tidbits of berkshire county

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START YOUR ENGINESby Kathy Wolfe

How much do you know about the manufacturers of our favorite automobiles? Tidbits enlightens with some facts about the history of famous cars and their makers.

• Ransom E. Olds started manufacturing vehicles in 1897 in Lansing, Michigan. The Oldsmobile soon became one of the country’s top-selling automobiles. Although Henry Ford is often credited with creating the fi rst auto assembly line, it was actually Olds who was responsible. (Ford’s innovation was the fi rst moving assembly line.) Olds used the concept to mass-produce the Oldsmobile Curved Dash, beginning in 1901. The assembly line quintupled his output from 425 cars in 1901 to more than 2,500 the following year. Differences of opinion with his business partner led to Ransom Olds’ exit, and General Motors purchased Oldsmobile in 1908. Ransom’s new company, the REO Motor Car Company, produced the REO Speedwagon, the predecessor of the pickup truck.

• During its 107 years of operation, Oldsmobile produced over 35 million cars. It was discontinued in 2004, at which time it was the oldest American automobile brand. The R.E. Olds Museum in Lansing is home to the last Oldsmobile (an Alero) to roll off the assembly line.

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It couldget wild

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Libyans: Now not right timeto extradite Lockerbie bomberFinding Gadhafi, restoring stability priority overWest’s request that he be turned over. 6A.uGadhafi’swife, 3 children flee to Algeria. 6A.

Majority of U.S. Muslimssatisfied with state of nationThey’re farmore optimistic about USA thanAmericans as awhole. But nearly half faultMus-lim leaders for not challenging extremists. 3A.

Recession has turnedmanyinto debt-averse saversSince 2008, overall U.S. household debt drops by$1trillion Payments processing company sees

Newsline

WASHINGTON — New government statisticsshow federal health care fraud prosecutions inthe first eight months of fiscal 2011 are on paceto rise 85% over last year largely because oframped-up enforcement efforts under the Oba-ma administration.The statistics, released by the non-partisan

Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse,show 903 prosecutions so far this year. That’s a24% increase over the total for all of fiscal year2010, when 731 people were prosecuted forhealth fraud through federal agencies across thecountry. Prosecutionshave gone up 71% fromfive years ago, accord-ing to TRAC.“Thiswas a fairly dra-

matic number of prose-cutions,” said DavidBurnham, co-directorof TRAC. TRAC is a re-

Feds goafterhealthfraudProsecutions onpace to rise 85%ByKelly KennedyUSA TODAY

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After Afghanistan tour, ‘adifferent look in his eye’By RickHampsonUSA TODAY

By Bill Schaefer for USA TODAY

Change of battlefield:Dwight Richins jumps backinto football practiceWednesday in Shelley, Idaho.

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START YOUR ENGINES! (continued):

• Louis Chevrolet was a Swiss auto racer who went into partnership with William Durant to produce automobiles. Chevrolet had already been in the news as a frequent race winner, driving his Buick up to 72 miles per hour. He wanted to build a luxury car, while Durant’s idea was to produce inexpensive cars to compete with the Ford Model T. Chevrolet won the debate and lent his name to the Classic Six. However, a few years later, while Louis was on a European vacation, Durant introduced a smaller, cheaper car. Upon Chevrolet’s return to Michigan, the two men’s dispute grew, and Chevrolet sold out his shares and left the company. Durant went on to control General Motors, acting as president until 1920.

• The names of Edward Murphy and Alanson Brush are probably not familiar ones, but you’ve certainly heard of their business venture, the Pontiac Buggy Company. First manufacturing horse-drawn carriages in Pontiac, Michigan, the business evolved into producing two-cylinder engines. When Murphy died unexpectedly at age 45, General Motors bought the company. Production of Pontiacs in America continued until 2009, when a G6 model became the fi nal car produced.

• Ford is not America’s oldest automobile company, as many believe. That distinction belongs to Buick, ahead of Ford by one month. Founded by Scotsman David Dunbar Buick, it was incorporated in 1903. Mr. Buick had previously been in the plumbing business, successfully inventing a process for creating white porcelain bathtubs and inventing an innovative lawn sprinkler. He invested his earnings in a new business venture, producing two-cylinder engine automobiles. Almost from the start, the company had fi nancial problems, and David Buick signed his company over to William Durant in 1904. Soon afterward, Buick became part of General Motors.

¥ On March 18, 1852, in New York City, Henry Wells and William G. Fargo join with sev-eral other investors to launch their namesake business. In July 1852, their company shipped its fi rst loads of freight from the East Coast to mining camps scattered around northern California.

¥ On March 17, 1901, paintings by the late Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh are shown in Paris. Van Gogh had committed suicide 11 years earlier without any notion that his work was destined to win acclaim beyond his wildest dreams. In his lifetime, he had sold only one painting.

¥ On March 14, 1914, stock-car racer Lee Arnold Petty (father of Richard Petty) is born near Randleman, N.C. In 1959, he won the Daytona 500. It’s said that Lee Petty never lost a race on account of being too kind to his com-petitors, even if his competitors were family.

¥ On March 16, 1926, at Auburn, Mass., Amer-ican Robert Goddard successfully launches the world’s fi rst liquid-fueled rocket. Th e 10-foot rocket, fueled by liquid oxygen and gasoline, traveled for 2.5 seconds at a speed of about 60 mph, reaching an altitude of 41 feet and land-ing 184 feet away.

¥ On March 15, 1954, the Chords record “Sh-boom.” Th e song’s lighthearted melody and nonsensical lyrics kicked off a new era of “doo-wop” music. Doo-wop hits included “Earth Angel” by the Penguins and “In the Still of the Night” by the Five Satins.

1. In 2010, Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun became the fi ft h player in major-league history to hit at least 125 home runs and post at least a .300 average in his fi rst four seasons. Name two of the other four.2. Who was the last National League player to have at least 30 home runs and 30 errors in the same season?3. How many times have Army, Navy and Air Force all played in a

football bowl game in the same season?4. Who held the record for most 3-point fi eld goals made in an NBA Finals game before Ray Allen hit eight in a game in 2010?5. Who played the most games in his NHL career without ever making the Stanley Cup playoff s?6. When was the last time before 2011 that New Zealand won the Rugby World Cup?7. Who was the fi rst non-American female golfer to win the LPGA Championship?

Answers on page 7



• Before there was the Ford Motor Company, there was the Detroit Auto Company, Henry Ford’s fi rst endeavor in 1899. The venture failed completely, leaving him in fi nancial ruin. After acquiring new investors (including the Dodge brothers), he began a second company, another one he left behind. (This business later became the Cadillac Company.) Finally, in 1903, Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company, and by 1906, it was the No. 1 car manufacturer in America. He introduced the Model T in 1908, which was a less expensive auto designed for the common man. Famous Ford names include the Thunderbird, introduced in 1954, the Edsel, a failure that debuted in 1957, and the Mustang, launched in 1964.

• Henry Leland was assigned to liquidate the assets from Henry Ford’s second company and ended up taking it over. Leland named the company after the founder of Detroit, a French explorer named Cadillac, who reportedly was one of Leland’s distant ancestors. He operated the company until 1909, when it was purchased by General Motors. Cadillac is noted for producing the fi rst vehicle with an electric starter in 1912, followed by the fi rst mass-produced car with an eight-cylinder engine. In 1924, the company was also the fi rst to use lacquer paint, giving customers the choice of several different colors, rather than what other competitors were offering — black!

• Gothenburg, Sweden, is the birthplace of the Volvo, with the fi rst one rolling out of the factory in 1947. The name came from Latin, meaning “I roll.” Eight years later, the company had produced 15 million vehicles. Today, Volvo has more than 90,000 employees.

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Mortgage Help for Homeowners

If you have mortgage problems, parts of a $25 billion settlement could be coming your way. Five of the nation’s largest banks accused of abusive practices have agreed to help 1 million homeowners. Th e banks are Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Ally Financial. Allegations included the extensive use of robo-signers (foreclosure documents were signed without even being read), failure to off er foreclosure op-tions and incorrect handling of loan modifi cations.

Borrowers who are underwater (the house is worth less than what’s due on it) but still holding on will get come help in the form of reduced debt, either from lowered interest rates or principal reduction. It’s thought that 11 million borrowers owe more than their homes are worth, which means they haven’t been able to sell or refi nance. Lenders will be required to rework loans and reduce the principal for those nearing foreclosure.If you lost your home to foreclosure (as did 750,000 families) between 2008 and 2011, you could receive a payment of $2,000.Th at’s not to say all the problems are over. For some, the nightmare continues: While the investigations into alleged abusive practices were going on, some lenders just called a halt to the fi nal steps of foreclosures. Families continued to live in their homes without making any payments. Now that the guideline are clear, lenders are likely to press forward with those foreclosures.

Neighborhoods that saw too many empty houses due to foreclosure could see many more, as not everyone will qualify for assistance. Th is could force home prices down even more in neighborhoods hardest hit as more bank-owned properties come on the market and investors pick up properties to turn into rentals -- never a good way to stabilize a neighborhood. Ideally, banks won’t release all the properties at once.Th e programs funded with the $25 billion settlement are set to run for three years, but lenders are being given incentives to act within the fi rst year.

What to do if your mortgage is in trouble: Call your lender. Ask specifi cally who is holding your note, as changes might have been made when loans ended up in various secondary-market packages. Take the names of those you talk to. Ask what specifi c programs will be available to help you. Ask for a time frame and follow up weekly.

If you like your coff ee fresh and strong but not so hot, make a small tray of ice cubes out of coff ee to cool your morning cup.

“Always dust from the top down. My mom taught me that, since the dust falls and then you vacuum it up at the end. Also, don’t use too much

furniture polish, since using a lot can actually attract dust.” -- B.O. in Pennsylvania

“Keep left over slices of good meat and veggies in zipper-lock plastic baggies and freeze. When you make canned soups, just add the appropriate bits from your baggie. It really bulks up the soups, and you save money and don’t waste precious food.” -- P.R. in California

To calm fl yaway tresses, rub ChapStick on your palms and then run your palms over your hair to smooth it.

For a great springtime facial, mash up a small can (or a snack-size serving) of peaches in juice. Add to it 2 to 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar and gently massage into skin. Let sit for a minute or two and then rinse with warm water.

“Styrofoam peanuts are great for adding to the bottom of plants for drainage. You can usually get some for free if you get packages in the mail. If not, you can ask your local shipping store for a few handfuls, and they are usually quite gracious. Mine is.” -- A.R. in Florida

To check for toilet leaks, add a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. If, without fl ushing, you see the bowl water start to change colors, you know you have a leak.



• When you hear the name of John DeLorean, his sleek stainless steel two-seater with the unusual full-wing doors might come to mind. However, DeLorean achieved fame fi rst for his contributions at General Motors, most notably the Pontiac GTO and Firebird. At age 27, with a Masters degree in automotive engineering, he joined the Chrysler organization. Less than a year later, he was working for the Packard Motor Company. Two years later, DeLorean made the move to GM, where he eventually became a vice-president. He is considered by many to be the creator of the “muscle car.” At age 48, he abruptly resigned from GM to start the DeLorean Motor Company. He chose Belfast, Ireland, for his manufacturing plant, and the factory began production in 1981, anticipating sales of 30,000 cars per year. By early 1982, the company had collapsed and was in receivership and closed in November, having produced only 9,000 cars in a 21-month period.

• Although we frequently associate Lee Iacocca with the Chrysler Corporation, he initially worked for Ford Motor Company from 1946 to 1978. He was the head designer of the Ford Mustang in 1964 and became president of the company in 1970. Because of ongoing confl ict with Henry Ford II, Iacocca was fi red in 1978. He joined Chrysler, which was losing millions of dollars and on the verge of closure. He went to work rebuilding the company, turning it around completely.

• Fiats have been around since 1899 when the Fabbrica Italiana Automobli Torino (translation: Italian Automobile Factory of Turin) was founded. The company built its fi rst factory in the United States in 1908.

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THE BROOKLYN BRIDGESpanning the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn is the magnifi cent Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Tidbits brings you a collection of unusual facts about this remarkable engineering achievement. • A rapidly expanding population in New York

during the mid-1800s created a desperate need for a connection between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, and expert bridge engineer John Roebling was appointed to design a suspension bridge. Roebling had

SCORES INSIDE $1.00T H E N A T I O N’S N EW S P A P E R

David Arquette,Hope Solo, NancyGrace, ChazBono amongnew cast,1D

AFP/Getty Images

It couldget wild

LATE

Libyans: Now not right timeto extradite Lockerbie bomberFinding Gadhafi, restoring stability priority overWest’s request that he be turned over. 6A.uGadhafi’swife, 3 children flee to Algeria. 6A.

Majority of U.S. Muslimssatisfied with state of nationThey’re farmore optimistic about USA thanAmericans as awhole. But nearly half faultMus-lim leaders for not challenging extremists. 3A.

Recession has turnedmanyinto debt-averse saversSince 2008, overall U.S. household debt drops by$1trillion Payments processing company sees

Newsline

WASHINGTON — New government statisticsshow federal health care fraud prosecutions inthe first eight months of fiscal 2011 are on paceto rise 85% over last year largely because oframped-up enforcement efforts under the Oba-ma administration.The statistics, released by the non-partisan

Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse,show 903 prosecutions so far this year. That’s a24% increase over the total for all of fiscal year2010, when 731 people were prosecuted forhealth fraud through federal agencies across thecountry. Prosecutionshave gone up 71% fromfive years ago, accord-ing to TRAC.“Thiswas a fairly dra-

matic number of prose-cutions,” said DavidBurnham, co-directorof TRAC. TRAC is a re-

Feds goafterhealthfraudProsecutions onpace to rise 85%ByKelly KennedyUSA TODAY

Fraud casesHealth care fraudprosecutions:

1991

2001

147

631

For coach back fromwar,it’s like starting over

After Afghanistan tour, ‘adifferent look in his eye’By RickHampsonUSA TODAY

By Bill Schaefer for USA TODAY

Change of battlefield:Dwight Richins jumps backinto football practiceWednesday in Shelley, Idaho.

To see Dwight Richins discussinghis military service and return tocoaching, go to usatoday.com.

VenusWilliams,Maria Sharapova,Mardy Fish all advance,1, 8C

By Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

Win under pressure

U.S. OPEN DAY 1

Irene destroys homes, roads, 3AuMillions still without power, 3AuFlight canceled?What to do, 3BuSomebeaches ready for visitors, 1A

Vermont drowninginmud and debris

By Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist, Burlington (Vt.) Free Press

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011

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achieved fame as the inventor of the twisted wire rope cable in 1841 and had already designed several renowned bridges, many still in use today. Roebling’s design called for steel cable for the fi rst time, replacing the iron wire previously used. His truss system was six times stronger than it needed to be, able to withstand 18,700 tons.

• Just weeks before construction began in 1869, Roebling was doing some fi nal site surveys when a ferryboat crushed his foot while pulling into a pier. Three weeks later, he was dead from tetanus. The project was handed over to his son, Washington Roebling, who had assisted his father in the designs.

• Excavation was accomplished through the use of 3,000-ton, airtight cylinders called caissons. Workers rode down to the caissons in small iron containers, which fi lled with compressed air. They used shovels and dynamite to clear away silt and boulders from the river bottom, working their way to the bedrock. The trip to and from the bottom proved deadly for some. Many laborers suffered from decompression sickness, commonly known as “the bends,” when dangerous amounts of nitrogen gas entered their bloodstreams.

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1. LITERATURE: Which of Shakespeare’s plays features the line, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be”?2. LANGUAGE: What would a diaper be called in Great Britain?3. HISTORY: In what year did man fi rst walk on the moon?4. GAMES: Who invented basketball?5. AD SLOGANS: What fast-food restaurant chain urged customers to ?have it your way??6. RELIGION: Who was the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?7. FOOD & DRINK: What is the main liquor used in margaritas?8. MOVIES: Which character was the only non-Jedi to use a lightsaber in the fi rst “Star Wars” trilogy?9. ANATOMY: Where are the deltoids located in the human body?10. TELEVISION: How many seasons did the comedy series “Bewitched” run on TV?

New Trivia Every Week!Answers on page 7


BROOKLYN BRIDGE (continued):

• Washington Roebling himself became paralyzed and was forced to monitor the bridge’s progress from his bed, using a telescope. He trained his wife Emily in mathematics and engineering and dictated instructions to her, and she made daily trips to the bridge to oversee the project under her husband’s direction.

• Fourteen years after construction began, the bridge was offi cially dedicated in May of 1883. Emily Roebling was given the fi rst ride over the bridge, followed by 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 people. Vehicles paid fi ve cents to cross and pedestrians, one cent.

• The total construction cost was $15.1 million, including $3.8 million for the land for the approaches. Twenty-seven workers died in the process from fi res, explosions, falls or the bends. At its completion, it became the world’s longest suspension bridge at 3,460 feet (1054.6 m), a record it held until 1903. The granite Gothic towers rise 276 feet (84 m) in the air.

• Just one week after opening, a woman tripped on the steps, and her companion screamed, sparking a panic that the bridge was about to collapse. A stampede followed, and 12 people were killed in the crush. A year later, P.T. Barnum touted the stability of the bridge by leading his famous circus attraction Jumbo and 21 other elephants across the bridge.

• These days, about 145,000 vehicles and 4,000 pedestrians cross the bridge on a daily basis, making it the second busiest bridge in New York City. There are six lanes of automobile traffi c, two of which carried elevated trains until 1944. Today, commercial vehicles and buses are not allowed to use the bridge due to the road’s height and weight restrictions. Although nearly 130 years old, it still ranks as the 44th longest suspension bridge in the world.

1. Joe DiMaggio, Chuck Klein, Albert Pujols and Ted Williams.2. Pedro Guerrero of the Los Angeles Dodgers, in 1983.3. Once, in 2010.4. Kenny Smith (1995), Scottie Pippen (1997) and Allen (2008) each had seven 3-pointers in an NBA Finals game.5. Guy Charron played in 734 games without a postseason appearance.6. It was 1987.7. Canada’s Sandra Post, in 1968.

1. “Hamlet”2. A nappy3. 19694. Sports coach James Naismith 5. Burger King6. Joseph Smith7. Tequila8. Han Solo9. Shoulders10. Eight

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Alternative Medicine Ends Dog’s Torment

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I read with interest your column about the poor dog that was tormented by allergies. Several years ago I adopted a wonderful Border Collie, “Maisie,” from a couple who couldn’t cope with her constant allergies. Blood tests showed she was allergic to tree pollens, weeds and grasses. It broke my heart to see her suff er, and I took her to many veterinarians. She received allergy shots for more than a year, and many times she was given prednisone, which I didn’t like but hoped would help her. One day a new veterinarian recommended a doctor of Chinese medicine nearby. I brought Maisie in and was told almost immediately, “Yes! I can help her. We need to build her immune system.” Within a very short time she was 100 percent better. She lived happily until she was almost 17 years old.I was fortunate to fi nd a veterinarian who was open to alternative treatments. More vets should consider alternative medicine as a way to help pets. -- An Animal Lover in Littleton, Colo.

DEAR ANIMAL LOVER: Th ank you for your letter! I’m glad that you were able to alleviate Maisie’s suff ering and fi nd an eff ective treatment for her chronic allergies. Every pet’s needs and responses to treatments are a bit diff erent -- especially when using alternative, homeopathic or holistic therapies -- and it can be diffi cult to fi nd the right combination of medication or therapy. I’m impressed by the amount of patience, love and diligence you showed in caring for your dog and getting her the best care possible.

Send your questions or tips to [email protected], 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.


PURE POISONPretty on the outside, toxic on the inside! Take a look at these plants that can be hazardous to your health. • The hardy perennial shrub known as

belladonna, or deadly nightshade, is one of the most toxic plants in the Western Hemisphere. Unfortunately, this plant has bright appealing berries with a sweet taste that pose a temptation to young children. Ingestion of just a few berries can be deadly. The roots are just as toxic. Its poisonous alkaloids disrupt the body’s parasympathetic nervous system and cause blurred vision, increased heart rate and loss of balance. Confusion, delirium and hallucinations are not uncommon.

• Daffodils, narcissus and hyacinth may look lovely in your garden, but ingesting the bulbs leads to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and even death. Likewise, all parts of rhododendrons and azaleas are poisonous, producing vomiting, diffi cult breathing, coma and occasionally death. And the beautiful ground cover Lily of the Valley is extremely poisonous. Eating any part of the plant can bring death.

• You may recall that the philosopher Socrates died from drinking poison hemlock, after he was found guilty of “corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens” and of “not believing in the gods of the state.” After drinking the mixture, he was made to walk around until his legs went numb, a numbness that slowly advanced to his heart. This was the result of the alkaloid coniine, which paralyzes the central nervous system.

• Just one mushroom cap of the Amanita virosa (destroying angel) species can kill a man. This variety contains one of the deadliest poisons found in nature. Mushroom hunters should steer clear of any parasol-shaped mushrooms with white gills.

ANSWERS


PURE POISON (continued):

• Have you heard the old saying “leaves of three, let it be”? This advice is for hikers who want to avoid poison ivy. A chemical called urushiol found in the sap of the plant is what creates the itchy blistering bumps. All it takes is 1 billionth of a gram to cause a rash. Although about 85 percent of people are allergic to urushiol, it can take up to 10 days for a rash to appear after a person’s fi rst exposure, and most don’t even have a reaction that fi rst time they touch it.

• The pharmaceutical product digitalis is used by heart patients to control an irregular heart rate. It is extracted from certain species of the beautiful, tall, spiked fl owering plant, the foxglove. Some varieties contain deadly steroidal glycosides, of which just a tiny bit is potentially fatal. Even a deeply inhaled

breath can bring heart block, increased or decreased heart rate and death. Wild hallucinations and delirium often come fi rst, along with severe headaches and abdominal pain.

• Kiss your sweetheart under the mistletoe, but don’t eat the berries! Many children and adults have perished from consuming these poisonous fruits.

• You might love rhubarb pie, but stay away from the leaves! Ingesting large amounts of either raw or cooked leaves can lead to convulsions, coma and even death, due to the present of oxalic acid salts.

• Pits from cherries, peaches and plums as well as seeds from apples and pears contain cyanogenic glycosides, compounds that release small amounts of cyanide. You

won’t die from swallowing a few seeds, but it’s a habit to avoid. Large quantities can lead to death, although you’ll probably vomit violently before that point.

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