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Issue #25The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read®December 31, 2011 - January 6, 2012

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TIDBITS® CROSSES SOMEMOUNTAIN PASSES

by Patricia L. Cook

Mountain passes around the world can be high, steep, rocky and just plain challenging to traverse. But they’re worth exploring, so join Tidbits as we look into, over, through and around some famous mountain passes.• So what is a mountain pass? It is the most easily

accessible point between mountains where you can “pass” through. The pass is considered the highest point or summit at which you traverse the area. Passes have always been very important findsforpioneersmovingacrossthecountry,aswellasroadandrailbuilders.Thedefinitionofa mountain pass is actually: “The location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks.”

•Other terms used in North America for a pass are saddle, notch and gap. Pass and saddle are most commonly used in the West, while the East Coast tends to use the terms notch and gap.

• Semo La, a pass in central Tibet, at 18,258 feet (5,565 m), is considered to be the highest pass accessible by vehicles. It is a high, isolated place in the Chang Tang region of Tibet. Also in Tibet is the highest mountain pass accessible by train. The Tanggula Pass in the mountains of the same name has a rail station at 16,640 feet (5,072 m). By the way, “La” in Tibetan means pass.

turn the page for more!

Q: It was so cold on top of the pass that the clouds froze. What did the mountaineers do?

A: They got out ice axes and crampons and went cloud climbing!

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MOUNTAIN PASSES (continued):

•At 7,239 feet (2,206 m), the highest pass with a paved road in Canada is Highwood Pass in Kananaskis Country, a multi-use park area in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, west of Calgary. You can’t get there during the winter as the road is closed from mid-December to mid-June due to heavy snowfall. It is a spectacular drive and a great place to take photographs during the summer.

•The Beartooth Pass on U.S. Highway 212, also known as the Beartooth Highway, is the highest point on the 68-mile (109-km) road that begins at the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park near Silver Gate, Montana. The road goes in a northeastern direction mostly through Wyoming, ending in Red Lodge, Montana. The highway was built in the 1930s and is still considered a great engineering feat. It hugs mountains along curvy switchbacks up, across and back down through the alpine plateau. The pass is 10,947 feet (3,337 m) above sea level, and the road is one of the highest elevation roads in the United States. The highway was named for a distinct peak that looks like a bear tooth.

•Known as one of the most scenic drives in North America, the Beartooth Highway is designated as a “National Scenic Byways All-American Road.” The high elevation of the road and the high snowfall amounts in the region make it accessible only in the warmer months; it is usually open from May through October. This highway is considered an “orphan” road because no federal or state agency claims actual ownership.

• South of Yellowstone in the Teton Range of the Rockies, Teton Pass Road runs between Jackson, Wyoming, and Teton Valley, Idaho. The highway has a steep 10 percent grade with lots of twists and turns and can be a real test of driving skills in the winter. It tops out at 8,431 feet (2,591 m), and the Wyoming Department of Transportation uses blasting to control avalanches and keep the road open most winter days.

•Colorado, with its many “fourteeners” (peaks that are more than 14,000 feet (4,267 m) above sea level), has many amazing mountain passes. Independence Pass that connects Twin Lakes and Aspen during the summer (closed in winter) has expansive views where three of the fivetallest mountains in the state can be seen: La Plata Peak, Mount Massive and the tallest peak in the Rocky Mountains, Mount Elbert. The summit for the pass is 12,095 feet (3,687 m).

•The song “Wolf Creek Pass,” written by Bill Fries and Chip Davis and sung by C.W. McCall

in 1975, made the pass of the same name in southern Colorado somewhat famous. The country song describes a wild ride in an 18-wheel truck carrying a load of chickens. From the top of the pass at 10,857 feet (3,309 m) to the town of Pagosa Springs, there is a 5,000-foot (1,524-m) drop in elevation. The driver is going much too fast down the pass, and as the singer explains, “I’m not the type to complain, but the time has come for me to explain, that if you don’t apply some brake real soon, they’re gonna have to pick us up with a stick an’ a spoon.”

•When the song was written, Wolf Creek Pass was an intimidating two-lane road. A tunnel was completed in 2005, and an expansion to a multi-lane,widenedhighwaywasfinishedin2006tomake the road a bit easier to navigate.

•Another Colorado road worth mentioning is Train Ridge, U.S. 34, which goes through Rocky Mountain National Park. The highest continuous auto road in the country, the road is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It meanders for 48 miles (77 km) through glacier-carved valleys with views of majestic peaks and crystalline lakes and crosses the Continental Divide. While it doesn’t have sheer cliffs to scare drivers and passengers, it definitelyhasmemorablescenery.

• South of the equator in South America, there are 42 mountain passes between Chile and Argentina, whose border runs from north to south through the Andes Mountains. It is the third longest international border, 3,300 miles (5,300 km) long. An interesting statue at what was once a main route between the two countries is the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). At the top of the pass, at 13,780 feet (4,200 m) above sea level, the statue stands tall at 26 ft. (8 m) and weighs 12,000 pounds (5.4 metric tons).

•The Cristo Redentor was taken by train to Uspallata, Argentina, and then the rest of the way by mule in 1904. It commemorated the peaceful conclusion to a territorial dispute between the two countries. Today, the dirt road is only accessed by tour busses and adventure seekers, with the main route between the countries being the Cristo Redentor tunnel that opened in 1980. This Cristo Redentor is not as well known as the famous statue of the same name on top of the mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

•Whether you are exploring the mountains of North America, South America, Asia or elsewhere, you are sure to find some terrificmountain passes and outstanding views. Just don’tforgetyourcamera!■

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Home Maintenance in the New Year

by Samantha Mazzotta

Ready for the new year? Me neither. It’s too soon after what’s been a really long and frenetic holiday season, starting with a pre-Halloween snowstorm that had me and my neighbors juggling snow shovels and carved pumpkins, and then moving straight into Thanksgiving and Christmas almost too fast to blink. I’m looking forward

to catching my breath this week, however, and putting together my home maintenance plans for next year.January will be pretty quiet, except for the monthly furnace filter change andmaking sure icedams and snow aren’t building up on the roof and gutters. Melting or removing them quickly will prevent much more expensive repairs. February is more of the same, but I’m also laying out what I’ll be planting in the deck garden this year. If there’s no snow on the ground, I’ll be scattering grass seed over bare or thin patches in the lawn and protecting it from the birds with a light layer of straw.In March I’ll be inspecting the exterior and yard for damage from

fallen limbs or wind-blown debris, and if the snow has melted, clearing those debris from the yard. Garden tools will come down from the highest shelf of the garage, ready to be put to use in a few weeks, but the snow shovel will stay near the side door just in case.

April is still iffy for some garden plants, but once there’s no danger of a hard frost, soil can be turned

over and, in the meantime, the lawn can be treated and prepared for the growing season. It’s also time to start repairing any exterior damage to the roof, eaves, gutters and downspouts, as well as remove and repair storm windows and put up screens in their place.That’s the first four months ofthe year: gradually getting busier, hopefully with no major storms or unplanned home repairs like busted furnaces or hot water heaters. May will bring much warmer temperatures and more maintenance work, but that’s a thought for another quiet day.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) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

calories of almonds (enough to produce beneficial effects on cardiovascular riskfactors) per day can be included in the diet with limited risk of weight gain. The study found thatthefiberinthealmondsblockedsomeofthe fat calories from being absorbed.6. Hazelnuts: Research shows that it is best to consume hazelnuts whole because many of its antioxidants are located in the hazelnut skin.7. Pecans: A recent 2010 study suggested that the vitamin E in pecans may provide neurological protection by delaying progression of motor neuron degeneration.8. Pistachios: Pistachios are suggested to have anti-inflammatory properties, according to arecent study.9. Walnuts: A walnut-enriched diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES10. Black Raspberries: A 2010 study found black raspberries were highly effective in preventing intestinal tumor development in mice.11. Blueberries: Whole blueberry smoothies consumed daily improved insulin-sensitivity in obese, non-diabetic and insulin resistant patients in a six-week study.12. Broccoli and Cauliflower: A high intake of these vegetables may be associated with reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer.13. Pomegranates: A preliminary study suggests pomegranate juice can help prevent a number of complications in kidney disease patients on dialysis.14. Tomatoes: A six-week study found that people with high-blood pressure who consumed two servings of canned tomato products daily experienced a significant decrease in bloodpressure.■

(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

Resolve to Eat These 14 Foods in New Year

With the start of a new year, many of us resolve to improve our eating habits by trying to include more nutritious foods in our diets -- but which foods? Food Technology magazine lists 14 foodsthatdeliverresearch-documentedbenefitsto health.WHOLE GRAINS1. Barley: 11 clinical trials spanning almost 20 years found that increased consumption of barley products can lower total and LDL cholesterol.2. Quinoa and Buckwheat: Research suggests that seeds and sprouts from both quinoa and buckwheat represent rich sources of polyphenol compounds, which enhance the nutritional value of foods, such as gluten-free breads.3. Brown Rice: Substituting brown rice for white rice may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.4. Rye: Rye can improve glycemic profilesand rye bread can be used to decrease hunger both before and after lunch when consumed at breakfast.

NUTS5. Almonds: A 2007 study showed that 300

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look very authentic.What do they want? They want your personal information any way they can get it. It might be a direct steal when you help by typing in your name and information. It might be that you’re tricked into downloading a keystroke logger program that will capture everything you type in.Here are some initial steps you can take to protect yourself:1. Err on the side of caution. Be skeptical. Don’t click any links, even out of curiosity. (Even clicking might start a download of spyware.) Don’t provide any personal information that’s asked for. If in doubt, close the

If 2012 has a theme, it might well be the Year of Increased Internet Fraud. The problems don’t occur as much with what we block out with our virus protection as they do with the parts we do let in: email we open and websites we visit. One source pegs the increase in “phishing” (getting your information) at 1,200 percent in just the past six months. It’s only going to get worse.During the recent holidays, right in the middle of online shopping season, customers received fake messages supposedly from a major online store. The email looked genuine: the content looked right, the subject line was one that many people would open -- but the sender’s address was forged, and it asked for personal information.That’s the key right there: When an email or a site wants your data, beware. The collection form might be a duplicate of the info-gathering method of the legitimate site and

email, close your email client completely, delete your browsing history and close all your browser

windows. Then navigate to that company’s website in your normal way by typing in the URL. Be sure your browser’s phishing filter isturned on.2. Better yet, pick up the phone. Call the company and tell them about the email you’ve received. (They’ll want to know.) Ask if the mail was legitimate and if something is wrong with your account.To learn more about online fraud, go online to Fraud Watch International www.fraudwatchinternational.com. Explore the tabs for Fraud Education and Consumer, but especially the Phishing Alerts. Click one event in the very long list, especially if you recognize the company, and explore how the fraud was accomplished. There are graphics and text to describe each step.(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

MoneyBitsInternet Fraud Soars,

Are You Preparedby David Uffington

Making the Most of That Champagne Toast

A long-standing disagreement about the best way to pour a glass of champagne for that New Year’s toastfinallyhasbeensettled.ScientistsinFrancearereporting that pouring bubbly in an angled, down-the-side way is best for preserving champagne’s tasteandfizz.

The study, which appears in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, also reports the firstscientific evidenceconfirming the

importance of chilling champagne before serving to enhance its taste.Gerard Liger-Belair and colleagues note that tiny bubbles are the essence of fine champagnes andsparkling wines. Past studies indicate that the bubbles -- formed during the release of large amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide gas -- help transfer the taste, aroma and mouth-feel of champagne. Scientists long have suspected that the act of pouring a glass of bubbly could have a big impact on gas levels in champagne and its quality. Until now, however, no scientificstudyhadbeendone.The scientists studied carbon dioxide loss in champagne using two different pouring methods. One involved pouring champagne straight down the middle of a glass. The other involved pouring champagne down the side of an angled glass.They found that pouring champagne down the side preserved up to twice as much carbon dioxide in champagne than pouring down the middle -- probably because the angled method was gentler. They also showed that cooler champagne temperatures (ideally, 39 degrees Fahrenheit) help reducecarbondioxideloss.■(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Dear Dr. Donohue: My husband is 73. I am sure he’s going to die this winter. He insists on shoveling our snow, and we have lots of it. He says it’s good for him; it gives him exercise. This from a man whose other exercise consists of popping open a beer can. He comes in after he’s cleared the walk, puffing and exhausted. Please talk some sense into him. -- M.L.

Answer: After every snowstorm, city emergency rooms fill with older men who have had a heartattack after cleaning their snow-covered walks. Snow shoveling is strenuous exercise. It burns 420 calories an hour. The heart rate of a shoveler rises to 170 beats a minute, and the systolic blood pressure (the firstnumberofareading)exceeds200.Ofcourse,thedemand depends on the depth and weight of the snow. Older hearts cannot support such stress.In addition to the work of shoveling, cold weather adds more demands on the heart.Unless a man your husband’s age has had medical clearance for such exhausting exercise, he is tempting fate.Dear Dr. Donohue: A friend has a case of constant hiccups. Can you suggest any possible cures? -- P.W.

Answer: Hiccups come from involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, the horizontal muscle sheet that lies between the chest and the abdomen. It is the principal breathing muscle. Sometimes persistent contractions can be traced to gallbladder problems, diseases of the pancreas, refluxof stomachacid into theesophagus(heartburn) or an abscess on the abdominal side of the diaphragm. However, most of the time, no cause is found. For temporary hiccups, gulping food and simultaneously swallowing air sometimes brings them on. So can carbonated beverages.

Shoveling Snow Is Hard on HeartBy Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Through the years readers have provided me with hundreds of home remedies for dealing with hiccups, and I welcome new additions. Swallowing a teaspoon of sugar irritates the throat, which sets in motion a reflex that can end hiccups. Breathing into a paperbag raises the blood carbon-dioxide level, which, in turn, raises blood acidity, and that triggers a release of calcium. Calcium can spark nerve signals to stop hiccups. Putting angostura bitters on the back of the tongue is another sometimes-successful trick.Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours aren’t likely to respond to home remedies. Medicines have to be turned to. Chlorpromazine, omeprazole, metoclopramide and baclofen are often successfully used.In cases that are resistant to medicine treatment and that are disrupting a person’s life, doctors can interrupt, in a number of ways, the transmission of nerve signals conducted to the diaphragm by the phrenic nerve.Dear Dr. Donohue: I am 34 and have been jogging for 10 years. I do it year-round. I’ve noticed this winter that my knees feel stiff before I run. They don’t hurt during the run or after. Could this be a sign that I’m getting arthritis? -- B.C.

Answer: It’s not likely that at age 34 you’re coming down with arthritis. It’s more likely a weather thing. Coldweather thickens jointfluid.Thatmakes jointsstiff. Warming the fluid by exercise relieves thestiffness.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) 2011 North America Synd., Inc., All Rights Reserved

The “Free” Lunch Could Cost Plenty

Those free-lunch seminar scams are still going on. That’s because it’s lucrative for scammers. They want to separate you from your money, and too often they succeed.The American Association of Retired Persons has released a study on victims of scamseminarsandotherfinancialriskstoseniors.

The study showed that people who are more likely than the general population to fall for investment scams have the following behaviors: They will listen to sales pitches on the phone, attend promotions where a free night’s stay or a meal is given, provide personal information to salespeople, allow people to come into their home for a sales pitch, read junk mail, not hang up on telemarketers, and call 1-800 numbers to send for free information.In other words, they’re opening themselves up to being scammed.Even if one of these financial seminarsis hosted by your local senior center or another trusted local organization, do your homework in advance. Call the center to ask who checked it out, and how. Go online and do a search for the company’s name.

What are their true qualifications? Arethey local? See if there are any complaints at the Better Business Bureau.And if you go to a free lunch seminar (don’tgo,butifyoudo):Don’tfilloutanyforms that give your personal information. Even giving your telephone number could be a step toward being harassed. They’ll want to visit you at your home, where you’re more vulnerable and have all your financial information handy so they candetermine how much you’re worth and decidehowtofinetunetheirapproach.And leave your checkbook at home.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.

(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Pets to the RescueBy Sam Mazzotta

There’s a good crop of pet books this season, but two really stand out from the pack of training and pet-care tomes I normally receive. These are perfect for curlingupwithbesidethefireinthenewyear.You might, or might not, remember the story of the library cat named Dewey, who ruled the Spencer, Iowa, public library for nearly two decades as its resident cat. Library director Vicki Myron along with author Bret Witter published a series of books about Dewey. Now, they’re back with another great addition to the plucky cat’s story: “Dewey’s Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions” (New American Library). Myron and Witter present nine true stories of cats and their people, illustrating the way pets affect and change our lives for the better.If you’re more interested in a good piece of fiction, take a break with “WalkingBack to Happiness” (Berkeley Books) by Lucy Dillon. It’s a well-composed, smart tale of Juliet, who is grieving the recent loss of her husband and rarely leaves the house except to walk her husband’s terrier, Minton. Her mother and sister both try to lift her spirits in between their own busy lives, but it isn’t until Juliet begins walking her mother’s aging Lab, Coco, that things begin to change. It’s a sensitive depiction of grief and healing, with a bit of romance thrown in.Send your questions or tips 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) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.Answer on page 5

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Chicken and Apples with Lemon

Balsamic SauceChicken breast meat is a healthy but rather bland source of protein. Pairing lean chicken with apples and spinachinthisflavorfullemonbalsamic sauce showcases each ingredient and provides you with a lean protein, fruit and a vegetable in one dish. •4 chicken breast halves

with the skin but no bone (about 1 1/4 pounds)

•1 1/2 tablespoons poultry seasoning

•1/2 teaspoon salt•1 teaspoon freshly ground

black pepper•Cooking-oil spray•1/4 cup balsamic vinegar•2 tablespoons freshly

squeezed lemon juice•1 teaspoon lemon zest•2 cloves garlic, minced

•1 cup canned reduced-sodium chicken broth or chicken stock

•1/2 teaspoon agave syrup•1 large Jonagold or Mutsu

apple (8 ounces), cut in half, cored & sliced thinly

•1 (16 ounce) bag triple-washed baby spinach

•1 tablespoon whipped butter

1. Season chicken on both sides with 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning, salt and pepper.2. Spray a large skillet with the cooking-oil spray and heat on high until hot; reduce heat to medium-high and add the chicken breasts, skin side down. Saute for 6 minutes or until the skin is nicely browned. Transfer with tongs or a slotted spoon to a plate and cover loosely with

aluminum foil.3. Turn the heat to high. Mix the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of poultry seasoning, vinegar, lemon juice and zest, garlic, broth and syrup in skillet until well-blended. Bring sauce to a boil.4. Turn heat to low and add butter, stirring until it melts. Add apples and half the bag of spinach and stir. Simmer for 6 minutes and add remaining spinach. Simmer another 3 minutes, until the apples soften and the sauce reduces slightly. 5. Add chicken, skin side up, to the pan, along with any juices from the chicken plate. Cook 12 to 14 minutes over medium heat, or until chicken is just cooked through. Transfer chicken to each of 4 plates and top each serving with some of the sauce. Serve with whole-wheat pasta, couscous or brown rice. Serves 4.Angela Shelf Medearis is an award-winning children’s author, a culinary historian and the author of seven cookbooks. She’s known as The Kitchen Diva and is the executive producer and host of “The Kitchen Diva!” cooking show on HULU.com. Her new cookbook is “The Kitchen Diva Cooks!” Visit her website at www.divapro.com. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

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ARIES (March 21 - April 19) The New Year brings challenges that can change many things in your life. You need to be prepared not only to confront them, but also to deal with what happens afterward.TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) You have what it takes to set your goals quite a bit higher this year. Learn what you need to know and put what you learn into your efforts. A partner offers loving support.GEMINI (May 21 - June 20) In true Gemini Twin fashion, you’re conflicted about a decisionyou know you’ll have to make in this New Year. Best advice: Get the facts before you make any commitment.CANCER (June 21 - July 22) A friend offers you an exciting opportunity for the New Year. Although your positive aspects are strong in most respects, caution is advised. Investigate before you invest.LEO (July 23 - August 22) You can make this New Year a roaring success. Start by readjusting your goals to reflect thechanges in theeconomy.Yourden-mate offers both wise and loving support.VIRGO (August 23 - September 22) The New Year brings new opportunities for change. But you need to be ready to move from the comfortable status quo to the challenging unknown. It’s up to you.LIBRA (September 23 - October 22) Your most important New Year’s resolution should be to work out problems with a family member in order to avoid continued misunderstandings. Do it soon, for both of your sakes.SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21) The New Year has much to offer the intensely determined Scorpian, who isn’t afraid to take on challenges and stay with them until they surrender their rewards.SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21) You’ll have many fine opportunities in this NewYear. But be warned: Reject offers of “help.” You work best when you’re free to be your own creative self.CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19) The New Year offers changes that you might feel you’re not quite ready for. Best advice: Deal with them one step at a time, until you’ve built up your self-confidence.AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18) Travel is a dominant aspect of the New Year. This could mean relocating to another city (or even another country) in connection with your education or your career.PISCES (February 19 - March 20) This New Year brings news about a change you’ve been anticipating. You might have a problem persuading a loved one about your new plans, but he or she will soon go along with them.BORN THIS WEEK: You have a gift for making people feel safe and protected. You would make an excellent youth counselor.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

Q: Like you, I am an avid fan of “New Girl” on Fox. I was wondering what happened to Coach, the character played by Damon Wayans Jr., who was in the first episode and then suddenly left? -- Giselle F., via e-mail

A:When“NewGirl”filmed itspilotepisode inspring 2011, the original roommates were Coach (played by Damon), Schmidt(MaxGreenfield)andNick(Jake Johnson), with Jess (Zooey Deschanel) taking Winston’s room, since he was off playing basketball in Latvia. However, Damon also was co-starring on the ABC show “Happy Endings,” which at the time “New Girl” began production was looking like it wasn’t going to get renewed for another season. So, when “Happy Endings” did indeed get renewed, the producers at “New Girl” had to find a new fourthroommate and opted for Winston (Lamorne Morris) to return from Latvia to reclaim his old room.Q: I was super-bummed when I found out that “Cougar Town” wasn’t going to air on ABC until January as a midseason replacement, and now I am hearing that that might not even happen! Please tell me it hasn’t been canceled. -- Bridget D. in North Carolina

A: I have good news and bad news: The good

Zooey Deschanel

news is that “Cougar Town” will be back this season; the bad news is its return has been pushed back until March. More bad news: Instead of its planned 22-episode season, the order has been cut to 15 episodes. This news makes me super-bummed too, as I have been going through some serious withdrawals, and have been forced to drink wine out of Big Joe while reading Laurie Keller’s hilarious Twitter feed (twitter.com/TheLarmy) andthrowingpenniesinmyBobbyCobbOfficialCompetition Penny Can as I wait with bated breath for new episodes from my favorite Pinot-swilling gals and their awesome sidekick fellas.Q: A while back you mentioned that Fox was going to make an animated version of “Napoleon Dynamite.” Are those plans still

going forward? -- Jeremy G., via e-mail

A: It’s full-steam ahead on the weekly cartoon adaption of “Napoleon Dynamite,” which will be voiced by the movie’s stars, including John Heder, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Aaron Ruell, John Gries and the gang. The 13-episode series premieres on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 8:30 ET, right in the middle of Fox’s super-successful “animation block.”Q: I was watching “Robocop” over the weekend and wondered what its star, Peter Weller, can be seen in now? He was so good in that movie! -- George T., Omaha, Neb.

A: Peter Weller, who very recently was a regular on “Dexter” playing Stan Liddy, is the latest big-name star to be cast in the newest “Star Trek” movie, which is yet untitled. The film’s detailsare being kept under wraps, but I can tell you that Peter is playing a principal character in the May 2013 sequel to the 2009 megablockbuster. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

Jimmie Johnson Still Chomping at the BitTony Stewart won his third championship in 2011, and no one has ever been more spectacular down the

stretch.Hewonfiveofthefinal10races,themostever since the Chase was implemented in 2004, and yet still won only by tie-breaker over Carl Edwards, who had the same number (2,403) of points.Edwards has finished second or third three timesnow and has the best average finish, 4.9, of anydriver in Chase history.So who is the favorite for 2012? It’s obvious, even though it’s neither Stewart nor Edwards.The favorite is the driver who won championships in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010: Jimmie Johnson.Johnson finished sixth, 99 points behind Stewartand Edwards. It wasn’t a championship season, but it wasn’t bad, at least not by any standards other than those established by Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports crew chief, Chad Knaus.“Highly motivated” was the way Johnson referred to himself at the Sprint Cup Awards Ceremonies in Las Vegas.“Motivation comes easy for all of us,” he said. “I know that question is asked a lot, but we just want to race, and if we’re going to spend all the time to do all this, we want to be racing for the championship.”Johnson won five straight championships. Only

Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt have ever won more than five total. Can Johnson win eight andbreak the record?“I want to believe in it,” he said. “How long I can race into my career? I think there is a chance, I don’t know how realistic that chance is, but I want to believe in it and think that I can.”Johnson paid tribute to Stewart, who became the firstdriver-ownertowinachampionshipsinceAlan

Kulwicki in 1992.“I didn’t think it was possible,” Johnson said. “I don’t think any of us felt that we would see it take place again or even get close to it. ... It’s a huge feat that I think everybody wrote off and said would never happen again.”Monte Dutton covers motorsports for The Gaston (N.C.) Gazette. E-mail Monte at nascarthisweek@yahoo.com.(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

After his streak of Sprint Cup championships was broken this year by Tony Stewart, Hendrick Motorsports stalwart Jimmie Johnson is “highly motivated” to get back to his usual winning ways. (John Clark/NASCAR This Week photo)

• It was American journalist and satirist Ambrose Bierce who made the following sage observation: “There is nothing new under the sun but there are lots of old things we don’t know.”

• Those who study such things say that when a ladybug is frightened, it squirts a foul-smelling goo from its knees.

• You might be surprised to learn that approximately 40 percent of the oxygen in the world’s atmosphere is provided by the verdant plant growth of South America’s Amazon River basin.

• Mayan artwork dating back to 700 A.D. shows people preparing chocolate beverages. Chocolate was so valued by the natives of the Americas, the Maya even used cacao beans as currency.

•For reasons that aren’t quite clear, in 1960 Macy’s department store introduced a vending machine that dispensed men’s underwear. After an initial flurry of shoppers coming tosee the new contraption, the machine was doomed to obscurity due to lack of interest.

• Here’s a question for the ladies: Are you a philematophobe? If you’re a woman who hates to be kissed, you are.

• Only about 37 percent of the newspapers published in the Unites States are recycled.

• Researchers at Yale University have determined that people think more efficiently in the winterthan in the summer.

(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

By Samantha Weaver

Page 8 Tidbits® of Michigan

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“Cool” Candles Add Warm GlowLet’smakefirewithice!Impossible,yousay?Well,it just depends on how you look at it. Follow my easy process for creating these super “cool” candles that add a warm glow to any evening.

To make several medium-size candles, you’ll need:• 1-pound box of paraffin wax (available in the

canning section at most markets)• 1 saucepan and a tin can, such as a coffee can • Candle coloring (optional)• Ice cubes crushed into medium-size chunks. Your kids may fill a gallon plastic bag about three-quarters full with ice. Secure the top. Let them use a hammer to break the ice into small chunks.

• Empty and clean pint- or quart-size cardboard milk cartons with the tops cut off

• A white or colored taper candle for each ice candle, 1 inch shorter than the cut carton. Trim the candle from the bottom, if necessary.

Anadultshouldfillthebottomofthesaucepanwitha few inches of water and place the tin can in the center.Putachunkofparaffin inside thecanalongwith extra candle stubs you might have around the house. Add coloring if you wish. Stir occasionally as the wax melts, keeping a constant eye on it since it is flammable.For a wick, your school-age child can place a taper candle in the middle of a milk carton and pack the ice around it. When the wax is melted, an adult should use a potholder to lift the can out of the saucepan and pour the melted wax directly into the milk carton over the ice and around the taper candle. As the wax melts the ice, you’ll hear cracking and popping! Once the wax is hard, drain off the water a time or two. Peel the carton away from the candle and enjoy the surprise of your work of art! The ice will have formed interesting pockets, like a chunk of Swiss cheese.To use, set it on a plate and surround it with marbles. When you light the candle, give your preschooler the job of saying “Ta-da!” as you stand around proudly watchingthecreationflickeronawinter’snight.Note: An adult should always be present when burning candles.(c) 2011 Donna Erickson, Distributed by King Features Synd.

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