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December 14, 2012 The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

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Volume 2 Issue 5Temecula Valley

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This Tidbits examines ornaments used during the holidays. Some are historical, most beautiful, many breakable, and plenty just fun!

● One of the dictionary definitions forornamental is: decorative: serving as a decoration and having no practical use. ● Historically it is said that the holidaytradition of decorating Christmas trees started inGermany.Thefirst decorationswere simplewhitecandlesfollowedbyrosesabitlater.● In 1605, a groundbreaking momentoccurred when a tree in Strasbourg, France,a city on the Rhine River near the German border,wasbroughtinsidefordecorating.Itwasadornedwithpaper roses, nuts,wafers, sweetsandlightedcandles.Afterthis,moretreeswerebrought indoors and making ornaments became a family holiday tradition.● Much imagination was used to comeup with thoughtful and creative decorations,including cookies and painted eggshells. The introductionoftinselin1610wasahugefavorite,originallymadewithpuresilver.● One of the first Christmas trees inEnglandwasan1840RoyalFamilycelebrationwhenQueenVictoria included a tree in honorof her German-born husband Prince Albert’s heritage.Beingthegreatinfluencethatshewas,manypeoplewantedtheirowntrees!

turn the page for more!

TIDBITS® TRIMS THE TREEIT’S ORNAMENTAL

by Patricia L. Cook

Page 2 www. tidbitssocal.com IT’S ORNAMENTAL (continued)

● Manyoftheornamentsintheearlyyearsofdecoratingtreeswerehandmadefrompaper,cloth or even foods, such as cookies. Hand-stitchedsnowflakeswerealsoverypopular.● SpecialitemsthatemergedfordecoratingtreesinAmericawerecranberriesandpopcorn.Early Americans would string the readilyavailable, colorful foods for trimming their trees. ● PresidentFranklinPiercewasthefirstU.S.president to have a Christmas tree in the White House, in 1856.Thefirst “national”ChristmastreeerectedwasbyPresidentWoodrowWilsonin1913.However,thefirst“official”treewasnotswitched on completewith electric lights untilPresident Calvin Coolidge moved the tree to its locationneartheWhiteHousein1923.● Upuntilthe1880sChristmasornamentsweremainlyhandmadeby familiesand friendsandgivenasgifts.Manyweredisposedofafteraseason.Theonlyornamentssoldpubliclywerehand-cast lead and hand-blown glass Germandecorations.● Germanentrepreneurssawthepossibilityof a market developing for mass marketed ornamentsintheearly1880s.● Lauscha, Germany became the hub ofthe glass ornament business and had many glass companies. For years theyhadbeenproducingglass articles such as marbles and bottles and soon began creating glass molds for ornaments. Their first ornaments were molds of Christiansaints, famous people, children, animals and more.Thesenewornamentswereahugesuccessandwereindemand.NearlyeveryfamilyintheLauscha area became involved in the businessof making glass Christmas ornaments either in a home-based foundry or local factory ● Ornaments became highly prizedpossessionswiththespecialtouchesofindividualcraftsmanship. Germany captured the worldmarket for glass Christmas ornaments for many years.

IthinkIgetalmostasmanyrequestsforholidayfingerfood recipes as Santa does for gifts! While I can't guaranteewhatyou'llfindunderyourtree,Icanassureyou that this recipe is perfect for just about any special festivity you'll host or attend this season.

1 (7.5 ounce) package refrigerated buttermilk biscuits1/4 cup bacon bits1/4cupfinelychoppedonion1 cup peeled and chopped fresh tomatoes1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise1 teaspoon dried basil

1.Preheatovento375F.Spray20wellsof2miniaturemuffin pans with butter-flavored cooking spray.Separate biscuits and cut each in half. Press each half intopreparedmuffinwells.2. In medium bowl, combine bacon bits, onion,tomatoes and Cheddar cheese. Add mayonnaise and basil.Mixwelltocombine.Spoonabout1tablespoonmixture into each biscuit "cup." 3.Bake for 18 to 22minutes. Placemuffin pans onwireracksandletsetfor5minutes.Removemuffinsfrom pans and continue cooling onwire rack.Goodwarmorcold.Makes10(2each)servings.

● Each serving equals: 94 calories, 2g fat, 5gprotein,14gcarb.,447mgsodium,1gfiber;DiabeticExchanges: 1 starch.

Bacon andTomato Party

Cups

1. Name the only stadium that is currently home to an NFL team and a major-league baseball team.2. Who played more games with one team: Brooks Robinson or Robin Yount?3. Name the first team in college football history

to be voted a unanimous No. 1 in both the media and coaches polls.4. When was the last time the Hawks were in the NBA Finals?5. Name the last time an NHL team won the Stanley Cup while having no player reach the 60-point mark during the regular season.6. What was the last vehicle other than a Toyota to win a NASCAR Truck series race at Daytona International Speedway?7. Name the last married woman to win a singles title at Wimbledon.

1.IsthebookofMatthewintheOldorNewTestamentor neither?2.WhowasHerod'sinformationsourceastowheretheChristChildwastobeborn?Joseph,Reuben,Micah,Matthew3. FromLuke2:13,what termdescribes an armyofangelspraisingGod?Heavenlyhost,Covenant,Spiritmultitude,Manoah4. What group received the angels' announcement of thebirthofJesus?Carpenters,Shepherds,Tentmakers,Masons5.Wherewas the young childwhen theMagi cametovisitHimtopresentgifts?Manger,Underthestars,House,Temple6.FromMatthew2,towhatcountrydidMary,JosephandtheBabyJesusflee?Jordan,Syria,Oman,Egypt

For Advertising Call 951-694-2611 Page 3

●Needaquickbatchofcookies?Keepaboxmixofcakeonhand.Insteadofthelistedingredients,addtwoeggsandahalf-cupofoiltothemix.Mixandshape,thenbakeat350degreesFfor10minutes.Theyarereally good, and you can get pretty creative.

●Inexpensivegiftidea:cuteholidaycoffeemugwitha bar of chocolate, a packet of hot cocoa or instant cof-fee, a peppermint stick and a decorative holiday pick orspray.Placeinsideagallon-sizezipper-topbag,tiewitharibbon,thentrimoffthezipper-top,leavingjusttheplastic.Looksnice.

●Insteadofgoingoutandbuyingextraitemstohaveonhandforguests,justborrowfromyourneighbors.Extra towels, place settings, silverware, kitchen ap-pliances: It's a pretty good bet that someone on your streethasitforyoutoborrow.Ifyoudon'tknowyourneighborswellenoughtoask,maybeyoushouldstartplanningaget-to-know-youpartyrightnow.

● Inexpensive gift idea: On the front of an emptyphoto album or scrapbook, print out and arrange color photos of your recipient in a collage. Glue the photos to the front of the album and coverwith a decoup-ageglaze, likeModPodge.Letdryandglazeagain.You've just made a one-of-a-kind gift!

●"Whenholidaycookietimecomes,Ikeepaplasticpitcherofhotwaterinthesink.I tosscookiecuttersintoitwhenIamdonewiththem,sothecornersaresoaking. They really seem to only need a rinse and a quick brush-off afterward.Mine don't get caked upwithdough."--JillC.,viaemail

IfyourplanfortheNewYearinvolvesgettingreadyto buy a home, you'll need to make sure all your plans don't fall apart at the last minute with a mortgageapplicationthatgetsturneddown.GoBankingRateshas compiled a list of 10 reasons that mortgages get rejected. 1. Too many jobs: If you've recently changed jobs or fields, have been unemployed or haven't workedconsistently in thepast twoyears,youremploymenthistory could be a problem. Some lenders insist that you'vekeptthesamejob,unlessyouwerepromoted.2. Child support and alimony: If you don't disclose that youmakethesekindofpayments,thelendercanfindout just by calling the courthouse. These payments are considered debts and must be reported on your application.3. New applications for credit: If you apply fornewcreditbetween the timeyoufilloutamortgageapplication and are approved for the mortgage, you'll likely have problems.4.Closingoldcreditaccounts:Yourcreditutilizationratios and availability changes the minute you close anaccount.Thatskewsthenumberslenderslookatindecidingwhethertogiveyoualoan.Don'ttoucholdaccounts.5.Borrowingmoneyforthedownpayment:Ifmoneyhas been given to you, don't try to claim that you saved it.Thelenderwillfindout,andtheloanwilllikelybedenied.6.Lateduesbycondotenants:Ifyou'retryingtobuyacondo,theFederalHousingAdministrationinsiststhatnot more than 15 percent of the tenants be more than 60dayslateinpayingdues.7. The loan is too small: If you're seeking a loan of $50,000 or less, you might be denied a mortgage. Makingasmallloanisnotworthittoalender.8.Payinganolddebt:Ifyouhadadebtgotocollectionslong ago, and it rolled off your credit report because of the passing of time, paying that debt now willreactivateit.Yourlenderwillseeitasrecentnegativeactivity.9.DifferingFICOscores:IfyousendawayforyourFICOscore,it'snotlikelythatthelenderwillgetthesame number from its sources.10. Secondary market: If your loan is to be sold on the secondarymarket,thequalificationstandardswillbestricter.Formoreinformation,goonlinetoGoBankingRates.com.

Why Your Mortgage Mightbe Denied

1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is a philographist?2. TELEVISION: Which actor played the character of "Fonzie" on "Happy Days"?3. LITERATURE: Who wrote the children's book "Matilda"?4. GEOGRAPHY: What tiny principality lies between Spain and France?5. MYTHOLOGY: In Greek mythology, what was the Hydra?6. FOOD & DRINK: What is muesli?7. ART: Where is the Uffi zi museum?8. MEASUREMENTS: What does a kelvin measure?9. MOVIES: What spell is used to disarm opponents in the "Harry Potter" movies?10. ANATOMY: Where is the latissimus dorsi muscle located on the human body?

IT’S ORNAMENTAL (continued)● Another German city, Dresden, nearLauscha, started its own ornament businesses,different from the glass ornaments of their neighbors. The Dresden artists constructed brightlycoloreddesignsofbirds,fishandotheranimals out of pressed and embossed paper. Theirtreasureswereahitaswell;forweddings,birthdays and other occasions in addition to Christmas. ● As the decorations gained popularityin theUnitedStates,F.W.Woolworth,anearlyAmerican mass merchandiser, began importing Germanglassornamentsinthe1880s.By1890,he was reportedly selling approximately $25millionworthoftheornaments!● WhenWorldWar I broke out in 1914many things, including sentiments towardpurchases of Christmas ornaments, changed. TherewasabacklashagainstallthingsGerman.Sales and production of German ornaments slowed,butonlyforawhile.● Also,Japanstartedproducingornamentson a huge scale in the 1920s and took a slice out of the ornament market that Germany held. The Japanesespecializedinnewerandmorecolorfuldesigns.TheCzechRepublicalsobecameknownfor their fancy Christmas ornaments and shipped manytotheU.S.● More than 250 million Christmasornamentswerebeing imported toAmericaby1935,mostlyfromGermany,Japan,andtheCzechRepublic.ThiswaswhenU.S.businessmanandGermanimmigrant,MaxEckhardt,animporterofornaments,knewthatAmericaneeded tobeproducing, not just importing. ● Eckhardt and Bill Thompson of theF.W. Woolworth Company worked togetherto convince the Corning Glass Company of Corning, New York to enter the ornamentmarket. Corning had been making thousands of light bulbs out of very thin glass using a “ribbon” glassblowing machine. The machinecould produce 2,000 bulbs per minute! Eckhardt believed the machine could be altered to produce Christmas ornaments instead of light bulbs.

www. tidbitssocal.com Page 4IT’S ORNAMENTAL (continued)

● Corningbegantrialswiththeirequipmentand employees, making ornaments in various shapesandsizes.Soon,itwascleartheyhadtheequipmentandabilitiesforthejob.Woolworth’srequested production of over 230,000 glass holiday items for their stores. In 1939 they began selling the American-made ornaments. ● By1940,CorningGlasswasproducingnearly 300,000 decorations per day and shipping themallovertheU.S.Corningactuallysoldmostof their ornaments to Shiny Brite, a company owned by Max Eckhardt. Eckhardt’s businesswassobig,hehadfourNewJerseylocationsandhismainofficeanddisplay room inNewYorkCity. ● Eckhardt’sShinyBritefactoriescontinuedmaking glass Christmas balls and decorations throughout World War II. They used innovative solutions when products were rationed. Whenmetalpaintsandvarnishwerenotavailable,thecompanywoulduselighterpaintsandcardboardinstead of the usual metal tops and heavy paint. ● In the post-war era, Shiny Brite beganusing vibrant hues and used metal tops again fortheirornaments.Theywerestampedtoshowthat Shiny Brite ornaments were U.S.- made!Theboxeswereevenmarked“Americanmade.”These are valuable collectibles today.

FAMOUS LANDMARKSOF THE WORLD:

MOUNT EVEREST

MountEverestisthehighestmountainonearthat 29,029 feet (8848 m) above sea level. TheNationalGeographicSocietyhasdeterminedthemountaintobeeventallerbysixfeet(1.83m),butthatheighthasnotbeenmadeofficialyet.

● Mount Everest is in what is called theSagarmatha Zone of Nepal, in the HimalayaMountains,ontheborderwithTibetandChina.Sagarmatha is the Nepalese name for themountain,meaning “the head in the great bluesky.”

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please advise about the Gardasil vaccine. My granddaughter just turned 18 (to date, no sexual activity -- really) and begins college next year. Her doctor is pushing the vaccine for her and for her just-turned-14 sister. I value your common-sense approach to medical issues. What do you recommend? -- S.B.

ANSWER: Without any hesitation, I recommendwholeheartedly the vaccine for protection against thehuman papillomavirus. It's the virus that causes cervical cancer. Gardasil protects against the most common strainsofcancer-causingpapillomavirus,strains16and18.Thisvaccineisamedicalbreakthrough.Neverhastherebeen a vaccine for protection from any cancer. Your granddaughters are not too young. The recommendation suggests that the vaccine be given whenagirl is11or12,but itcanstillbegivenup toage26.Forbesteffectiveness,itshouldbegivenbeforeagirlhashad any sexual encounters. The human papillomavirus is extremelywidespread,andexposuretothevirusbeforethe vaccine has been given lessens the vaccine's ability to protect against the virus and the cancer it causes.A second papillomavirus vaccine is also on the market. It's called Cervarix.The booklet on cervical cancer and Pap smears discusses these topics in greater detail. It does not discuss the vaccines. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr.Donohue -- No. 1102W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL

Cancer Vaccine for Young Girls

32853-6475.Encloseacheckormoneyorder(nocash)for $4.75U.S./$6 Canadawith the recipient's printednameandaddress.Pleaseallowthreetofourweeksfordelivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a question about diabetes. My husband has it. He saw a doctor on a television program who said that taking 2 teaspoons of red vinegar at lunch and dinner lowers your blood sugar a lot. Do you think this is true? Should sweetener be added, or water? -- N.F.

ANSWER: I believe you're referring to the work ofCarol Johnston, Ph.D., a professor in the nutritiondepartment ofArizona State University. She showedthat taking 2 tablespoons of vinegar before or during a meal lowers the sudden spike in blood sugar thathappenswitheating.Suchspikesarenotgood if theyare very high and occur often. They disturb blood sugar control.This isn't a cure for diabetes. It might be a help for sugar control. Your husband should not stop using his diabetes medicines or abandon his diabetic diet. Idon'tknowwhytheTVdoctorinsistedonredvinegar.Dr.Johnstondidn't.Youcantakethevinegaralongwitholiveoilasasaladdressing.Youcandiluteitinwaterifyouwant.Youcanaddanartificialsweetenertoitifthesweetenerdoesn'tsaynotto.AndyoucanstartwiththeTV doctor's recommendation of 2 teaspoons instead of 2tablespoons.Seeifthe2teaspoonswork.Ifitdoesn't,increase the dose until you reach the 2 tablespoons. Are you sure your husband tolerates vinegar? I guess there'sonlyonewaytofindout.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answerindividual letters, but hewill incorporate them in hiscolumnwheneverpossible.ReadersmaywritehimorrequestanorderformofavailablehealthnewslettersatP.O.Box536475,Orlando,FL32853-6475.

●OnDec.18,1777, thenewUnitedStatescelebratesits first national day of thanksgiving, commemorating the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga after thesurrenderofGen.JohnBurgoyneand5,000BritishtroopsthatOctober.

●OnDec.22,1808,Beethoven'sFifthSymphonyhasits world premiere inVienna. The concert venue wasfreezing cold and the orchestra played poorly enoughto force the nearly deaf composer -- also acting as conductor andpianist -- to stop the ensemblepartwayinto one passage and start again from the very beginning.

●OnDec.17,1903,nearKittyHawk,N.C.,OrvilleandWilbur Wright make the first successful flight of a self-propelledaircraft.Orvillepilotedthegasoline-powered,propeller-driven biplane, which stayed aloft for 12seconds and covered 120 feet on its inaugural flight.

●OnDec.19,1917,fourteamsoftheNationalHockey

Leagueplaytheleague'sfirsttwogames.Atthetimeofits inception, theNHLwasmadeupof theCanadiensand the Wanderers (both of Montreal), the OttawaSenators,theQuebecBulldogsandtheTorontoArenas.

●OnDec.23,1968, thecrewandcaptainof theU.S.intelligence gathering ship Pueblo are released after 11months imprisonment by the government ofNorthKorea.The ship, and its 83-man crew,was seized bywarships on Jan. 23 and charged with intruding intoNorthKoreanwaters.

● On Dec. 21, 1970, rock star Elvis Presley pays asurprisevisit toPresidentRichardNixonat theWhiteHousetodiscuss thewarondrugs.Presleyapparentlywasnotsearchedbeforebeinggrantedadmission:UponmeetingNixon, he presented the presidentwith a gift-- a World War II-era Colt .45 pistol.

● On Dec. 20, 1989, "Roger &Me," a documentarybyMichaelMooreabouthisquest to interviewRogerSmith, then chairman and chief executive officer of GeneralMotors,opensintheaters.ThefilmexaminesthedevastatingimpactonthepeopleofMoore'shometownofFlint,Mich.,followingtheclosingofseveralGeneralMotorsautoplantsinthearea.

Page 5For Advertising Call 951-694-2611

MOUNT EVEREST (continued)● ScientistssaythattheshiftingoftectonicplatesintheregioncontinuetopushthewholeHimalaya mountain range higher by 1.6-3.9inches (4-10 cm) per year. ● Mount Everest was originally named“PeakXV”(15)bySirGeorgeEverest,whofirstrecordedthelocationin1841.HewasSurveyorGeneral of India from1830-1843 and in 1865thenamewaschangedtohonorhim.● There are records of expeditions tryingto ascendMount Everest as far back as 1924.The first successful summit was not achieveduntil Sir EdmundHillary andTenzingNorgayreachedthetoponMay29,1953.● Thatfirstascentwasviathefirstoffifteenroutes that have been mapped to the top. Since that ascent there have been more than 3000 peoplewhohavereachedthesummitover5000times.Morethan75%ofthoseclimbshavebeensince the year 2000. The popularity of extreme sports and the availability of guides and travel privileges for many people have made mountain climbs of this caliber a reality for more people.● MountEverest is not a very hospitableplace for man or animals. In ascending to the top, as the altitude increases, the oxygen levels decrease.Consider that at9,800 feet (2987m)theoxygenpresentisonlyabout2/3ofwhatitisatsealevel.At20,000feet(6096m),thelevelisdowntoroughlyhalf.BythetimethesummitofEverestisreachedat29,035feet(8850m)(thenewfigureforitsheight)theoxygenisseverelydepleted to only about 1/3 of the normal at sea level. ● Thelowoxygeniswhyclimbersstopatcampsalongthewaytoacclimatizesotheycanbreathe in the high altitude. Base camp is set at 17,500 feet (5,400 m) and then there are four othercampsalongthewaybeforereachingthesummit. ● Another thing that is done, that seemscounterintuitive, is that climbers move up and down again for about 30 days allowing theirbodiestogetaccustomedtothereducedoxygen;allpartoftheacclimatization.● Alongwith the lowoxygenonEverest,anothermajorchallengeisthestrongwinds.Theblastofthejetstreamisalmostalwayspresent,with winds reaching hurricane force at times;sometimesmore than118miles/hour(190km/hr). The best times for climbing to the summit areinearlyMayandafewdaysinthefall.

●ItwasthethirdpresidentoftheUnitedStates,ThomasJefferson, who made the following observation: "Themanwhoreadsnothingatallisbettereducatedthanthemanwhoreadsnothingbutnewspapers."

●Thosewhostudysuchthingssaythatarainbowcan'tbe seen at midday; the optical phenomena are visibleonly in the morning or in the late afternoon.

●In1982,aradiostationinAllentown,Pa.,thoughtitsrating coulduse abit of a boost, so it cameupwith acontest:Threecontestants,selectedatrandom,wouldliveon top of one of the station's billboards (portable toilets andsleepingbagswereprovided).The lastone togiveupwouldbeawardedamobilehome.Theproblemwas,nobodywantedtogiveup.ThethreemenwhoclimbedtothetopofthesignattheendofSeptemberwerestillthere

comeMarch1983.Inthatmonth,oneofthecontestantswasarrestedfordealingdrugs,but the remaining twostayed aloft untilMay.Once the freezingwinterwasfinally over, the radio station decided to declare both of themenwinners.

●Astheendoftheyearapproaches,youmightconsideranoldBritishtraditionoffortune-telling.Lightacandle,place it on the floor and jump over it. If the flame does not go out, you're likely to enjoy good luck during the coming year.

●Ifyou'reliketheaverageAmerican,youusebetween75and100gallonsofwatereveryday.

●TheSaharaDesertisnearlyaslargeasthecontinentalUnitedStates.

Thought for the Day: "If at first you don't succeed, try again.Thenquit.Nousebeingadamnfoolabout it."--W.C.Fields

www. tidbitssocal.com Page 6MOUNT EVEREST (continued)

● Sherpas have been guiding expeditionsonMountEverest since thefirst ascentsmanyyears ago. Sherpas are a group of Himalayanpeople who live in Nepal and Tibet, usuallyBuddhists, who are famous for their skills asmountain guides. Good Sherpas are essential for successful trips up Everest and other mountains intheHimalayas.Theyareawareoftheneeds,including the acclimatization, of the climbersthey assist.

FRUIT CAKE

Fruitcakehasbeenbakedasaholidaytreatsinceat least the 16th century – andmaybe before.Some think the same cake has traveled the globe manytimesandnoonewantstoeatit!

● Fruitcake, sometimes spelled as oneword,othertimesastwo,isdefinedas:“1)arichcake containing nuts, dried or candied fruits, and spices;alsoas:2)afoolish,eccentric,orcrazyperson.”● Theearliest known recipe for fruitcakethatexistswasfromancientRome.Amongtheingredients were pomegranate seeds, raisins,and pine nuts,mixed in a barleymash. Later,honey,preservedfruitsandspiceswereadded.● Because fruitcake’s dense consistencyand its longevity allowed for it to be held formany days, early hunters andwarriors took itwiththemonlongjourneys.● The Claxton Bakery was opened in1910bySavinoTos,anItalianimmigrantwhohadmovedtoGeorgiafromNewYorkCity.Heoperatedthebakeryuntil1945whenhesoldthebusinesstoAlbert,whohadworkedtheresincehewas11yearsold.ArecentBritishstudyshowedhowthoseover50can

stay young. American seniors aren't so different, are we?Maybewecanlearnafewthingsfromtheirlistofpreferred activities across the pond.Foodwasbigonthelist.Tryingnewfood,andeatingsweets, spicydishes and chocolatewere all favored.TothatIwouldaddtryinganewrestaurant.Reading books that are challenging -- perhaps explor-ing new authors or another genre entirely -- offersbrain stretching.Beating younger relatives at games and socializingwith grownup children and grandkids, perhaps at afirst-run movie in the theater, helps us learn whatthey're thinking and talking about. Playingpracticaljokesandwatchingstand-upcomedypointstothenecessityoffindingthingstolaughabout.Exercisewasn't left off the list.Yoga, Zumba, salsadancingandcyclingwerefavorites.Oneofthemostpopularwaystostayyoung,accordingto the survey, is to surf the Web, as it combines many favoriteactivities.Thatmeansowningelectronicgad-gets --computers,e-readers likeKindleand iPhones(includingapps)andiPads.Theseareallwaystocon-nectandstayfrontandcenterinwhat'sgoingonintheworld.Facebookcanbeafunwaytokeepintouchonline,aslongaswe'reawareof thedangersanduse therightsettingstocontrolwhoaccessesthepage.Twittercanbechallengingfor thosebravesoulswhocanhandletheflowofmessages.Oneverynotablecharacteristicofthoseinthesurvey:40 percent considered themselves to be rebellious. We'renotafraidtothinkoutofthebox,arewe?

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personallyanswer reader questions, but will incorporate theminto her column whenever possible. Write to herin care of King FeaturesWeekly Service, P.O. Box536475,Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail tocolumnreply@gmail.com.

What Keeps Us Young?

Page 7For Advertising Call 951-694-2611FRUIT CAKE (continued)

● In16thcenturyEurope,fruitcakeswerebaked at the end of the nut harvest and saved until the beginning of the following year’sharvest. The thought was that this would helpbring another successful harvest the next year. Europeans also referred to fruitcake as plum cake and itwas reserved for special occasionsbecauseitwasso“sinfullyrich.”Itlaterbecamean essential serving for Victorian tea time. ● In 18th centuryEngland, a belief arosethat ifunmarriedweddingguestsputasliceoffruitcakeundertheirpillowatnighttheywoulddreamofwhotheyweredestinedtomarry.● DecemberisNationalFruitCakeMonthandClaxton,GeorgiaistheFruitCakeCapitalofthe World. ● Eventhoughfruitcakeisandhasbeenthebuttofmanyjokesforyears,AlbertParkersawafineproductwithafuturewhenhepurchasedtheClaxton Bakery in 1945. ● WhenAlbertnoticedthatgrocerystoreswerestartingtosellfreshbreadandotherbakeryitemsontheirshelves,heknewthatheneededtodosomethingtosethisbakeryapart.Hedecidedto specialize in the “high quality fruit cake”that townspeoplehadbeenenjoyingduring theholiday season each year. In the first year thathis company mass produced fruit cakes, Parker andhissmallcrewofemployeesbaked45,000pounds(20,412kg)ofClaxtonFruitCakes!● Even if you think you don’t like fruitcake, maybe you should try a Claxton specialty. Lookforthecakeswithauniquehorseandbuggylabel. They are sold by mail order and in many stores every year during the holidays. They are also used for fundraising by more than 1,000 civicorganizationsintheU.S.TheCivitanClubof Tampa, Florida first started the fundraisingtradition in the early 1950s.

Christmas Butter Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) butter (no substitutions), softened1/2 cup sugar1 large egg1 tablespoon vanilla extract3cupsall-purposeflour1/2teaspoonbakingpowderAssorted colored granulated sugars for decoratingOrnamentalfrosting,optional

1.Preheatovento350F.Inlargebowl,withmixeratlowspeed,beatbutterandsugaruntilblended.Increasespeedtohigh,beatuntillightandcreamy.Atlowspeed,beatineggandvanilla.Beatinflourandbakingpowderjust until blended.2. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Wrap each piece withplasticwrapandrefrigerateuntilfirmenough toroll, about 1 hour.3.Onlightlyflouredsurface,withflouredrollingpin,roll1pieceofdough1/8inchthick.Withfloured2-to3-inch assorted cookie cutters, cut dough into as many cookies as possible, wrap and refrigerate trimmings.Place cookies, 1 inch apart, on large ungreased cookie sheet,sprinklecookieswithcoloredsugarnowifyoulike, or frost after baking.4.Bakecookies10to12minutes,untillightlybrowned.Transfercookiestowireracktocool.Repeatwithre-maining dough and trimmings.5. When cookies are cool, use frosting to decorate cookies as desired. Sprinkle colored sugars as desired onfrostingbeforeitdries.Allowfrostingtodrycom-pletely, about 1 hour. Store cookies in tightly covered containerupto2weeks.Yields96cookies.

●Eachserving(1cookiewithfrostingordecoration):

About 40 calories, 2g total fat (1g saturated), 7mg cho-lesterol,20mgsodium,5g totalcarbs,0gdietaryfiber,1g protein.

Coconut Macaroons

Classic macaroons for the holiday season, courtesy of Ina Garten.

14ouncesflakedsweetenedcoconut1can(14-ounce)sweetenedcondensedmilk1 teaspoon vanilla extract2extra-largeeggwhites,atroomtemperature1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1.Preheatovento325F.Line2largecookiesheetswithparchment paper.2.Inlargebowl,mixcoconut,condensedmilkandva-nillauntilcombined.Inmediumbowl,withmixerfittedwithwhiskattachmentonhighspeed,whipeggwhitesand salt untilmedium-firmpeaks form.Carefully foldeggwhitesintococonutmixture.3.With13/4-inch-diametericecreamscoop,orintwo-rounded-teaspoonful portions, drop batter onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.Withmetalspatula,transfercookiestowireracksto cool. Store in airtight container, with waxed paperbetweenlayers,atroomtemperatureupto2daysorinfreezerupto1month.Makes28macaroons

● Each serving: About 120 calories, 6g total fat (5gsaturated), 5mg cholesterol, 75mg sodium, 15g carbohy-drate,1gdietaryfiber,2gprotein.

Forthousandsoftriple-testedrecipes,visitourwebsiteatwww.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/.

1. When and where did the Bee Gees make their American television debut?2. Which one-hit group recorded "Please Love Me Forever" in 1961?3. What is singer Tony Burrows best known for?4. Name Herbie Hancock's best-known solo jazz ef-forts. (Hint: Think fruit.)5. Name the song with this lyric: "I get so tired of working so hard for our survival. I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive ..."

ANSWERS1.In1968on"TheSmothersBrothersComedyHour."Theirnamecame from the initials of aDJ namedBillGateswho introducedthem to a promoter named Bill Goode, and is not an abbreviation of BrothersGibb,asiswidelybelieved.2.CathyJeanandtheRoommates.Theoriginalduo'sbiggestclaimtofamewascominginsecondinatalentshowbehindTom&Jerry,aka Simon and Garfunkel.3.Burrowsconsistentlysangwithgroupswhohadonlyonehit.Hesangleadon"LoveGrows(WhereMyRosemaryGoes)"and"MyBabyLovesLovin',"bothin1970.4."WatermelonMan"(1962)and"CantaloupeIsland"(1964).5."InYourEyes,"byPeterGabrielonhis1986album"So."Ittooknearly20years,butin2005,thesongfinallyhadenoughsalestobecertifiedGold.

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1. Someone who col-lects autographs2. Henry Winkler3. Roald Dahl4. Andorra5. A many-headed monster whose heads could grow back if they were cut off6. Breakfast cereal with fruit and nuts7. Florence, Italy8. Temperature9. "Expelliarmus!"10. Back

1. The Oakland Coliseum (A's and Raiders).2. Robinson played 2,896 games with the Orioles; Yount played 2,856 games with the Brewers.3. Southern Cal, in 1972.4. In 1961, the Hawks (then in St. Louis) lost to Boston in fi ve games.5. The New Jersey Devils in 2003.6. Mark Martin drove a Ford to victory at Day-tona in 2006.7. Chris Evert Lloyd, in 1981.

1) New2) Micah3) Heavenly host4) Shepherds5) House6) Egypt

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DEARPAW'SCORNER:Mydaughterandher familyhavetwobigdogsandacat.Ilikegivinggiftstothepetsaswellasmygrandkids.Doyouhaveanysuggestions?-- Tammy, via email

DEAR TAMMY: Anything that looks cozy, fun andsafeforpetsisagoodbet.I'vealwaysappreciatedevensmall gifts like a cute bandanna for my dog or small catnip toys for my cat. If you're looking for gifts beyond stockingstuffers,herearesomethatmostpetownerswillappreciate:--Dog and cat beds: These range in price from about $15 onuptoafewhundreddollars.Lookforasturdyfabriccoveringthatiseasytobrushfurfrom,andstuffingthatcan'tbeeasilypulledoutandchewedon.--Cat furniture: From a simple paddedwindowsill seatto "kitty condo" play complexes that cats can wanderthrough, cat owners appreciate these combinationscratching posts and rest areas.--Travel safety: A number of products have come on the market to keep dogs and cats safe in the car, from traditional travel crates to adapted seat belts that keep Fidosecurelyinhisseat.--Toys:Foryourdaughter'sbigdogs, sturdychew toysareprobablywelcome.IstillreallylikeKongchewtoys,whicharenearlyimpossibletodamageandcanbefilledwithpeanutbutteroranother treat.Forcats,somethingbeyond the catnip mouse could include one of Bergan's "TurboTracks,"inwhichaballinsetinaroundorfigure-eighttrackscootsaroundwitheveryswipeofthepaw.Nomatterwhichgiftyouchoose,orifyoudecidetojustgive small, inexpensive gifts to your daughter's pets, I'm sure they'll be appreciated.

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