12-2012 Village Voice

[email protected] Vol. XXI, No. 12 | December 2012

Clubhouse HolidayDecorations

A team from the Garden Clubscrambled out of bed early one

Wednesday morning and commenceddecorating the fresh Christmas trees, onefor the lobby and another for Abravanel

Hall. The color scheme for Abravanelwas gold and silver and was carried outthroughout the auditorium with largegold birds. The lobby tree was decorat-ed in pastel blue and lime green with

LED blue and white lights. Whiteand green dolls accent the colorscheme. Most of the ornaments and

decorations were purchased inearly September from a SanDiego design center to beat therush from professional design-

ers and florists.Garden Club members

who were responsible are:Linda Strohm, Lou Gordon,Else Offersen, AnnNussbaum, Dwight Goldblatt,

Elaine Kowalik, JoWichary, Gail Womack, andBob Wong

The exterior entrance isenhanced by two

“lighted trees” oneither side of theentrance. Below

are lighted rein-deer. During theevening hours,laser lights proj-

ect stars on theside walls of theClubhouse cre-

ating a startling

EDITORIALThe Vanishing Family

The latest assault on how we celebrateThanksgiving is another diversion calledBlack Friday, a shopping spree spreadacross the country. Why Black?Because the retailers can announce aprofit in their black column.

But it’s also Black Friday becauseof what it has done to our family tradi-tion: a leisurely banquet that unifiesfamily bonds. Some cut short theirdinner and rush out to get the best bar-gains at the Mall. Some celebrateThanksgiving before noon in order toshop later in the day.

In our generation, we can recallthe gathering of the clan to talk,to enjoy each other’s presence, topartake in the most anticipateddinner of the year. Many of ourkinfolk traveled thousands ofmiles across the country just tojoin us on this one occasion ofthe year. We talked, welaughed and more thananything, we bonded.We bonded as a familyand we gave thanksto a higher beingfor the blessingswe had.

And now, timeshave changed formany families. Thecry can be heard,“Hurry up andeat, we’ll belast in line atMacy’s or Best

EDITORIAL,CONTINUED ONPAGE 3

DECORATIONS,CONTINUED ON

PAGE 3

The Village Voice is a publication of the OHCC Journalism Club

The Village Voice — December 20122


Buy and those 42-inch TVs will all be gone. Forget the fami-ly. Rush to the Malls. Get those bargains. Buy, buy, buy!”Greed supersedes love.

As Christmas holidays loom ahead, will scenarios repeatwhat occurred a month ago? Will stores offer bargains again,this time on Christmas Day? Will we cut our holiday short?Will the “after Christmas day” sales now creep into ChristmasDay? “Quick, open those presents. Forget church; we’ve gotto hurry down to the mall for those sales.”

Aren’t we glad we’re not part of this new generation?Aren’t we glad we were part of an era where our family wasparamount? And for those of us who lived through the darkestdays of the depression, few of us had very little money. But wehad the love of our family.

EDITORIAL, Cont’d. from Page 1

celestial effect. Clubhouse maintenance personnel GordonCowie and Sid Rivers were responsible for the major exteriorwork of fastening lights to trees using a man-lift. Commentsfrom residents ranged from “Wow” to “Absolutely beautiful.”

DECORATIONS, Cont’d. from Page 1

Gordon Cowie engineering outdoor Christmas trees.Dignitaries AttendRibbon Cutting Ceremony atCannon Road Project

Oceanside Mayor Jim Woods along with members of thecity Chamber of Commerce, City Council, WaterConservation Board, O’Connell executives and our MasterBoard participated in a ceremony honoring OHCC in its effortto conserve water. Utilizing a grant from the MetropolitanWater District, the project replaced thirsty grass with over

Ellen Baur cuts ribbon with VIPs.

DIGNITARIES, CONTINUED ON PAGE 6


For information, call Sandra @ 760-295-1993

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Raul has been arranging rooms for the hundreds of eventsand gatherings making sure tables and chairs are placed prop-erly, whether the club wants a projection screen, if a portablespeaker is necessary and everything is exactly the way clubswant it.

Born in El Salvador in Central America, Raul lived most ofhis life in Los Angeles where he attended high school and col-lege where he earned a degree in management. During hisyounger years, Raul was a production manager at one of thelargest printing firms that printed money orders, checks, doc-uments and other banking forms. He says the only thing he didnot print was money.

Married to the same woman for 52 years, they have threenow-grown children, one daughter living in Hawaii and twosons who live locally. When asked what does he intend to doupon retiring January 15th, Raul said he would like to workwith the sheriff’s department as an interpreter or volunteeringat Tri-City Hospital might be a possibility. He prides himselffor having lost over 50 pounds by attending a gym and eatingunder the guidance of a dietician.

The residents will miss his gentleness and good nature. Hehas never met anyone he didn’t like and feels 90% of the res-idents like him. But no one has been able to find the other10%.

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3,000 drought-tolerant trees and plants and installed an irriga-tion system that resulted in an estimated 95% cut in watercosts.

Master Board president Ellen Baur gave the speechdescribing the details of the project to a small group of inter-ested residents. A ribbon cutting ceremony followed with pic-ture taking. Refreshments were served under a bright andwarm sunlit day.

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Goodbye andGood Luck, Raul

Every morning promptly at 6o’clock, Raul Granillo opens the frontdoor to allow the early lap swimmersand exercise buffs into the clubhouse.He’s been doing this for the past eightyears but having reached the ripe ageof 71, Raul has decided to retire. Withhis cheery greeting and his cherubsmile, his appearance belies his age;you would swear he was 20 years younger.

DIGNITARIES, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

We’ll miss you, Raul.



The Generosity ofStrangers

None of us have ever met them. None of us have everknown them, but we know they are there. They are the chil-dren of the military families who live at Camp Pendleton. Andthe stories that we hear would make the most stoic person cry.Many of the parents have been deployed, leaving behind oneparent to manage the home on what little allowances are pro-

vided for the families of enlisted men and women. Their apart-ments are sparse, almost barren and a vast majority of familiesare on food stamps.

So, when it comes time for the holidays, children see whatother families are getting in the way of toys and dinners andthey must assume they are not on the same planet. They don’tunderstand why they don’t enjoy the luxury of having aChristmas tree with packages of toys, bicycles and dolls. Theydon’t understand that being a part of the military means theyare a member of a second class of people.

But the residents of OHCC, year after year, provide themajor source of toys for Camp Pendleton. We cannot imaginethe joy we provide when we donate games, wooden toys, bicy-cles, scooters and plush animals. OHCC has been recognizedas the most generous of all sources and our reputation contin-ues to grow.

Somehow, it makes us a bit prouder of our achievements.We care.

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First day of donations.

Woodchucks’ contribution of handmade toys.


and you will get one reserved seat of your choice for all threeshows. If you wish to sit with someone, we can accommodatethat as well so with your two checks, you will have seatstogether! You will get a receipt showing your tax deductionand you may take it for this year or wait until January todonate for next year’s tax deduction.

The last concert of the year was held on November 10,2012, and what a show it was with the New York Tenors giv-ing us their all. The audience gave it back to them! The tenorsenjoyed performing here and we thank all our patrons as wellas everyone for buying tickets. Most of you know the history

Soda Can TabsThe following are additional locations for the containers

for soda can tabs:• Tennis courts • HOA• Pickle ball courts near HOA.

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Keeping "OHSPA" AliveFundraiser

We are on our way to “Keeping OHSPA Alive” (OceanHills Society For the Performing Arts) and we thank the earlybirds who have already given us their $1000 checks and theindividuals who have given us their $500 checks! They are our“Star Donors” and have the pick of the crop for their seatsincluding the front row! You could be there also.

OHSPA needs your help. We are solvent for 2013 andalready have contracts in place for three outstanding perform-ances. We want to be solvent for 2014 and beyond. That iswhy we are offering you an opportunity to make a taxdeductible donation but give you something in return! Bymaking a $1000 (or more) donation either now or in January,you will get two reserved seats of your choice for all threeshows. Individuals may also make a $500 (or more) donation


The CrustyCurmudgeonBy Bob Wong

The End of the WorldNostradamus predicted the end of the

world on December 21, 2012.The Mayan Calendar agrees; the end

will come this year.It’s true and I’ve seen just the begin-

ning: there will no longer be Twinkies.For years, I have been hooked on that delicious cream filled

sponge eclaire. I grew up on Twinkies. Even during thedepression when there was no money to be had, my motherwas able to squeeze out what few cents she had saved in herdresser drawer to purchase one Twinkie as a treat for us fourchildren. Each of us got one quarter of a Twinkie and unfortu-nately, I got the butt end where there was not much cream. Iendured a depressed childhood when the others licked theirchops with cream and all I got was the butt.

But it was not until in my adult years was I able to set asidejust a few dollars to spend on Twinkies. I rationed them out:only 4 Twinkies a day. It was satisfying as my teeth bit into thesoft cake and my tongue, rewarded by that soft velvety taste ofcream. I could care less about the calorie intake, since calorieshad not yet been invented, at least none of us knew what calo-ries were all about.

It was not until Californians became health conscious andsoon tobacco was off the list, that along with sugary drinksand Twinkies. I felt ashamed and enlisted in the TwinkieAnonymous Twelve-step Program. The group met once aweek and I was the first to admit I was a Twinkie junkie. Theyall applauded and I felt proud of myself. Eventually, I changed

of OHSPA. OHSPA is not a social club, it is a corporation, andthe only members of the corporation are the Directors of theOcean Hills Country Club Master Board. There is a Board ofDirectors appointed by the Master Board members. We cur-rently have seven members serving and each has multipleresponsibilities. As is true of all OHSPA productions, ticketsare subsidized, and you are paying only a fraction of the cost.For example, New York Tenors are sold out in Carnegie Hallin December and they are playing at the McCallum Theatre inPalm Springs in January. The prices for tickets in PalmSprings range from $83 (back of balcony) to $243! OHSPA ISA DEAL!!

Your donations to OHSPA make performances possible. Itmakes good dollars and sense to remember OHSPA when youwish to honor memorial and celebratory events. Here are yourbenefits for becoming a Star Donor: You get to sleep in; youdo not have to sit on hard chairs for two hours; you get yourchoice of the best seats in the house; you get a tax deduction,AND you are KEEPING OHSPA ALIVE! It is definitely aWIN-WIN situation!

Please contact any OHSPA Director and we will be at DoDues Day if you want to wait until 2013. We cannot do it with-out you! THANK YOU!

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Authors WantedOcean Hills Country Club has more than its share of resi-

dents who have written books. Most of them reflect personalexperiences of their youth, of time spent in the military whileothers are fictional.

In the works is an opportunity for authors to interact withothers, explaining the features of their work, their personalbackgrounds and literary goals. I need to make arrangementswith the Clubhouse for time and space that will require a cer-tain amount of preparation. If any author is interested in thisproject, please call me, Kaye Preston at (760) 295-5157.

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features


my intake to two in the morning and two before bedtime.When I reported my progress, they all cheered and I felt evenbetter. When my daily intake dropped to two, they awardedme the second degree of valor, next to the highest achieve-ment.

After two months of treatment, I was able to shake most ofthe habit, but unbeknownst to them, I still had a drawer full ofTwinkies. But soon the cache had dwindled to nothing andwhen I attempted to resupply, I discovered the Twinkie facto-ry had closed. Twinkie shelves were emptied and I knew theend of the world had come.

But alas, after a long search, I found a substitute. Whilecupcakes may be a man’s best friend, jelly-filled donuts areforever.

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Village HappeningsBy Selma Leighton

I woke up this morning and sat down to write this article. Ithought to myself “What a boring week.” Then I realized, atOcean Hills, you are never bored. Monday, TouringAmateurs, Tuesday, Mah Jong, Wednesday is Canasta,Thursday, Thanksgiving with Sy and my kids and grandchil-dren and Saturday, dinner with friends. H-m-m, that reallydoesn’t sound boring.

Unfortunately what I did miss was the polyester partygiven by Chris and Louise. I heard it was a blast. When youwalked in, the buffet table caused jaws to drop. Hershey kiss-es, prune juice, bubble gum and olives. Fortunately that waswindow dressing. A real buffet did come later.

Awards were given for costumes.The star of the night wasButch Stemen in his 40-year-old polyester leisure suit. And itfit. A few other outstanding guests were Dr. Spock, a lady inflowing bell-bottoms and a man with a fake Afro and flashingglasses.

But what’s going to happen in December? Will I bebored? I don’t think so. There are 16 holiday parties as fol-lows:

Village Vets, Chorale , Theater Arts, Walkers, Hikers, LineDancing, Tri-Club, Nubees, Art Lovers, Garden Party, SquareDancing, Ballroom, Bocce, Doo-Wop. Village Squares, Ladiesgolf Club Luncheon and New Years Eve.

Members and non-members are invited, non-members ata slight additional cost. But how can I attend all of these par-ties, I don’t have enough outfits. You know we New Yorkersdon’t like to wear the same dress twice.

And just a little reminder, dues day will be Saturday,January 5 at Abravanel Hall. It’s a great opportunity to seewhich clubs exist, and join as many as you like. They are allfun, and you know I like fun-ny.

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Galicia Way: On The StreetWhere You LiveBy Dora Truban

The inhabitants and residents of Galicia are calledGallegos. Their melodious Galician language bespeaks of theregion’s Celtic origin, and is a mixture of Portuguese andCastilian (also known as Spanish.) Tourists are delightedwatching Galician bagpipe players — gaiteros — wearingtheir traditional outfits.

This ancient kingdom located north of Portugal in north-western Spain is a constitutionally autonomous SpanishNational Region with the right of self-government.

The Atlantic Ocean gives Galicía a vital and abundant foodsource gathered from its 1,030 miles of coastline. ManyEuropean pilgrims come to Galicía’s capital to visit the world-known Santiago de Compostela’s Cathedral that honors theregion’s patron: James, the Apostle.

As an OHCC Galicia Way dweller, or as you walk downthis street, you could ponder its history; and perhaps even con-sider visiting it.

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to defend the calf and to forage for food in the snow. There areover 100 thousand new calves each spring and 80% of theseare slaughtered. Reindeer meat is high in protein and is verylean as fat lies just under the hide for protection from the arc-tic weather. The Finns process about five million pounds ofmeat a year, mostly for domestic consumption. There is littledemand for it outside of Scandinavia. All reindeer are ownedby someone and none exist in the wild. Most herdsmen arepart of a cooperative with collective herds of seven thousandor more. Many of the males have been castrated and are usedfor pulling. The government charges a tax on the number ofreindeer that are counted, so some herdsmen try to hide partsof their herd from inspectors.

Large pine forests covered the landscape and Jonny told us

Travels With JoeBy Joe Ashby

Ivalo, FinlandOur flight from Helsinki to Ivalo took us a little over one

hour. Ivalo is located in the northern reaches of Finland about150 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The village with a popu-lation of around 7,000 people was seriously damaged duringWWII by the retreating Germans, but was subsequently exten-sively rebuilt.

We were met by our tour guide Jonny who took us to ahotel where we had lunch of reindeer stew that was quite deli-cious. We stopped off at a grocery store to stock up on OFF indefense of the mosquitoes that recognized us as newly arrivedfresh food. After lunch, we were rushed off to our hotel innearby Saariselka, a resort noted for skiing, snow-boarding inthe winter and for hiking, mountain climbing and gold miningin the summer. They still mine for gold there and a miner maynet as much as $2,000 for his day’s work. Jonny gave out areindeer alert as the first of thousands of gray lanky animalslumbered along the highway. They move very slowly duringthe warm weather. Reindeer molt this time of summer and losetheir antlers later in the season. The males, after mating, willlose their antlers, but will grow new ones the next season.Each male, three years or older, tends to be quite aggressive,and collects its own herd or flock. Females also have antlers Blazing aurora borealis.


lumber makes up 60% of the exports. He taughtus our first two words of Finnish, Key-tos (thankyou) and Bee-vo (hello). Later our vocabularyexpanded to include hueva menta (good morn-ing).

The local people are referred to as Sami, who resent beingcalled Laplanders. Life among the Sami is severe compared toour life-style. The best month is September when outdoor lifeis most agreeable. December offers no sunrise and twilight

Pretty girl in native apparel.

Reindeerherded

togetherby

owner.

lasts about 3 hours at noon and the weather gets down tominus 30ºC. Luckily, we had little intentions of remainingthere for the winter weather but headed back to our warmhotel.


Out & About inSan Diego CountyBy Jack Shabel

The Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary in Del Mar wasestablished in 1981 and accepts companion birds whose own-ers are unable to properly care for them, and birds that havebeen subject to neglect. The birds are kept in a garden-likeatmosphere with some of the birds in cages and some on

perches. Some of the birds are quite social and will let you petthem or climb on your arm for a little closer visit. Some of thebirds are residents and some are boarders. A lot of them areeligible for adoption. While we were visiting, a very friendlycockatoo climbed on my wife Anne’s arm and had a nice visit.We almost thought we might have to take her home with us asshe was reluctant to get back on her perch. This particular birdloved to have her head scratched and was trying to talk,although I couldn’t figure out what language she was speak-ing. Some of the other birds are not quite as friendly. Therewas an African Crowned Crane that did quite an aggressivedance in response to our getting close to its enclosure. Therewas a sign on the enclosure warning visitors to keeping theirdistance from this particular bird. We had a very nice discus-sion with one of the employees and she was very informativeabout the birds. The sanctuary works with grade school chil-dren, summer camps, seniors, and community events in off-site outreach programs, as well as an onsite Junior Docent pro-gram for kids from 13 to 18 years old. In addition they providegrooming (beak, wing, and nail grooming) and boarding serv-ices, so if you have an exotic bird that needs to be cared forwhile you are traveling, these folks seem to be experts in thecare of these animals. The facility is small, so if you are look-ing for a zoo-like experience, this would not be the place foryou. But, if you like to interact with birds and learn aboutthem, then this just might be a place to visit. By the way, theyalso had some of the biggest koi fish that I have ever seen in asmall pond and you can purchase food to feed them.

The cost of admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for chil-dren under 13. Operating hours are 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.Thursday through Tuesday and 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. onWednesday. Location and contact info: 2132 Jimmy DuranteBlvd., Del Mar, CA 92014, (858) 481-3148. Their Website iswww.freeflightbirds.org. This isn’t a place that you will spenda lot of time at, but if you love exotic birds and would like tointeract with them, this place is worth a visit.

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ShoppingAroundBy the Phantom Shopper

Cake CaddyHow often you need to

transport a cake or piefrom your home to anoth-er without having it slipand fall along the way?This shopper reportedthat a nifty way was toplace it into a cake caddythat can hold a 9-inchcake or pie easily. Thecover can be locked onto the base and there is a convenienthandle for carrying.

While cake caddies may be difficult to locate at box stores,Dollar Tree in the local Albertson’s shopping center onMelrose sells them at a nifty price: $1. They also sell alu-minum foil baking pans of various sizes, also at $1.

Shrimp LoversWhile local restaurants have been boasting about their

shrimp dinners, there are two versions that are out of this

world. The first is the local version of Japanese TempuraShrimp located in the frozen section of Albertson’s.Butterflied and coated, these shrimp are to be reheated in youroven and they come out crisp and crunchy. While the tempu-ra shrimp is far superior at Japanese restaurants, these will doas a substitute appetizer or an entrée at home. Price: $16 for20, $1 less when on sale.

The second version is a killer dish: wasabi shrimp withwalnuts created by Peter Sam, chef at Peking Wok in Bonsall.A thin coat of wasabi covers each shrimp and complementsthe slightly sweet taste of honey. A bite brings out the crispi-ness of each shrimp and the flavor is unbeatable. You’ll notfind this at any other restaurant; it’s a winner. ($19)

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Computer Tips(From the Club Connection, the publication of the ComputerClub, with permission from Jim Kaminsky, President.)

Christmas ShoppingThe holiday is just around the corner and companies want

their new products out for that frenzied buying season. So weget these new products among others:

Windows 8Should you upgrade? Everything I’ve read says no. It’s not

Cake caddie with cover, $1.


that it’s bad, it’s just not better. If you buy a new PC, this ismost likely the operating system you’ll get. Don’t shy awayfrom it. I just wouldn’t pay to upgrade my existing Windowsoperating system.

iPad 4 and iPad-mini The iPad keeps getting better and better and experts agree

that the iPad 4 is indeed an improvement over iPad 3. It’sfaster, thinner and better graphics. It is a (relative) beast tocarry, however, heavier than it looks and so now we have thesmaller version of the iPad 3, so not as competent as the iPad4. Again, I wouldn’t buy one of these if I already have an iPad.(There are) less capable, but still competent tables availablefor less money.

iPhone 5Yes, I’m an iPhone user, having the old 3GS model. The

new phone is much thinner and lighter than mine, but isalmost too thin to hold comfortably. It is undoubtedly morecompetent, but I tried “Siri,” the voice interface and it wasuseless. Thirty seconds after asking a question, I got theanswer to a completely different question. “Should I upgradeto an iPhone 5?” The answer is no.

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Watching WildlifeBy Russ Butcher

Of Birds and StormsIf you put out seeds for birds, have you ever noticed what

happens when a storm is approaching? All of a sudden, our lit-tle feathered friends, such as goldfinches and house finches,are swarming around the feeder stations in greater numbersand at an accelerated, almost frantic pace of eating the seeds.Here in Southern California, approaching winter storms gust-ing off the Pacific Ocean are among the best times to observethis intriguing bird behavior.

Thinking about the effects of storms raises the question:What happens to birds before and during ferocious and mas-sive hurricanes like late October’s Hurricane Sandy?Wouldn’t you assume that such powerful storms inflict exten-sive avian casualties?

Well, the good news is that scientific research has shownbirds to be surprisingly skillful at surviving extreme weather.First of all, evidence strongly suggests birds are able to detecta change in air pressure. This ability gives them a heads-upthat a storm is approaching, which in turn enables them to pre-pare for adversity by rapidly eating as much food as possiblewhile they can.

When a storm hits, a vital survival skill is that songbirdsand other perching birds (passerines) are able to land on a treebranch where their talons automatically close. This reflexiveaction essentially locks them to their perch, until they decideto open their talons and fly somewhere else.

But what happens to migrating birds that are caught overthe ocean or other places where there is no perch or shelteredspot in which to ride out a storm’s fury? Satellite trackingresearch has shown that migratory birds may be able to detouraround the edge of a storm to avoid the strongest winds. Somemay take advantage of a hurricane’s winds, thereby greatlyaccelerating their southward autumn migration.

Many migrating birds, however, are blown off course by astorm’s howling winds. Amazingly, most are able to makeflight adjustments that eventually lead them to their normalwintering habitat in the southern United States, Mexico, orCentral and South America. But a fascinating aspect of multi-

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tudes of birds blown off course is that a powerful stormshoves them into regions where they are not supposed to be.Both ornithologists and birdwatchers get very excited byreports of “exotic” sightings and they may travel great dis-tances just to see firsthand some unusually rare bird. AfterHurricane Sandy, for example, a European shorebird wasspotted in the northeastern U.S. A songbird that should alreadyhave migrated to the tropics was reported back north in south-ern Canada. And a seabird that typically lives far out at seaended up 400 to 500 miles inland from the U.S. East Coast.

So, the next time a storm is headed our way, you can becertain that our little feathered friends will be aggressivelystocking up on food. And when a storm’s gusty winds blowthrough Ocean Hills, be assured that the perching birds willnot be blown all over the place.

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BridgeBy Dan Neilson

Control Cards??In no trump contracts, your major effort should be geared

to setting up your long suits. In trump contracts, you may needto ruff out your losers. In either case, the preservation of con-

trol cards is preeminent. Control cards are usually Aces,Kings after a cashed Ace, or KQ combinations. However, anycard can act as a control card if it is the highest outstandingcard in a suit. It is imperative not to cash these cards that canstop a suit, until your outstanding work is done. Even if play-ing your high card will pull the last cards opponents hold, itshould be also delayed if it causes an awkward discard onyour part.

Trump contracts have the same problems, but here youmust also maintain trump control. It is necessary to keepenough trumps in dummy to trump out your losing tricks. Oneof the classic cases is when you have AKxx opposite foursmall. If you have only one loser to trump, playing the Aceand King usually doesn’t hurt you. Trumps will split 3-2 62%of the time. However, 4-1 splits take place 1/3 of distributionsand may bring a disaster if you cash the AK. Since you willalways lose at least one trump trick with the Queen and Jackoutstanding, try playing the Ace and then a small trump. If thetrumps split 3-2, you are no worse off, and if they are 4-1, youstill have control. With the rare 5-0 splits, you are justunlucky!

Generally, letting the opponents get their tricks early is agood strategy. Keep those precious control cards as long aspossible.

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Sun Hing Buffet1960 Hacienda Drive, Vista760-806-3586Sun-Thurs 11-9 p.m., Fri & Sat. 11-9:30 p.m.

Located on Hacienda Drive, in the Pavilion ShoppingCenter just behind the Indian Store, Sun Hing Buffet offers an“all you can eat” menu at reasonable prices. The buffet style isespecially appealing for people who have difficulty decidingon just one main menu entrée. We were able to enjoy anassortment of dishes that were flavorful and fresh; plus goback for more of those we especially liked. If you like Asiancuisine you will find a large variety of appetizers, beef, chick-en, seafood, salad fixings, noodle and rice dishes. Their adver-tisements state that they rotate over 138 items daily. With thatin mind I suggest that you go there when you are really hun-gry.

Hot tablesMy plate (pic-

tured) is filled withboneless spareribs,lo mein noodles,sautéed mush-rooms, friedbanana, beef andbroccoli, fried rice,seafood delight,coconut shrimp,and fried rice. Thebeef was very ten-der, the shrimpsplump and moist, and thespareribs were coated witha sweet sauce. Soups arewonton, miso, egg dropand hot and sour. I selectedthe egg drop soup thatincluded a few mixed veg-etables. For those lookingfor American food, thechoices are chickennuggets, pork chops,French Fries, apple pie andpizza.

Sushi BarThere are about 10 sushi choices. Among them are varia-

tions on California Rolls, shrimp rolls, salmon rolls, plus dip-ping sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi. All sushi selectionswere very fresh.

DessertsYou can choose fresh fruit, chocolate and tapioca pudding,

cookies, cream puffs, éclairs, macaroons, and dip your ownice cream.

Price at lunch (11-3:30 p.m.) is $7.99 (drinks not included)and dinner (4-9 p.m.) priced at approximately $4 more.Seniors over 60 get 10% off every day. This is a typical neigh-borhood restaurant and a convenient place for lunch.

********

By CharlottePichney

My plate is full.

Sun Hing Buffet, a popular localrestaurant.

Steam tables with ample offerings.



Pre-heat over at 325º for 15 minutes.Prepare fruit base: Scatter cranberries and nuts over bottom

of pan. Sprinkle sugar evenly over the top, set pan aside.Sift flour, salt and baking powder together. In a small elec-

tric mixing bowl, beat eggs until they are pale, for about 1minute. Slowly pour in the melted butter while beating on“low” speed to temper the eggs. Beat on “high” several min-utes until mixture is light, fluffy and looks like whippedcream. Add flour mixture all at once, beat on “low” just untilcombined, batter is quite thick.

Spoon batter over cranberries in big “blobs,” then level themixture. Place on the center rack of a pre-heated 325º ovenand bake 50-55 minutes. The cake will become medium gold-en and will be fully baked when a tooth pick will come outclean when inserted in the middle of the cake. Immediately,place a large, rather flat platter on top of the cake and invert.Peel off parchment paper.

This cake is even better when served with a topping ofwhipped cream.

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Cooking With BeverlyBy Beverly Nickerson

Two years ago, I was lucky enough to attend a special hol-iday home economics meeting. I discovered this delightfuldessert created by Dr. Kay Wilder. She provided me with thisrecipe.

Cranberry Holiday Cake1 recipe fruit base1 cup flour1/4 tsp salt1 tsp baking powder2 large or x-large eggs1-1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cup), melted1 cup sugar

Fruit base2 cups fresh cranberries, washed, sorted drained1/2 cup chopped walnuts1/2 cup sugar

Special equipment: cake pan 9 x 9 inches on top tapered to8 x8 on the bottom. Grease bottom well or place greasedparchment paper on bottom.

Cranberry cake, a perfect finish for Christmas dinner.


Health, Exercise and YouBy Andy Truban

Colds and Flu: Myths vs. Facts“Most everybody is more prone to get sick when chilly

weather brings people closer together along with their air-borne, surface-clinging germs” states Paula Spencer Scott inher recent article published in Arthritis Today Magazine.

To build your body’s defenses and help you stay healthyduring the cold and flu season, we need to separate a few factsfrom their often-quoted fiction.

Myth or Truth:Drinking water prevents sickness.Answer: Truth. Liquids cannot flush away viruses, but they

prevent dehydration, which can lead to overly dry nasal pas-sages. Moist nasal passages are better able to fight off germinvaders. Nasal mists and nasal saline spray also add moisture.

Myth or Truth:Zinc lessens cold symptomsAnswer: Jury is still out. Zinc is a mineral with antioxidant

properties. For every clinical trial that shows that zinc short-ens a cold if begun within the first 24 hours of symptoms,another trial finds no such effects. However, if you decide totry zinc lozenges, keep in mind that after five days of use,these lozenges can lead to mouth irritation; and after sixweeks, to copper deficiency. The FDA warns that zinc nasalsprays can cause permanent loss of smell.


Myth or Truth:Echinacea fights coldsAnswer: Myth. While some studies show this herbal sup-

plement reduces cold symptoms if started right away, threelarge studies funded by the National Center forComplementary and Alternative Medicine found no such ben-efit. Dr. Jain says: Beware! Herbal supplements are not stan-dardized, and can interact – or be mixed with compounds thatinteract – dangerously with arthritis drugs. Consult your doc-tor before trying any supplements.

Myth or Truth:To help prevent colds, walk in the sunAnswer: Truth. Research shows that moderate physical

activity, as well as getting plenty of vitamin D can help fendoff seasonal sickness. Vitamin D is produced by the bodyfrom the exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Some studiesalso show that people with reduced levels of vitamin D haveincrease incidence of colds. People who exercise regularlyhave fewer and milder colds. As an added bonus, both physi-cal activity and vitamin D are associated with an improve-ment in arthritis symptoms.

A Tip to Stop Spreading Germs We constantly hear the advice “cover a cough, or a sneeze”

to prevent spreading germs, but if we use our hands as acover, as most us do, it won’t work according to a study at theConference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Atlanta.Experts advise using a disposable tissue, or if caught unpre-

pared, cough into the crook of an elbow. So, for a healthier life style come and use our OHCC gym,

or join the many exercise classes given in the Clubhouse.Spend time outside in our frequent sunny weather. You will beglad you did.

Ref: “Colds and Flu: Myths vs. Facts” by Paula SpencerScott; Arthritis Today Magazine from the ArthritisFoundation; “Tips to Fight Cold and Flu Germs” by BrendaGoodman.

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The Golf GameBy Pete Russell

Putters Not Belly Up YetWhat happened? As expected, the U.S. Golf Association

and the R&A announced Wednesday (11/28/2012) a proposedrule change that would ban anchoring a golf club while mak-ing a stroke. The governing bodies said the proposal is notbased on performance but instead deals with the fundamentalsand traditions. It also would not alter current equipment rulesand would allow the continued use of belly-length and longputters, provided such clubs are not anchored during a stroke.“There is no compelling data” to prove anchoring helps, saidthe R&A’s chief executive, Peter Dawson. “This is aboutdefining what a golf stroke is.”


What’s next? The USGA and R&A say they will accept fur-ther comment through Feb. 28 and will make a final decisionin the spring of 2013. If approved, it would take effect Jan. 1,2016, when the rules of golf are updated.

Was there any dissent? Lots, and not just from players whoanchor their putters, such as Webb Simpson and KeeganBradley. The PGA of America, an organization of more than27,000 male and female golf professionals who count amongtheir charges the goal of growing interest and participation ingolf, expressed its concerns. “We have to hope a ban onanchoring doesn’t impact the rounds played and the enjoy-ment of the game,” PGA President Ted Bishop said. “We’vebeen thinking out of the box, trying to come up with ways tomake the game friendly and more enjoyable. And we think thiscould be deterrent to that.” What about the pro tours? ThePGA Tour and the LPGA each sent caution statements reiter-ating their support for the USGA and R&A, noting that theywould discuss the changes with their “constituents,” aka theplayers. “As with any rule change, we will go through our nor-mal process of evaluating the potential impact this will have,”the PGA Tour said. The tours could create chaos if they decid-ed to ignore the ban, as is their right. That would be a surprise,however, as both tours generally follow the rules handed downby the governing bodies. The PGA Tour will discuss the issuein a players meeting Jan. 22 in San Diego.

Do players and manufacturers have any legal recourse?


They can sue. Winning is another matter: “My sense is thatplayers and manufactures would have a lot of difficulty, ascourts generally defer to unilaterally imposed sports leaguerules,” according to Ryan Rodenberg, assistant professor ofsports law at Florida State University. Michael McCann,director of the sports law institute at the University ofVermont Law School, would not want to have to argue thatcase in court. “I would tell you that a lawsuit is very unlikelyto succeed,” McCann said. “The USGA has a good deal ofleeway in making rules for competition.”

The Rule Change: The proposed change would relabelcurrent Rule 14-1 as Rule 14-1a and establish Rule 14-1b asdescribed below.

* 14-1b Anchoring the Club: In making a stroke, the play-er must not anchor the club, either “directly” or by use of an“anchor point.”

* Note 1: The club is anchored “directly” when the playerintentionally holds the club or a gripping hand in contact withany part of the body, except that the player may hold club ora gripping hand against a hand or forearm.

* Note 2: An “anchor point” exists when the player inten-tionally holds a forearm in contact with any part of his bodyto establish a gripping hand as a stable point around which theother hand may swing the club.

********


Outside Our GatesBy Marileen JohnsonCommunity Reporter

“It’s In Our Hands”The election is over! We have just voted on a stack of state

propositions and many citizens feel fed-up. That feeling sug-gests a new proposition: a one to end all propositions. Really?Literally! A local citizen recently wrote a letter to the editor ofone of our local newspapers saying, “I’m thinking of startinga campaign to put an initiative on the ballot to stop citizen ini-tiatives. It seems to me that citizens who sign a ballot initia-tive are the toys of ‘Big Money!’ I object!”

Those nagging propositions have foes and backers. Therewere eleven on the ballot last month and the money pouredinto the measures was $363,000,000, which is about $20 perCalifornia voter. All this spending raises at least three ques-tions: (1) Is this really direct democracy or direct dema-goguery? (2) Are they (propositions) being bankrolled byinterests other than our own? And, (3) Shouldn’t the citizenswe have elected be the ones making the laws?

Let’s take a look at the history of the citizen initiative. Itbegan as a way for the public to slash bribery and special inter-est control of our government. It is a century-old system thatsome citizens say is broken and threatens our representativedemocracy, thus making our government ineffective. Others

argue that criticisms like this go too far. According to thePublic Policy Institute of California, more than 350 initiativeshave been on the state ballots since 1912. Voters approved 5 ofthe 11 initiatives in the last election and 60 in the last 20 years.None have been more popular than proposition 13 that limit-ed property tax increases (1978) and proposition 8 banningsame-sex marriages (2008).

Now it takes 504,760 signatures to get an initiative on theballot and 807,615 for a constitutional amendment. Thatsounds like a lot, but California has 18.2 million registeredvoters and there are plenty of “Deep-Pockets” who will pay

signature gatherers up to $5 per signature. It’s easy to putsomething to the Citizen Initiative process in California thatwe understand. It needs our concern, study and help.

Maybe a new proposition will appear on a ballot soon toend all propositions. It is in our hands as citizens ofCalifornia. Really? Literally!

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Only YesterdayBy Tom Fuller

Children of our youth,now grown, productive and grey,were once so small and cuddly —

seems like only yesterday.

Houses and cars of the past —built for the powerful and richare now destroyed completely

or so very difficult to fix.

Schools of olden dayswhen teachers had little pay

taught all the needed skills of life,yes, this was yesterday.

Yesterdays were the days of freedom —are we losing it today?

Can we regain these freedomsand go back to yesterday?

The answer, of course, is “No, we can’t”because time moves day by day,

but we can restore the valuesof a happy yesterday.

So we must work to change thingsand look for a better day;

to be honest, it might be quite similarto grand old yesterday.


The Movie SceneBy Joan Buchholz

“Skyfall”With all the advanced publicity for “Skyfall,” how can one

resist not viewing this film. Since the first 007 Bond moviesome 50 years ago, I’ve tried not to miss a single one. Iadmired seeing ultra evil villains. I loved seeing all the newgadgetry invented by Q. I loved the wonderful environmentscreated by the villains: underwater palaces, satellites, way-offislands. I loved seeing 007 escape from being bisected by acircular saw or from a furnace at a crematorium. I loved thegreed for the world’s diamonds and the possession of all thegold in Fort Knox. And if you’re looking for any of this inSkyfall, you won’t find it.

The 007 of this film is far from good looking like his pred-ecessors. He has the looks that might give make-up people apermanent job.

First we see Bond chasing crooks in the streets of Istanbulin automobiles, then chasing them in motorbikes, then on topof speeding trains. We see him chasing crooks in the sky-scrapers of Shanghai, gun fights in arenas with komodo drag-ons in Macau.

Then he’s running after them, or they after him in theunderground tunnels in London. And just what does this vil-lain do? What great crime against humanity has this terribleperson committed? He’s a computer hacker. Yes, you heardme right, a computer hacker. He doesn’t want to corner thegold or diamonds in the world. He just wants to hack comput-ers. Don’t we have those villains throughout the worldalready?

Give me a break!I suppose this film is for another generation… maybe jun-

ior high school freshmen. Where are the stirred Martinis, thegorgeous women and the marvelous Aston Martin sports car?(Oops, there is one at the end, but it gets blown up.) For spe-cial effects, there was an unforgettable smashing train wreck.But one train wreck doesn’t redeem the two hours wasted. Igive it one smile out of four. Unfortunately, ticket refundswere unavailable.

FBI. He is wounded when trying to escape from the plottersand winds up in the hospital.

A rogue former FBI agent, one of the assassination group,becomes aware of the waiter’s whereabouts and executes himin the hospital along with his roommate. He also arranges forthe deaths of two of the three FBI agents investigating theinformant’s information. I won’t tell you anymore in order notto spoil your reading pleasure. Another Jeffrey Archer thriller,“Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less,” introduces readers toan interesting cast of characters.

Harvey Metcalfe is a Bernie Madoff type, thriving on aconstant web of deceit, seeking to prey upon the greed of hisvictims, while leaving scant evidence of his involvement.Through an ingenious swindle he cons an Oxford don, a soci-ety physician, a French art dealer, and an English lord.Overnight, each of these novice investors lost his life’s fortuneto Harvey. With nothing left to lose, the four strangers joinforces to find Harvey, shadow him, trap him, and penny forpenny destroy him. They seek their revenge employingHarvey’s tactics. We get insight relating to the luxurious casi-nos of Monte Carlo, the high-stakes windows at Ascot, fash-ionable London galleries, and Wall Street. I also found therevealing insights of Oxford University protocols and thenobility very interesting. Archer knows his subject matterfirst- hand. He is an Oxford graduate and became a member ofthe House of Lords in 1992.


“Lincoln”Here is an epic movie every res-

ident should see. It depicts the lastfour months of Abraham Lincoln’ssecond term as president. It’s just atthe end of the Civil War and he isfaced with one of the most criticalmoral stances in his life (and our’s too):the Thirteenth Amendment to theConstitution of the United States, abolishingslavery.

Daniel Day-Lewis portrays Lincoln so well thatwe believe we are actually witnessing the presidentin action. We share his pain with his nagging wife(Sally Fields), and with the radical abolitionist(Tommy Lee Jones). Although the Amendment passed easilyin the Senate, it needs 20 more yea votes in the House in orderto make it law. So we witness the anguish and pressures placedon Congressmen to pass the measure. It is also a good lessonin political science for all of us.

Director Steven Spielberg wisely avoids the graphic finalmoments of Lincoln’s assassination and we only see the pres-ident in his death bed. This movie ranks at least four smiles(out of four).

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I Love A MysteryBy Ira M. Landis

Many readers will only read the current best sellers. I havefound that when I find a new author whose books I have notpreviously been aware of, I like to go back to his/her earliestefforts and start catching up with some of the ongoing charac-ters. As a result I have just finished reading Jeffrey Archer’s“Shall We Tell The President.”

This was a book I couldn’t put down, from the 1980s,though very contemporary. A true thriller in every sense of theword. FBI Special Agent Mark Andrews stumbles upon a plotto assassinate the female president who is pushing legislationto curb the sale of guns. The gun lobby hires a team of killersto prevent her from accomplishing her goal. An immigrantGreek waiter inadvertently hears the conspirators discussingtheir plot and brings the information to the attention of the


to sea food in our general location. My partner and I had no difficulty in locating a parking

space in the enormous lot. Oddly enough, the entrance doesnot face the lot, so you must traipse around the corner in orderto enter. The interior is beautiful and there is no doubt this isa place for fish.

The menu is extensive with happy hour of wine or beercombined with selection of shrimp, chicken or calamari for$9. Warm cheese biscuits were presented and I have nevertasted such flaky ones. They were delicious, especially withlots of butter.

I started with clam chowder, always my favorite. Their ver-

sion contained90% dicedpotatoes and10% clams thatmade it a chal-lenge to locatetiny traces ofclam carefullys u b m e r g e dunder a thickcreamy soup. Ifelt RedLobster couldhave improvedon this populardish. My partner had aconventional CaesarSalad that presented nosurprises.

For the entrée, heordered a lobster pizzathat was beautifully pic-tured on the menu withloads of lobster withtomatoes and cheeseson a thin crust. While heate a few slices anddeclared it was tastyenough, the actual prod-uct had no resemblanceto the picture. Yes, therewere pieces of lobster,but there were few andfar between.

I chose the stuffedsole and received twopieces of sole coveringa spoonful of unidentifi-able substance. I added salt as I suspected the cooks refrainedfrom using salt in their cooking. But salt could not rescuewhat was served. Along with the fish was served a largeamount of rather inedible undercooked string beans. For someirrational reason, I like my veggies cooked.

Prices for their shrimp dishes ranged from $13 to $19while lobster and crab combinations stretched into the $33range. Their desserts looked great on the menu and we weretempted to try their apple crostinis and brownies, but resisted.What you see is not often what you get.

The service was prompt and the waiter was quite knowl-edgeable. The restaurant is attractive and had the right ambi-ence; the background music was low and we were very com-fortable. There was a full bar and a bartender, but was devoidof customers when we were there.

The hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and clos-es an hour later on Fridays and Saturdays.

(Gilda is a member of the California Restaurant WritersAssociation.)

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Red Lobster2471 Vista Way • Oceanside(760) 722-0527

Located on the opposite side of theparking lot from the former Mervyns’Dept. Store, the Red Lobster Restaurantis perhaps one of the few places devoted

Stuffed sole with string beans.

Lobster pizza with ultra thincrust.

Great ambience throughout.

Marzluff asserts: “Corvids assume charac-teristics that once were ascribed to humans,including self recognition, insight, revenge,tool use, mental time travel, deceit, murder,language, play, calculated risk-taking,social learning, and tradition.” (p. 198).And this is a scientific conclusion by a sci-entist rather than a “just so” entertainingtale. Anecdotes are used as illustrations, buthard science is the foundation for all ofthese narratives.

Included in the book is in an Appendixwith illustrations of a neuron, the central nervous system of acrow, the anatomy of a crow brain, cross-sections and fromabove, a generalized diagram of the forebrain song-learningcircuit of songbirds, and birds’ social brain networks, alongwith notes explaining the illustrations. In the book itself thereis discussion of brain functioning, particularly related to socialbehavior and play.

Corvids are mischievous teasers. They use their intelli-gence to pull the tails of various animals, even wolves andturkeys, who are not amused. And pet crows have engaged inplay with other pets, namely cats and dogs as well as playingwith humans. Ravens have been observed in mountain passesto surf the wind. They find a piece of flat bark they can graspwith their feet and away they go riding the wind. Crows will

Book ReviewBy Tom Lynch

Gifts of the Crow: how perception,emotion, and thought allow smart birdsto behave like humans, 2012, by JohnMarzluff and illustrated by Tony Angell.Marzluff is Professor of Wildlife Scienceat the University of Washington.

This is a fun book to read as well aseducational about brain science and emo-tional regulation. One learns that crowsare very smart animals and their cognitions and emotions havemuch in common with us.

While the book’s focus is on crows, there are considera-tions about the corvid family which includes crows, ravens,magpies and others. The size of their brains is considerable.The brain/body weight ratio is up there with some of the apes.Our earliest human ancestors associated with crows andravens, and have continued to do so since then. They havebeen celebrated in legend and myth, evident on the walls ofthe Lascaux caves in France, as well as inspiring Edgar AllenPoe. Many people have had pet crows, including CharlesDickens, who had his pet crow Grip stuffed when the crowdied prematurely. Apparently it is illegal in many municipali-ties to keep crows as pets, though people do so anyway.


Soccer, anyone?


red Santa Clause hat on the top, but we did it. Ruth is still recuperating, and we sorely miss her, but wish

her the best. Seymour drops off a monthly check from ConnieScott and also keeps us well supplied with toothpaste from Dr.Buss and staff. Ken keeps us up to date on current names andaddresses for us to send the boxes. So happy to have Pat R.home for a while — such a happy packer. So also Kaye.Welcome to our new packer Virginia. Then to finish the day,Steve & Marcia are off to the Post Office to mail the boxes,and we are done for one more month.

You all are such a generous group. I so often come homefrom some meeting where someone has stuck a $20 bill or acheck in my hand and says — use it for our Marines. Ourheartfelt thanks to Jeanette, Nery R, Barbara, Jack & Linda,Margo, Peter & Jan, Jane V, Seymour & Ruth, Kat & Don F,Arlene, Jacque T, Lillian, Frances C, Judy & Bob H. You keepour project running.

We will hold our next packing date on Friday, December28, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. in my home. Please plan on staying fora holiday Open House immediately following our packing. Ithas been a wonderful, fulfilling year and I would like to saythank you to all our kind supporters. God Bless our Troops.

********

mob and scold others, including humans, who they perceive asmistreating them, and will remember individuals over yearsand resume their scolding when they see the mistreater. If youmess with the local crow you may find yourself a target formobbing and scolding.

As I said at the outset, this is a very entertaining book and,in addition, educational, especially if you’re interested in brainscience.

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Treats For the TroopsBy Phyllis Ward

It was really fun shopping for our boxes this week. Ofcourse all the stores are already decorated for the holidays andspecial things are available now, such as Christmas cards. Ibought five boxes and mixed them all up for a good variety ineach box. I was able to find colored Hanukkah candles andgold coins. Avon had a great special on small shampoos andbody wash. Costco had a great selection of DVDs. You allhave been generous with the Sunday comics and magazines.Jacqueline keeps us well stocked with candy. Lillian bringsnutrition bars. Vivian brought packs of playing cards. Barbaraleft a large bag of bars, batteries and a check. Then along withall our regular goodies, there was barely room to fit a fluffy

Living in close quarters.


The PetKornerBy Ellen Kippel

I love all animals, butfind the most frustratingthing in domestic pets isbegging for food. I found anarticle in the DogWatchnewsletter I receive thatgives the easy way to stopbegging. Dogs who beg forfood have learned a simplelesson: their barking, whin-ing or pawing results in areward. That training isoften unintentional, howev-er. You are teaching a dog to“speak” or “beg” if everytime he comes to the tablehe gets a piece of toast as areward. Dogs are very food motivated, so they learn when abehavior works to get a treat. Even when you purposely traindogs to sit, stand and beg, those cute tricks can lead to unde-sired begging behaviors when you give repeated tidbits fromthe dinner table. The moral is: be careful what you teach yourdog.

To stop the unwanted habit of begging, the best things to doare to ignore the dog and stop giving food as reward. It couldtake weeks to retrain your pet, but you will be satisfied in theend when you no longer have to see the sad pouting dog facewhile you are eating.

If you find begging annoying, train your dog to stay awayfrom the table. Dogs can be trained to stay at the edge of thedining area door. However, they still look pitiful, but at leastthey are farther away!!!!

We had two dogs that were spoiled one summer by houseguests who, unbeknownst to us, fed the dogs at the table whenwe were not home. They continued the begging after theguests left. It took us at least a month to undo what a coupleof guests did in a few weeks.

When ignoring does not work, try the following:1. Feed the dog before you eat.2. Re-direct his attention to a favorite toy or puzzle that

rewards him for his effort.3. Provide food-based or food-dispensing distraction to

slow his eating and help satiate hunger.4. Put your dog in a crate or in another room when you are

eating.As a last FYI, cats will sometimes beg for treats and if you

find that annoying as well, ignoring the whining does eventu-ally solve the issue. This has worked for our cat Frizz whenshe got spoiled by getting treats. Now I only give her treatswhen I want to and not when she “asks” for them.

********

Kiko attended by lackey,Jo Sox.


seven years. At the end of that time we now have $138K butalong the way our portfolio shrank to $44K. Sure hope you

didn’t sell back then.2. We buy a $100K SPY position in

2005 but every time the price fallsbelow the RSQ line we sell out theposition. We buy the position backwhen price crosses up through theRSQ line. The net result: we avoid thecollapse of weeks 225 to 190 and alsoavoid another 34% decline in our port-folio. Yes, the account does fall to$78K at its lowest, but that’s a lot lessstressful that scenario #1. As a bonus,as of today we now have $152K in ouraccount, a 14% gain over the buy andhold of scenario #1.

3. We buy a 100K SPY position in2005, but every time the POLY5 startsto slope downward we sell the posi-tion. That has happened twice in theseven-year look back period, once in2006 and once in October of this year.When the POLY5 starts to slopeupwards, we buy back the SPY posi-tion and hold again unless the POLY5starts to slope downward. In this caseour portfolio never falls below $91.5Kand, happily, we are currently sittingon a $172K portfolio.

So you decide. Which scenario

The Financial PageBy Bob Barnes

Protecting Your Portfolio with StopsIn this month’s exploration of ways to minimize risk to

your portfolio, we’ll take at look at the use of “stops,” whichare statistical lines in the sand that can be applied to any port-folio of stocks, bonds and ETFs in order to preserve thoseassets and avoid the stomach churning periods like late 2008when the S&P 500 plunged over 50%. I’m going to assumethat you worked hard for your money and that you want tomake sure those assets don’t get vaporized in a market col-lapse. Don’t think it can’t happen? I do.

To help understand the concept and implementation of“stops,” here’s a chart of the S&P500 ETF, known as the SPY.It’s a proxy for the S&P index that trades just like a stock andany broker can execute trades in SPY in seconds. SPY typical-ly trades about 130 million shares a day… it’s what they call“liquid.”

We have two overlays on the chart: an RSQ (R-Squared)line and a POLY5 curve (Polynomial to the 5th degree). Don’tstart rolling your eyes now. RSQ and Poly5 are statisticalfunctions in EXCEL and any registered money manager betterknow what they are and how they work or (pardon me) youneed to find another money manager.

Now let’s look at three scenarios for a sample $100,000portfolio composed only of SPY:

1. We buy a $100K SPY position in 2005 and hold for

storage locker alongside his home and it was suggested that itwas used as sacramental wine for some of the surroundingchurches. Nevertheless, the wine crop was plentiful and thebarrels were constantly full.

It was on that warm autumn afternoon when the unbeliev-able happened: the wine storage locker exploded. It had beenrumored that some kids had caused the damage, but there wasnever any proof. Red wine poured out, over and under thewalls and doors. Liquid rivulets ran down the hill to East VistaWay. When the neighbors heard of this manna from heaven,they rushed to the scene armed with bottles, pails and washbuckets. The deluge lasted but for a few hours, but by night-fall, not a drop was to be had. I recall that later in the night,there was much singing and noise from most of the houses andI even heard that many men failed to go to work the nextmorning and had called in sick. The little town of Vista ceasedto function that one day, the day wine flowed freely down thathill.

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sounds better to you? A savvy money manager can craft a“stop” program that will help preserve your assets based onthe risk comfort level that you choose. This brief article hasonly profiled two simple “stop” scenarios. In reality, the pos-sibilities for other stop scenarios are virtually unlimited.

Sadly, some money managers default to the “buy and hold”argument; it’s a lot less work for them and they don’t have totry and explore market timing issues. However, having been atthis game for over 25 years I regard such attitudes as a reflec-tion of either ineptness and/or laziness. These are your assetsand you need to work to preserve and grow them. In mostcases, nobody is going to look out for your welfare if youdon’t speak up, and if this sounds like a tough love approach,that’s what it’s meant to be.

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The Day the WineFlowed FreelyBy Irene Collins

Having lived in Vista all my life, I can recall seeing milesof vacant rolling hills as far as I could see. There were farmsall around and I could bike for miles without seeing a singlesoul. But that was in the 1930s.

The other day, I drove up East Vista Way, and as I came tothe intersection at Foothill Drive, I looked to the right at thebarren hill that overlooks the intersection. I can still rememberthat hill on that momentous day when word spread in ourneighborhood, there was wine to be had and it was free.

For many years, Jules Dupuey and his wife lived atop thathill where he owned several acres of property on which heplanted grape vines. Having been born in France, he broughtover plantings and soon he had a prosperous orchard that pro-duced a fine red wine. The wine was stored in a large wooden

potpourriDeadline for submissions for

articles in the Village Voice is the28th of each month. No exceptions.


Shopping OnlineThe Office of Consumer Protection urges you to take the

following precautions when shopping on the go: Avoid Shopping On Public Wi-Fi HotspotsAlthough it is convenient to shop while having a cup of

coffee at a local cafe or while visiting a public library, youshould avoid making purchases or banking while on publicnetworks. It is incredibly easy for someone to track the infor-mation being sent to websites on an unprotected network. Ifyou enter your credit card or bank account information, thatcup of coffee may cost you more than you thought!

Shop on Secure SitesSecure websites will be displayed with a closed lock to the

left of the website address and will start with: https://.Providing personal/credit card information on websites thatare not secure can easily lead to hackers obtaining and usingyour personal information.

Check Your Bank StatementsWhen shopping online you should regularly check your

bank statements using a secure site and network. It is impor-tant to make sure that money is not being withdrawn fromyour account without your knowledge. Immediately reportany suspicious activity to your bank.

Know the Return PolicyDo you have to pay a return shipment and restocking fee?

Does the store issue a full refund or limit you to a store cred-it? What is the time limit for making a return? Before makinga purchase you should know the answers to all of these ques-tions. Contact the store if you cannot easily locate this infor-mation.

Only Use Trusted AppsBefore downloading any shopping app, make sure you do

your homework. Read reviews to ensure you do not repeatsomeone else’s mistake, and only download apps from rep-utable companies.

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How to Thwart Junk PhoneCalls and Junk Mail

1. The three little words are: 'Hold On, Please...' Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking

off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make eachtelemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boilerroom sales would grind to a halt. Then when you eventuallyhear the phone company's 'beep-beep-beep' tone, you knowit's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has effi-ciently completed its task.

2. Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with noone on the other end?

anything else that day, then just send them their blank applica-tion back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sureyour name isn't on anything you send them. You can even sendthe envelope back empty if you want to just to keep themguessing! It still costs them 46 cents. The banks and creditcard companies are currently getting a lot of their own junkback in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them.Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, andbest of all they're paying for it...Twice! Let's help keep ourpostal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting


This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makesphone calls and records the time of day when a person answersthe phone. This technique is used to determine the best time ofday for a 'real' sales person to call back and get someone athome. What you can do after answering, if you notice there isno one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button onthe phone, 6 or 7 times as quickly as possible. This confusesthe machine that dialed the call, and it kicks your number outof their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name intheir system any longer!!!

3. Junk Mail Help: When you get 'ads' enclosed with your phone or utility bill,

return these 'ads' with your payment. Let the sending compa-nies throw their own junk mail away. When you get those 'pre-approved' letters in the mail for everything from credit cardsto 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away thereturn envelope. Most of these come with postage-paid returnenvelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 46 centspostage, 'IF' and when they receive them back. It costs themnothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50cents before the last increase and it is according to the weight.In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mailand put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes.

One of Andy Rooney's (60 minutes) ideas. Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American

Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get


into their business profits, and that's why they need to increasepostage costs again. You get the idea!

If enough people follow these tips, it will work. I have beendoing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.

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Eating SafelyFewer Home Cooked MealsIn the past, many people grocery shopped nearly every day

and cooked their own food at home. Eating in restaurants wassaved for special occasions. But times have changed. Today,many older adults find it easier and more convenient to eat outat a restaurant, or get ready-to-eat foods from a deli, take-outcounter, or grocery store.

Eating out can be an enjoyable experience, offering a wayto socialize with friends or family, eat delicious food, and befree of cooking duties for a while. But wherever you chooseto eat out -- at a diner, a restaurant, or a senior center -- thereare things you can do to make sure the food you eat is safe.

Check for CleanlinessWhen you go out to eat, check out the eating establishment

to see how clean it is. Are the dishes clean? Are the floorsswept? Are the bathrooms sanitary? If not, you may be better

off finding somewhere else to eat. If the dining room is dirty,the kitchen may be too. A dirty kitchen may lead to unsafefood.

Order your food thoroughly cookedWhen you eat out, always order your food thoroughly

cooked. If you order food containing meat, poultry, seafood,or eggs, make sure these foods are thoroughly cooked. Don'thesitate to ask your food server how the food is preparedbefore placing your order. If the server is not sure or does notknow, ask to speak with the chef to make sure these foods willbe not be served raw or undercooked.

Take a good look at your food when it is served to you. Ifyou ordered a hot meal, make sure it's served to you hot andsteaming. If it's not hot enough, or if it just doesn't look rightto you, send it back.

Avoid Certain FoodsWhen eating out, you should steer clear of the same foods

that you avoid at home. Besides not eating raw or under-cooked meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs, older adults shouldalso not eat unpasteurized milk and juice products, rawsprouts, and hot dogs and luncheon meats that have not beenreheated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Older adults should alsoavoid unpasteurized (raw) juice, milk, or milk products madewith unpasteurized milk. Some soft cheeses such as feta,queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, and Camembert are madewith unpasteurized milk.

20%DiscountEveryWed.4-9pmENTREEONLY


Refrigerate Leftovers and Perishables If you ask for a doggie bag, make sure to refrigerate your

leftovers within two hours of receiving the food, and withinone hour if air temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above.If you will not be getting home soon enough, put the food in acooler with ice or freezer gel packs to keep it cold. If this isnot possible, it is better to leave the leftovers at the restaurants.

Keep Hot Foods Hot; Cold Foods ColdWhen reheating food, reheat it to 165º F until it is hot and

steaming. Cold food should be kept cold at 40º F or below.Refrigerate cold food within two hours of receiving it.

When to Toss FoodDon't hesitate to get rid of food that is no longer safe.

Throw away any perishable food that is left at room tempera-ture for more than two hours. Don't keep refrigerated leftoversmore than 3 to 4 days. Even if the food looks and smells fine,it may not be safe to eat after that time. When in doubt, throwit out.

The information in this topic was provided by the NationalInstitute on Aging June 2012.

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cell 619-955-3646. Resident of OHCC.

RemembrancesOur deepest condolences are extended

to the families of the following:

Jack Aspis • Hortense Perler • Betty Markoe Joseph Haring • Vern McNeese • Pollyana Naff

Leonard Lasken

SOURCE: Ocean Hills Community Patrol(To acknowledge the passing of the deceased, a family mem-ber or close neighbor is requested to report the name of the

deceased to the Community Patrol.)

THANK YOUTo all our friends and neighbors of Lorna Goodman:I want to thank you for your wonderful expressions of sup-

port, love and affection before and now after Lorna’s surgery.Your good thoughts will speed her recovery; I am very

appreciative.— Stuart Goodman



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12-2012 Village Voice