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TIDBITS® SEARCHES FOR

SUNSHINE

by Patricia L. Cook

Many people suffer from the blues during the

winter months because of a lack of sunshine, but

spring will bring us all warmth and sunny days

soon! This Tidbits explores the gigantic star that

our planet revolves around.

• The sun is a huge star that is the center of

our solar system. Earth is tiny compared to the

sun. Our entire planet could fit inside the sun

109 times if it was a hollow ball! Of course, it’s

not hollow; it is filled with hot gasses. How hot?

The surface of the sun is about 10,000 degrees

Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius). The core, or

center of the sun, is estimated to be more than 28

million degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 million C).

• The sun is 864,000 miles (1.4 million km)

in diameter, almost 35 times larger than the

diameter of the earth and is about 330,000 times

the mass of earth.

• On a mountain summit on a hot summer day,

it appears that the sun is really close to earth.

However, it is nearly 93 million miles (150 million

km) away. It takes sunlight about eight minutes to

reach us. Even with that distance, the light and

heat keep our planet warm, allowing plants to

grow and even giving us a sunburn if we are not

careful. Without the sun, earth would be frozen

and dark all the time and could not support life as

we know it.

turn the page for more!

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DVD ReviewsGood Housekeeping recipes

Antiques by Larry Cox

Latest book reviewTop 10 movies

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dedicated to our readers and advertisers.

We hope you enjoy our paper and look forward to doing business in the Salina area.

Member Salina area chamber of commerce

March 11th

Tidbits® of Salina

Chicken and Fruit

1 package (6 1/4 ounce) white-and-wild-rice mix1/2 cup parboiled rice2 medium oranges2 medium Red Delicious or McIntosh apples1 bunch (about 1 pound) fresh spinach1 (3/4 pound) smoked boneless chicken breast2 tablespoons cider vinegar1 tablespoon olive oil1. In 3-quart saucepan over high heat, heat

3 1/2 cups water to boiling. Stir in white-and-wild-rice mix with seasoning packet and parboiled rice; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until water is absorbed and rice is tender. Set aside to cool slightly.

2. While rice is cooking, cut peel from oranges. Holding oranges over large bowl to catch juice, cut sections from oranges; drop sections into bowl. Dice apples. Coarsely chop half of spinach leaves; reserve remain-ing leaves. Discard skin from chicken breast; tear breast into bite-size pieces.

3. To bowl with oranges, add rice mixture, apples, chopped spinach, chicken, vinegar and oil; mix well. Arrange reserved spin-ach leaves on platter; top with rice mixture. Serves 6.

Each serving: About 350 calories, 7g total fat, 39mg cholesterol, 995mg sodium.

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

Q: I love Annie Potts in just about everything I see her in, and her new show “GCB” is definitely includ-ed. Where does she get her inspiration for the fun and eclectic characters she portrays? -- Ginny W., via e-mailA: For her role of Gigi Stopper, Annie found inspira-tion from a dear friend, the late Dixie Carter, whom she starred with on “Designing Women.” I spoke with Annie recently about “GCB” -- which I agree is a must-see -- and she told me how she formed the character of Gigi: “I have lovingly borrowed from Dixie Carter. Were she still alive, the role would have been hers and should have been, but since she took early leave, I just decided to play it like her. I think that she would approve.“Dixie was sensationally beautiful, religious, Repub-lican, conservative and had two daughters whom she worshipped. She always had stockings on, and she was immaculately groomed all the time. Even if I went over there to her house early in the morning, she always looked good. And she was always in the pew on Sunday. I think that’s the way Gigi is.” See for yourself, and check out “GCB” on ABC Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.***Q: Will Noah Wylie’s new show, “Falling Skies,” be

back for another season? It was my favorite new show of last season. -- Frankie A., Charlotte, N.C.A: “Falling Skies” will return to TNT this summer as part of its exciting original summer-programming lineup. “Lost” alumnus Terry O’Quinn will join Noah for at least two episodes, playing a mentor of sorts for Tom Mason. ***Q: I loved “Wedding Crashers.” Will Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn make another movie soon? They are so good together. -- Alec. D., via e-mailA: A lot of people agree with you, including the dy-namic comedy duo themselves: Owen and Vince have signed on to co-star together in the new big-screen comedy “Interns,” where they’ll play two middle-aged men forced to re-evaluate their careers after being laid off. It follows their resulting struggle to reclimb the corporate ladder.***Dear Readers: Because I get tons of letters asking about “The Waltons,” I wanted to share this program-ming information with you. The Hallmark Channel will air “A Walton Easter” on Saturday, March 31, at 6 p.m. ET/PT, 5 p.m. CT. The television movie, which originally aired in 1997, takes place in 1969, where John-Boy (Richard Thomas) is now a married New York TV news anchor and is writing a new book. When John-Boy and his very pregnant wife, Janet (Kate McNeil), join his family for the celebration of his parent’s 40th wedding anniversary, John-Boy yearns to move back to the mountain, which conflicts with Janet’s wishes to stay in New York.Immediately following, enjoy “A Decade of the Wal-tons,” a family special that highlights the greatest moments from “The Waltons,” and is hosted by Earl Hammer Jr., creator and narrator of the original show.

Write to Cindy at King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475; or e-mail her at [email protected].

Aluminum Cookware

Q: I have a complete set of Guardian aluminum cookware from Century Metalcraft Corporation. It is from the 1950s, and the conditions of the various pieces vary. I even have a recipe book that came with the set and a box of cleaning supplies provided by the company. Any information will be appreciated. -- Carolin, Stratton, Colo.A: Guardian cookware was manufactured in Los Angeles from the mid-1930s until the plant was destroyed by fire in about 1956. The product was sold mostly at house par-ties, much like Avon is marketed today. The pieces were constructed of hammered aluminum with glass tops. The durability was one of the main selling points. Since glass lids got broken and lost, they are especially coveted by collectors. Typical prices found on the Internet include a turkey roaster, $75; 1-quart casserole, $18; and 2.5-quart Dutch oven, $22.***Q: I have a set of three Badger Fire Extinguishers, one full-size copper, one full-size brass and one junior-size in copper. All three are museum quality. My concern is value. -- Gerald, Haverhill, Mass.A: The Badger Fire Extinguisher Company has been in business for more than a century and still manufactures firefighting equipment at its plant in Sommerville, Mass. Older extinguishers -- especially the ones crafted in cop-per and brass --- have become quite collectible. Some are being made into lamps and others as just interesting examples of American craftsmanship. I found five vintage Badger extinguishers being offered for sale on eBay, all valued in the $50 to $200 range. Since the ones you have are museum quality, I suspect they are worth in the upper end of that range, perhaps more.***Q: I have two picture frames that have fancy scroll-cut designs. I have had them for years and am curious about any value. -- Dorothy, Coventry, R.I.A: The frames you have could be quite old. I suggest you contact an appraiser or reputable dealer to help you deter-mine how much they might be worth. Several weeks ago I attended an estate auction where several dozen vintage frames were sold, mostly in the $50 to $75 range. As with most collectibles, there are always exceptions, and that is why I recommend the services of an expert.

Write to Larry Cox in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to [email protected]. Due to the large volume of mail he receives, Mr. Cox is unable to personally answer all reader questions. Do not send any materials requiring return mail.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

SUNSHINE (continued):

• The closer you get to the earth’s poles, the more

extreme the days are with and without sunshine.

The North Pole does not have sunshine for 186

days a year.

• Barrow, Alaska, doesn’t have any sunshine in

December and January, but when summer rolls

around, June through August, they are blessed

with continual sunshine 24 hours a day.

• Today, much attention is focused on our need for

vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin. Being in

the sun is the best way to satisfy your body’s need

for vitamin D; it is produced in your skin when your

skin is exposed to sunlight.

• A lack of vitamin D can put you at increased risk

for the bone disease osteoporosis. Low vitamin

D can also cause poor metabolism, a weakened

heart and cause your body to heal slowly from

broken bones and cuts.

• Even though Florida is nicknamed the “Sunshine

State,” there are five other states that actually have

more sunshine. According to the National Weather

Service, Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada and

New Mexico catch more rays.

• The sunniest place in the United States where

you can absorb some natural vitamin D is Yuma,

Arizona. The next four places are: Redding,

California; Flagstaff and Phoenix, Arizona; and Las

Vegas, Nevada.

• Juneau, Alaska, is the cloudiest city in the

United States with only 30 percent of the annual

possible sunshine. Other areas that lack sunshine,

where vitamin D supplements may be needed, are

Quillayute, Washington; Elkins, West Virginia; Hilo,

Hawaii; and Anchorage, Alaska.

• If you search the internet for businesses, towns,

clubs and other organizations that use the word

sunshine in their name, you will probably be

amazed. It seems that everyone loves sunshine!

The word seems to imply happiness. However,

there are a few places borrowing the name that

haven’t turned out so sunny. How about ghost

towns?

1. LITERATURE: Which of Shakespeare’s plays features the line, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be”?2. LANGUAGE: What would a diaper be called in Great Britain?3. HISTORY: In what year did man first walk on the moon?4. GAMES: Who invented basketball?5. AD SLOGANS: What fast-food restaurant chain urged customers to "have it your way"?6. RELIGION: Who was the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?7. FOOD & DRINK: What is the main liquor used in mar-garitas?8. MOVIES: Which character was the only non-Jedi to use a lightsaber in the first “Star Wars” trilogy?9. ANATOMY: Where are the deltoids located in the human body?10. TELEVISION: How many seasons did the comedy se-ries “Bewitched” run on TV?

• Sunshine, Tennessee, is also known as Kinsel

Springs, after S.J. Kinsel who established the town

in the early 1900s. Located in what is now the Great

Smoky Mountain National Park, at one time it had a

large resort hotel, and people rode the train from

Knoxville to enjoy swimming in the Little River and

walking across the swinging bridge. After the hotel

burned in the 1950s, and the railroad’s demand

for the local lumber dried up, the company was

discontinued and the town died. The swinging

bridge has been renovated, but not much else is

there today.

• Mr. Kinsel, known for his wealth, was also known

for his generosity. He donated a large sum of money

to the International Sunshine Society. The society

was started in the early 1900s to help infants and

children who were blind, to bring “sunshine” to

their sweet lives.

• Two mines named “Sunshine” were located in

Utah and Idaho, for gold and silver respectively.

• Sunshine Mine in Utah was expected to be a

great gold find but proved to be disappointing and

was abandoned after 15 years of work. Only about

$400,000 in gold was extracted. Sunshine Canyon,

where the mine was located, has been deserted

since 1910.

• Sunshine Mine in Idaho, located between

the towns of Kellogg and Wallace in the Idaho

panhandle, was a silver mine that produced almost

365 million ounces of silver from 1904 through

2001. Unfortunately, the Sunshine Mine has the

distinction of being the spot of the worst disaster

in Idaho history. A fire in the mine in 1972 killed

91 workers. A monument to the lost miners was

erected near the mine and can be viewed there

today.

• Sunshine Hill, Texas, near Wichita Falls, got its

name from the fact that at 1,208 feet (368 m) above

sea level, it was the highest hill in the area. The

school that was established there in 1889 was

the only structure left in the town in recent years.

Unfortunately, the school burned to the ground in

March 2011.

• North of the border in Alberta, Canada, is

Sunshine Village Ski Resort, one of three ski

HOLLYWOOD -- Disney’s re-release of “Beauty and the Beast” in 3D has been a big moneymaker. That has prompted a remake of the l946 classic live-action French version, which starred Jean Marais. Guillermo Del Toro is set to produce, write and direct the reboot, which likely will star “Harry Potter’s” Emma Watson as Belle. Del Toro gave us “Mimic” (‘97), “Blade II” (‘02), “Hellboy” (‘06), “Pan’s Labyrinth” (‘06) and “Hellboy II (‘08). In addition, he produced “Kung Fu Panda 2” and “Puss in Boots,” and wrote both parts of the upcoming “Hobbit” films be-ing released this year and next. Del Toro also is set to direct a remake of “Frankenstein” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” He recently announced he’d produce and direct a 3D remake of Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion.” In his hands, “Beauty and the Beast” is sure to be as tender and touching as the original ‘46 version.***Kodak’s recent financial woes, which led to its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, also has forced it to drop the naming rights to The Kodak Theatre where the Oscars are broadcast. This may give the Academy an out of its contract with the theater, which the Oscars have outgrown. The Academy has been considering other venues, such as the Nokia Theatre. Seems 3,300 seats

are just not enough to hold all the people who desper-ately want to attend the awards.***Billy Bob Thornton has directed and written his first film in more than a decade. “Jayne Mansfield’s Car” is a drama, set in the l960s, about two families from different countries whose cultures clash. Billy Bob won an Os-car in l997 for the screenplay of “Swing Blade.” This film features an incredible cast: Oscar winner Robert Duval, John Hurt, “The Birds” Tippi Hedren, Kevin Bacon and “Terminator 2” villain and “X-Files” regular Robert Pat-rick. Also top-lining is Ray Stevenson, who had “Kill the Irishman,” “Thor” and “The Three Musketeers” out last year and the recently completed “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” starring red-hot Channing Tatum.The title refers to the car accident in which sex symbol Jayne Mansfield died in l967. I knew and photographed Jayne many times and remember when she headlined The Latin Quarter nightclub, owned by Barbara Walters’ father, Lou Walters. Jayne came out of her dressing room to pose for pictures, wearing the lowest-cut dress I’d ever seen on a woman. When I asked her to take a deep breath, on a dare, she did, and had the most won-derful wardrobe malfunction that put Janet Jackson’s lit-tle Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction to shame ... if you know what I mean.

Send letters to Tony Rizzo’s Hollywood, 8306 Wilshire Blvd., No. 362, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

“The End of Money: Counterfeiters, Preachers, Techies, Dreamers and the Coming Cashless Society”by David Wolman(Da Capo, $25)Reviewed by Larry Cox

Our society has come a long way since Marco Polo became intrigued by the paper notes he saw circulating in China more than 700 years ago. From the gold standard to the as-cent of national currencies and finally to India, where there is a growing trend to abandon cash entirely, are we head-ing toward a time when the little numbered bits of paper and metal discs we use in our day-to-day lives becomes obsolete? Remember how unthinkable it was just a few short years ago when experts predicted that plastic cards would replace most of our cash transactions? David Wolman, a contribut-ing editor to Wired, believes that there could be an even better way to transact in the future, something more con-venient than checks, credit cards and PayPal.To see what that kind of life would be like, Wolman set out to imagine a future without cash. He began by personally eliminating cash for an entire year, but quickly discovered that his experiment wasn’t as easy as he had thought. For example, simple ordinary things like buying a cup of coffee, taking care of his son and supermarket shopping became daunting challenges. When he attempted to ride a New Jer-sey Transit train bound for Manhattan, he found he couldn’t use plastic to buy a ticket on board; scraping together $10 bucks for the babysitter also was a problem. He quickly came to the conclusion that getting rid of cash entirely is probably not possible today, but he sees it as a reality down the road.Wolman points out that the United States is lagging behind counties such as New Zealand, Canada, most of Scandi-navia and others in rethinking payment technologies and alternatives. In India, many consumers already have shifted to using their cell phones as replacements for both bank branches and cash.


TOP TEN MOVIES

1. Safe House (R) Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds2. The Vow (PG-13) Channing Tatum, Rachel McAdams3. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D (PG-13) Nicolas

Cage, Violante Placido4. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D (PG) Dwayne

Johnson, Michael Caine5. This Means War (PG-13) Reese Witherspoon, Chris

Pine6. Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace 3D (PG)

Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor7. Chronicle (PG-13) Dane Dehaan, Michael B. Jordan

8. The Woman in Black (PG-13) Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds

9. The Secret World of Arrietty (G) animated10. The Grey (R) Liam Neeson, Dallas Roberts

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Fruit Fly Swarm Infests Kitchen

Q: How can I get rid of pesky fruit flies? They’re all over my kitchen. -- Stephen F., Warwick, R.I.

A: Fruit flies, as their name indicates, love hanging out around fruit, or any sort of sweetish, sugary item. They’re much more common in the summer months, but it’s not unusual to see them in early spring, particularly in the kitchen, if the condi-tions are right. A warm environment combined with a bowl of overripe bananas often is all it takes for a few fruit flies to set up housekeeping, and in a few days, it will seem like they’re everywhere.The fastest way to get rid of fruit flies is to hunt down and get rid of items in which they live and breed: namely, overripe, fermented or spoiled fruits, vegetables or other food. They also can thrive in drains, empty containers, mops, piles of damp rags or clothing -- anywhere that liquid or food has been allowed to sit and get stagnant. They can even get into your refrigerator.

Throw out old food and clean the kitchen or other infested areas. Look behind appliances, including the stove and refrigerator, for dropped food or spilled juices. Check and clean all cabinets, especially those in which food is stored (canned or fresh), in case any food has fallen out of sight and spoiled.Treat drains, including unused or infrequently used drains, by pouring a cup of white vinegar down each and letting it sit for several minutes before rinsing with hot water.If a thorough cleaning doesn’t end the problem, talk with a pest control professional about locating other sources of the infesta-tion and treating with a pesticide.To prevent future infestations or minimize the impact of one (since fruit flies can be brought into the house with fruit and veggies from the store), clean the kitchen and other areas where food is eaten or stored once a week, and reduce the amount of clutter in those areas so the bugs have fewer places to settle in. Treat drains with vinegar once a month, or more frequently if needed. Store garbage in tightly sealed containers and away from entry points like windows or doors. Make sure window screens don’t have holes or small tears that would allow pests through.

HOME TIP: Make a simple fruit fly trap by pouring an ounce or two of apple cider or putting a slice of banana into a glass jar, then rolling a piece of paper into a funnel shape and sticking the narrow end of the funnel into the jar. Fruit flies will be attracted down the funnel to the cider, but can’t get out. Send your questions or tips to [email protected], or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.


By Samantha Mazzotta

Tidbits® of Salina

‘Minor’ Heart Attacks Can Still be Deadly

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband, 46, died suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack. An autopsy showed that he died from what the doctor said was a minor heart attack. How does a minor heart attack kill? It was major for him and me. -- C.C. ANSWER: The pathologist who performed the autopsy must have found that only a small section of heart was involved, and only a small heart artery was obstructed. Minor heart attacks can lead to major complications, including death. They can generate abnormal heartbeats, so abnormal that the heart’s pumping action stops.You have my deepest sympathy.The booklet on heart attacks explains why they happen and how they’re prevented. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 102W, 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 want to get rid of a lot of expired medicines. I have heard that flushing them down the toilet or putting them in the garbage will make them end up in our drinking water. What is the proper solution? -- M.S.ANSWER: Different government agencies have different recommendations for medicine disposal. Congress is trying to resolve those differences.First, check with your drugstore to see if it has a program to dispose of medicines; many do. Also check with your town, county or state to see if it has “take-back” programs. Many do.If you can’t find a facility that accepts old medicines, mix them with coffee grounds, sawdust, kitty litter or similar materials (making them less appealing for children or pets to eat), seal them in a plastic bag and put them in your trash. A few drugs ought to be flushed down the toilet or the sink. These drugs are mostly powerful painkillers, like morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone and Demerol. They pose a danger to children, pets and even adults if accidentally ingested. This advice comes from the Food and Drug Administration. You can find the complete list at www.fda.gov.***Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

(c) 2012 North America Synd., Inc.

A Teaching Clock for Preschoolers

To help your preschoolers learn how to tell time on a traditional clock, make a teaching clock with a pizza pan. Personalize it with photos and drawings to remind them of the activities and chores they do throughout the day.There’s no time like the present, so get started with these four easy steps:Step 1: NUMBER from 1 to 12 around the edge of a metal pizza pan to create a baseline clock face. Use self-sticking numbers, stickers or permanent markers. Step 2: COLLECT 12 large plastic milk-jug caps and number them on the top from 1 to 12. On the backs, attach a piece of thick, self-sticking magnet (available in rolls at hardware stores).Step 3: CUT OUT two craft foam or cardboard arrows for clock hands, making one 3 inches long and the other 4 inches long. Attach magnets to backs.Step 4: DRAW pictures or cut out snapshots or magazine photos of what your child does in a typical day. For exam-ple: Eat breakfast, brush teeth, play outside, pick up toys, brush the dog, read a story, etc. Glue the images to small cardboard squares, attach magnets to the backs, and use interchangeably with the numbers on the clock to help your child understand what happens at different times throughout the day. Make extra cards for activities your child might do weekly, such as “visit Grandma and Grandpa,” “walk to story hour at the neighborhood library,” “attend ballet class,” etc. At bedtime, kids can choose the cardboard activity square that represents a specific special activity for the following day. Store them in a small box or basket when not in use.Extra Tips for Use: Remove all numbered caps and replace by matching the numbers on the caps with the numbers on the pan. Use numbered caps to practice counting.Note: Small plastic milk-jug caps may pose a choking hazard to children 4 and under.***Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”

(c) 2012 Donna EricksonDistributed by King Features Synd.

resorts within Banff National Park. It claims to have

up to 30 feet (9 m) of snow in the winter! It also has

summer hiking access and fun programs beginning

in June.

• All of us need to be thankful for the sun coming up

every morning and going down every night. There

have been numerous religions that have the sun as

their centerpiece. The Egyptians, Aztecs, Greeks

and Japanese all had major tenets of their beliefs

based on the sun. The Aztecs actually thought the

sun died every night and had to be resurrected each

day.

FAMOUS LANDMARKS:

BANFF NATIONAL PARK

The first national park in Canada, second in North

America and third in the world, Banff, lies about an

hour and a half west of Calgary, Alberta.

• Banff started as a small hot springs reserve. When

the Great Canadian Railway reached the Banff area

in 1883, two railway workers discovered hot springs

near an area referred to as siding 29. The hot

springs quickly became an attraction for visitors,

and the government established the Banff National

Reserve in 1885. At that time, it was 10 square miles

(26 sq km).

• When the Canadian government changed the

designation of the area to Rocky Mountain National

Park in 1887, it included the town of Banff and the



hot springs. The size at that time was 260 square

miles (673 sq km). The main transportation to the

park was the Canadian Pacific Railway, which is

still around today, more commonly known as CP

Rail.

• Today, Banff National Park consists of 2,564

square miles (6,641 km2) of spectacular mountain

scenery nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rocky

Mountains. The western border of the park runs for

149 miles (240 km) along the Continental Divide.

• The most famous landmark in the park and in the

entire Canadian Rockies is Lake Louise, a beautiful

glacial lake 35 miles (57 km) west of the town of

Banff. Natives of the area were familiar with the

lake when Edwin Hunter led Tom Wilson to his

“discovery” of Lake Louise in 1882. Wilson gazed

at the site and said, “As God is my judge, I never in

all my explorations saw such a matchless scene.”

• Lake Louise is referred to as the Hiking Capital

of Canada, the Skiing Capital of Canada, the

Romance Capital of Canada (tied with Niagara

Falls), the Jewel in the Heart of the Canadian

Rockies and the Diamond in the Wilderness. All

of the names are deserved! It is also the Highest

Community in Canada at 5,020 feet (1,530 m).

• Just as railroads helped build and increase

traffic to national parks in the United States, CP

Rail helped with the popularity and growth of

Canada’s first national park. In 1888, CP Rail built

the Banff Springs Hotel. (At the time, the wealthy

were the only ones who could afford travel.) The

historic hotel remains a great attraction of the

park for visitors from all over the world.

• A modest hotel geared toward adventurers was

built at Lake Louise in 1890. With the lake in front

and a mountain glacier behind, the hotel became a

popular tourist spot. It was renamed Chateau Lake

Louise in 1913 and after a fire, was rebuilt much

larger. The area then went on to become a major

tourist stop.

• Originally opened as summer-only resorts,

Chateau Lake Louise and Banff Springs Hotel

began opening for skiers during the winter holiday

seasons in the 1970s. In 1988, when Calgary

hosted the Winter Olympics, Banff National Park

was showcased to the world.

• Banff along with Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho

National Parks and the provincial parks of Mount

Robson, Mount Assiniboine and Hamber are

designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of

the largest protected areas in the world.

Alternative Medicine Ends Dog's Torment

DEAR PAW'S CORNER: I read with interest your column about the poor dog that was tormented by allergies. Several years ago I adopted a wonder-ful Border Collie, "Maisie," from a couple who couldn't cope with her constant allergies. Blood tests showed she was allergic to tree pollens, weeds and grasses. It broke my heart to see her su�er, and I took her to many veterinarians. She received allergy shots for more than a year, and many times she was given prednisone, which I didn't like but hoped would help her. One day a new veterinarian recommended a doctor of Chinese medicine nearby. I

brought Maisie in and was told almost immediately, "Yes! I can help her. We need to build her immune system." Within a very short time she was 100 percent better. She lived happily until she was almost 17 years old.I was fortunate to �nd a veteri-narian who was open to alternative treatments. More vets should consider alternative medicine as a way to help pets. -- An Animal Lover in Littleton, Colo.

DEAR ANIMAL LOVER: Thank you for your letter! I'm glad that you were able to alleviate Maisie's su�ering and �nd an e�ective treatment for her chronic allergies. Every pet's needs and responses to treatments are a bit di�erent -- especially when using alterna-

tive, homeopathic or holistic therapies -- and it can be di�cult to �nd the right combination of medication or therapy. I'm impressed by the amount of patience, love and diligence you showed in caring for your dog and getting her the best care possible.

Send your questions or tips to [email protected], 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.


BANFF NATIONAL PARK

(Continued)

Tidbits® of Salina

FOG OR SMOG?

Both fog and smog reduce visibility in areas where

they are present and in extreme cases, can result

in snarled air and ground traffic. In addition to

causing visual impairment, smog can be dangerous

to your health.

• Fog is defined as “a large mass of water

vapor condensed to fine particles, at or just above

the earth's surface; thick, obscuring mist.” Smog

is “fog that has become mixed and polluted with

smoke.” The word smog is a portmanteau, which is

a blend of two or more words into a new word.

• Fog can be dangerous to your health if it

impedes visibility and causes automobile or

airplane crashes, but otherwise, just breathing it

in is not harmful. Smog, on the other hand, can be

extremely bad, especially to people with allergies

and/or asthma.

• Since the word “smog” was first used, scientists

have worked on minimizing it and its consequences.

Dr. H.A. des Voeux is given credit for the first

recorded use of the word in a paper he presented

to the Public Health Congress in London in 1905.

He was quoted in a Daily Graphic newspaper

article saying, “It required no science to see that

there was something produced in great cities which

was not found in the country, and that was smoky

fog, or what was known as ‘smog.’” The next day,

the Globe wrote that, “Dr. des Voeux did a public

service in coining a new word for the London fog.”

• London is indeed known for its fog, as is San

Francisco, but Grand Banks, off the island of

Newfoundland, Canada, is known as the foggiest

place in the world. The cold Labrador Current from

the north and the warm Gulf Stream from the south

meet at Grand Banks and cause the almost ever-

present fog.

• Two towns, Argentia, near Grand Banks,

Newfoundland, and Point Reyes, California, near

San Francisco, have over 200 foggy days per year.

The high humidity from the fog makes for beautiful

greenery in both areas.

Mortgage Help for Homeowners

If you have mortgage problems, parts of a $25 billion settlement could be coming your way. Five of the nation’s largest banks accused of abusive practices have agreed to help 1 million homeowners. The banks are Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Ally Financial. Allegations included the extensive use of robo-signers (foreclosure documents were signed without even being read), failure to offer foreclosure options and incorrect handling of loan modifications.Borrowers who are underwater (the house is worth less than what’s due on it) but still holding on will get come help in the form of reduced debt, either from lowered interest rates or principal re-duction. It’s thought that 11 million borrowers owe more than their homes are worth, which means they haven’t been able to sell or refinance.Lenders will be required to rework loans and reduce the principal for those nearing foreclosure.If you lost your home to foreclosure (as did 750,000 families) between 2008 and 2011, you could receive a payment of $2,000.That’s not to say all the problems are over. For

some, the nightmare continues: While the investi-gations into alleged abusive practices were going on, some lenders just called a halt to the final steps of foreclosures. Families continued to live in their homes without making any payments. Now that the guideline are clear, lenders are likely to press forward with those foreclosures.Neighborhoods that saw too many empty houses due to foreclosure could see many more, as not everyone will qualify for assistance. This could force home prices down even more in neighbor-hoods hardest hit as more bank-owned proper-ties come on the market and investors pick up properties to turn into rentals -- never a good way to stabilize a neighborhood. Ideally, banks won’t release all the properties at once.The programs funded with the $25 billion settle-ment are set to run for three years, but lenders are being given incentives to act within the first year.What to do if your mortgage is in trouble: Call your lender. Ask specifically who is holding your note, as changes might have been made when loans ended up in various secondary-market packages. Take the names of those you talk to. Ask what specific programs will be available to help you. Ask for a time frame and follow up weekly.

David Uffington regrets that he cannot person-ally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Write to him in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to [email protected].

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On March 18, 1852, in New York City, Hen-ry Wells and William G. Fargo join with sev-eral other investors to launch their name-sake business. In July 1852, their company shipped its first loads of freight from the East Coast to mining camps scattered around northern California. On March 17, 1901, paintings by the late Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh are shown in Paris. Van Gogh had committed suicide 11 years earlier without any notion that his work was destined to win acclaim beyond his wildest dreams. In his lifetime, he had sold only one painting.On March 14, 1914, stock-car racer Lee Ar-nold Petty (father of Richard Petty) is born near Randleman, N.C. In 1959, he won the Daytona 500. It’s said that Lee Petty never lost a race on account of being too kind to his competitors, even if his competitors were family. On March 16, 1926, at Auburn, Mass., American Robert Goddard successfully launches the world’s first liquid-fueled rock-et. The 10-foot rocket, fueled by liquid oxy-gen and gasoline, traveled for 2.5 seconds at a speed of about 60 mph, reaching an al-titude of 41 feet and landing 184 feet away. On March 13, 1942, the Quartermaster Corps of the United States Army begins training dogs for the newly established War Dog Program, or “K-9 Corps.” Perhaps the most famous war dog was Rin Tin Tin, an abandoned puppy of German war dogs found in France in 1918 and taken to the United States, where he made his film de-but in the 1922 silent film “The Man From Hell’s River.”On March 15, 1954, the Chords record “Sh-boom.” The song’s lighthearted melody and nonsensical lyrics kicked off a new era of “doo-wop” music. Doo-wop hits included “Earth Angel” by the Penguins and “In the Still of the Night” by the Five Satins.On March 12, 1969, the London drug squad appears at house of George Harrison and Pattie Boyd with a warrant and drug-sniff-ing canines. Sergeant Pilcher, the man be-hind the raid, was later convicted of plant-ing drugs in other cases and went to jail in 1972.(

1. In 2010, Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun became the fifth player in major-league history to hit at least 125 home runs and post at least a .300 average in his first four seasons. Name two of the other four.2. Who was the last National League player

to have at least 30 home runs and 30 errors in the same season?3. How many times have Army, Navy and Air Force all played in a football bowl game in the same season?4. Who held the record for most 3-point field goals made in an NBA Finals game before Ray Allen hit eight in a game in 2010?5. Who played the most games in his NHL career without ever making the Stanley Cup playoffs?6. When was the last time before 2011 that New Zealand won the Rugby World Cup?7. Who was the first non-American female golfer to win the LPGA Championship?

TOP TEN VIDEO, DVD as of February 27, 2012

Top 10 Video Rentals1. In Time (PG-13) Amanda Seyfried

2. Drive (R) Ryan Gosling3. Real Steel (PG-13) Hugh Jackman

4. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1 (PG-13) Kristen Stewart

5. The Thing (R) Mary Elizabeth Winstead6. Dream House (PG-13) Daniel Craig

7. Moneyball (PG-13) Brad Pitt8. Abduction (PG-13) Taylor Lautner9. Contagion (PG-13) Matt Damon10. Killer Elite (R) Jason Statham

Top 10 DVD Sales 1. Twilight Saga: The Breaking Dawn, Part 1 (PG-13) (Sum-

mit Entertainment)2. Lady and the Tramp (G) (Buena Vista)

3. A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas (R) (Warner)4. Treasure Buddies (G) (Buena Vista)

5. Real Steel (PG-13) (Buena Vista)6. Masterpiece Classic: Downtown Abbey, Season 2 (NR)

7. In Time (PG-13) (Fox)8. Drive (R) (Sony)

9. Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (PG-13) (Warner)

10. Star Wars: The Complete Saga (PG) (Fox)

Source: Rentrak Corp.

by Samantha Weaver

It was 20th-century American director, screenwriter, playwright and novelist Ben Hecht who made the following sage observation: "Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock."

If you visualize an image of John Lennon, more likely than not you'll see him in your mind's eye wearing a pair of round specta-cles. In July of 2007, one pair of those iconic glasses was sold at auction for a whopping $2 million.

There's nothing terribly surpris-ing about the fact that an animated version of George Orwell's famed novel "Animal Farm" was produced in the United States in 1954. What made this production unusual is that the movie rights were

bought by, and the �lm was covertly funded by, the CIA. It was thought that it would be excellent anti-Communist propaganda during the Cold War.

If you're like 12 percent of American men who are about to get married, you'll go to a tanning bed before you make that walk down the aisle.

You might be surprised to learn that early automobile magnate Henry Ford was a fan of soy. In the 1940s, the fabric used for the upholstery in some of his cars was made from 25 percent soy. He even owned a soy-based suit of clothing that he would sometimes wear for media events.

The Transportation Security Administration banned cigarette lighters on carry-on luggage between 2005 and 2007. During that time, TSA screeners con�scated 22,978 lighters every day. Safe disposal of those lighters cost the taxpayers approximately $4 million every year.***Thought for the Day: "Obstinacy is the result of the will forcing itself into the place of the intellect." -- Arthur Schopenhauer

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Answers1. Joe DiMaggio, Chuck Klein, Albert Pujols and Ted Williams.2. Pedro Guerrero of the Los Angeles Dodgers, in 1983.3. Once, in 2010.4. Kenny Smith (1995), Scottie Pippen (1997) and Allen (2008) each had seven 3-pointers in an NBA Finals game.5. Guy Charron played in 734 games without a postseason appearance.6. It was 1987.7. Canada’s Sandra Post, in 1968.

Tidbits® of Salina

Answers1. “Hamlet”2. A nappy3. 19694. Sports coach James Naismith 5. Burger King6. Joseph Smith7. Tequila8. Han Solo9. Shoulders10. Eight

Trivia Quiz

EDITOR'S NOTE: DVDs reviewed in this column will be available in stores the week of Jan. 23, 2012.

PICKS OF THE WEEK"The Adventures of Tintin" (PG) -- Steven Spielberg crams as much excitement per-pixel as can �t into this animated adventure. Based on the venerated Danish comic series, "Tintin" follows a young investigative reporter and his dog as they go on dangerous and improbable journeys. The pace will keep the kids glued to the screen, but could leave some grownups feeling exhausted. The rope-swinging, bullet-dodging, sight-gag mania of it all brings �ashbacks to the golden days of

Indiana Jones -- augmented to an inhuman level by Spielberg's desire to get every drop out of the animated medium.

"My Week with Marilyn" (R) -- While working on a not-much-remembered movie, movie darling Marilyn Monroe spent some time with a 23-year-old English production assistant, and apparently revealed her true self and changed the guy's life. That guy went on to write a memoir of their time together, and now it's a decent movie propped up by one stellar pillar -- the portrayal of Monroe by Michelle Williams.The story may sag, the script could be repetitive and some of the performances may cloy, but the lynchpin of the whole picture stays strong as Williams puts out the right mix of confusion, excitement

and longing that makes the starlet of yesteryear memora-ble. Fans of slow, intimate biopics will love it, but this movie isn't as iconic as its subject.

"Young Adult" (R) -- Charlize Theron plays Mavis, a grown woman who just wants to be prom queen again. Mavis is a young-adult �ction writer who returns to her hometown under the delusion that her old boyfriend (Patrick Wilson) and everyone she knew from high school will worship her like in the old days. Reality starts to crush the thick walls of her immature psyche, and Mavis forms an unlikely friendship with one of the guys she used to step on (Patton Oswalt).The script is fresh, and the actors know it. Oswalt has no problem playing the grownup geek still nursing some wounds from his teen years.

Theron absolutely knocks it out of the park as an entitled princess too old to think the world revolves around her.

DOG OF THE WEEK"The Three Musketeers" (PG-13) -- Injecting CGI and brute-force witticisms into old adventure stories doesn't always pay o�. In some cases, the result is a bland, loud, humorless �op with no redeeming characteristics. This most recent adapta-tion of the Three Musketeers lands squarely in that category. Apparently made from ideas that were too hacky to �t into the last "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequel, this musketeer �ick falls on its sword and can't get up.

TV RELEASES"The Guild: Season Five""Breakout Kings: The Complete First Season""The Killing: Season One""Ghost Hunters International Season 2: Part 1"


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