1st Quarter 2013Week 6

Feb 3 - 9Page 1

TABLE OF CONTENTSISSUE 2013.6

Fictional Romancespages 1-4

Famous Women:Grandma Moses

pages 5-6

Language of Flowerspages 7-8

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FICTIONAL ROMANCESby Kathy Wolfe

In honor of Valentine’s Day, Tidbits reviews some facts on famous sweethearts who existed only in the minds of their creators. • It was while working as a waitress at a resort

that Wilma Slaghoople and her best friend Betty first met their future husbands Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, who were employed there as bellhops. The Flintstones was broadcast on ABC television from 1960 to 1966, with cartoon characters based on the 1950s TV series The Honeymooners. Fred worked as a crane operator at Slate Rock & Gravel Company, while Wilma stayed home to raise daughter Pebbles and keep house, using the modern conveniences of a wooly mammoth vacuum cleaner, pelican washing machine, and a pig garbage disposal.

• A romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy seemed doomed from the start. Jane Austen’s 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice narrated the story of the very wealthy but snobbish and rude proprietor of Pemberley Estate, and the witty and intelligent Miss Bennet. Good marriages to wealthy men were vital to the five Bennet sisters, as their property and home was destined to be inherited by a male cousin upon the death of their father. Sparks flew from the beginning, when Mr. Darcy insulted Elizabeth’s

“Get married early in the morning. That way, if it doesn’t work out, you haven’t wasted a whole day.” – Mickey

Rooney (married 8 times)

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The Department of Veterans Affairs has been working on a huge database to study how genes affect health. The project is going to be huge when finished. The VA Office of Research & Development has now passed the 100,000 mark in the number of volunteer veterans who have signed up to be part of the program. Within the next six years, it expects more than 1 million vet-erans to sign up.The Million Veteran Program (MVP) is designed to be a database accessible by researchers who are studying all the diseases and illnesses that have struck veterans through the years: diabetes, cancer, post traumatic stress disorder, heart disease and others.The goals are to learn new ways of treating and preventing illnesses, discover why certain individuals are more prone to developing certain diseases and to

Shingles Pain Lingers After Rash Is Gone

study why certain medicines work better than others.Participation is easy. You’ll fill out a form, allow access to your VA medical records, provide a blood sample, take a test for grip strength and lung function, and not much more.For more information, go online to www.research.va.gov/MVP. Additionally, there’s a video at the site if you want to learn more about MVP.Privacy is a big deal. No researcher will have access to your name, address, birth date or Social Security num-ber. They’ll use bar codes on your samples so you’re not identified. Insurance companies won’t have any access to the data.There are 40 sign-up locations across the country, listed and linked on the website. If you receive health care at one of those sites, you can schedule an ap-pointment by calling 1-866-441-6075, or talk to your local clinic. A study visit only takes about 20 minutes.Will you be one of the million who helps this project?

Write to Freddy Groves in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com.

Are You an MVP?

FICTIONAL ROMANCES (continued):

appearance. When he finally realized his at-traction and proposed to her, he did so while still reminding her of the large difference in their social statuses. Lizzie’s negative response reminded him of his arrogance and conceit, assuring him he was “the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.” However, as with all good romances, love triumphed as Mr. Darcy realized his pride, she recognized her prejudice, and Miss Bennet accepted the second marriage proposal. • Barbara Millicent Roberts met Ken Sean Carson in 1961. Barbara, aka “Barbie”, had been on store shelves since 1959, but her hunky boyfriend wasn’t introduced until two years later, when the two “met” on the imaginary set of a TV commercial. Each of them has had a wide variety of occupations over the years, Barbie having been a teacher, dentist, veteri-narian, Air Force jet pilot, firefighter, astronaut, and ballerina, among many others. Ken has worked as a pizza delivery boy, rock star, pro tennis player, and doctor, just a few of his 40+ careers. After 43 years as a couple, Mattel announced they had split in 2004, but in 2006, after Ken received an extensive make-over, they were reunited.• The 1961 musical film West Side Story chronicled the story of Tony and Maria, a tale loosely based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, New York City style. The story revolved around the rivalry between two street gangs, the Sharks and the Jets. Tony, co-founder of the Jets, fell in love with Maria, the sister of the Sharks founder, a combination that could only result in disaster. Richard Beymer took the role of Tony after it was declined by Elvis Presley, and Natalie Wood was chosen over the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Jill St. John. The film, which ended with the deaths of both

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Two years ago I had shin-gles, and I now suffer the aftereffects of it. The sores went away in a month, but the stinging, burning, throbbing pain is still with me. I cannot wear clothing over the affected shoulder. No medicines have eased the pain so far. Is there any help? -- M.L.

ANSWER: You now are dealing with postherpetic neuralgia, pain that lingers long after the shingles rash has gone. The virus that causes shingles is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Almost every adult on this continent harbors that virus, now called herpes zoster. It lives on in nerve cells.From time to time, at older ages, it wakens from its hibernation, travels down the nerve to the skin and causes an outbreak of blisters on a red base. The out-break goes away in about three weeks. Pain can linger for a long time -- months, to years. In traveling down the nerve, the virus damaged it. I can list some of the postherpetic neuralgia medi-cines. Two are antidepressants -- nortriptyline and amitriptyline -- given not for depression but for pain relief. Cymbalta (duloxetine) is another antidepres-sant that can lessen postherpetic pain. Lyrica (pre-gabalin) is an anti-seizure medicine that’s approved for this problem. Neurontin (gabapentin) is another seizure medicine used for control of the lingering pain of shingles.

Capsaicin lotion, cream or gel (Zostrix, Capsin, R-Gel) is applied directly to the involved skin. A higher concentration of capsaicin comes as a patch that’s ap-plied in the doctor’s office, left on for an hour and then removed. Treatment can be repeated in three months. It’s called Qutenza. Another skin patch is the Lidoderm patch. The latest medicine is Gralise, an extended-re-lease form of gabapentin -- Neurontin. It requires fewer doses.The entire shingles story is covered in the booklet on that topic. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 1201W, 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: I get my calcium by drinking milk. I believe natural sources are the best sources of vitamins and minerals. The problem is that whole milk raises my cholesterol. My father died of a heart attack at a young age. Does skim milk have as much calcium as whole milk? -- R.T.

ANSWER: Skim milk contains a little more calcium than whole milk. An 8-ounce glass of whole milk has 291 mg of calcium. The same amount of skim milk has 300 mg.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Many months ago, my feet turned numb. The numbness has spread up to my knees. It has made me quite unsteady when I walk. My doctor can’t find a cause or treatment for this. Can you suggest anything? -- L.O.ANSWER: Your description fits peripheral neuropa-thy, a deterioration of nerve function, often of the leg nerves. The causes for it are many. Frequently, how-ever, a precise cause can’t be determined. You need to make an appointment to see a neurologist as soon as you can.

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

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The earlier you finalize your summer vacation plans, the better chance you have to lock in lower rates and avoid disappointment later.Here are a few ideas of what’s available:

Disney World (disneyworld.disney.go.com): Enjoy a four-day, three-night stay with the 2013 Magic Your Way Package for $1,505 for a family of four -- two adults, one junior (age 10-17) and one child (age 3-9). You’ll stay in one of the value resorts and have tickets to one of the four theme parks every day. Be aware of what is not included: the water park, chil-

dren’s centers, meals, Cirque du Soleil, select tours and access to the golf course. Those cost more, al-though you will be given discounts to the spa, chil-dren’s center, fishing excursion and more. Only cer-tain dates apply, so book early.

Club Med (www.clubmed.us) -- Starting in May 2013, children under age 4 can go for free. Book quickly and you can have a seven-night, all-inclusive vacation for $699 per person. “All-inclusive” means nearly everything is included: accommodations, meals, snacks and activities. The available period is from Aug. 24 to April 27, 2014, at resorts in Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean. Club Med membership fees of $60 per adult and $30 per child are addition-al. For more information, call 1-888-932-2582 or talk to your travel agent.The National Park Service (www.nps.gov) manages parks all over the country. Whether you prefer the

mountains, seashore or places in between, the na-tional parks have a lot to offer. At the website you can search by state or features of interest. As an ex-ample, if you enter “cabins” in the search box, you’ll be shown a list of all the parks with a variety of cab-ins to rent, ranging from those which are designat-ed as historical landmarks and built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, to those that are fully modern with electricity, hot water and central air conditioning.Search by state, and you’ll see a list of all parks in the state, further searchable by areas of interest. Click each dot on the map and you’ll be shown in-formation on individual locations. You’ll be direct-ed to www.recreation.gov to make online reserva-tions. Specify your location and dates, and you’ll be shown the availability. The longer you want to reserve a space, the more flexible you’ll need to be with your travel dates.

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1. Is the book of Simon in the Old or New Testament or neither?

2. From Exodus 1, what were the people of Israel forced to make? Blankets, Boats, Baskets, Bricks

3. What book foretold that none of Christ’s bones would be broken? Micah, Isaiah, Psalms, Exodus

4. Who was the deceptive future father-in-law of Jacob? Masa, Laban, Jehoram, Rehu

5. What did Shamgar use to kill 600 Philis-tines? Sword, Stones, Mina, Oxgoad

6. Who wrote Revelation, the last book of the Bible? Jesus, Mark, John, Peter

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reduce the frequency at which your cat is horking up hairballs.Hairballs are formed due to a cat’s habit of cleaning its fur with its tongue. The rough tongue tends to pick up stray hairs and dander, which the cat swallows. Most of the time, this hair passes through the digestive tract without a problem. But occasionally this does not happen, and the cat regurgitates the hair (and other stuff matted into it). If Chester gets an otherwise clean bill of health, the vet probably will recommend using a hairball preventative. The most common type is a petroleum jelly-based treat that is licked off the end of your finger. Chewable hairball treats also are available; these contain mineral oil and should be given sparingly. “Hairball control” cat foods contain extra fiber (usually cellulose) to help push excess hair through the digestive tract.

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My cat, “Chester,” coughs up a big hairball about once every two weeks. Is this unusual? How can I stop it? -- Grossed Out in Chicago

DEAR GROSSED OUT: Coughing up the occasional hairball isn’t unusual for most cats, but if it seems to be happening more frequently, getting a professional opinion is important. Schedule a checkup for Chester with his veterinarian, and bring along the next hairball (or two) he coughs up in the meantime. The vet can check for any underlying condition, as well as check the hairball for traces of blood, plants or other items of concern. The vet will make sure Chester’s general health is good for his age (or not), and can offer suggestions and possibly medication to

Curbing HairballsBy Samantha Mazzotta

Tidbits® of Hoover, Pelham, Alabaster & Helena! Page 4

third season. In another rare reversal -- along the lines of CBS’s renewal of “Unforgettable” -- AMC re-cently announced that the crime drama WILL be back for a third season.Season three takes place a year after the Rosie Larson case was solved, as Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman) searches for a runaway girl and uncovers a string of murders connected to Sarah Linden’s (Mireille Enos) previous murder investigation. Linden, no longer a detective, must return to both a career and a case she had put behind her.All this renewal reversal has given me new hope for ABC’s “GCB” to return, whether with ABC or another network. Let’s make this happen --TNT, I’m lookin’ at you!

1. GEOGRAPHY: The island state of Bahrain lies in what body of water?

2. HISTORY: In what year did Germany invade Po-land?

3. CARTOONS: What is the name of Donald DuckÕs girlfriend?

4. NATURAL WORLD: What part of the cotton plant is known as the ÒbollÓ?

5. MOVIES: Which actor produced and starred in ÒBonnie and ClydeÓ?

6. MYTHOLOGY: In Greek mythology, which god is associated with winged sandals?

7. MILITARY: In Great Britain, what is the Victoria Cross awarded for?

8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of porcupines called?

9. ENTERTAINERS: What famous singer/songwriter was born with the name Stevland Judkins?

10. MUSIC: According to the song, where does John-ny B. Goode live?

Answers are on the back page.

him in my living room again after leaving “Grey’s Anato-my.” What can I see him on next? -- Trudy K., via e-mailA: I agree with you, Trudy. Scott Foley is one of those underrated, underutilized actors who we need to see much more of. So, you can imagine my happiness upon discovering that he is set to guest-star on one of my fa-vorite shows, ABC’s “Scandal.” His character is said to be a part of a major story arc that will play out toward the end of the current season. Creator and head writer Shonda Rhimes was eager to work with Scott again after his run on “Grey’s,” so one show’s loss is another’s gain!***Q: A while back you wrote that “Unforgettable” had belat-edly been renewed for a second season; however, I’ve seen neither hide nor hair of it yet. Please tell me that the suits didn’t change their minds again! -- Hilary S., Port-land, MaineA: Don’t worry, Hilary, the Poppy Montgomery-starring police procedural will indeed have its second season on CBS. And we now have a premiere date, which is Sunday, July 28 at 9/8c. As I reported previously, season two will comprise 13 episodes, with Dylan Walsh, Jane Curtin and most other cast members returning.***Readers: A few months ago, I was disheartened to report that AMC had decided not to renew “The Killing” for a

Q: I’ve always really liked Anthony Michael Hall, espe-cially his recent sci-fi series, “Warehouse 13.” However, I do miss seeing him in comedies: His guest-starring turn on “Community” a few seasons back was hilari-ous. Can you tell me if he’ll be on a comedy soon? -- Audrey W., via e-mailA: When “Awkward” returns to MTV this summer for its super-size third season, Anthony Michael Hall will join the hit series as a teacher at Jenna’s high school. Ac-cording to those in the know, Anthony will play a sa-distic creative-writing teacher who insists on pushing his students beyond their academic limits. Anthony also co-stars in the feature-film comedy, “Sexy Evil Genius,” along with Michelle Trachtenberg, Seth Green and William Baldwin. *** Q: While I wasn’t a big fan of the story line Scott Foley had on last season’s “True Blood,” I was excited to see

¥ On Feb. 14, 278 A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, is executed. Claudius the Cruel had banned all marriages and engagements. Valentine defied Claudius and contin-ued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.

¥ On Feb. 17, 1904, Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Ma-dame Butterfly” premieres at the La Scala theater in Milan, Italy. Set in Nagasaki, Japan, “Madame Butter-fly” told the story of an American sailor, B.F. Pinker-ton, who marries and then abandons a young Japa-nese geisha, Cio-Cio-San, or Madame Butterfly.

¥ On Feb. 11, 1916, Emma Goldman, a crusader for women’s rights and social justice, is arrested in New York City for lecturing and distributing materials about birth control. She was accused of violating the Comstock Act of 1873, which made it a federal of-fense to disseminate contraceptive devices and in-formation through the mail or across state lines.

¥ On Feb. 13, 1920, The League of Nations, the in-ternational organization formed at the peace con-ference at Versailles in the wake of World War I, recognizes the perpetual neutrality of Switzerland. The League also established its headquarters in the Swiss city of Geneva.

¥ On Feb. 16, 1959, Fidel Castro is sworn in as prime minister of Cuba after leading a guerrilla campaign that forced right-wing dictator Fulgencio Batista into exile. The United States initially recognized the new Cuban dictator but withdrew its support after Castro nationalized U.S. assets on the island.

¥ On Feb. 15, 1965, in accordance with a formal proc-lamation by Queen Elizabeth II of England, a new Ca-nadian national flag is raised above Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Canada’s national flag was to be red and white with a stylized 11-point red maple leaf in its center.

¥ On Feb. 12, 1973, the release of American POWs from the Vietnam War begins in Hanoi as part of the Paris peace settlement. Operation Homecoming was completed on March 29, 1973, when the last of 591 U.S. prisoners were released and returned to the United States.

FICTIONAL ROMANCES (continued): Maria’s brother and Tony, took home 10 Oscars, including Best Picture and was the second highest-grossing film of the year. It ranks #51 on the American Film Institute’s list of 100 best movies. • Although the love story about Lois Lane and Clark Kent, aka Superman, has been told in many different ways in various forms of media, they were first introduced in June of 1938 in the DC Comics publication Action Comics #1. Their romance started out as a rivalry, after Clark scooped Lois on a story at the Daily Planet, an exclusive on Superman. Clark was enamored with Lois, but ironically, her affections were fixed on his alter-ego Superman. The couple didn’t tie the knot until 1996 when the event was published in the comic book to coincide with the nuptials on the TV series Lois and Clark. In 2007, they welcomed the addition of an adopted Kryptonian boy then named Chris Kent. • Peter Parker made his first appearance in Au-gust of 1962 in the Marvel Comics’ publication Amaz-ing Fantasy. He was an orphaned high school student in Queens, New York, living with his Uncle Ben and Aunt May. When he was bitten by a radioactive spider, he attained the “agility and proportionate strength of an arachnid,” and acquired the ability to cling to walls and ceilings. In other words, he became Spiderman! Aunt May continually tried to fix him up with “that nice Watson girl next door,” a beautiful green-eyed

redhead whose face was first seen in 1966. Mary Jane, or MJ for short, first met Peter when she was 13 years old, and staying with her elderly Aunt Anna. Peter was 14. They married in a Spiderman comics issue in 1987. On the big screen, the pair was popularly por-trayed by Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst for three

films. The fourth film, released in 2012, didn’t include MJ, but rather Peter’s first girlfriend, Gwen Stacy. • Author Edgar Rice Burroughs conceived the idea of the British Lord and Lady Greystoke being marooned on the coast of Africa in 1912. Lady Greystoke gave birth there, but died on her son’s first birthday, while the Lord was killed by the leader of the Mangani ape tribe. Their son, John, Clayton, Earl of Greystoke, was adopted by the ape tribe, and grew up to be their leader. Thus went the story of Tarzan over the course of 24 novels. Tarzan met Jane Porter when she and her expedition were marooned in a similar manner. The pair married in Burroughs’ second book, pub-lished in 1913. The immensely popular series led to radio programs, comic books, and 89 movies, begin-ning with silent films in 1918. The most popular actor to play the ape-man was an Olympic hero, Johnny Weissmuller, winner of five gold medals in swimming, who starred in 12 Tarzan films from 1932 to 1948. • Homer and Marge Simpson were first introduced to TV viewers in December, 1989, along with their three children, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The blue-haired Marge Bouvier met Homer Simpson during her final year at Springfield High School. Although the couple might be a little rough around the edges, they seem to have a way of working through their marital dif-ficulties with unending dedication to each other. Actress Julie Kavner provides not only the voice of Marge in the animated series, but Marge’s mother Jacqueline and sisters Patty and Selma as well. Dan Castellaneta voices Homer, Grampa Simpson, Krusty the Clown, Barney Gumble, Mayor Quimby, and Hans Moleman.

Burton: Fresh Start With ‘Gen 6’ Chevy

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LANGUAGE OF FLOWERSAre you thinking of sending flowers to someone spe-cial on Valentine’s Day? You may want to check out of the meaning of some of our favorite blossoms before doing so! • Floriography, or the language of flowers, began during the Victorian era, when individuals used flower symbolism to express feelings they were unable to speak aloud, or wanted a discreet form of communica-tion. Various blooms were used to send secret or coded messages of love and other sentiments. Flower dic-tionaries containing the meanings of different varieties filled the shelves as the long list grew. • Most of us know that sending red roses denotes enduring, passionate romantic love, meant for the love of your life. Pink roses are for a lesser affection, and yellow are to be used to symbolize the joy of a devoted friendship. While white roses represent purity and virtue, a bouquet of mixed red and white roses is used to designate unity with your loved one. Can’t afford a dozen roses? Just a single red rose in full bloom also says, “I love you.” Trying to tell your loved one it was love at first sight? Lavender roses are the symbol for that sentiment.• Blue flowers are used to send a message of calm, beauty, tranquility, and peace. Specifically, blue hya-cinths indicate constancy and faithfulness, as do blue violets, which represent faithfulness and say, “I’ll always be true.” If violets are unavailable, blue forget-me-nots also let the recipient know that your love is true.

Caring for an elderly parent or spouse isn’t easy. In spite of how difficult it might be, you’re not alone. There are programs and steps you can take that can ease your burden a bit.

Start with the basics, the home, and be sure there are safeguards in place to make your job easier. For ideas about what you might need, go online to sites such as Elder Proof Home (www.elderproofhome.com, or call 1-888-840-1055) for items that can help you. By clicking the categories on the left side, you’ll not only find products that will help make the environment safer, but tips and advice as well.

If you’ve had to give up your job to take care of a parent or spouse, there might be some money that will help fill in the gap:

--If you’re a spouse who cares for a veteran who receives a pension, the veteran might qualify for what is called Aid and Attendance money. Call the VA at 1-800-827-1000 to ask for specifics on how to apply for the extra pension.

--You might qualify for a tax deduction if your elderly parent is your dependent. See IRS Publication 501.

--In a few states, Medicaid has a program called Cash and Counseling. Payment can be send directly to you. Go to http://medicaid.gov/ and chose your state.

Investigate the National Family Caregiver Support Program (www.aoa.gov), part of the Older Americans Act of 1965. This program provides support to family members caring for anyone age 60 and older or any adult with dementia. You might be eligible for counseling, training, home modifications and respite care. Look in your area for Area Agency on Aging.

Ideas for Caregivers

• The towering stems of gladioli are symbolic of a sword, and they even take their name from the Lain word gladius, meaning “sword.” A bouquet of these stunning spikes expresses to the recipient that he or she has “pierced the giver’s heart with passion.” • If your sweetheart is a rare beauty, send her the gift of orchids. Perhaps there is someone to whom you’d like say, “You’re lovely,” but you want to do it secretly, without divulging your identity. The gardenia is an excellent symbol for this purpose. Asking to have your affection returned? Deliver jonquils, a fragrant mem-ber of the narcissus family. • Is there an individual who you highly respect? A sunny bunch of daffodils will convey that mes-sage. However, if you’re trying to tell your egotistical acquaintance, “You love yourself too well,” have the florist deliver narcissus. • Who wouldn’t want to receive a bouquet of prim-roses? Their message is, “I can’t live without you.” Similarly, white lilies proclaim, “It’s heavenly to be with you,” and Calla lilies are representative of “magnificent beauty.” • Perhaps you’ve offended your loved one. Sending purple hyacinths says, “I am sorry, please forgive me.” Receiving striped carnations means a refusal to an offer of affection, and declares, “Sorry, I can’t be with you.” • You certainly don’t want to receive a gift of foxglove, symbolic of insincerity, or a Venus flytrap, represent-ing deceit, or rhododendron, meaning danger or cau-tion. Likewise, marigolds are a declaration of jealousy. • Are you thinking of a dear but absent friend? A bou-quet of mixed pansies will convey those remembranc-es. The pansy even takes its name from the French word, pensée, meaning “thought or remembrance.” • Be careful about sending orange blossoms to a new-lywed couple – it’s a wish for their fertility! A gift of peonies to any married couple is a hope for continued happiness.

Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, met with the media during a recent test session at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The following are some of his comments:

Q: Talk about the new car, your team and the 2013 season.

A: “Obviously, we had some work to do based on our performance last year, and the year before, for that matter. We certainly made a lot of changes from the very top of the company to a lot of positions within individual teams. I feel good about what we have done. I think our preparation, what we have done to be ready before we start building cars is at a different level today than it was last year and even the year before.”

Q: Some team is probably going to connect with the Genera-tion 6 car early. What do you think is going to be the magic bullet? Is it going to be somebody with a rear-suspension deal, is it going to be aero?

A: “I wish I knew that because then I would be that guy. Hon-estly, we talk a lot about trick, but I will tell you that I’m not a trick guy. I believe that you have to have an entire package. When you have that entire package, you may kind of find a trick that makes that package better, but that doesn’t neces-sarily transfer to the team next to you in the garage.”

Q: You have talked about your struggles the past year or two and trying to get things straightened out and back on track. Is it a good thing that you guys have a new car, or is that going to be another issue that you guys are going to have to deal with?

A: “I think the timing of the car is good for us as a company. I think that by anybody’s measurements, we didn’t have a good year throughout the company last year. We went almost the whole year without winning a race. Kevin (Harvick) won really late in the year. So for us, I think it’s easier when there is a whole new car with a lot of new rules.”

Burton: Fresh Start With ‘Gen 6’ Chevy

Tidbits® of Hoover, Pelham, Alabaster & Helena! Page 6

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I used to take a lot of heat from my friends in 1989. While they were all running about willy-nilly on their mopeds, doing truck grinders on their skateboard (which is, without question, the dumbest trick move in all sports) or stealing squares of linoleum so they could break dance all afternoon, I was huddled away in my basement most nights before dinner. For it was there, on my IBM XT personal computer, that baseball history was made on a nightly basis, thanks to Earl Weaver and Earl Weaver Baseball from EA Sports. Earl Weaver Baseball remains the greatest computer baseball game of all time. The graphics, of course, can’t compare with today’s games, but they were good enough to get the point across. The baseball had a shadow at least.But these were the days of the original Atari 2600 consoles. Handheld games like “Blip” and “LED Football” were only a year or two removed from the game play realm of my childhood. Atari had a gazillion games. Granted, they all revolved around “Pong,” but who’s complaining? Its baseball game was a bit of a dud, though. It was almost impossible NOT to hit a home run, so the scores would end up being something like 80-70. And then there were the kids who had Intellivision. These consoles were typically bought by the rich parents who were too late to the Atari game, so they decided to one-up everybody and move to the next technology. While Intellivision didn’t have the game selection that Atari had and it utilized this wonky, dial-on-a-box type of controller that everyone despised, the games it did have were prized for their graphics. The only game we played in my rich friend’s house was the baseball game.

When we played, we’d pretend that the player had a name. Say, Rod Carew. (Seriously, say it ... he could use the shout out.) But there was no difference from one player to the next.Then along came Earl Weaver Baseball and our cerebrums almost imploded. Real lineups, actual stadium dimensions, create your own team across all eras, build your own park!EA Sports, then just a tiny game company, had the insight to marry the designers from the Intellivision game with the most irascible, least likely to lend his name to a computer game in history with Earl Weaver. It was brilliant in that “you’re kidding, right?” way. In the game, the famed Baltimore skipper would offer advice on setting your lineups, fixing your rotation and offer insights, when asked, about the game you were playing. His insight? Do nothing. Do nothing ... all the time. “A bunt is the same thing as an out.” “The hit and run is the worst play in baseball.” “Wait for the three-run homer.” This game had a manage-only mode. It encouraged you to do nothing. An action-packed game might consist of me pinch-hitting Pete Rose for Orlando Cepeda in the late innings. But it taught me just about everything I know about baseball, and the more I think about it, life. More on that next week ...Mark Vasto is a veteran sportswriter who lives in Kansas City.

Earl the PearlBy Mark Vasto

L o c a l l y O w n e d

P r o m o t i n g L o c a l B u s i n e s s e s

An Odd Coupling

BIBLE TRIVIA ANSWERS:1) Neither; 2) Bricks; 3) Psalms; 4) La-ban; 5) Oxgoad; 6) John Answers

1. Persian Gulf2. 19393. Daisy4. Seed pod5. Warren Beatty6. Hermes, messenger of the gods7. Valor in the face of the enemy8. A prickle9. Stevie Wonder10. Louisiana

“Put Tidbits In The Subject Line”

he told the judge that at the time of the robbery he believed he was a female elf.

¥ It’s common knowledge that methane, a greenhouse gas, contributes to the rise in global temperatures. It’s less well-known, however, that 20 percent of the world’s methane emissions comes from livestock and their, well ... emissions.

¥ Many professional matchmakers say that one should never date a person who is younger than half one’s age, plus seven years.

¥ The average human walks approximately 100,000 miles in the course of a lifetime. If that walking were done in a straight line on the equator, you would circle the Earth four times.

¥ In the early 1990s, a couple in Milwaukee was curious about the value of a painting they had displayed in their home, so they invited an art expert to evaluate the piece. The painting in question turned out to be of little relative value, but the expert noticed another work, a still life with flowers, that the owners believed to be a reproduction of a Van Gogh. Imagine this couple’s surprise when the work turned out to be an original 1886 painting, which later sold at auction for $1.4 million.***Thought for the Day: “A bride at her second wedding does not wear a veil because she wants to see what she is getting.” -- Anonymous

STRANGE BUT TRUEby Samantha Weaver

¥ It was Simon Cameron, who served as secretary of war under President Abraham Lincoln, who made the following sage observation: “An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought.”

¥ You might not be surprised to learn that some people who play video games can become rather obsessed. In 2007, one such person, a 45-year-old gamer, used a Japanese sword to rob a lingerie shop. He was apprehended, and when he was put on trial,

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society, found-ed in 1883, is the largest and oldest humane soci-ety in Alabama. Over the course of our history we have witnessed the changes in our community and yet have never left the original mission of Dr. Phil-lips “to promote respect for life through education and prevention of cruelty to animals and people”

Animal Adoption - 205.942.1211 - 300 Snow Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209 - WWW.GBHS.ORG

AppleFemale, Puppy

Shepherd (Unknown Type)

CopperMale, Young

Shepherd (Un-known Type)

DollyFemale, Puppy

Shepherd (Unknown Type)

Mountain DewMale, Puppy

Hound (Unknown Type)

Coca ColaMale, Puppy

Shepherd (Unknown Type)

Romilda VaneFemale, Young

Domestic Mediumhair

MannyMale, AdultDomestic Shorthair

CupcakeFemale, Adult

Domestic Mediumhair

AnneFemale, Kitten

Domestic Shorthair

AlexMale, AdultDomestic Shorthair

Check Us Out!

Any Questions or ConcernsEmail us at: kkeith@gbhs.org

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) is a nonprofit in Birmingham, Alabama that has been serving abused and abandoned pets in Birmingham since 1883. The Greater Birmingham Humane Society was one of the first humane societies in the United States. Today the GBHS cares for nearly 9,000 animals a year and serves pets and people through their various programs which include, but are not limited to, pet adoptions, animal cruelty prevention, and humane education.

Please email us your questions to kkeith@gbhs.org

Have pet questions? Send them to us!

205-588-1899 Ext 1