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October 30, 2012 The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

OVER 4 MILLION

Readers WeeklyNationwide!

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©2007FREE

The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

OVER 4 MILLION

Readers WeeklyNationwide! ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©2007

FREE

A team of seven people went to California in order to set the world record for the most roller coasters ridden in 24 hours. The group rode on 40 different roller coasters at eight different amusement parks in California, starting at 5:00 p.m. on October 14, 2000 and ending at 5:00 p.m. the next day. Come along with Tidbits as we ride the world’s tallest coaster!

• From the days of the first roller coaster ride to today, a competition to build the tallest, longest, scariest roller coaster on earth has pushed the industry forward into new realms. In 2004, this competition spurred Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in New Jersey to announce that they were building the highest and fastest roller coaster on earth. They named it Kingda Ka, after the 535-pound Bengal tiger who resides at the park, although some people joke that “Kingda Ka” is actually Swahili for “OhMyGawd what a ride!”

• In 2005, Kingda Ka opened for business, claiming the title of both the fastest and the tallest roller coaster on the planet. The coaster cars rocket to the top of a 456-foot tower, accelerating from 0 to 128 mph within 3.5 seconds, before a stomach-clenching cork-screw drop back down to earth. A second 13-story hill gives riders a few moments of weightlessness before the ride is over, less than 60 seconds after it began.

• The secret to Kingda Ka’s thrill is all in the launch sequence. Whereas standard older roller coasters employ a cable system which slowly and laboriously winches a car to the top of a hill, the Kingda Ka uses space-age hydraulic engineering to launch a car in exactly the same sort of way an aircraft is launched from an aircraft carrier, with similar thrust and G-forces involved. The system is basically a high tech catapult, with a giant hydraulic launch system delivering 12,500 horsepower in a single colossal blast – twelve times the horse power of a Formula One race car. Eight military grade 500-horsepower hydraulic motors – which took a year to construct – charge up the accumulators, forcing hydraulic fluid into the chambers under great pressure.

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Vol 1 Issue 42of the River Region

TIDBITS® RIDES AROLLER COASTER

by Janet Spencer

Page 2 Tidbits® of the River Region

Roller Coaster: Kingda Ka (continued) When a trigger is pulled, the pressure is released and the car is launched at rocket speed. It’s similar in many ways to blowing up a balloon and then letting it go. Kingda Ka is one of only two roller coasters in the world that uses this technology. The experience has been compared to being in a jet fighter, or being a drag racer.

QUICK BITS• It takes only ten seconds to go from launch to being 456 feet in the air on top of the tower.

• The highest point of the ride is 45 stories tall, which is about 4/5ths the height of the Washington Monument. It’s tall enough that the entire Statue of Liberty would fit under the main arch with 100 feet to spare.

• On foggy days, you can’t see the top of the tower from the bottom.

• The ride cost $25 million to construct.• The entire track is just over 1,000 yards long.• Fittingly enough, the very first passengers were the engineers who built it.

• The braking system, done with magnetic fields generated by 473 magnets, means there’s no friction to wear parts out. It’s silent, efficient, and fail-safe.

• The roller coaster has four cars, and each car seats 18 passengers. About 1,400 people per hour take the ride.

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSESo where should you sit to get the best ride? Depends on what you’re looking for. Sitting in the very back of a coaster train yields the wildest ride since the last car is being pulled by the weight of the front cars, making for some nice whipping action, especially if they are long trains on steep hills. However, sitting in the front has benefits too. The very first car will hang over the first drop waiting for the rest of the cars to crest the hill before the big plunge. Front cars also have better low-G moments when the train is going over the top of low hill, leading to better stomach-lifting airtime. The ride is usually smoothest in the middle of the train, a good spot for beginners.

SAFETY CONCERNS• Two weeks after the grand opening, a bolt unexpectedly sheered off, damaging the brake system. Custom-made bolts were ordered and

installed to fix the problem and prevent it from happening again.

• In 2009, the roller coaster was struck by lighting in the middle of the night when the park was closed. It suffered serious damage and was closed for repairs.

• Because it is so close to the Jersey Shore, the coaster is capable of withstanding hurricane force winds. Nevertheless, damage occurred during Hurricane Irene in 2011, and the ride was closed for repairs once again.

No one has ever been killed while riding the Kingda Ka. The odds of being injured on an amusement park ride are 1 in 23 million. According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, in 1999 over 600,000 people were injured on bikes, just under 100,000 on trampolines, nearly 50,000 while using golf equipment, while 7,260 were injured on amusement park rides, and only 138 of those people needed to be hospitalized. Most injuries are due to people failing to follow rules rather than equipment failure.

OUCH! Kingda Ka does not operate when it’s raining, because being hit by raindrops at 128 mph is not fun.

G-FORCE FACTS Normal earth gravity has a g force of 1. Astronauts in orbit float around in zero g’s. Jet pilots black out at 10 g’s. On a roller coaster, g forces decrease on the way down a hill (making you feel lighter) and increase on the way up (making you feel heavier). At 3 g’s a 100-lb person feels like they weigh 300 lbs. On the way down a hill riders may feel 0 g’s, although most coasters only go down to about .2 g’s, making a 100-lb. person weigh 20 lbs. A typical roller coaster offers a maximum of 3.5 g’s. More than that makes the ride too much. That’s about the same g forces as astronauts feel during a space shuttle launch. Three coasters outside the U.S. generate over 6.5 g’s.

ONE-UPPED Kingda Ka was the world’s fastest roller coaster until Formula Rossa opened in Abu Dhabi in November 2010, which reaches a speed of 150 mph, reaching that speed in 4.9 seconds following launch. The hydraulic launch system is identical to the one used on the Kingda Ka. However, Kingda Ka still retains the title of the world’s tallest roller coaster.

For 2013, Social Security recipients will get a whopping 1.7 percent increase in their monthly checks starting in January. Only a few times since 1975 has that rate of increase been so low. For a person who receives the average $1,230 per month, that increase will amount to $20.91 extra.Don’t spend it all in one place.The small increase is due to the Consumer Price Index, which Social Security adjustments are based on. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the index increased just 1.7 percent overall in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2012.The USDA does concede that because of the droughts in the Midwest (the worst in 50 years), food prices will rise in 2013 above the “average” in-flation of 2.5 percent to 3 percent that’s taken place in 2012. It takes several months for that type of disaster to impact food prices. It says that for 2013, “inflation should be above the historical average for food categories such as cereals and bakery products, as well as other foods.” The “experts” don’t shop at my grocery store. What they apparently haven’t seen is that store prices already are rising ... quickly.And that’s not all. Medical care has gone up 4 per-cent this year. Gas for the car rose 6 percent. Rents and utilities also have risen.Meanwhile there’s the coming rise in Medicare Part B. That cost comes out of your Social Security check before you even get it. It’s estimated that the additional cost each month will be in the $7 range -- one-third of the Social Security adjustment.When you run all the numbers, I think we’re already spending our average $20.91 increase.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

How Will You Spend Your $20.91?

“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285 Page 3

It’s time to start saving tin cans for this gift-giving idea for the holidays. Your eco-friendly school-age kids not only will like the recycling aspect of this punched tin tealight candle holder, but they’ll also have a great time pounding nails into the tin and ice to create an imaginative design.Think Thanksgiving home decor, too. Choose fall-themed images to create, like a maple leaf, gourd and pilgrim ship to brighten your Thanksgiving centerpiece.Here’s the stuff you’ll need for one candleholder:--Plain tin can with label removed and all rough edges pinched flat and smooth. I use the smooth-sided 11-ounce Geisha brand mandarin orange cans for this project because they don’t have multiple ridges or grooves.--Nail--Hammer--Water--Towel--Permanent black felt-tip marker --Thin ribbon to decorate the outside of the can. --Household glue --Tealight candle

Here’s the fun:1. Fill the can near to the top with water and place in your freezer to freeze.2. When frozen solid, remove, wipe off frost on the outside of the can and dot design on the outside opposite the seam using the permanent marker. You may wish to draw the outline of a leaf or pumpkin for Thanksgiving. For December holidays draw a pine tree, holly, star, bell, menorah, 2013 or other festive holiday symbol. Choose shapes that are easy to create dot to dot. Leave space near the top rim and base for adding ribbon.3. Place the can on its side on the towel. Carefully hammer out the design by positioning the nail on each of the dots and hammering it through the tin until it hits the ice. (The ice prevents the nail from bending the tin,) Continue punching holes until you have completed your pattern.4. Run warm water over can until ice melts. Re-move ice and dry can.5. Attach ribbon to the can with glue. Set candle in the center of the can and light.Note: Adults should be present when lighting candles.***Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”

Punched-Tin Can Candle Holders

Nearly a half-million people will take temporary jobs during the holidays to earn extra income. The cash that comes in from those jobs can go a long way toward easing financial strains -- if the windfall goes to critical items first.The National Foundation for Credit Counseling offers some timely advice about where to put that extra money to make sure it does the most good.

Here are its recommendations, listed in order of what to do first:--Bring current all living expenses, such as hous-ing, utilities and insurance payments. If you need to put gas in the car or food on the table, those basics will help restore stability.--Catch up on secured debts, such as a car pay-ment or any loan that involves collateral. If you don’t get caught up on secured debt, you can lose whatever the loan covers. Additional fees can be added to a car repossession, so you could end up owing additional money despite having lost your vehicle.--Catch up on past-due debt, such as credit cards. While there is no collateral such as a vehicle, being behind on other debts can result in lower credit scores, which can impact your future abil-ity to borrow at good interest rates. You also will be subject to late fees, and if the creditor is awarded a judgment against you, your wages could be garnished. Additionally, if you’re left without a credit card, you’ll be forced to pay cash everywhere you go.--Take care of any repairs to your home or ve-

hicle before the problems get worse. If there are extra funds, weatherize your home. The bene-fits of weatherization will result in lower utility bills not only this winter, but in future years.--Put 10 percent of your holiday pay into a sav-ings account, if possible, after paying critical items. If you have cash left after paying off more crucial items, increase the amount for savings.To learn more about what the National Foun-dation for Credit Counseling has to say, go to its website at www.nfcc.org. Check the finan-cial self-assessment and the budget sheets in the consumer tools section. The alerts link has in-formation on debt settlements and what to guard against.

David Uffington regrets that he cannot personal-ly answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Write to him in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send email to columnreply@gmail.com.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

Holiday Jobs Can Ease Financial Strains

Tidbits® of the River Region Page 4

* It was Scotsman Bertie Charles Forbes, journalist and founder of Forbes magazine, who made the fol-lowing sage observation: “There is more credit and satisfaction in being a first-rate truck driver than in being a tenth-rate executive.”

* The prospectors of 1849 might not have realized it, but you’re more likely to find a 5-carat diamond than a 1-ounce nugget of gold.

* You might be surprised -- and, depending on your temperament, terrified -- to learn that bats can fly at speeds up to 60 mph. Some can even reach altitudes of 10,000 feet.

* Coffee beans are actually seeds. The fruit of the cof-fee tree is called a cherry and are said to be delicious. They spoil too quickly to be marketed effectively, though, so only the seeds are used.

* Beverly Hills, Calif., is one of the most affluent areas of the country. It was not always such a posh locale, however; in 1920 the population was 674, and most of the land was given over to bean fields.

* All joking aside, those who study such things say that natural blondes tend to have more difficulty driving than those whose hair is of a darker hue -- at night, anyway. The reason? Most natural blondes also have blue eyes, which aren’t as good as brown eyes at shielding out light. This means that blondes tend to be more easily blinded by the headlights of oncoming cars.

* When a professional football player retires, there’s a 50-50 chance he’ll get divorced within a year.

* Everybody dreams. Those who claim that they never have dreams just don’t remember them.***Thought for the Day: “Any frontal attack on ignorance is bound to fail, because the masses are always ready to defend their most precious possession -- their igno-rance.” -- Hendrik Willem van Loon

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

by Samantha Weaver

Page 5“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285

Register to win at www.riverregiontidbits.com and click on “Tommy Tidbits”. Fill out the registration information and tell us how many times Tommy appears in ads in the paper for this week. From the correct entries, a winner will be selected. You must be 18 years of age to qualify. The gift certificates will range in value from $25 to $50 each week. Entries must be received at the website by midnight each Saturday evening or at PTK Corp, PO Box 264, Wetumpka, AL 36092.

This week’s winner receives $25 Gift Certificate from RJ’s Chicken

Last Week’s Ads where Tommy was hiding:1. Prattville Baptist Hospital, p 4

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: We’re planning to adopt a puppy in the next few weeks. Is there anything we should do to prepare our house to welcome our new dog when he or she arrives? -- Clarice H., New Orleans

DEAR CLARICE: First of all, congratulations! Adopting a pet from the shelter is a great choice. Second, there are many things you can do ahead of time to make your house dog-friendly. The shelter may have some information to guide you as well, but here are some basic things to add to your list.--”Pet-proof” your house. In much the same way as parents need to childproof their house, pet owners need to make dangerous items difficult to access. Things that can be chewed on, that can splinter or break into small pieces, should be kept off the floor and off things that are puppy height (like the coffee table).

--Set up a living area for your puppy, in a com-fortable spot out of the way of foot traffic. Place its pet bed there, along with chew toys.--Have your dog’s leash, collar and other items ready and waiting. You’ll want to purchase these after you’ve chosen your puppy but before bring-ing it home.--Set up a file among your household papers spe-cifically to hold your dog’s adoption information, shot record, registration and other pet-related data. You also should keep a copy of these papers in a separate location.--Include your new pet in family emergency plan-ning. If you have an evacuation or shelter-in-place kit, add dog food, treats and other essential items.

Send your questions or tips to ask@pawscorner.com, or write to Paw’s Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. For more pet care-related advice and information, visit www.pawscorner.com.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

Making Your House aWelcome Pet Home

by Samantha Mazzotta

Tidbits® of the River Region Page 6

1. Is the book of Eliab in the Old or New Testament or neither?2. From Genesis 21, who was command-er of Abimelech’s army? Benaiah, Omri, Sisera, Phichol3. Saul consulted a medium wanting to talk to whose spirit? Goliath, Moses, Samuel, Solomon4. Which natural disaster occurred only once in the Bible? Wind storm, Flood, Drought, Earthquake5. Who was known as the “Weeping Prophet”? Jeremiah, Nathan, Elisha, Daniel6. Who was the mate of Rachel? Ana-nias, Boaz, Jacob, Isaac

1. Who hit the most major-league home runs during the decade of the 1940s?2. Two Minnesota Twins pitchers had 20-win seasons during the 1990s. Name them.3. Who holds the NFL mark for most field goals in a season, and how many?4. When was the last time before 2011-12 that the Indiana Hoosiers men’s bas-ketball team started a season 10-0?5. Name the only NHL team other than Edmonton (2010-12) to have the No. 1 overall draft pick three consecutive seasons.6. Which was the first country to win back-to-back Euro titles in men’s soccer along with a World Cup in between.7. Who were the world heavyweight boxing cham-pions before and after Rocky Marciano’s 1952-56 reign?

What Are The Facts About Hypnosis

Inspite of the prevailing myth most people can experience and benefit from hypnosis. The most surprising fact is that those who have severe mental illness and an IQ less than 70 cannot be hypnotized. In fact stage hypnotist make their living doing shows at college campuses and major corporations. The brighter the group the better show. AUM invited a stage hypnotist a few months ago for their homecoming celebra-tion. Learn about therapeutic hypnosis at American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, www.asch.net

For local help call Hypnosis Works and see hypnosisworksnow.com 334-213-0054

Page 7“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285

1. Ted Williams, with 234. Johnny Mize was second, with 217.2. Scott Erickson (1991) and Brad Radke (1997). 3. San Francisco’s David Akers had 44 in 2011.4. It was 1989-90.5. The Quebec Nordiques (1989-91).6. Spain (2008-12).7. Jersey Joe Walcott before, Floyd Patterson after.

BIBLE TRIVIA ANSWERS:

1. Neither; 2. Phichol; 3. Samuel; 4. Flood; 5. Jeremiah; 6. Jacob

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All prices quoted via telephone (June 2012) at the respective pharmacies in Montgomery, Millbrook, Prattville, and Wetumpka.Adam Drugs pricing available with membership in the Adams Drugs Advantage Card program.

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Tidbits® of the River Region Page 8