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December 7, 2011of Ft. Collins & Loveland

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N O W O P E N

4th Quarter 2011Week 49

Dec. 4-10Page 1

TABLE OF CONTENTSISSUE 2011.49

EVERGREEN WITH ENVYpages 1-4

OVERCOMING:BEETHOVEN

pages 5-6

PECAN PIEpages 7-8

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EVERGREEN WITH ENVYby Patricia L. Cook

At this time of year, Christmas trees, evergreen wreaths, garland and more are displayed all around us. This Tidbits examines some fascinating facts about evergreens. •Mostpeopleonlythinkofconiferslikepine,fir,cedarandsprucetreeswhentheythinkoftheterm “evergreen.” This is not incorrect because most conifers qualify as evergreens, but many additional plants that are not conifers are evergreens as well. Evergreens have “foliage that persists and remains green throughout the year.”

• The word “conifer” comes from the Latinwords conus (cone) and ferre (to bear). The word conifer literally means “cone bearing.” While many conifers are evergreen, some are not.Larchesandbaldcypresstreesareconifersthat lose their needles every fall.

• There are thousands of species of evergreentrees, shrubs and smaller plants. Just within the pine family there are 115 species. While pines and many other evergreens have needle-likefoliage, some have leaves, fronds (ferns and palms) and other types of foliage.

•Even though the name implies it, evergreensare not always green. Many evergreensactually have foliage that is red, brown, yellow and other colors.

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Q: What do you get if you cross an apple with a Christmas tree?

A: A pineapple!

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Mention this ad and recieve a $15 haircut.

Realities For Children will disperse each bike, along with new helmets, to local children in need from participating affiliate youth agencies.

Take your bike to the following bicycle shops, where it will be refurbished and safety-checked to ensure safe riding for each child.

Lee’s Cyclery, The Phoenix Cyclery, Breakaway Cycles, and Trek Bicycle Store are collecting new and used children’s bicycles for the annual Realities For Children Bikes for Tykes distribution to abused and at-risk children in Larimer County.

Lee’s Cyclery - 202 W. Laurel, Fort Collins 482.6006Lee’s Cyclery - 931 E. Harmony, Fort Collins 226.6006The Phoenix Cyclery -1532 E. Mulberry, Suite D, Fort Collins 493.4517Break Away Cycles - 2237 W. Eisenhower, Loveland 663.1726Trek Bicycle Store - 4880 Thompson Parkway, Loveland 667.8735

Benefiting at-risk children in Larimer County

Donations are tax deductible and benefit youth served by Realities For Children Charities, a 501(c)3 charitable organization.

1. MUSIC: What artist is the subject of a 1970s Don McLean song that begins, “Starry, starry night”?2. HISTORY: When and where did the first African slaves arrive in America?3. ANIMATION: What was the name of the craggy peak overlooking Whoville in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”?4. MEASUREMENTS: What is absolute zero measured in Celsius?5. MOVIES: What was the home planet of the “Transformers” alien robots (2007) who came to Earth?6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby horse called?7. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which U.S. president proposed the Great Society?8. LITERATURE: Who wrote “The Canter-bury Tales” in the late 14th century?9. MEDICAL: What is the tine test used to diagnose?10. SCIENCE: What elements were discov-ered by Pierre and Marie Curie?

Tidbits Of Trivia By V.B. Darrington

EVERGEEN (continued):• Some popular evergreens not previously

mentioned are: hemlock, laurel, holly, eucalyptus, rhododendron, magnolia, palm, juniper and redwood. Even some oaks are evergreen.

• Evergreens are found in hot and cold, humid and dry climates on every continent but Antarctica.

• Goose Island State Park in Aransas County in southern Texas is the home of the “Big Tree.” Named the State Champion Coastal Live Oak in 1969, this tree is thought to be one of the largest in America. The large evergreen oak is estimated to be over 1,000 years old, has a circumference of 35 feet (10.7 m), is 44 feet (13.4 m) tall and has a crown spread of 90 feet (27.4 m). Live oaks are known for their massive spread, and there are many in the Southern states around old historic homes. This Texas tree is truly impressive.

• Washington, the only state named after a president, is famous for its rainy weather and large forests of evergreen trees. Nicknamed the “Evergreen State,” western Washington actually has rain forests in the Olympic Mountains.

• Evergreen Point Bridge between Seattle and the eastern shore of Lake Washington is the longest floating bridge in the world. It was built with a line of concrete pontoons linked by cables and attached to ordinary bridges on each end. The total length of the bridge is 7,578 feet (2310 m). It was constructed this way because the bottom of Lake Washington is too muddy for a standard bridge. The bridge contributed greatly to the growth of the eastern shore, with cities like Bellevue and Redmond. (These cities contribute a lot of “green” to the Washington economy thanks to companies like computer giant Microsoft being located there.) EVERGREEN (continued):

• Most evergreen Christmas trees are not harvested from forests. In fact, 98 percent of the trees sold on holiday lots are grown on tree farms. Areas close to national forests with permit programs for cutting down live trees do have quite a following of folks who like to snowshoe or hike to get their trees, but the Christmas tree lots definitely corner the market on sales.

• According to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), there are currently 350 million Christmas trees growing on tree farms in the United States. All of the 50 states and Canada produce Christmas trees. The top producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington.

• The most common evergreens used for Christmas trees are balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine and white pine.

• The Christmas tree for the White House has been presented to the First Lady by the NCTA member that wins the National Christmas Tree Contest each year since 1966 when Lyndon Johnson was president. The tree is presented shortly after Thanksgiving to be displayed in the Blue Room at the White House. The tree must be 18.5 feet (5.6 m) tall and fit through a doorway that is 58 inches (1.47 m) wide.

• The National Christmas Tree is a live tree

Lemon and lime add a boost of vitamin C to this ultra-low-fat seafood entree. For heart-healthy fiber, serve with a side of whole wheat couscous.

1 lemon1 lime1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1 1/4 pound sea scallops, rinsed3 teaspoon olive oil1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot1 teaspoon Dijon mustard1 bag (5- to 6-ounce) baby greens1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped

1. From lemon, grate 1/4 teaspoon peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice. From lime, grate 1/4 teaspoon peel and squeeze 1 tablespoon juice. Set juices aside. In small bowl, combine peels, salt and pepper.2. Place scallops on paper-towel-lined plate; pat dry. Sprinkle with citrus-peel mixture.3. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil on medium 1 minute. Add scallops; cook 6 to 8 minutes or until opaque throughout, turning once. Remove from pan; cover.4. To skillet, add 1 teaspoon oil and shallot; cook 3 minutes or until tender. Stir in Dijon mustard and cit-rus juices, scraping up browned bits; cook 1 minute. Toss sauce with greens; place on plates. Top with scallops and chopped parsley, and serve with whole wheat couscous (to make couscous, follow package directions). Serves 4.

• Each serving: About 275 calories, 5g total fat (1g saturated), 47mg cholesterol, 390mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate, 4g dietary fiber, 29g protein.

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

(c) 2011 Hearst Communications, Inc.All rights reserved

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Citrus Scallops

VETERANS POSTby Freddy Groves

Don’t Pay Extra Fees on a VA Home Loan

If you’re considering purchasing a home with a Department of Veterans Affairs loan, or if you’ve already done so, you need to be aware of the scam potential. A lawsuit has come to light alleging that many banks have been overcharging veterans during refinancing, burying fees they’re not allowed to charge. Therefore, it’s not much of a stretch to be concerned that overcharges can appear during an original purchase as well.Know your rights, and know what you can and can’t be charged for. Here are a few ex-amples:--You can be charged only 1 percent of the loan amount as an origination fee.--You can be charged only the actual amount of incidentals, such as the cost of appraisals, credit report, title insurance and more, not inflated fees.--You cannot be charged for the cost of an at-torney, unless it pertains to title examination. (This is where the lawsuit came in. It alleges that attorney fees were buried in title exami-nation costs.)--The lender must use ONE of two forms to disclose fees you pay, and not split those fees between a HUD-1 statement and a new origi-nation statement. --You cannot be charged fees not listed in Cir-cular 26-10-1. This information sheet outlines all the fees banks are allowed to charge you. Go to www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans to find Circular 26-10-1.If you’ve already purchased a home, pull out your paperwork. If you have been over-charged you might get your money back, but you have to find the overcharges first.If you’re already a homeowner with a VA loan, look through all the Circulars to see if any apply to you. There are Circulars about problems with drywall, acceptance of condo associations, info on the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (protections you have while on active duty in regard to your mortgage) and others.

in Washington, D.C., that is lit each year at the start of ongoing ceremonies called the “Christmas Pageant of Peace.” The beautiful evergreen tree is a Colorado blue spruce that was transplanted from York, Pennsylvania, in 1978. The tree was the perfect size and shape, had no disease and was growing in similar soil conditions to what it would be living in at its new home in Washington. EVERGREEN (continued):

• The tree was originally a Mother’s Day gift to Mrs. William E. Myers in York. When National Park Service (NPS) employees asked the Myers family about donating the tree, they agreed. Mrs. Myers even fed the workers homemade soup as they prepared “her” tree to become the nation’s tree.

• The National Christmas Tree is located in the Ellipse, which is part of President’s Park near the White House. All of the area surrounding the White House, its grounds, including the Ellipse, Lafayette Park, Sherman Park and more have been part of the National Park System since 1933.

• The first National Christmas Tree was not a live tree but was also an evergreen. The President of Middlebury College in Vermont, President Calvin Coolidge’s home state, donated a 48-foot (14.6 m) balsam fir to be placed on the Ellipse in December 1923. This “first” tree was cut down and sent to Washington. President Coolidge flipped the switch to light the tree on Christmas Eve.

• Washington, D.C., is also home to another famous Christmas tree. The Capitol Christmas Tree, also known as

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

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Many years ago, when I was still a teen, I went skiing with my older brother. He was a much better skier than I, so we went our separate ways. Later, I saw a group huddling around one skier who looked a lot like my brother. It was my brother. He lost one of his gloves, and he had two frostbitten fingers. His only permanent damage was the loss of a fingertip. Ever since, I have been careful about dressing warm, often with two pair of gloves in cold weather. I don’t know what to do about frostbite. Will you run the basics by me? -- S.S.

ANSWER: Frostbite happens when the temperature drops to 32 F (0 degrees C) or lower. Actually, the temperature has to be lower than 32, since the minerals in the fluids bathing the tissues lower their freezing point. The places most susceptible are the fingers, hands, toes, feet, nose and ears. The first sign of trouble is pain. Then the skin turns quite pale. After that, numbness sets in. People might think that nothing is wrong at this stage, but numbness is a sign that freezing is imminent. The skin and involved tissues become hard and firm.Ice crystals form in the spaces between cells. They pull water out of the cells and dehydrate them. The

Taking Care of Frostbite

1. True or false: In 1970, Major League Baseball had four no-hitters -- all pitched in California.2. Name the first year and last year that Philadelphia’s Steve Carlton led the National League in strikeouts. 3. Four Stanford quarterbacks have won the Sammy Baugh trophy as the top college

passer. Name two of them.4. In the 2009-10 season, Kevin Durant became the youngest scoring champion in NBA history (age 21). Who had been the youngest? 5. Before Boston’s Tim Thomas had 798 in 2011, which NHL goalie had recorded the most saves in one postseason?6. When Abby Wambach set the record in 2011 for most career goals by a U.S. women’s soccer player in World Cup action, whose mark did she break?7. Julie Krone was the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown horse race. Which one was it?

dehydration, decreased blood flow and ice crystals all work together to cause tissue damage. One of the most destructive factors is the lack of oxygen that comes from artery constriction to prevent heat loss from the rest of the body.Fast rewarming is the treatment. It should not begin if you are in a place where there’s a chance of refreezing. Refreezing is a more destructive process than leaving things alone until you are in a place where the person can be kept warm.The affected part should be immersed in a bath of hot water whose temperature is around 104 F (40 C). The water has to be kept warm by adding more hot water as the bath begins to cool. At no point should you rub the frozen part. If the affected area cannot be warmed in a water bath, then use hot compresses.Rewarming is painful. Tylenol or a stronger medicine should be given. In 12 to 24 hours, blisters form. Do not break them. At this point, have a doctor examine the patient for definitive care.***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: What can I do to improve my chipping, splitting fingernails? I was getting a weekly manicure but stopped due to economic reasons. My nails had grown stronger. Now they’ve become a disaster again. Please help. I take vitamins and calcium. -- M.H. ANSWER: Aging makes nails brittle, thin and fragile for quite a few people. Dryness fosters brittleness. After every handwashing and before going to bed, coat your nails with a moisturizer. Petroleum jelly (the many Vaseline products) works well. When washing dishes or putting your hands in water, wear waterproof gloves. Don’t use nail polish remover often.The B vitamin biotin toughens nails for some. You’ll need 2.5 mg daily.Neither calcium nor gelatin strengthens nails.***

We’re about to receive our first Social Security cost-of-living increase in three years. But don’t rush out to buy jewels, furs and vehicles with your new riches: The increase will be 3.6 percent and will take effect in January.

These past two years were the first time since 1975 that there was no adjustment, but the economy changed just enough to trigger the small increase. The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is based on any increase in the Consumer Price Index from one year to the next.

The average Social Security check this year was $1,177. The 3.6 percent increase of $42.37 will bring that up to $1,219 per month in 2012.

Finally, a Bump Up in Social Security

Per the Social Security website, the earnings limit for those under age 66 is as follows: For those born in 1943 through 1954, the limit will be $14,640 with $1 deducted from benefits for each $2 earned over that amount. If you’ll turn 66 in 2012, you can earn up to $38,880 without penalty, but will lose $1 for every $3 you earn over that amount until the month you reach age 66. These limits are slight increases.

Then, too, there is the possibility of an increase in Medicare Part B premiums. (You should have gotten your Annual Notice of Change in the mail.) Your Social Security increase might be completely eaten up by the increase in Medicare premiums.

If you haven’t filed for Social Security, run the AARP Social Security Benefits Calculator [www.aarp.org] to get a better idea of whether it will benefit you to wait, or to keep working and file at the same time.

To save money, the Social Security Administration no longer mails out annual statements.

The Tidbits® Paper is a Division of Tidbits Media, Inc. • Montgomery, AL 36106(800) 523-3096 • E-mail: tidbits@tidbitsmedia.com • All Rights Reserved ©2008

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

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the “People’s Tree,” has been harvested from one of the country’s national forests since 1969. Staff at the National Forest Service headquarters work with national forests’ staffs across the country to select a well-shaped evergreen tree, with the final decision made by the Architect of the Capitol.

• It is a huge honor, and many celebrations take place in the state chosen to send the Capitol Christmas tree to the nation’s capitol. The 2011 tree was sent from the Stanislaus National Forest near Sonora, California. The tree traveled about 4,500 miles (7242 km) on its journey to stand at a place of honor for many Americans and others to see.

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Q: I’ve heard mixed information about using linseed oil to preserve tools over the winter. Do you place it on the cutting blades of garden tools, or only on the handles? Is there an alternative protectant for garden and work tools? -- John F., Providence, R.I.

A: Linseed oil isn’t a good protectant for the metal parts of tools. The reason is that it creates a somewhat gummy, sticky coat that may be hard to clean off come springtime. It often is used to coat and protect wooden handles, but like most preser-vative products, linseed oil has its benefits and its drawbacks.First, many people don’t know that there are two kinds of lin-seed oil available: raw and boiled. Raw linseed oil is extracted directly from flax seeds, with no additives of any kind. It’s straight-up linseed oil and nothing else. The raw oil dries ex-tremely slowly, over several weeks, and so it develops a kind of gummy or sticky texture that you may not want to experi-ence when picking up a hammer.Boiled linseed oil is not actually boiled. It has several ingredi-ents added that quicken drying time and prevent mildew from setting in. If you want to coat wooden tool handles with lin-seed oil to preserve them, this is the product to use.The website NaturalHandyman.com has a pretty detailed ar-ticle available on various uses for raw and boiled linseed oil. A note of caution when using linseed oil: After use, wash any rags that are soaked with the oil in soap and water immedi-ately, or store the rags in a pail of water that is covered. Lin-seed oil tends to heat up as it dries (through a process called oxidation), and while that isn’t a problem for a tool handle with a light coat of boiled oil on it, it can be a problem if a pile of oil-soaked rags are sitting in a corner of your garage drying out. For the same reason, you’ll also want to air-dry the washed-out rags rather than placing them in the clothes dryer. Spontaneous combustion is only fun in science class.Before you get completely turned off toward linseed oil, keep in mind that safety is a priority when working with any type of solvent or chemical, and review the warnings on the back of all the products you use.Which leads into alternatives to linseed oil. You’ll find several kinds of wood preservatives on the shelf at your home-im-provement store. Pick a protectant that is specifically formu-lated for wooden tool handles. It needs to quickly penetrate the wood, not leave a residue on the surface and ideally pro-vide some protection from the sun as well.

Using Linseed Oil to Preserve Tools

? “I have to wear my hair tied back for work. With all the ponytails, I get lots of little broken hairs that stick up all over my head when it’s very dry or very humid -- especially when I go from a wet, yucky outside to a dry, heated inside. I have tried lots of styling products that don’t work very well. Then a co-worker suggested a fabric-softener sheet. I can’t believe it, but it works.” -- P.G. in Michigan

? If you have an ink stain on fabric, try blotting it with hairspray. Saturate the ink spot with hairspray, and blot using a clean white cloth or non-decorated paper towel. Repeat until all the ink is gone. Make sure you test on an inconspicuous area first.

? For every degree you lower your thermostat during the heating season, you generally reduce your energy costs by 3 percent. Also, turn down the temperature setting on your hot-water heater.

? Here’s a no-fail strategy for raking up leaves: Rake leaves into a single long line, preferably onto a sidewalk. Then turn a large garbage can on its side and sweep the leaf pile into the can, taking breaks to empty leaves into bags as needed. The raking goes much quicker when done in “stripes.” And bagging is faster as well.

? “I have one of those big wall calendars for work. When the year is over, the kids like to cut up the months into bin-go cards. They use stickers to create both the bingo cards and the puller’s cards (the individual days and the different kinds of stickers). It’s a fun craft that uses their brain cells -- and recycles the paper calendar.” -- Y.R. in Arizona

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1. Is the book of Abram in the Old or New Testament or neither?2. According to Acts 25, what title belonged to Agrippa? King, Queen, Saint, Apostle3. Who asked God, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh”? Moses, Eve, Samuel, Abraham4. From Acts 13, who was called, “A man after mine own heart”? Gideon, David, Matthew, James5. Who is the only person known to have wrestled with an angel? Ruth, Esther, Jacob, Joshua6. From Genesis 1:20, on what day did God create the birds? 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th

Tidbits® of Ft. Collins & Loveland Page 6

OVERCOMING THE ODDS:BEETHOVEN

Born into a musical family in Bonn, Germany, on December 16, 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven was destined to become a musician. He became one of the greatest composers of all time.

• Beethoven did not have an easy life. His father was a drinker, probably an alcoholic, and pushed him as a young boy to put music ahead of everything — even sleep and play. He was standing on a stool playing the piano when he was only 4 years old. His father seemed more interested in being the father of a great musician than in loving his son.

• Beethoven’s first paid public performance was when he was only 7 or 8 years old, at his father’s prompting. An excellent musician hired by the Prince of Bonn named Christian Neefe heard Beethoven play and knew he had excellent potential as a musician. Neefe started teaching the young boy in a much kinder and more caring way. By the time he was 12, Neefe would actually let him play the organ and direct his orchestra alone!

• When Beethoven was around 18 years old, the Prince of Bonn sent him to Vienna, Austria, which was the center of music in Europe. After a short and successful time there, including a chance to play for Mozart, Beethoven returned to Bonn to be with his seriously ill mother. She and his baby sister both died shortly after his return.

• With his father still consuming alcohol and becoming more and more irresponsible, Beethoven asked the Prince of Bonn to appoint him head of his family. From that point on, he was responsible for running a household, keeping his father out of trouble and raising his two younger brothers.

• Bonn was an excellent place to continue his musical studies, but Beethoven had a great desire to return to Vienna. In 1792, at the age of 22, he gave his father money to care for his brothers and left to pursue his studies. Even though Mozart had died by the time he returned, he was able to study under Joseph Haydn, another famous composer of Vienna.

• A short seven weeks after his studies with Haydn started in Vienna, Beethoven’s father died. His brothers joined him in Vienna, and he never returned to his home in Bonn.

• Beethoven quickly became a hit thanks to his composing and imaginative piano playing. He was the “rock star” of his day! With success coming his way in the music world, Beethoven struggled with personal issues. He never understood why his father had been such a difficult man to live with. Also, Beethoven never married. He wanted a family of his own but that never happened.

11 Ways to Save on Heating Costs

Here are a few ideas to help you save money during the coldest months of the year.1. If you haven’t had your furnace inspected this year, it’s not too late to do so. Consider buying one of the ser-vice plans. If your furnace quits in the middle of a cold night, you not only want to know who’s going to come fix it, you want to know that some or all of the repair costs are covered.2. Be sure you’re not blocking any air vents with fur-niture.3. If you never got around to caulking your windows

and are feeling drafts when the wind blows, head to the hardware store and look for Frost King plastic window sheeting. This clear plastic (three large sheets to the box) goes on the inside of windows with the adhesive tape that’s supplied. Shrink the plastic tight with a hair dryer and trim off the extra. The trick is to get a few inches of dead air space between the window glass and the plastic. The wider that area, the better the insulation factor.4. While you’re at the hardware store, pick up two or three furnace filters. Plan to change them on the first of every month during the winter, when the furnace is running frequently.5. If you have ceiling fans, run them in reverse to move the warm ceiling air down into the main part of the rooms.6. Consider turning down the temperature on your wa-ter heater. Generally they’re set at 140 degrees F. You can still get a hot shower, and it will save 3 percent to 5 percent of your energy bill with the temperature set

at 120 F.7. If you’re home during the day, open the drapes on the sunny side of the house, and close them when the sun moves to the other side. 8. Turn down the temperature on your thermostat 1 degree. In a few days, turn it down another degree. You likely won’t feel the difference in temperature, but you’ll save between 2 percent and 5 percent on your heating costs. If you can, invest in a program-mable thermostat set to lower the temperature when no one is home.9. Insulate your attic access door, if you have one.10. Add a warm-air humidifier: Moist air feels warm-er.11. If you’re in the market for a new furnace, water heater, doors and windows or attic insulation, remem-ber to check www.energysavers.gov for rebates be-fore you buy.

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DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My golden retriever, “Jessie,” recently turned 9 years old. He’s always been an energetic dog, but he doesn’t seems to like walking as far as he used to, and when chasing birds in the park, he only chases them a few feet before trotting back to me. He also has some digestive issues. Is this normal for an older dog, or should I worry that he’s got some hidden health issue? -- Sam L., Atlanta

DEAR SAM: Nine years is definitely “senior dog” territory, and it is normal even for very energetic dogs to begin to noticeably slow down. Their dietary needs and their digestive system also go through gradual change. If Jessie isn’t showing signs of distress or extreme lethargy, he’s probably OK. However, as his owner, you know him best, so if his behavior or digestion concern you, take him to the veterinarian for a checkup.Senior dogs do have unique needs that owners should address. Heidi Ganahl, owner of Camp Bow Wow, recently listed a few considerations senior dog owners should take:

--Schedule a veterinary checkup every six months, rather than once a year. A senior pet’s health can change rapidly.--Learn the signs of common ailments in senior dogs, like hip and joint problems, diabetes and eye or ear issues.--Feed your senior dog two smaller meals per day, rather than one. This may help with digestive problems.--Consider adding at least two fresh meals to your dog’s diet per week. The added nutrition can be a big help.--Replace long runs or walks with shorter jaunts followed by a daily training or toy romp.

Send your question or comment 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.

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Senior Dogs Need Extra Attention

• On Nov. 25, 1783, nearly three months after the Treaty of Paris was signed ending the American Revolution, the final British soldiers withdraw from New York City, the last British military position in the United States. The city had been in British hands since 1776.

• On Nov. 26, 1898, a powerful winter storm batters New England, killing at least 450 people in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Blizzard conditions caused 20-foot snowdrifts, some 100 ships were blown ashore in Boston and another 40 were sunk. About 100 people died when a steamer sank near Cape Cod, filling the harbors and nearby beaches with bodies and debris.

• On Nov. 23, 1936, the first issue of the pictorial magazine Life is published, and it quickly became an overwhelming success. At its peak, the magazine had a circulation of more than 8 million. Life ceased running as a weekly publication in 1972.

• On Nov. 27, 1942, guitar legend Jimi Hendrix is born in Seattle. Hendrix made his first U.S. appearance at California’s Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. He made a splash by burning his guitar and was quickly established as a rock superstar.

• On Nov. 22, 1963, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, is assassinated while traveling in a motorcade through Dallas. First lady Jacqueline Kennedy was beside him, along with Texas Gov. John Connally and his wife. Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired three shots from the sixth floor of the Texas Book Depository.

• On Nov. 24, 1971, a hijacker calling himself D.B. Cooper leaps from a Northwest Orient Airlines 727 over Washington state carrying $200,000 he extorted from the airline. Wearing only wraparound sunglasses, a thin suit and a raincoat, Cooper parachuted into a thunderstorm with winds in excess of 100 mph.

• On Nov. 21, 1980, 350 million people around the world tune in to television’s popular primetime drama “Dallas” to find out who shot J.R. Ewing, the character fans loved to hate. J.R. had been shot on the season-ending episode the previous March.

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• Beethoven’s biggest challenge, and one that would depress and even stop most musicians, started affecting him in 1798 when he was only 28 years old. He was losing his hearing. Many people started noticing moodiness and thought he was unfriendly.

• His first big concert featuring his “First Symphony,” happened in 1800, after his deafness started. Beethoven is most famous for writing nine symphonies, which are works played by a full orchestra. He also completed many other works for piano and string quartets. Almost totally deaf by age 47, he composed much of his music without the joy of hearing all of the notes.

• Beethoven died when he was 57 years old. In many of his musical pieces, he seemed to be communicating, “Even with lots of problems, if you try hard enough, you can do anything you want, like I did.”

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• It was the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan, who made the following sage observation: “Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.”

• If you’re like 75 percent of Americans, you like to doodle.

• There was a shipwreck in 1664 that had only one survivor, one in 1785 that also resulted in all but one aboard being killed, and one in 1860 that likewise left a single person alive. Considering the fact that shipwrecks are not that uncommon -- particularly in the heyday of ocean travel -- you might not think this much of a coincidence. Think again, though; in each of those shipwrecks, the sole survivor was named Hugh

Williams.

• Those who study such things say that Roman Emperor Caligula’s last words were, “I’m still alive!”

• If you go bankrupt, your creditors are forbidden from seizing your wedding ring to pay debts.

• In 1984, a woman named Deborah Martorano was shopping at Bloomingdale’s in New York City, when one of the store’s employees, a perfume demonstrator, sprayed her with scent. The experience evidently caused Martorano, who suffered from allergies and asthma, to spend 10 days in a hospital. This respiratory distress resulted in a $75,000 settlement from the store.

• The Dead Sea isn’t a sea at all; it’s a lake.

• If you ever travel to Borneo or Sumatra and come face-to-face with an orangutan, keep this tidbit of information in mind: If one of these great apes belches at you, you might want to back off; that’s how they warn others to stay out of their territory.***

Answers1. True.2. It was in 1972 and 1983.3. Dick Norman (1959), Guy Benjamin (‘77), Steve Dils (‘78) and John Elway (‘82).4. Chicago’s Max Zaslofsky was 22 when he won the scoring title in 1947-48.5. Kirk McLean had 761 saves for Vancouver in 1994.6. Michelle Akers had 12 goals between 1991 and 1999.7. The 1993 Belmont Stakes, aboard Colonial Affair.

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1) Neither; 2) King; 3) Moses; 4) David; 5) Jacob; 6) 5th

Wilson Casey’s trivia book “Know It? ... or Not?” is available from BearManorMedia.com.

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To order product, or to find out how to become a localdistributor call Shari Bullock today at (719) 233-4228

BIBLE TRIVIA

Answers1. Vincent Van Gogh2. 1619 (Jamestown, Virginia)3. Mount Crumpit4. -273 degrees5. Cybertron6. A foal7. Lyndon Johnson8. Geoffrey Chaucer9. Tuberculosis10. Polonium and radium

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