TIDBITS® WISHES YOU A HAPPYVALENTINE’S DAY

by Kathy WolfeAs Tidbits brings you fresh information about Valentine’s Day, remember: “Say it with flowers; say it with sweets; say it with kisses; say it with eats; say it with jewelry; say it with drink. But always be careful not to say it with ink.” - Anonymous• There were probably two different men considered to

be St. Valentine, and both were supposedly beheaded on February 14. The more commonly accepted legend iden-tifies St. Valentine as a priest in early Rome around the year 260. The Roman emperor at that time forbade his soldiers to marry because he believed that single men made better soldiers. In the name of love and in defi-ance of the emperor’s edict, Valentine secretly married soldiers and their ladies and paid the price with his ex-ecution.

• Tradition places the first Valentine letter around 1415. This was when a Frenchman, the Duke of Orléans, was captured in battle and imprisoned in the Tower of Lon-don. From there, he composed rhymed love letters to his wife.

• In England during the 1700s, women wrote men’s names on little bits of paper, encased them in a piece of clay and dropped all the clay pieces into a pond. The first paper to rise to the top was supposedly the name of the woman’s true love.

• In the 18th-century, some unmarried women pinned five bay leaves to the center and four corners of their pil-lows on February 13. According to tradition, that night they would dream of their future husband. Some recited a verse before sleep: “Good Valentine, be kind to me, in dreams let me my true love see.” Perhaps this is where we derive the expression “the man of my dreams”!

• Another old Valentine custom had men write women’s names on bits of paper and place them in a jar. Each man drew a paper, and that woman was the man’s Valentine. He spent the day paying special attention to her and be-stowing small gifts, often a pair of gloves. Some of the men pinned the lady’s name to their shirtsleeve and wore it for several days, literally “wearing their hearts on their sleeves.”

• In Victorian days, young women used their fans to convey secret messages to their beaus. Drawing her fan across the cheek meant “I love you,” while twirling it in her

Week of February 13, 2012 Vol. 1, Issue 52

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1. Which group had the most sin-gles on the soundtrack for the film “Saturday Night Fever”?2. “How You Gonna See Me Now” was from which Alice Cooper al-

bum?3. This group had three songs in the top five posi-tions for 1965. Who was the group?4. After Joey Dee and The Starliters starred in the film “Two Tickets to Paris,” what song from the film became a hit?5. Name the band that released both a song and al-bum entitled “Close to the Edge.”6. Who sang “At This Moment”?

Answers1. The BeeGees, with six hits. The album topped the charts in the U.S. for 24 weeks in 1978. 2. “From the Inside,” in 1978. The album was about Coo-per’s stay in rehab when he got treatment for alcoholism. The song went to No. 12.3. The Beatles, with “Help,” “Yesterday” and “Ticket to Ride.” “Help!” also was the name of one of their films and the soundtrack.4. “What Kind of Love Is This?” in 1962.5. English group Yes. The song ran more than 18 minutes.6. Billy Vera and The Beaters. The song became a No. 1 hit in 1987 after it was used as a romantic backdrop on the TV series “Family Ties.”

California Simmered Beans

We’ve all heard that we should eat more vegetables, but more often than not, those eating at our tables don’t want to. Well, put this on the menu and see if all those veggie haters don’t turn into veggie lovers with the very first bite!

1/2 cup chopped onion1 (10 3/4-ounce) can reduced-fat tomato soup1/2 teaspoon dried basil1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary1/8 teaspoon black pepper2 (16-ounce) cans cut green beans, rinsed and drained

In a large skillet sprayed with butter-flavored cooking spray, saute onion for 5 minutes. Stir in tomato soup, ba-sil, rosemary and black pepper. Add green beans. Mix well to combine. Lower heat and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until mixture is heated through, stirring often. Makes 6 (1/2 cup) servings.

• Each serving equals: 52 calories, 0g fat, 2g protein, 11g carb., 155mg sodium, 2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAU-TIFULHope and Liam basked in the notion that Steffy was no longer a part of their lives and made plans to marry right away. Tay-

lor pointed out to Brooke how Hope was following in her footsteps. Meanwhile, Steffy vowed to get Liam back no matter what. Rick promised his sister, Hope, that he would make up for lost time. Taylor tried to talk Liam into giving his marriage to Steffy another try. Hope prepared to make an important announcement to the press. Steffy delivered shocking news to Liam about their marriage after he asked for an annulment. Wait to See: Hope and Steffy get into a physical altercation. Ridge makes some changes at Forrester Creations.

DAYS OF OUR LIVESThe DiMeras and Hortons appeared to have swapped identities as Jennifer told a lie that could sway the elec-tion, while the unusually timid Stefano worried about the letter. The aftermath of Sami witnessing Carrie and Rafe’s kiss had major consequences. As Carrie turned to Marlena for support, a drunk Austin turned to Abi-gail, who had an agenda all her own. Rafe and Carrie contemplated cutting all ties, personally and profession-ally. Austin woke up the next morning wrongly assum-ing that he had slept with Abigail. Brady asked Madison an important question that left a bitter taste in Nicole’s mouth. Wait to See: Brady discovers Madison’s connec-tion to Ian. Stefano finally opens his letter from Alice.

GENERAL HOSPITALElizabeth was unaware that her knight in shining armor was Ewen. Sonny was suspicious of Kate’s whereabouts after she came home in the middle of the night. Lulu started her new job in the police department evidence room. Diane gave Alexis a book on menopause. Robin was anxious to know if her antiviral drugs were work-ing. Jason had another spell after Franco sent a gift. Sonny exploded after learning about Kate’s connection with Jax. Carly found herself in Johnny’s arms despite her better judgment. Cameron lashed out at Elizabeth for driving Lucky away. Wait to See: Molly and TJ’s friendship continues to grow. Michael and Shawn find common ground.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESSRonan left Genoa City on a secret assignment. Chelsea told Billy that she admired his relationship with Victoria and wanted them to raise her baby. Soon after, Chel-sea’s mother Anita barged in and demanded that Billy either marry her daughter or that Chelsea would be go-ing home with her. Billy offered to compromise and al-low Anita to stay with all of them at his home until the baby is born. Sharon offered to take care of Adam as he coped with his blindness and even suggested that they visit his mother’s farm in Kansas. Jeff mistook Jill for Gloria and gave her a passionate kiss. Jill accused Jeff of faking his amnesia. Dino surprised Kevin and Ange-lina on the island. Wait to See: Cane and Lily celebrate Valentine’s Day in Paris. Kevin finds himself trapped in an unhappy relationship.

right hand gave the warning, “We are being watched.” • Esther A. Howland was the first person to commercially

manufacture Valentines, beginning in 1847. Considered the “Mother of the Valentine,” her original creations featured real lace and colorful ribbons. She eventually expanded her business into sales of $100,000 annually.

• In the late 1850s came the “penny dreadfuls,” Valentines with insulting and derogatory verses. They were printed on cheap paper and designed to make the recipient feel dreadful, hence their name. They were also known as “vinegar Valentines,” due to their sour or acidic mes-sages.

• According to a French tradition, a young woman lets her admirer know whether his affections are welcome by what she feeds him on Valentine’s Day. If she feeds him an egg dish, the answer is definitely “No,” while some-thing with apple or pear signifies “Yes.”

• Those colorful little candy conversation hearts have been around since 1866, when they were first manufactured by the New England Confectionery Company, or NECCO, as the company is more commonly known. Originally called “motto hearts,” they contained messages such as “Be Good,” “Be True” and “Kiss Me.” NECCO began updating their phrases in recent years, adding “Call Me,” “Fax Me,” “Email Me” and starting in 2011, one in 80 hearts reads “Tweet Me.” NECCO makes eight billion Sweethearts every year, selling about 100,000 pounds of them every day between January 1 and February 14.

• If you plan to give your Valentine a bottle of perfume, you might want to know that one of the ingredients in many perfumes is coal tar. And in order to prolong the fragrance, manufacturers add substances taken from beavers, male musk deer and sperm whales. Still other ingredients are derived from turpentine. Most perfumes are produced synthetically using chemical substances, and even the best perfumes contain only about 10 per-cent flower petal oil dissolved in alcohol. It takes about 10 million jasmine flowers to produce only 2.2 pounds of fragrant oil. Although a perfume may smell like one specific fragrance, it can actually be a blend of up to 500 ingredients.

• In the 1600s, perfume was made by placing rose petals in white wine, adding fragrant herbs and spices and allow-ing the mixture to ferment for two weeks.

• Thinking about chocolates for your sweetie? You’ll be glad to know that chocolate ranks high in food value and contains several vitamins and minerals. It was also the belief of the ancient Aztec Indians that the cacao bean was a source of wisdom and knowledge because the seeds had been brought to their land from Paradise.

• Before it is molded into bars, milk chocolate is stirred by machines for 72 hours to achieve the smoothest choco-late possible.

• About 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be given to sweethearts this year. But Valentine’s Day is far from the biggest day of the year for candy purchases. Halloween is first, followed by Easter, then Christmas.

• For its first 68 years, the Hershey Chocolate Company operated with no advertising budget. It did not advertise its products until July 1970.

• Egyptians were the first candy makers 3,000 years ago when they mixed fruits and nuts with honey.

• If your Valentine asks you for a Pascali, a Chrysler Im-perial, a Rubaiyat, a Floradora, a Montezuma or an Ice-berg, she’s asking for a rose from the list of the more popular varieties. The Society of American Florists esti-mates the number of roses produced for Valentine’s Day at around 200 million. About 43 percent of flowers given are red roses, and 29 percent are other colors of roses. The remaining gifts are mixed flowers.

• Cupid, Roman mythology’s god of love, was the son of the goddess Venus and the god Mars. He’s often depicted with wings, a bow and a quiver of arrows, and one shot is said to cause his “victims” to fall in love. Other legends represent Cupid with two sets of arrows — one gold-tipped set for love and another lead-tipped set, which brings about hatred.

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1. TELEVISION: What was the theme song of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”?2. MUSIC: What rock group was featured in the documen-tary “The Kids Are Alright”?3. MYTHOLOGY: In Norse mythology, who were the Norns?4. MOVIES: Actress Shirley MacLaine played a nun in which movie?5. CARTOONS: What were the names of Daisy Duck’s niec-es?6. MEDICINE: Who discovered that yellow fever was trans-mitted by mosquitoes?7. LITERATURE: What was the first novel written by Raymond Chandler?8. AD SLOGANS: What company advised motorists to “trust your car to the star”?9. ANATOMY: What is a human being’s normal body tem-perature in Celsius?10. GEOGRAPHY: The tiny principality of Andorra borders which two European countries?

Answers1. “Love Is All Around” 2. The Who 3. Norse goddesses of fate 4. “Two Mules for Sister Sara” 5. April, May and June 6. Dr. Walter Reed 7. “The Big Sleep”8. Texaco 9. 37 10. Spain and France

Q: I read in an interview with James Van Der Beek that he was going to be in a new comedy

this year, but I haven’t seen anything about it. I know he’s in “Franklin and Bash,” but I don’t think that’s what he’s talking about. Can you help? -- Violet F., Harrisburg, Pa.A: James was referring to his midseason comedy called “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23,” in which he plays a “sort of” version of himself. The series debuts after comedy powerhouse “Modern Family” on April 11 on ABC. The show is about a female odd couple who live together in New York City, with James portraying the best friend of Chloe, the mean-girl roommate. I’ve seen the pilot and it is very funny, and I love that James is able to parody himself in a non-self-conscious way, and that he isn’t afraid to bring up “Dawson’s Creek.”

***

Q: When does the new Snow White movie come out in theaters? -- Brandon D., Omaha, Neb.A: That would depend on which Snow White movie you mean. “Mirror Mirror” -- which stars Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen, Lily Collins as Snow White and Armie Hammer as Prince Andrew Alcott -- hits theaters on March 30. This film is being billed as family fare, in contrast to the darker “Snow White and the Huntsman.”The latter film stars Charlize Theron as Queen Ravenna, with Kristen Stewart as Snow White and Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman, and will fill the big screens on June 1. “Snow White” is a twist on the fairy tale, in which the Huntsman schools Snow White in the art of war and together they start a rebellion to bring down the Queen.

***Q: I watched a full version of the movie “Dressed to Kill” on TV recently, and I’m positive that Sylvester Stallone played the part of Angie Dickinson’s son but was not listed on the credits. Did he use another name? -- Lin L., via e-mailA: The part of Angie Dickinson’s son, Peter Miller, was played by Keith Gordon, 51, whom I remember best as Jason Melon in “Back to School,” the bullied college nerd

whose father (played by Rodney Dangerfield) enrolls in college with his son to help him assimilate. In the late ‘80s, Keith made the move to directing, helming such series as “Wild Palms,” “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Dexter” and “House.”

***Q: Could you please tell me if “Against the Wall” will be returning? -- Kathleen E., via e-mailA: Despite positive reviews by “New York Daily News,” “Los Angeles Times” and “The Hollywood Reporter,” Lifetime’s cop-drama “Against the Wall” wasn’t able to hold enough of its lead-in audience from “Drop Dead Diva” each week, and its ratings slipped from a meager 1.78 million viewers at its premiere to 1.47 million by its season finale. Lifetime opted not to renew the show for a second season.

PHOTO: James Van Der Beek

HOLLYWOOD -- Michelle Williams, just Oscar nominated for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in “My Week with Marilyn,” is taking on another huge fe-male legend -- Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Disney’s “Oz: The Great

and Powerful” is a prequel to the 1939 Judy Garland classic, “The Wizard of Oz”; both are based on the 1900 L. Frank Baum novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Billie Burke, who created Glinda in the original film, was actually 54 years old when she played the beautiful good witch. It also stars James Franco as Oscar Diggs (who becomes the Wizard); “The Good Gardener” Oscar winner Rachel Weisz (recently wed to the current James Bond, Daniel Craig); Mila Kunis of “That ‘70s Show” and “Friends With Benefits”; and “Scrubs” star Zach Graff.The budget for the film is $200 million, a far cry from the $2.7 million it cost MGM to make the original. “The Wizard of Oz” was considered a flop in its initial release, taking in only $3 million at the box office. A re-release shortly after brought in $1.5 million, starting it on its “Yellow Brick Road” to profit. In 1956, CBS paid a whopping $225,000 for its first TV airing, watched by 44 million people. CBS showed it once a year for the next 20 years. In l983, a reissue of the film made $6 million at the box office, prompting MGM to demand $13 million from CBS to air it that year.Not everything Oz is golden. The l985 sequel “Return to Oz,” based on two Baum books, “The Marvelous Land of Oz” and “Ozma of Oz,” had a budget of $25 million and only took in $11,137,801. The charming 14-year-old Fairuza Balk (later to star opposite Marlon Brando in the l996 film “The Island of Dr. Moreau”), was Dorothy. Piper Laurie, Oscar nominated for “The Hustler” (‘61), “Carrie” (‘76) and “Children of a Lesser God” (‘86), was Auntie Em. Nicol Williamson of “Ex-calibur” (‘81), “The Exorcist III” (‘89) and “Spawn” (‘97); and “Upstairs, Downstairs” star Jean Marsh rounded out the cast. Parents felt it was too dark and scary for tots and didn’t take their children to see it.Maybe Disney will get it right THIS time. No one is left from the Disney of l985. We won’t know how it turns out until March 8, 2013. Michelle Williams has already filmed “Take This Waltz” with Seth Rogan and Sarah Silverman. It’s a bit-tersweet but heart-wrenching story about a woman struggling to choose between two different types of love. Maybe they could use the song “Torn Between Two Lovers” or the theme from “A Man and a Woman!

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With Tony Stewart as her car owner, Danica Patrick will look to find success in NASCAR’s premier event. Greg Zipadelli will serve as her crew chief for her 10 cup races this season, start-ing with the Daytona 500. (John Clark/NASCAR This Week photo)

Year of The DanicaDanica Patrick, the trailblaz-ing driver who became the first woman ever to win an IndyCar race, is finally concentrating on NASCAR full-time.This year she will compete in 10 Sprint Cup races while rac-

ing full-time in the Nationwide Series. Her Cup races will be with the current champion, Tony Stewart, in a Chevy car-rying No. 10. In Nationwide, she will continue to compete with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team, but this marks her first season competing for the championship.Of her relationship with Stewart, Patrick said, “I feel respect-ed, and I feel like he’s been very patient. Even the little things ... he doesn’t look at me like I’m inexperienced. ... He inves-tigates and says, no problem, let’s get it right, and makes me comfortable with that kind of stuff.”Another significant development is Stewart-Haas Racing’s offseason hiring of Greg Zipadelli, who was Stewart’s crew chief during his 2002 and ‘05 titles with Joe Gibbs Racing. Zipadelli now is the team’s competition director, but he will serve as Patrick’s crew chief for her 10 Cup appearances, which begin with the Daytona 500.“It really was a perfect opportunity for us, because it’s hard to get a really good crew chief hired to only run 10 races a year in the first year,” said Stewart. “To have somebody like Greg, who has been working with Joey (Logano) and has been a crew chief for the past 13 straight years, he can come into

this scenario, and the last two guys he had both were rookies when they came in.”Stewart won three Cup races with Zipadelli as a rookie in 1999.Patrick’s hometown is Roscoe, Ill., but she presently lives in Phoenix. She turns 30 on March 25.“It’s just like going to the first day of school,” Patrick said. “You want to make a good impression; you want to do a good job. ... It’s finding your way around, finding my locker, literally.“There’s no combination for it, of course, but it is a locker that I needed to find, getting in sync with that.”

Dachshund’s Odd BehaviorDEAR PAW’S CORNER: When we give my miniature Dachshund, “Peg,” a chew treat, she takes it and walks all over the house crying. She will stop and “bury” it in different places, under a blanket or behind things, then pull it right back out and continue the process again and again for a while before she finally settles down and begins chewing it. We were wondering what is

going on in her head that results in this behavior. -- Curious Doxie Mom

DEAR DOXY MOM: Peg’s behavior has all the earmarks of instinctive behaviors applied to a specific item (the chew treat). Dachshunds are notorious diggers --it’s part of what they were originally bred for, as working dogs that would root out vermin like moles. So it’s not too surprising that she does this with her chew toys. The crying seems like a way of announcing possession, like “hey, this is mine, I got it, check it out!” rather than distress.If the behavior happens only at treat time and doesn’t bother you or harm the furniture, it’s up to you whether to let it continue. However, it sounds like Peg needs more stimulation in her life.Try playing games where you “bury” a toy (cover it with a pillow, say) and have her find it. You can even go so far as to build a sandbox out back where she can bury and dig up toys during play times, under your supervision. Don’t let her dig in other parts of the yard, though; if she starts that up, distract her and give her something else to do (like teaching basic obedience commands) or bring her back to the sandbox to dig.

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¥ On Feb. 24, 1786, Wilhelm Karl Grimm, the younger of the two Brothers Grimm, is born in Hanau, Germany. The brothers’ collec-tion of oral folktales include “Hansel and Gretel,” “Snow White,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Sleeping Beauty” and “Rapunzel.”

¥ On Feb. 25, 1890, Vlacheslav Skryabin, foreign minister for the Soviet Union who took the revolutionary name Molotov, is born in Kurkaka, Russia. Molotov advocated the use of throwing bottles filled with flammable liquid and stuffed with a lit rag at the enemy, and the famous “Molotov cocktail” was born.

¥ On Feb. 26, 1903, Alexander Winton, driving his Winton Bullet, sets the first speed record ever achieved at Daytona Beach, Fla. Built in 1902, the “Bullet Number 1” drove a measured mile at more than 65 mph.

¥ On Feb. 23, 1945, during the battle for Iwo Jima, U.S. Marines raise the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi, an event captured on film by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal. Although the photograph has long led people to believe that the flag raising was a turning point in the battle, fighting continued for 31 more days.

¥ On Feb. 22, 1950, Walt Disney’s animated feature “Cinderella” opens. Based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, “Cinderella” featured songs like “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” and be-came one of Disney’s most beloved films.

¥ On Feb. 20, 1986, France and Britain announce that a tunnel under the English Channel linking the two countries would soon become a reality. Trains, cars and buses would be able to speed through the tun-nel in less than half an hour. Construction began in December 1987, and the “chunnel” was finally completed in 1994.

¥ On Feb. 21, 1994, CIA operative Aldrich Ames is arrested for sell-ing secrets to the Soviet Union. At least 10 men were killed after Ames revealed their identities, and more were sent to Russian gulags. Both Ames and his wife were later convicted. Ames was sentenced to life in prison while his wife, as part of a plea-bargain agreement, was given a five-year sentence.

Play Indoor Hopscotch With Carpet Squares

Hop, skip and jump onto your own hopscotch game everyone can play indoors using sample

carpet squares. It’s a great way to let out energy and get some exercise when the kids are

cooped up on a rainy or snowy day. If you live near a carpet store, ask for discarded sample

squares, which are usually free of charge. Choose samples that are approximately 10 inches

by 12 inches in a variety of fun, playful colors. You’ll need at least 10 for a standard game of hopscotch.

When you get home, cut rubber shelf liner into 10-inch squares the size of the carpet squares. Glue the shelf-liner pieces onto the

backsides of the carpet squares to help keep the squares from slipping and skidding around as the kids jump.

Paint the numbers 1 through 10 on the tops of the squares using acrylic or latex paints. When dry, grab some flat stones for mark-

ers, and the kids will be ready and eager to play. Or, while the kids are waiting for the paint to dry, they can make their own per-

sonalized game markers. Cut out school pictures of each child who is going to play hopscotch, and glue the photos onto one side

of a flat frozen-orange-juice lid with smooth sides. When it’s time to play, toss it “face up” onto a square.

To play, set the squares on the floor in a hopscotch pattern, and hop away! Or invent your own games and encourage your kids to

practice their numbers while they play. Join in with the kids and enjoy one of the oldest and simplest children’s games around. Like

playing jacks, you might quickly remember that you were either good at it and loved to play ... or not!

When the game is over, pick up the squares of this portable hopscotch and stack them neatly in a cupboard or closet until another

indoor play day.

Alternative idea: Instead of a portable hopscotch, tape the squares together on the backside in the formation you choose using

duct tape.

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LOVE AND MARRIAGE “Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing,” said the German writer Goethe. Let’s take a look at that strange phenomenon that “makes the world go ‘round.” • Courtship during Victorian times had definite rules of

etiquette, and according to one authority of those times, the lady “is not to allow the young gentleman to kiss you until he has proposed marriage.” Of course, there were those who disagreed, such as the expert who advised that, “The prudent maiden should not allow her lover to kiss her even after their engagement. Not until after marriage should such a favor be granted.”

• The fourth finger of the left hand became the “ring finger” for wedding rings because of a tradition stating that a delicate nerve ran from that finger to the heart.

• The throwing of rice at weddings represents a wish for children and a long life for the couple, since rice, according to tradition, is the symbol of fertility and longevity.

• One woman expressed her love for her man on a recently seen bumper sticker: “All men are idiots, and I married their king.” Comedian Rodney Dangerfield had a similar attitude: “My wife and I were happy for 20 years. Then we met.”

• It was Sir Alfred Tennyson who said, “’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

• One Mexico City couple apparently believed in long engagements. In 1902, when Octavio Guillen and Adriana Martinez were both 15, they became engaged. They remained so for 67 years until 1969 when they married at 82.

• Although Britney Spears’ first marriage lasted just 55 hours, and one of Patty Duke’s marriages only 13 days, not every Hollywood marriage is doomed to fail. Bob Hope was married 69 years, James Cagney for 63 years, and Charlton Heston, 65 years.

• Minnie Pearl had these thoughts on marriage: “Getting married’s a lot like getting into a tub of hot water. After you get used to it, it ain’t so hot.”

• Age seems to have nothing to do with marriage success. Wisconsin’s Simon and Ida Stern dissolved their marriage in 1984. He was 97; she was 91. Britain’s Bertie and Jessie Woods called in quits in 2008; both were 97 at the time.

• Harry Stevens robbed the cradle when he was 103 and married a much younger woman, Thelma Lucas, age 84, making him a record-holding oldest bridegroom.

• Glynn “Scotty” Wolfe is another unusual record holder. He had 29 monogamous marriages over 71 years. Three of his wives died, and he was married at the time of his death at age 88. His shortest union was 19 days, and the longest lasted 11 years. His son claims, “He divorced one wife for eating sunflower seeds in bed.”

• King Mongut of Siam (portrayed in the film “The King and I”) reportedly had 9,000 wives, however not monogamously.

• One divorce support group advocates, “You do not need to have any reasons for getting divorced. Building upon half-truths or making some up is just fine. The courts are not interested in who did what or who is telling the truth.”

• Research indicates that marital strife can weaken the immune system and cause physical illness, so be nice to your spouse!

Louse Invasion Drives Mom Buggy

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am go-ing buggy -- literally. My 5-year-old kindergartener has head lice. I discovered them because he started scratching his head. It makes me sick to my stomach to

think about this. I can’t imagine where he picked them up. Is the entire family destined to come down with them? I have four other children, two dogs and a husband. Help. -- B.C.

ANSWER: Head lice cause mothers more consternation than just about any other illness. For the record, head lice don’t transmit any illnesses. They do cause itching and scratching. They’re not a re-flection of your cleanliness. Most likely your child picked them up at school from head-to-head contact or from sharing caps, brushes or combs.The head louse is only 3 mm (0.12 inches) long. They’re difficult to see. The female louse lays her eggs at the base of the hair and glues them to the hair. The eggs are called nits. They hatch in about eight days. Nits found within a quarter of an inch from the scalp indicate active infection. If they are farther away, the infection is not likely to be active.Treatments for head lice are many and usually quite effective. Ad-visory bodies promote permethrin (Nix) as the treatment of choice. It calls for reapplication in one week to 10 days. Malathion lotion (Ovide) is another reliable cure. Benzyl alcohol (Ulesfia Lotion 5 percent) is another good treatment that is applied to dry hair and

then rinsed off. Natroba (spinosad) Topical Solution was approved recently as a head lice treatment. Both these latter two medicines need a prescription. You have many choices. Some of these treat-ments include combing the wet hair with a fine-toothed comb to get rid of nits.You do not have to treat other family members if they show no signs of infection. Pets are safe; human head lice don’t like them. The only household cleaning necessary is vacuuming chairs and carpets where your 5-year-old has been. Clothes he has worn in the past two days need to be washed in hot water and dried with maximum heat. Lice that are off the head live for only two days.

***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Some time ago, you wrote about a shrunken leg that was shaped like some kind of bottle. It has the word “teeth” in it. I have a dropped foot. My doctor doesn’t know what I am talking about but would like to see the article. Will you repeat it? -- I.D.

ANSWER: The “teeth” in what I wrote referred to Dr. Tooth, an English doctor whose name is part of a nerve illness called Charcot (SHAR-coe)-Marie-Tooth disease. In spite of the fact that the name draws a look of puzzlement from most people, it’s the most com-monly inherited nerve-muscle disorder.The illness usually shows itself in teen years, but it can take many years before it’s diagnosed. The lower leg muscles become quite thin, so the leg looks like an upside-down champagne bottle. It makes walking difficult. People stumble. Often, they cannot lift the foot fully off the ground -- a dropped foot.A number of different varieties of this illness exist. I’ve described the most common one.

Applying Online for Social Security

Have you seen the public service announcements with Patty Duke promoting Social Security and Medi-care? Now there’s a new one: She’s signing up for Social Security ... from home ... in her pajamas!I thought the plaid PJs were a bit much, but the message is a good one. We can sign up for Social Security and Medicare from the comfort of our home, assuming we have a computer.

Here is a partial list of things you can do online at the Social Security site:--Apply for Social Security benefits.--Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).--Apply for Medicare.--Apply for disability benefits (includes the Adult Disability Report).--Estimate the amount of retirement benefits you’ll get. There’s a limit of 30 minutes to this feature, so make sure you have all your information ready. You’ll need your name, Social Security number, date and place of birth, and your mother’s maiden name. You’ll be able to calculate the best age to start collecting benefits.--Get extra help with Medicare drug plan costs. This could add up to $4,000 in assistance if you’re already on Medicare and have low income.Once you apply online, you’ll be given a confirmation number. At the same site you can then go in and check the status.If you’re certain you’ll never want to use the online features at Social Security, your best bet is to block access. You might want to do this if you’ve been the victim of identity theft or domestic violence.Suggestion: If it’s more convenient to apply online, once you’re all set up, then go in and block your information completely. Then no one, even you, can access it without a phone call to Social Security.To get started, go online to www.socialsecurity.gov.

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• It was American author James Thurber who made the following sage observation: “Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.”

• If you’re a fan of the original “Wizard of Oz” movie, you might be surprised to learn that the actress who played Glinda the Good Witch, Billie Burke, was 54 years old when the film was shot.

• The award for the most needless war in history could very well go to Paraguay, whose president, Francisco Solano Lopez, believed himself to be an excellent tactician. He was a great admirer of Napoleon Bonaparte and wished to emulate the French emperor, but he had no wars to fight. To remedy the situation, in 1864 Lopez declared war on all three of his neighboring countries, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. His tactical abilities seem to have been of little use, however; it is estimated that 90 percent of Paraguay’s male population was killed during the course of the war.

• During this time of election madness, “misology” could be a useful word to know. It means “hatred of reason.”

• French novelist Marcel Proust’s magnum opus, “Remembrance of Things Past,” has been hailed as a literary masterpiece, but not everyone was a fan at first read. As Proust was trying, unsuccessfully, to find a publisher for his seven-volume work, one publisher said, “I may be dense, but I fail to see why a chap needs 30 pages to describe how he tosses and turns in bed before falling asleep.” The author finally published the first volume with his own money; after the book was hailed as a masterpiece by critics, the same publishers who had rejected Proust competed for the opportunity to print the other six volumes of his work.

***Thought for the Day: “Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children and no theories.” -- John Wilmot

Learn How to Make a

Fresh Start

V i r t u a l l y no one has made it unscathed through our years-long financial meltdown. Whether you’re still struggling mightily or you’ve begun to see the light at the end of the tunnel, chances are one of your questions is: What do I do next?A new book likely has answers for you: “The Wall Street Journal Guide to Starting Fresh: How to Leave Financial Hardships Be-hind and Take Control of Your Fi-nancial Life” by Karen Blumen-thal [Crown Business, $15].“Starting Fresh” is a must-have. It sets its sights on those who’ve lost jobs or homes, or suffered from the effects of a health crisis, death of a spouse, divorce and more. No matter where you are in life and no matter your income level, you’ll find steps on how to

adapt and adjust to your new circumstances.Blumenthal sets the tone for dealing with your current re-ality on the very first page: “Decide that you won’t make any big financial de-cisions right away ... you’ll make better choices if you step back, reflect, assess and get your bearings.” One of the very first slow-start steps she’ll have you do is to take an inventory of all your assets and liabilities. For example, what is your car worth and how much do you still owe on it? What, exactly, do you owe on credit cards? Medical bills? Are there any valuables in a safe deposit box? Do any of your insurance policies have a cash value?Next you’ll learn how to: --Repair your credit.--Determine whether your housing is actually afford-

able. (Should you move or stay?) If you own your home, what is it worth? (Check Zillow.com on-line.) Do you qualify for a modification program?--Adjust your debts to your new situation.--Assess your health-cov-erage plans.--Develop a sustainable plan for long-term finan-cial health.--Readjust your budget to your current reality. And if there’s a miracle and you come into a large sum of money -- perhaps from an insurance policy, employment severance payout or divorce settle-ment -- Blumenthal will tell you how to manage that as well.Don’t miss the section on Internet links covering a wide variety of help topics.