Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue 30

8
Issue 30 March 1-7, 2009 Stop searching for talent. Start finding it. Manpower can find it for you faster. With unmatched know-how, perfected processes and access to qualified candidates, we can find the talented people you need. For temporary, temporary-to-permanent or permanent placements. We’ll deliver what you’re searching for. 241 Charles H Dimmock Pkwy., Ste. 4 Colonial Heights 804.520.8442 us.manpower.com WANT TO RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS? If You Can Provide: Sales Experience · A Computer · Desktop Publishing Software · A Reasonable Financial Investment We provide the opportunity for success! Call 1.800.523.3096 www.tidbitsweekly.com Publish a Paper in Your Area $ 25 00 TAX PREPARATION Call 1-804-520-8535 or visit www.JacksonHewitt.com Off “IT HELPS TO BE ON A WINNING TEAM.” - Earvin “Magic” Johnson 9 OUT OF 10 JACKSON HEWITT CUSTOMERS GET A TAX REFUND* That’s because our team works hard for you. We dig deep, asking you all the right questions so you’ll get every credit and deduction you deserve. 707 Southpark Blvd Ste 5, Col. Heights 804-520-8535 2130 S. Crater Rd Ste D, Petersburg 804-733-6055 12710 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Chester 804-768-1040 *Based on 2007 & 2008 customers receiving a federal tax refund. Current year customer experience may be different. A taxpayer’s refund eligibility is determined by his/her individual tax situation. Most offices are independently owned & operated. Offer valid on tax preparation fees only. Does not apply to financial products or other services. Present coupon at time of tax preparation. Valid at participating locations only and may not be combined with other offers. Expires 4/15/09 COUPON CODE W9PHH Turn the page for more! ...get gorgeous. Custom salon services with a personal touch. by appointment only Tammy Eads: Owner 804.526.2641 located in the Harrowgate Corridor area of Chester New Client Special get 25% off a Chemical Service or $2 off a Haircut r r Barrett Media Solutions, LLC. For Ad Rates call: 1.804.731.7504 [email protected] 4605 County Drive Petersburg (Rt 460) Ph 732-3278 Buy 1 Dinner, Get 2nd Dinner 1/2 PRICE Good after 4 p.m. Mon-Thurs Only Half price meal must be of equal or lesser value. Not valid with other offers. Tidbits offer exp. 4/4/09 • PGF BBQ Serving Lunch & Dinner 7 Days A Week! 10 AM - 9PM Catering Available for 25-100 people Fx 732-3277 Take Out $ 5.95 ALL DAY, EVERY DAY Come join the fun and taste our authentic Mexican cuisine at Don Jose! Open 7 Days a Week! Sun.-Thurs. 11-10 Fri.-Sat. 11-11 3609 Boulevard • Col. Heights (804) 520-8422 1/2 PRICE Buy 1 Lunch or Dinner, Get 2nd Half price meal must be of equal or lesser value. Valid only at Col. Heights location. Exp. 4/4/09 New Extended Menu! Don Jose Coupon $2.50 Kid’s Meals on Mon. & Wed. (Includes Drink - Dine in only) of the Tri-Cities 306 North 2 nd Avenue, Hopewell, VA Current clients receive a 50% discount on 2008 tax return 804-452-4442 Office • 804-452-0043 Fax www.belzerbusiness.com Where Quality is Guaranteed! ACCOUNTING • PAYROLL • TAX JUST DON’T CALL ME LATE FOR DINNER! TIDBITS NAMES NAMES by Paige Lozier This edition of Tidbits is about first names, last names, middle names, popular names, unusual names, and all things name-related! Throughout Europe, the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand, the traditional pattern for identifying people is by use of a first name (sometimes called a Christian or given name) and a last name (a surname or family name.) The key distinction between the two is that the surname is passed down and shared among family members, while the first name is given to a person, usually by his parents. Assigning a middle name to a child is a prac- tice pretty much limited to the Western world. Even then, christening a baby with more than one given name wasn’t really a tradition until the early 1800s. The phrase “middle name” first appeared in a U.S. dic- tionary in 1835. After a while, it became something of a status symbol to list one’s first name, middle initial and then last name on business cards, letters, etc. The word nickname evolved from the mis- pronunciation of the term “ekename.” Dic- tionaries back to the 14th century define ekename as an “additional” or “little” name.

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Transcript of Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue 30

Page 1: Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue 30

Issue 30March 1-7, 2009

Stop searching for talent. Start finding it.Manpower can find it for you faster. With unmatched know-how, perfected processes and access to qualified candidates,we can find the talented people you need. For temporary, temporary-to-permanent or permanent placements. We’ll deliver what you’re searching for.

241 Charles H Dimmock Pkwy., Ste. 4Colonial Heights 804.520.8442 us.manpower.com

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Off

“IT HELPS TO BE ON A WINNING TEAM.” - Earvin “Magic” Johnson

9 OUT OF 10JACKSON HEWITT CUSTOMERS GET A TAX REFUND*

That’s because our team works hard for you. We dig deep,asking you all the right questions so

you’ll get every credit and deduction you deserve.

707 Southpark Blvd Ste 5, Col. Heights 804-520-85352130 S. Crater Rd Ste D, Petersburg 804-733-605512710 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Chester 804-768-1040

*Based on 2007 & 2008 customers receiving a federal tax refund. Current year customer experience may be different. A taxpayer’s refund eligibility is determined by his/her individual tax situation.

Most offices are independently owned & operated.

Offer valid on tax preparation fees only. Does not apply to financial products or other services. Present coupon at time of tax preparation. Valid at participating locations only and may not be combined with other offers. Expires 4/15/09 COUPON CODE W9PHH

Turn the page for more!

...get gorgeous.

Custom salon services with a personal touch.

by appointment only Tammy Eads:

Owner

804.526.2641located in the Harrowgate Corridor area of Chester

New Client Specialget 25% off a Chemical

Service or $2 off a Haircut

r

r

tangles08b.pdf 12/10/08 3:50:58 PM Barrett Media Solutions, LLC. For Ad Rates call: 1.804.731.7504 [email protected]

4605 County Drive Petersburg (Rt 460)

Ph 732-3278

Buy 1 Dinner, Get 2nd Dinner1/2 PRICE

Good after 4 p.m. Mon-Thurs OnlyHalf price meal must be of equal or lesser value.

Not valid with other offers.Tidbits offer exp. 4/4/09 • PGF BBQ

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Catering Available for 25-100 people

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Current clientsreceive a

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804-452-4442 Office • 804-452-0043 Faxwww.belzerbusiness.com Where Quality is Guaranteed!

ACCOUNTING • PAYROLL • TAX

turn the page for more Tidbits!

Do you realize that if Ella Fitzgerald had married Candid Camera host Alan Funt, her name would have been Ella Funt?

JUST DON’T CALL ME LATE FOR DINNER!

TIDBITS NAMES NAMES by Paige Lozier

This edition of Tidbits is about first names, last names, middle names, popular names, unusual names, and all things name-related!

• Throughout Europe, the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand, the traditional pattern for identifying people is by use of a first name (sometimes called a Christian or given name) and a last name (a surname or family name.) The key distinction between the two is that the surname is passed down and shared among family members, while the first name is given to a person, usually by his parents.

• Assigning a middle name to a child is a prac-tice pretty much limited to the Western world. Even then, christening a baby with more than one given name wasn’t really a tradition until the early 1800s. The phrase “middle name” first appeared in a U.S. dic-tionary in 1835. After a while, it became something of a status symbol to list one’s first name, middle initial and then last name on business cards, letters, etc.

• The word nickname evolved from the mis-pronunciation of the term “ekename.” Dic-tionaries back to the 14th century define ekename as an “additional” or “little” name.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Issue 2009.09

Tidbits Names Names

pages 1-4

Solar System Q&A pages 5-6

When I Was Your Age…

pages 7-8

1st Quarter 2009 Week 09

Feb 22 – Feb 28 Page 1

Page 2: Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue 30

Tidbits® of the Tri-Cities Page 2

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I read with interest your recent column about the children whose pet fish died because they didn’t take care of it. You asked readers how the children could prove to their mother that they’re ready for another pet. I think you’re asking the wrong question. You should be asking when is the MOTHER ready for another pet.Being a child is about learning, exploring and having as many experiences as possible. Because they’re young, their interests change, often rapidly and unexpectedly. It isn’t fair to a child to be forced to look after a living, feeling, thinking being whose requirements don’t change (the dog always needs to be walked, for instance) and whose needs are unyielding (the dog will suffer if it’s not fed and watered).Furthermore, to make a child responsible for a pet is a poor idea on several counts: The child is set up for failure; the pet can experience discomfort at best, death at worst, from being neglected; and

the adult can feel exasperation, annoyance and anger -- at both child and pet.In terms of dogs, no responsible breeder of dogs will sell one of his or her puppies to a family where the children will be that puppy’s primary caregiver. Neither will a bona fide rescue group nor a well-run animal shelter. This means that the only avenue by which the family can acquire a puppy is from a BYB (backyard breeder) who is clueless about the goal of breeding -- to produce healthy, to-standard dogs with solid temperaments.The only reason to get a pet is because the adults want one themselves, fully understanding and accepting the reality that whatever help their children provide in caring for that pet is a bonus and is not something on which they can count. Thus, I think you need to rephrase your question. -- Dori, via e-mail

DEAR DORI: You’ve stated your case very well, and I thank you.

Parents, Kids and PetsBy Sam Mazzotta

of the Tri- Cities

Published weekly by Barrett Media Solutions, LLC

(804) [email protected] us on the web at

www.tricitiestidbits.com

(c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

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1Q2009 :: Wk 09 :: Feb 22 - Feb 28 :: Pg. 2

TIDBITS NAMES NAMES (continued): • Many common Anglo-Saxon surnames are

actually professions, which is how common people were often identified during the Mid-dle Ages. For example, a cooper was a barrel maker, a fletcher was an arrow maker, a tan-ner worked with leather, and a miller ground wheat into flour. We’ll let you guess what Mr. Baker, Mr. Carver, Mr. Weaver and Mr. Fisher used to do for a living.

• From medieval times onward, one of the most common ways to coin a nickname was to drop the first syllable of a person’s formal first name. Thus, Andrew became Drew, Elizabeth became Beth, Alfred became Fred, and Rebecca became Becca.

• Per the 2000 Census, the three most common U.S. surnames were identical to those found in 1990: Smith is #1, followed by Johnson and Williams. The changing face of the American population is readily apparent fur-ther down the list, however. In 1990, #8 was Wilson, followed by Moore at #9. Ten years later, those names were knocked out of their slots by Garcia and Rodriguez.

• In England as a whole, the three most com-mon last names are Jones, Williams, and Taylor. But limit the search to the Greater London area, and the top three slots are oc-cupied by Brown, Smith, and Patel. The lat-ter name reflects the large number of Indian families who have relocated to the capital.

• Until 2008, parents in Sweden had to receive approval from the national government when selecting a legal name for their new baby. Offensive words, culturally inappropriate terms, and some product names were consi-dered taboo. When the law was finally re-pealed last year, two different families cele-brated the decision by naming their new bundles of joy Budweiser and Metallica, re-spectively. (Yes, really.)

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Page 3: Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue 30

Page 3For Advertising Call 1.804.731.7504

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New Section Coming Soon

Page 4: Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue 30

Tidbits® of the Tri-Cities Page 4

It really DOES matter what hospital you go to when you need care. Your life could depend on it.

So says the seventh annual study by HealthGrades. This is the same group that tracks doctors, hospitals and nursing homes and assigns a grade for the level of care.

Its latest study reveals that your risk of death can be cut as much as 27 percent if you get your care at a “Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence.” To get that designation, a hospital has to pass a long list of criteria.

The HealthGrades Web site [www.healthgrades.com] lists by state all of the “Distinguished” hospitals. You can search (for free) for grades on a given hospital for any of dozens of medical conditions. Look for Research Hospitals on the front screen of the Web site.

It’s when you want a full report on a hospital that you have to pay a fee. You’ll also have to

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pay a fee to check out a specific doctor or nursing home -- it costs money for the report.

A much easier way to check on a hospital or doctor is on the government’s Health and Human Services website [www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov].

The HHS layout lets you compare multiple hospitals, right on the same screen. The information is very comprehensive, too. For example, one question concerns the percent of surgery patients who were given an antibiotic at the right time, within one hour before surgery. This is a small detail maybe, but crucial to one’s recovery.

To find out if there is a “Distinguished” hospital in your area, check the HealthGrades Web site and then search for details at the HHS site.

Still, if you’re facing a major medical issue, perhaps paying for the HealthGrades report would give you needed extra information.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 78-year-old female, active and in good health -- or so I thought. I eat right and never smoked or drank alcohol. Yesterday, a colonoscopy showed severe diverticulosis. The doctor prescribed Benefiber, then left and never returned. I am stunned. What do I do now? Will I have this forever? Am I unhealthy? How does one develop diverticulosis? What the difference between “osis” and “itis”? -- S.K.

ANSWER: Your world isn’t collapsing. You’re healthy. You’ll have diverticulosis forever. By age 60, half of the people in North America have it. By age 80, two-thirds have it. A diverticulum is a bulge of the inner colon lining through the colon’s muscular wall to its outer surface. A diverticulum looks like a small soap bubble. It’s only 1/5 to 2/5 inches (0.5 to 1 cm) in diameter. You can thank our diet for diverticulosis. We refine flour and throw away its bran -- the outer coat of grain.In countries where whole grains (including the bran) are commonly used, diverticulosis is a rarity. Bran and other fiber hold water in undigested food. Without fiber, the food residue dries and becomes hard. The colon muscles have to generate a great deal of force to keep it moving. That force causes the colon lining to pop through the colon wall as a diverticulum. For most, diverticulosis is a silent condition that remains silent for life.For a few, the diverticulum breaks and causes a local infection in the colon -- diverticulitis. The pain of a diverticulitis attack is usually felt in the lower left corner of the abdomen, and sometimes people have fever and chills along with the pain. The attack is treated by resting the tract and by giving antibiotics.

We’re supposed to get 30 grams of fiber a day. Fruits (especially those with edible skins), many vegetables and whole-grain products are the source of dietary fiber. If people cannot get enough fiber in their diet, then commercial products like the one you’re taking fill the gap. Metamucil, Perdiem, Citrucel and Fiberall are other examples.The booklet on diverticulosis explains the ins and outs of this very common disorder. To order a copy, write: Dr. Donohue -- No. 502W, 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: My husband has chronic blepharitis and frequently develops hard buildups in both eyes that cause great discomfort. The doctor must remove them two times a month. What can be done to prevent them? -- S.R.

ANSWER: Blepharitis (BLEF-uh-RYE-tiss) is inflammation of the eyelid margins, which become red and crusty. The crust can build up into hard deposits. A twice-a-day program of lid cleansing might eliminate the crusts.Have your husband apply warm compresses (a wet washcloth) to closed lids for five to 10 minutes and then massage the lids. After the massage, he cleanses the lid margins with a cotton-tipped applicator dipped in a solution of one part baby shampoo and one part water. The doctor might have to prescribe an antibiotic ointment.

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Most Older People Have Diverticulosis

How Does YourHospital Rate?

Page 5: Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue 30

Page 5For Advertising Call 1.804.731.7504

1. When was the last time before 2008 that the National League had a 20-game winner?

2. How many times did Kansas City Royals great George Brett lead the American League in batting average for a season?

3. Name the last season in which the Florida State football team did not go to a bowl game.

4. Who was the last player to win the NBA’s MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season?

5. The San Jose Sharks set an NHL record in 2008-09 for the best start to the season (25-3-2). Who had held the mark?

6. Who were the two race-car drivers The Associated Press named “Driver of the Century” in 1999?

7. In what year was the first class inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame?

Play better golf with JACK NICKLAUS

When prosperity is in the air, companies reach out. When hard times come, they pull back.

For longtime NASCAR fans, there may be a silver lining in the recession that is wreaking havoc with the sport.

For 20 years, accelerating exponentially over time, the main goal of NASCAR has been similar to the main goal of churches: Spread the Gospel. The Gospel of NASCAR. The Gospel of the France Family. The Gospel of Dale the Elder, Dale the Younger and Dale the Jarrett.

The main goal has been racing for those who don’t like racing. Meanwhile, the message to those who provide the core of the sport’s support has been, “You’ll take what we give you, and you’ll like it.”

Don’t let the NASCAR braintrust fool you. They’re very good at what they do, but they’ve been doing the same thing for an awfully long time. NASCAR has been growing since the early 1970s. The last time there were hard times, the Founder, Saint Big Bill of France, was still alive. As the throne passed to St. Bill the Junior, and then to St. Brian the Ambitious, no one had to worry much about failure. The Energizer Bunny really seemed to be in charge, and the sport kept growing ... and growing ... and growing.

As noted by many people who went to high school, Abraham Lincoln said you could fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time. NASCAR has been basing its strategies on the latter. It hasn’t come to grips with Lincoln’s view that

you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.God knows they try.NASCAR has targeted its moves to people who don’t

love cars. That’s why, gradually, all of the cars on the track have become just alike. It’s not exactly the Grand Concours D’Elegance out there on pit road.

Where once fans lived to breathe the exhaust fumes and experience the earth-rattling roar of the mighty V-8s, now they are mildly aware that their favorite driver’s car has been a different color every week.

Where once they stared in wonderment and said, “My gosh, Virgil, I want you to look at the flared fenders on that Galaxie,” now they mutter to themselves, “The only difference is a *#@%^&! decal.”

The new fans don’t know the cars they drive don’t have carburetors anymore. New fans think the Chase is groovy because it keeps anyone from having much of an advantage.

Old fans really wish they could buy a Chevy shaped like the one on the race track. They wish NASCAR would “let ‘em race” at Daytona. They never saw a debris caution flag they thought was on the level. They neither own nor like dogs they consider lucky.

If it weren’t for “Junior,” they’d probably stop watching altogether, or if they did watch, they wouldn’t admit it.

Either there are a lot of old fans, or they all write me letters and e-mails. It’s almost all I hear. I’m not sure why they write me. I don’t have much clout. NASCAR seldom does anything other than the opposite of what I write.

Now, though, NASCAR is worried. The pie fell out of the sky. A bunch of people don’t have jobs anymore. A bunch of owners don’t have teams anymore.

NASCAR might even have to pay attention to the old fans again.

What Goes AroundComes Around

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

(c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

1Q2009 :: Wk 09 :: Feb 22 - Feb 28 :: Pg. 3

TIDBITS NAMES NAMES (continued): • The Screen Actors Guild forbids two mem-

bers to join using the same name. When Mi-chael Keaton first came to Hollywood, he was unable to use his real name. There was already an actor named Michael Douglas, as well as a talk show host who went by Mike Douglas. Annie Hall was a hit film at the time, so he borrowed the last name of lead actress Diane Keaton. Ever since, he’s had to field questions concerning his relation to Di-ane or silent film star ‘Buster’ Keaton.

• Comedian Albert Brooks isn’t the only member of his family who changed his name. His father took a new last name to be-come radio comedian Harry Parke, and his brother is better known as comic stuntman “Super” Dave Osborne. The last name that appears on each of their birth certificates, however, is Einstein.

• What’s the difference between having “Ju-nior” or “II” after your name? Technically speaking, if you are given exactly the same first and middle name as your father, then you are a junior. If you have the same first and middle name as another relative (such as a grandfather or an uncle), and your father has a different name, then you would proper-ly add the “II” suffix to the end of your name. And although women tend to refrain from using it in this manner, females having the same first and middle names as their mothers are also classified as “juniors.”

• While it’s rarely done today, traditional eti-quette dictates that numerical suffixes (III, IV, etc.) evolve as the family grows older. That is, when Aaron Bernard Cook, Jr., passes away, Aaron Bernard Cook III be-comes Junior, and any other relatives also named “Aaron Bernard Cook” would move up in rank. This rule does not apply to popes or to members of royal families.

Page 6: Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue 30

Tidbits® of the Tri-Cities Page 6

HIGH VISIBILITY • RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY! • CALL 1.804.731.7504

Q: I’ve been watching some home-improvement shows on television lately that advocate “green” building techniques, including reusing wood from other structures for a home’s wood floor-ing, rather than buying new. What do you think about this trend, and how do I go about doing this? -- Larry in Tempe, Ariz.

A: Recycled wood flooring is a good trend, in my opinion, because rather than chopping down live trees to supply the hardwood for your floor, wood from many types of disused structures or other sources of salvaged lumber can be remilled to give it a second life. There is some concern that the current stock of high-quality salvaged wood will run out eventually, but no timetable has been given for that.Recycled hardwood is often of better quality than new hardwoods. It’s been curing for many

years, resulting in a tighter grain and more sta-bility. Also, much of the current stock of recy-cled wood originally came from old-growth for-ests, most of which either no longer exist or are protected, and so you’re getting high-quality denseness and stability that most new woods can’t match.One thing it is not, however, is cheap. Recycled hardwood costs much more than new (Tool-base Services estimates that it runs about $5.75 to $11 per square foot, while new oak flooring runs about $3 per square foot). Recycled wood also must be installed by a professional.Despite the cost, recycled wood tends to be beautiful and durable and a nice conversation piece at parties. If you’re interested in having it installed, many flooring contractors are able to procure and install recycled wood. You should check with more than one contractor, though, get estimates, and ideally work with someone who specializes in recycled wood-flooring in-stallation.

HOME TIP: All types of wood floors need the same type of care: Wipe up liquid spills imme-diately, don’t use harsh cleaners or oil soaps, and sweep, dust mop or vacuum regularly to prevent grit from dulling the finish.

Reusing Wood for FlooringBy Samantha Mazzotta

¥ “To get grease stains out of laundry items, douse the grease spot with cornstarch. Work it in gently, then dust off excess. Check the stain and repeat. The cornstarch will absorb the grease.” -- C.F. in Louisiana

¥ “When potting plants or starting seeds, ev-eryone knows to moisten the soil. I moisten mine the day before. It seems to distribute well, and I have no trouble with my seed-lings.” -- T.C. in Ohio

¥ To clean up an egg spill quickly, sprinkle the egg with salt.

¥ “I love to bake, but it seems like I’m the only one in the house who eats cake! This means I either eat way too much cake in a day or end up throwing it out before it goes stale. I have finally figured out a great way to enjoy baking AND eat more responsibly. I slice the cake into individual pieces, wrap them in plastic and freeze. I can take out a piece of cake in the morning and enjoy it by the afternoon if I want, and it’s still moist and delicious.” -- J.J. in Florida

¥ “I got tired of clipping coupons and forget-ting them at home when I would have an un-expected opportunity to grocery-shop. Now I keep the coupons in the car with my reus-able grocery bags. They’re there whenever I am ready.” -- V.R. in Pennsylvania

(c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Defensive Driving, Inc.

27 Seyler Dr,

Petersburg, VA

(804) 920-4987$55 cash

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Powell’s Lawn CareFor all your lawn care needs!

Mowing • Weed EatingYard Work

804-721-7038Reasonable

Rates!

1Q2009 :: Wk 09 :: Feb 22 - Feb 28 :: Pg. 4

TIDBITS NAMES NAMES (continued): • The title before a person’s name is called the

“honorific.” Mister, Mistress, Miss, Doctor, Reverend, and Professor are examples of common American honorifics.

• The use of “John Doe” as an anonymous or nameless person originated in England dur-ing the reign of King Henry VIII. Landown-ers with vast parcels of acreage often had to go to court to evict squatters from their prop-erty, and since they did not know the proper names of these illegal tenants, John Doe was coined to allow them to properly complete the necessary legal documents. Since every legal action required two witnesses, “Richard Roe” became the fill-in defendant.

• Studies have shown that cats respond more readily to names that end in an “ee” sound (Frisky, Blackie, Smoky, Sparky, and so on.) Most kittens will eventually learn their names no matter how unusual or exotic, but experts recommend that those who wish to adopt an adult cat choose an “ee” name if they want him/her to learn it quickly.

• “Max” wasn’t among the 150 most popular baby names according to the most recent U.S. census, but the name is number one in several pet categories. The most popular dog names are Max, Buddy, and Molly. For cats, it’s Max, Tigger, and Tiger. The list for birds reads Max, Sunny, and Buddy. “Max love” is lost, however, on more unusual pets like li-zards (Iggy, Leo and Godzilla) and rodents (Buddy, Bandit and Thumper).

• In the past 30 years or so, it has become popular to give baby girls surname-like first names like McKenzie, MacKayla, and Addi-son. Parents should keep in mind, however, that the prefix Mc and Mac and the suffix son all literally mean “son of.” So little Mad-ison’s name, for example, actually means “Son of Maude.”

(c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

Cosmetic Studio

804-526-1097

Visit us for your

ComplimentaryMakeover

Southpark Crossing1056 Temple Ave

Colonial Heights, VA

TRIVIA NEWSFRONT™

PRESENTS

NEWSFRONT ANSWERSTRIVIA

NUMBER PUZZLEFill in the grid so that every column, every row,

and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

NUMBERPUZZLE ANSWER

. . . . . GOES LONG

by Kara Kovalchik & Sandy Wood

ALWAYS FUN

ALWAYS FREE

1. What star of the TV show was given thename Alphonso d’Abruzzo at birth?

M*A*S*H

2. Scary film legend William Henry Pratt was betterknown by what stage name?

3. What is the full first name of actress Demi Moore?

4. Since people had difficulty pronouncing his name,rock star John Bongiovi uses what phonetic versionas stage name?

5. What is the real first name of golf superstar TigerWoods?

1. Alan Alda

2. Boris Karloff

3. Demitria

4. Jon Bon Jovi

5. Eldrick

FILLER PAGE 2

1Q09 - WEEK 09FEB 22 - FEB 28

Many parents experience “baby name remorse” after choosing a name to put on the birth certificate.Once the baby gets a little older, they decide the original name doesn’t suit it. Luckily, as long as

both parents give their legal consent, U.S. laws make it reasonably easy to change the name of a minor.

2 3 4 5

4 9 8

8 6 5 1 4

5 1 8 7

4

7 2 6

1 4 5

9 5 1 2

2 8 1 7 9 3 4 5 6

3 4 9 2 6 5 8 7 1

6 5 7 8 4 1 3 9 2

8 3 6 5 1 7 9 2 4

5 1 2 9 8 4 6 3 7

9 7 4 6 3 2 5 1 8

7 2 8 3 5 6 1 4 9

1 6 3 4 2 9 7 8 5

4 9 5 1 7 8 2 6 3

Page 7: Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue 30

Page 7For Advertising Call 1.804.731.7504A

NSW

ERS

1. Three N.L. pitchers won at least 20 games in 2005.2. Three times (1976, 1980, 1990).3. The 1981 season.4. Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994.5. The 1929-30 Boston Bruins were 25-4-1 through 30 games.6. Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt.7. It was 1955.

(c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

With lower interest rates on home mortgages, it’s possible that refinancing your loan could save you money each month. If the prevailing interest rates are a full percentage point below the rate you currently pay, it might be in your best interest to refinance.The first step is to look at your credit history. It

used to be that a FICO score of 720 was enough to get you a good interest rate on a mortgage. Now you could need a score of 740 or higher.If your FICO score is good, determine if it’s

financially worth your while to refinance. Go online or consult with a lender to determine just how much you’d save each month.You’ll have to hunt for a lender, and it might be

difficult to get in to see one right now because of the number of people refinancing. You’ll pay fees and closing costs associated

with the loan. Do the math with a lender to find your best option and determine how long it will take to pay off those fees. If you save $300 every month by refinancing and the fees are $3,000, it

would take you 10 months to pay them off.You’ll need some equity in your house. Being

upside down (owing more than the house is worth) will likely nix a refinance deal. You’ll need to prove your income now. Gone

are the days of no-doc loans where you could put down any figure you wanted and nobody would check. Now they want to know for a fact that you earn enough to repay the loan.Don’t be surprised if you’re turned down once

or twice. If you really want to refinance, keep looking.Two points to consider: 1. Do you plan to stay in the house long enough

to recoup the closing costs and make a refinance worthwhile?2. If you need to move and sell your house, will

there be a pre-payment penalty that could cost you thousands of dollars to retire the loan?Beware choosing anything but a fixed-rate

loan. Tens of thousands of homeowners ran into trouble when their mortgages reset to a much higher rate. With a fixed rate loan, you’ll know exactly what your payments will be for the life of the loan.

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The Tidbits® Paper is a Division of Tidbits Media, Inc. • Montgomery, AL 36106(800) 523-3096 • E-mail: [email protected] • All Rights Reserved ©2008

Information in the Tidbits® Paper is gathered from sources considered to bereliable but the ac cu ra cy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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Publish a Pa per in Your Area (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

1Q2009 :: Wk 09 :: Feb 22 - Feb 28 :: Pg. 5

SOLAR SYSTEM Q&A If you’re 30 or older, the Solar System may seem a bit different now than it was when you came into the world. Actually, it’s not; it’s only our perception of the planets, moons, and other objects in the Solar System that have changed.

• How many planets are there in our Solar System? Until 2006, the answer was nine – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Sa-turn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. While Plu-to is still around, it’s no longer on the list. That’s because the International Astronomi-cal Union reclassified Pluto as a “dwarf pla-net.” So, officially, only eight planets make up the Solar System.

• Is Pluto the only dwarf planet? No. Four other bodies have also been classified as such: Ceres, Eris, Haumea, and Makemake. Ceres is the largest body in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. The other three are very distant bodies that lie on the furthest edges of our Solar System.

• So which planet is furthest out in space? From the time it was discovered and classi-fied like a planet (in 1930), Pluto was the an-swer. In 1979, Pluto’s elliptical orbit brought it closer to Earth, making Neptune the most distant planet. Twenty years later, in 1999, the planets’ paths crossed again, and Pluto returned to its normal spot as the most distant planet. When Pluto was demoted in 2006, however, Neptune recaptured the title, and still holds it today.

• Which planet has the fewest moons? Nei-ther Mercury nor Venus has any known moons. The Earth, as you’re likely aware, has only one natural satellite. Pluto was thought to have only one moon (Charon) un-til 2005, when the very tiny bodies known as Hydra and Nix were discovered, giving Pluto a total of three moons.

1Q2009 :: Wk 09 :: Feb 22 - Feb 28 :: Pg. 6

SOLAR SYSTEM Q&A (continued): • Which planet has the most moons? Since

the largest planets have the most gravitation-al pull, it stands to reason that they also have more moons than smaller planets. Jupiter has at least 63 natural satellites, most of which were not discovered until the past decade. Saturn is close behind with 60.

• Is Saturn the only planet circled with rings? While it’s true that Saturn is the only planet with rings that are plainly visible, the other three “gas giant” planets – Jupiter, Neptune, and Uranus – also sport rings.

• Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, so it’s also the planet with the warmest sur-face, right? Actually, no. Because Mercury has virtually no atmosphere, the heat of the Sun doesn’t have as great an effect on the planet’s surface temperature. Venus – the next closest planet to the Sun – has a very thick atmosphere that holds heat in. As a re-sult, temperatures on the face of Venus can approach 900 degrees F.

• Venus is the proud owner of what other superlatives? In addition to being the warm-est planet, Venus is also closest to the Earth in distance and most similar to the Earth in size. Venus also has a longer “day” than any other planet in the Solar System. Venus ro-tates so slowly on its axis that it takes the equivalent of 243 Earth days to go all the way around. In fact, Venus makes a full trip around the Sun more quickly than it makes a single rotation, meaning that its “day” is longer than its “year.”

• Will more planets be discovered in the Solar System? It’s unlikely that the Solar System contains any additional bodies of the necessary size and composition to be classi-fied as a “planet,” but others – dwarf planets, asteroids, or moons – could certainly be dis-covered at any time!

Britt’s Tree Service

Removal • Trimming • Firewood • LoggingLicensed & Insured

Call for your FREE ESTIMATE! (804) 919-3817

Page 8: Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue 30

WWW.TRICITIESTIDBITS.COMREAD TIDBITS ONLINE AT:

To Advertise Call (804) 731-7504

Presenting

By

Now OpenSimply Casual by Day

Divinely Elegant by Night

Lunch ~ Dinner ~ Sunday BrunchBANQUET ROOM

CATERINGGOURMET DESSERTS

120 E. City Point Rd.Hopewell, VA

804-541-8000

Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10-10Sunday 10 - 3

Mim’s

Hopewell: Jr. Olympic Skill Competition – BasketballJr. Olympic Skill Competition for Boys andGirls 8-13 years old. Event will be held on Sat. March 7, 2009 at the Mal-lonee Gym at 2:00pm. This competition is judged on speed, skill, shooting ability on running clock. See who has the best basketball skills in Hopewell. Register the day of the event at Mallonee Gym with parental signature.

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Don Jose Mexican Restaurant 3609 BoulevardColonial Heights, VA(804) 520-8422

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Mim's by Simply Divine120 E. Cit Point Rd Hopewell, VA(804) 541-8000

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$6.50$24.99

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Prince George Family B bBarbecue4605 Co nty Drive (Rt. 460)Petersburg, VA(804) 732-3278

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Delicious barbecue, bone" pork ribs, sousandwiches, and appCatering available.

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L/D$3.49$19.99

V/M SC/M CO/CT

Petersburg:Friday for the Arts!The second Friday of each month from 6-10pm. Come visit the stores, res-taurants and art displays in Old Towne Petersburg. The March celebration of Friday for the Arts! will feature two highly acclaimed artists at the Petersburg Area Art League. Bryant White and Pamela Patrick White will provide an exciting and educational evening during the March 13 opening night celebra-tion. Both will showcase their original oils and limited edition giclee prints which masterfully depict the lives and times of 18th Century America.

Coming Soon to Tidbits of the Tri-Cities

Chester: Colonial Crafts & Games at Henricus Historical ParkWatch demonstrators make a variety of colonial crafts, and learn to play colonial games. Children will be able to make crafts to take home for an ad-ditional fee. Admission is $7 for adults, and $5 for children ages 3-12.