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November 13, 2012 The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

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Readers WeeklyNationwide!

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The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

OVER 4 MILLION

Readers WeeklyNationwide! ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©2007

FREE

Death Valley is the driest spot in the U.S. It’s also the lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere. And it is one of the hottest spots on Earth. Join Tidbits as we tour one of America’s most unusual national parks.

• It’s BIG! Death Valley National Park is the largest national park outside Alaska. The valley is about 130-140 miles long, and the valley floor averages 5 miles wide. The national park contains nearly 3.4 million acres. The state of Rhode Island could fit inside Death Valley National Park more then three times over. It’s twice the size of Delaware, and nearly the same size as Connecticut.

• It’s LOW! A parking lot at a place called Badwater is 279 feet below sea level. Several miles away in a desolate salt pan, there are a few dips that are 282 feet below sea level. Death Valley is the lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere, but the Dead Sea (between Jordan and Israel) is 1,360 feet below sea level.

• Only six places on earth are deeper than Death Valley, and they are all desert valleys. If these valleys received more rain, erosion would eventually fill them with sediments and they would no longer be below sea level. Also, they’d be lakes instead of valleys.

• It’s HOT! The heat is partly caused by the low elevation. With every thousand feet you lose in elevation, the temperature rises by about 5 degrees F. Death Valley’s topography—a deep valley sandwiched between two steep mountain ranges—also magnifies the heat. Hot air rising from the valley floor gets trapped between mountain ranges. The hot air re-circulates and gets hotter. The dryness also contributes to the heat. Death Valley has no clouds for shade, no rain for cooling, and little vegetation to stop rocks from absorbing heat all day. In turn, the heat reinforces the dryness, evaporating rain before it reaches the ground.

turn the page for more!

Vol 1 Issue 44of the River Region

TIDBITS® GETS A LITTLE BITPOLITICAL

by Patricia L. Cook

Page 2 Tidbits® of the River Region

DEATH VALLEY (continued):• The hottest temperature ever recorded in Death Valley was 134 F on July 13, 1913. By comparison, the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 136 F, recorded in the Sahara Desert in Libya in 1922.

• When it comes to average highs, Death Valley beats the Sahara. In 2001, Death Valley hit 100 F or higher on 154 days in a row. It’s hit 100 F or higher in every month except November, December, January, and February. It’s hit 110 F on (coincidentally) 110 days in a row, in 1996. And it hit 120 F on 43 days in a row, in 1917.

• July is the hottest month on average, with a daily high of 115 F. August is second, with an average daily high of 113 F. June is third, at 109 F.

• In July, when the average daily high is 115 F, the daily average LOW temperature is 88 F.

• Things cool off in winter. In November the average daily high is 76 F. In February it’s 72 F, and in January and December it’s 65 F.

• Death Valley’s official temperature is recorded at a weather station five feet above the ground. But the ground gets hotter than the air. The hottest ground temperature ever recoded in Death Valley was 201 F in 1972.

• The record low temperature in Death Valley is 15 F, set in 1913, which was the same year that set the record high of 134 F. Death Valley’s all-time low is about the same as the all-time lows of Phoenix or Houston.

• It’s DRY! Why is Death Valley so hot and dry? Don Lago describes the science behind it in his book, Death Valley Trivia. The main factor is called the “rain shadow” effect. When storms come out of the Pacific Ocean and head inland, they have to cross a series of mountain ranges, which force clouds to rise, condense, and drop their moisture. With every mountain range they cross, the clouds have less moisture left for the next one. The Sierras can get 34 feet of snow per year, but then the clouds have little moisture left for the Owens Valley just west of the Sierras; the Owens Valley gets less than 6 inches of rain per year. Clouds that make it past the Sierras then hit the Panamint Mountains and lose most of their remaining moisture. This leaves little rain for Death Valley, or for the Amargosa Range on the east side of Death

Valley. While the Panamints get 15 inches of annual precipitation, the Amargosa Range gets only 3-5 inches.

• The average annual rainfall in Death Valley is only 1.94 inches. By comparison, New York City receives an average of 49.64 inches of rain per year. In some years, Death Valley has recorded no rainfall at all, such as 1929 and 1953.

• With so little rainfall and so much evaporation, the humidity level in Death Valley sometimes falls to 2 percent. With humidity this low, even when the temperature is a pleasant 70 F, people can become seriously dehydrated.

• Even in the summer heat, people in Death Valley may not get sweaty. The human skin often remains dry. But this doesn’t mean you aren’t perspiring: it means that perspiration is evaporating instantly. For people from humid climates, who are accustomed to skin and clothes drenched with sweat, this can trick them into seriously underestimating how much water they are losing.

Finding Water• There is no place in Death Valley more than 15 miles away from a spring. Natives knew all the water sources in Death Valley, but prospectors and tourists have died of thirst even when springs were nearby because they didn’t know where they were.

• Death Valley has over 350 seeps and springs. Some are barely large enough to keep the ground damp, but the largest, Travertine Spring, can pour out up to 2,000 gallons per minute. If Death Valley wasn’t so dry, its springs would start building a lake on the valley floor.

• The water that pours from these springs comes from the mountains of central Nevada. Snowmelt flows underground for hundreds of miles until water reaches the surface. This water can take thousands of years to arrive in Death Valley. This means that the tap water you are drinking in Death Valley may have fallen as rain when the Egyptian pyramids were being built.

Air travel isn’t much fun anymore, and getting through the airport is the worst of it. Between the crowds, the TSA rules and dragging heavy luggage, some of us just want to stay home and not bother.There is a way, however, to take care of at least one of the problems with air travel: send your luggage early.UPS, FedEx and DHL all will pick up your luggage at your home and ship it to your destination for you. UPS, for example, has specially designed boxes to hold your suitcases.As with anything else, there are both plusses and minuses to using this service.The benefits:--No standing in line only to be told that your bag is overweight and will cost even more.--No lost bags at the airport.--No chance of thieving airport personal going through your suitcases and stealing things or at least rummaging around.--Less chance of damage to your bags.--No wasted time at baggage claim and then push-ing through the crowd to pull your luggage off a moving carousel.--No wrestling with luggage through the airport or onto the hotel bus or into your rental car.The downside:--The cost. It can be expensive to use a service to get your luggage to your destination so it’s there when you arrive. But it can be a life (or back) saver if dealing with luggage in crowded airports is a hassle for you.Hint: Have your bag shipped days in advance. That way you’re not paying overnight shipping costs. Also, don’t bother using a “luggage shipper.” They use the same DHL, FedEx or UPS services, but they add on their own handling fees.

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

Air Travel Without the Baggage

“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285 Page 3

Recent storms brought home the fact that we need to be prepared for emergencies, especially in the win-ter. Unless you have a storm on the way right now, your best bet is to assemble your emergency supplies one step at a time. Watch for sales, and stock up when the items you need cost less.Flashlights and lanterns: Before buying a new one,

read the fine print. Many handheld flashlights now have the specs right on the label: how many batter-ies it takes, the range of the light beam, the lumens (higher is brighter) and how many hours it will run on a set of batteries. Compare the features. Don’t spend extra for a torch-type flashlight that will send its beam 100 feet but only for five hours if what you really need is one that will light a room for many more hours. Be sure each member of the family has one for moving around the house safely.Hand-crank radio: These require no batteries, only arm muscles to wind the crank to charge. Many of them come with a set of adapters to charge your cell phone as well.Battery-operated TV: Before you buy one, go online and read the comments from others. Many of these tiny televisions are finicky about receiving signals, only get a few channels or are otherwise hard to op-erate. Be sure of the return policy if you buy.Generator: Let history be your guide here. If you’re in an area that frequently loses power for long pe-riods, a generator can help keep a few of your ap-pliances going, such as refrigerator and freezer,

thereby saving the cost of replacing all your food. If you lose power now and then, but only for a short time, a generator might not be cost effective -- un-less you need it for heat.Outdoor grill with propane tank: When the power goes out, grills are handy not only to cook meat before it goes bad, but to heat pots of water for tea, coffee, instant oatmeal and other prepared foods like soup or macaroni and cheese. One benefit of propane is that you can instantly turn it off and not have wood or briquettes still hot if the wind blows.A word about candles: Don’t. For safety, use flash-lights instead.

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

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

Build Emergency Kit Before Disaster Strikes

No matter how carefully I plan my Thanksgiv-ing meal, I always end up with a lot of left-overs. This recipe for Turkey Tortilla Casserole is the perfect way to use up leftovers from a holiday meal. Best of all, it can prepared from start to finish in your slow cooker.The flavor of the jalapeno, or poblano soup, and the salsa give the cooked turkey a spicy kick and transform the dish into Latin-flavored comfort food. Serve this fabulous dish with a side of tortilla or pita chips to create an after-Thanksgiving tradition that you’ll enjoy for years to come.

TURKEY TORTILLA CASSEROLE

You can substitute cooked and cubed chicken, cooked ground beef or cooked ground pork or cooked chorizo. If you don’t have a slow-cook-er, place the ingredients in layers as directed in an oven-proof casserole dish and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake the casserole at 375 degrees F for about 25 minutes, until it is hot and bubbly around the edges.

4 cups chopped cooked turkey10 ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup

10 ounce can condensed cream of jalapeno, or poblano soup1 cup mild salsa1 cup sour cream2 tablespoons chili powder1 onion, finely chopped3 cloves garlic, minced1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon black pepper1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper16 corn tortillas, torn into pieces1 to 2 cups cooked vegetables1-1/2 cups shredded Pepper Jack, Colby, Ched-dar or Cojack cheese3 cups tortilla chips1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1. Spray inside of the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. In large bowl, mix togeth-er the soups, salsa, sour cream, chili powder, onion, garlic, salt, black pepper and cayenne. Add the chopped, cooked turkey to the soup mixture and mix well.2. Place a layer of the tortillas in the slow cooker, cover the tortillas with a layer of the vegetables and cover the vegetables with a layer of the soup mixture. Repeat layers end-ing with the soup mixture layer.3. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours until bubbly. Sprinkle with cheese; cover and let stand until cheese melts. Serve with the tortilla chips and top with a few tablespoons of sour cream; sprinkle with the cilantro and serve. Serves 8.

Angela Shelf Medearis is an award-winning children’s author, culinary historian and the author of seven cookbooks. Her new cookbook is “The Kitchen Diva’s Diabetic Cookbook.” Her website is www.divapro.com. To see how-to videos, recipes and much, much more, Like Angela Shelf Medearis, The Kitchen Diva! on Facebook and go to Hulu.com. Recipes may not be reprinted without permission from An-gela Shelf Medearis.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc., and Angela Shelf Medearis

Use Leftovers to Create After-Thanksgiving Tradition

Tidbits® of the River Region Page 4

* It was American bridge expert Phillip Alder who made the following sage observation: “We are born with talents, but we acquire skills.”

* The inventor of Life Savers was Clarence Crane (incidentally, he was also the father of poet Hart Crane). In 1913, a year after coming up with the recipe for the candy, Crane sold the patent for his sweet treat for $2,900. Seems like a paltry recom-pense for creating a pop culture icon that is still going strong after 100 years.

* Do you suffer from arachibutyrophobia? If so, you probably refuse to eat PB&J sandwiches, for fear that the peanut butter will stick to the roof of your mouth.

* There are 120 drops of water in a single tea-spoon.

* In 1976, John Moore, a California man, had his spleen removed at the UCLA Medical Center in order to treat his cancer. The operation was successful -- in more ways than anyone antici-pated. It seems that the doctors, upon studying the removed organ, found certain cells that had unique cancer-fighting properties. The discovery led to a new -- and profitable -- treatment. When Moore found out that his spleen had led to this discovery, he sued the Regents of the University of California for a share of the profits. In 1990, 14 years after his cancer was cured, he lost his court case.

* Those who study such things say that ants stretch and yawn when they wake up.

* If you’re like 43 percent of the American popu-lation, you refuse to ever try eating snails, regard-less of the fact that they’re regarded as a delicacy in other parts of the world.***Thought for the Day: “The fear of becoming a ‘has-been’ keeps some people from becoming anything.” -- Eric Hoffer

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

by Samantha Weaver

Page 5“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285

Register to win at www.riverregiontidbits.com and click on “Tommy Tidbits”. Fill out the registration information and tell us how many times Tommy appears in ads in the paper for this week. From the correct entries, a winner will be selected. You must be 18 years of age to qualify. The gift certificates will range in value from $25 to $50 each week. Entries must be received at the website by midnight each Saturday evening or at PTK Corp, PO Box 264, Wetumpka, AL 36092.

This week’s winner receives $65 Gift Certificate from Wadsworth Christ-mas Tree Farm

Last Week’s Ads where Tommy was hiding:1. Integrity Roofing, p. 42. Harley-Davidson, p. 123. Firehouse Lawns, p. 12

Tommy Tidbits Winners Circle

Amber Richardson won 4 Dozen Glazed Donuts

George Tindall won a Capitol Framing

and Mirror

David Jernigan won a $25 Gift

Certificate

Amber Arnoldwon 4 Dozen Glazed

DonutsIssue 10/2/2012 Issue 10/9/2012 Issue 10/16/2012 Issue 10/23/2012

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Help! Our new puppy, “Elwood,” is getting into everything, chewing up my kids’ shoes and tearing the stuffing out of stuffed animals. Any advice on getting him to stop? -- Jessica G., via email

DEAR JESSICA: Getting a puppy to completely stop exploring and chewing is a job that requires time and patience. You also need to reconfigure your house to keep Elwood safe. If he ingests a shard of plastic or some other indigestible item, a poisonous plant or medicines from lower bathroom cabinets, he could be in serious danger.First, pet proof the house. Invest in toddler safety gates (if you don’t already have some) to limit El-wood to parts of the house where he’s less likely to find shoes, toys and other objects. In that gated-off area, remove kids’ toys, clothing, stuffed animals and other chewable objects. Lift potted plants out of his reach (the leaves of many houseplants are

poisonous to pets). Make sure Elwood has access to his pet bed and to appropriate chew toys, and check on him frequent-ly. Puppies should not be left alone for long periods of time, for many reasons. Next, get that basic obedience training regime going. Grab a book or three on dog training, all of which will cover important basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” “come” and “heel.” Spend at least 30 minutes every day working with Elwood, in addi-tion to twice-daily walks and generous amounts of playtime. Chewing behavior is very common in puppies, but tends to diminish as they mature. If he continues to destroy everything in sight, talk to his veterinar-ian or try a group dog-training class. Anxiety or other issues can be at the root of long-term chewing problems.

Send your questions or comments 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 information, visit www.pawscorner.com.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

Puppy Thinks Shoes Are Chew Toys

by Samantha Mazzotta

__________ won a $25 Gift

CertificateIssue 10/30/2012

Tidbits® of the River Region Page 6

For David Ragan, who drives the No. 34 CertainTeed/31-W Ford for car owner Bob Jenkins’ Front Row Motorsports, it’s all a matter of gradual improvement.Ragan, 26, spent five years competing in the Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing. He won at Daytona on July 2, 2011 and finished 13th in the Sprint Cup point standings in 2008. He lost his ride at Roush when the team cut its operation back from four to three teams this year.As suggested by his one career victory, Ragan, from Unadilla, Ga., is adept at restrictor-plate racing. He has two top-10 finishes this season, seventh and fourth in the two races at Talladega Superspeedway. He crashed in both Daytona races.Ragan, whose father, Ken, once competed at NAS-CAR’s top level, has plenty of time to work his way back into a quality ride, but he hopes he can help lift Jenkins’ team up to a higher level.“I think where we’re at today is about where I hoped we would be,” Ragan said, “and our team is stronger with (teammate) David Gilliland and myself than they were at the end of 2011, so I think that’s a good judge that ... the team is clearly better.“We’ve got to keep ... fine-tuning on our race cars, but it’s been good, steady progress.”There’s a world of difference between the haves and the have-nots, though.“I’m definitely more hands-on at a team like Front Row Motorsports versus Roush,” Ragan said. “At Roush, I was part of the system. I had my small part of the puzzle to take care of, and you go through the motion that Jack (Roush) and Robbie (Reiser) set forth.“At Front Row, it’s a little different because we’re talking about 55 to 60 employees versus 400 employ-ees, so I definitely have a more personal relationship with each and every one of them, and get to be in-cluded on some of the decision-making, which makes it feel like I’m more part of the team, for sure.“It’s kind of made me get fired up and a little more interested, and I definitely feel like I have more of a hand in the decision-making process.”***Monte Dutton covers motorsports for The Gaston (N.C.) Gazette. E-mail Monte at nascarthisweek@yahoo.com.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

Ragan’s Role Grows With New Team

What’s the Friday after Thanksgiving without turkey soup? Use your favorite vegetables to personalize the recipe.

6 carrots, peeled3 stalks celeryRoasted turkey carcass, finely chopped2 cups cooked turkey meat, finely chopped2 medium onions, each cut into quarters5 sprigs parsley1 clove garlic, peeled1/4 teaspoon dried thyme1/2 bay leaf6 quarts water1 1/4 teaspoons salt1 cup regular long-grain rice, cooked as label directs2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1. Cut 2 carrots and 1 stalk celery into 2-inch pieces. In 12-quart stockpot, combine turkey carcass, car-rot and celery pieces, onions, parsley sprigs, garlic, thyme, bay leaf and 6 quarts water, or enough to cover; heat to boiling over high heat. Skim foam from surface. Reduce heat and simmer, skimming occasion-ally, 4 hours.2. Strain broth through colander set over large bowl; discard solids. Strain again through sieve into several containers; cool. Cover and refrigerate overnight.3. Remove and discard fat from surface; measure broth and pour into 5-quart saucepot. If necessary, boil broth over high heat until reduced to 10 cups to concentrate flavor.4. Cut remaining 4 carrots and remaining 2 stalks celery into 1/2-inch pieces; add to broth with salt. Heat soup to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in cooked rice and turkey; heat through, about 5 minutes. Re-move from heat and stir in lemon juice. Makes about 13 cups or 12 first-course servings.

¥ Each serving: About 113 calories, 34g protein, 12g carbohydrates, 2g total fat (1g saturated), 21mg cho-lesterol, 355mg sodium.

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

(c) 2012 Hearst Communications, Inc.All rights reserved

Turkey Soup

Page 7“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285

To Your Good Health By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Three or four months ago, the ring finger on my right hand started making popping noises when I bent it. Now it’s still doing that, and it catches in a bent position from time to time. I work as a carpenter, and I can’t afford to take time off. What do you think this is? -- R.B.

ANSWER: My guess is trigger finger. The tendons that bend the fingers travel from the forearm into the palm and then onto each finger and the thumb. On their way to the fingers, a sheath of tough tissue encircles them. Repetitive movements of the fingers irritate the protective tendon sheaths, and they swell. The swelling squeezes the tendon, and the popping noise you hear is the tendon freeing itself from its swollen sheath. That snapping noise sounds like the noise heard when cocking a gun’s trigger.As time goes by, the finger might become locked

Trigger Finger Not a Cowboy Disorder

for some time in the bent position.You don’t want to hear this, but rest is essential to permit the tendon to move smoothly. If you must work, padded gloves afford some protection for the finger. Gripping a tool like a hammer is particularly hard on the tendon and its sheath. Tools with a larger-than-normal handle are less of a problem. The best protection is wearing a metal splint so that the finger can’t move.Your doctor can give you a cortisone injection into the problem area, and that often reduces the swelling quickly. You must rest your finger after the injection for at least three days.If two injections fail to free the finger, then you need to consult an orthopedic surgeon for an opinion on surgical release of the tendon. ***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: This past summer, I got the shock of my life at a family get-together. My cousin, whom I hadn’t seen in 10 years, has bulging eyes. Her mother -- my aunt -- told me it was due to a thyroid problem. I’d never heard of a thyroid problem affecting the eyes. Does it? -- G.D.

ANSWER: It can. An overactive thyroid gland can lead to deposits of material in the eye sockets, which causes the eyes to protrude. There are treatments for this complication of hyperthyroidism. I’m sure this cousin is under the care of a thyroid specialist and an ophthalmologist.

The booklet on thyroid disorders explains the many conditions arising from a malfunctioning gland. To order a copy, write: Dr. Donohue -- No. 401W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Can hair grow on the lips if a person shaves very close to the upper and lower lips? Some informed individuals say no. -- L.G.

ANSWER: Never in my life have I seen hair on people’s lips. Lips have no hair follicles. You even could shave the lips if you felt so inclined (but please don’t try this), and hair would not grow on them. If you have evidence to the contrary, let me know.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

(c) 2012 North America Synd., Inc.All Rights Reserved

Tidbits® of the River Region Page 8

The west end of Washington D.C.’s National Mall is home to the majestic Lincoln Me-morial, a monument dedicated to America’s 16th president. Here are the facts and figures about this symbol of freedom honoring the “Great Emancipator.” •The building site of the memorial wasn’t even in existence at the time of Lincoln’s death. The Washington Monument stood at the edge of the Potomac River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deepened the riv-er in the late 1800s, and all the silt was de-posited along the banks, creating a new land formation. Although the Lincoln Memorial Association was established two years after Lincoln’s death, the monument site wasn’t selected until 1901. In 1911, President Taft signed a bill allotting $2 million for the con-struction, which began in 1914. •The style of the building, designed by Henry Bacon, is that of an ancient Greek temple, 100 feet (30 meters) high, surround-ed by an open portico, constructed from Colorado marble. Thirty-six fluted columns border the open court, symbolic of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s assassination in April of 1865, just six days after the end of the Civil War. In the area above the columns are 48 stone garlands and the names of the 48 states in the Union when the Memorial was completed and dedicated in 1922.• To the north and south of the central hall are chambers whose walls are inscribed with the words of Lincoln’s most famous speeches, his second inaugural address and the Gettysburg Address. Above these inscriptions are 60 x 12-foot (18 x 3.7-m) murals, painted with special mixtures of paint, kerosene, and wax, formulated to protect the scenes from the elements. The paintings feature principles followed by Lincoln throughout his life, including freedom, liberty, justice, unity, fraternity, charity, and the law. • In the central hall sits Lincoln, immor-talized in marble, 19 feet tall (5.8 m) and weighing 175 tons. The original plans called for a 10-ft-tall (3-m) Lincoln, but it was enlarged so that the statue would not be dwarfed by the huge chamber. It took four years to complete the sculpture out of Georgia white marble. Six Italian men, the Piccirilli Brothers, carved the statue in the South Bronx under the supervision of the sculptor Daniel French, and it was shipped to Washington in 28 separate pieces. (The Piccirillis were also responsible for creating the two enormous sculpted lions in front of the New York City Public Library.) If the gi-ant Lincoln were able to stand up, he would be 28 feet (8.5 m) tall. Above Lincoln’s like-ness is an inscribed epitaph, “In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.”•Adding to the height of Lincoln’s statue is an oblong pedestal of Tennessee marble, and another marble platform beneath the ped-estal, which increase the height by another 10.5 feet (3.2 m). •When the monument was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1922, by President War-ren Harding, Lincoln’s only remaining son, Robert Todd Lincoln, age 79, was in attendance. Ranked seventh on the “List of America’s Favorite Architecture,” the Lincoln Memorial receives about 6 million visitors annually.

THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL

* If you run out of buttermilk, you can use an equal amount of yogurt, preferably the nonsweetened, plain variety, but you can adjust the sugar in a recipe slightly if your yogurt is favorably flavored.

* When entertaining, keep cold drinks in a cooler away from the kitchen. This keeps the floor space free for the cooks.

* Soften brown sugar quickly by grating it on a fine hand grater. If you have a bit more time, add an apple to the container and seal tightly.

* “Day-old bread makes excellent hand-

made croutons. Slice, spray with cook-ing spray and season with whatever spices on hand sound good. Toast in a 300 degree F. oven for 10 minutes or so. They are especially good with soups.” -- S.S.D. in Maryland

* Gotta keep those buns warm? Line your crockpot with foil and add the buns. Keep on low or warm, and place on the buffet. Yum.

* “When making platters of fruit that may brown (apples, pears), coat slices with lemon juice. The acid keeps them from browning.” -- T.P. in Washington

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 heresatip@yahoo.com.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

Page 9“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285

Q: After the recent megastorm, we had a lot of de-bris strikes on our house. The gutter and eaves took a lot of damage, with some of the gutters torn down and the eaves looking ratty. How expensive is this to fix? I don’t have a lot of money. -- Flores C., Taunton, Mass.

A: The gutters themselves should not be too expen-sive to re-hang, or replace if badly damaged. How-ever, if there is damage to the roof eaves, you need to have a professional check it out and assess just how severely those debris strikes affected the roof. You also should contact your insurance company to report the damage.Because the damage occurred as a result of Hurri-cane Sandy, which struck the East Coast in late Oc-tober, your state was under a declared state of emer-gency. This means that in addition to state funds to repair and clean up storm damage, some federal funds have likely been allotted. Your state’s emer-gency management agency (MEMA, in this case)

Dealing With Damage from

Hurricane SandyBy

Samantha Mazzotta

can provide information on how and where to report damage, how to work with your insurance company to get repairs made, and other important advice.While you’ll need to do your homework to find out what funding is available to cover the repairs (if your insurance provider doesn’t), there are some general guidelines to follow no matter what. Have more than one contractor or roofing company check out the roof, eaves and gutters; have each provide you with a written estimate of the cost, as well as an estimate of how much time it will take to effect the repair. Do not allow work to start until you’ve agreed to the cost and scope of the work and have signed off on the estimate. If you’re at all uncertain about your ability to negoti-ate a fair price for the repair job, or to fill out requests for repair assistance or reimbursement, ask a trusted friend or relative to help you with the process.

HOME TIP: Gutters and eaves are key protective el-ements of a house, part of the “envelope” that keeps water and pests out. Make repairs as quickly as pos-sible to prevent damage to other parts of your home.

Send your questions or 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.

Tidbits® of the River Region Page 10

1. Is the book of 4 John in the Old or New Testament or neither?2. In Romans 10, what body part does Paul call “beautiful” on those who bring the good news? Hands, Mouth, Heart, Feet3. Who died after getting his long hair caught in a tree and being found by enemy soldiers? Absa lom, Joash, Ahaz, Asa4. From Matthew 22:14, “For many are called, but few are” what? Worthy, Chosen, Winners, Liked5. What caused the death of Job’s chil-dren? Famine, Flood, Wind storm, Be-headed6. Who was the mate of Abigail? Abraham, Adam, Nabal, Baasha

1. Who is the San Diego Padres’ all-time leader in career stolen bases?2. Name the only team to win a World Series after losing it the previous two years.3. When was the last time before 2011 (New Orleans) that a team scored at least 62 points in a game?4. Name the player who holds the NCAA Division I record for most consecu-tive games with at least one 3-point shot made.5. Who was the last defense-man before Erik Karlsson in 2011-12 to finish in the top 10 in scoring for an NHL regular season?6. When was the last time before 2012 that Dale Earn-hardt Jr. led the NASCAR Cup points standings during a season?7. How many Grand Slam singles finals did Ivan Lendl lose before winning his first of eight in 1984 (French Open)?

Fear & PhobiasVirtually all people are subject to a variety of rational or irrational apprehensions. Many of these originate in childhood through traumatic experience. A key point is that a phobic person is threatened by something that does not in reality present a life threat. Yet the reaction is the same as it would be in a situation of real danger. The fear generates more fear, and the situation cannot be confronted in a calm state, so the victim makes every effort to avoid it. The more a person tries not to encounter the phobic place, person or situation the greater and more long lasting the phobia will become. The next segment will address hypnotherapy as an effective approach to phobias.For local assistance and a free consultation review www.hypnosisworksnow.com and call 334-213-0054

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1. Tony Gwynn, with 319 stolen bases.2. The New York Yankees, 1921-23. 3. It was 1985 (the New York Jets scored 62 against Tampa Bay).4. Illinois’ Cory Bradford had at least one 3-pointer in 88 games between 1998 and 2001.5. Detroit’s Paul Coffey, in 1994-95.6. It was 2004.7. Four.

BIBLE TRIVIA ANSWERS:

1) Neither; 2) Feet; 3) Absalom; 4) Chosen; 5) Wind storm; 6) Nabal

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I enjoy tossing a variety of spices in family meals, but I clearly hadn’t used mustard seeds in a while -- make that a long while. While cleaning out my spice drawer, I discovered a dented can wedged in back with a 1985 expiration date stamped on the bottom. It might be a good year for a fine wine, but mustard seeds? The experience had a positive outcome. I dashed off to my neighborhood natural-foods store to pick up fresh spices in bulk (in small quantities) for fall and holiday cooking. While there, I was inspired to take in that evening’s cooking class, “Global Flavor Gone Local,” with chef Kate Moore.Full of tips and tricks, Kate encouraged us to be spontaneous when cooking at home. With a well-stocked pantry of spices, it’s easy to change the fla-vor profile of a dish. Like Italian? Use basil, parsley and garlic. Latin? Try cumin, coriander and chipotle. “With a willingness to experiment, kitchen miracles can happen,” she said. Here’s my own take on Kate’s techniques for pre-paring Indian-flavored roasted potatoes. My family always clamors for more of these spiced up spuds when served as a side with roasted chicken, pork or grilled fish.

Indian-Spiced Roasted Potatoes

6 medium, red or white skin potatoes 2 tablespoons minced garlic1 tablespoon grated or minced fresh ginger2 tablespoons olive oil1 teaspoon mustard seeds1 teaspoon coriander seeds1 teaspoon cumin seedsSalt to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.2. Scrub, dry and cut the potatoes into eighths and place in a bowl. 3. Heat a saute pan with olive oil over medium heat and toss in a “tester” pinch of ginger. When the ginger starts to sizzle, toss in the remaining ginger, the garlic and whole spices. Cook until fragrant and spices are lightly toasted, about 1-2 minutes. 4. Spoon the Indian-flavored oil and ingredients into the bowl of potatoes. Add salt and toss until all sides of the potatoes are well-coated.5. Spoon potatoes on a baking sheet and spread out onto one layer. Roast for 30 minutes, or until tender. Flip once to ensure even cooking.6. Remove from oven and serve. Serves 6.***Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activi-ties, 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.”

Discover a Surprise Inside Spaghetti Squash

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