race has been run every year.

¥ On June 1, 1926, Norma Jeane Mortenson -- who will become known as the glamorous actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe -- is born in Los Angeles. During World War II, a photographer “discovered” the naturally pho-togenic Norma Jeane while she was working in a California munitions factory.

¥ On May 29, 1932, the so-called Bonus Ex-peditionary Force, a group of 1,000 World War I veterans seeking cash payments for their veterans’ bonus certificates, arrive in Washington, D.C. One month later, that number had swelled to nearly 20,000 strong.

¥ It was our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, who made the following sage observation: “No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens.”

¥ If you are a stay-at-home mom, you probably won’t be surprised by a recent study that found lower levels of stress in mothers who work outside the home than in those who stay with their kids all day.

¥ George Reeves is best known for play-ing the title role in the 1950s TV show “Adventures of Superman.” The role was a risky one, though -- not in front of the camera, but during his numerous public appearances. It seems that fans wanted to test the strength of the Man of Steel, so they often kicked and punched him. At a 1953 appearance in Detroit, one boy pulled out his father’s loaded .45 Army Colt and aimed it at Reeves’ chest. By telling the boy that the bullets would bounce off his own chest and ricochet into the crowd, harming others, Reeves managed to get the boy to put the gun down.

¥ Though unenforced (and likely unen-forceable), there is a law on the books in Tennessee that bars atheists, preachers and duelists from holding elected office.

1. Is the book of Capernaum in the Old or New Testament or neither?2. From 1 Corinthians 14, who ad-vised young Christians to stop think-ing like children? Luke, Paul, David, John3. From Genesis 18, whom did God ask, “Is anything too hard for the Lord”? Moses, Adam, Noah, Abra-ham . 4. From Matthew 14, how many loaves of bread were used to feed the 5,000? 2, 3, 4, 5. 5. From Matthew 15, how many loaves did Jesus use to feed the 4,000? 6, 7, 8, 9. 6. From Mark 12, whom did Jesus accuse of devouring widows’ houses? Sadducees, Midianites, Is-raelites, Pharisees

Answerson

Page 14

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Don’t Just Sit There

Numerous studies have shown us two things: ItÕs never too late to start being active, and a small amount of activity is better than none when it comes to better health.Now thereÕs an additional benefit: Being active helps keep depression and other psy-chological issues at bay. Not only that, but a recent study shows that those with “psycho-logical distress are four times more likely to be functionally limited.” The study, done on 91,000 adults age 65 and older, indicates that one-third of us don’t get regular exercise, and the number goes up even more for those 75 and older.Another study on the same topic came to a serious conclusion: Those who have depres-sion had better results from exercising three times a week than those who took drugs for their symptoms. All it took was getting 20 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise.Other researchers have approached senior health from a different angle: A Psychologi-cal Bulletin news release from the Harvard School of Public Health reported on a study that compared psychological well-being to heart health.It found that psychological well-being re-duces the chance of heart attack and stroke. Specifically, being optimistic, happy and sat-isfied with life can reduce the risk of a car-diovascular event. Somehow those emotions not only protect us, but can slow down exist-ing disease.How then do we use this information? A sim-plistic look might be this: If we elevate our mood with exercise and gain a sense of emotional well-being, we’re also helping our heart. And looking on the bright side of life gives an additional benefit: Those of us who are optimistic cut our risk of heart attack in half.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot per-sonally 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 columnre-ply@gmail.com.(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

Lack of Fiber Blamed for Diverticulosis

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 55-year-old man who finally bit the bullet and had a colo-noscopy. My doctor had badgered me to have one for the past five years. I don’t have can-cer. I don’t have polyps. I do have diverticu-losis. I didn’t know I had it before the scope exam. I’ve never had even a twinge of pain. What is this, and what do I need to do?

ANSWER: A diverticulum is a small, balloon-like protrusion of the colon lining through the muscle wall of the colon and onto its outer surface. By “small,” I mean that diverticula range from 0.2 inches to 0.4 inches (0.5 cm to 1 cm) in largest diameter, around the size of a pea. Their cause appears to be a lack of fiber in the diet.In places where the diet has lots of fiber, di-verticulosis is rare. In North America, it’s ram-pant. Fiber keeps undigested food from drying out. Dried food residue requires powerful con-tractions of the colon muscle to push it along. Those contractions also push the colon lining through the colon wall, creating a diverticu-lum.Diverticulosis is frequently a silent affair, not causing any troubles. Diverticulitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation and infection of diverticula. That is quite painful. It produces abdominal pain on the left, lower side of the abdomen, often with nausea and vomiting. The diverticula also can burst and release bacteria into the abdominal cavity, a serious situation. Severe diverticulitis must be treated in the hospital with IV fluids and IV antibiotics.To prevent diverticulosis from becoming diver-ticulitis, increase your fiber intake. Fiber is the indigestible coverings of many fruits, vegeta-bles and grains. White flour is refined wheat -- wheat without its outer coat, the bran. Bran and other sources of fiber draw water into undigested food and make it easily pushed along the entire length of the colon.We’re supposed to get 25 to 35 grams of fiber a day. Beans, whole-grain cereals, whole-grain breads, dates, prunes, unskinned apples and pears are examples of fiber-rich foods. If you cannot get enough fiber from foods, then com-mercial products such as Fiberall, Metamucil, Citrucel and FiberCon can provide it for you.The booklet on diverticulosis provides more details on this common condition and its com-plication -- diverticulitis.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My doctor’s nurse studied my ears with great interest the last time I was there. I asked what she was look-ing at. She said I had a crease in my earlobes, and it’s a sign of heart disease. I looked in a mirror. I do have a crease. Does it mean I have heart disease? -- J.K.

ANSWER: Right in the area where an ear-ring is worn, some people have a transverse crease. At one time a fuss was made about it being a sign of heart disease. If it is, it’s not a reliable sign. I have those creases too.

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¥ “Keep frosting looking glossy -- with your hair dryer. Before guests come over, give the whole cake a once over holding the hair dryer about 7-10 inches away from the frosting and set on high. It will soften the frosting, giving the cake a just-made look.” -- R.L. in California

¥ Remove hard-water stains and mineral depos-its from your showerhead with this trick: Fill a zip-lock baggie halfway with warm vinegar. Immerse your showerhead in the baggie and secure it to the pipe with a rubber band. Let it hang for an hour or so, then release the bag and scrub the showerhead with a soft toothbrush.

¥ “There are so many different ways to pay bills these days that it can be hard to keep track of those that need to be mailed. Here’s a great way to remember when to pay a bill so that it always gets there on time: I used to write the due dates of my bills on my calendar. Now I write the pay-by date for each bill instead. For bills that go in the mail, I write a date on the calendar that’s a week ahead of when it is due. For bills that are paid online, I write a date three days ahead of the due date, and for automatic payments, I deduct the money from the paycheck BEFORE the draft is made. Now I never miss a due date.” -- T.F. in Indiana

¥ You might not have a blackboard in your home, but keep a clean blackboard eraser around to get streaks off of freshly cleaned windows. It works really well in the car, too!

¥ Change your air filter to save money this sum-mer. Be sure to change it once a month to keep your air conditioner working at its most efficient.

Answers on page 14

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Top 5 Sports Apps for iPhone, iPad

Our top five at A Sporting View headquarters:5. Sports IllustratedIt’s free to download, but they do charge you for full editions of the magazine. Still, when you’re tired of reading the blogs and their re-petitive, snarky, Jim Rome-wannabe styling, you’ll see the difference in quality right away.4. Madden 2012I think it costs something like $49.99 to buy a copy of Madden football for your console, but I could be wrong. For one thing, nobody calls their consoles “consoles” anymore, and with inflation, I’m sure it costs more. But in iPad world, Madden costs something like $9.99 -- and yeah ... people still complain. For the older, non-gamer fan, it’s a nice challenge. No joystick is needed because you can just point and shoot with the iPad. Tap the screen ... touchdown! 3. ESPN Scorecenter XL It’s not that it’s great, but you have to have ESPN on here somewhere, don’t you? The app is free, it ties into their fantasy leagues, and it gives you the scores. 2. Watch ESPNThe name kind of says it all. Watch ESPN on your iPad. (Carrier rates may apply ... better stick to the WiFi.)1. MLB At Bat 2012This is the best sports app in the world, and it keeps getting better. It’s one of the handfuls of really incredible things Major League Base-ball has offered up to fans, and with every passing year MLB seems to get it more and more. This app has been on the market since 2010, I think, but it doesn’t matter because it’s grown by leaps and bounds ever since.For 14 semoleons -- about the price of one hot dog and a beer at a baseball game -- you get to hear every radio broadcast of every game from both team’s markets (your choice), and when there’s a highlight, it’s streamed to you in video. You also get a game highlight reel after every game and pretty good (not excel-lent, sorry) sports reporting after every game. There’s even a free MLB TV game of the day.But where the app really excels? The clas-sic pitcher versus batter duel. The app is so strong it can tell you how fast the pitch was when it left the pitcher’s hand and how far it dipped from the mound to the plate in inches. All of the other statistical things you want or need are in the app, too. This is the gold stan-dard. If you’re a baseball lover and you don’t buy this app, you’re not only a fool, but you’re not a baseball lover.

SPORTS OF SORTS

NASCAR THIS WEEK By Monte Dutton

Though Brad Keselowski won at Talladega, the driver says he’s got a lot of races to go, and he’s “got to be good at all of them to be champion.” (John Clark/NASCAR This Week photo)

Kes Won’t Stop Believing

After watching him win the Aaron’s 499 at Talla-dega on May 6, Roger Penske said of Brad Kes-elowski, “Obviously, one of the goals in my life is to sit up on that stage (as Sprint Cup champion) in ... Las Vegas, and I think he’s the guy who can make it happen.“This year, hopefully.”Penske, one of American motorsports’ preemi-nent figures, has seen drivers in his employ win 15 Indianapolis 500s and championships in a va-riety of forms of racing. He’s never won a Sprint Cup championship, though. Until May 6, he had never won at Talladega Superspeedway.Keselowski, winning for the second time this year and sixth in his career, could do for Penske what Rusty Wallace, Bobby Allison, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and others could not. Keselowski finished fifth in the Chase last year.“At Talladega, you don’t take a thing for granted,”

1. Who was the last San Francisco Giants player before Buster Posey in 2010 to have a hitting streak of more than 20 games? 2. Name the last shortstop before Cleveland’s Asdrubal Cabrera in 2011 to have five hits and two home runs in the same game.3. Who was the youngest player to become a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame?4. How many consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances did North Carolina men’s basketball coach Dean Smith have during his career? 5. Only one player has recorded two hat tricks in NHL All-Star Game history. Name him.6. Who was the first American to score a hat trick in English Premiere League soccer?7. In 2012, Lindsey Vonn set a women’s skiing World Cup points record for a season with 1,980. Who had held the mark?

1. Robby Thompson hit in 21 consecutive games in 1993. 2. Barry Larkin of the Reds in 2000.

3. Chicago’s Gayle Sayers, at age 34, was elected in 1977.4. Twenty-three consecutive seasons.

5. Mario Lemieux in 1988 (three goals) and 1990 (four).6. Clint Dempsey, with Fulham in 2012.

7. Janica Kostelic set the previous record in 2006 (1,970).

Keselowski, 28, said. “Not a thing, because you don’t know what’s going to happen. I didn’t take for granted that we had this race won, no.”In the third turn of the final lap, Keselowski, who had surged to the lead on the next-to-last lap, managed to get his Dodge separated from Kyle Busch’s Toyota. His winning mar-gin, 0.304 of a second, was comfortable by Talladega standards.Keselowski was careful not to read too much into the victory.“You know, Daytona and Talladega are only four races on our circuit,” he said. “How many races are we going to do? Thirty-eight, with the (Budweiser Shootout) and the (Sprint All-Star Race). ... There are a lot of races. You’ve got to be good at all of them to be champion.”Keselowski won the Nationwide Series title in 2010.“You just don’t know,” he added. “You’ve just got to keep pushing, moving forward. The sec-ond you think you have become a champion, everybody else evolves in this sport and gets ahead of you.“It’s a never-ending journey.”

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COMICS

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Dog’s Hair Isn’t Growing Back

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I recently read your column on pet allergies. I have an English Set-ter that has had fleas and a skin problem. “La-dybird” has lost a lot of hair, and it doesn’t seem to be growing back. Can you give me some tips on getting her hair to grow back? Is medicine available for this? -- Edward S. Owensville, Mo.

DEAR EDWARD: Hair loss can be symptomatic of many conditions, not just in English Setters but many breeds. So if you haven’t taken La-dybird to the veterinarian yet, schedule an ap-pointment. The vet should rule out any underly-ing illness, including thyroidism, and can give you advice on looking for a skin or food allergy.The frequent scratching that occurs with a flea infestation can result in scratched and broken skin, sometimes leading to an infection. And, many dogs are allergic to the “flea dust” left be-hind by fleas -- literally, their droppings -- and can continue having a reaction, including hair loss and frequent scratching, after the fleas are gone. A skin infection can be treated with antibiot-ics. An allergic reaction can be treated, in the

Q: I have one of the first Barbie dolls issued. I would like to sell it. -- Carol, Albuquerque, N.M.A: As with most collectibles, issue date and condition are absolutely vital in determining the value of Barbie dolls. For example, “mint condi-tion” means the doll has never been out of the original box, the coloring is bright and the hair perfect. It also means, of course, that it features the original wardrobe. A rule of thumb dictates that to price out-of-the-box dolls and accesso-ries, deduct 50 percent of the book value for slightly played-with dolls.One of the best authorities is Lois Berger, 2323 Lincoln St., Beatrice, NE 68310. Paul David also is a dealer who publishes a Barbie news-letter and might be able to help you. His contact information is 610 Blackwater Road, Chillicothe, OH 45601.Keep in mind our sluggish economy, and when contacting any of the sources mentioned in this column, always enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Q: I have a planter and ashtray marked “Hor-ton,” but I can’t find the company listed in any of my reference books. By the designs, I suspect both pieces are from the 1950s. -- Beth, Cov-ington, La.A: I suspect you might be right. Horace and Gail Horton established their ceramic company in Eastland, Texas, following World War II. It was sold in 1961. Typical prices are window-ledge planter, $15; ashtray with horse-head design in brown, $10; and vase in coral blue, $50. Ceramics from smaller, regional companies are always fun to find because they often reflect the area where they were made. The Horton pieces that I’ve seen are often Western in theme. The Tidbits® Paper is a Division of Tidbits Media, Inc. • Montgomery, AL 36106

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Information in the Tidbits® Paper is gathered from sources considered to bereliable but the ac cu ra cy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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short term, with a steroid, which will reduce ir-ritation and swelling. Be sure to dust, vacuum and thoroughly clean your home, including bedding and furniture, to reduce the allergens -- including flea dust that was left behind -- in Ladybird’s environment.Keep in contact with your vet about any im-provement or lack of improvement in her con-dition. Her hair could take several weeks to grow back fully, but you want to make sure the source of the skin problem is dealt with.

Send your comments, questions or pet care tips to ask@pawscorner.com, 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 informa-tion, visit www.pawscorner.com.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

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JUST FOR KIDS?

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Big and Small ABC’s

From a super-size “S” to a teeny tiny “T,” these one-of-a-kind, hands-on ABC’s make learning the alphabet creative and fun for the whole fam-ily.

GIANT ABC’sDraw and cut out large block alphabet letters on 12-inch-by-12-inch pieces of poster board, one for each letter. If you wish, you may start with just a few letters, such as the letters of your child’s name.Take the first letter you have cut out and tell your child that you are going to look for things that begin with the sound of that letter. Decorate the top of each letter by clipping pictures from magazines or collecting small items and gluing them to the corresponding letter. For example, glue leaves you collect on a fall walk to an “L,” buttons to a “B” and a real zipper on a “Z.” Apply a coat of lipstick to your child’s lips and let her smother the letter “K” with kisses. For the letter “J,” cut the letter into several pieces. Reattach the pieces with brass paper fasteners to make flexible joints. We covered our “J” with junk from the kitchen junk drawer! Save your collection of these creative letters and practice the sounds again and again.

MINI ABC REFRIGERATOR MAGNETSCut poster board in 2-1/2-inch-by-2-1/2-inch squares. Write an alphabet letter freehand on each square with a marker. Or, go to your word-processing program on your computer, find your favorite font and print out letters the size of the squares. Look for creative fonts on programs specifically designed for scrapbooking or mak-ing stationery and greeting cards. Cut out and glue the printed letters to the squares. Decorate the handwritten or printed letters with craft supplies, small beads, buttons, ribbon, glit-ter, paints in squeeze bottles, or simply color them with crayons and markers.Attach a piece of self-sticking magnetic strip (available at hardware and craft stores) on the back of each letter. Make duplicates of common letters so that you’ll have plenty on hand for dis-playing a word or even a complete sentence on your refrigerator door. Store extras in a small box.***Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Don-na’s Day” is airing on public television nation-wide. To find more of her creative family reci-pes 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) 2012 Donna EricksonDistributed by King Features Synd.

Basil Orange Chicken1 large navel orange, 2 lemons1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, chopped2 tablespoons olive oil, Salt Pepper4 (1 1/2 pounds) skinless, boneless chicken-breast halves, 1/2 teaspoon sugar1 cup whole-wheat couscous1 package stringless sugar snap peasGrilled orange and lemon slices for garnish1. From orange, grate 1 1/2 teaspoons peel and squeeze 4 tablespoons juice. From lem-ons, grate 1 1/2 teaspoons peel and squeeze 1/3 cup juice. 2. In medium bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of each peel and 1 tablespoon or-ange juice with half of basil, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.3. With flat side of meat mallet, pound chicken breasts (placed between 2 sheets plastic wrap) to an even 1/2-inch thickness. Add chicken to citrus mixture, turning to coat; set aside.4. In small pitcher or bowl, combine sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and remaining citrus peels, citrus juices, basil, and oil; set aside.*5. Preheat large, ridged grill pan or prepare out-door grill for direct grilling on medium-high.6. Meanwhile, prepare couscous as label di-rects. In 4 quart saucepan filled with 1/2 inch water, place a vegetable steamer. Heat to boil-ing on high. 7. Add chicken to hot grill pan or place on hot grill grate; cook 4 minutes. Turn chicken over and cook 3 to 4 minutes longer or until no longer pink in center.8. While chicken is cooking on second side, add snap peas to steamer; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until tender-crisp. Fluff couscous and spoon onto large platter; top with chicken and snap peas. Drizzle sauce over all. Garnish with citrus slices. Serves 4.

Caribbean Wrap2 cups chopped or shredded skinless, boneless white breast meat from a rotisserie chicken, or 1/3 cup dark meat per each cup2 cups cubed mango. 1 cup low-sodium black beans, drained and rinsed. 1/2 cup chopped red onion. 8 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro8 cloves garlic, chopped. 1 pinch (generous) crushed red pepper. 4 (8-inch) 100-calorie whole-wheat tortillas. 8 cups mixed greens, tossed with 10 to 15 pumps spray dressing1/2 cup roasted macadamia nuts1. In a bowl, combine the chicken, mango, black beans, onions, cilantro, garlic and crushed red pepper. Spoon evenly into the tortillas and roll up. Serve each wrap with 2 cups of the mixed greens garnished with the nuts. Serves 4.

Contiinued from front page•Speaking of Mace Neufeld, his hotel during the “The Omen” shoot was the object of an IRA bombing. A restaurant frequented by the cast and crew was also bombed. Luckily, no one was hurt in either incident.• The special effects coordinator of the film had the spookiest scrape. On Friday the 13th, 1976, he crashed his car in Holland. When he got out, he noticed the road sign. It read “Ommen, 66.6 km.”•In terms of sheer danger, the film shoot for the 1925 epic “Ben-Hur” (the second of three cinematic adaptations of the novel of the same name) takes the cake. The chariot race in the film is still renowned for its realism, because the race was completely real. •“Ben-Hur’s” director Fred Niblo wasn’t happy with the initial footage of the race, so he staged it again. The second time, he told the stunt driv-ers that the winner of the race would be given the equivalent of around $1,000. Drivers took the race so seriously that there was a huge pile-up of men and horses before the finish line.•Another scene in “Ben-Hur,” a huge sea battle between two ships, proved equally dangerous. Italian extras were recruited and separated by political affiliation (pro- or anti-fascist), then put on the two boats, to give the on-boat clashes more “realism.”•After separating the two sets of extras ac-cording to their violently opposed political af-filiations, “Ben-Hur’s” director gave all the men prop swords that had actually been sharpened, again for “realism.”•In Howard Hughes’ misbegotten 1956 epic “The Conqueror,” John Wayne played Geng-his Khan. Filming was disastrous from the very start, when a flash flood nearly claimed the en-tire crew of the film.•Later, “The Conqueror’s” lead actress, Susan Hayward, was attacked by a panther. Fortu-nately, she survived the attack and was able to carry on filming. •Most of the filming of “The Conqueror” took place in St. George, Utah. Heat during film-ing regularly topped 120 degrees, and, un-beknownst to the performers, not far away in Yucca Flats, Nevada, were the military testing grounds for the atomic bomb.•Eleven atomic bombs were tested in Yucca Flats during filming of “The Conqueror.” Not only were the actors and crew exposed to dusts blown over from the nuclear test site, filmmak-ers unknowingly shipped 60 tons of the radioac-tive dirt back to Los Angeles for reshoots.•There aren’t many films more beloved than 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Gar-land. A little known fact is that she wasn’t the child actor the screenwriters had in mind for the part. Their choice for the part wasn’t a child ac-tor at all: W.C. Fields!•In “The Wizard of Oz,” actress Margaret Hamil-ton offered one of the best villains in film history — The Wicked Witch of the West. Her perfor-mance was so good, in fact, that many of her scenes were trimmed down or even removed because they were too frightening.

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Puzzle and Game AnswersTHE PATH OF A STAR

Among the countless actors and actresses that have graced our TVs or movie screens, there are an untold number of fascinating stories about how those men and women got there in the first place. Here are a few of the most inter-esting ones. •Although Elvis wasn’t primarily an actor (though he did appear in 31 movies between 1956 and 1969), his eighth grade teacher cer-tainly encouraged acting over his eventual day job. She told him that he had no “aptitude for singing.” Fortunately, he politely disagreed with her appraisal and became the best-selling recording artist of all time.

•Emmy-nominated actress Jane Lynch of the hit Fox show “Glee” got her first break from do-ing commercials for Frosted Flakes. She struck up a friendship with the commercials’ director, Christopher Guest. Later he would cast her for big spotlight roles in his films “Best in Show” and “A Mighty Wind.”

•People strongly associate John Travolta with his starring role as Danny Zuko in the smash movie version of “Grease.” Yet five years ear-lier another future star played the same role in a theater production of “Grease.” He was a then little-known actor named Richard Gere.

•Before he became the blockbuster superstar we know from such movies as “Rain Man” and “Mission: Impossible,” Tom Cruise considered a far different calling: priesthood. In fact, he told Parade magazine: “I looked at the priest-hood and said, ‘This is what I’m going to do.’” Fortunately for Hollywood, he ultimately decid-ed not to become “Father Cruise.”

•Before becoming the world-famous director of the two highest-grossing movies of all time, “Titanic” and “Avatar,” James Cameron drove a bus for a living.

•Long before winning an Oscar in 1997 for Best Supporting Actor in “Jerry Maguire,” Cuba Gooding worked as a back-up dancer for Lio-nel Richie. When Richie played the Olympics in 1984, Gooding was with him.

•Mick Jagger once considered a more stable calling than “internationally famous rock star.” He originally studied to be an accountant at the London School of Economics.

•Legendary actor Christopher Lee — who has appeared in over 275 movies and shows in his long, illustrious career — was once a heroic figure in another life, too. He was a Special Op-erations Executive during World War II, serving as part of an elite unit commissioned directly by Winston Churchill.

• Also serving in the unit with Christopher Lee was Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond. Many of Bond’s adventures were actually mod-eled after Fleming’s own experiences with the elite commando unit.

•Kurt Russell has been on our TVs and movie screens since the 1970s, but did you know he was also a champion athlete? Before injury, Russell played minor league baseball. His bat-ting average when he retired was .586! He was a pretty good race car driver also, winning six national championships before he was 21.

Trivia Test Answers1. 12 years 2. Bird3. Stabbed with a bayo-net while trying to escape custody 4. Angel Falls (Venezu-ela) is 3,212 feet high. 6. Excalibur7. Andrew Wyeth8. Twice 9. “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” 10. RadiusBible Trivia Answers:ANSWERS: 1) Neither; 2) Paul; 3) Abraham; 4) 5; 5) 7; 6) Pharisees

Flash Back Answers: 1. The Crests. The group also scored a ma-jor hit with “16 Candles” in 1958. The song was covered by Stray Cats for the 1984 movie of the same name.2. “Let It Be,” released in 1970.3. The Velvet Underground, on their “White Light/White Heat” album in 1968. Lou Reed, the song’s writer, was still with the group at that point. The song was used in the 2009 movie “Adventureland.”4. In 1962 at the Marquee Club in London. Their first record, “Come On,” came out in June 1963.5. Stevie Wonder. The songs went to No. 1 on both the Hot 100 and R&B charts.6. Michael Jackson, in 1986, on the “Bad” album.

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ShowBiz Weekly

CELEBRITY EXTRABy Cindy Elavsky

PHOTO: Scott Aukerman

Q: I can barely stand the wait -- when will “Pretty Little Liars” be back? A: The third season of the hit ABC Family se-ries “Pretty Little Liars” will be back and raring to go on Tuesday, June 5, at 8 p.m. The series picks up with Aria, Emily, Spencer and Hanna dealing with the fact that Mona is the mysteri-ous “A” who’s been blackmailing them. While the character died in the book series on which the TV series is based, actress Janel Parrish, who plays Mona, has been upgraded to a series regular and will play a bigger role in the upcoming season. However, just because Mona’s been outed as “A,” it doesn’t mean she murdered Allison -- that culprit is still on the loose.Q: My family has been waiting anxiously for the season-three episodes of the “Downton Abbey” series to be aired. Our relatives in Eu-rope have already seen the latest continuing episodes of the popular British series. Can you tell us when we can expect season-three episodes to start here in the U.S.? -- Tom S., Hartford County, Conn.A: Your European relatives might be confus-ing season two with season three, as season three is still in production. While Europe will get to see the third season before us -- it’s scheduled to air on ITV in England in Septem-ber, and here in America on PBS in January 2013 -- I can guarantee you that, as of now, they haven’t seen any more than you have. Q: I’m a big fan of Scott Aukerman, and I especially love his podcast, “Comedy Bang! Bang!” I heard that it is going to become a TV series. Is that true? -- Jonathan V., via e-mailA: You heard right! Writer/comedian Scott Aukerman -- who is best known for his work with “Mr. Show with Bob and David” and for co-creating “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis” -- will indeed be bringing his hi-larious podcast to the small screen. IFC has picked up “Comedy Bang! Bang!” which pre-mieres Friday, June 8, at 10 p.m.To gear up for the show -- which will feature such big-name stars as Zach Galifianakis, Amy Poehler, Seth Rogan and Elizabeth Banks -- go to ifc.com/fix/2012/05/reggie-watts-makes-music to see Jon Hamm show off his freestyle skills on an improvised jam about the classic TV show “Taxi.” And check the website often, as new webisodes will air throughout the season.Q: In my opinion, the fourth season of “South-land” was the best yet. Please tell me it’s been renewed for another season! -- Matt F., Sacramento, Calif.A: It would seem that the powers that be at TNT agree with your assessment of “South-land,” as they have renewed the hit cop se-ries for a 10-episode fifth season, which is scheduled to begin airing in February 2013.

JILL JACKSON’S HOLLYWOOD By Tony Rizzo

PHOTO: Taylor Hicks

HOLLYWOOD -- It was bound to hap-pen. The success of “The Artist” has prompted Paramount Pictures to re-store “Wings,” the first best-picture Os-car winner and the only other silent film to win best picture. Paramount will part-ner with Cinemark to test market it to see if silent films can really come back. Of course, 85 years ago there wasn’t a rating system in place. The film was submitted for a rating and received a PG-13 because of its “war violence.” If the demand is there, they WILL show it!In a continuing effort to create a new “Wizard of Oz,” Summertime Entertain-ment will release the animated “Dorothy of Oz” in 2013, in IMAX and 3D, with a screenplay by L. Frank Baum’s great-grandson, Roger S. Baum. The story takes place the next day and has the voices of “Glee’s” Lea Michele (Doro-thy), Dan Aykroyd (The Scarecrow), Kelsey Grammer (The Tin Man), Jim Belushi (The Cowardly Lion) and Berna-dette Peters (Glinda the Good Witch). In addition, there are new characters such as China Princess, voiced by “Smash’s” Megan Hilty; Marshal Mallow by Hugh Darcy; Wiser the Owl by Oliver Platt; Tugg by “Star Trek” Captain Picard, Patrick Stewart; and the villain of the piece, The Jester, by Martin Short. With a cast like that, it could be magic time for the kid in all of us.Ever wondered what happened to Tay-lor Hicks after he won “American Idol” in 2006 and released his self-titled CD later that same year? Well, he starred in a revival of “Grease” on Broadway in 2008 and released a second CD, “The Distance,” in 2009. Then in May 2011, he opened ORE Drink and Dine Restaurant in Birmingham, Ala., and in June, headlined a concert that raised $2.2 million for the recovery of tornado victims in his home state.

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