ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2008

June 27 - July 4, 2008 Issue 30

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3rd Quarter 2008

Week 27
Jun 29 – Jul 5
Page 1

HAPPYBIRTHDAY
HAPPY BIRTHDAYUSA!
USA!

ISSUE 2008.27 PATRIOTICSONGS

PATRIOTIC SONGS
by Stanley Drummond
Patriotic Songs by Stanley Drummond
Everyone joins in singing Christmas carols, but what
pages 1-4 Everyone
about joins in singing
Independence Christmas
Day? Tidbits salutescarols, but
the many

Zachary
what about Independence Day? Tidbits salutes
wonderful patriotic tunes suitable for singing around
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“America” (“MytheCountry
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pages 5-6 discounted because it has the same melody of
last marshmallows.
England’s “God Save the Queen.” However,
Can You • when
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Storm Doors & Windows
Oakwood Homes 3870 S Redwood Rd, SLC Fortshabbily
the McHenry and colonials
dressed noted that theythe American
encountered
flag was still flying the next morning.War.
while fighting during the French & Indian The
Dave (801) 554-2761 “Doodle” was a word used at the time to describe
poem he wrote to describe the incident was
a fool or a simpleton. And the “macaroni”

STOP
eventually set to music and became known as
mentioned in the song does not refer to pasta.
“The
In 18thStar-Spangled Banner.
century England, the word described the
fussy and fancy style of turn
Italianthe page for
clothing thatmore!
was
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Page 2 Tidbits® of Ogden, North Davis and Morgan

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PATRIOTIC SONGS (continued):

• The original sheet music for “Yankee Doodle”
(published in England, naturally) indicated
that “the words to be sung through the nose,
and in the West Country drawl & dialect.” The
British truly thought they were putting those
upstart Americans in their place, but the joke
was on them. In typical American fashion, the In 1965, Robert Goulet was asked to sing the National Anthem before the title
colonists adopted “Yankee Doodle” as their boxing match between Cassius Clay and Sonny Liston. Goulet missd one
rallying cry. When sung by an entire regiment
accompanied by a fife and drums, it resonated word in the son, and was teased about it for more than 40 years.
just as loudly as sports anthems like “We Will
Rock You” do today in stadiums around the
world.
• The song that became the anthem for
the Confederate states was written by a
Northerner – Daniel Decatur Emmett, who
was born and raised in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
He originally wrote “Dixie” as part of a New
York minstrel show, but the song took on a
life of its own when it was rewarded with a
standing ovation at each performance.
• Even though “Dixie” was adopted by the
Southern states as their call to arms, the
sprightly melody was so infectious that it
was popular in the North as well. In fact,
“Dixie” was Abraham Lincoln’s favorite
song, and was played at his inauguration per
his request.
• Although “When Johnny Comes Marching
Home Again” is credited to Louis Lambert,
the song was actually composed by Irish-
American Patrick Gilmore. The “Johnny”
mentioned in the song title was John
O’Rourke, a captain who served with the
Union Army during the Civil War. O’Rourke
was the beau of Gilmore’s sister, Annie.
• Which came first, the words or the music? In
the case of “America the Beautiful” it was
definitely the lyrics. Katherine Lee Bates was
an English professor at Wellesley College
during the late 19th century. In 1893, she
took some vacation time and ventured west.
During a visit to Pike’s Peak in Colorado, she
was so struck with the panoramic landscape
surrounding her that she pulled out her
notebook and jotted down her impressions of
the sights she’d seen.
• During the long ride back home, Bates
couldn’t get the images of the purple
mountains and endless skies out of her
mind, so she fleshed out her original journal
notes until she’d come up with four stanzas
of verse. She mailed her poem to The
Congregationalist, who published it on July
4, 1895. Soon afterward, composer Silas
Pratt set her words to music, and everyone
was singing “America the Beautiful.” (This
included folks in Canada and Australia, who
inserted their own country’s name in the
lyrics.)

of Ogden & Area

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Page 4 Tidbits® of Ogden, North Davis and Morgan
Wing vs. Wingless Sprint Cars
Q: Greg, I attend the wingless sprint-car races run by
USAC, and I still feel it is better racing than the winged
sprints run by the World Of Outlaws. You have to be
more of a driver to run a wingless car because the wing
really helps. -- H.K., Pottsville, Pa.
A: H.K., you wrote this letter following USAC’s ap-
pearance at your home track near Pottsville, namely The
Big Diamond Raceway. I’ll bet you were there!
That’s where 16-year-old USAC newcomer Cole Whitt
(you have to be a newcomer at that age) won the feature
event and thus becomes the youngest person ever to win
a USAC National Sprint Series feature. Witt, who hails
from California, led all 30-laps at the Big Diamond.
Watch for him in the future.
As for the wing versus no-wing, I’ll agree that it’s
tougher to drive a wingless car than one with a wing,
but I sure won’t take anything away from the winged
sprint-car drivers. They, too, are some of the best drivers
in racing, and many win when they cross over and run
wingless events.
***
Q: I’m thrilled that Hillary Will won her first NHRA
drag race recently. When you realize that drag racing
has already had a world champion in Shirley Muld-
owney (Top Fuel, three times) and now we have a win-
ner in Indy Car racing with Danica Patrick, this is for
sure the right time for women in racing. Also, whatever
happened to Erica Enders, the Pro Stock racer who you
said would one day win? -- Polly G., Wisconsin
A: Polly, I agree 2008 will be remembered as a year
women really excelled in motorsports. In addition to
those you mention, Ashley Force and Melanie Troxel
have both won in 2008 in nitro Funny Car.
Erica Enders, meanwhile, continues to try and put a
Pro Stock program together (check her Web site at
www.endersracing.com). The plain truth nowadays is
that it takes big money and big-name sponsors to com-
pete in the professional ranks, so it’s not just a matter
of being able to do something well. Give her time, and
I feel some company will see the benefits of partnering
with Erica in Pro Stock.
***
Q: Greg, I read with interest your column about alcohol
(and ethanol). There are a other issues about alcohol
you should consider. It takes almost a gallon of diesel
to produce and transport the corn to make that gallon
of alcohol. You can’t run alcohol through our pipelines.
You must truck it. It takes almost 1.5 gallons of alco-
hol to make the same amount of energy as a gallon of
gasoline.
A lot of that corn was going for cattle, hog, chicken and
turkey food. Now we have higher prices in the store for
these products. Brazil uses sugar cane to make alcohol.
-- Michael L., via e-mail
A: Michael, thanks for your input, and I do not disagree.
The price of oil since I wrote that column continues to
skyrocket, so we’re going to be forced to look at alterna-
tive fuels and other energy options without delay. There
is no easy answer.
Write to Greg Zyla in care of King Features Weekly
Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or
send an e-mail to gzyla@ptd.net.
(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
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417-297-0107 PATRIOTIC SONGS (continued):
417-230-7055 • John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes
Forever” is, by act of Congress, the official
march of the United States. The melody has
another place in popular culture, however.
In North America, the song is played by live
bands at the circus or in theaters as a signal
that a life-threatening emergency is afoot.
Playing this particular song as a “code” alerts
personnel to start evacuation procedures
without alarming the audience.
• Songwriter Woody Guthrie learned about
traditional folk and blues music while
traveling from Oklahoma to California with
migrant worker groups during the Dust Bowl
era of the Great Depression. After working at
a California radio station for several years,
Guthrie headed to New York City. At the
time of Guthrie’s sojourn, Kate Smith’s “God
Bless America” was hugely popular.
• As he later admitted during a frank interview,
Woody had grown tired of hearing it on the
radio and felt the nation needed something
new. While watching the scenery pass by on
a cross-country train trip, he penned what
became his most famous song. He set his
descriptions of the American terrain to music
(a melody he’d borrowed slightly from an old
gospel song). In 1940, Woody released the
single that he hoped would knock Kate Smith
off the charts, “This Land is Your Land.”
• Julia Ward Howe wrote the poem that
eventually became known as “The Battle
Hymn of the Republic” as a challenge from
a Unitarian minister. The reverend noted that
Union soldiers often sang “John Brown’s
Body,” while Confederate soldiers sang their
own lyrics to the same melody. He thought
that better, more unifying words could be
written, and so Howe came up with the
inspiring lyrics that we still sing today: “Mine
eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the
Lord…”
• According to George M. Cohan, he was
inspired to write “You’re a Grand Old Flag”
after meeting a Civil War veteran who’d seen
action at the Battle of Gettysburg. The aging
soldier was carrying a folded but tattered flag,
and when he noticed Cohan’s interest, he
commented, “She’s a grand ol’ rag, isn’t she?”
Cohan later changed the word from “rag” to
“flag” to avoid showing any disrespect for
Old Glory.
 ���������
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Ingredients
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1 1/2 cups cooked spaghetti, rinsed and
drained
3/4 cup thinly sliced zucchini
1 cup diced cooked turkey breast
1 (8-ounce) can cut green beans, rinsed
and drained
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
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1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
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cup chopped green onion
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(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Home Treadmill or Clothes Rack?
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By Andrea Renee Wyatt, M.S.S., C.S.C.S.
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Q: After I retired, my husband bought me a than your bedroom for the treadmill, and try to avoid
treadmill so I could work out at home. At first I
thought this would be a great idea, allowing me to
exercise whenever I wanted, but this hasn’t been the
case. I find myself walking past the treadmill in our
bedroom and choosing to do something else with my
time. I need to work out and want to use my treadmill.
How can I motivate myself to not walk past it and
actually use it?
A: Home exercise equipment often becomes
another addition to your household furniture. Once
brought home, treadmills, stationary bikes and the
like frequently find another use -- as a clothes rack
or laundry hamper. This does not have to be the case
for everyone. Finding the best place in your home for
a treadmill and making a dedicated space to exercise
can make using your treadmill more appealing.
The idea of wanting to exercise at home is great.
Having the option to walk or run at home without
having to go outside or to the gym can be a great
option. But just placing the treadmill inside your
home might not automatically motivate you to use it.
When you see the treadmill in your room each day,
it may make you feel as if you can “exercise later”
or “start tomorrow,” since the treadmill is not going
anywhere.
First, find a place for your treadmill that will be
comfortable, motivating and removed from other
distractions. If you have the space, find a room other
(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
It’s strawberry season, and time to try
something new. So why not a soup that is
cool, refreshing and different?
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TURKEY AND SPAGHETTI
����������
SUMMER SALAD
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In a large bowl, combine spaghetti, zucchini,
turkey, green beans, tomatoes, olives and green
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onion. Add Parmesan cheese. Mix gently to
combine. Add Italian dressing. Toss gently to ��������������������������������
coat.����������������
Serves 4. �������������������������������
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HINTS: 1) Usually 1 cup broken uncooked
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spaghetti or 2 1/4 ounces uncooked whole spa- ���������������������������������
ghetti cooks to about 1 1/2 cups. 2) If you don’t ���������������������������������
have leftovers, purchase a chunk of cooked ���������������������������������
turkey breast from your local deli. ������������ ������������������
• Each serving equals: 191 calories, 3g fat, 15g
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protein, 26g carbs, 633mg sodium, 92mg cal-
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cium, 3g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 1/2 Meat, ��������������������������
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Visit Healthy Exchanges at www.healthyexchanges
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.com, or call toll-free at 1-800-766-8961 for more ����������������
information about the only national food newslet-
ter for diabetics, heart/cholesterol concerns and
healthy weight loss.
������������
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placing it where you can see other “work” or projects
������������� ����������������
you want to complete. Seeing what else you could
or should be doing may “guilt” you into choosing to
complete those projects instead of working out. Place
music, a television or telephone in this room if you find
yourself leaving your workout to do something else.
If you do not have a separate room for your
treadmill, try to create a space where you can reach
it without stepping over furniture or other household
items. Position your treadmill near a window or open
space to create a view that can motivate you and
eliminate a feeling of “working out” in your room.
And no matter how much exercise equipment
you have at home, you will have to continue to make
the time to use it. Scheduling time to exercise and
sticking with your schedule each day can help you
get into a habit of using your treadmill.
Avoid the temptation to use your treadmill for
anything other than exercising, and ask others in
your home to do the same. One shirt thrown on
the treadmill can trigger an avalanche of clothes
and other non-exercise items. Enjoy the benefits of
exercising at home by planning and remembering
why the treadmill is there.
Always consult a physician before beginning an exercise
program. If you have a fitness or training question, write
to Andrea in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O.
Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475
Page 6 Tidbits® of Ogden, North Davis and Morgan
Freeport Flag Ladies:
Making Soldiers Smile
The backs of their T-shirts say: “It’s all
about America.” Every Tuesday morning for
the past six years, rain or shine (or snow),
three ladies in Freeport, Maine, have stood
on a downtown corner waving big American
flags.
If that’s all they ever did, it would be
enough. But they also do something even
more important: They work to support the
morale of soldiers.
As part of the Maine Troop Greeters, they
travel hundreds of miles each way to be at
the Bangor Airport to meet the troops as they
come home. Each one is given a small gift,
and sometimes a cell phone for an immediate
call home.
Packages loaded with games, magazines
and more go out every week, with special
ones going to Combat Support hospitals.
(The postage cost must be astronomical.)
Their Web site [www.freeportflagladie
s.com] is loaded with photos of outbound
soldiers, mostly for the families who might
not have had the presence of mind to snap
a few last pictures. Each soldier is given a
small card with the Web address, as well as a
lucky penny that many of them keep for the
whole deployment.
When you check the Web site, don’t miss
the Egg section, or the one on Pennies.
Why do they do it? The Web site has the
answer: “It is solely an act of love, gratitude
and appreciation for the great sacrifices the
men and women of the military have given to
this nation throughout the ages.”
But these three ladies are doing
everything on their own to put a smile on
the faces of soldiers. They could use some
financial support. Here’s the address:
Freeport Flag Ladies
17 School St.
Freeport, ME 04032
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.
(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
727-647-9039
Be sure to tell our Advertisers You Enjoy Tidbits, Then do Business With Them!
HOLLYWOOD ... Shannen Doherty has not done
much dramatically since her star stints in “Beverly
Hills 90210” and “Charmed.” However, she’s
managed to make big bucks in real estate and take
a few acting and emcee jobs. Back in 2004, she
bought a home in Malibu for $2.4 million. Now
she has it on the market for $4.4 million. In case
you care to purchase, it has five bedrooms, four and
half baths, a master suite with
fireplace and sits on 11 acres
with a swimming pool, spa,
motor court, a view to forever
and copious gardens. At 38,
Shando -- as she’s called by her
friends -- is just as attractive as
she was earlier on. She has been
married many times, and at one
of her weddings in a backyard
she wore a silk bathrobe and
was barefoot.
Aside to Lionel K. of Olivia
Hill, Ky. You asked me to
explain what is the Sunset Strip
mentioned often in this column
and elsewhere. I believe I may
have answered a question like
this before, but here goes.
Sunset Boulevard is the name of a street that
runs from downtown L.A. to the Pacific Ocean.
That’s 30 miles. The “Strip” is the part that passes
through West Hollywood and ends at Beverly
Hills. It’s the nightclub area with several hotels
and eateries along the way. I could say it is about a
mile and a half of excitement. If you do come out
here, I suggest you walk it at night. Much easier
than trying to park at each spot.
Bryce Dallas Howard is set to star in
“Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.” She
will play the wife of John Connor, the resistance
hero (played by Christian Bale). She then goes into
“The Loss of A Teardrop Diamond.” She was last
seen as Gwen Stacy in “Spiderman 3.” Bryce is the
daughter of director Ron Howard, himself once a
“Mountains appear more lofty the nearer
they are approached, but great men
resemble them not in this particular.”
• If you have plans to travel to Indiana this
September, you might want to head to the
small town of Harmony. That’s where, on the
third Saturday of September every year, you’ll
find the Big Whopper Liar’s Contest, in which
contestants compete to see who can tell the
most original, exaggerated lie.
• You might be surprised to learn that it was noted
author and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson
who made the following observation: “Being
perfectly well-dressed gives a feeling of
tranquility that religion is powerless to bestow.”
• In ancient Egypt -- around 1500 B.C. -- baldness
was considered to be the absolute height of
feminine beauty. Women of the nobility often
had special gold tweezers that they used to
pluck their hair, and then they polished their
heads to a high sheen with buffing cloths.
• Those with entirely too much time on their hands
have determined that there are precisely 336
dimples on a regulation golf ball.
busy actor. ... Thandie Newton and Danny Glover
have joined the cast of “2012.” John Cusack and
Chiwetel Ejiofor are already on board for this
story of a global cataclysm and its survivors.
And by the way, did you know her given name
was Thandiwe? It is pronounced “Tandie,” and
is Zulu for “beloved.” She attended Cambridge
University, where she majored in anthropology.
My neighbor Lake Bell has
signed on to join the cast of “A
Good Old-Fashioned Orgy.”
The film is set to shoot in North
Carolina. Lake plays Alison
Cohen, a Columbia University
graduate who constantly dishes
out unwarranted advice, although
she is dysfunctional in many ways
and unhappy with her own life.
Formerly mostly a TV actress,
Bell’s movie career has suddenly
soared. She was in “What Happens
in Vegas” and recently wrapped
“Pride and Glory,” a crime drama
from New Line Pictures. She also
earned an honor in acting at the
Newport Beach Film Festival for
her role in “Under Still Waters.”
And, although she is my neighbor, I know very
little about her private life. We say “Hi” when
passing in the hall, and that’s about it. (Such is life
in the big city.)
***
BITS ‘N’ PIECES: A couple of weeks back,
Julia Roberts visited “The Late Show” wearing
jeans and a shirt. Not the usual little black dress
worn by most other femme stars. On closer look,
her chin seemed a little tightened. Maybe a small
plastic tuck? ... Still love this movie title: “The
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” The sequel
gets an outing in August. ... Warren Beatty has
received 53 Oscar nominations. Some wag offered
that’s just about as many ladies Warren dated
before he settled in with Annette.
-- Lady Marguerite Blessington
• Studies show that men not only laugh louder
than women, they also laugh longer and
more often.
• If you think weddings in the United States
are getting out of hand, you might want to
consider this: In a traditional Korean wedding,
the engagement gifts alone can cost
$40,000 or more.
• Every year, there are more than 50,000
earthquakes throughout the world.
• The next time you’re upset and thinking about
tossing something across the room, try to
keep in mind the results of a study conducted
in 1999, in which researchers found that
venting anger on inanimate objects actually
increases aggression rather than decreasing
it.
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Build a Basic Home Repair Kit

By Samantha Mazzotta
Q: I’d like to get a complete set of tools for my
home. What makes up a basic tool set?
-- Jamie B., Valdosta, Ga.
A: Most home-improvement and hardware
stores sell “starter” sets for first-time tool buyers. These
include many of the basic items you’ll need for
minor home repairs, such as pliers, standard and
Phillips-head screwdrivers, and assorted sizes and
types of wrenches. However, you will need a few
more things to complete your home repair kit:
• A curved claw hammer and nails -- Make
sure the hammer is at least 12 ounces in weight
and comfortable to hold. Buy a variety of nails in
different sizes and types; most stores offer nail sets.
• Adjustable wrench -- A 10-inch adjustable
wrench (or a plumber’s wrench) is a versatile tool
727-647-9039
around the house. Make sure the worm gear
operates smoothly and doesn’t wobble.
• Rotary power drill -- More important than
a power screwdriver and probably the most
convenient decorating accessory you will ever
have. Make sure the drill has variable speeds, a
reverse switch and can hold drill bits up to 3/8ths
inch.
• Steel tape measure -- The model should
have a lock button to hold the extended tape
in place; purchase one with at least 25 feet of
tape. A 1-foot ruler and a yardstick make good
companions.
• 24-inch carpenter’s level -- It should have
two bubbles: one for measuring horizontal level,
and the other for marking vertical plumb.
• Handsaw -- Buy a saw marked “general
purpose” to handle any variety of wood. Look for a
steel blade, about 26 inches long, with a wooden
handle.
• Hacksaw -- This thin saw cuts metal; the
blades are replaceable and come in several
grades for cutting different strengths of metal.
• Pocketknife and utility knife -- The
pocketknife comes in handy for all sorts of tasks;
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the utility knife has a retractable (and replaceable)

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blade.

G ates!
• Putty knife -- Used to apply and work plaster,
spackle, or -- yes -- putty. You should have two sizes:
a 1-inch blade and a wide-blade wall scraper.

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• Sandpaper, steel wool, metal file and
wire brush -- These come in handy for a variety of
cleaning and sharpening tasks.
• Duct tape, electrical tape (yes, they’re
in
different) and three types of glue: epoxy, white
(PVA) and wood glue.
• Spackling compound and wood putty �����
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-- These make filling holes and gaps in walls and �������
wood easy.
Finally, having both a stepladder and an
extension ladder will allow you to tackle hard-to-

The Neatest
reach repairs, both indoors and out.
HOME TIP: Sharpen small garden shears and scissors
by cutting them through a piece of sandpaper,
folded grit-side out. Repeat several times.
Little Paper Ever Read. ®

Send questions or home-repair tips to hom

eguru2000@hotmail.com, or write This Is a
Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service,
(828) 851-9381
P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.
(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Page 8 Tidbits® of Ogden, North Davis and Morgan

While your local Tidbits paper attempts to screen advertisers, we advise readers to use good judgement in responding to ad claims. Beware
of “too good to be true” claims. Contact the appropriate consumer agency before sending payment. If a “company” offers you a loan for an
advance fee, never, never send a payment, give credit card, bank account or personal information. For information on such loans, write FTS:
Washington, DC, 20580. Phone numbers beginning with the “900” prefix are toll calls and you will be charged for calling such numbers.

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WBA titleholder.
Germany (which includes West Germany). 7. Felix Trinidad, who was the
4. It was the 1993-94 season. 5. It was the 1991-92 season. 6. Italy and
‘95, ‘96 and ‘97). 3. North Carolina’s Charlie Justice in 1948 and 1949.
1. Rogers Hornsby with 143 RBIs in 1925. 2. Eight (1984, ‘87, ‘88, ‘89, ‘94,
With the growing number of foreclosures,
repossessions and jobs being lost, lenders are
taking a hard look at borrowers before lending
money. Lenders care about how likely you are to
repay your debt on time, and your credit report
gives them a good indication of how you’ve
handled credit in the past.
The FICO score is the most commonly used
credit-rating system, but each of the big three
reporting agencies use the information in a different
way, thus producing different credit scores on the
same credit history. (A lender will likely take the
middle of these three numbers.)
Here are some steps you can take to improve
your credit score:
• Pay your bills on time. This counts as 35
percent of your total score.
• Limit the amount of your available credit that
you use.
• Limit the number of inquiries on your credit
report. If you need to shop for deals, perhaps for
a car loan, do your homework so that the credit
inquiries are all done in a short period of time, say
a month. The credit bureau will consider all the
inquiries in a given amount of time to be part of the
same inquiry.
(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
Your Credit Score
• Don’t automatically cancel old credit cards
that you don’t use. Longevity of your accounts
counts for 15 percent of your FICO score.
Canceling the cards will often result in a lowering
of your score.
• The jury is out on whether credit counseling
will hurt your credit score. It probably won’t, but
it might impact your ability to get a loan if part of
the counseling was to negotiate smaller payments
on old debt.
• Track your credit score. If it goes down,
follow up by getting a copy of your credit report to
verify that all the information is correct.
A good credit score can make the difference
between getting a loan with a low interest rate or
getting one with a higher rate -- or not at all.
For more information, go to
www.privacyrights.org, then click on FAQ and
Index and scroll down to Credit Scores: Fact Sheet
6(c): Your Credit Score: How It All Adds Up.
The Federal Credit Information Center has good
information as well. Check www.pueblo.gsa.gov
and put “credit scores” in the search box.
David Uffington regrets that he cannot personally answer
reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column
whenever possible. Write to him in care of King Features
Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475,
or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com.

Be sure to tell our Advertisers You Enjoy Tidbits, Then do Business With Them!
 For Advertising Call 1.801.513.9878
Fighting Skin Aging
I trust university researchers more than I do
Madison Avenue cosmetics advertisers, especially
when part of the funding for the research comes
from the National Institutes of Health. So when I
read a study done by the University of Michigan
saying that there really is an ingredient that helps
fight signs of skin aging and wrinkles, I had to pay
attention.
Wrinkles in seniors develop because we have
much less collagen than we did years ago, as much
as two-thirds less. It’s the collagen that keeps skin
looking firm. Lying just under the inner dermis
layer, it keeps the skin above padded and stretched.
Less collagen means less support.
The university research (published in a recent
issue of Archives of Dermatology) combined a re-
view of the literature since the early 1990s, as well
as hands-on lab work. The latest lab study involved
application of an over-the-counter moisturizer (with
(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
Hitting All the
Red Lights
“We’re hitting all the red lights,” my son said im-
patiently as we slowed to stop at another light. “I like
getting all the green lights.”
I agreed with him. When we breeze through in-
tersections on our way to church or the mall, it’s much
more convenient. A red light is a kink in our flow, a
halt in our pace.
It means we have to wait. And who likes to wait?
Like my son, I want all the green lights in life. I
think that’s our impatient human nature. Right now,
our son would like a green light on his request for the
X-Box 360 game system. Mom and Dad have handed
him a red light. I’m waiting on a green light for a loved
one’s improved health. I’ve had a red light for nearly
a decade. I want green lights in my parenting, mar-
riage, career, friendships, hobbies and, here’s a big
one, prayer life.
So, what do we do with all the darn red lights
life gives us? What are we to do with the unanswered
prayer for a loved one’s healing, a relationship that
can’t be fixed, a promotion never offered, the good
grade never received, a friend who can’t have a baby?
“Life’s not fair,” my son said the other day.
“You’ve got that right,” his dad replied.
As harsh as it sounds, we want our kids to know
that, don’t we? The last thing we want to do is turn
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Page 9
a magic ingredient added) in a six-month double-blind
process. That means nobody knew what was in the
bottles of lotion except the researchers themselves.
So what was this “magic” ingredient. It’s Retinol,
a form of vitamin A, and the same ingredient that
Madison Avenue advertisers have been pushing for
years. Who knew?
This research affects not only looks, but serious
medical issues such as bed sores, tears, ulcers and
bruising, as Retinol could make skin withstand inju-
ries.
That’s not to say we should all rush out and buy lo-
tion that contains Retinol. For one thing, it causes skin
to dry out, and in some cases can cause sun sensitivity.
If you’d like to try it, ask your dermatologist or doctor
for a product name recommendation. Not all Retinol
products are the same.
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.
Graham Johnson
801-513-9878
out into the world young adults who believe the fantasy
that life is supposed to be fair and easy -- that they are
supposed to get everything they want, whenever they
want it. They will face times of waiting and waiting and
waiting.
That’s easier to explain to my kids when we’re
talking about the red lights that come when they want
a game system or a later bedtime -- insignificant things
--but harder to explain when the red lights apply to such
larger issues in life as health, loss and conflict.
Last summer our 12-year-old had his appendix re-
moved. The surgery went well. We were given the green
light to go home the next day. But before we left, I heard
a mother ask another parent how long they had been in
the hospital with their sick child.
“Two weeks,” the father said. “What about you?”
“We’re going on our fifth week,” the mother re-
plied.
Another parent said they were in the hospital for
their young son’s 80th surgery.
I’m not sure what illnesses these parents were fac-
ing with their children, but I wanted to know what gave
them the strength and courage to wait. And if I could
have given them a little bit of my own green light, I
would have.
But that’s only in God’s control.
So as I accepted our green light, I prayed for their
relief to come, where their child could play and their
long-awaited red light would end.
Write to Taprina Milburn in care of King Features Weekly
Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.
(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.

Page 10 Tidbits® of Ogden, North
Don’t Bully the Skinny Kid
I don’t know how many high-school kids are out
there reading this, but there comes a time or two when
your raging hormones may unduly influence your deci-
sion-making process. I don’t need to tell you that -- you
already know. It’s the distracting girl in front of you
in Social Studies; it’s the reckless play on the football
field; it’s what led you to bully that skinny kid at the
lunch table.
Let me tell you this: Don’t bully the skinny kid at
the lunch table.
There wasn’t much to fight about in well-to-do
Middletown, N.J., but I do remember one kid who was
even skinnier than me at our lunch table sophomore
year -- a real preppy kid with neatly parted hair who al-
ways wore khakis and expensive sweaters. Him, I could
take, I was sure.
Junior year, he was gone. Some prep school, if I
recall. Senior year, he was back, and he was an absolute
monster.
His name was Christian Peter.
It didn’t take long before the football coach at
Middletown H.S. South noticed him, told him to line up
on the right side and kill the guy with the ball -- some-
thing Peter did with helmet-smashing glee. At parties,
Peter became the guy you didn’t want to mess with. The
skinny kid from the lunch table was long gone. After
South took the Central Jersey championship, Peter took
a scholarship to Nebraska.
While there, Peter racked up 124 tackles, 9 sacks,
8 arrests and 2 rapes. Still, he was drafted into the NFL,
which he credits for saving his life.
Two years later, his brother Jason Peter filled his
cleats on the South football team. And it was on to Ne-
braska for him as well. (Their younger brother, Damien,
was on his way to Notre Dame until one night, at a party,
he decided to dive into the shallow end of the pool.)
Jason didn’t beat women like his brother did, but
he did abuse a lot of drugs. Finally, after being forced to
retire by the Carolina Panthers, Peter allowed himself to
spiral out of control. Too much money, too much time
on his hands, too easy to get drugs ... lots of drugs. He
shot heroin, smoked crack and failing that, he would do
up to five eight-balls of cocaine, swallow 70-80 Vicodin
and 20 Ambien per day.
Finally clean, Jason now works at a radio station in
Nebraska. Christian owns a bar on the Jersey Shore.
Is there a lesson in all of this? Ask Jason and Chris-
tian, and I’ll bet they’ll tell you ... “don’t bully the skin-
ny kid” is as good as anything to take from this story.
Jason Peter’s book, “Hero of the Underground: A
Memoir,” with Tony O’Neill (St. Martin’s Press) is due
on shelves in July.
Mark Vasto is a veteran sportswriter and publisher
of The Parkville (Mo.) Luminary.
(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
1. Who was the last second baseman
to lead the National League in RBIs
for a season?
2. How many batting-average titles
did Tony Gwynn capture during his
career?
3. Who was the last player before
Arkansas’ Darren McFadden in 2006
and 2007 to finish second in the
Heisman voting two years in a row?
4. When was the last time before the
2006-07 season that the Golden State
Warriors made the NBA playoffs?
5. Name the last time before the 2007-08 season that the
Montreal Canadiens won an NHL division title.
6. Brazil is the only country to have played in all 18 men’s soccer
World Cups. Which two countries are tied for second with 16
appearances?
7. Whom did Bernard Hopkins beat to unify the three major
middleweight boxing titles (WBA, WBC, IBF) in 2001?
(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
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• In the 1890s, the first “modern” bicycles
Davis and Morgan
appeared: chain-driven vehicles with simi-
larly-sized tires. These were safer than the
high-wheel models (and were even called
“safety bicycles” as a result), but proved a step
backwards in comfort. While the long spokes of
high-wheel bikes absorbed bumps and ruts, the
smaller wheels on these new bikes, particularly
when coupled with the hard-rubber tires of the
era, made for jarring, unpleasant rides.
• More than a million bicycles were sold in the
United States by the time 1895 rolled around,
but one last improvement would propel the
bicycle into the must-own category: the pneu-
matic tire. Under the guidance of the Pope
Manufacturing Company (which made bi-
cycles), the Hartford Rubber Works produced
America’s first pneumatic tires in 1895. Pro-
viding a much softer ride, they soon became a
standard feature on all bicycle models.
• Dozens of smaller-scale improvements boosted
the speed, comfort, longevity and performance
of bicycles during the 20th century. As women
began to find them as necessary as men, two
varieties of bicycle were made. Men’s bikes
were built with an extra stabilizer bar across the
top of the bike. Women’s bikes omitted the bar,
providing for easier mounting and dismounting
of the vehicle when wearing skirts.
• The 1970s saw the development of two bi-
cycle extremes. First came bicycles that took
you nowhere. Otherwise known as exercise
bikes, these training aids first hit the home
market at the beginning of the decade. Then,
as time went on and the energy crisis sent fuel
prices skyrocketing, mopeds appeared. These
bicycle/motorcycle hybrids, most popular with
city-centered business workers, could either be
pedaled like a regular bike or powered using a
small, low-powered gasoline engine.
2nd Quarter 2006
Week 22
May 28 - Jun 3
Back Page
ALL THE PRESIDENTS’ TIDBITS:
ZACHARY TAYLOR
The fourteenth entry in our All the Presidents’ Tidbits
series deals with Zachary Taylor, “Old Rough ‘n’
Ready” himself. Taylor was the only president whose
name contained the letter “Z” until more than 100
years later. Who joined him on that short list? [see
the answer at the end of this article]
• Zachary Taylor was one of a handful of
presidents who owed his political power to his
years as an Army officer. In turn, he owed his
military life to a chance given him by his second
cousin, James Madison. In 1808, Madison
was a heavyweight in Washington (as Thomas
Jefferson’s Secretary of State). It took little
effort for him to arrange an Army commission
for his cousin. Luckily, Zachary was well suited
for a military life. He spent his entire adult life
serving his country, including four full decades
in the Army.
• Zachary Taylor was born on November
24, 1784, in Montebello, Virginia. Shortly
thereafter, parents Richard and Sarah moved
the Taylors to Kentucky, where they settled on a
plantation outside of Louisville. While Zachary
had access to private tutors, he failed to show
much interest in practical education. By the
time he reached his mid-twenties, however, he
needed a career. That’s when “Cousin James”
came to the rescue.
• Taylor thrived in the structure of the military.
He married Margaret Smith in 1810, and she
followed Zachary wherever the military sent
them. The couple lived as far north as Minnesota
and Wisconsin, and as far south as Florida and
Louisiana. Taylor earned the nickname “Rough
‘n’ Ready” for his distinguished military service
throughout the early 19th century. He served
active duty in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk
War, the Seminole War, and the Mexican War.
• Taylor’s successes helped the young nation
expand its borders to the west and south, and
his rank and compensation grew as well. By the
1840s, the Taylors owned a cotton plantation in
Mississippi. Although he could have retired at
any time, the general didn’t hesitate to answer
the call when James Knox Polk asked him to
head to Texas to confront the Mexicans. Taylor
silenced America’s cries of “Remember the
Alamo!” when he defeated General Antonio
Lopez de Santa Anna in 1846-1847. Stories
spread quickly of the brave American general
who emerged victorious against the Mexicans,
despite being outnumbered four to one.
• Although Zachary Taylor’s political leanings
were vague, the Whigs courted him to help
the party regain the White House (which they
had lost to Polk and the Democrats in 1848).
Opponent Lewis Cass would probably have
defeated Taylor had it not been for former
president Martin Van Buren, who hoped to
return to office as a Free Soil Party candidate.
When the election ended, however, Taylor had
garnered enough electoral votes to win the race.
• Sadly, Taylor was like most presidents that were
elected after living the military life: he was
overwhelmed and underprepared. His term was
fraught with corruption and indecision, even as
the country began to split along lines that would
soon define the Civil War. Only two years
into his presidency, Taylor became ill during
an Independence Day celebration. He passed
away five days later; doctors attributed it to
gastroenteritis.
• To answer the trivia question that we asked in
the introduction of this article: What president
joined Zachary Taylor as the second one to have
a “Z” in his name? Why, it was John Fitzgerald
Kennedy, elected in 1960.
 For Advertising Call 1.801.513.9878 Page 11

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Page 12 Tidbits® of Ogden, North Davis and Morgan

��

Neutered Male Cat Still Sprays

By Samantha Mazzotta
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I have a 19-month-
old cocker spaniel that is new to our home. Ginger is
constantly growling at our older dog, 9-year-old Buster,
and they often get into fights. What can I do to stop them
from fighting? -- John F., Tampa, Fla.
DEAR JOHN: There’s no quick solution to this
problem. What’s happening is that Ginger, the spry
young dog, is in an active contest with Buster, the old
hand, for first place in a two-dog pecking order.
Many dog owners assume that one good-natured
dog will get along fine with another friendly pooch in the
same household. Some also think that treating all dogs
equally will keep them peaceful. But pet researchers are
coming to different conclusions about the “pack mental-
ity” and the dominance of one dog over another. Some
believe that recognition and enforcement of the pecking
order is a very important step toward keeping order in the
household.
Another factor in your situation is that Ginger and
Buster are evaluating their places in the family. Until
(c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.
recently, Buster was top dog -- the only dog, in fact.
Ginger, who may have been the dominant member of
her litter or her household, is confused at her new status
as second fiddle. Neither dog is willing to concede its
claim to the throne.
So, it’s up to you to decide. You have to choose
which dog will be the more dominant of the two. And
you have to reinforce that decision by treating the lead-
er like a top dog. When the dogs come inside, pet the
dominant one first. At dinnertime, feed the dominant
one first. And so on. Establish the pecking order, plac-
ing yourself at the top as the decision maker, and then
promote either Ginger or Buster.
In a short period, the fighting should stop, as should
most of the growling. If it does not, consult a profes-
sional trainer or a behaviorist, and your veterinarian.
Send your tips, questions and comments to Paws Corner, c/o
King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL
32853-6475, or e-mail them to pawscorner@hotmail.com.

Fly a Patriotic Windsock
on the Fourth of July
A yellowed 4-cent postcard
surfaced from the bottom of an
old shoebox stashed in our attic. A
classic in time, it was sent before ZIP codes and eons before cell
phones and snappy e-mail. The relic wasn’t written by some great-
grandparent, but by my “boomer” husband to his parents when he
was off to camp for the first time at Round Lake in northern Min-
nesota at the age of 10.
I’m sure his parents were waiting patiently for news of the
week. Was he healthy, happy, making new friends, missing his
parents -- but not too much? -- all those concerns we have when
our kids are away from home for the first time.
Well, here’s what he wrote:
“Dear Mom and Dad,
I wasn’t going to write, but they made me write it or I couldn’t
eat dinner. Camp is really fun. We won volleyball and water polo
today and now tied for second place. Well, now that I got this writ-
ten, I can go eat.
Love, Dean”
(c) 2008 Donna Erickson / Distributed by King Features Synd.
While we like to receive any word from our kids while
they’re away at sleepover camp, it’s the campers who also like to
hear their name at “mail call.” Here are some tips:
--Write and send a note or two to your child’s camp via U.S.
mail a few days before he leaves home. Your child will be thrilled
to hear from you the first day of camp. Keep the letters coming.
They’ll no doubt end up in a scrapbook (or shoebox) your child
will treasure in years to come.
--If your child is a baseball fan, remember to send clippings of
box scores of games missed while away, or send a favorite comic
strip from the paper.
--Tuck in addressed envelopes, stamps and a pen to encour-
age your child to write home.
--If your child’s camp will print out your e-mailed letters, try
not to overload the system. There is a fine line between keeping in
touch and letting your child feel independent and “away” from his
typical “at home” routine.
Tip: A camp experience in the outdoors can positively impact
a child. Consider sending a kid to camp by providing scholarship
funds for someone who might not otherwise have resources. Con-
tact a camp of your choice or your local YMCA directly to find out
how you can sponsor a camper.
***
Donna Erickson’s award-winning television series “Donna’s Day”
airs on public television nationwide. Visit www.donnasday.com to
find out when it airs on your local PBS station and to sign up for
Donna’s e-newsletter.

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