tidbits of casper

December 11 - 17, 2008 Tidbits of Casper - For Advertising call 307-473-8661 • 161 South Fenway, Casper, WY

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December 11 - 17, 2008 Issue #291

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Tidbits of Casper - For Advertising call 307-473-8661 • 161 South Fenway, Casper, WY December 11 - 17, 2008

• On Dec. 19, 1732, Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphiafirst published Poor Richard’s Almanack. The book,filled with proverbs preaching industry and prudence,was published continuously for 25 years and becameone of the most popular publications in ColonialAmerica, selling an average of 10,000 copies a year.

• On Dec. 20, 1892, Alexander Brown and GeorgeStillman of Syracuse, N.Y., are issued a patent for aninflatable automobile tire. Before the pneumatic tire,wheels were often made of solid rubber, making travel abumpy experience on dirt or cobblestone streets.

• On Dec. 17, 1903, near Kitty Hawk, N.C., Orville andWilbur Wright make the first successful flight in historyof a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft. The gaso-line-powered, propeller-driven biplane stayed aloft for12 seconds and covered 120 feet on its inaugural flight.

• On Dec. 21, 1946, an undersea earthquake sets off apowerful tsunami that devastates Honshu, Japan. Whenthe tsunami hit Honshu, 20-foot waves obliterated build-ings from shorelines and about 2,000 ships were cap-sized. In all, 60,000 square miles were flooded by thewaves and 40,000 homes were completely destroyed.

• On Dec. 16, 1951, the detective series “Dragnet” ap-pears on television for the first time, as a sneak previewon the anthology show “Chesterfield Sound-Off Time.”Dragnet had been a popular radio drama since 1949.The TV show debuted as a regular series in January 1952and ran until 1959.

• On Dec. 15, 1966, animation pioneer Walt Disney dies.In 1928, Disney introduced Mickey Mouse in two si-lent movies. Mickey debuted on the big screen in“Steamboat Willie,” the first fully synchronized soundcartoon ever made. Walt Disney himself providedMickey’s squeaky voice.

• On Dec. 18, 1984, the first Chevy Nova is introducedby New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc., a joint ven-ture between Toyota and General Motors. The car latermet with marketing trouble in South America, whereits name read as “No Go” to Spanish speakers.

© 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.


• It was Canadian-American economistJohn KennethGalbraith who madethe following sageobservation —which seems moreand more prescient

every day lately: “The only function of economic forecasting is to makeastrology look respectable.”

• In 2004, celebrities Paris Hilton and Ludacris appeared in a “Vote orDie” advertising campaign designed to encourage young people toparticipate in the electoral process. It’s interesting to note, however, thatthey themselves didn’t register to vote in that election.

• In The Old Granary Burying Ground, a cemetery in Boston, the graveof Mother Goose is more popular with visitors than the graves of Americanpatriots Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

• Studies show that the only taste humans are born with a craving for issugar.

• According to a national poll, the average teenage boy spends more ongetting ready for the prom than the average teenage girl: $545 versus$530.

• The saguaro cactus, found mainly in America’s Southwest and in Mexico,can live for more than 150 years. It only grows about 1 inch in the first 10years of its life, but can eventually reach a height of 50 feet.

• You may not realize it, but you’re almost certainly quite proficient atdactylonomy — counting on your fingers. If you’re deaf, you’re probablygood at dactylology — communicating by using signs made with yourfingers.

• With the holiday season approaching, you might want to remember tocheck the policies of the stores whose gift cards you receive. In 2006, theelectronics chain Best Buy made $43 million off gift cards that were notused before they expired. In the United States, an estimated $5 billion ingift-card cash expires every year.


By Samantha Weaver


ADOPTIONPREGNANT? CONSIDERINGADOPTION Talk with caringagency specializing in matchingBirthmothers with FamiliesNationwide. LIVINGEXPENSES PAID. Call 24/7Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions866-413-6292

HELP WANTEDOFFICE ASSISTANT 8am-12pm. Call for appointment.265-0249.

ADECCO has both full andpart-time, temporary andpermanent opportunities in thefollowing areas: per hour,Concrete Laborers, $12 perhour, Mechanics/Welders,$17+ per hour, ElectricalInstaller $23 per hour, EventConcessions/Food Service/Banquets, $8+ per hour,Warehouse $9-12 per hour,Panel Assembly $10, Labor/Movers $10, Counter Sales$10-12, Reception Term orPerm $9-11 per hour,Administrative Assistants, $12+per hour, Shop Hands, $10+per hour. New positions daily.Call us today to find your perfectopportunity. 307-237-3283 orvisit www.adeccousa.com

UNDERCOVERSHOPPERS

Earn up to $150 per day. Undercover shoppers needed tojudge retail and Diningestablishments EXP. Not RE.Call 1-800-601-5518.

PT SALESASSOCIATES

NEEDEDPart-time career opportunitywith National Vision Inc., one ofthe nation’s largest opticalretailers. Immediate openingsfor PT Sales Associates in ourVision Center located insideWal-Mart in Casper, WY. NVIoffers an Excellent TrainingProgram, AdvancementOpportunities, Incentives, 401Kw/Match and a ComprehensiveBenefits Package. Call Debbieat 307.237.0998, fax resume to307.237.3437 or apply inperson at 4400 East 2nd Street,Casper, WY, 82609. EOE/M/F/D/V 307-237-0998

NEVER AN APPLICATION fee!

Admin Assistant-$10-$12/hr,computer skills, phones full-timeM-F

Receptionist-temporary $9-$11/hr no weekends

Laborer-2nd and 3rd shifts avx,temporary $8/hr

Janitorial-day shift must be avx7 days/wk pt or ft.

For more details call today! 265-5119, 2669 E 2nd St. Casper,www.kellyservices.com

OCEAN CORP.HOUSTON, TX

Train for NEW Career.Underwater welder,Commercial Diver, or NDT/Weld Inspector. Job placementand financial aid for those whoqualify. 1-800-321-0298.

FOR LEASE.Business Space. For moreinformation call 262-7421.

Ask for Sheryl.

(307) 262-1936

WYOMING ATHLETIC CLUBis seeking licensed MASSAGETHERAPISTS for it’s west sidelocation. Team work a must,experience helpful, andCustomer service paramount.All interested parties must haveall appropriate paper work forthe State and City of Caspercompleted. Interested partiesmay apply WAC at the SunriseShopping Center. Please callAnnie at 234-4241 for moreinfo...

1000 ENVELOPES = $7,000GUARANTEED! Receive $7 forevery envelope stuffed with oursales material. FREE 24 hourinformation. 1-877-262-3537.

3 POSITIONS AVAILABLEOne position to travel the stateof Wyoming and two positionsto stay in Casper. InternetDesign. Must be eager to learn.Call 251-2847.

FURNITUREAMISH LOG BED withPillowtop Mattress Set: BRANDNEW, still in factory plastic.Retail $1495. Will sacrifice for$690. Call 473-2400.

AMISH LOG FURNITURETRUCKLOAD SALE!!! Beds,Dressers, Nightstands,Bookcases and More.... Hugesavings while supplies last. Call797-1543.

COUNTER HEIGHT TABLEwith 4 Chairs: BRAND NEW,never used. Retail $1300, Willsacrifice for $670. Call 473-2400

FULL PILLOWTOPMATTRESS Set: BRANDNEW, stil in factory plastic.Retail $450. Will sacrifice for$225. Call 797-1543

KING PILLOWTOPMATTRESS Set: BRANDNEW, still in factory plastic.Retail $700. Will sacrifice for$349. Call 797-1543

QUEEN PILLOWTOPMATTRESS Set: BRANDNEW, still in factory plastic.Retail $500. Will sacrifice for$249. Call 797-1543

ROCKER RECLINER, BRANDNEW, Overstuffed. Retail $650.Will sacrifice for $398. Call 797-1543

MISC.A NEW COMPUTER NOW!Brand name, Bad or NO CreditNo Problem Brand nameSmallest weekly paymentsavail. Call NOW 1-800-804-6016

STEEL BUILDINGS All sizeswelcome. Steel prices aredown! Will help with design.Additional discounts available.1-866-802-8573 Greylen SteelBuildings

WANT TO PURCHASEminerals and other oil/gasinterests. Send details to P. O.Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201

ITEMS FORSALE

MOVING LIKE NEW leathersofa, chair and ottoman. Paid$2500, will sacrifice for $1000.Ridgid 10 in. radial arm saw$300, VERY LITTLE USE. 322-3123

HOMESERVICES

2 HARD WORKING HONESTmen want to do your homerepairs! Reasonably Priced!Call Lumber to Luxury at 234-9027

HOMES FORSALE

HOME BUILT 2005, $183,000.3bdrm, 2 ba, 2 car garage,fireplace, AC, corner lot at 1731E. 26th, near SagewoodElementary. Call Peg at 307-237-5791 for an appointment.

BUSINESS BUILDINGFOR LEASE

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answers on page 23

41 SE Wyoming Blvd • Casper, WY 82609The Cookery Restaurant

Tidbits® Introduces ANew Puzzle Feature!

answers on page 23


answers on page 23

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTHBy Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Hiatal Hernia Turns TraumaticDEAR DR. DONOHUE: Our experience with my

husband’s hiatal hernia was traumatic. He was 69 and inexcellent health. After a day of working in the yard, wesat down to supper and within three minutes he wasincapacitated with chest pain. He was taken to thehospital and was given nitroglycerin for the pain. The painsubsided as quickly as it came. It took two months todiscover the real problem: His stomach was in his chestcavity and had crowded his heart and lungs. Surgery wasscheduled. Before the scheduled date, the pain returnedand he had to have emergency surgery. Please letpeople with a hiatal hernia know about this. — M.H.

ANSWER: People have been led to believe that a hiatalhernia is the same as GERD, gastroesophageal reflux —heartburn; it isn’t. They are two different conditions. Ahiatal hernia is a bulging of the stomach through a gapin the diaphragm muscle, the muscle that separates thechest cavity from the abdominal cavity. The gap is thehiatus, and through it, the esophagus can pass from thechest into the abdomen to join the stomach.

GERD can happen to people with a hiatal hernia, andit can happen to people without a hiatal hernia. Yourhusband’s problem was a somewhat rare complicationof a hiatal hernia. The upward bulge of his stomach, theportion in the chest, twisted and cut off its own blood

supply. That’s what caused his pain. The first time, thehernia untwisted spontaneously and the pain left. Thesecond time, the twist didn’t untwist, and emergencysurgery was required.

This process is called strangulation and is a very seriousaffair. Thankfully, it happens only to a very few. You’veprovided a chance for people to learn what a hiatalhernia is, what a strangulated hiatal hernia is and whatGERD is. We’re all glad that things worked out well for yourhusband.

The booklet on hiatal hernia, acid reflux and heartburnfocuses primarily on the common heartburn problem andits treatment. Readers wanting more information canobtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue — No. 501W, Box536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or moneyorder (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with therecipient’s printed name and address. Please allow fourweeks for delivery.

• • •DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have two granddaughters who

bite their fingernails. Is there anything that stops this awfulhabit? — B.S.

ANSWER: What prompts people — children and adults— to bite their nails is often unexplainable. Stress, boredom,imitation of other nail-biters and relief of anxiety are offeredas explanations for the habit, but proof is lacking for acause in most cases. Close to 60 percent of 10-year-oldsbite their nails. As children grow older, the number of nail-biters lessens.

Doing nothing about it is often the best policy. If thechild wants to stop, then there are ways to help him orher break the habit. When children are at home, Band-Aids over the fingers remind them not to bite. Chewingsugarless gum makes nail-biting less convenient. Readersare welcome to give us their solutions.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporatethem in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form ofavailable health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

© 2008 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

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answers on page 23

answers on page 23


Thu, Dec 11th ................. Paper League Shoot, Stuckenhoff’s Shooters Complex, Lost Arrow ArchersThu, Dec 11th ................. Happy Hour, 1627 East 2nd Street, Pottery By YouThu, Dec 11th ................. THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI, KRAMPERT THEATRE/McMURRY MAIN STAGE- 125 COLLEGE DR, CASPER COLLEGE THEATRE AND DANCEThu, Dec 11th ................. NCPL No Girls Allowed: Ornaments Good Enough to Eat, Natrona County Public LibraryThu, Dec 11th ................. The Corvette Club Monthly Meeting, Parkway Plaza Banquet Room, Central Wyoming Corvette’sThu, Dec 11th ................. NCPL Learn About the Peace Corps, Natrona County Public Library- 307 E 2nd Str, Natrona County Public LibraryThu, Dec 11th ................. Moscow’s Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker, Casper Events Center-#1 Events Dr, Casper Events CenterFri, Dec 12th .................. THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI, KRAMPERT THEATRE/McMURRY MAIN STAGE- 125 COLLEGE DR, CASPER COLLEGE THEATRE AND DANCEFri, Dec 12th .................. LADIES NIGHT, 1627 East 2nd Street, Pottery By YouFri, Dec 12th .................. MiniMite/Mite Hockey Jamboree, Casper Ice Arena-1801 E 4th St, Casper Amateur Hockey ClubFri, Dec 12th .................. Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament, The Science Zone-3960 S Poplar St (in Sunrise Shopping Center), The Science ZoneFri, Dec 12th .................. NCPL Girls Only Movie Night, Natrona County Public Library - 307 E 2nd, Natrona County Public LibrarySat, Dec 13th ................. MiniMite/Mite Hockey Jamboree, Casper Ice Arena-1801 E 4th St, Casper Amateur Hockey ClubSat, Dec 13th ................. Craft Fair, Sunrise Shopping Center-4000 S Poplar, Sunrise Shopping CenterSat, Dec 13th ................. 60 Years at the Wagon Wheel! - Two Day Celebration!, 305 Van Horn Ave, Wagon WheelSat, Dec 13th ................. Holiday Open House, 849 East E Street, Casper Humane SocietySat, Dec 13th ................. Elf Shoppe, Central Wy Fairgrounds Industrial BuildingSat, Dec 13th ................. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Wyoming Shootout, Casper Events CenterSat, Dec 13th ................. NCPL Read the Movie: See the Book (TEENS), Natrona County Public Library - 307 E 2nd, Natrona County Public LibrarySat, Dec 13th ................. ‘A Christmas Story’, Kelly Walsh High School Auditorium, Casper Children’s TheatreSat, Dec 13th ................. Holiday on the Homestead, Nat’l Historic Trails Interpretive Center- 1501 N Poplar, National Historic Trails Interpretive CenterSat, Dec 13th ................. Sportsman’s Night Out (SNO) Party, Best Western Ramkota Inn- 800 N Poplar, Casper Ducks UnlimitedSat, Dec 13th ................. 60 Years at the Wagon Wheel! - Two Day Celebration!, 305 Van Horn Ave, Wagon WheelSat, Dec 13th ................. Annual Crop & Carols Christmas Scrapbooking Extravaganza!, call, or visit my website for location, Casper ScrappersSat, Dec 13th ................. 60 Years at the Wagon Wheel! - Two Day Celebration!, 305 Van Horn Ave, Wagon WheelSat, Dec 13th ................. 60 Years at the Wagon Wheel! - Two Day Celebration!, 305 Van Horn Ave, Wagon WheelSat, Dec 13th ................. Photos with Santa at Santa’s Christmas Corner, Santa’s Christmas Corner- 144 E Midwest, Casper Downtown Development AuthoritySat, Dec 13th ................. THE GIFTS OF THE MAGIC, KRAMPERT THEATRE/McMURRY MAIN STAGE- 125 COLLEGE DR, CASPER COLLEGE THEATRE AND DANCESat, Dec 13th ................. ‘A Christmas Story’, Kelly Walsh High School Auditorium, Casper Children’s TheatreSun, Dec 14th ................ 60 Years at the Wagon Wheel! - Two Day Celebration!, 305 Van Horn Ave, Wagon WheelSun, Dec 14th ................ ‘A Christmas Story’, Kelly Walsh High School Auditorium, Casper Children’s TheatreSun, Dec 14th ................ Free Birth to age 5 Screening, Child Development Center at 2020 East 12th St, Child Development CenterSun, Dec 14th ................ HOLIDAY SAVINGS!, 1627 East 2nd Street, Pottery By YouSun, Dec 14th ................ NCPL Holiday Film Series, Natrona County Public Library -307 E 2nd Str., Natrona County Public LibrarySun, Dec 14th ................ Sunday Potluck and Jam Session, Basement Mills Town Hall - 704 4th Street, The Wyoming Fiddle Club (Wyoming Fiddle Association District 4)Sun, Dec 14th ................ Team Roping, Central Wyoming Fairgrounds Arena, Last Chance Team RopingSun, Dec 14th ................ MiniMite/Mite Hockey Jamboree, Casper Ice Arena-1801 E 4th St, Casper Amateur Hockey ClubSun, Dec 14th ................ Kelly Walsh High School Chamber Orchestra Concert, Nicolaysen Art Museum- 400 E Collins Dr., Nicolaysen Art MuseumSun, Dec 14th ................ A Festive Holiday, John F. Welsh Auditorium, NCHS, Wyoming Symphony OrchestraMon, Dec 15th” .............. Christmas with Marge” Comedy Show, 1831 East 4th Street, The Senior CenterMon, Dec 15th ................ Team Roping, Central Wyoming Fairgrounds Arena, Last Chance Team RopingTue, Dec 16th ................ HOLIDAY SAVINGS!, 1627 East 2nd Street, Pottery By YouTue, Dec 16th ................ Paper League Shoot, Stuckenhoff’s Shooters Complex, Lost Arrow ArchersTue, Dec 16th ................ Amateur Radio Licensing Classes, Dean Morgan Junior High School - Small Engine Room, Casper Amateur Radio ClubWed, Dec 17th ............... HOLIDAY SAVINGS!, 1627 East 2nd Street, Pottery By YouWed, Dec 17th ............... NCPL After School: Santa’s Workshop, Natrona County Public Library -307 E 2nd Str., Natrona County Public LibraryWed, Dec 17th ............... The Mama and Papa Meetup, The Link (353 West A St.), The Mama (and Papa) MeetupWed, Dec 17th ............... Book Discussion: “Where Rivers Change Direction”, Bob Goff Memorial Library-717 5th St, NCPL - Mills Branch LibraryWed, Dec 17th ............... NCPL Book Discussion at the Mills Branch, Mills Branch of NCPL-425 Morgan Ave., Natrona County Public Library

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Daily SpecialsMON. ..... Chef’s Choice Sandwich with Fries

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Ask About Our Nightly SpecialsFood Served from 11am to 9pm

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123 South Fenway • 307-265-0036www.Herbadashery.com

Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 6pm

Purses,Jewelry, Kitchen Gadgets, Coffee Mugs, Ornaments, Christmas Décor & Food Products

First comefirst serve. Limitedquantities!

Stop by today!

PICK OF THE WEEK“Mamma Mia!” — If you’re looking for the

Ultimate Karaoke Chick Flick of 2008, then lookno further. Based on the hit Broadway show,“Mamma Mia!” isn’t so much a musical as it is acontrived story that puts the cast in situations thatallow them to belt out old ABBA hits.

“Mamma” stars Amanda Seyfried as Sophie, ayoung bride-to-be who sends a letter to three meninviting them to her wedding. One of the men couldbe her long-lost father. Hilarity, middle-aged ro-mance involving Meryl Streep and over-the-topmusical numbers ensue.

This movie has everything: A pretty ingenue;catchy, kitschytunes; and hunkyguys in exotic lo-cales. I’m not evena woman, butdoggone it, watch-ing this moviemade me feelpretty.

DOG OF THEWEEK

“The Mummy:Tomb of theDragon Emperor”— This is a badyear for big-bud-get action/adven-ture films aboutarchaeologists.Like this year’sIndiana Jones fi-asco, “TheMummy” makesthe same mistake:Focusing the storyon the son of thehero rather thanjust giving us agreat flick aboutthe hero.

This installmentof the “Mummy”franchise has RickO ’ C o n n e l l(Brendan Fraser)and his wife(Maria Bello in abad British accent

filling in for Rachel Weisz) coming to the aid oftheir impetuous tomb-raider-in-the-making son(Luke Ford) who is up against a bad guy whowants to resurrect a bajillion terra cotta warriorsso he can take over the world.

There are also Yetis. But not enough to war-rant buying this DVD. Rent it if you’re curious.

FAMILY“Mr. Bean: The Ultimate Collection” — This

seven-disc boxed set is a must-have for all fansof Rowan Atkinson’s bumbling, lovable dweeb,Mr. Bean. The set includes every episode of theclassic series, both theatrical films, 16 episodesof the animated series, deleted scenes and sketchesthat never made it on TV.

TV SERIES“The Biggest Loser: Boot Camp”“Aqua Teen Hunger Force” Vol. 6“Ice Road Truckers” Season 2“Petticoat Junction” Season 1“Naruto” Uncut Box Set Vol. 1“The A-Team” Season 1


Rowan Atkinson is Mr. Bean

200 E 2nd Street, Casper / 2nd and Wolcott265-0075 • [email protected]

(In the Wyoming National Apartments Building)

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A 10%discount$1.09 to $3.69$1.09 to $3.69

Breakfast Pizza - Sausage, Egg Biscuit - Ham/SausageEgg Croissant - Sausage & Egg Pancake2 Pack Cinna-Blasts


Dec. 11 - 17, 2008


Before the 2008 season began, the media declared the Raybestos Rookie class in theSprint Cup Series the greatest in history, when, in truth, it was merely the most presti-gious.

At the beginning of the year, a World Driv-ing Champion, Jacques Villeneuve, had com-mitted to NASCAR. Also in the field were In-dianapolis 500 winners Sam Hornish Jr. andDario Franchitti. A popular Indy-car veteran,Patrick Carpentier, found a NASCAR ride. Ahighly regarded young driver, MichaelMcDowell, joined the field in the spring.

Then there was the lone driver with a stock-car-racing background, Regan Smith. The mostunheralded driver in the field wound up win-ning the award. It was largely by default.

Almost everyone underestimated the diffi-culty of adapting to stock cars. Villeneuve wasgone almost immediately. Franchitti ran out ofsponsor support. Carpentier lost his ride. Sodid McDowell.

By the final race, the only rookies were Smith and Hornish. Hornish didn’t make thestarting field for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Regan won the awardbecause he was racing and Hornish wasn’t.

The Greatest Rookie Class in NASCAR History wound up the season with its topperformer finishing 34th in the Sprint Cup points. Hornish was 35th. Neither had asingle top-10 finish.

Smith deserves an asterisk, however. In what would have been the season’s biggestshocker, Smith took the checkered flag at Talladega Superspeedway in the fall. NASCARofficials penalized him, however, for passing Tony Stewart “below the yellow line”(only banned at restrictor-plate tracks) and awarded the victory to Stewart.

Officially, Smith’s finish was 18th.The top-rookie award aside, that NASCAR decision may play a pivotal role in Smith’s

career. As these words were written, Smith didn’t have a ride for 2009.In retrospect, the “greatest class” wound up being rather ill-fated.

Monte Dutton has covered motorsports for The Gaston (N.C.) Gazette since 1993. He was named writer ofthe year by the National Motorsports Press Association in 2008. His blog NASCAR This Week (http://nascar.rbma.com) features all of his reporting on racing, roots music and life on the road. You can e-mailMonte at [email protected].


Open Seasonon Rookies

Regan Smith — the lone rookie with a stock-car-racing background— won, almost by default, the Raybestos Rookie of Year.

PHOTO CREDIT: John Clark for NASCAR This Week


Table RadioQ: I bought an old radio at a church sale and won-

der how much it is worth. I paid $150 for a 1935“tombstone” General Electric table radio in walnutfinish. It has five tubes, three knobs and its originalgrille cloth. — Bill, Cedarville, Ark.

A: I found your radio in three of my price guides,and all seem to agree that your radio is worth in the$90 to $110 range.

• • •Q: I hope you can help me with some older stock

certificates that I have inherited from my mother. Theyinclude issues from the Combined Oil Land Com-pany, the Independent Mining Company, the UnitedAmerican Oil Company, the Sagen Threshing Ma-chine Company and the Reliance Mining and Explo-ration Company. — Mike, Sioux Falls, S.D.

A: Pierre Bonneau is CEO of Stock Search Inter-national, Inc., and he has agreed to help you. In ad-dition to stock searches, his company conducts bi-annual mail auctions that feature collectible stocksand bonds divided into numerous categories, includ-ing signatures, finance, food, railroad, oil and min-ing. His addresses and telephone number are 4761West Waterbuck Drive, Tucson, AZ 85742;[email protected]; www.stocksearchintl.com;and 1-800-537-4523.

• • •Q: I have a six-pack of Billy Beer that I purchased

at Billy Carter’s gas station a number of years ago.The cans have not been opened, and I am curiousabout how much this collectible is worth. — E.D.L.,

Ormond Beach, Fla.A: Not much. Occasionally

a six pack of Billy Beer popsup in a shop or at an Internetauction, and rarely does it sellfor more than $20.

• • •Q: I have inherited a col-

lection of miniature vases andcannot find any interest inthem in my area. Help! —George, Albuquerque, N.M.

A: The Miniature CollectorMagazine might be helpful.You might be able to find cop-ies in your local public library.If not, you can contact thepublisher, Scott Publications,30595 Eight Mile, Livonia,MI 48152, and 1-800-458-8237.

Write to Larry Cox in care ofKing Features Weekly Service, P.O.Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail [email protected]. Due to thelarge volume of mail he receives, Mr. Coxis unable to personally answer all readerquestions. Do not send any materials re-quiring return mail.



DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I need to comment ona letter by a mom who let her children be respon-sible for two Betta fish that they let die. Childrenshould never be responsible for any animal! It’sthe parents’ responsibility to care for them. Whyshould the animal suffer? It’s fine to learn by ex-ample, but the parent is the one who should carefor the animal. This woman is guilty of animalcruelty in letting these fish suffer and die. An ani-mal is not a toy. People like this woman don’t de-serve the companionship of any animal!

— Tina V., PETA member

DEAR TINA: I can appreciate your point ofview, and I’m sure that none of my readers con-done the suffering of any pet. I think that youmissed the point of that letter: the mother refusingto let the kids have another pet after they let theirBetta fish die due to neglect.

Part of growing up is learning responsibility, andlearning the consequences of failing to take re-sponsibility. The consequences of failing to takecare of their Betta fish was that they could nothave another pet.

Could the mother have stepped in and taken careof the fish? Possibly. Idon’t know all the cir-cumstances, and the sadfact is that small fish cango downhill very fastwhen signs of distress aremissed. But she gavethose kids responsibilityand gave them her trustto care for those fish.This is a very importantpart of child-rearing. Youcannot wrap your kids incotton until they’re 18;they need to learn certainthings if they’re to be atall useful.

Learning to care foranother living creature isone of the most importantlessons in a child’s life,and I’m not going tostand in judgment of amother trying to teachthat lesson.

Send your tips, questions andcomments to Paws Corner, c/oKing Features Weekly Service,P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475, or e-mail them [email protected].


Was Mom Guilty of Cruelty?

answers on page 23

161 South Fenway • Casper, WY 82601


Candles glow this month on our advent wreath,on my husband’s birthday cake and on our frontporch to welcome guests throughout the holidayseason. Different occasions, different meanings,but the candles are universal. There’s somethingabout that small circle of light that has drawnpeople together since the beginning of time. So nomatter what you’re celebrating this holiday sea-son, light a candle and let its gentle flicker drawyou closer to the people and community you love.

Floating VotivesFill a tall, clear vase one-third full with fresh

cranberries. Add water and a candle floating ontop near the rim.

Celebrate the SeasonWith Winter Lights

Candles in a JarPour 1 cup of sand into a clear, glass canning or

jam jar and nestle a votive candle in the sand. Makeseveral for an eye-catching display.

Outdoor Ice CandlesFill a balloon with water until it is the size of a

softball. Blow once into the balloon and tie a knot.Place in a plastic bowl or deli container and set inthe freezer for about 6 hours. Once a thick shell ofice has formed inside the balloon but you still hearsome water sloshing inside the shell, pop the bal-loon and discard it properly. Pour the excess wa-ter out to leave a cavity in the middle where a vo-tive candle will later be placed. Re-freeze.

At sunset, remove from freezer, place a votivecandle in the cavity and light it outside. It willsparkle like crystal!

If you make the ice candles in an area wherethe temperature is above freezing the next day,store it in your freezer.

Indoor Ice CandlesFill a decorative bowl with snow or chipped ice.

Set the ice candle in the middle of the ice, andlight for a centerpiece on a buffet table.

Safety note: An adult should always be present whenburning candles.

© 2008 Donna Erickson. Distributed by King Features Synd.

If there’s ever a perfect time to consider buyinga home via rent-to-own, this might be it. With adown economy, many buyers can’t get financing,and sellers are sitting on property they can’t move.

Rent to own (also called a lease-to-purchaseoption or a lease-purchase agreement) works likethis: You rent a house with a standard lease, buthave one additional agreement in place: a purchaseagreement or sales contract. This document givesyou the option of buying the house at some setpoint in the future at a fixed price. A portion ofyour monthly payment (usually an additionalamount above the rent) goes toward a down pay-ment on the house.

As with any business deal, there are pros andcons to rent to own.

On the plus side:• You’re able to build up your down payment

every month.• If you have less-than-stellar credit, this gives

you a chance to rebuild it.• You can check the house and neighborhood

over a long period of time.On the negative side:• If you decide at the end of the option period

not to buy the house, you lose the extra you’vepaid every month.

• In most cases, you won’t get the tax benefituntil you actually own the house.

Some extra considerations:• If there are repairs to be made in a typical land-

lord/tenant situation, usually the landlord is respon-sible unless prior agreements have been made. Bevery clear (in writing) who will make repairs whileyou live in the house.

• If you make modifications or fix up the houseand then decide not to buy it, you likely won’t getany money back.

• Try to have additional time put on the end ofthe option period in case you can’t get financing.

Finding homes isn’t that difficult. Start withthose listed For Sale by Owner. A fast phone callwill tell you if the owner is interested in a rent-to-buy situation. An owner with little equity is morelikely to agree than one who has a lifetime of eq-uity in the house.

If you want to enter into a rent-to-own agree-ment, work with a real-estate agent to make sureyou aren’t paying too much. Treat it as a seriouslegal contract and seek legal advice.

David Uffington regrets that he cannot personally answerreader questions, but will incorporate them into his columnwhenever possible. Write to him in care of King FeaturesWeekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475,or send e-mail to columnreplygmail.com.

©2008 King Features Synd., Inc.

Rent-to-OwnAgreements


Puzzle Answers

Sup

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wor

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Q: With the cancellationof one of my favorite newshows, “My Own WorstEnemy,” I was wonderingwhat the talented actresswho played Christian

Slater’s daughter on the se-ries will be doing next? — Renee B., Portland, Ore.

A: Bella Thorne, 11, played Ruth Spivey on the now-defunct NBC series. However, she also plays anotherdaughter — that of Billy Baldwin’s character on ABC’s“Dirty Sexy Money.” The young Florida native can beseen next in the feature-film teen-thriller “Forget MeNot,” opposite “Dancing With the Stars” contestantCody Linley. Next year you can see her alongsideWinona Ryder in the drama “Water Pills,” and she justsigned on as the female lead in the coming-of-age story“Raspberry Magic.” So, while her small-screen timemight be dwindling, her big-screen career is certainlyheating up!

• • •Q: People Magazine just released its Sexiest Man

Alive list, with Hugh Jackman topping the list. Whowould get your vote? — Linda F., via e-mail

A: Thank you for asking, Linda. While I do agreethat Hugh is quite a catch, my vote this year wouldhave to go to someone who is a little farther down onthe list: 22-year-old Brit Robert Pattinson. Rob’sbreakout role as the mysterious and gorgeous EdwardCullen in the new blockbuster “Twilight,” has tweens— and their mothers — swooning.

• • •Q: I read recently that Al Pacino wanted Glenn Close

to be his leading lady in “Scarface.” Is that true? If so,why did they go with Michelle Pfeiffer? — Frankie B.,Apopka, Fla.

A: It is true that Al wanted Glenn to play the part ofcoke-addled Elvira Hancock, but producers didn’t thinkshe was sexy enough for the part. In his book “ScarfaceNation,” Entertainment Weekly editor Ken Tucker writesthat producer Martin Bregman didn’t feel that then-36-year-old Glenn was right for the role. Ken recalls oncetelling Al: “Elvira has to be half a hooker. Glenn Closeis many things, but she is not half a hooker.”

• • •Q: My daughter and I recently rented “Kung Fu

Panda,” and we absolutely adored it. I was very im-pressed by Dustin Hoffman’s voice work as Shifu. Whatelse is he working on these days? — Claudia F., via e-mail

A: The multitalented star has played many things: across-dresser, a pirate, a mentally challenged man, aKung Fu master and a comic-book gangster, to nameonly a few. Next up for Dustin is the movie “Last ChanceHarvey,” which features a song he wrote decades agocalled “Shoot the Breeze.”

Dustin recently revealed that back in the 1970s, hewas nearly killed by a terrorist organization. He wasliving in Greenwich Village, one apartment down fromthe Weather Underground’s makeshift bomb factorywhen some dynamite was accidentally detonated, de-stroying the entire brownstone and killing three people.Just prior to the blast, Dustin had decidedto step out of his apartment for a few hours.

Have a question for Cindy? E-mail herat [email protected], or write to herin care of King Features Weekly Service,P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.



Advertise to Kids and their Parents. Call 247-1806 for details!

235-0550147 S. Center

Toys For All Ages!

The spring of 1907 was a pivotal time for the devel-opment of the color photograph. That June in Paris,Auguste and Louis Lumiere gave the first public dem-onstration of what they called the autochrome. The tech-nology presented was based on a granular compoundthat consisted of potato starch, making it possible toproduce true-color photographs with a standard glass-plate camera.

Albert Kahn, a banker and philanthropist, was fasci-nated by the new medium, although he was extremelycamera shy. As a man of the world, he realized this wasan incredible step forward, and he began collectingautochrome plates as early as the summer of 1908.

Although few of the earliest images have survived,many of those that have are the direct result of Kahn.He used a large chunk of his personal fortune to createwhat he called the Archives de la Planete (Archives ofthe Planet). It was nothing less than an attempt to pro-duce a photographic record of human life on earth.

For more than two decades, Kahn hired professionalphotographers, supplied them with truckloads ofautochrome plates and dispatched them to the far cor-ners of the earth. The project continued until the GreatDepression of the 1930s brought it to an abrupt end.

The Kahn collection is especially important becauseit captures times, places and people we do not expectto see in color photographs. For example, among thebook’s hundreds of images are the exterior of the Mou-lin Rouge nightclub in Paris in 1914, a “jaunting car”carriage with passengers in Ireland in 1913, three Swed-ish women in folk costumes in 1910 and a World War I“Victory Parade” in London in 1919.

David Okuefuna, a producer of the BBC televisionseries “The Wonderful World of Albert Kahn,” is to becommended for making Kahn’s early color photogra-phy accessible. It is a joy to behold.


“The Dawn of the Color Photograph: AlbertKahn’s Archives of the Planet”

by David Okuefuna(Princeton University Press, $49.50) Reviewed by Larry Cox


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Casper, WY 82604

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Here we are in the midst of December, and no doubtmany of us are out in the holiday crowds. Maybe we’regoing downtown to watch “Santa” arrive or to enjoythe tree lighting. Even if we’re avoiding the malls, itseems that there are crowds everywhere. Besides thefestive air, there’s one other thing the crowds can bring:germs.

Many of us have immune systems that are compro-mised at least a little. When we get a “bug,” we cantake much longer to shake it off. Cold weather itselfcan be enough of a stressor that we can be more sus-ceptible to germs.

Think about all the places germs can be found: gro-cery-cart handles, the change a retail clerk hands you,doorknobs in public places, library books, a borrowedpen.

Here are three tips to keep from getting sick:• Invest in a little bottle of alcohol-based hand sani-

tizer and use it liberally. Scrub until your hands aredry. (I buy one small bottle to carry in my pocket and alarger one to keep at home to refill the smaller one.) Ifyou’re going to spend time with grandchildren, buythem their own “special” foamy hand sanitizer.

• To avoid germs, doctors say it’s especially impor-tant not to touch your hands to your mouth, nose oreyes.

• When you get home from being out, wash yourhands with warm water and an antibacterial soap.

To get through the rest of the winter without illness,stay warm, get enough rest and make sure your diet isadequate. Ask your doctor whether you should take adaily multiple vitamin. Ask about getting a flu shot too,if you haven’t already had one.


Your Winter Friends:Hand Sanitizer and Soap


SnowmanCocker Spaniel, Poodle

Small - YoungMale - Pet ID: 1053517

JustineDomestic Long Hair,

Persian [Mix]Small - Adult

Female - Pet ID: 1070897

BabyDomestic Short Hair

Small - AdultFemale - Pet ID: 1039548

PrincessCocker Spaniel

Small - AdultFemale - Pet ID: 998741

IzzyDomestic Long Hair, Persian

[Mix]Small - Young

Male - Pet ID: 1053538

Photos by DeMaine Image

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