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FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 3 SMART READER May 30, 2024 SMART READER March 09, 2023 3 Despite available treatments, attentiond e f i c i t / h y p e r a c t i v i t y disorder, or ADHD, often goes undetected in adults, wreaking havoc on their personal and professional lives. The abbreviation represents a class of n e u r o d e v e l o p m e n t a l disorders commonly diagnosed in school-age children, but they can affect any age group. "ADHD is notoriously underdiagnosed in adults, especially in women, minorities and those older than 40," Ari Tuckman, a psychologist in private practice in West Chester, Pa., told UPI via email. Only 10% to 25% of adults with the disorder obtain an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment, according to an article posted in October on Psychiatrist.com. That month, investigators from 10 institutions in Europe, Africa and Australia published a review in Psychiatry Research, which estimated that 3.1% of adults have ADHD. "An ongoing pattern" of symptoms includes inattention -- "difficulty staying on task, sustaining focus and staying organized," the National Institute of Mental Health says. Meanwhile, hyperactivity also may be prevalent, resulting in excessive fidgeting, tapping or talking. And impulsivity can lead someone to "interrupt others or make important decisions without considering long-term consequences," the institute notes. The Psychiatry Research study identified three subtypes of ADHD -- ADHD-I (inattentive type of ADHD-I), ADHD-HI (hyperactive type) and ADHD-C (combined type). "The results indicate that ADHD is relatively high in adults, with ADHD-I remaining the most common subtype," the study's authors wrote. "Attention should be given to preventing, reducing, identifying and managing ADHD in adults." Even when mental health professionals treat adults for other psychiatric disorders, ADHD often goes unrecognized, experts say. "If one has the idea of ADHD being a hyperactive boy, then adults who are no longer hyperactive will slip by. Or those who have the more inattentive type of ADHD will tend to slip by," said Tuckman, who also is the conference co-chair for Children and Adults with A t t e n t i o n - D e f i c i t /Hyperactivity Disorder, a national advocacy organization. As a result, adults' struggles with ADHD often are attributed to other reasons, such as anxiety, depression, sleep problems and substance overuse. Untreated ADHD can exacerbate these conditions, he said. However, Tuckman noted that increasing awareness of ADHD in adults has led more people to identify with the symptoms and seek out treatment for this disorder specifically, not just the anxiety, depression and other mental health issues that often accompany it. Problems in relationships, college studies or the workplace eventually compel people to consult with a mental health professional in hopes of finding relief from ADHD symptoms with which they have lived since childhood, said Dr. Lisa MacLean, an adult psychiatrist at Henry Ford Health in Detroit. Sometimes, adults with the symptoms turn to mental health professionals after their children are diagnosed with ADHD, said MacLean, who also is chief clinical wellness officer for the Henry Ford Medical Group. "A light bulb goes off in their head and they see how their child's struggles are similar to theirs," she said, adding that the disorder has a genetic component. "Untreated ADHD can negatively impact the educational level a person can achieve," MacLean said. For mental health professionals to diagnose someone with ADHD, they must determine that "several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms were present prior to age 12," according to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. "If an adult started to have symptoms clearly in adulthood, then it is unlikely to be ADHD as a primary psychiatric diagnosis," said Dr. Britta Ostermeyer, OU health chief of psychiatry in Oklahoma City, Okla. Other medical or psychiatric ailments may be responsible for the onset of inattention in adulthood, such as depression, substance abuse, sleep disorders, lung conditions, cardiac conditions or brain diseases, Ostermeyer said. The reason ADHD is more likely to go undetected in adults than children stems in part from the "lack of daily contact with people adept at recognizing ADHD, such as schoolteachers," she said, noting that adults also have fewer hyperactive symptoms than children. Medications are the primary form of treatment for ADHD, not psychotherapy, experts say. The medications that work best are stimulants, such as Ritalin, Concerta, Vyvanse, Focalin and Adderall. For patients who can't take stimulants, nonstimulant options are available, Ostermeyer said. "It may take several visits to find the best medication and fine-tune the dosage while also working on other behavioral treatment goals," said Dr. Jeremiah Hopkins, a psychiatrist and medical director of Healthy Minds University, a clinic that focuses on students' mental health at WVU Medicine in Morgantown, W. Va., told UPI via email. That's why "managing expectations and knowing the limitations can be helpful, so that you do not become frustrated with treatment after one or two appointments," Hopkins said. "Treatments are extremely effective, and almost all patients who stick with the treatment plan over time realize significant improvements in their condition," he said. ADHD often goes undetected in adults Only 10-25% of adults with ADHD obtain an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment, according to a recent study published in Psychiatry Research. 7.1 million US kids have been diagnosed with ADHD About 1 in 9 American children has ever received an ADHD diagnosis, slightly more than the number of kids currently being treated for the disorder, a new study shows. About 7.1 million kids (11.4%) have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to findings published in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. Incidence appears to be rising: Approximately 1 million more children ages 3 to 17 received an ADHD diagnosis in 2022 than in 2016, researchers found. About 6.5 million children (10.5%) currently live with ADHD, or about 93% of those who've ever been diagnosed, researchers found. Among kids currently dealing with ADHD, about 58% have moderate or severe ADHD and 78% have at least one other disorder, results show. Nearly 54% of current ADHD patients have been prescribed medication for the disorder, and 44% have received behavioral treatment in the past year, researchers found. However, nearly one in three kids (30%) haven't received any ADHD-specific treatment, results show. ADHD is more common in the United States than in other countries, the researchers found. For the study, researchers analyzed more than 45,000 interviews conducted as part of the 2022 National Survey of Children's Health. "Public awareness of ADHD has changed over time," the researchers said. "With increased awareness of symptoms related to attention regulation, ADHD has been increasingly recognized in girls, adolescents and adults," they added in a journal news release. "Moreover, ADHD has previously been diagnosed at lower rates among children in some racial and ethnic minority groups. With increased awareness, such gaps in diagnoses have been narrowing or closing." For example, researchers found that Asian and Hispanic kids have a lower prevalence of diagnosed ADHD than White children. Also, children living in homes with lower education and income had a higher rate of ADHD than those in wealthier and bettereducated families, results show. And kids covered by public insurance programs like Medicaid or CHIP have higher rates of ADHD than kids covered by private insurance. Certain parts of the country -- the Northeast, Midwest and South -- had higher rates of childhood ADHD than the West, researchers found. Additionally, ADHD is more common in rural or suburban areas than in urban areas. These sort of disparities also extend to treatment of ADHD, researchers added. More kids on public insurance are taking medication than those covered by private plans, and more children in the Midwest and South are taking meds than those in the West. "Shifts in patterns of treatments may also be affected by changes in the demographic distribution of who receives ADHD diagnoses," the researchers wrote. "There is evidence that the sex difference for diagnosis of ADHD may be narrowing; in prior years, the ratio of boys to girls diagnosed with ADHD was more than 2:1." By Dennis Thompson Smart Reader is published bi-weekly by Carmichael Communications Editor & Publisher/Frank J. Carmichael Assistant to the Publisher/Reanna Stockdale Sales/Kim Carmichael, Elaina Myers Editorial Manager/Jason Hedman Ad Design & Layout/Kristin Monticelli, Glen Kelly Reception/Sarah Coleman Carmichael Communications 1420 63rd St. Kenosha, WI 53143 May 30, 2024 Volume 22 Number 10 262-564-8800 • 1-800-568-6623 • www.hap2it.com story continues on next page
4 SMART READER March 09, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER May 30, 2024 4 ADHD drugs may backfire for people without the condition So-called "smart drugs" meant to enhance brain performance are more likely to leave users ineffectually spinning in place, a new study has found. These stimulants, typically used to treat ADHD, increased study participants' motivation in solving problems. But the subjects also took much longer to complete tasks because they acted in a more erratic, scattershot manner while they worked, researchers reported in the journal Science Advances. For example, participants on the ADHD drug methylphenidate (Ritalin) took around 50% longer on average to complete a "knapsack task" than they did when they took a placebo, results showed. In this task, subjects are asked to figure out the most efficient way to fill a knapsack to a certain capacity, using a selection of items with various weights. "Although the use of these kinds of stimulant drugs in people without ADHD may be increasing their motivation in complex problem-solving tasks, they decrease the quality of the solutions, so their productivity is decreased," said lead researcher Elizabeth Bowman, a neuroscientist at the University of Melbourne Centre for Brain, Mind and Markets in Australia. Students and white-collar workers have increasingly turned to prescription stimulants in an attempt to increase their productivity, said Pat Aussem, vice president of consumer clinical content development for the Partnership to End Addiction. Essentially, they are a modern-day spin on the caffeine pills that college students use to stay up for cram sessions. "Students or professionals may misuse ADHD medications believing that they can enhance focus, concentration and productivity even if they don't have ADHD," Aussem said. "Often, they are hoping to gain a competitive advantage whether it's for academics, work or sports. Sometimes these medications are used to aid in working longer hours." These stimulants temporarily increase levels of dopamine and noradrenaline in the human brain, two neurotransmitters associated with attention, motivation and processing speed, said Dr. Kasia Rothenberg, a neuropsychiatrist with the Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. "Here, the team designed this study to test if this is enough to make us more motivated momentarily and faster to promote better learning," Rothenberg said. "And unfortunately, the answer is no." For the study, Bowman and her colleagues tested the effects of three ADHD medications -- methylphenidate (Ritalin), modafinil (Provigil) and d e x t r o a m p h e t a m i n e (Dexedrine) -- on the problem-solving abilities of 40 participants between 18 and 35 years old. These folks were asked to complete a set of knapsack tasks on four occasions spaced at least a week apart. Each time, the subjects were randomly given one of the ADHD medications or a placebo, until they'd performed the task under all four conditions. When on the smart drugs, the time subjects spent working on the task and their number of guesses increased, researchers found. Overall productivity decreased, especially for participants who performed above average while on a placebo. "People who were on the medication were much more eager to engage in the task, and they were faster in making an effort to accomplish the task," said Rothenberg, who was not involved in the experiment. "But when we look at the quality of the task, it wasn't great. They were making many more movements, many more attempts, and those attempts were more random and highly ineffective." The medication, Rothenberg said, "made people faster, but not necessarily more precise or more effective." The drugs particularly hampered people who performed the task efficiently and effectively under a placebo. Participants in the top 25% on placebo regularly ended up in the bottom 25% under methylphenidate, for example. On the other hand, participants who didn't perform well under placebo only occasionally exhibited a slight improvement after taking one of the drugs, researchers said. Dextroamphetamine caused the largest decrease in productivity, closely followed by methylphenidate, Bowman said. These drugs are specifically meant to treat ADHD, so it makes sense they wouldn't necessarily benefit a healthy brain, When used along with medications, psychotherapy can help educate a patient about symptoms of ADHD and emphasize the importance of following a prescribed drug regimen, help with important organization and planning skills, and teach how to best cope with distractions in daily life, Ostermeyer noted. "Always seek professional help to receive a proper evaluation, diagnosis and personalized treatment plan," she said. If someone with ADHD is experiencing a lot of stress, experts say cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful. "Learning behavior modification techniques like making lists, using your smartphone alarm to remind you of upcoming appointments and breaking projects down into smaller pieces can help," MacLean said. Other interventions she recommends involve good self-care, such as eating a healthy low-sugar diet, engaging in regular exercise and pursuing meaningful relationships. In addition, she said, supplementing the diet with omega-3 fatty acids can play a major role in ADHD prevention and treatment, while practicing meditation can hone the brain's ability to focus. "Many patients do very well with consistent treatment," MacLean said. "People should not approach treatment thinking that medication alone will solve all their issues." She added that "they also need to actively work on developing strategies to help them succeed. Getting well is not a passive process. People must take an active role in their mental wellbeing." By Susan Kriemer ADHD undetected continued from page 2 Participants on the ADHD drug methylphenidate (Ritalin) took around 50% longer on average to complete a "knapsack task" than they did when they took a placebo, study results showed. story continues on next page Call 262.653.9132 SR121423 JR PROPERTIES 2409 52nd Street, Suite 3 • Kenosha 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms Available In Kenosha & Racine John and Shelley Rogowski, Owners TORCASO And So Much More... Purses • Backpacks • Belts and most leather goods 3305 60th Street • 262-654-3839 Now Open Mon. - Fri. 9:30am-5pm • Sat. 9:30am-1pm Full Service Repairs Done In House SR042122 Paula Ray Kenosha Funeral Services and Crematory Prepay for your funeral now and the price will be guaranteed. 8226 Sheridan Rd. 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FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 5 SMART READER May 30, 2024 SMART READER March 09, 2023 5 ADHD linked to higher risk of car crashes among seniors While studies of ADHD and driving usually target teens, a new one focused on seniors found they have a significantly higher risk of car crashes. Older adults with a t t e n t i o n - d e f i c i t / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were also more likely to slam on the brakes and get traffic tickets, the study found. "Little is known about ADHD in seniors," said senior author Dr. Guohua Li, an epidemiology professor at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City, explaining the motivations for studying this issue. "Secondly, the population has been aging and continues to grow older, and there are more and more older adult drivers on the road." The United States has about 48 million older drivers, a number that could reach 63 million within seven years, he noted. This study included more than 2,800 drivers between 65 and 79 years of age. About 2.6% had ADHD. The researchers linked ADHD to a 74% increased risk of crashes, a 102% increased risk in selfreported traffic tickets and a 7% increased risk of hard braking events. ADHD is a n e u r o d e v e l o p m e n t a l condition that is often diagnosed during childhood and can persist throughout life. About 8% of adults aged 18 to 44 are known to have ADHD, the researchers said in background notes, as are 9% to 13% of children under 18. ADHD symptoms that might contribute to driving challenges include difficulty with concentration, focus and attention. Hyperactivity can increase distraction and decrease vigilance, Li said. Impulsivity may lead to behaviors like speeding and running red lights, he added. "Those symptoms associated with ADHD could affect driving safety in different ways," Li said. To study this, the researchers collected data between 2015 and 2017 from primary care clinics and residential communities in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Baltimore; Cooperstown, N.Y.; Denver; and San Diego. Participants were active drivers who were followed for 44 months using invehicle devices to record data. Dr. Eugene Arnold, a resident expert for CHADD, a nonprofit that helps people with ADHD, said the study confirms what experts may have expected about older drivers with ADHD. "Of course, there's impairment of the executive function, the ability to plan your work and work your plan," said Arnold, who reviewed the new study findings. Arnold, who is also a professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral health at Ohio State University, said one scenario in which a crash might happen is failing to notice a vehicle coming from the side because of impaired attention. Impulsive tendencies might also lead a person with ADHD to cut in when it might be safer not to. "Developmentally, the hyperactive impulsive symptoms tend to get better with age, at least up to a point, up to young adulthood," he said. "And the inattentive symptoms tend to persist but do just gradually get a little better into probably midadulthood. But no, I don't think anybody's actually tracked what happens ... It's a lifelong project to track a sample from childhood to senescence." The study also found that the rate of ADHD was higher, at just over 7%, among older adults with anxiety or depression. This may have also been a factor in driving issues, Arnold noted. The study also pointed to this, noting that risk factors such as heightened anxiety can contribute to adverse driving outcomes. Researcher Li said enhanced screening, diagnosis and clinical management of ADHD in older adults might help counter driving issues. Advanced vehicle technologies could limit use of in-vehicle media, such as the ability to text or make phone calls, while driving, he added. While treating teens and young adults with ADHD with non-stimulant medications appears to reduce driving errors, it's not clear if the same would be true in older drivers. Li was among those who started the LongROAD project -- short for Longitudinal Research in Aging Drivers -- in 2014 to understand the needs of older drivers. The project has included a study that showed in-vehicle recording devices were reliable markers for predicting cognitive impairment and dementia. Researchers have previously found that a person's health declines when older adults stop driving. Improved diagnosis of ADHD and symptom management are needed to promote safe mobility in seniors, the study said. The findings were published online in JAMA Network Open. The LongROAD project is sponsored by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. By Cara Murez Aussem and Rothenberg said. People with ADHD "have lower levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in areas of the brain responsible for attention, focus and impulse control. ADHD medications help by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain," Aussem said. "However, in individuals without ADHD who already have normal levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, the use of ADHD medications can actually disrupt the balance of these chemicals in the brain," she noted. "This can lead to overstimulation and potentially adverse effects, such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure or heightened anxiety." The results showed that these potential brain enhancers actually don't improve the effectiveness of average people in performing complex everyday tasks, the researchers concluded. "There are no shortcuts for better cognitive performance, and often what we think are shortcuts may have unintended consequences," Bowman said. 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6 SMART READER March 09, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER May 30, 2024 6 Summer events season is here! Check the Visit Kenosha Events Calendar at VisitKenosha.com/Events often to see what’s happening! Here's a sampling of events to put on your own June calendar: Monster Truck Throwdown is June 1 at Wilmot Raceway. The Outta Sight Kite Flight is June 1-2 at Kennedy Park. The Good Old Summertime Art Fair is June 2 at Civic Center Park. National Outlet Shopping Day(TM) at Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets happens June 8-9 with family-friendly entertainment. Shop at Kenosha Public Market and Kenosha HarborMarket each Saturday. Sip & Stroll is June 8; you’ll have the chance to sample wine, beer, and seltzer offerings at more than 30 participating locations in Downtown Kenosha. Also Downtown, Studio Moonfall hosts a pair of outdoor events: Kenosha Comic Con on June 9 and the Kenosha Book Festival on June 23. Check out the bicycle races at the Washington Park Velodrome, which opened in 1927. The Monday races start June 10, while the Tuesday races started last month. Enjoy the car races at Wilmot Raceway throughout the summer. Cheer on the Kenosha Kingfish baseball team at Historic Simmons Field on select dates. Many of the free outdoor concert series open this month. Music at Twilight (formerly Twilight Jazz) happens at Anderson Arts Center on select dates, including June 11 and June 25. The Kenosha Pops season kicks off June 12 at the Sesquicentennial Bandshell at Pennoyer Park. Bristol Woodstock happens on Wednesday evenings at Bristol Woods Park, starting June 12. Lakeside Lounge at Kemper Center happens on select Wednesday evenings, including June 19. The Kenosha County Dairy Breakfast is June 15 at Crane Grain Farms. Also on June 15, the main Juneteenth Kenosha 2024 festivities happen. The Kenosha Art Market starts up June 16, and continues the third Sunday of the month through October at Union Park. Here’s a pair of car shows to enjoy: the Father's Day Car Show by Kenosha Classic Street Machine is at Baker Park on June 16 and the Kenosha Car Club 29th Annual Car Show is on June 23. The Pop-up Biergarten and Food Truck Rally is June 20-22 at HarborPark Celebration Place. Also on June 20, another edition of Third Thursdays in Downtown Kenosha takes place. Participating businesses offer special activities, extended hours, deals, and more. Season 51 for Lakeside Players kicks off June 21 at Rhode Center for the Arts. For two weekends, the production “The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza” will take place. Starting June 21, Movie Night In The Park happens every Friday (through August 23) at Petrifying Springs Park. It’s a free event, courtesy of Kenosha County Parks. The Dog Days of Summer is a new event at Jerry Smith Farm for dogs and their owners. It happens June 22. On the same day, the Gateway Rose Society Annual Rose Show is at the Kenosha Public Museum. The Kenosha History Center’s Kenosha Taco Fest will be held on June 28 at Kennedy Park. Families can celebrate International Mud Day at Pringle Nature Center / Bristol Woods Park on June 29. Also on June 29, the Harborfest 7s Rugby Tournament happens at Kennedy Park. The 46th Annual Kenosha YMCA Firecracker is on the morning of June 30 in Downtown Kenosha. It features a timed 5K and a 1- Mile Fun Run (no timing). Later that same day at 1 p.m., the Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade steps off. Local events for your June calendar by Meridith Jumisko, Visit Kenosha Meridith Jumisko is Public Relations Director at Visit Kenosha. Contact her at [emailprotected] Live Music Series on Kenosha’s Waterfront Will the show move into the spacious Lakeview Ballroom? Check Facebook just before the show to find out! 053024 Refreshing Drinks, Tasty Food And A Stunning Harbor View! 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FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 7 SMART READER May 30, 2024 SMART READER March 09, 2023 7 Be grateful that Harrison Butker is an NFL kicker, not a politician, or a person with any authority over others. Because people who are beholden to his religious identity – Catholicism’s ultra conservative Opus Dei – have long stirred a global backlash. Opus Dei, which is Latin for “work of God,” is a century-old arm of the Catholic church, whose harshest critics have long tried to label it a cult, tracing early adherents to fascist dictators. This is the backstory that’s gone curiously untold about Butker, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, when he was invited to give a commencement speech to graduates at Benedictine College, a small Catholic school in Atchison, Kansas. Few people likely caught the nods to Opus Dei that Butker made in his speech. But he made specific and repeated references to Opus Dei, citing Josemaría Escrivá, the Spanish priest who started the organization in 1928. Now a saint, Escrivá’s beliefs were elevated in the faith in 1982 when Pope John Paul II made Opus Dei a personal prelature, meaning the organization’s leadership reported directly to him. There are about 85,000 Opus Dei members worldwide. But only about 2 percent of priests globally are part of the organization. Butker appears to be among the 3,000 Opus Dei adherents in the U.S. It’s hard to know for sure as its membership is shrouded in secrecy. If people have heard about the organization, it might be from the book and subsequent movie, “The Da Vinci Code,” which spun on that secrecy and a whole lot of fictionalized movie drama (murder, etc.). Opus Dei’s core practices include fasting, prayer, and abstinence from whatever might bring pleasure. The most controversial practice associated with the organization is selfflagellation or wearing a cilice, which can be a harsh garment that is very uncomfortable to wear. One can also wear a metal chain with a spike, usually to irritate an upper thigh. These items are worn during repentance rituals. None of this is exactly everyday Catholicism. But it’s the context to understand that Butker’s 20- minute grievance was primarily a denouncement of fellow Catholics, including priests and bishops. Understandably, people focused on what rang off-key to their ears, skipping over what didn’t resonate. Butker took on a pious tone to verbally place Harrison Butker’s tantrum against Catholicism with Mary Sanchez Readers can reach Mary Sanchez at [emailprotected] and follow her on Twitter @msanchezcolumn. Many people have made money by following the advice of Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett. His recommendations about which stocks to buy, which to sell and where to invest (or not) have earned him the “Oracle of Omaha” title. I prefer a modern cultural version: “the Taylor Swift of Capitalism.” Speaking at his company’s annual hedge fund shareholders gathering, Buffett predicted the government will have to raise taxes if the massive$34 trillion (and counting) national debt is to be reduced. He said nothing about cutting spending which remains the real problem. The debt is approaching the value of the entire U.S. economy. It does not take an economist or someone with only a minimal knowledge of economic principles to conclude that Buffett has it backward. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget: “ In the first seven months of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, spending on net interest has reached $514 billion, surpassing spending on both national defense ($498 billion) and Medicare ($465 billion). Overall spending has totaled $3.9 trillion thus far. Spending on interest is also more than all the money spent this year on veterans, education, and transportation combined.” Is there anyone who believes that allowing the Trump tax cuts to expire at the end of next year will cause politicians to suddenly become responsible about spending should they gain additional revenue? Everyone knows the main drivers of the debt are Social Security and Medicare. Few politicians want to touch this “third rail” because they fear being demonized, losing their precious seats in Congress, or suffering defeat in a presidential race. This is, after all, the age of “entitlement.” As noted by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, “ Rising debt reduces business investment and slows economic growth. It also increases expectations of higher rates of inflation and erosion of confidence in the U.S. dollar. The federal government should not allow budget imbalances to harm the economy and families across the country.” This should be so obvious as to be beyond debate, but we can’t get a real debate on the economy because so many people rely on government to do for them what they mostly once did for themselves – save and invest wisely, live within your means, be responsible for yourself and if you must look to government for help, make it last on your list, not first. Buffett noted projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) which has forecast a rise in federal deficits to 8.5 percent of GDP in fiscal 2054 from today’s 5.5 percent. But that’s only deficits, not debt. Deficits are added to the debt. When politicians claim to have reduced the deficit, they usually say nothing about the debt or cutting even the smallest amounts of spending. I have previously argued for the necessity of a complete audit of the federal government. Members of an audit committee could be appointed by Democrat and Republican Members of Congress, they would have to be nonpartisan and serious about the task assigned to them. This is what the Base Realignment and Closure Commission did after it was chartered by the Defense Department in 1988. Some politicians howled as outmoded and aging bases in their districts were closed, but it worked and saved money. A similar approach to the national debt could also work. The last thing we need is for the productive to be taxed at greater rates so that politicians can continue to misspend the money. The definition of a prophet is that he must be right 100 percent of the time. Warren Buffett is right most of the time, but he is no prophet because he is wrong about raising taxes while ignoring spending cuts. Warren Buffet is wrong on taxes with Cal Thomas Readers may email Cal Thomas at [emailprotected]. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America" my turn Mary Sanchez joins Happenings Q&A on Mon. Jun 10th at 10:20am on AM1050 WLIP Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the media during Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 5, 2024, in Las Vegas. In this 2016 image, Warren Buffett participates in a discussion during the White House Summit on the United State Of Women in Washington, D.C. story continues on next page
8 SMART READER March 09, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER May 30, 2024 8 The New York trial of former President Donald Trump is, at best, a national embarrassment. But whether you are pro or against Trump, for acquittal or conviction or see the court case as a travesty, one conclusion is inescapable. Donald Trump's conduct is and has been most unbecoming for his entire career. Trump denies having had a sexual affair with p*rn actress Stormy Daniels. He cannot deny however, having been systematically promiscuous for decades. During his first marriage to Ivanka Trump, he lived with and then married Marla Maples amidst intense media coverage. And then he let Marla go. In 2023, he lost a civil case to E. Jean Carroll for sexual abuse in which the judge declared him a rapist. In a second case, he lost a settlement of $88.3 million for defaming Ms. Carroll. If circ*mstantial thinking applies, it is clear how the New York jury might vote. There is also Trump's business record that reflects conduct most unbecoming. First, Trump has had several major successes. The restoration of the Commodore Hotel, Trump Tower, and 40 Wall Street were impressive. And Trump's golfing and hospitality empire is global. However, a darker side persists. Throughout his career, it is estimated Trump and his businesses filed or were parties to 4,000 legal cases in United States federal and state courts, including battles with casino patrons, million-dollar real estate lawsuits, personal defamation lawsuits, and over 100 business tax disputes. Trump was well known for sending his attorney, the controversial Roy Cohn, into action to threaten legal actions. Trump was infamous for not paying bills. In the New York trial, Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen testified to that fact. In one case, Trump said, "Pay the bill at 20% to the dollar." About his business failures, the S-4 registration report filed for Trump's specialpurpose acquisition company Digital World Acquisition Corp. lays this out in detail: "The Trump Taj Mahal, which was built and owned by President Trump, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1991. The Trump Plaza, the Trump Castle, and the Plaza Hotel, all owned by President Trump at the time, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1992. THCR, which was founded by President Trump in 1995, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004. Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., the new name given to Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts after its 2004 bankruptcy, declared bankruptcy in 2009. "Trump Shuttle Inc., launched by President Trump in 1989, defaulted on its loans in 1990 and ceased to exist by 1992. Trump University, founded by President Trump in 2005, ceased operations in 2011 amid lawsuits and investigations regarding the company's business practices. Trump Vodka, a brand of vodka produced by Drinks Americas under license from the Trump Organization, was introduced in 2005 and discontinued in 2011." Also, "Trump Mortgage, LLC, a financial services company founded by President Trump in 2006, ceased operations in 2007. GoTrump.com, a travel site founded by President Trump in 2006, ceased operations in 2007. Trump Steaks, a brand of steak and other meats founded by President Trump in 2007, discontinued sales two months after its launch." The S-4 stated that "Trump is involved in numerous lawsuits and other matters that could damage his reputation, cause him to be distracted from the business or could force him to resign from the TMTG's board of directors." No president has run for office with this history of conduct. That Trump has maintained such a strong following with some 70 million votes in 2020 raises why he has this hold over so many Americans. Obviously, history is full of individuals who have seized power from Caesar to Hitler and Putin. Yet, few came from the same background. Admittedly, most Americans are unaware of Trump's history. Whether that would make a difference is unknowable. Perhaps, as the disparities between rich and poor and elites and underclass have soared in America, Trump is the plutocrat who is a traitor to his class. Through his disreputable and idiosyncratic conduct, Trump has taken on the system. In that regard, while he may not appeal to "everyman," he does to many, many millions of Americans. This is the most extraordinary presidential election in American history. An 81-year-old takes on a 77-year-old with a possible third candidate who is 70. Not since 1861 has the nation been so divided with matching political dialogue that is equally vindictive, nasty and partisan. Trump's legal travails are far from over. Tell me how this ends? Trump trial illustrates conduct most unbecoming with Harlan Ullman my turn Dr Harlan Ullman is senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, the prime author of "shock and awe" and the book "The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How Massive Attacks of Disruption Became the Looming Existential Danger to a Divided Nation and the World at Large." Harlan Ullman joins Happenings Q&A on Thu., Jun 6th at 9:20am on AM1050 WLIP Former President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York women on a pedestal, but only if they embody examples of motherhood and marriage that he views as acceptable. He asked the female Benedictine graduates, “ How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career?” He gave a nod to that being maybe OK with this: “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world.” And then came the “but” of Butker’s speech: “But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.” A spreadsheet would be necessary to keep track of everyone he took a swipe at in his remarks. LGBTQ people were referenced with a nod to Gay Pride, in their month of recognition and “deadly sins.” There was a dog whistle of “cultural elite.” But Butker spent a good portion of his speech still stewing about COVID lockdowns, which prevented him from attending mass in person and therefore not receiving the sacrament of communion. According to the Catholic News Agency, “virtually every U.S. diocese shuttered churches during the COVID19 pandemic.” Many bishops issued dispensations from the obligation to attend mass on Sundays. Butker pretty much called them weenies for doing so. “As we saw during the pandemic, too many bishops were not leaders at all,” Butker said. “They were motivated by fear, fear of being sued, or being removed. Fear of being disliked, showed by their actions, intentional or unintentional, that the sacraments don’t actually matter.” He also noted, “There is not enough time today for me to list all the stories of priests and bishops misleading their flocks.” He called on priests to set aside their own personal comfort and embrace the cross. He castigated the clergy who “let their guard down.” He also included a snide reference about priests who are pictured with their dogs in the parish directory. (Pretty sure that one was a personal dig at a priest somewhere, likely outside of the kind of Latin mass Butker prefers). So be grateful Butker is a very good NFL kicker and not a member of the clergy who decides whether or not you are worthy of God’s grace. All indicators are that most people, be they ordained or not, do not meet his expectations. Sanchez continued from page 6
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 9 SMART READER May 30, 2024 SMART READER March 09, 2023 9 DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My sister was just diagnosed with breast cancer and will have a double mastectomy. What types of reconstruction could she have, and when can the reconstruction be done? Are there any new reconstruction options that she should be aware of? I’ve heard about 3D tattooing. Is that an option? ANSWER: Breast reconstruction is a procedure that restores the shape of your breast after mastectomy, which is an operation that removes your breast to treat or prevent breast cancer. Breast reconstruction can be performed with either an implant — silicone devices filled with silicone gel or saline — or a patient’s own tissue. Most people who undergo mastectomy tend to choose implant-based breast reconstruction, with a smaller portion opting for flap, or autologous, reconstruction. Breast reconstruction with flap surgery involves taking a section of tissue — skin, fat and occasionally muscle — from one area of your body, most often your abdomen, and relocating it to create a new breast mound. Each method has its benefits and drawbacks. For example, implant-based breast reconstruction involves a shorter operation and recovery, whereas flap surgery is a longer, more complex operation with a longer recovery time. Also, implants are temporary and will require removal or replacement on average every 10 years. With flap surgery, typically, no further operations are necessary. Breast reconstruction starts at the time of mastectomy. A team of breast oncologic and plastic surgeons working together to devise the appropriate plan for your needs is essential. Depending on the location of the tumor and the patient’s breast size, they may be a candidate for a nipple-sparing mastectomy, which allows for a more natural reconstruction appearance. A nipple-sparing mastectomy involves the removal of the breast tissue, but spares the skin, nipple and areola, also called the nipple-areolar complex. If the tumor is abutting the nipple-areolar complex, the patient will need surgical removal of the nipple. Nipple reconstruction can be done with a 3D nipple-areola tattoo with or without the creation of a raised area of skin to reconstruct a raised nipple. 3D nipple tattooing is highly encouraged for all patients who have required surgical excision of the nipple-areolar complex. Data shows patients are more satisfied with reconstruction and can move forward from their cancer journey when reconstruction of the nipple is performed. In the past, breast reconstruction would not provide the same sensations as before mastectomy. However, breast resensation is the new frontier within breast reconstruction. This is a new technique of breast nerve repair during breast reconstruction that can potentially restore feeling after a mastectomy. This can be done in one of two ways. First, suppose the patient is a candidate for nipplesparing mastectomy and is approximately a C cup or less at the time of mastectomy. In that case, we can identify the nerves on the lateral chest and bridge the gap beneath the nippleareolar complex with a nerve graft. The nerve will then regenerate through the graft, providing sensation to the nipple-areolar complex. While this can take up to two years, it should restore light touch to the breast and nipple-areolar complex, but it will not fully return premastectomy breast sensation. The second approach is pursued if the patient is undergoing flap surgery. We can identify a nerve on the tissue from the abdomen and connect that via nerve graft to a nerve in the chest. This can be an option for patients who have already had a mastectomy — and possibly implant-based breast reconstruction — and desire more sensation. Breast reconstruction is an excellent option for many patients. It can give you a breast contour, provide symmetry to your breasts under clothing and help you avoid the need for an external prosthesis inside your bra. Many patients find that their self-esteem and body image improve after reconstruction, and it helps to erase physical reminders of their cancer journey. However, before breast reconstruction surgery, consult a plastic surgeon who is board-certified and experienced in breast reconstruction following mastectomy. — Christin Harless, M.D., Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota Mayo Clinic Options for breast reconstruction health Ozempic provides a wide variety of health benefits for people with kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes, a major clinical trial has found. The drug significantly reduces the risk of severe kidney events, heart problems and death from any cause in patients who have both conditions, researchers found. "These benefits signify a profound clinical impact saving kidneys, hearts and lives for patients with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease," said researcher Vlado Perkovic, provost of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. "Additionally, the reassuring safety findings further support the strong potential value of [Ozempic] in this population." Chronic kidney disease affects more than 800 million people worldwide, and is particularly common among people with Type 2 diabetes, researchers said in background notes. Ozempic was originally developed as a treatment for diabetes, as it helps control the release of insulin and keeps blood sugar levels lower. Its potential benefits for weight loss were later tested and approved. However, its potential to help people with kidney disease had not been fully examined, researchers said. For the study, investigators recruited more than 3,500 patients who had both kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes. Patients were randomly chosen to receive weekly Ozempic (semaglutide) or a placebo. Patients taking Ozempic had a 24% lower risk of kidney problems, heart disease and death related to either the kidneys or the heart, results show. The patient's risk of heart attack and other major heart problems decreased by 18%, and their risk of death from any cause declined by 20%, researchers found. Researchers presented the trial findings Friday at the European Renal Association annual meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. The results were also published in the New England Journal of Medicine. "These findings offer great promise in reshaping treatment strategies for individuals at high risk of d i a b e t e s - r e l a t e d complications, offering a new avenue for kidney and cardiovascular protection," Perkovic said in a meeting news release. By Dennis Thompson Ozempic boosts health, survival of patients with kidney disease, diabetes Three months after starting one of the new GLP1 weight-loss drugs, more than a quarter of patients have already quit the medications, and by a year from first use more than a third have stopped, new research shows. Reasons for quitting Wegovy, Ozempic or similar drugs may include cost or gastrointestinal side effects, said a team led by Urvashi Patel, of the Evernorth Research Institute in St. Louis. The drugs' price tag could be a big factor: Wegovy (semaglutide) costs about $1,300 per month, for example. "Each 1-percentage point increase in out-of-pocket cost per a 30-day supply of GLP-1 agonist was associated with increased odds of discontinuation," Patel's group noted. They published the findings Thursday in the journal JAMA Network Open. The St. Louis team looked at information from a major U.S. drug database on the use of GLP-1 meds by adults from early 2021 through to the end of 2023. Tirzepatide (Zepbound) was excluded from the list of GLP-1 meds because it was only approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at the end of 2023. The database of nearly 196,000 patients found that by three months after starting a GLP-1 drug, just over 26% of users had already discontinued use; by six months that had risen to just under 31%, and by a year out 36.5% had stopped taking their GLP-1 drug. Patients who were obese but did not have type 2 diabetes were more prone to have stopped using their GLP-1 drug by 12 months compared to folks who were obese and had type 2 diabetes (50.3% vs 34.2%). It's not clear why half of people who were obese without diabetes quit their GLP-1 within a year of starting -- it could be related to cost or side effects, or it could simply be that their weight-loss goals were achieved. Patel's team noted the study wasn't designed to ferret out the exact reasons. The drugs' price tag did seem to be a factor: Folks living in poorer areas were more likely to stop using their GLP-1 than users in affluent areas, and as out-ofpocket costs rose so did discontinuation rates. People who "had new gastrointestinal adverse effects at follow-up" were also more likely to quit their weight-loss medication, the team found. According to the Mayo Clinic, side effects from using GLP-1s can include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. By Ernie Mundell Many people quit new weight-loss drugs because of costs, side effects
10 SMART READER March 09, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER May 30, 2024 10 With campus protests grabbing the headlines, it’s easy to lose sight of an important fact: About 4 million Americans will graduate from college this year and for them, life is about to become more complicated. The good news is that a robust labor market has provided many with wellpaying jobs. The median annual wage for recent college graduates aged 22 to 27 was $60,000 last year, according to the Federal Reserve of New York. That’s a big jump up from the $36,000 that high school grads earn. The bad news is that over half of college grads will be leaving school with student loans. For them, the first to-do item is to drill down and detail what is owed, the interest rate associated with each loan, the monthly payment amount, and when the first payment is due. If you have a federal loan, all of this information can be found at studentaid.gov, but if you have a private loan, you will need to contact that lender directly. There’s usually a grace period of 6 to 9 months, during which you are not required to make payments, but since the interest clock is ticking, start as soon as possible so you can whittle down the outstanding balance quickly. To ensure that you don’t miss a payment, establish an automatic draft from a bank account. If you can’t make the monthly payment on a federal loan, consider an income-driven repayment plan, which can reduce the monthly amount by extending the period of time you have to repay the loan. Whether or not you owe money, you will need to track where your money is going. This is an easier task than creating a budget that often feels more like an aspirational document, not a realistic plan of action. There are a lot of apps to help, but the goal is to ensure that you have a firm grasp of what is a “must” (loan repayment, car payment, utilities) and what is a “want” (friend’s destination wedding, tickets to a sporting event or concert). In the list of “musts,” I did not include rent. That’s because in many parts of the country, still-high prices are forcing many recent college grads to return to the nest, where they can accumulate enough money to fully launch themselves. In fact, it is preferable to move back home than to plunge into the rental market and feel stress every month or even worse, turn to credit cards when an unforeseen emergency arises. With your cash flow in hand, you can establish a monthly amount that will help you tackle what I like to call “The Big Three”: 1) Reduction of consumer and student debt 2) Establishment of emergency cash reserves (6- 12 months of living expenses) 3) Maximizing retirement contributions. Even if the cash flow is tight, if a recent grad’s new job includes a retirement plan, try to contribute up to the match if one exists. If there’s a Roth option, use it, because paying taxes upfront on contributions now, while in a low tax bracket, will likely pay off in the future. Even if health insurance is offered through your employer, it may be cheaper for grads to stay on their parents’ health plan, which they can do until age 26. If using employer insurance, consider a high deductible plan, which can be more affordable. Finally, don’t forget about establishing good habits around security and credit. It is vitally important to pay bills on time, to guard personal information, and to review your credit report every 12 months at annualcreditreport.com — if there are errors, correct them. The progress on inflation has been frustratingly slow this year. The most recent evidence was found in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which increased by 3.4 percent from a year ago in April, from 3.5% in March. The Core rate, which removes food and energy, was up 3.6% from a year ago, from 3.8% in the prior month. Although those changes do not seem that big, a tenth here, two-tenths there, can add up to movement in the right direction. In fact, annual core CPI has fallen to the lowest level since April 2021. These numbers come on the heels of two, distinct periods: (1) The decade prior to the pandemic, when prices were stable and the inflation rate hovered at just below 2%. (2) The pandemic price surge, which started in 2021 and peaked in mid-2022. In the subsequent year, pandemic supply chain issues and the jump in energy prices associated with the war in Ukraine were resolved – and those “transitory” factors, combined with the impact of higher interest rates, pushed down the inflation rate. But since last summer, inflation has been rangebound at 3 to 3.7%, higher than both consumers and the Federal Reserve would like to see. One of the driving factors in keeping inflation high is the cost of housing. Shelter is not only a big line item for household budgets, it is a major contributor to inflation — accounting for a third of overall CPI. Economists have long complained that the way that the government calculates shelter is problematic because it’s difficult to measure average national rent increases and for owners, officials rely on surveys that ask what their home might rent for in the market. Through April, shelter was up 5.5% and although more timely data indicate a slowdown. Still, until there is more meaningful progress, the Fed is expected to keep interest rates higher for longer. Meanwhile, the double whammy of elevated prices and high interest rates is putting pressure on many Americans. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that household debt continued to rise in the first quarter, with mortgages and auto loans leading the way. Credit card balances declined slightly from the all-time high, but that follows a seasonal pattern, when consumers start a post-holiday New Year’s financial diet and then use their tax refund money to pay down debt. Even with the small progress, credit card balances are near an all-time record of $1.12 trillion and have risen 45-50% since the beginning of 2021. Servicing that debt has become more difficult amid high rates. According to the Fed, there is a direct line from consumers who have credit card balances, to those who max out their cards, to those who become delinquent (defined as an account that is 60 days or more past due). The share of maxed-out borrowers is approaching pre-pandemic levels and “an increasing number of borrowers missed credit card payments, revealing worsening financial distress among some households,” according to Joelle Scally, of the New York Fed. Unfortunately for those who are under pressure, a federal judge in Texas recently blocked a rule that would prohibit the largest credit card companies (those with more than 1 million accounts) from charging customers late fees higher than $8. According to a Consumer Reports survey, one in five American adults – an estimated 52 million people – said they had paid a credit card late fee in the previous 12 months. A preliminary injunction means the rule can’t go into effect until a hearing is held where the case can be adjudicated in greater detail. Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is a CBS News business analyst. A former options trader and CIO of an investment advisory firm, she welcomes comments and questions at [emailprotected]. jill on money Financial advice for college grads with Jill Schlesinger Slow progress on inflation with Jill Schlesinger SR032124 Never Pay Retail! Wholesale Discount Prices Paints and Carpets 2415 - 60th Street • Kenosha,Wisconsin Next to Andreas • 654-5328 Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5pm, Sat. 8am - 4pm Buy where the professionals buy their pain t at discount prices. SR022517 SR050224 “Jeremy Johnson of Modern Woodmen is simply the best! I have been really happy with my retirement IRA, as well as life insurance for my family. I wouldn’t trust my financial future with anyone else.” -Mark Lesnik, A long standing customer. “Jeremy Johnson of Modern Woodmen is simply the best! I have been really happy with my retirement IRA, as well as life insurance for my family. I wouldn’t trust my financial future with anyone else.” -Mark Lesnik, A long standing customer. 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FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 11 SMART READER May 30, 2024 SMART READER March 09, 2023 11 In just a few weeks, my email inbox will begin to overflow. Homeowners like you will be asking what they can do to cool down their attics, garages, houses and sheds. After all, the summer solstice is just weeks away. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, this means the sun’s rays have to travel through the least amount of atmosphere to wreak havoc. I’m sure you’ve experienced the power of the sun’s infrared rays. Just months ago, it was still cold where I live in New Hampshire. Each morning I stand outside with my neighbors, watching our dogs play. On clear days in early March, the air temperature was below freezing but the sun was high enough in the sky to allow the rays to penetrate through our winter coats. At times it felt so warm that one might think it was 60 F instead of 22 F. Have you ever visited an island in the Caribbean Sea? Several years ago, in the monthof May, I was on the island of Antigua. I was there doing expert witness work, walking on the roof of the Brazilian ambassador’s home. I knew to get started at daybreak because the heat would be unbearable. By 7 a.m., I was soaking wet and not feeling well, as it was so hot on the roof. The next day, I went swimming. Standing in the sun at 11 a.m., the infrared rays were so hot on my skin that I felt like I was in a blast furnace. Never before, in all the years of working outdoors in the summer heat, had I felt such intense heat on my skin. It was frightening, to be honest. I couldn’t get in the shade of a palm tree fast enough. Here are some facts that will help you understand why it’s so very hard to stay cool in your home when the sun is beating on it like a bass drum. I believe the best example I can offer is that of a dying campfire. When the fire is at its maximum with the logs burning, the maximum amount of heat is being produced by the fire. This compares roughly with the midday heat energy being delivered to your home’s roof by the sun. I’ve measured this heat at my own home using an infrared camera. I get temperature readings in excess of 160 F each time I do this. This heat is transferred to the lumber and timbers that make up my roof. They might, in turn, reach temperatures of 140 F or more. Now, think about that campfire again. Once the flames have died out, you’re left with glowing embers that produce heat for hours. If you’re patient, you know this is the best time to slowly roast marshmallows to a wonderful golden brown. This same heat is radiated by any part of your home that was blasted by the sun. I experienced this in a most unusual way about 40 years ago. My wife and I were visiting some friends. They had purchased a new brickveneer home in northern Kentucky. It was a blistering hot summer day. That evening, after the sun had set, I had to walk from the rear patio to get something out of our car. I walked past a west-facing brick wall of their home and the heat radiating out the brick was astonishing. It was no different than sitting around the glowing embers of a campfire. We stayed at their home until just before midnight. Before opening the car door for my lovely young bride, I decided to go back to the side of the house. The brick wall was still sending out low-level infrared heat. I could feel it in the somewhat cool night air! This same thing is happening at your home. The sun heats up everything it hits with its infrared rays. Wood, brick, stone, etc. store up this heat and then give it off as night wears on. This is why I find solar attic fans laughable. When you most need them to spin to cool off your home, the fan blades don’t move. Your roof shingles and all the wood creating your roof just radiate all that heat toward your living space. If you want to try to stay cool, you need to do what chicken farmers do. Drive past a huge barn that houses chickens, and you’ll see something you don’t see in other agricultural barns. Chicken barns have massive fans at each end of the gable roof. They resemble airplane propellers. These huge fans move vast amounts of air through the barn in an attempt to cool down the barn roof structure and everything inside the barn. I prefer old-fashioned wind turbines to do this on houses. Even a slight breeze will cause the turbine to rotate and pull hot air out of a house or garage attic. It’s all about blowing air across hot things like you do to cool a hot spoonful of chili or soup. The truth about radiant heat Ask the Builder with Tim Carter Subscribe to Tim’s FREE newsletter at AsktheBuilder.com. Tim offers phone coaching calls if you get stuck during a DIY job. Go here: go.askthebuilder.com /coaching In the popular imagination, the Caribbean is paradise, an exotic place to escape to. But behind the images of balmy beaches and lush hotel grounds lies a crisis, the likes of which its residents have never experienced. Caribbean islands are in a water crisis, and their governments have warned that water scarcity may become the new norm. Within the past five years, every island in the region has experienced some sort of water scarcity. For example, Trinidad is experiencing its worst drought in recent memory, and residents are under water restrictions through at least the end of June 2024, with fines for anyone who violates the rules. Dominica, considered the nature island of the Caribbean for its mountain rain forests, is seeing a significant decrease in freshwater resources and increasingly frequent water shortages. In Grenada, known as the spice isle, drought has affected water systems throughout the island. Jamaica is also facing water restrictions and has had to resort to water shutoffs in recent years, limiting water availability to a few hours per day in some areas. St. Vincent and St. Kitts have had to ration water. Barbados has experienced several water bans in recent years. In fact, recent data shows that the Caribbean is one of the most water-stressed regions in the world. I study the intersection of critical infrastructure and disasters, particularly in the Caribbean. Safe water is essential for all human activity and public health. That's why it is important to understand the root causes of the water crises and to find effective, affordable ways to improve water supply systems. 3 reasons water demand is outstripping supply Changing precipitation patterns and droughts are straining Caribbean water supplies, but water demand has also been outstripping supply for a number of reasons. 1. Rapid urbanization and industrialization The Caribbean is one of the most rapidly urbanizing regions in the world. About three-quarters of its population lives in cities, and that percentage is rising, adding pressure on public water systems. At the same time, increased industrialization and commercialization of agriculture have degraded water quality and in some cases encroached on sensitive water catchment areas, affecting the soil's capacity to retain water. This competing demand for limited fresh water has reduced stream flows and led to water being drawn down from sensitive sources. In Dennery North, a major farming community in St. Lucia, water shortages have left residents collecting water from rivers and other sources for their homes and farms. Unregulated extraction of groundwater can also worsen the problem. Many islands depend on groundwater. For example, 90% of water supply in Barbados comes from groundwater, while in Jamaica it is 84%. However, increasing demand and changes in annual rainfall patterns are affecting the ability of aquifers or groundwater to recharge. As a result, supply isn't keeping up with demand. This is a huge problem for the island of Utila, located off the coast of Honduras, where the current rate of aquifer recharge is only 2.5% annually. For comparison, Barbados has a recharge rate of 15% to 30% of annual rainfall. 2. Water-intensive tourism industry It's no secret that the Caribbean is a popular tourist destination, and tourist economies depend on vast quantities of water. Even during water rationing, water is diverted to hotels and other touristdependent sites first. That can leave local residents without water for hours or days at a time and facing fines if they violate use restrictions. Tourism not only increases the consumption of water but also the pollution of water resources. Building golf courses to attract more tourists further increases tourism's water demand and runoff. 3. Weak water infrastructure governance Another problem water systems face is weak governance that leads to excessive loss of treated water before it even reaches the customer. A well-performing water utility will usually have water losses -- known as Caribbean islands facing a growing water crisis story continues on page 18 Within the past five years, every island in the Caribbean region has experienced some sort of water scarcity.
12 SMART READER March 09, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER May 30, 2024 12 Alligator escapes from middle school petting zoo Authorities in Missouri are searching for a small alligator that escaped from a petting zoo exhibit set up at a Kansas City middle school. The KC Pet Project said the 14-inch alligator was last seen about 11 a.m. Thursday at Lakeview Middle School, where a third-party company had been hired to set up a petting zoo to celebrate the end of the school year. Officers "searched the school and surrounding grounds for the animal at the site of the school for several hours, but were unable to locate the animal," KC Pet Project said in a Facebook post. Officials said they are concerned for the safety of the alligator, as it was last seen with its mouth taped shut. "It can fit in your hand," Tori Fugate, chief communications officer for the KC Pet Project's Animal Services Department, told the Kansas City Star. "Its mouth is taped shut. So our biggest concern is that it cannot fend for itself." Officials said the school did not obtain the proper animal show permit before arranging for the petting zoo. "KC Pet Project's Animal Services Division is committed to public safety, which is why permits are required for these types of events," Fugate told KMBC-TV. "Any type of event that showcases animals in Kansas City, MO, must have the proper permits to ensure that the event is safe for all participants as well as the animals." Dear Cathy, The 4th of July is approaching. My dog is terrified of fireworks. Last year, my veterinarian prescribed Acepromazine 25mg. This medication completely immobilized my dog. I read that it immobilizes them, but they are still afraid. I tried CBD, but it didn't work. Is there any other option to calm my dog during these fireworks? — Joe, Suffolk County,New York Dear Joe, It’s great you’re already planning for that day. The 4th of July can be challenging for our furry companions. Some display extreme reactions to loud noises, such as trembling, panting, drooling, and even destructive behavior. While there's no one-sizefits-all solution to alleviate fears entirely, there are several strategies to make your pet more comfortable and less scared during these stressfultimes. While many pet owners are hesitant to medicate their pets, prescription-strength sedatives may be necessary in extreme cases. If you are concerned, you could try over-the-counter calming chews with melatonin and LTheanine, which can help reduce anxiety. Incorporate Rescue Remedy®, a flower essence also known to alleviate canine anxiety, into your pet's daily water intake or administer it directly if your pet is triggered by thunder or fireworks. Consistent use of these products may help reduce symptoms over time. Consider using calming clothing, like an Anxiety Wrap®, Thundershirt® or Happy Hoodie®, which provides comfort pressure similar to a weighted blanket for humans. Create a noise-buffering environment by playing white noise, nature videos, or keeping the TV or music turned up. I have found that action movies can be effective in masking loud sounds. Walk-in closets with clothing hanging can help muffle outside noise; lining that same closet with acoustic panels can create an even more calming place for your pet to rest. If this option is not feasible, draping heavy blankets on three sides of a kennel can provide limited sound insulation. While managing a noisephobic pet can be challenging, with patience and persistence, you can help alleviate their fears and ensure they feel safe and secure during stressful times. Remember that most dogs require a combination of interventions to ease their fears, so don't be discouraged if one method doesn't work. Try different approaches or combine techniques until you find what works best for your pet. Please make sure your dog is tagged and microchipped with up-to-date contact information in case of separation. Note: Fireworks can be equally stressful for cats, but their symptoms are less noticeable. They usually seek refuge under beds or in closets. They can benefit from "comfort" clothing and overthe-counter feline-calming chews as well. Pet World with Cathy Rosenthal It’s OK to start planning for your pet’s 4th of July As well as being a recuring guest on Happenings Q&A, Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to [emailprotected]. Chimpanzee returns zoo visitor's dropped shoe A helpful chimpanzee at a Chinese zoo was caught on camera returning a shoe that had been dropped into the enclosure by a young visitor. The video, recorded at the Shendiaoshan Wild Animal Nature Reserve in Weihai City, Shandong Province, shows a chimpanzee named Dong Dong playing with a shoe that had been dropped into the enclosure by a child. Onlookers can be heard cheering when the 14-year-old ape tosses the shoe back up to the crowd, where it was returned to the visitor. A zookeeper said Dong Dong is a highly intelligent chimp and has been witnessed returning lost property to visitors in the past. An elephant at the same facility was recently caught on camera performing the a similar service for a child whose shoe fell into the pachyderm's paddock. Alligator placed 'under arrest' at 104-year-old Florida woman's home A 5-foot alligator was placed "under arrest" at the home of a 104-year-old Florida woman who complained about the animal's presence on her property. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said on social media that two officers "have quite the 'tail' to tell about responding to a nuisance gator 104-year-old woman's home near Atlantic Boulevard and Art Museum Drive." The officers enlisted help from licensed trapper Mike Dragich to secure the reptile. "We can't cuff him," one of the officers says in the video of the capture. "You are under arrest, you got to leave those grandma's alone. We're going to take you downtown." The sheriff's office said the alligator was transported to another location and released by the trapper. Tune In To Happenings Q&A Radio On AM 1050 WLIP Weekdays From 9am-11am When Frank Carmichael And Happenings Staff Members Visit With Interesting Guests, Both Local And From Around The Country. AUGUST 2nd , 3rd & 4 A th UGUST 2nd , 3rd & 4th Summer Is Just Around The Corner ummer Is Just Around The Corner SAVE THE DATE! AVE THE DATE! 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FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 13 SMART READER May 30, 2024 SMART READER March 09, 2023 13 Animals self-medicate with plants − behavior people have observed and emulated for millennia A goat with an arrow wound nibbles the medicinal herb dittany. O. Dapper, CC BY Adrienne Mayor, Stanford University When a wild orangutan in Sumatra recently suffered a facial wound, apparently after fighting with another male, he did something that caught the attention of the scientists observing him. The animal chewed the leaves of a liana vine -- a plant not normally eaten by apes. Over several days, the orangutan carefully applied the juice to its wound, then covered it with a paste of chewed-up liana. The wound healed with only a faint scar. The tropical plant he selected has antibacterial and antioxidant properties and is known to alleviate pain, fever, bleeding and inflammation. The striking story was picked up by media worldwide. In interviews and in their research paper, the scientists stated that this is "the first systematically documented case of active wound treatment by a wild animal" with a biologically active plant. The discovery will "provide new insights into the origins of human wound care." To me, the behavior of the orangutan sounded familiar. As a historian of ancient science who investigates what Greeks and Romans knew about plants and animals, I was reminded of similar cases reported by Aristotle, Pliny the Elder, Aelian and other naturalists from antiquity. A remarkable body of accounts from ancient to medieval times describes self-medication by many different animals. The animals used plants to treat illness, repel parasites, neutralize poisons and heal wounds. The term zoopharmacognosy -- "animal medicine knowledge" -- was invented in 1987. But as the Roman natural historian Pliny pointed out 2,000 years ago, many animals have made medical discoveries useful for humans. Indeed, a large number of medicinal plants used in modern drugs were first discovered by Indigenous peoples and past cultures who observed animals employing plants and emulated them. What you can learn by watching animals Some of the earliest written examples of animal self-medication appear in Aristotle's "History of Animals" from the fourth century BCE, such as the well-known habit of dogs to eat grass when ill, probably for purging and deworming. Aristotle also noted that after hibernation, bears seek wild garlic as their first food. It is rich in vitamin C, iron and magnesium, healthful nutrients after a long winter's nap. The Latin name reflects this folk belief: Allium ursinum translates to "bear lily," and the common name in many other languages refers to bears. Pliny explained how the use of dittany, also known as wild oregano, to treat arrow wounds arose from watching wounded stags grazing on the herb. Aristotle and Dioscorides credited wild goats with the discovery. Vergil, Cicero, Plutarch, Solinus, Celsus and Galen claimed that dittany has the ability to expel an arrowhead and close the wound. Among dittany's many known phytochemical properties are antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and coagulating effects. According to Pliny, deer also knew an antidote for toxic plants: wild artichokes. The leaves relieve nausea and stomach cramps and protect the liver. To cure themselves of spider bites, Pliny wrote, deer ate crabs washed up on the beach, and sick goats did the same. Notably, crab shells contain chitosan, which boosts the immune system. When elephants accidentally swallowed chameleons hidden on green foliage, they ate olive leaves, a natural antibiotic to combat salmonella harbored by lizards. Pliny said ravens eat chameleons, but then ingest bay leaves to counter the lizards' toxicity. Antibacterial bay leaves relieve diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress. Pliny noted that blackbirds, partridges, jays and pigeons also eat bay leaves for digestive problems. Weasels were said to roll in the evergreen plant rue to counter wounds and snakebites. Fresh rue is toxic. Its medical value is unclear, but the dried plant is included in many traditional folk medicines. Swallows collect another toxic plant, celandine, to make a poultice for their chicks' eyes. Snakes emerging from hibernation rub their eyes on fennel. Fennel bulbs contain compounds that promote tissue repair and immunity. According to the naturalist Aelian, who lived in the third century BCE, the Egyptians traced much of their medical knowledge to the wisdom of animals. Aelian described elephants treating spear wounds with olive flowers and oil. He also mentioned storks, partridges and turtledoves crushing oregano leaves and applying the paste to wounds. The study of animals' remedies continued in the Middle Ages. An example from the 12th-century English compendium of animal lore, the Aberdeen Bestiary, tells of bears coating sores with mullein. Folk medicine prescribes this flowering plant to soothe pain and heal burns and wounds, thanks to its a n t i - i n f l a m m a t o r y chemicals. Ibn al-Durayhim's 14thcentury manuscript "The People have observed animals self-medicate with plants for millennia A remarkable body of accounts from ancient to medieval times describes self-medication by many different animals. story continues on page 18 020824 050224 NYC's Premier Disney Cover Band NYC's Premier Disney Cover Band JJune 25 at 6:30pm une 25 at 6:30pm Fun for the whole family! Fun for the whole family! 5125 6th AVE. KENOSHA FOR EVENT TICKETS CALL 1-262-564-8800, STOP IN 1420 63RD ST. M-F 11am-4pm OR VISIT Young & old can enjoy this nationally touring act as they play all the Disney hits, from The Jungle Book to The Lion King, and even Frozen. 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14 SMART READER March 09, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER May 30, 2024 14 This summer 271 million Americans are expected to trade a seat at the dining room table for a cushioned one 31,000 feet high. Already the travel season is off to a big start, with Memorial Day weekend expected to see airlines 9% busier than 2019. The airline industry is on a hiring spree to staff planes and ensure smoother flights due to an anticipated 6.3% increase in air travelers from last summer. But major airlines are also investing in public relations. Between a door falling off a Boeing Alaska Airlines jet and an increase in near-miss crashes because of short staffing at control towers, many would-be passengers are concerned, although a majority still trust air travel safety. During the pandemic the government bailed out airlines – which then raised prices faster than overall inflation and increased fees. Consumer advocates hope a new law will help. The Federal Aviation A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Reauthorization Act, which President Biden signed last week, passed Congress with bipartisan support. The law aims to make flying less of a burden, with new consumer protections. Here’s what American passengers can expect as they jet off for future travel. Don’t expect to fully see the changes until holiday travel 2024 though, as airlines adjust. One of the main issues affecting flight delays and cancellations is staffing. During the pandemic, airlines initially used layoffs, furloughs, and buyouts to reduce staff – and then had a difficult time hiring when travel bounced back. Under the new law, the FAA must hire more employees and give more breaks between shifts, to retain burned-out workers in air traffic control and crew positions. Another change is that airlines must now offer refunds or book passengers on the next comparable flight at no extra cost if flights are significantly delayed or changed. Last year, 20% of flights were delayed and nearly 2% canceled, according to the Department of Transportation. Travelers can expect more accountability from airlines, says John Breyault, a vice president at the National Consumers League. He expects passengers will receive more than smartphone notifications to better communicate the status of delayed and canceled flights and appropriate refund options. The law also allows the FAA to increase civil penalties levied against airlines for misleading passengers. How will the law help families with children? There are some fees that families with kids know all too well, like the extra charges that come with parents asking airlines to be seated beside their child. The law prohibits airlines from charging fees for children under 13 to sit with an accompanying adult. That’s a shift airlines had to be forced to make, says William J. McGee, a senior fellow for Aviation and Travel at the American Economic Liberties Project. He recalls one mother telling him “we mostly depend on the kindness of strangers,” during a survey on how parents navigate airline travel. Under the new law, customers will also gain more time to use their air fare credits. Airline vouchers for canceled or delayed flights will expire in five years as opposed to just one. “When an airline canceled your flight or delayed it, they would offer you vouchers that would expire in as little as a year. Considering that most consumers only fly about once a year, that is of very limited usefulness,” says Mr. Breyault. The change to vouchers that expire in no less than five years is “a big win for consumers,” he added. How does the new law ensure safer flights? The new aviation law requires breaks for air traffic controllers between shifts and directs the FAA to Tired of delayed flights? New flying law offers refunds, keeps families together. 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FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 15 SMART READER May 30, 2024 SMART READER March 09, 2023 15 Want to make a simple change that will help you have a healthier diet? Eat more fiber. Most of us simply aren't eating enough. A recent five-year study presented at the American Society for Nutrition's annual conference found just 7.4% of U.S. adults met the Institute of Medicine's recommended daily intake of 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories. Fourteen grams of fiber per 1,000 calories translates to 25 to 35 grams per day. Researchers analyzed data from 14,640 adult participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2018. The research was led by Derek Miketinas, an assistant professor of nutrition and food sciences at Texas Woman's University in Houston. Research showed women consumed more fiber than men, and participants with diabetes ate more fiber than those without diabetes. But overall, we all need more. If you've had a colonoscopy, it's likely your doctor recommended more fiber -- even if you got a clean report. Here's the latest research on fiber's benefits: -- A recent study in the journal Endocrinology showed that a higher dietary fiber intake may decrease the risk for depression among premenopausal women. -- Adherence to a highfiber diet may aid in mediating systemic inflammation and decrease the risk for respiratory morbidity, including asthma, according to study results published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. -- High fiber consumption appeared to be associated with reduced risk for breast cancer, according to the results of a meta-analysis of prospective observational studies published in Cancer. -- Ischemic stroke risk was inversely associated with the consumption of dietary fiber, fruit, vegetables and dairy foods such as milk and cheese, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal. So what foods are high in fiber to choose more often? You can't go wrong with any fruit, vegetable or whole grain. But specific high-fiber foods (according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database) include raspberries, pears, apples, green peas, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes (with skin), whole wheat spaghetti, barley, bran flakes quinoa, split peas, lentils, black beans, baked beans chia seeds, almonds and pistachios. Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU Med School in Springfield, Ill. food & recipes Fiber Benefits Nutrition News with Charlyn Fargo Servings: 6 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 8 ounces sliced, fresh mixed wild mushroomsr 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced sweet onion 1 tablespoon thinly sliced garlic 5 ounces fresh baby spinach (8 cups), coarsely chopped 6 large eggs 1/4 cup whole milk 1/4 cup half-and-half 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray; set aside. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; swirl to coat the pan. Add mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and tender, about eight minutes. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring often, until softened and tender, about five minutes. Add spinach; cook, tossing constantly, until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk eggs, milk, half-and-half, mustard, thyme, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Fold in the mushroom mixture and cheese. Spoon into the prepared pie pan. Bake until set and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes, and slice. Garnish with additional thyme, and serve. Per serving: 277 calories; 17.1 grams protein; 6.8 grams carbohydrates; 20 grams fat (8.2 grams saturated); 220.2 milligrams cholesterol; 1.5 grams fiber; 3.2 grams sugars; 442.5 milligrams sodium. Spinach & Mushroom Quiche Serves: 4 to 6 Note: Niçoise olives can be used in place of kalamata. Use a vegetable peeler or a mandoline to shave the zucchini. For the yogurt-tahini sauce: 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt 1/3 cup tahini 1/4 cup lemon juice (2 lemons) 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup minced fresh mint For the zucchini salad: 1/4 cup minced fresh mint 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt 1/2 teaspoon honey 3 small zucchini (6 ounces each), shaved lengthwise into ribbons 2 tablespoons finely chopped pitted Kalamata olives For the chickpea cakes: 1 1/2 cups fresh cilantro leaves and stems 1/2 onion, chopped 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon table salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 large egg 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed and patted dry 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil FOR THE YOGURT-TAHINI SAUCE: 1. Whisk all ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Season with salt to taste. Refrigerate until needed. (Sauce can be made 24 hours in advance.) FOR THE ZUCCHINI-SALAD: 1. Whisk mint, oil, lemon juice, yogurt and honey together in a medium bowl. Add zucchini ribbons and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with olives and refrigerate until needed. FOR THE CHICKPEA-CAKES: 1. Process cilantro, onion, coriander, cumin, salt, baking powder, and cayenne in a food processor for 5 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Continue to process until the mixture resembles pesto, about 5 seconds longer. Add egg and process for 5 seconds. Add chickpeas and flour and pulse four times. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Continue to pulse until chickpeas are coarsely chopped and flour is fully incorporated, about four more pulses. 2. Spray rimmed baking sheet with vegetable oil spray. Remove food processor blade and, using 1/2 cup measure, drop six even portions (about scant 1/2 cup each) onto prepared sheet. Gently shape into patties about 3 inches in diameter. 3. Line cutting board with a single layer of paper towels. Heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Using a thin spatula, transfer patties to skillet. Cook for 4 minutes, then reduce heat to medium-low; cover; and continue to cook until tops are firm to touch and patties register 185 degrees, 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer patties to prepared board, browned side down. Invert cakes to browned side up and serve with sauce and salad. Crispy Chickpea Cakes with Zucchini Ribbon Salad and Yogurt-Tahini Sauce To produce a facsimile of falafel with much less work, we streamlined the chickpea mixture from our popular falafel recipe. By pulsing chickpeas, aromatics, and spices in a food processor, we easily created a cohesive blend that we shaped into disks and panfried. A quick sauce of yogurt, tahini, lemon and mint beautifully complemented the earthy cakes. To turn the dish into a complete meal, we added a fresh ribbonedzucchini salad with briny kalamatas, lemony yogurt, and mint. Q: Is there something I can eat to have healthier skin? A: Our skin is the body's largest organ and first line of defense. And yes, the skin needs nutrients to stay strong and healthy. No single nutrient can maintain healthy skin (despite the advertisem*nts). Variety and eating a colorful diet are key. Think about choosing a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, such as avocadoes, carrots, tomatoes, watermelon, kiwi, leafy greens and sweet potatoes. It's also beneficial for your skin to avoid refined sugars, such as those added to items like ice cream, soda, pastries and processed foods.
16 SMART READER March 09, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER May 30, 2024 16 , , , Americans report mixed opinions on whether the cost of college is worth it, and almost half say a degree is only worth the expense if students don't require a loan to attain it, a new study from the Pew Research Center shows. Almost a third of the respondents say the cost of a four-year college degree is not worth earning if students have to borrow to get the degree, and a quarter say it's important enough for which to borrow money. The survey comes at a time when many Americans are questioning the value and the need for a four-year degree, and it comes at a time when trade schools and apprenticeship programs have made gains in helping produce marketplace-ready workers in much less time than most colleges or universities. Many students are also opting for degrees from community colleges, most of which are less expensive than traditional colleges. And today many community colleges also offer four-year degree programs in addition to the standard two-year and associate degree courses for which they are best known. Incomes and outlooks for young adults are also improving, the Pew study said. "After decades of falling wages, young U.S. workers (ages 25 to 34) without a bachelor's degree have seen their earnings increase over the past 10 years. Their overall wealth has gone up too, and fewer are living in poverty today," the report said. The study said the wage gap between young adults with and without degrees is narrowing. Almost half the people surveyed by Pew said it's less important to have a four-year college degree today in order to get a well-paying job than it was 20 years ago. A third said it is more important and 17% said it's just as important now as it was 20 years ago. Some workers are doing slightly better wage-wise without a college degree than they have in recent years, according to the study, which showed that earnings for these workers had been mostly down from the mid-1970s until about a decade ago. Large public universities have seemed to parry growing questions and public skepticism about the importance of traditional four-year colleges, and many continue to raise tuition, fees and other associated costs, contributing to a spike in student debt loads and complaints that even freshly minted graduates can't find meaningful employment in their field of study when they owe so much. Still, despite the growing public sentiment and higher costs, a majority of respondents said the degree was worth the cost. "Four-year college graduates (58%) are much more likely than those without a college degree (26%) to say their education was extremely or very useful in giving them the skills and knowledge they needed to get a well-paying job," Pew said. Nine-percent of the respondents said that question did not apply to them. By Mark Moran Americans question cost of college Delayed flights continued from page 13 increase air traffic controller hiring, important steps to ensure safer flights. There were 10 near-miss runway collisions from late 2022 to early 2023, according to a National Airspace System safety review report. The law also creates a new Assistant Secretary in Aviation Safety. That individual will be tasked with increasing the inspection of airplanes before takeoff. A door that fell off an Alaska Airlines jet in January jumpstarted FAA’s investigation into Spirit and Boeing, which found unsafe planes in use with faulty equipment. With an infusion of $105 billion to the FAA, the hope is that more inspections can be taken and safer flights can occur as one of the results. Additionally, the FAA has to come up with a new evacuation procedure with modern guidelines, says Mr. McGee. “That's something that's long overdue and very welcome. The modeling previously did not include people with disabilities or small children.” What didn’t make it into the law? Efforts to standardize legroom and seat size didn’t make it into the final bill, to the chagrin of some consumer advocates. An attempt to grant state attorneys general powers to enforce more airline regulations also didn’t end up in the final bill after industry objections, says Mr. Breyault. “We thought there should be more watchdogs in there given the sheer size of the airline industry and how many passengers fly,” he says. The Biden administration is seeking to crack down on more of what it calls “junk fees” through separate Department of Transportation rules announced prior to the FAA reauthorization. In April, the administration announced a rule requiring airlines to make their price quotes transparent about all fees, including for baggage or canceling or changing a flight. This month, several major U.S. airlines sued to block the new rule, saying airlines already share those fees and consumers will now be “inundated with information that will only serve to complicate the buying process.” By Leonardo Bevilacqua C O M E D Y E V E N T S 5125 6th Ave. Kenosha 125 6th Ave. Kenosha If It ’ s N o t L i v e , Yo u ’ r e N o t L i v i n g ! If It’s Not Live, You’re Not Living! FOR EVENT TICKETS & MORE ACTS VISIT HAP2IT.COM, STOP IN 1420 63RD ST. M-F 10AM-4PM OR CALL (262)564-8800 PLAY & STAY! Don’t go home, stay with us! Call now to book a room at a great rate! (262) 658-3281 053024 TAMMY PESCATELLI MAY 31 JUN 1 Magician/ Comedian No Drink Minimum! Live Comedy EVERY Friday & Saturday! Live Comedy EVERY Friday & Saturday! NATHAN “TRICKY” ALLEN JUNE 7/8 VINCE CARONE JUNE 14/15 As seen in Breaking Bad as Steven "Gomey" Gomez, Hank Shrader's DEA partner and best friend! STEVEN MICHAEL QUEZADA JUNE PHIL SELMAN 21/22 UPCOMING: AUG 9/10: Mr. Showtime, AUG 23/24 Mike Palascak, AUG 30/31: Mike Ball TWO HEADLINERS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!!! JEFF RICHARDS JUNE 28/29 JULY BRET RAYBOULD 5/6 BRIAN HICKS & BRIAN NOONAN JULY 19/20 JULY 26/27 JIM FLORENTINE AUG 2/3 Weekend
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 17 SMART READER May 30, 2024 SMART READER March 09, 2023 17 books In his ambitious The Rise and Fall of the EAST, Yasheng Huang identifies patterns from Chinese history to explain the endurance and achievements of autocratic governance in China, and how its excesses under Communist Party leader Xi Jinping today risk causing stagnation. Dr. Huang leads readers on an engaging gallop through ancient Chinese dynasties to probe the staying power of its rulers. He reveals the tools they used – ones adopted in different forms by the present Communist-run state – and how these tools excel at promoting stability, but to the detriment of innovation. The author draws on two newly created databases from projects he’s overseen since 2014. One database of Chinese technology covers more than 10,000 inventions. Another details attributes of Chinese emperors and senior court officials over time. Dr. Huang also draws contrasts with Western democracies, focusing on how they balance governing capacity and freedom. For example, whereas democracies’ legal and electoral systems allow them to cohere while permitting significant diversity, China’s system demands conformity. A key thesis of the book is that China achieved this conformity through its invention, in the year 581 during the Sui dynasty, of an examination system for recruiting bureaucrats. The keju examination system is the key method Chinese emperors used to mold the bureaucracy that they leveraged to govern, the author writes. The exams helped engender a large, male, managerial class indoctrinated by a common way of thinking – Confucian ideology. By monopolizing this talent pool, the state deprived society of an independent intelligentsia and stifled the rise of competing sources of power. The result was an autocracy that has proved remarkably enduring. “The ability of the Chinese state to rule over a large territory and over a long span of time during an era without modern c o m m u n i c a t i o n technologies is a non-trivial achievement,” he writes. “Ancient Europe was unable to do it; China, by contrast, reconstituted itself into a unified polity in 581 and has remained a cohesive political unit ever since.” But this stability comes at a cost – for technological inventiveness in particular, the author states. Ancient China was famous for many impressive inventions – from ship construction and navigation to paper and printing. Yet Dr. Huang shows how China lost this technological lead beginning in the 6th century, after the Sui dynasty reunified the country and created the examination system. Other historians have placed China’s technological peak more than 700 years later, in the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644). “China fell behind,” writes Dr. Huang. China’s political and ideological uniformity stifled technological advancement – while in Europe, divisions promoted innovation. “The unraveling of the Western Roman Empire in 476 led to the political and economic fragmentation of Europe and Europe never looked back. Just a hundred years later, the opposite happened in China. ... The Sui dynasty holds the key to one of the most enduring enigmas in the history of technology – the collapse of Chinese technological supremacy.” Fast-forward to postMao China. Dr. Huang shows how, for about four decades starting in 1978, Communist Party reformers pulled off a rare exception – maintaining stability while also encouraging technological advancement. They did this, he says, by delegating authority to regions, incentivizing officials to target gross domestic product growth, and allowing much greater social and economic diversity – all under a central framework of personnel management. But Mr. Xi, who came to power in 2012, has adopted policies that Dr. Huang says could threaten the innovation and stability Mr. Xi seeks to promote. He has reversed key reforms and tightened party controls. In many ways, Mr. Xi’s plan for ensuring the continuation of Communist Party rule “vastly understates his own system’s strengths and sophistications.” This book is a sweeping inquiry that both China scholars and a general audience will value – not the least for Dr. Huang’s wit, colorful observations, and direct style. Challenging conventional wisdom with fresh insights and data, it is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of China today and where it is headed. By Ann Scott Tyson The secret to Chinese civilization’s longevity? Exams and bureaucracy PRINT & E-BOOKS NONFICTION PRINT & E-BOOKS FICTION 1. Think Twice (Coben) 2. The Women (Hannah) 3. Funny Story (Henry) 4. The Dixon Rule (Kennedy) 5. A Court of Thorns and Roses (Maas) 6. The Paradise Problem (Lauren) 7. This Summer Will Be Different (Fortune) 8. Just For The Summer (Jimenez) 9. It Ends With Us (Hoover) 10. Home Is Where The Bodies Are (Rose) 1. The Situation Room (Stephanopoulous/Dickey) 2. The Demon of Unrest (Larson) 3. The Anxious Generation (Haidt) 4. You Never Know (Selleck/Henican) 5. The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk) 6. An Unfinished Love Story (Goodwin) 7. Rebel Girl (Hanna) 8. The End of Everything (Hanson) 9. Bits and Pieces (Goldberg) 10. Challenger (Higginbotham) NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERS How To Read a Book, by Monica Wood Monica Wood’s engaging novel of fresh starts follows Violet, a 20-something woman fresh out of prison; Harriet, a retiree who leads a book club inside the women’s prison; and Frank, the retired machinist whose wife was killed in the hit-and-run for which Violet served time. Shot through with clever asides and spiky feelings, the story ponders trust, reformation, and forgiveness. Daughters of Shandong, by Eve J. Chung Eve J. Chung strikes historical-fiction gold, inspired by her own family’s story. During the 1949 Chinese Revolution, a father abandons his wife and daughters to seek safety in Taiwan. The women follow on their own harrowing journey, ultimately breaking through gender barriers to find freedom. Long Island, by Colm Tóibín Moral quandaries abound in Colm Tóibín’s compelling follow-up to “Brooklyn.” Irish immigrant Eilis learns that her husband has impregnated another woman; worse, his family expects Eilis to raise the child. Returning to Ireland for solace, Eilis encounters inertia, judgment – and her former flame. Tóibín’s portrayal of his characters’ wrestling is a sobering story of dishonesty’s toll. The Stolen Child, by Ann Hood A World War I veteran seeks redemption. As a young soldier, he was entrusted with the baby of a French artist, as well as with her paintings, which he had to abandon. Now in his 80s, he hires a college dropout to accompany him to Europe to learn what happened to them. The scenery unfolds from Paris to Naples in this beautifully written novel. Return to Blood, by Michael Bennett Michael Bennett’s atmospheric sequel to “Better the Blood” finds former Auckland detective Hana Westerman adjusting to civilian life with her father and daughter. When two murder cases resurface, Hana feels compelled to unofficially investigate. Bennett’s thriller dives deep into Maori culture and gives voice to its complex characters. Audubon as Artist, by Roberta J.M. Olson Nineteenth-century bird artist John James Audubon is widely viewed as a genius. In this new reflection on his life and work, Roberta J.M. Olson explores how other artists helped shape Audubon’s vision. Beautifully reproduced images of Audubon’s work and those of key influencers help tell the story. The Light Eaters, by Zoë Schlanger Atlantic staff writer Zoë Schlanger debuts with an exploration of the new science of plant intelligence. In elegant prose and with a sense of awe, she describes plants’ remarkable adaptive techniques, communicative abilities, and social behaviors. story continues on page 17 New releases to add to your reading list
18 SMART READER March 09, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER May 30, 2024 18 Here’s the key to public service – and a better politics Michael Wear worked in the Obama White House, advising on faith-based initiatives as one of the administration’s youngest staffers. He is now the founder and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life. In his book The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life,”Mr. Wear calls for a change in Christian political discourse by defining the political arena as a place of service. He argues that sectarianism is not inevitable, and challenges thinkers of all religious backgrounds to let their political interactions be guided by a spirit of gentleness. He spoke recently with the Monitor. The interview has been edited for length. What was the inspiration for the book? What became clear to me writing [my last] book, and with everything that was happening in the country, was the deep formational force that politics was having on the lives of individuals, communities, and our culture. I think there’s this idea that politics is downstream of culture. I think that misses the fact that politics is a culture producer – that especially in this time and context, you can’t separate out politics from our culture. So this book gets at the root, I think, of both the dysfunction of our politics, and hopefully a way of empowering the individual responsibility and role that citizens have in improving the state of our politics. How does approaching politics with a spirit of service tangibly change our actions and conversations? When we stop going to politics primarily as a source of entertainment, or as a forum for sort of solely personal expression, we free up space to go to politics in an otherscentered way – in a way that centers the interests and well-being of the communities in which we live. And that opens up tremendous horizons. But what it requires are people who can genuinely will the good for their neighbors – that they can consider interests that are not their own to be their own. Political sectarianism is a big topic in the book. What effect does political sectarianism have on trust? Political sectarianism has a profound effect on trust. Because it suggests not just that there’s antagonism and profound disagreement in our politics, but that our politics is operating on the logic of conflict and antagonism. The collapse of trust in government is not detached from, or removed from, rising social distrust outside of politics proper. The political sectarianism that expresses itself in statehouses and in the Capitol is expressing itself in churches, and in families, and in relationships. And so just as in individuals – there is no political you, there’s just you – there is no political America, and then the real America. I think what we’re seeing is the fact that we can’t so easily set these parts off from ourselves. The state of the workplace in America is tied to the state of politics in America, is tied to the state of mediating institutions and church life, is tied to the state of the family – these things are not identical, but they all feed into one another. And we can’t hope to have a politics that is full of mistrust and antagonism, and not expect that to have effects for how we relate at the community level, the familial level, and between different groups and backgrounds of people. You talk about anger and manipulation actually not paying off in the way we think they do. Can you say more about that? There’s this notion that anger is the necessary companion to advancing justice. I’ve seen justice implemented without anger. Do you know what I’ve never seen? I’ve never seen injustice without anger. I’ve never seen injustice without contempt for the person.... There’s this notion that if you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention, as if the most just response ... is just to continue to pile on and add to the anger in our hearts. But who is that helping? How is that the best that we could do in response to what we read in the newspapers? I think that there are much better things that we could build up in our hearts, including love.... At best, anger can be an immediate reaction on behalf of someone who has been wronged, and I think that's a natural human impulse and is not wrong as far as it goes. But when we get to the cultivation of anger, what we find is that as we begin to cultivate anger, anger cultivates us. There is no one who is more easily manipulated in political life than the person who is angry. They can be directed just about anywhere. What are practical steps that people can take in their everyday conversation and actions to rebuild that trust? We need to regain a sense of deep humility about our political solutions, while having a deeper commitment to the work of self-governance – under the umbrella of humility, to be able to say “I’m going to fight for what I believe in.” It’s OK to disagree. We have a political culture in which you can’t say anyone’s “wrong” about public policy, but you can say that they’re “evil.” And I think we need a political discourse that is much more willing to argue prudentially ... and much less willing to make categorical, sweeping judgments about people’s intentions, and the moral goodness of people, because of their political opinions. What gives you hope that the changes you describe in your book can be implemented – that it’s possible to have a better politics? I’m sure other people have had this experience, but come across a person who is truly joyful and it will change your life. Come across a person who’s converted anger to forgiveness, who’s converted hatred to mercy, and it will change your life. And it’s changed our politics before, and it can do it again. Our public life is filled with these kinds of people. I think, though, when you have a political culture that is oriented around entertainment and self-expression, then it can sometimes be hard to see those people and to recognize service in our politics when it shows up. But when you come across it, that’s when you think about, who counts as an admirable person in your life? Who counts as someone who inspires you? And when you start asking those questions, and then taking that into politics, you realize, maybe politics doesn’t have to operate by this sort of lowest common denominator, or this expectation of self-interest and corruption. Maybe, with the limited influence we each have as citizens, we can come to politics with a different expectation. By Caitlyn Babco*ck The Editor, by Sara B. Franklin The best editors have a keen ear for voice, a firm but gentle touch, and the ability to disappear. Sara B. Franklin shines a light on legendary Knopf editor Judith Jones – mentor to Julia Child, John Updike, Anne Tyler, and many other literary icons who shaped American culture, food, and poetry during the nation’s turbulent midcentury. The Playbook, by James Shapiro The Federal Theatre Project aimed to put playwrights, actors, and other artists to work during the mid-1930s. In many ways, it succeeded: Over 1,000 plays were produced. But charges of politicization – and a firebrand senator – doomed the project. The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson The latest from the popular historian focuses on the period between Abraham Lincoln’s November 1860 election and the outbreak of the Civil War five months later. Erik Larson’s vivid account features profiles of lesserknown figures like Maj. Robert Anderson, commander of South Carolina’s Fort Sumter, where the war’s first shots were fired. New books continued from page 16 YESTERDAY’S CHILDREN YESTERDAY’S CHILDREN Saturday, July 6th • 7 aturday, July 6th • 7:30 pm For advance tickets visit hap2it.com, or stop in at 1420 63rd St., Kenosha between 10am - 4pm Monday-Friday To be assured a good seat, purchase tickets early. However, limited tickets will also be available at the door the night of the show. 052324 For advance tickets visit hap2it.com, or stop in at 1420 63rd St., Kenosha between 10am - 4pm Monday-Friday To be assured a good seat, purchase tickets early. However, limited tickets will also be available at the door the night of the show. SR 053024
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 19 SMART READER May 30, 2024 SMART READER March 09, 2023 19 Animals self-medicate continued from page 12 Usefulness of Animals" reported that swallows healed nestlings' eyes with turmeric, another antiinflammatory. He also noted that wild goats chew and apply sphagnum moss to wounds, just as the Sumatran orangutan did with liana. Sphagnum moss dressings neutralize bacteria and combat infection. Nature's pharmacopoeia Of course, these premodern observations were folk knowledge, not formal science. But the stories reveal long-term observation and imitation of diverse animal species selfdoctoring with bioactive plants. Just as traditional Indigenous ethnobotany is leading to lifesaving drugs today, scientific testing of the ancient and medieval claims could lead to discoveries of new therapeutic plants. Animal self-medication has become a rapidly growing scientific discipline. Observers report observations of animals, from birds and rats to porcupines and chimpanzees, deliberately employing an impressive repertoire of medicinal substances. One surprising observation is that finches and sparrows collect cigarette butts. The nicotine kills mites in bird nests. Some veterinarians even allow ailing dogs, horses and other domestic animals to choose their own prescriptions by sniffing various botanical compounds. Mysteries remain. No one knows how animals sense which plants cure sickness, heal wounds, repel parasites or otherwise promote health. Are they intentionally responding to particular health crises? And how is their knowledge transmitted? What we do know is that we humans have been learning healing secrets by watching animals selfmedicate for millennia.The Conversation By Adrienne Mayor nonrevenue water -- below 30%. In the Caribbean, the average nonrevenue water is 46%, with some as high as 75%. The reasons range from lack of appropriate management practices to metering inaccuracies, leaks and theft. Climate change and extreme weather worsen water insecurity These troubled water systems can struggle on good days. Worsening extreme weather, such as hurricanes and flooding, can damage infrastructure, leading to long outages and expensive repairs. The Caribbean is the second-most disaster-prone region in the world. The islands face frequent earthquakes, landslides, devastating hurricanes and other destructive storms. As global temperatures and sea levels rise, the risk of extreme weather and storm surge causing erosion, flooding and saltwater contamination increases. Three months after Hurricane Maria hit in 2017, well over 14% of the Caribbean population was still without potable water. Hurricane Dorian in 2019 left Grand Bahama Utility Co. and the country's Water and Sewerage Corp. with U$54 million in damages. A year after Dorian, WSC was "still working on restoring operations to pre-Hurricane Dorian levels." How hybrid rainwater harvesting can help Improving water access in the Caribbean means working on all of those challenges. Better governance and investment can help reduce water loss from theft and leaks. Government and social pressure and educating tourists can help reduce waste at hotels and resorts. There are also ways to increase water supply. One involves being more strategic about how the islands use a practice the region has relied on for centuries: rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting involves capturing rainwater, often from where it runs off rooftops, and storing it for future use. It can replace irrigation, or the water can be treated for household uses. Right now, rainwater harvesting is not managed as part of the islands' centralized water management system. Instead, households bear the cost to finance, build and maintain their own systems. Finding technical support can be difficult, leaving households to contend with seasonal variations in water quantity and quality. That makes risks to drinking water safety difficult to identify. If rainwater harvesting were instead combined with central water systems in a managed hybrid water model, I believe that could help expand safe rainwater harvesting and address water issues in the region. It's a relatively new concept, and integrating decentralized sources can be complex, including requiring separate pipes, but it has potential to reduce water stress. Decentralized sources, such as rainwater harvesting, groundwater or recycled gray water, could serve as backup water sources during shortages or provide water for nonpotable purposes, such as flushing toilets or irrigation, to reduce demand for treated water. Engineers in Australia are weighing the potential of hybrid water systems to help face the challenges of delivering secure, safe and sustainable water in the future. Fulfilling a human right in the islands The World Health Organization has declared that access to a sufficient, safe and reliable water supply is a fundamental human right, and that to accomplish this, water suppliers have a responsibility to provide adequate quantities of potable water. Hybrid water systems could help ensure water safety and security for island communities and improve the water systems' resilience amid the human and environmental pressures facing the Caribbean.The Conversation By Farah Nibs Caribbean continued from page 10 REMINDER: PLEASE RESUBMIT AD TO RUN FOR EACH ISSUE. Maximum 3 Listings Per Person. MISC G E R M A N CONVERSATIONALIST GROUP - KENOSHA/RACINE If you speak German or are enthusiastic about the German language and culture, come and join us. There are no membership fees and attendance is whenever you are available to join. Meetings will be held in the Kenosha and Racine area. This is an excellent group to practice speaking German as members' language skills are from beginners to advance and we all have a good time. Please contact me if you are interested in joining - Susan Blust [emailprotected]. LIONS CLUB BINGO Come have some fun! Doors open at 4:00. Raffles, pull-tabs and pregames start at 6:45. Bingo 7:00-9pm. Wednesdays. 2700 9th St., Schlader Building, Winthrop Harbor. Food Sales. FOR SALE Diamondback off-road bike, like new, best offer. (262) 694-7573 please leave message Coffee Table $20 (262)771-8764 TREK 900 TANDEM 26" 21 speed. Updated tires and rims. Excellent condition. Two new helmets plus accessories. $500 OBO 262-883-4210 Kitchen Table w/4 chairs-$100 obo Coffe Table-$25 262-771-8764 Sears ZigZag sewing machine and cabinet. Fine condition, All attachments. Model #1750 Asking $60 (262) 657-6049 3 OUTSIDE ALUMINUM screen doors. 1- 30 in. wide, 2-36 in. wide $ 30.00 each. all hardware call 262-652-2649; leave message ENTIRE CONTENTS OF HOME will be sold. Call or text to see if I have what you are looking for. I will give a price. 262-902-5663 SELLING OLD MAGAZINES! Many titles from the 1930's-1950's. Most in good condition. All subjects! Call Kent at 262-960-0621 or <[emailprotected]>, the more you buy, the better the deal! CEMETERY PLOTS for sale in Sunset Ridge Memorial Park in Kenosha. Located in Garden of Last Supper, section H, $1000 or OBO. Please contact Mayva at 262-818-1499 WINTER SPORTS: Women's Edelweis ski pants $25; Women's ski pants $60; Women's Salomon SX52 Lady ski boots $235; Women's ELAN Downhill skis $140; Tingley Men's Medium Size Rubber Over The Shoe Boots $10; Men's Boots$10; Jeep Jacket $200; Boy's Figure Skates $10; Men's Figure Skates $10; Cross Country Ski Poles- 2 pairs $10 each; Men's Snow Pants $10. Call or text 262- 902-5663. Snow Blower 24” Like New 262-771-7860 Beer Cans For Sale 262-694-7573, Leave A Message. Crystal round platter 12 inch diameter $10.00 perfect condition Great for the holidays 317-764-7662 CHILDREN'S VINTAGE ITEMS: Riding Wonder Horse-$100; Eddie Bauer Beach Sport Bag With Many Sand Play Toys Included-$8; Speedo Dive Snorkel And Mask (Unopened) $15; Mini Indoor Basketball Hoop- $3; Plastic Kitchen Toys- All For $2; Many Legos- All For $3; Star Trek, The Motion Picture Vhs SeriesAll 8 Tapes-$25; Many Toys (Call With What You Are Looking For!) Call Or Text: 262-902-5663. Two Bicycles, Schwinn $100 OBO and Autobike by CSA, 6-speed $175 OBO Call 262-654-6485 Please leave message Original $15 Rockwell Plates $10 each Air Fryer, new $50 Call 262-771-8764 Save 50% ON Burial Plots! Private Owner Of Two (2) (Side By Side) Section H Sunset Ridge Memorial Park Kenosha, Wi. Dont’ Pay $11,390.00... I’ Selling For $5,695.00 Obo! (262)914-5977 Ed Barbie doll, remote control corvette, that fits two Barbie dolls, about 25 in long x 10 in wide, best offer. Other small auto models available from classic days. Ron 847-340-3446. Beanie Babies - large inventory, includes McDonald's line, price varies. Call 262-654-6485 - please leave message Sony Reel To Reel Tape Decks! TC-630 & TC-580 $200 OBO for both. Call Kent 262-960-0621 e l e c t r i k e @ w i . r r . c o m WANTED. Experienced Grill Cook Flexible Hours, Fun Atmosphere. Lakeside Deck At The Wyndham Hotel Call Kim 262-496-7182 Singer and narrator wanted for Roger Miller tribute.Call 262-554- 8205. Ask for Marv. WANTED TO BUY: Vintage Movie Posters, Comic Books, LP Records, Vintage Toys, Horror VHS, Horror Memorabilia, Science Fiction Pulps & Magazines, Video Store Promotional Items. PH 262-237- 0318. WANTED TO BUY: Old Post Cards, B&W Photos, B&W Photo Albums, Vintage Advertising, Old Hunting Licenses & Advertising, Scrapbooks, Old Misc.Paper, Old Automobile Advertising, Fountain Pens, Gillette Razors & More. Local Collector/Neutral Safe & Secure Site to meet if desired. Cash Paid. Call or Text Stan 262- 496-1822 ARCADE DRIVERS SCHOOL is looking for classroom & driver instructors. Starting pay $17.00 per hour. If interested please call 262-637-9193 or email us at [emailprotected] LOOKING FOR NURSES Aid for in home care. Call Barbara 262-455-3953 SERVICES. “Tax Preparation & Advisory Services. 20+ Years Experience. Virtual Or In-Person. For Appointment Call Or Text 262-496- 2208. I Will Do Seamstress Work, Run Errands, Do Shopping & Dr. Appointments., Etc.If Interested Please Call Gayle At 262-748-4748 I'M LOOKING FOR house to share for reasonable rent in exchange for household needs for a senior vet consideration. 847-340-3446 Ron. Kenosha/Union Grove area. LAWN MOWING SERVICES Reliable lawn care services in Kenosha & Pleasant Prairie. call/text 262-914-9796 [emailprotected] TAX & MEDICARE EXPERT. Appointments only. Se Habla Español. 262.833.7070 CHINESE LANGUAGE / CALLIGRAPHY LESSONS: Fun, fascinating and very cool. Beginning and advanced - all ages! Text Dr. Tim at 520.704.3832. FOR RENT Finished Suite private, in-home entrance, in Kenosha. For details call between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, 262-843-1630. DRUM LESSONS Private instruction. Band, orchestra, marching and drum set. Rock and many other musical styles. Learn to read music. Call Tom for details. 262-818-2869. PROFESSIONAL LED TEETH WHITENING for a fraction of the price! $99 at cabana tan spa. call to book: 262-843-2411. 20 minute session = a bright white smile! mycabanatan.com SFAST COMPUTER SERVICE including network support, spyware removal, upgrades and PC repair. For friendly service with a smile, call Vikkex today! 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20 SMART READER March 09, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER May 30, 2024 20 health lifestyle community Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center news May 30, 2024 Cognitive declines lead older adults to quit driving One of the toughest decisions seniors face is when to give up their keys and stop driving. Even slight changes to the ability to remember, think and reason can lead a senior to decide to stop driving, a new study finds. Impaired cognitive function foreshadows the decision of many seniors to give up driving, even more so than age or physical changes related to Alzheimer's disease, researchers found. And routine brain testing -- in particular, screening meant to detect the earliest and most subtle decline -- could help older adults make safe driving decisions while still preserving their independence, the study concluded. "Many older drivers are aware of changes occurring as they age, including subjective cognitive decline," said researcher Ganesh Babulal, an associate professor of neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "Doctors should discuss such changes with their older patients," Babulal added in a university news release. "If risk is identified early, there is more time to support the remaining capacity and skills, extending the time they can drive safely, and to plan for a transition to alternative transportation options to maintain their independence when the time comes to stop driving." For the study, researchers tracked 283 people with an average age of 72 who drove at least once a week and had no cognitive impairments at the start. The participants underwent brain testing every year for an average of nearly six years, researchers said. They also received brain scans and provided cerebrospinal fluid every two to three years, to look for early signs of Alzheimer's disease. From the start, about a third of the people met the criteria for Alzheimer's disease without any symptoms, based on abnormal amyloid and tau proteins found in their brains and spinal fluid. During the study, 24 participants stopped driving, 15 died and 46 people developed cognitive impairment, researchers said. Three factors predicted who would stop driving during the study, researchers found -- symptoms of cognitive impairment, worsening screening scores for Alzheimer's and being a woman. Women were four times more likely to stop driving than men during the course of the study, results show. The study was published in the journal Neurology. "We know from past studies that there isn't a difference in driving ability between men and women," Babulal said. "What we have shown in prior work is that women are often more aware of their abilities, are more willing to admit that they are no longer able to safely drive, and plan more in advance to transition out of driving compared to their male counterparts." Men should be encouraged to be realistic about their capabilities as they age, Babulal said. "It is highly recommended that older male drivers talk with their providers about driving and consider stopping driving earlier," Babulal said. And doctors should consider routinely counseling older patients about driving, which Babulal sees as an opportunity to promote healthy aging. "There are things we can do to help people adapt to age-related changes," Babulal said. "Driver rehabilitation programs, often led by occupational therapists, can provide specialized training and strategies for older drivers to adjust to physical and cognitive changes to maintain driving capacity," Babulal noted. "Community support programs provide a forum for older adults to share experiences and learn from each other about safe driving practices and alternative transportation options." "Ultimately, most people will need to stop driving, but by starting the conversation early, we can better support older adults' independence and quality of life," Babulal said. By Dennis Thompson
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22 SMART READER March 09, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER May 30, 2024 22 Kenosha County ADRC to Offer Powerful Tools for Caregivers Online Class Next free six-week course to begin July 11, 2024 Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a no-cost, sixweek educational series, intended to teach skills on how to take care of yourself while caring for a loved one. The class helps family caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources. Donations are accepted to defer costs but are not required. The 6-week classes will be held Thursdays, beginning July 11 – August 15, 10 – 11:30 a.m. Classes will meet at the Kenosha County Job Center, Room South 11, 8600 Sheridan Rd., Kenosha. Registration is required by July 8. To register, call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 or click the red registration button at adrc.kenoshacounty.org. Memory Cafe Memory Café is a place for persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment, early-stage Alzheimer’s, or related dementia, and their care partners to socialize and have fun. Join the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center’s Dementia Care Specialist, Alex Troupis, on the second Tuesday of every month, 1-2 p.m. The next meeting will be on June 11, 2024, Kenosha Southwest Neighborhood Library, 7979 38th Avenue. Registration is required for new members. Call the ADRC at 262-605-6646. Going on Medicare? Learn about the decisions you’ll need to make The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers no-cost, unbiased, Medicare workshops for those new to Medicare, or who want to learn more. Trained benefit specialists will be available to answer your questions and discuss the decisions you’ll need to make, including the basics of Medicare coverage, options for private health and drug coverage, and public benefits that can help with health care costs. If possible, sign up for a workshop 3-4 months before your Medicare starts. UPCOMING MEDICARE 2024 WORKSHOPS: Kenosha County Job Center, 8600 Sheridan Road, Entrance A, Room N2 Tuesday, June 25, 2 – 4 p.m. Thursday, July 25, 10 a.m. – noon Tuesday, August 20, 10 a.m. - noon Due to limited seating, reservations are required. Call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 to make a reservation or to learn more. Senior Group Lecture: 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago Adventures in Lifelong Learning (ALL), an organization of mostly retired people ages 55 and older, offers lectures on various topics. Next Lecture: June 14 at 2:00 PM in person and live-streamed at UW- Parkside Tallent Hall, Room L182 Topic: 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago This lecture will focus on grassroots activism in Chicago in the months and years prior to the 1968 Democratic National Convention and Yippie "Festival of Life" as well as assess the impact of this national event at the local level. Professor Brian Mullgardt will be presenting. Mullgardt is a Professor of History at Millikin University in Decatur Illinois. He is also the Director of the School of Social Sciences. Prior to joining Millikin he was a teacher and department chair at the Prairie School in Racine, Wisconsin, and a lecturer at UW-Parkside. Adventures in Lifelong Learning is an active senior group with a wide variety of educationoriented activities, a friendly environment, and lots of interactive opportunities. An annual membership fee of $50 includes access to Lectures, Focus groups, Classes and Day trips at a cost. To learn more call, 262-595-2793. In-person or Virtual Caregiver Coffee Club ADRC offers support group for those caring for someone with dementia Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers a support group to help family caregivers who care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia. Join others engaged in helping their loved ones manage day to day living. Relax, chat and learn helpful tips and strategies. The Caregiver Coffee Club meets the first Wednesday of each month from 10-11 a.m., the next meeting will be on June 5. The support group is available in-person or virtually. Facilitated by Susan Johnson, Dementia Care Specialist with the Kenosha County ADRC. To register call 262-605-6646. Memory Screen Mondays The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers free, confidential memory screens every Monday, 8 a.m. - noon. Memory screens are suggested for anyone concerned about memory changes, at risk of Alzheimer’s disease due to family history, or who wants to check their memory now for future comparison. Some memory problems can be readily treated, such as those caused by vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems. In general, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is to treat memory loss. Memory screening can: • Provide relief for individuals concerned about normal memory loss • Lead to diagnosis of treatable conditions • Offer the ability to make lifestyle changes early when they have the greatest potential for positive effect and the opportunity to participate in making future decisions Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills, confusion over daily routines, and personality changes. Screening results are not a diagnosis, and individuals who have concerns are encouraged to pursue a full medical exam. Appointments are recommended. Interested persons may call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 to make an appointment. Your Kenosha ADRC Update
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 23 SMART READER May 30, 2024 SMART READER March 09, 2023 23 Dear Amy: I am a very active 66-year-old woman. I hate being idle. My mostly amazing husband doesn’t mind idle time. This would be OK, except he resents my constant coming and going. After retiring from a stressful corporate job, I have two part-time jobs; one that takes about eight hours during the week and the other four hours on the weekend. I also enjoy fitness, riding horses, playing with our grandson, and socializing during the day. I let my husband know years ago that I would hardly be home when I retired. Rarely do I go out with friends in the evening as we are both happy at home cooking and enjoying TV. My husband doesn’t understand my daytime activities and doesn’t share my interests. We’ve fought about this and he gets very upset. I could never be happy at home every day, but that is what makes him happy. I love him and don’t want to cause him hurt, but after 24 years together I’m wondering if we are incompatible. He won’t go to couples counseling and I’m not sure what, if anything, I should do. Your thoughts? – Keeping Busy Dear Keeping Busy: You seem to define “idleness” as a pejorative, and I wonder if you send your husband some signals (unconscious and overt) that you don’t approve of the way he is spending his time. During your busy corporate career, I’m assuming you spent more time away from home than you do now – but your husband may have assumed your choices would change appreciably once you left that job. I recently read a study profiling several couples newly in retirement, and in each case one partner seemed quite frustrated that the other wasn’t busy enough; these couples seemed to be struggling to adjust to the changed balance in their lives. Rebalancing takes time and effort. You and your husband might compromise by choosing an activity out of the house that you could enjoy together. You should research some new pursuits that might be of common interest to see if you could build up a fresh dynamic. Also – knowing your weekly schedule in advance might help him to be less triggered by your coming and going. Otherwise, since you seem unwilling to change your lifelong habits for him, your husband needs to understand that ultimately he is responsible for his own happiness. He might reject couples counseling, but individual counseling could help him a lot. Social connections are vital to health and contentment in the latter years, and he would benefit from connecting with other men at a similar stage in life. Dear Amy: I am a relatively healthy 81-yearold retired university professor. I hike over eight miles per day. I am happily married with one daughter and two grandchildren. Unfortunately, I was recently diagnosed with preliminary Alzheimer’s disease. I’ve told my wife and daughter about this, but no one else. I am fully aware of my memory problems, but they are not yet obvious to others. When I meet someone and they say, “Hello, Sam. How are you?” I say. “Fine. And you?” I almost never know their name instantly. I presume I will get worse with time. How do I handle revealing the underlying diagnosis to folks as time passes? – Call Me Sam Dear Call Me Sam: There is no sturdy protocol for how to handle revealing your diagnosis, but I suggest that you should do this only at a time that feels right for you, and in a way that reflects your strong intellect, healthy body, and stout character. Today I’m remembering my late and great Aunt Jean, who disclosed her diagnosis to family members all at once during our weekly diner breakfast, and she did so in a completely straightforward and good-humored way. Her candor completely opened the door, setting the tone for many honest and funny conversations well into the future. Dear Amy: I am wondering if I should intervene for a friend and neighbor who appears to be being taken advantage of by her daughter and granddaughter. "Edna" and "Max" retired eight years ago. (Edna is the neighborhood piano teacher. Many children and adults have benefited from her lessons.) Shortly after Max passed away seven years ago, Edna's divorced, unemployed daughter, "Lara," moved in with her. Now, Lara's unemployed daughter (Edna's granddaughter) has moved in bringing her four young children with her. The last time I saw Edna, she was crying and said that her daughter and granddaughter are sponging off of her, spending her Social Security, and because the unruly children are allowed to scream, fight, and wail incessantly, she's had to give up her piano clients. She said her daughter has talked her into a reverse mortgage so she and her granddaughter can have access to more of her money. She says she is a prisoner in her room. I provided my advice – kick them all out! Last week, I knocked on her door and her daughter turned me away, saying Edna has dementia symptoms and cannot talk to neighbors or go outside the house. I don't buy it. I am worried about Edna but do not want to be a busybody. Your advice? – Worried Dear Worried: You should intervene, and do so quickly. “Just kick them out” is not practical advice when the abuse has progressed to this extent. “Edna” is trapped. You should do a search for “Adult Protective Services” in your county and report this abuse immediately. I would also call the police and request a “wellness check” on this very vulnerable elder. This is not being a busybody. This is being a good friend. Dear Amy: My 83- year-old widowed mother is depressed, and I don't know how to help. She refuses to see a therapist and sees drugs as a crutch. She has always been a very private person, is generally distrustful of doctors, and would never let down her shields to a stranger. I have told her that I am not a therapist, but she has lately begun to confide in me about things that, even as an adult, I shouldn't be hearing. Depression runs in the family. I have seen a therapist in the past and am on medication, so I understand and empathize, but it's getting to the point where I dread seeing her, and yet I know that I'm her only lifeline. How do I help her? – Concerned Dear Concerned: People sometimes start to reveal long-repressed or suppressed trauma very late in life, when – for a variety of reasons (medical, emotional, and cognitive) – their defenses are down. Studies of WWII survivors have shown that the strong and stoic “Greatest Generation” have experienced nightmares, remembered traumatic events and suffered from depression very late in life. Quoting from one study: “In aging individuals, the classical symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may not be manifest, yet considerable distress may occur in the face of re-awakened memories of traumatic experiences.” Therapy helps. Medication helps. And yet many elders are resistant to the idea of treatment in the ways your mother is. My first suggestion is that you should resume in-person (or telehealth) therapy right away, in order to process this burden, which is a trigger for you. I urge you to seek healthy ways to be open and present for your mother, while resisting the temptation to try to provide answers or your own brand of therapy for her. Being in the moment with her is a special and challenging kind of witnessing. You stroke her hand. You say, “Mom, I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry.” You sit quietly, and if you’re able, you stay quietly in the moment with her, letting her speak. I wonder if you might be able to urge your mother toward treatment by asking her if she would consider doing this “for” or with you. A good and competent therapist helps their client transition from being a stranger – to a trusted and helpful ally. ask amy Retired woman isn’t leaving her day jobs You can email Amy Dickinson at [emailprotected] or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook. seniors edition
24 SMART READER March 09, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER May 30, 2024 24 More than a few people are just bound and determined to believe the worst about the government in general and about the Social Security system in particular. Here is one example of that. In my recent survey of the services provided by the Social Security Administration, hundreds of my readers praised the agency and gave it an average rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5). But borrowing a phrase from former Vice President Spiro Agnew, more than a few "nattering nabobs of negatism" also piped up with comments similar to this one: "We all know the government can't do anything right. And the SSA gets one star because it can't do anything right, either." Another person said this: "I give the SSA one star. Even though I've never been to a Social Security office, I can only imagine it's 10 times worse than your typical driver's license bureau!" First, let me say a word in defense of the muchmaligned driver's license bureaus. I recently had occasion to renew my license. I made an appointment online. I showed up at the bureau's office in my city at the prescribed time. The office was clean and modern and wellorganized. Places were clearly marked where those of us with appointments could wait. Within a few minutes, my name was called, and a friendly agent took care of me. The entire process took about 10 minutes. (I know that obviously driver's license bureaus can change from state to state and even from city to city. I'm just relaying my experience. 5 stars!) Anyway, back to Social Security. I think a big reason for all the "negatism" about Social Security has to do with the many unfounded myths and rumors that are out there, mostly in the online world, about the program. And then those rumors get spread from one naive and uninformed "nattering nabob" to another. In fact, there are so many myths, I devoted an entire book to them. It's called "Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts." You can get the book at Amazon.com and other booksellers. In today's column, I'm going to deal with one of those myths. It usually goes something like this: "I'll tell you what's wrong with Social Security. It's all those people getting benefits who never put a dime into the system! There are millions of them!" Let me start by saying this: There isn't a single soul getting a Social Security check who hasn't worked and paid into the system or who isn't a spouse or child of someone who has worked and paid into the system. I had a recent email exchange about this with a reader. He said that it's those spouses and children that he is talking about. He wanted to know how many of those kinds of folks there are. I answered his question, but first, I asked: "So what's your point? Should these people be kicked out of the program?" And surprisingly, he said: "Yes. In my view, if you yourself haven't worked and paid Social Security taxes, you should not get a Social Security benefit." I don't think I need to tell most of my readers that is an extreme and misguided view of how a social insurance system should work. If his ideas became reality, I think I would put him in charge of contacting each widow personally and saying something like this: "I'm sorry, ma'am, even though your husband worked for 50 years paying Social Security taxes before he died, because you never paid into the system yourself, we are going to have to cut off your Social Security checks." And I'd also have him call all the children of a deceased parent and tell them: "I'm sorry, little one. I know your dad died and you're getting some Social Security on his account. But because you haven't worked, I'm afraid we're going to have to stop your checks. Good luck!" I sure am glad that guy, and guys like him, aren't running the country. What a mean and heartless place it would be. Anyway, he still insisted that I tell him how many spouses and children were getting benefits. Here are numbers for the roughly 66 million Social Security beneficiaries: -- Retired workers: 48.5 million, or 74% of all beneficiaries -- Spouse and children of retirees: 2.7 million, or 4% -- Disabled workers: 7.6 million, or 12% -- Spouse and children of disabled workers: 1.2 million, or 2% -- Widows(ers) and children of deceased workers: 5.8 million, or 8% Someone could look at those numbers and say that about 9.7 million people, or roughly 14% of all Social Security beneficiaries, are getting Social Security checks even though they themselves haven't paid into the system. But it's not quite that simple. Many of those getting benefits as a spouse or widow are what is known as "dually entitled." That means they are getting some benefits on their own record, and then they are getting some extra benefits from a spouse's Social Security account. In other words, even though they are getting s u p p l e m e n t a l "dependent" benefits, they have worked and paid into the system. Another reader sent me an email about "those people on disability who are getting benefits they never worked for." That gullible guy has bought into the myth that people getting disability benefits are deadbeats who are somehow ripping off the taxpayers. So let me make this very clear: You cannot get Social Security disability benefits unless you have worked and paid Social Security taxes. I think I know where these rumors get started. There is a program with a confusing name called Supplemental Security Income. The program is managed by the Social Security Administration, and it sounds like it is some kind of Social Security supplement. It is not. It is a federal welfare program that, even though it is run by the SSA, is paid for out of general revenues, not Social Security taxes. SSI pays a small monthly stipend (rarely more than about $900) to poor people who are over age 65 or who are disabled. There may be people on SSI who have never worked and paid taxes. But again, this program has nothing to do with Social Security. social security You Must Pay In To Get Something Out with Tom Margenau If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast. net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. Tom Margenau joins Happenings Q&A on Thu. June 6th at 10:20 on AM1050 WLIP. and you f f . f , f $28 Eye Exam 262 - 554 -1121 • 3701 Durand Ave. Racine $18 Eyeglasses Place SR090822 Eyeglasses exam $49 without purchase of eyeglasses. See store for details.
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 25 SMART READER May 30, 2024 SMART READER March 09, 2023 25 Never Pay Retail! Wholesale Discount Prices Paints and Carpets 2415 - 60th Street • Kenosha,Wisconsin Next to Andreas • 654-5328 Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5pm, Sat. 8am - 4pm Buy where the professionals buy their pain t at discount prices. SR022517 Tune in weekdays from 9-11am when Frank Carmichael and Happenings staff memebers visit with interesting guests, both local and fron around the coujntry. Here’s a few previous happenings Q&A guests. GGlloriaoria && JJaayy Our Family has been serving great food and offering warm hospitality here for 50 years. Yes, it’s true the building is for sale... but we are absolutely here to serve you well into 2024. Please stop by & cozy up to the fireplace for a delicious meal, or give us a call to book your next gathering or holiday party! The Tradition Continues - 090723 SAT 053024 6:30PM 6/15 For advance tickets visit hap2it.com, call 262-564-8800 or stop in at 1420 63rd St., Kenosha between 10am - 4pm M-F Senior Citizens Receive a 10% DISCOUNT SR121720
