Today is November 24

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, November 24, 2021

By special.to

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Porky Pig
Police in York County, SC had a run in recently with a road hog that was disrupting traffic on a local two-lane highway, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. This was not your run of the mill reckless driver — it was a real pig, a porker of great proportions. It’s owner, who calls the animal “Papa Pig,” was hauling it home in a trailer when it used its weight to break free. The troopers managed to round up the huge hog and called for a heavyweight horse trailer to get it to its destination.
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Age is just a number
Senior citizen 89-year-old Manfred Steiner of East Providence, Rhode Island recently proved the adage that age is just a number, says the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. Steiner was already a Doctor of Medicine who also holds a doctorate in biochemistry, thanks to the urging of his family when he was a young man. However, he says, physics was always his passion. And so, after retiring as a hematologist at Brown University at the age of 70 he enrolled at Brown to earn a degree in physics. “Even though I am old, I would like to continue with physics. And even after writing and publishing this paper [his thesis], I want to continue my research.  I always tried to keep my brain sharp.  Physics certainly helped me do that.”
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Fruit salad tree
Why clutter your backyard with multiple fruit bearing trees when you can grow a variety of fruits together on one tree? That’s what gardener Hussam Saraf did in his backyard in Shepparton, Australia, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. He simply grafted 10 fruit tree cuttings onto a single tree trunk and, voila, he had his pick of white and yellow nectarines, white and yellow peaches, blood and yellow plums, peachcots, apricots, almonds and cherries. Although it impressed the folks at the Guinness World Records organization enough to recognize his achievement, they said only five of the cuttings — plum, apricot, almond, peach, and cherry — qualified; the other five were redundant. But Saraf says he is determined to do it again, promising to graft ten different varieties of fruit on a single tree.
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Tips for tackling picky eaters

Many a parent understands the problems posed by picky eaters. Dinner table confrontations over vegetables can try parents’ patience, and kids busy refusing to eat their broccoli may not be getting all the vitamins and minerals they need to grow up healthy and strong. Recognizing that parents sometimes face an uphill battle when confronted with picky eaters, the American Heart Association offers the following tips for dealing with picky eaters.

· Let kids pitch in on prep. The AHA recommends allowing picky eaters to help shop for groceries and prepare meals. Youngsters who pitch in may be more invested in their meals and therefore more likely to eat them.

· Steer clear of unhealthy foods. Kids imitate their parents’ behaviors, and that extends to the foods mom and dad eat. Parents who set bad examples by eating unhealthy meals and snacks may find it especially difficult to convince youngsters to forgo pizza and potato chips in favor of healthy fare. In addition, kids can’t sneak unhealthy snacks if such snacks are nowhere to be found. Avoid sugary drinks, such as soda, in favor of water or 100 percent juice as well.

· Stick to a snack schedule. The AHA advises that many kids like routine and will grow accustomed to eating at certain times. When parents and kids stick to a snack schedule, the AHA suggests kids are likely to eat what they’re given. Choose healthy snacks, ideally incorporating two food groups.

· Add healthy foods to dishes kids already like. Another way to get picky eaters to embrace healthy foods is to introduce such foods into dishes kids already like. For example, add antioxidant-rich blueberries to pancakes. Kids might like that extra burst of flavor, and parents can rest easy knowing kids are eating something healthy.

· Don’t be afraid to serve the occasional bowl of ice cream or brownie. When eaten in moderation, foods that are not often associated with nutrition, such as ice cream and baked goods, don’t pose much of a threat. In addition, if kids’ diets never include such indulgences, the AHA notes that youngsters are more likely to overindulge when they do get their hands on forbidden foods, such as at birthday parties or other special events.

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