3rd Quarter 2012Week 38

Sept 16 - 22Page 1

TABLE OF CONTENTSISSUE 2012.38

IDIOMSpages 1-4

FAMOUS LANDMARKSTHE DEAD SEA

pages 5-6

PEANUTSpages 7-8

Publish a Paper in Your AreaWANT TO RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

We provide the opportunity for success!

Call 1.800.523.3096 (U.S.)

1.866.631.1567 (CAN)www.tidbitsweekly.com

TIDBITS® IS CHEWING THE FAT WITH

IDIOMSby Patricia L. Cook

This Tidbits delves into idioms. An idiom is “a group of words whose meaning cannot be pre-dicted from the meanings of the constituent words.” In other words, they really don’t make sense!• IfyouliveintherainyPacificNorthwest,the

steamy Southern states or a rain forest, you have probably heard the idiom “It was raining cats and dogs.” The origin of the phrase is unknown. One theory is that in olden days in England, dogs and cats would sleep on the thatch or hay roofs of houses. When it rained, the roofs became slippery and the animals would slide off. Hence, it was “raining cats and dogs!”

•Ontheotherhand,ifyouaresittinginatheater,you may be in the “peanut gallery.” This term was popularized in the late 19th century and referred to seats located in the balcony of the theater,the“cheap”seats.Peopleintheseseatswould sometimes throw peanuts, common theater food of the time, on those seated below. The term was also used for those seated in the first rowon thefloorseatswhere thepatronscould throw peanuts on stage if they weren’t pleased with the performance.

• Regarding theater lingo, when “the plotthickens,” it means that the situation is becomingmoredifficultorcomplicated.

turn the page for more!

Q: Have you heard the joke about the peanut butter?

A: I better not tell you, it might spread!

FOR ADVERTISING CALL - 205-552-5502 - WWW.MYWEEKLYTIDBITS.COM - JSE MEDIA, LLC

Issue 36 The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

OVER 4 MILLION

Readers WeeklyNationwide! ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©2007

FREE

September 17, 2012

The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

OVER 4 MILLION Readers WeeklyNationwide!

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©2007

FREE

I want to help you get the peace of mind that comes

from Pre-Arranging!

“Benefit of Pre-Arranging”• Partnership• Preference• Peace of Mind

• Payments• Price

Call for an appointment with Jim205-362-1184

2701 John Hawkins PkwyHoover, AL 35244

awitlman@gmail.com

Hoover, Pelham, Alabaster & Helena!

www.salethisvehicle.com

VEHICLE TITLE PROBLEMS? WE CAN HELP!Abandoned Vehicles - Junk Vehicles - Title Corrections - Lost Titles

Purchased A Vehicle & Didnt Get The Title?Cars, Trucks, Trailers. Motorhomes & Mobile Homes!

205-267-5735

JSE, Inc1020 9th Ave SW #126Bessemer, AL 35022

Located in theBessemer Business Center

Be Sure To Check Out The Adoptable Pets On The Back Page!

FREE!Take One

Home!

Lotus Boutique carries fashion forward clothing, handbags, jewelry, and other accessories at prices that

you can't beat! Come check us out at Riverchase Galleria!

www.facebook.com/lotusbotiquegalleria

Located on the second �oor above Auntie Anne's Pretzels and across from Buckle.

Tell Our

Alabama Pick’N Trade

(Formerly Greater Shelby County Flea Market)

205-672-2022www.alpickntrade.com

33985 Hwy 25, Harpersville, AL 35078

Huge Variety of New & Used Merchandise - Antiques, Home Decor, Furniture, Appliances, Tools,

Collectibles, Toys and MUCH MORE! Make Money & Grow Your Business!

Booth Space AvailableReservations Thursday - Sunday 9AM - 5PM

OPEN WEEKENDSSaturday - 6AM - 5PMSunday - 7AM - 5PM

Ya’ll Come See US!!

You Saw There Ad In TIDBITS!

ADVERTISERS

WIN A KINDLE FIRE!Tidbits Photo Contest!

Post photos of yourself reading Tidbits on our FACEBOOK Page!

Be unique, different and interesting! We’ll choose the most unusual photo

to be the winner! Winner will be announced on Facebook

October 17, 2012

www.myweeklytidbits.com

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

.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Even the name sounds scary. CTE is a brain condition caused by concussions. Until now, this condition was thought limited to sports athletes, like boxers and football players, where the results of multiple head injuries over a career are well known. Research now shows that service personnel who’ve been subjected to at least one blast or concussion that resulted in trau-matic brain injury can develop CTE.CTE is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder, with symptoms only showing up later in the form of disorientation, confusion, depression, headaches, im-pulse control and aggression problems, suicide and more. Symptoms later in life can include dementia.

Leg Pain a Sign of Blocked Artery

There hasn’t been a way to truly diagnose CTE except for a brain biopsy after death. Researchers at two uni-versities teamed up with the Department of Veterans Affairs health system to compare the brains of athletes with those of service members who were subjected to at least one blast or concussive episode. They found no differences.The injury triggers accumulation of an abnormal protein called “tau” in the areas of the brain that regu-late impulse and aggression control, depression and memory. It takes only one blast from an improvised explosive devise (IED) to set in motion the chain reac-tion that can result in CTE.Tau can be seen in the blood soon after injury, leading researchers to start trials to develop a way to detect its presence within minutes. From this they hope to find a treatment that will keep TBI from progressing into CTE.As of now, more than 244,000 service personnel have been diagnosed with TBI since 2000. It’s thought there are many more whose brain damage hasn’t been diagnosed.

Brain Trauma

IDIOMS (continued):• Many consider theater performances to be luxuries for the wealthy, those who “live high on the hog.” This expression came about be-cause only the rich could afford the choicest cuts of pork, like loin, which comes from the top of the pig.• The best cuts of pork were usually con-sumed at the time of butchering. The other cuts were salt cured for preservation to be eaten during the winter. When spring ar-rived, people were “scraping the bottom of the barrel” looking for any scraps remaining. The term is now used to refer to the last food in the pantry, money in the budget, last one chosen for a team, etc. • Another term for the wealthy is the “upper crust.” This term comes from England, where the smell of bread wafted from the kitchens of country estates. The upper crust was the superior un-burnt part of a loaf that was served to the “gentry” or high society.• In Biblical times, the “upper crust,” or upper class, was offered the “fat of the land.” This meant the fattest and best livestock. • Another familiar expression with origins in the Bible is “salt of the earth.” Salt was not only expensive, it was also a vital preserva-tive. People referred to as the “salt of the earth” were and are very precious. • Again thinking of the precious commodity of salt, a compliment that someone is “worth his salt” means he is doing a good job and is a valuable worker. Salt was so valuable in ancient days that Roman soldiers were some-times paid with salt instead of or in addition to coins or currency.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My wife’s doctor thinks she has intermittent claudication due to peripheral vascu-lar disease. She also has diabetes. Would you describe it and its treatment? -- S.B.

ANSWER: Peripheral vascular disease also goes by the name peripheral artery disease, PAD. “Peripheral” refers to the outer boundary, and when speaking of the body, the legs are its periphery. Leg arteries are narrowed and often blocked by the buildup of cho-lesterol, fat and many other components found in the circulation. The buildup is called plaque. The buildup can be so great that no blood runs through the main leg arteries.Intermittent claudication is leg pain that develops when someone with PAD walks any distance. The person can tell, almost to the number of steps taken, when pain will arise. Taking a rest relieves the pain.About 15 percent of those 70 and older have PAD. Its main sign is intermittent claudication.Your wife can do many things on her own that will help her. If her cholesterol is high, she has to get it down. She has to maintain normal blood pressure. She must exercise within the limits prescribed by her doc-tor. Walking is one of the best exercises. If she starts out modestly and gradually increases the distance and

pace, she should aim for 30 minutes of walking daily. When pain arises, she should stop, take a break and then resume once pain has gone. One simple test for determining PAD is comparing blood pressure taken at the ankle with blood pressure taken in the arm. They should be nearly equal. If the ankle pressure is lower, that’s evidence of PAD.Your wife’s doctor will discuss the use of medicines like Plavix, Pletal and aspirin. With severe blockage of an artery, opening it up with a balloon-tipped cathe-ter and inserting a shunt is one treatment. It’s the same procedure used for clogged heart arteries. Removing the obstructed artery segment and replacing it with a graft is another way to treat this illness.The booklet on PAD discusses the details of this com-mon malady in depth. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 109, Box 536475, Orlan-do, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. ***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Ever since I was 10 years old, I have had this problem: If I set something down or reach or touch something, I have to touch it again to make it feel right. When I hang clothes, I reach for a hanger and then put it back for a different one. I do things like this all day. I am 55. Am I crazy? -- N.H.

ANSWER: You describe obsessive-compulsive dis-order. You’re not crazy. Many people have it. It’s an irresistible urge to perform a certain ritual, like touch-ing things a second time or constantly washing the hands. That’s the compulsion, an act that relieves in-ner unease, the obsession. Help is available. Ask the family doctor to refer you to a specialist in this disorder. You’ve put up with it for too long.

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

FITNESS & FUN FOR EVERYONE

Would you love to have a personal trainer at your disposal 24/7?Think it is out of your budget? Think again!

BARIATRIC PATIENTS JOIN FOR ONLY $30.00 PER MONTH AND RECEIVE SPECIAL DEALS ON BARIATRIC ADVANTAGE PRODUCTS

THAT ARE EXCLUSIVE TO OUR MEMBERS EACH MONTH!

www.�tand�ourishing.com

JOIN TODAY!YOU CAN START WORKING WITH YOUR TRAINER TOMORROW!

We have the PERFECT program for you! Our Fit and Flourishing Bariatric Champion Program combines everything you need to stay motivated and achieve your �tness goals right from the

comfort of your own home! Each member also receives a personal web page to use to track workout plans and results and also to stay in touch with your trainer!

Veterans PostBrought to you by:

To snag more of your holiday shopping dol-lars, one big-box store is extending its lay-away season by a month and changing the rules.Walmart’s layaway season starts in mid-September, one month early this year, giv-ing customers a full 90-day layaway period. You’ll put down 10 percent of your total (or $10, if greater). Each individual item must cost more than $15, and your whole pur-chase must be more than $50. The benefit is that your account fee payment ($15, up from $5 last year) will be refunded to you in

a gift card if you complete the layaway con-tract. The number of products has expand-ed as well, and now includes some sporting goods and small appliances. Check your lo-cal store, as down payments vary by state.Best Buy has a layaway program at selected stores. Items must total more than $250, and you’ll pay a hefty 25 percent down as well as a nonrefundable 5 percent layaway fee. You’ll make payments every two weeks until it’s paid for. Many items don’t qualify for layaway: Clearance, limited quantity, closeout and promotional items aren’t eli-gible.Kmart’s layaway seems to be the same as last year: $5 to open an account, $10 can-cellation fee, and $15 down payment (or 10 percent if greater). Make a payment every two weeks during an eight-week contract.Sears offers layaway with $5 to open an ac-count, $20 down (or 20 percent if greater) and a $15 cancellation fee. Payments are

made every two weeks for an eight-week contract.Toys “R” Us layaway requires a 20 percent down payment and a $5 service fee, but customers have 90 days to pay. Half the to-tal must be paid by the 45-day mark.A typical layaway transaction involves a 10 percent to 20 percent down payment and a $5 service fee to open the account. Payments are made weekly until the items are paid for. Generally, there’s a $10 fee for cancellation.As the holiday shopping season gets un-der way, keep your eyes open for other stores to follow Walmart’s lead with more attractive layaway options.If in doubt, call your favorite stores and ask whether they have layaway programs. With stores wanting to capture all the con-sumer dollars they can get this season, stores that have never had a program be-fore might have one now.

New Layaway Options

Page 3For Advertising Call 205-552-5502

1. Is the book of Issachar in the Old or New Testament or neither?2. What bread component did Jesus compare with the kingdom of heav-en? Yeast, Crust, Gluten, Wheat3. Which of the twelve tribes of Israel wasn’t allotted any land? Simeon, Dan, Asher, Levi4. Who removed a thorn from the lion’s foot? Benjamin, Job, Naphtali, Androcles5. How many books of the Bible are credited to Moses? 3, 4, 5, 66. What was first to leave Noah’s Ark? Gull, Dove, Raven, Serpent

Peanut Butter Apple Crumb Pie

When you add peanut butter and apples, you’re doing Magical Meal Math! Don’t be tardy -- stir this up today, and you’ll be sure to go to the head of the class for desserts.

3 cups (6 small) cored, peeled and sliced cooking apples1 (6-ounce) purchased graham-cracker pie crust1 (4-serving) package sugar-free vanilla cook-and-serve pudding mix1 1/2 cups water6 tablespoons reduced-fat peanut butter6 tablespoons purchased graham cracker crumbs or 6 (2 1/2-inch) graham crackers, made into fine crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Evenly arrange apple slic-es in pie crust.2. In a medium saucepan, combine dry pudding mix and water. Add 1/4 cup peanut butter. Mix well to combine. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens and starts to boil, stirring con-stantly. Evenly spoon hot pudding mixture over apples.3. In a medium bowl, combine graham-cracker crumbs and remaining 2 tablespoons peanut but-ter until mixture is crumbly. Evenly sprinkle crumb mixture over top of pie. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Place pie plate on a wire rack and let set for at least 30 minutes. Makes 8 servings.

„ Each serving equals: 234 calories, 10g fat, 4g pro-tein, 32g carb., 282mg sodium, 2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Fat, 1 Fruit.

2nd Annual Presented by Produced by

Hosted by the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce

October 20, 2012 . Helena Amphitheater . Old Town Helena

Tickets $5 in advance . $10 at the Gate

Gate Opens at 1 pm

BBQ Competition . Music until 9 pm . Food . Arts & Crafts . Kids Area

Tailgate Area to Watch Football . 205-663-4542

Tidbits® of Hoover, Pelham, Alabaster & Helena! Page 4

tig). Take note that the second season of “Revenge” begins Sept. 30 on ABC on its new night and time, Sundays at 9/8c.***Q: When will Syfy’s “Merlin” be back for its fifth sea-son? Please tell me it has not been canceled -- Grego-ry D., via e-mailA: The British sci-fi/fantasy series will indeed be back for a fifth season, which will consist of 13 all-new episodes. The series began filming in Wales and in France this spring, and if all follows according to previous seasons’ trends, season five should premiere in the U.K. in December, and in the U.S. in late spring/early summer (although no official dates have been released yet).

1. MOVIES: What was the name of Rocky’s boxing nemesis in “Rocky”?2. MUSIC: Which 1980s rock band had a hit with the title “Roxanne”?3. HISTORY: Where did the Battle of Water-loo take place?4. SCIENCE: What does a mycologist study?5. TELEVISION: What was the name of the boyfriend in the “Gidget” surfing series?6. COMPUTERS: What does it mean when you get the message “Error 404” on a com-puter?7. LANGUAGE: What does the acronym “ra-dar” stand for?8. LITERATURE: When was “The Cat in the Hat” first published?9. TEAM SPORTS: How many members does a cricket team have?10. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of Trini-dad and Tobago?

so you can see for yourself whether it deserves a sequel.Q: I am a die-hard “Young and the Restless” fan. I have a question about the actress who plays Katherine Chancel-lor in the series. I heard that she has sons who are also actors. Could it be the Baldwins? -- Janet C., Battle Creek, Mich.A: Jeanne Cooper, who’s played matriarch Katherine Chancellor on the series since 1973, does indeed have children (two sons, one daughter) who are actors: Corbin, Collin and Caren. The eldest is Corbin Bernsen, who is best known for playing Arnold Becker on “L.A. Law” and Roger Dorn in “Major League.” He plays the recurring role of Father Todd Williams on his mom’s show, and he also is a series regular on the USA’s “Psych.” ***Q: What was Emily VanCamp in before she was on “Revenge”? I recognized her as soon as I saw her, but I cannot remember from what! -- Iris V., Suffolk, Va.A: The gorgeous Canadian actress has been in the busi-ness since she was 13, making her debut on Nickelode-on’s “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” But before “Revenge,” she was best known for her role on “Everwood,” where she played Amy Abbott. She also had a co-starring role from 2007-2010, playing Rebecca Harper, who initially was thought to be William Walker’s (Tom Skerritt) daugh-ter with longtime mistress Holly Harper (Patricia Wet-

Q: I was wondering if the “John Carter” movie you mentioned this spring is based on the science-fiction books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I hope so, because I’ve read them all and believe they could be made into a great series of sci-fi movies. -- Paul R., Marion, IndianaA: The March release of Disney’s “John Carter” is indeed based on Burroughs’ Barsoom book series, which were published in various magazines as a se-rial from 1912 to 1943. Because of their popularity, they were then published as their own book series from 1917 to 1964. The film, however, didn’t prove to be quite so popular. It was received with mixed reviews and a dismal box-office take. The film was originally planned to be a trilogy, but that plan is on hold because of the film’s poor reception by movie-goers. “John Carter” is available on DVD and Bluray,

¥ On Sept. 24, 1789, The Judiciary Act of 1789 is passed by Congress and signed by President George Washington, establishing the Supreme Court of the United States as a tribunal made up of six justices. By 1869 the number of justices was increased to nine.

¥ On Sept. 30, 1868, the first volume of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved children’s book “Little Women” is published. Alcott dedicated most of her life and writ-ing to supporting her family after her father’s failure at running Transcendentalist school. Her works in-clude “Little Men” (1871) and “An Old-Fashioned Girl” (1870).

¥ On Sept. 28, 1901, Ed Sullivan, who would become the host of the long-running TV variety program “The Ed Sullivan Show,” is born in New York City. Dur-ing the peak of its popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, Sullivan’s program showcased a wide range of enter-tainers, including The Beatles and Elvis Presley.

¥ On Sept. 29, 1913, Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the engine that bears his name, disappears from the steamship Dresden while traveling from Belgium to England. On Oct. 10, Diesel’s body was found in the water. Conspiracy theories began to fly almost im-mediately. Many people believed (and still believe) that Diesel was murdered.

¥ On Sept. 25, 1957, under escort from 1,000 para-troopers in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, nine black students enter all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Ark. Three weeks earlier, Arkan-sas Gov. Orval Faubus had surrounded the school with National Guard troops to prevent court-ordered racial integration.

¥ On Sept. 26, 1960, for the first time in U.S. history, a debate between major party presidential candi-dates is shown on television. John F. Kennedy de-bated Richard M. Nixon in a Chicago studio. Nixon refused to wear makeup.

¥ On Sept. 27, 1989, Zsa Zsa Gabor, on trial for slap-ping a police officer, storms out of the courtroom in the middle of the district attorney’s closing argu-ment. She had been pulled over for expired tags on her Rolls Royce, as well as having an open container of alcohol and an expired license.

IDIOMS (continued):• In stark contrast to a good worker stands one who isn’t. A sorry or less-than-stellar worker may get “canned” or “sacked.” This terminology came from coal miners who were given a chit, a “statement of an amount owed for food and drink,” which they could use at the company store. When let go, their sever-ance pay was a can of food usually put in a sack. • Just as a bad worker can affect the attitudes of his co-workers, a “bad apple” can ruin a whole bag or box of apples. This term has been used with all kinds of produce and people as well. You don’t want to be the “bad apple” in the crowd!• If you find yourself in the unsavory position of being the person viewed as the “bad apple,” you may find yourself “eating humble pie.” This saying came about in a circuitous way. In the 14th century, the heart, liver, entrails, etc. of animals were called the “numbles” (noumbles, nomblys, noubles). In the 15th century, they were called “umbles.” The umbles were used as an ingredient in pies. Only lower class folks ate “humble pie.” Hence, abasing or lowering oneself was seen as taking oneself to a lower class.• Bakers in Europe were not usually baking “humble pie” but pastries, cookies, rolls and other fine treats. Because they could receive stiff punishment for short-ing customers, bakers would usually put 13 or more pieces in their orders just to be sure. This is where the “baker’s dozen” originated. • British sailors on war ships in the 1700s might have appreciated some “humble pie” or a gen-erous “baker’s dozen.” Their ships did not have the

best living conditions. Usually, a sailor’s breakfast and lunch was only bread and a beverage. The third meal of the day included meat and was presented on a square tray. Hence the term “square meal” was coined to identify the most substantial meal of the day. • A popular topping for pizza, “Canadian bacon” has hog geography behind its name. It doesn’t have anything to do with the country of Canada other than its location relative to the United States. Traditional bacon is cut from the underbelly or south side of the pig. Canadian bacon is cut from the loin area, the upper part of the pig. Since it is from the north — Oh, Canada! • In England, it is customary to extend hospitality to visitors, even complete strangers. However, when the host chose to serve a “cold shoulder” of beef, it signaled that it was time for the guests to move on. Think about this the next time you snub someone or give them the “cold shoulder.” • When wood stoves were used to cook beef shoul-ders and more, cooks used the front burners for intense heat and for stoking the fire to avoid a reach across the hot stove top. When it was time to slow down or simmer the food, it was put on the “back burner.” Now that term is used for putting something on hold, such as a chore you need, but don’t want, to do.• Now for “a toast” to our Tidbits readers! Toast-ing is a medieval tradition that honored a host with a gesture for long life. The gesture entailed placing a crust of bread into a goblet of wine and raising it to the host, an adaptation of Holy Communion.

Page 5For Advertising Call (205) 552-5502

wander into back yards in central Florida, and residents in urban Allston, Mass., are sometimes confronted by wild turkeys foraging along city streets. And coyotes and cougars have been reported in suburban neighborhoods in many parts of the United States.Wild animals present a lot of risk to pets (as well as humans). Besides the threat of contracting rabies or other diseases, some predators find smaller pets to be easy, tasty prey. Keep cats and small dogs indoors at night. If wild animals have been reported in your area, don’t let your pet out unaccompanied or off a leash, even during the day when no danger is apparent. Keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date.If you have pets, like rabbits, that are kept outside, reinforce and strengthen protective fencing around their cages.

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: A number of cats in our area disappeared this spring and summer, and I noticed the rabbits that used to plague our garden don’t come as frequently. A neighbor told me he saw a coyote crossing the street just before dawn recently, and I suspect it is the cause of many of these disappearances. Please warn your readers they need to protect their pets as wild animals are encroaching on well-populated neighborhoods. -- Pat C., Weston, Mass.

DEAR PAT: That’s a very good point! As wild creatures lose more and more of their natural habitats, they are being seen much more frequently in the suburbs and even in urban areas. This goes beyond nuisance animals like raccoons and skunks: Black bears frequently

Wild Animals Pose Threat to PetsBy Samantha Mazzotta

FAMOUS LANDMARKS OF THE WORLD:DEAD SEA

Even though fresh water is continually draining into the Dead Sea, it is nearly 10 times as salty as the oceans and twice as salty as Utah’s Great Salt Lake. • One of the world’s most unusual places, the Dead Sea is also called the Salt Sea. Located in the Middle East, it is bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. The Hebrew name for the Dead Sea is Yam ha Maved, which actually means “killer sea.” The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth, over 1,312 feet (400 m) below sea level. At its deepest part, it is over 2,300 feet (701 m) below sea level. The Dead Sea is 42 miles (67 km) long and 11 miles (18 km) wide at its widest point. • The main tributary into the sea is the Jordan River. The Dead Sea does not empty out any-where — It is endorheic, which means it has no outlet besides evaporation. It is totally landlocked, and the deeper areas are the saltiest. There is an estimated 1.9 billion tons of potassium chloride salt in the Dead Sea that are harvested by using a system of evaporation ponds. • The Dead Sea has a salinity reading of 33.7 percent, meaning nearly 35 percent of the water is dissolved salts. Ocean water is 3.5 percent dissolved salts.

One of the best things you can leave future generations of your family is accurate genealogy information.

Creating a family tree isn’t as difficult as it may sound. Start with yourself, your siblings and your parents. Accurate date and place of birth information is crucial to any future hunts. Go back as many generations as you can, at least giving names if you can’t also supply dates and place of birth.

Write down stories about your family members (this will also jog your own memory of facts about the past.) If there are “rumors,” make notes of those as well. Even if you can’t verify whether your mother’s grandfather was a train engineer, someone else might be able to at a later date.

If you have a computer and are comfortable roaming the Internet, Ancestry.com is one of the best places to start. On Ancestry, you can not only research your family, but you can create a family tree to save. The amount of information available is amazing: old military records, city directories, birth and death certificates, photos uploaded by others, Census through 1940 and so much more. There is a fee to subscribe to Ancestry, but if you join for six months and do a little every week, you should finish in that time.

On Family Search (familysearch.org) you will likely find information that you can’t find anywhere else (for example, some of it goes back as far as Europe), but you have to be careful. Use Family Search as a hunting ground and verify information elsewhere.

If you’ve never done genealogy, consider taking a class to get started. This might be a good winter project, with the end result benefiting your family for generations to come.

Your Family Tree

• Due to the high salinity of the Dead Sea, no fish or any kind of swimming, squirming creature lives in or near the water. Fish acciden-tally swimming into the waters from one of the several freshwater streams that feed the Sea are killed instantly, their bodies quickly coated with a preserving layer of salt crystals and then tossed onto shore by the wind and waves. • There are, however, several species of bacteria and one species of algae that are adapted to harsh life in the Dead Sea. White salt crystals cover everything on the shore. And this is no ordinary table salt; the salts found in the Dead Sea are mineral salts — mostly chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potas-sium and bromine — just like you find in the oceans of the world, only in extreme concentrations. • The leading attraction at the Dead Sea is the warm, soothing, super-salty water. This water has attracted visitors since ancient times, including King Herod the Great and the beautiful Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. • Due to the high salinity, water in the Dead Sea is extremely buoyant — A person can float effortlessly on his or her back and not have to expend energy treading water. Also, the high salt content and warm temperature of the water provide therapy for ailments such as rheumatism, gynecological diseases and bronchial conditions. • Dead Sea Works, Ltd. (DSW) is a company dedicated to harvesting minerals from the waters of the Dead Sea. DSW is located on the southwest side of the Sea and employs 1,600 people. • Potash is the most valuable of the minerals ex-tracted today and is used in the manufacture of fer-tilizer. Other minerals extracted are used in making products such as potassium chloride salt, industrial salts, de-icers, bath salts, table salt and raw materi-als for the cosmetic industry.

The outcome of the first 26 races deter-mines eligibility for NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup and, by extension, the field of drivers with a shot at the championship.In the penultimate regular-season race, Denny Hamlin became the only driver to win four races to date, meaning that he will be the top seed. Hamlin, 31, has won the two most recent races at Bristol Motor Speed-way and Atlanta Motor Speedway.Hamlin came close to winning the champi-onship in 2010, when he led Jimmie John-son entering the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.“I did an interview at the beginning of last year, and I said, ‘Just put me back in the same situation, and I promise I’ll win the championship when we leave Homestead.’ All I can hope is for that opportunity again, and if I do, I’m going to live in the moment and focus everything I can do to win that race instead of worrying about the out-come,” Hamlin said. “I’m going to have a lot more fun and enjoy it.” For each of his four victories, Hamlin, from Chesterfield, Va.

will receive three bonus points. The 12 Chase drivers will each be awarded 2,000 base points. The two wild-card selections are ineligible for bonus points. Hamlin could win a fifth race in the regular-season finale at Richmond International Raceway, the track closest to his hometown. By the same token, a victory by Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski or Tony Stewart would result in a tie at the top when the Chase commences on Sept. 16 at Chicagoland Speedway.Stewart ranks 10th in the standings, only 18 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne. Even if Stewart falls to 11th, he would still make the Chase as a wild-card entrant, but in order for Stewart to receive bonus points for his three victories, he would have to remain in the top 10.Preservation of the status quo in Richmond’s Federated Auto Parts 400 would put Kahne and Kyle Busch in the wild-card spots. A Richmond victory could still put either Jeff Gordon, Marcos Ambrose, Ryan Newman or Joey Logano in the field. The long shot is Carl Edwards, who must win at Richmond and make up 27 points on Busch.

Casey Mears Runs Out Front

www.salethisvehicle.com

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

SPONSOR THIS SECTION!CONTACT US TODAY!

Crafty Crafters MarketplaceHere you can list your craft items

for sale with photos Like EBAY’S Auction!

BID-Buy Now at Pre-Set prices or make offer that you can

accept or reject, with No Listing Fees! No Website or Shopping Cart Needed!

Get Started Today!No cost unless you make a sale

then it’s only 4% of the sale!1-800-243-4109

www.craftycraftersmarketplace.com

Scan thisCode With

Your SmartPhone

READ

Online

Page 7For Advertising Call (205) 552-5502

What (were) Andy Roddick’s chances at winning the U.S. Open? “As good as anybody not named Roger,” said Andy ... perhaps the most quotable tennis player in the history of the sport.Andy called it in at this year’s U.S. Open, announcing his retirement after the first round of the tournament. I’m sure there’s a joke in that headline somewhere -- that he usually retires around the first round of a champion-ship but that would, of course, be a joke. For Andy Roddick was a champion ... albeit a champion with very bad timing. Andy Roddick held the torch of American tennis for the better part of a decade. And by “better part,” we mean “better part.” This guy at one time held the record for fastest serve (155 mph ... you just try doing that on the highway), he hosted “Saturday Night Live,” and he married Brooklyn Decker. Did I mention he had a really fast serve?But Andy Roddick had a problem at birth: He was born at the same time as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Unfortunately for the script, those guys played better tennis. It certainly wasn’t for lack of trying. Sure, Roddick was a fiery, tempestuous sort of player. He needed to get psyched up before every match as if he was Matthew Modine in “Vision Quest.” But when he won, he won big. There aren’t many tennis players or champs from any game that can say they won the U.S. Open (2003) and 32 career titles. Roddick had a flair for drama, and his announced retirement during the middle of a tournament didn’t seem too out of place for the man. Though not an outsized personality or multi Grand Slam winner like McEnroe or Connors, he still managed to get into the club. In another decade or so, ask yourself who was a dominant male American tennis player at the turn of the century. You’re not going to say “Mardi Fish,” or anyone else for that matter. He’s only 30 years old. I bet he comes back, and if he doesn’t, something tells me he’ll find another line of work. For those of us in the post-game business, he’ll be sorely missed. Rarely has an athlete been more forthcoming at a press conference.Hey Andy, you just lost at Indian Wells to an inferior player and said your confidence was shot ... can you elabo-rate?“It comes from playing like s**t. Why would I feel confident right now? If that was the case, I don’t think we’d be sitting here having this funeral-like press conference. It’s just weird because, I used to like, hit for a half-hour and then go eat Cheetos the rest of the day ... come out and drill forehands. Now I’m really trying to make it happen, being professional, really going for it ... and I miss my Cheetos.”We’re gonna miss you too, Andy Roddick.

www.salethisvehicle.com

A SPORTING VIEWBy Mark Vasto

BIBLE TRIVIA ANSWERS: 1) Neither; 2) Yeast; 3) Levi; 4) Andro-cles; 5) 5; 6) Raven

Answers

1. Apollo Creed2. The Police3. Belgium4. Fungi5. Moondoggie6. Webpage not found7. Radio detecting and ranging8. 19579. Eleven10. Port of Spain

“Put Tidbits In The Subject Line”

Reportedly, it was used once by actress Scarlett Johansson. Fortunately, proceeds from the sale benefited a nonprofit organization.

¥ The average ant lives less than two months.

¥ Using leeches as a form of medical treatment is archaic, right? Maybe not so much. As recently as 2004, a request to market leeches as medical devices was approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

¥ When the infamous Titanic was being built, shifts were 14 hours a day, and workers only had one day off a week. Each day, each worker was allowed a total of seven minutes for bathroom breaks.

¥ Those who study such things say that marriages involving so-called mail-order brides have a lower rate of divorce than marriages that come about in more traditional ways.***Thought for the Day: “Among men, it seems, historically at any rate, that processes of co-ordination and disintegration follow each other with great regularity, and the index of the co-ordination is the measure of the disintegration which follows. There is no mob like a group of well-drilled soldiers when they have thrown off their discipline. And there is no lostness like that which comes to a man when a perfect and certain pattern has dissolved about him. There is no hater like one who has greatly loved.” -- John Steinbeck

¥ It was British playwright and noted wit Oscar Wilde who made the following sage observation: “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”

¥ If you’re like the typical human, your brain makes up only 2 percent of your body’s weight, but it uses about 20 percent of your body’s energy.

¥ Some people, it seems, have more money than sense. For example, in December of 2008, some unknown person paid $5,300 to buy a single tissue off eBay. What was so special about the tissue?

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”

Animal Adoption - 205.942.1211 - 300 Snow Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209 - WWW.GBHS.ORG

AspenFemale, Puppy

Catahoula Leopard Dog

WilsonMale, YoungDachshund

CinderellaFemale, Puppy

Boxer

WawaMale, Young

Poodle (Miniature)

CamelotMale, Young

Hound (Unknown Type)

Zac EfronMale, Kitten

Domestic Shorthair

RoxyFemale, Young

Manx

GizmoMale, AdultDomestic

Mediumhair

DixieFemale, Kitten

Domestic Mediumhair

CadenMale, Kitten

Domestic Shorthair

Check Us Out!

Your Sponsorship Helps Support the GBHS!

For Information Call 205-552-5502

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

Put Your Full ColorBusiness Card Here!

Have pet questions? Send them to us!

Sponsor This Section!ONLY $25.00 a Week!