Tidbits 32

www.tidbitscda.com For Ad Rates call: (208) 755-9120 [email protected]

of Kootenai County, Idaho Issue #32 August 5th

by Janet Spencer Neil Armstrong, while describing the first steps man took on the moon, admitted that he was also the first man to wet his pants on the moon. Come along with Tidbits as we explore space!FIRST FACTS •The first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, launched by the USSR in 1957, weighed only 184 lbs. (83 kg) and was a mere 22.8 inches (58 cm) in diameter. In 1958, the U.S. launched its first satellite, the Explorer. It weighed only 18 lbs. (8 kg). • In 1959, the Soviet craft Lunik 2 was the first man-made object to reach the moon. It landed so hard that the instruments were de-stroyed and no data was collected. • Aladimir Komarov was the first cosmo-naut to be killed in space. He launched on April 23, 1967, from the USSR aboard the spacecraft Soyuz 1. He was to orbit the earth 18 times in 25 hours, then come down to earth as a parachute slowed his descent. But the straps to the para-chute broke and Komarov died. • The spaceship Columbia, which took the Eagle and three astronauts to the moon in 1969, had a control panel which had 566 switches, 71 lights, 40 event indicators, and 24 instruments. • The first re-usable space shuttle was named “Enterprise” in honor of the success of the “Star Trek” series. Turn the page for more!

TIDBITS® DRIFTS THROUGH SPACE

Page 2 Tidbits® of CDA www.tidbitscda.com

From the Publisher’s

DeskEvelyn Bevacqua

We are announcing a new network and looking for members who service people in the age group 40 plus. The focus will be to Educate, Support and Expand. We are committed to mak-ing a difference, living simply, giving and receiv-ing with care and respect. Rather than a monthly meeting we will come together to help support at least one of our fellow members with a function or event that they may be hosting, especially our not-for-profit members. Coming together in this manner will help us all. A fresh way to network! FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT PAGE 4!

An INVITATION to Come Together and CONNECT

ASTRONAUT ANECDOTES • Astronaut John Young was with Gus Grissom on the first manned space flight in 1965. Young smuggled a sandwich on board the cap-sule to supplement the boring fare offered by NASA. However, the crumbs from the sandwich threatened to ruin some of the equipment on board. Young was reprimanded by officials for his unauthorized snack. • The first meal eaten on the moon, con-sumed by Armstrong and Aldrin, consisted of four bacon squares, three sugar cookies, peach-es, pineapple-grapefruit drink, and coffee. • President Nixon placed the first phone call to the moon on July 21, 1969. He spoke to Aldrin and Armstrong in the lunar module. • Alan Shepard knocked a few golf balls around on the moon. But he missed the first shot, taking a mulligan. This earned him a lifetime membership in the U.S. Duffers Association of Newport, KY. They also awarded him the presi-dency of their first moon chapter. • When Navy Commander Pete Conrad set foot on the moon during the second lunar landing on November 19, 1969, he said, “Man, that may have been a small one for Neil Arm-strong, but that’s a long one for me!” Conrad was only 5 foot 6 inches tall. • When Alan Bean walked on the moon, he tried to fix a TV camera that was not working by hitting it with a hammer. He failed.

Page 3 Tidbits® of CDA www.tidbitscda.comwww.tidbitscda.com

EVENTCALENDAR

By JoAnn Derson • “My father taught me all I know about working the grill -- even though it was his job! The tip that’s served me best is this simple beau-ty: Let the meat sear before you move it. Give it a chance to cook on one side well enough that it lifts away from the grill. If it’s sticking, you probably need to leave it alone! Happy grilling.” -- JoAnn • “Kitchen stores sell grill brushes, but they can be expensive. I use a good-quality paintbrush from the hardware store for grilling only, and replace it a couple of times throughout grilling season. I find it to be a better brush, and less expensive to boot!” -- B.F. in Illinois • Grilled meats will be moister and taste better if you let them rest for a few minutes after you take them off the grill. It allows the meat to redistribute the natural juices. If you are worried about temperature, just cover the meat with foil. • “It’s best to clean a grill just after cook-ing, but if you weren’t able to, that’s OK. When faced with a messy grill surface, just preheat, then clean. The heat will burn off drippings and make it easier to scrub.” -- R.T. in Florida • You should never use a cooking spray on your grill. Instead, soak a paper towel in oil and use your tongs to oil the grill surface. 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].

(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

Aug 8Summer concert At Riverstonewww.artsincda.org

Aug 10Coeur d’Alene Triathloncdatriathlon.comAug 10Athol Daze

Aug 14Downtown Farmers Marketcdadowntown.com


Aug 16-17Wooden Boat Showcdadowntown.com

Aug 17-18Lake Coeur d’Alene Cardboard Boat RegattaAug 18Mountain Man Rendezvous


Aug 21-25North Idaho Fair & Rodeonorthidahofair.com




DANGER ZONE • A study done on a Spacelab mission showed that some microorganisms reproduce better in the weightlessness of space. This fact, coupled with the fact that human immune sys-tems don’t tend to work as well in space, could spell trouble for future long-term astronauts. It is feared that unless great precautions are taken, certain bacteria may be able to invade a space-craft and present grave danger to its inhabit-ants.FAST FACTS • Michael Collins walked in space twice during the Gemini 10 mission in 1966. When he returned, he filled out his travel voucher: $8 a day for 3 days, and he was reimbursed $24. He said later that he should have charged 7¢a mile equaling $80,000, but acknowledged that one of the Mercury astronauts had already tried it, and had received in return a bill from NASA for a couple million dollars for the non-reusable rocket. • When Neil Armstrong, Michael Col-lins, and Buzz Aldrin returned from the moon, they dutifully declared their lunar rocks and dust on customs form.FAR-OUT FACTS• Researchers at the University of Chicago found multitudes of dust-sized diamond particles em-bedded in meteorites that may predate the sun and the Earth. These diamonds may have been formed in the atmosphere of an exploding star and then spewed across space up to 4.5 billion years ago. This suggests that the universe is full of these minuscule diamonds.• Scientists at the University of Hawaii have found two asteroids which they believe are composed almost entirely of metal. According to their spectrograph measurements (light bounced off the asteroids to tell their content) the aster-oids are almost pure iron and nickel. These two objects come relatively close to Earth’s orbit. It is thought that since they are both more than two miles wide, their worth (at today’s market val-ue), could top several trillion dollars each if they could ever be brought back to Earth.• The dust from Halley’s Comet (collected by the Vega 1 space probe), contain a rich assort-ment of organic compounds. The dust also held silicate materials and ices. The organic materials were mostly hydrocarbons and do not indicate the presence of actual life forms.

Tidbits® of Dallas County Page 4 Tidbits® of CDA www.tidbitscda.com Page 4

Studies have shown that seniors need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week to help guard against heart disease and stroke, even diabetes. Previous guidelines said that we needed to have that moderate-intensity activity spread out over most days of the week.Researchers of a new study wanted to know whether it mattered how often we exercised, or it if was even important to get that exercise every day. What they learned might be a game changer for many of us who don’t want to make exercise a daily event or even work out for long blocks of time: It doesn’t matter whether we do it all at once, or in small blocks of 10 minutes, or some-where in between, as long as we get in our 150 minutes each week. They used more than 2,000 participants who agreed to wear accelerometers on their wrist to monitor their every move for a week. While the participants represented a wide range of ages, it was thought that the results applied to seniors, as the oldest participants were up to 79 years of age. That’s not to say we should forget about muscle building. Cardio for the heart is one thing, but muscles keep us upright, strong and balanced. We can get our cardio in pushing a lawn mower or riding a bike, anything that ac-celerates the heart rate, according to the informa-tion for older adults on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. For muscle-strengthening activities for the major muscle groups on two or more days a week, the CDC recommends lifting weights, working with resistance bands, heavy garden-ing and yoga -- whatever works the back, chest, shoulders, arms, legs and hips. This should make it much easier to stay in shape!Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her col-

umn whenever possible. Send email to [email protected].

Exercise Study Is Game Changer

SPACE TRASH Scientists, engineers, and space planners in general are becoming increasingly concerned with the growing number of small pieces of space junk. The North American Aerospace Defense Command currently tracks more than 7,000 ob-jects the size of a baseball or larger orbiting the Earth. Recent research appears to show there are many more large objects we aren’t tracking. One half of these small objects come from the 80 sat-ellites that have broken up while in orbit, and there are probably millions of smaller particles stuck in Earth orbit. These particles are no small matter when it comes to space travel. A particle no more than 0.6 millimeters wide can penetrate one of the space suits currently used by NASA. When the shuttle Challenger was orbiting in 1983, a small chip of paint hit the windshield and gouged a quarter-inch crater. The space de-bris can also wreak havoc on Earth-bound as-tronomers and delicate equipment in orbit.ASTONISHING ASTRONOMY • On a clear night, the average person can see only 3,000 stars. If the sum of all starlight that falls on the Earth could be concentrated on one point, it would only equal a 100-watt bulb seen from a distance of 613 feet (187 m). • Just one square inch of the sun’s surface shines with the intensity of 300,000 candles. • The sun contains 99.9% of the solar system’s entire mass. • The full moon is nine times as bright as the half moon, since the surface of the visible half moon is extremely rough and mountainous, which makes for more shadows and less reflect-ed sunlight.QUICK BIT • 12 men have walked on the surface of the moon. Their footprints will be visible for an estimated ten million years. Those dozen men have spent a total of 300 hours there, and they brought back 842 lbs. (381 kg) of lunar rock.

SENIOR NEWS LINEby Matilda Charles

Are you community minded, want to make a dif-ference, and are looking for a fresh new way to grow your business and yourself? We are proud to announce the expansion of TIDBITS and a new opportunity for youand your business or service: CONNECT, a bright new inclusive network now forming.We are looking for members who serve the 40 + age group and want to CONNECT and:

For CONNECT particulars and how to become a member Contact: Mary Thomas, at

[email protected] or call Mary at: (208) 964-9357

An INVITATION to Come Together and CONNECT

EDUCATE BE KNOWN AS THE EXPERT YOU ARE AND SHARE THIS KNOWL-EDGE. You will be a featured ‘Expert’ once each month, answering questions, sharing informa-tion or updates about your business, or an-nouncing an event.SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR BUSINESS AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.Come together to support other members - es-pecially our non-profits, be a part of whatis happening in our community, and be of ser-vice. As we Give, we Receive!EXPAND GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND GROW YOURSELF! Get affordable exposure to new customers and learn new practices that will keep you and yourbusiness fresh and exciting. Many are mightier than one! Join, have fun, and be ready to grow.

Page 5For Advertising Call (334) 505-0674For Advertising Call 208-755-9120www.tidbitscda.com Page 5

Tidbits® of Dallas County Page 6 Tidbits® of CDA www.tidbitscda.com Page 6

Page 7For Advertising Call (334) 505-0674www.tidbitscda.com

Can’t Sleep? If you are having a difficult time sleeping, you are not alone. It is estimated that 80 million Americans suffer from insomnia. It can affect every aspect of your life from your job and relation-ships to your competency behind the wheel of a car. Some statistics say that more than 100,000 motor-vehicle crashes are caused annually in the United States by driving while drowsy.Sleep deprivation can have a deleterious affect. Insomnia causes tiredness, lack of energy, difficulty in concentrating and irritability. There is increased risk of depression, at work you are likely to have more work errors, slowed reaction time, poor work performance, you are likely to be disgruntled with other co-workers more easily, you become more impatient, and are more likely to have a work-place accident or auto accident. Insomnia can cause changes in hormones, increase hunger, effect the body’s metabolism (making it more difficult to lose weight), accelerate aging, and increase the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Women are more susceptible – one survey says that 3 out of every 4 working mothers experi-ence fatigue due to poor sleep. Insomnia comes in several forms: Either inability to fall asleep or inability to stay asleep. Also, it can be transient (just once in awhile due to travel, excitement or temporary stress); Short-term (lasting less than 3 weeks and usually due to worry or stress); Chronic (lasting more than 30 days and is either nightly or several times a week). Chronic insomnia is generally due to a health condition. Taking medications, although they give the feeling of sleeping, do not take care of the REASON WHY you can’t sleep and though it seems you have slept, you awaken still tired. The reasons why people can’t sleep are varied. They can be caused by an imbalance in hormones, an imbalance in the way the body manages blood sugar, or you might have a health disease that effects sleep. Restless leg syndrome, gastro-esophageal re-flux disease, heart palpitations and hot flashes are common health conditions or symptoms effecting sleep. Poor sleep also will contribute to obesity! If one of these (or other conditions) prevent you from sleeping, you need to get the condition healed, not just medically managed. The side effect of handling the condition responsible for limit-ing sleep, is that not only will the condition be better, but the side effect will be of sleeping well!

Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with over 34 years of experience. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and of-fers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’ Alene clinic. Visit Dr. Carling’s website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Dr. Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Dr. Carling can be reached at 208-765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.

By Dr. Holly Carling

Tidbits® of Dallas County Page 8 Page 8 Tidbits® of CDA

Q: Should I consider purchasing an ex-isting home, or go with new construc-tion?

A; There are currently great buys out there on existing homes and interest is still low. However, if you have the time to wait for the construction process, it can be rewarding and an amazing process to build the house of your dreams. Call a qualified Realtor that is experienced in helping match you up with the right build-er and lender to help you figure out what is the best course for you to take.

Q: Should You Take a Pension Buyout?

A: If you’ve received an offer from your em-ployer to buy out your pension, you’re facing a big decision: Should you accept the lump sum or continue taking your monthly pension pay-ments? You might be afraid that taking a lump sum would subject you to a big tax bill. But if you roll the money into a traditional IRA, you may be able to avoid paying taxes on those funds until you start your withdrawals. Consider your estate plans. Pension pay-ments generally end when you and your spouse are gone, but with an IRA, you may still end up with something you can leave behind. Don’t forget about inflation. If your pension payments aren’t indexed for inflation, they’ll lose purchasing power over time. Within your IRA, you can invest for growth potential, but remember that all investments are subject to some level of risk. You’re facing a big choice. Get all the facts, and then get some professional help from your financial and tax advisors.

Suzan Helmhout208-660-6948

[email protected]

208-667-8284 Scarlet N. Kelso

Financial Advisor

Q: How Do I Best Search For Properties For Sale?A: Lately the buzz has been about the many property web sites and the lack of status up-dates for the properties. Three times this week I have been contacted by potential Home Buyers inquir-ing about a specific property. When I go to the what to retrieve the property information, I find that the property is either Pending sale (has an accepted offer) or has already Sold. This is disappointing to the buyer who has just found the property and is interested enough to contact an agent to gain access to view the property in person. My Advice is to always use Realtor.com or the MLS because these sites are up-dated daily. If by chance you find a property that shows it is available when truly it is not, that is going to be due to the listing agent NOT doing their job efficiently. The BEST way to review properties is to contact an agent and have them put you on a Property search email. This will keep you from having to search through all the proper-ties that are not what you are looking for and provide you with only the homes that are in your price range, meet your criteria of home amenities and features, and located in the area you choose. Having a property search set up for you saves you time and frustration! Plus, you have a Realtor working for you and just a click away from providing you with additional property information as well as the ability to schedule you showing appoint-ments to view the property in person.

I am always Happy to assist buyers and sell-ers with their Real Estate Goals...Contact

me Today!

for more information call Candy Inbody 208-755-4885

Contact Mary for more information on the CONNECT group!

Q: When is it time to consider replac-ing my current air conditioner?

A: If your central air conditioner is more than 10 yrs. Old, replacing it with an En-ergy Star model can cut your cooling costs by 30 percent and save money on repair costs. The payback for replacing a 10+ yr. old system is typically about 6 yrs. An air conditioners efficiency level is measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the number the more efficient the unit.

Call RDI for your heating and cooling needs

208-762-9857

Q: I have a basic estate, why should I bother with estate planning?

A: Estate planning is your opportunity to make decisions about your medical care, property, and final arrangements while you have input. Without documents in place to direct decisions, the responsibility will shift to others: Medical decisions will be made by the treating doctor or hospital, and the most difficult decisions will fall to family members. Property will be di-vided and distributed according to a state law-defined hierarchy of survivors. Final arrangements will need to be put together quickly by family members, often with conflicting ideas. The resulting plans and decisions may not match your wishes, or worse, they can place a great burden on loved ones already dealing with loss.

Visit mandersonlaw.com for more infor-mation on planning for the inevitable.

For more information Maribeth M Anderson

406-426-1529

Page 9For Advertising Call (334) 505-0674For Advertising Call 208-755-9120 Page 9Tidbits® of CDA Page 7

Left to right: Evelyn Bevacqua, Dave Reed, John Hoffman Lori Chissie, Terry Peterson, Scarlet Kelso, Arthur Shaw, Barbara Smalley, Suzan Helmhout, Jacqueline Sergeant, Debi Melkonian

For more on CONNECTcall Mary at: 208-964-9357

EDUCATE BE KNOWN AS THE EXPERT YOU ARE AND SHARE THIS KNOWLEDGE. You will be a featured ‘Expert’ once each month, answering questions, sharing information or updates about your busi-ness, or announcing an event.SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR BUSINESS AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.Come together to support other members - especially our non-profits, be a part of what is happening in our community, and be of service. As we Give, we Receive!EXPAND GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND GROW YOURSELF! Get affordable exposure to new customers and learn new practices that will keep you and yourbusiness fresh and excit-ing. Many are mightier than one! Join, have fun, and be ready to grow.

Tidbits® of Dallas County Page 10 Tidbits® of CDA

Susan Ashley MD is the owner of Family Medicine Liberty Lake, and is board certified in both Family Medicine and Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.

She can be reached at 509-928-6700

Heartburn - how do you spell Relief? by: Susan Ashley MDHeartburn, or GERD, is one of the most common symptoms people experience as they get older. It's often felt as a burning in the chest which can extend up to the throat, and can worsen asthma, and, in fact, is a common cause of chronic cough. One of the most common treatments are drugs like prilosec, zantac, nexium (the purple pill) or antacids. However, these medications only treat the symptom, not the cause of the ailment, and when used long-term can cause

numerous side effects. If you look at the label of prilosec, it says do not use for greater than 14 days, which is good advice but of course routinely ignored. Long term, these meds will decrease the absorption of calcium and magnesium and increase risk of osteoporosis - anyone on these for 5 or more years should have a bone density test. Since they decrease acid production, and acid is needed to break down protein, they can lead to a deficiency in protein and neurotransmitters which are made from protein. So what would be a better treatment? A simple remedy is to try melatonin 6mg at night. In a recent study, taking 6 mg a night for 40 nights completely eliminated symptoms! There were no side effects except occasional AM grogginess.

Other remedies for heartburn include betaine, or HCl taken with meals to help digest the food more efficiently, especially important after age 50. D-limonene relieved GERD in 89% after 14 days; L-tryptophan 200mg /day converts to melatonin and is helpful; pancreatic enzymes with meals, and B6, B12 and folic acid help by increasing methylation capacity. It also helps not to go to bed with a full stomach.If you have heartburn, don't take an acid blocker indefinitely. Treat the root problem and cure the ailment permanently!

Page 11For Advertising Call (334) 505-0674Tidbits® of CDA

MOMENTS IN TIMEThe History Channel

• On Aug. 11, 1856, a hurricane hits Isle Derniere, a resort community on the Louisiana coast, killing more than 400 people. The storm first brought blinding and torrential rain, then storm surges and finally a tidal wave. Upward of 150 people were carried off with the wave, with some bodies ending up 6 miles away. • On Aug. 6, 1890, at Auburn Prison in New York, the first execution in history by electrocution is carried out against William Kemmler. It didn't go as planned. With the first charge, the current failed. A second charge was required for two minutes before Kemmler was declared deceased. • On Aug. 7, 1944, under the threat of Al-lied bombing during World War II, the German car manufacturer Volkswagen halts production of the "Beetle." Volkswagen, under the control of the British military, began turning out Beetles again in December 1945. • On Aug.5, 1957, rock 'n' roll television show "American Bandstand" goes national with teens dancing and rating records on a scale from 35 to 98. The show was broadcast from Phila-delphia to 67 ABC affiliates across the coun-try. Dick Clark was host, a slot he held for 27 years. • On Aug. 9, 1969, members of Charles Manson's cult kill five people in movie director Roman Polanski's Beverly Hills, Calif., home, including Polanski's pregnant wife, actress Sha-ron Tate. Polanski was not the cult leader's in-tended target. Manson, an aspiring musician, chose the Polanski house because he had once unsuccessfully tried to get a recording deal from a producer who used to live there. • On Aug. 10, 1978, three teenage girls die after their 1973 Ford Pinto is rammed from behind by a van and bursts into flames. It was known as far back as 1972 that the Pinto's gas tank, which sat behind the rear axle, was par-ticularly vulnerable to damage by rear-end colli-sions. • On Aug. 8, 1986, actor, writer and director Spike Lee's first feature-length movie, "She's Gotta Have It," opens in theaters around

the United States. The movie launched Lee's career and established his reputation as an

outspoken filmmaker who often tackled contro-versial subjects.


PAW'S CORNERBy Sam Mazzotta

Boarding CatsDEAR PAW'S CORNER: We're headed off on vacation, and I would like my cat to be cared for during the two weeks we're gone. I don't know a reliable pet sitter whom I can trust to come into my house. Is there such a thing as kennels for cats? -- June in New Orleans

DEAR JUNE: There are boarding facilities that will take cats as well as other pets. I prefer to use facilities that are exclusively for cats, but not ev-eryone has that option available in their area. Still, call around to several facilities. Even if none cater just to cats, look for one that has a living and play area completely segregated from other types of pets. One of my favorite places offered each cat a private "cubby" with scratching post and shelf. There were no bars or fence grates. In-stead, each cubby had a clear plastic door so caretakers could see each cat, and a one-way-glass wall with a view of a park. During the day, they were taken to a common area to socialize with other cats, and the facility was attached to a veterinarian's office. Contrast that with a boarding facility I found in another region when trying to board my cat. It was mainly for dogs, with a small room full of metal cages for "other" pets, includ-ing cats, rabbits and so on. The pets all looked stressed out, especially as the constant barking from the dogs' play area reverberated into their living area. That's why it's important to personally visit each facility you're considering, so you get a feel of the place. It'll help make the experi-ence better for your cat. If you can't find one that works, please reconsider the pet sitter.

Send your questions or comments to [email protected]. Did you know mosquitoes can

transmit heartworm larvae to dogs, but fleas don't? Find out more in my new book "Fighting

Fleas," available now on Amazon.(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

Tidbits® of Dallas County Page 12 Tidbits® of CDASALOME'S STARSARIES (March 21 to April 19) A longtime situation starts to move into a new phase. The question for the un-certain Lamb right now is whether to move with it. Facts emerge by midmonth to help you decide.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) A talent for organizing your priorities allows the Divine Bovine to en-joy a busy social life and not miss a beat in meet-ing all workplace and/or family commitments.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) What began as a dubi-ous undertaking has now become one of your favorite projects. Your enthusiasm for it rallies support from other doubters-turned-believers.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Accept the help of friends to get you through an unexpectedly difficult situ-ation. There'll be time enough later to investi-gate how all this could have happened so fast.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Change is a major fac-tor for the Big Cat through midmonth. Be pre-pared to deal with it on a number of levels, in-cluding travel plans and workplace situations.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) You might not like all the changes that have begun to take place around you. But try to find something positive in at least some of them that you can put to good use.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A family member's unsettling experience could create more prob-lems if it's not handled with care and love. And who's the best one to offer all that? You, of course.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) It might not be the right time for you to start a new venture. But it's a good time to start gathering facts and fig-ures so you'll be set when the GO! sign lights up.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) The sagacious Sagittarius should have no trouble deciding be-tween those who can and those who cannot be trusted to carry out a workplace commitment.

CAPRICORN(December 22 to January 19) Surprise, surprise. It looks as if that one person you once thought you could never hope to win over to your side suddenly just might choose to join you.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You might have to set aside your pride for now and accept a change that isn't to your advantage. Cheer up. There'll be time later to turn this around in your favor.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your creative self emerges as dominant through midmonth. This should help you restart that writing or arts project you've left on the shelf for far too long.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a way of encouraging others by ex-

ample to come out from the shadows and enjoy life to the fullest.


Tidbits® of CDA Page 13

by Samantha Weaver • It was stand-up comedian Lenny Bruce who made the following sage observation: “All my humor is based on destruction and despair. If the whole world were tranquil, without disease and violence, I’d be standing in the breadline.” • You might be surprised to learn that a flamingo cannot eat unless its head is upside-down. • While in the Capitol rotunda attending the funeral for Congressman Warren B. Davis in January 1835, President Andrew Jackson was the victim of an assassination attempt. Richard Lawrence, a 35-year-old house painter, pointed two revolvers at the president and fired. In an incredible stroke of luck, both weapons misfired, at which point President Jackson began to beat the man with his cane. • The Dead Sea isn’t actually a sea; it’s a lake. • It’s been reported that the Paul Simon found the inspiration for his hit song “Mother and Child Reunion” in a chicken-and-egg dish he was eating in a Chinese restaurant. • More than 60 percent of the 50 most common words in the English language contain three or fewer letters. • Natives of Finland drink more coffee per capita than citizens of any other country in the world. • The Hula Hoop fad swept the globe in the 1950s, but the toy did not find a warm wel-come everywhere. In Indonesia, Hula Hoops were banned because they “might stimulate pas-sion.” China’s official news agency called it “a nauseating craze,” and the Soviets declared the toy to be “a symbol of the emptiness of Ameri-can culture” (despite the fact that the Hula Hoop originated in Australia). • Adult tuna have been known to swim up to 100 miles in a single day.

Thought for the Day: “I don’t know anything about music. In my line,

you don’t have to.” -- Elvis Presley(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

Tidbits® of CDADear Auntie M.,

To help with the claims backlog, the De-partment of Veterans Affairs wants you to file your claims online. So says a new release. The claims will be decided faster, officials say. The VA’s eBenefits portal online has been merged with the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) at all the regional offices. On a computer you’ll be able to walk through the “interview-style application” with drop-down menus and pre-populated data fields. You can, they say, file your claims online just like you do your taxes. You’ll be able to upload digital im-ages of records and evidence. And if you’re like many older veterans, you have no idea what all that means. Hint: If you’re going to file a claim and want help with the computer end of things, get a local Veterans Service Organization to go on-line and open your file. (You file an electronic power of attorney.) Since the benefits will date from whenever your file was started, that should be your first step. Once you open your online file and start plugging in information, you have one year to finish it up. Your original date of claim will be kept in your file. Study up on the Fully Developed Claim (where you state that you have no other information to add), because those re-ceive priority in processing, and get all your in-formation in hand. In my opinion, if the VA wants to help the backlog of claims, it needs to hire more people to scan the documents into VBMS that come in the traditional way. Still, if you’re up for online filing, you’ll need an eBenefits account, which means you need to complete a remote verifica-tion process or visit a VA regional office. Call 1-800-827-1000, option 7, if you already receive benefits by direct deposit.

Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate

them into his column whenever possible. Send email to [email protected].(c) 2013

King Features Synd., Inc.

How Are Your Computer Skills?

Serious questions welcomed. I shall be frank and honest with my response and provide resources where appropri-

ate. Send your request to: [email protected]

Page 14

by Freddy Groves

ITEX

I’m really in a pickle. My 22 year old son just announced his engagement. Melanie is quite ‘rough around the edges’ and I find her brazen, devious and domineering. She is 10 years older and estranged from a very dysfunctional family. Kevin wants me to take her under my wing, treat her like a daughter and plan and pay for the wed-ding. He has one year of college left but wants to quit, work the family business, and start a family. How do I end this relationship and keep my son from ruining his life?Sleepless in Black Rock

Dear Sleepless,First off, do not do anything to force him to end the relationship. This will only alienate him which is the last thing you want. And is that not devious and domineering on your part? Take time to find out as much as you can about her. It could be that she has developed this per-sona for survival and never had the opportunity or support to become more cultured.However, if your mother’s instincts are correct she may prove to be an opportunist. This could explain the rush to leave college and start a fam-ily.Talk with them. You offer to work with her and arrange the wedding if they agree to give you a year to do so and he gradu-ates. This is best for them and will either val-idate or disprove your fears. Use reasoning and good intentions. The truth will prevail. Auntie M.

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