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A “REALITY” CHECKby Blue Sullivan

Through programming successes like “American Idol” (still the most watched series on television in the United States), “reality TV” has grown to be a huge part of the programming broadcast on both cable and network television. The emergence of reality programming as one of

on television would seem to suggest this is a relatively new invention. Actually, it stretches all the way back to the 1940s. Here we’ll recount a little about the history of this style of show, along with some things you might not know about reality programs in America and worldwide.

Allen Funt’s “Candid Camera,” a precursor to MTV’s popular prank show “Punk’d” (currently hosted by pop superstar Justin Bieber and a revolving rotation of young entertainers). Unlike “Punk’d,” which focuses on pranks played on celebrities, “Candid Camera” featured mild pranks played on everyday individuals, and captured their reactions.

turn the page for more!

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Page 2 Tidbits® of Hoover, Pelham, Alabaster & Helena!

.

When I first heard the news item, I was outraged: Over the course of three days, 75 American flags were sto-len from a veterans cemetery. Upon further investiga-tion, I was chuckling ... almost. In New York, in the Civil War section of the Cedar Park Cemetery in Hudson, flags had gone missing, and people were justifiable angry. Only the flag portions were missing, not the wooden poles, which remained pushed into the ground. The latest theft was discovered just hours after a meet-ing of local officials, veterans and police to address the topic of stolen flags -- because it had happened before at the same cemetery. Something had to be done.Upon learning of the new damage, police set up cameras to attempt to nail the culprit in the flag thefts. What they found on the video had them scratching their heads: A woodchuck, also knows as a groundhog, was seen pulling down the flags and hauling them away, minus the wooden pole. Extending the inves-

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

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: For the past year, my wife has had to deal with autoimmune hepatitis. It’s something that hardly anyone knows about or understands, and that makes it even more difficult to cope with. Everyone thinks she has an infection. I can only haltingly explain what she has. Will you tell your readers about this illness? -- D.R.

ANSWER: Say “hepatitis,” and people automatically think of a viral infection. Say “cirrhosis,” which is sometimes the last stage of hepatitis, and people think of alcohol as the cause. Not all hepatitis is virus-caused, and not all cirrhosis is alcohol-caused. Your wife’s illness is an example. Her liver is inflamed (hepatitis), not from an infection but from an attack on her liver by her immune system.The reason why a person’s immune system, a system designed to keep us healthy, turns on the liver is obscure. Signs that the immune system is the cause are demonstrable by finding antibodies in the blood. Antibodies are the ammunition the immune system makes to fend off dangerous invaders. One special antibody, the anti-nuclear antibody, is a big indication that the liver has come under an immune attack.The course of autoimmune hepatitis is unpredictable. It might be mild with few symptoms, or it may take a more aggressive course in which the skin and eye whites turn yellow, where fatigue is immobilizing, where abdominal pain is common and where the skin develops an itch.Quite often, a liver biopsy is the procedure that provides evidence of autoimmune hepatitis.Prednisone, one of the cortisone drugs, often is the treatment of choice. It reins in an out-of-control immune system. Another immune-modifying drug, azathioprine, can be added to the regimen. It sounds like your wife is responding well to treatment (from parts of your letter that I had to delete).The booklet on hepatitis details the various forms of the illness, and how they are acquired and treated. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 503W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: What is the procedure for removing a tick attached to your skin? Can you remove it yourself, or should it be removed only by a physician? -- T.R.

ANSWER: It’s safe for people to remove ticks on their own. You need tweezers with fine grooves on their lower, inner surfaces.Grasp the tick as close to the skin as you can and as close to the tick’s head. Gently but firmly pull the tick straight out, at a right angle to the skin. Don’t crush it.Don’t bother with popular techniques such as coating the tick with petroleum jelly or applying a just-blown-out match to it.***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Is Prozac addicting? Can you take it for life? -- D.L.ANSWER: Prozac isn’t addicting, but the drug should be stopped gradually rather than abruptly. People with recurring bouts of depression can take it for extended periods of time.***

Viruses Not the Only Cause of Hepatitis

tigation, police used a special camera to go down into the burrows and tunnels the woodchucks had dug, and sure enough, there were remnants of the flags, used as bedding.A look around the Internet reveals that woodchucks have been notorious for stealing flags (and flower arrangements) in cemeteries. In Bernville, Pa., wood-chucks stole 40 flags -- in 2005. So it’s been going on for a long time. It’s suspected that there’s a chemical put into the flags that attracts the woodchucks. While the loss of the flags is good news for flag manufacturers, who will no doubt benefit from additional flag orders, they need to do the patriotic thing and change that chemical. Perhaps the addition of mint or another scent will deter the varmints from snatching flags.

Flag Thief Identified

A “Reality” Check (continued):• “CandidCamera”actuallyemergedfromanother“realityshow”fromanothermedium,a1947radioversionwiththesameconceptcalled“CandidMicrophone.”• “CandidCamera”wasfollowedaftereachbroadcastbyanotherpioneerofrealityTV,theTedMacktalentsearchshow,“OriginalAmateurHour.”TedMack’sshowtelevisedamateurscompetingbeforealiveaudience,whochosethewinner.ItwasthefirstexampleofpublicvotingdeterminingtheoutcomeofaTVshow,predating“Idol”bydecades.• ThelongestrunningrealityshowintheUnitedStatesis“Cops,”whichhasbeengracingoursetssince1989.• MTVlikestotoutitsseries“TheRealWorld”(asuccesssincetheearly‘90sandstillgoingstrong)asthefatherofwhatmostthinkofasmodernrealityTV,butthatdistinctionprobablygoestoPBS’“AnAmericanFamily.”The1973seriesfollowedafamilyastheywentthroughadivorce.• “AnAmericanLife”wassoinfluentialthatitinspiredawell-reviewedcinematicsatirebycomedianandfilmmaker,AlbertBrooks.1979’s“RealLife”followsafilmmaker(playedbyBrooks)whoissoinspiredbythesuccessofthePBSseriesthathetriestoreplicateitwithadifferentfamily,withunexpectedlydireresults.• TheincidenceofrealityprogrammingonTVtodayishigherthanithaseverbeen.Oneinfourprogramsinprimetimeisrealitybased.Inadditiontoitspopularitywithaudiences,thegenreispopularwithTVexecutivesforitscost-savingbenefits.Theaveragerealityshowcostsabout$500,000perepisode,comparedto$2millionforasitcom.

Have you done a mid-year financial review? A summer day when it’s just too hot to go outside is the perfect time to check your progress on your financial goals for the year.Start with your 2011 tax return and check the taxes you paid on your income. Did you get a large refund? Or did you have to pay more with your return? Neither is desirable. If your refund was large (more than a few hun-dred dollars), you’re giving the government an interest-free loan of your money through the year. If you ended up having to pay more than a few hundred dollars, your calculations

for tax withdrawals through your place of employment need some adjustments.Go online to the IRS site (irs.gov) and search for “2012 withholding calculator” and click on IRS Withholding Calculator. Have your pay stubs ready and follow the steps. If you see that you need to make adjustments at work to the amount withheld from your pay-check, give your employer an updated W-4 form. Look on the IRS site for Publication 919, which is the step-by-step instruction for adjusting withholding.If you have personal-finance computer soft-ware but haven’t kept it up, bring it up to date so you can use the sorting features to as-sess your spending. Most of the software will let you categorize by spending and income types, allowing you to pinpoint areas where you might not be on track. For example, if your overall 2012 budget allowed for a cer-tain amount of discretionary spending per

month (generally called “miscellaneous”) and you find you’ve gone over that amount, you’ll be able to make adjustments. If you need to buy personal-finance software, get a brand that keeps all the information on your computer, not the type that “stores” all your financial information at a site on the Inter-net.Check your savings interest rate. Are you on target? Search online for “best savings interest rates” in your area to determine the best place to keep your long-term money for maximum growth. Remember that in the case of an emergency, you’ll need fast ac-cess to your cash, but don’t forfeit interest if you can help it. Short-term Certificates of Deposit with staggered due dates will still allow you to get to your money quickly without compromising your interest with penalties for early withdrawal.

It’s Time for Mid-Year Financial Review

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1. Is the book of Zacharias in the Old or New Testament or neither?2. What book’s (KJV) first verse is, “How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people”? Judges, Ruth, Ezra, Lamentations3. Who’s the only Old Testament person mentioned as being buried in a coffin? Adam, Eve, Moses, Joseph4. From Hebrews 7, what priest was with-out mother or father? Jehoiada, Melchize-dek, Eleazar, Leviticus5. How many times is the word “Lord” mentioned in the Bible (KJV)? 3,001, 5,229, 7,736, 9,8476. Who wrote the book of Acts? Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Heavenly Hash Cream Pie

If you’re like most folks, dessert is the exclamation point to the meal! Well, this delicious pie is quite a way to punctuate any menu. Be prepared to receive compliments and even share the recipe.

2 (4-serving) packages sugar-free instant white chocolate pudding mix1 1/3 cups nonfat dry milk powder2 cups water3/4 cup reduced-calorie whipped topping1 1/2 teaspoons coconut extract6 (2 1/2-inch) chocolate graham crackers1 (6-ounce) purchased chocolate piecrust2 tablespoons flaked coconut

1. In a large bowl, combine dry pudding mixes, dry milk powder and water. Mix well using a wire whisk. Blend in whipped topping and coconut extract. Coarsely crush 5 graham crackers. Fold in cracker crumbs.2. Spread mixture evenly into piecrust. Crush remaining 2 graham crackers into fine crumbs. Evenly sprinkle co-conut and fine cracker crumbs over top. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serves 8.

¥ Each serving equals: 206 calories, 6g fat, 6g protein, 32g carb., 516mg sodium, 1g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch, 1/2 Fat-Free Milk.

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Q: I remember a while back that Kelsey Grammer an-nounced he and his wife were expecting. Has she had her baby yet? -- Barbara D., via e-mailA: Kelsey, 57, and Kayte, 31, announced earlier this year that they ecstatic couple were expecting twins. Kayte gave birth to a healthy baby girl in mid-July, but tragically, the baby’s twin brother did not survive. The couple said in a joint statement: “A glorious birth with a lingering sadness is ours today. We choose to celebrate the life that has been given us. We proudly introduce our Faith (Evangeline Elisa Grammer) to the world today looking forward to the days ahead and the children yet to come.”

1. ADVERTISEMENTS: What product was ad-vertised in TV ads featuring a cartoon charac-ter named Charlie the Tuna?2. BIBLE: How old was David when he become king of Israel?3. LANGUAGE: What dance and music style from the Portugese language means “new trend”?4. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the name of the airport in Atlanta?5. MUSIC: What was the theme song of coun-try/western singer Gene Autry?6. MYTHOLOGY: In Greek mythology, what was Pegasus’ unique characteristic?7. GOVERNMENT: What U.S. government agency’s motto is, “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”?8. GEOGRAPHY: What is the name of the is-land where Nassau is located in the Bahamas?9. MATH: What is the distance around a poly-gon?10. TELEVISION: What was the name of An-gus MacGyver’s employer in the “MacGyver” drama series?

A: TNT’s blockbuster science-fiction drama about howthe world fights back after an alien invasion definitely will be back next summer for a 10-episode third season. This no-brainer decision (“Falling Skies” is cable’s No. 1 drama in the 18 to 49 age market, and is No. 2 in 25 to 54, behind TNT’s other breakout hit, “Dallas”) will continue the quest of Noah Wylie’s Mason, Will Patton’s Weaver and Moon Bloodgood’s Dr. Glass as they lead the 2nd Mass resis-tance group toward survival and, hopefully, the kicking of someQ: What has Shaquille O’Neal been up to lately? -- Roger G., Franklin, Miss.A: Shaq just signed on to star in a new series for truTV tentatively titled “Upload with Shaquille O’Neal.” The show will be hosted by comedian Gary Owen and co-star Shaq and comedian Godfrey, as well as a special guest for each of the 10 episodes. They will scour the Internet looking for the funniest online videos to comment on, and they’ll also create their own viral videos, pull pranks and parody current pop-culture stories.Shaq had this to say about his new venture: “I’ve been a fan of truTV for a long time, and I look forward to work-ing with my good friends Gary Owen and Godfrey. I’ve always tried to entertain people, and I know this show will deliver big laughs.”

Q: I heard a rumor that Steven Tyler won’t be back as a judge on “American Idol.” Please tell me it isn’t true. He’s one of the main reasons that I watch the show! -- Diana W. in West VirginiaA: The Aerosmith rocker recently announced he will indeed quit the show to focus on the band. Steven said, in true Steven style: “I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress, ÔAmerican Idol,’ before she boils my rabbit. I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I’m back.” His news came the day before Jennifer Lopez announced that she, too, was leaving the show. I’ll tell you, I wouldn’t mind see-ing Richard Marx and Debbie Gibson in the judges’ chairs.

Q: Please tell me that “Falling Skies” will be back next summer for another season! -- Jeffrey D., via e-mail

¥ On Aug. 9, 1936, at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, black American track star Jesse Owens wins his fourth gold medal of the Games in the 4-by-100-meter relay. His relay team set a new world record of 39.8 seconds, which stood for 20 years.

¥ On Aug. 6, 1945, an American B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, drops the world’s first atom bomb over the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Some 80,000 people are killed as a result of the blast, and another 35,000 are injured. At least 60,000 more would be dead by the end of the year from the effects of the radioactive fall-out.

¥ On Aug. 7, 1959, the U.S. unmanned spacecraft Explorer 6 is launched into an orbit around the Earth. The spacecraft featured a scanner that transmitted a crude picture of the Earth’s surface from a distance of 17,000 miles. The photo, received in Hawaii, took nearly 40 minutes to transmit.

¥ On Aug. 11, 1965, in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, a riot began that eventually ranged over a 50-square-mile area. With the assistance of thousands of National Guardsmen, order was restored five days later. The violence left 34 dead, 1,032 injured, nearly 4,000 arrested and $40 million worth of property de-stroyed.

¥ On Aug. 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon announc-es his intention to become the first president in Ameri-can history to resign. With impeachment proceedings under way against him for his involvement in the Wa-tergate affair, Nixon finally bowed to pressure from the public and Congress to leave the White House.

¥ On Aug. 10, 1981, Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies gets the 3,631st hit of his baseball career, breaking Stan Musial’s record for most hits by a Na-tional Leaguer. It was only Rose’s 2,886th game; it had taken Musial 3,026 games to set the mark.

¥ On Aug. 12, 1990, fossil hunter Susan Hendrick-son discovers three huge bones jutting out of a cliff in South Dakota. They turned out to be part of the larg-est Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered, a 65 million-year-old specimen. Amazingly, the skeleton was more than 90 percent complete..

A “Reality” Check (continued):• AlthoughrealityTVhasbeenaviablegenreforoversixdecades,it’stakenawhilefortheEmmystotakenotice.Thefirstawardinthegenre,“OutstandingReality-CompetitionSeries,”wasgivenin2003to“TheAmazingRace.”• In2008,anadditionalcategorywasaddedhonoring“BestRealityTVShowHost.”Itwentto“Survivor”hostJeffProbst,whohassincebecomearepeatwinnerinthecategory.• Realityshowsaren’tjustinfluentialintheUnitedStates.SingerSusanBoyle’s2009auditionontheUK’spopularshow“Britain’sGotTalent”hasbeenviewed120milliontimesonYouTube.• RealitytelevisionhasalsoreachedtheMuslimworld.In2010,ashowcalled“ImamMuda”pittedcontestantsinavarietyofchal-lenges.ThesechallengesincludedtestsofIslamictheory,thecounselingofteenagersandtherecitationoftheQuran.ThewinnerreceivedajobasanImam,alongwithafreescholarshipinSaudiArabiaandanewcar.• ThemostpopularrealityshowintheUnitedStatesis“AmericanIdol,”butfewknowitsorigins.“Idol”wascreatedinthe‘90sbySimonFuller.Fullerrosetoprominenceasthemanager,andsomewouldsaymanufacturer,ofpopsensationTheSpiceGirls.Hewassoim-portanttothegroup’ssuccessthattheBritishpressdubbedhim“SvengaliSpice.”Whenthegroupsuddenlyfiredhim,Fullerdevisedawaytocreateagroupoverwhichhehadfullcon-trol,thus“Idol”wasborn.• “AmericanIdol”wasactuallysupposedtobeanonlineshowwhenFullercreateditin

1997.However,thelackofhigh-speedinternetinmosthomesmadetheideaunfeasible,soFullerwenttotelevisiontobroadcasthisideainstead.• “AmericanIdol”isactuallyaspin-offofasimilarprograminGreatBritaincalled“PopIdol.”AfteragreeingtobeoneofthejudgesontheupstartAmericanversion,SimonCow-ellnearlyquitinthelastweekbeforethefirstepisodeaired.Cowellworriedthathisconfron-tational,distinctlyBritishpersonalitywouldnotworkwithAmericanaudiences.• Inthenonfictionbook“AmericanIdol:TheUntoldStory,”authorRichardRushfieldinterviewedCowellabouthisnearlyquittingtheshowbeforeiteveraired.Cowellsaid,“Iremembercallingmylawyer,andIsaid,‘Idon’twanttodoit.Ihaven’tsignedthecontract.Getmeoutofit.”• Fortunately,FoxproducersmanagedtotalkCowelloutofabandoningtheshow.Theyconvincedhimhe’dhave“freerein”andwouldn’tneedtoalterhisabrasivepersonaforAmericanviewers.Oneotherjudgedidbackoutatthelastmoment,however.Originally,theshowwastofeaturefourhosts,butaLosAngelesradioDJnamedStrykerquittheshowatthelastminute.• Strykerwasworriedthe“cheesysingingcontest”wouldhurthisimage.Withnotimetorecast,theshowdecidedtogowiththreejudgesinstead.Inanironiccoincidence,StrykerlaterservedasthehouseDJforthedaytimetalkshowhostedbyEllenDeGeneres.DeGe-nereswasbrieflyaddedasafourthjudgeon“AmericanIdol.”• “Idol”fixtureRyanSeacrestnearlywasn’tontheshowaswell.Afterbeingcho-senfortheshow,contractnegotiationsstalledbetweenthenetworkandSeacrest’sfather,whoservedashismanager.Seacrestsignedhiscontractmerehoursbeforethefirstepisodewasshot.

Page 5For Advertising Call (205) 552-5502

If Shadie doesn’t handle it well, such as getting agitated, chewing up furniture or shoes, there are training solutions to solve that problem.Another solution, if you must bring your dog, is to bring along a trustworthy friend who is willing to sit in the car with the dog, with the motor running and the air conditioner on to keep it cool. Your friend will need to monitor Shadie while you shop. But this has its own pitfalls -- I don’t know many people willing to wait around while their friend is in the store.Again, I can’t stress enough how important it is to not leave Shadie alone in the car, for even a few minutes. She easily could suffer heat exhaustion or stroke. Instead, invest some time helping to resolve Shadie’s separation anxiety so she’ll be happy and healthy at home.

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I can’t leave my dog “Shadie” alone in the house, so I have to take her with me when I go shopping. How long can I keep her inside my car before it gets too hot? My friend says 20 minutes, if I keep the windows cracked a little. -- Danielle F., Atlanta

DEAR DANIELLE: How about never? A parked car in the summer heat, even with the windows open a bit to let in airflow, can quickly heat up to extreme temperatures. Neither pets nor humans can stand the quick rise in temperature -- so being left in a parked car can prove fatal.If you’re planning to go out for a few minutes to pick up some groceries or handle a quick errand, leave Shadie at home. Your dog should be able to handle a short period without you.

Hot Cars and Pets Can be Deadly Mix

By Samantha Mazzotta

FAMOUS LANDMARKS OF THE WORLD:

USSArizonaMemorialAcornerstoneofWorldWarII,theUSSArizonaMemorialseesmorethanamillionvisitorseveryyearcomefromaroundtheworldtopayrever-encetothebattleofPearlHarbor.• LocatedaroundtwomileswestoftheHonoluluAirport,theUSSArizonaMemorialisontheislandofOahu.• ManagedbytheNationalParkService,theUSSArizonaMemorialconsistsoftheactualmemorialalongwithashore-sidevisitorcenter.• DuringthebattleofPearlHarbor,around1,777crewmanlosttheirlivesontheUSSAri-zona,anditistheburialgroundofalmostallofthem.• OfalltheshipsonBattleshipRowaffect-edbytheattack,theUSSArizonawasthemostheavilydamagedwithfourdirecthits.Atotalof12shipsweresunkandninedamagedduringthebattle.• ConstructionoftheUSSArizonabeganin1914inNewYork;theshipwasoriginallycalledbattleshipnumber39.OnthemorningofDecember7,1941,Arizona’sfirsthitcameatap-proximately8:10a.m.• TheMemorialispartoftheWWIIValorinthePacificNationalMonument,whichalsoincludestheUSSOklahomaMemorial,USSUtahMemorialandotherhistoricquaysandbunga-lows.• TheMemorialisaccessibleonlybyboat,andTheMemorialTourisabout75minuteslong.Ticketsarefree.Theydo,however,goratherquicklyandusuallyrunoutby12p.m.onmostdays.• WiththerecentrevitalizationoftheVisitorCenter,thetotalareaoftheMemorialisabout17acres.TheMemorialsiteitselfis184feetlong.

When you hire a caregiver for a family member or parent, how do you know who or what you’re getting? If you hire someone through an agency, you would expect that it’s done all the background checks. But can you trust the agencies?

AARP posted on its website the results of a study done by Dr. Lee Lindquist of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Lindquist discovered that only half of placement agencies do any background screening or testing of caregivers. Only one-third do any drug testing or check out qualifications. And only one-third send supervisors out to check on caregivers.

Scary, isn’t it?Lindquist developed a list of 10 questions

to ask agencies if you’re considering using them to hire a caregiver:

1. How do they recruit caregivers and what are their requirements?

2. What kind of screenings do they do? What level of background check? Any drug testing?

3. Is there any training, such as certification in CPR?

4. How are the caregivers insured? Are they bonded?

5. What skills do the caregivers have? Are they skilled in transfers, dressing and bathing?

6. How does the agency assess these skills? Do they reply only on the applicant’s word?

7. What is their policy if caregivers can’t do what is stated in the contract?

8. If you’re unhappy with the care, will the agency provide a substitute?

9. Is there a supervisor who will evaluate the quality of the care? How often?

10. Is the supervision via phone or home visits?

Your best bets: Look for a caregiver through your church or support group. Ask others for recommendations. Contact seniors service agencies for recommendations.

Baby, It’s Hot Outside

• TheMemorialconsistsofthreesec-tors:theentryway,generalarea(designedforobservation)andtheshrineroom,whichhousesamarblewallengravedwiththenamesofallthosewholosttheirlives.• ConstructionoftheMemorialbeganin1949,wascompletedin1961,anditwasdedicatedinMay1962.• AlfredPreiswastheMemorial’sarchi-tect.HesaysoftheMemorial’sdesign,“Theoveralleffectisoneofserenity.Overtonesofsadnesshavebeenomittedtopermittheindividualtocontemplatehisownpersonalresponses...hisinnermostfeelings.”• Visitorsfrequentlydropflowersintothewaterinhonorofthosewholosttheirlives.• AphotographtakenoftheUSSArizonaintheaftermathoftheattackwasplasteredacrossthefrontpagesofnewspa-persandsoonbecametheimagethatmostAmericansassociatedwithPearlHarbor.• Althoughit’sbeenmorethan70yearssincethefallofthebattleship,oilstillleaksfromrupturedbunkers.• TheMemorialandPearlHarboraretwoofthetoptouristdestinationsinHawaii.• TheVisitorCenterisopeneverydayfrom7a.m.to5p.m.andisonlyclosedthreedaysayear—Thanksgiving,ChristmasandNewYear’sDay.• Althoughsecurityhasbeenheight-enedsincetheSeptember11,2001,attacks,personalcamerasarestillallowed,butpurses,personalbags,backpacks,etc.areprohibited.Baggagestorageisavailable.

Doyouhaveaquestionaboutcancer?Ifso,wewanttoanswerit!

Submityourquestion(s)byAugust24usingtheformbelow,andonOctober8,comehearanexpertpanelofphysicians,scientistsandsurvi-vorsaddressthesequestionsataspecialevent:“Progress&Promise2012:CommonQuestions,UncommonAnswers.”Eventdetailsarebelow.

Note:Duetotimelimitations,noteveryques-tionsubmittedcanbeaddressedduringtheprogram.However,followingtheprogram,youwillhavetheopportunitytomeetourexpertsandaskadditionalquestions.

Progress&Promise:CommonQuestions,Un-commonAnswers

When:October8,2012

QuestionsandAnswers6:00–7:00p.m.

ReceptionwithToday’sLeadersinCancerRe-search:7:00–8:00p.m.

Where:UAB’sAlysRobinsonStephensPerform-ingArtsCenter,SiroteTheatre

Rememberthatthedeadlinetosubmitques-tionsisFriday,August24!

Formoreinformation,contact(205)934-0034orinfo@ccc.uab.edu

Progress & Promise

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

YES YOU CAN! AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE!

HSA Plans

High Deductible Plans

Copay Plans

Plans As Low As $50 per Month!

Customized Health Insurance to Fit your Budget!

Call Today! - 205-874-6505Email: craig@southernsecure.com

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T. Craig Edmonds

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Sincewespentsometimeonthestarsofreal-itytelevision,itseemsappropriatetoallotalittlespacetothemediumthatprovidedthemstardom.Hereareafewinterestingpiecesofinformationabouttheinventionthathelpedshapethemodernage.• Thefirstdisplayedimageonatelevi-sionwasonly30grainylines.Itwasdisplayedintheyear1926byJ.L.Baird.ThedigitalimagecurrentlyseenonourTVsetsisnearly35timesasdense.Inadditiontobeingamuchclearerimage,thedigitalsignalofmoderntelevisionsis1,080lines.• Untillatelastyear,thelargestplasmaTVavailableforpurchasewasa103-inchplasmasoldbyPanasonic.Itcomesatthebudget-unfriendly(exceptforthefabulouslywealthy)priceof$70,000.• However,PanasonicunveiledanevenlargeroneatthemostrecentConsumerElec-tronicsShow(knownasthe“SuperBowlofTechnology”)inLasVegas.The152-inchPana-sonic3DPlasmaTVcanbehadbythetruetelevisionconnoisseurfor$500,000.• July1,1941,markedthebroadcastoftheveryfirstadvertisementinTVhistory.ItoccurredpriortoabaseballgamebetweenthePhiladelphiaPhilliesandtheBrooklynDodgers.• TheadforBulovaWatcheswas20secondslong.Thepriceforthose20secondsofairtimewasonly$9.• Toputitinperspective,in2008,a

30-secondadduringtheSuperBowlbroadcastwentfor$2.7million.Itwasthemostexpensiveairtimeintheworldtothatpoint.• TheshortestTVcommercialeverpro-ducedwasforaCanadianmusicandvideochan-nelcalledMuchMusic.ItwascreatedbyaCana-diannamedTharangaRamanayake.Heproduced12differentversionsofthecommercial.Eachofthesewasahalfaframelong.That’stheequiva-lentof1/60thofasecond!Eventhosewiththeshortestattentionspanswouldhaveaprettyhardtimeregisteringthat.Thefirstofthesemicro-commercialswasairedonJanuary2,2002.• Thecurrentstruggleoverpiracythathasbeenthefocusofthemusic,movieandgamingindustriesisbynomeansthefirstpiracyissueaddressedinthecourts.In1970,whenSonyfirstbegansellingvideocassetterecorders(orVCRs)capableofrecordingshowsofftelevision,theyweresuedbythefilmstudiosforcopyrightinfringement.Yearslater,Sonywouldbevindi-catedbytheSupremeCourt.• Thetwolongest-runningtalkshowsinthehistoryoftelevisionarefoundinIrelandandtheUnitedStates.“TheTonightShow”inAmericaisthelongestrunning,stillgoingstrongsincefirstairingin1954.Thesecondlongestisthe“LateLateShow”ofIreland.It’sbeenonsince1962.• Theyoungest-everTVhostofhisownshowisinAustralia.It’sLuisTanner,thepresenterof“CookingforKidswithLuis”onthatcountry’sNickelodeonchannel.Thoughhe’s13yearsoldnow,thefirstepisodeofLuis’weeklyshowairedwhenhewasjustsixyearsold!

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“Put Tidbits In The Subject Line”

¥ Talk about sneaky: In order to get a photo of Bing Crosby in his coffin, The National Enquirer tabloid had a reporter dress as a priest and sneak into the private funeral service. To top it off, on his way out of the service, the disguised journalist told ABC reporter Geraldo Rivera not to pester the family at such a sensitive moment.

¥ Every year, about $500 million is spent on beads for Mardi Gras.

¥ Ever wonder how the statuette taken home by winners of the Academy Awards got its nickname? Evidently, in 1931 a secretary at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences saw the statuette for the first time and exclaimed, “Why, he reminds me of my Uncle Oscar!” The comment struck the fancy of a reporter who was present, and he put it in a story about the awards, and the name stuck.

¥ Are you acersecomic? If your hair has never been cut, you are.

¥ Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was not himself a slave owner. He reportedly did not believe in the institution of slavery.

¥ If this is an average week, three manmade artifacts hurtling into the atmosphere from space will crash into the Earth.***Thought for the Day: “The world is round; it has no point.” -- Adrienne E. Gusoff

¥ It was beloved American comedian and film star Groucho Marx who made the following sage observation: “There’s one way to find out if a man is honest -- ask him. If he says ‘Yes,’ you know he is a crook.”

¥ The ancient Egyptians were known to use crocodile dung as a contraceptive.

¥ You may be surprised to learn that when the hit 1950s TV show “I Love Lucy” had its premiere, Lucille Ball was already 40 years old.

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

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BritaFemale, Puppy

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Mr Johnny BravoMale, AdultJack Russell

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

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

Please email us your questions to kkeith@gbhs.org

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