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THE SENIOR TIMES
A publication of The Senior Network
September 2024
Who’d A Thunk:
It was Zenith engineer Eugene Polley (1915–2012) who created the "Flash-matic," the first wireless TV remote in 1955. The Flash-matic operated by means of four photocells, one in each corner of the TV screen. The viewer used a directional flashlight to activate the four control functions, which turned the picture and sound on and off as well as turned the channel tuner dial clockwise and counterclockwise. However, the Flash-matic had problems working well on sunny days, when sunlight hitting the photocells sometimes changed channels at random.
Words of Wisdom:
“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose yours.”
Ronald Reagan
GOLDEN NUGGETS
When we think about September, we often think about it being time for school. Our thoughts not only consider the things we will learn, but we think back to the teachers who taught us. Perhaps your favorite teacher was pretty and always smelled nice. Maybe your teacher was funny and told jokes. In your eyes the best teacher you ever had loved sports and you both always rooted for the same teams. One thing is for sure, each one of them taught you the things that were important for you to learn so you could live a successful life here on earth. Their lessons were math, science, language arts, geography, history, art, physical education, home economics and shop. Plus they taught you morals, integrity, respect and how to be a good citizen. Most of the teachers, once you reached sixth grade, specialized in teaching just one subject. But there is one teacher who will teach you what you need to know to be successful in this life and the life to come. He not only is an expert in every field, He has also promised to send to you a mentor so you cannot fail. The Bible clearly states this in John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
Image how marvelous that is and will continue to be. Not only can we learn everything, but we will remember everything we have been taught. That is pretty impressive and makes us yearn to be enthusiastic “lifelong learners!”
Brain Teasers
(Answers at the end)
A man has 53 socks in his drawer: 21 identical blue, 15 identical black and 17 identical red. The lights are out and he is completely in the dark. How many socks must he take out to make 100 percent certain he has at least one pair of black socks?
Grandma’s Cooking Corner:
Miranda Kerr's Apple/Banana Gluten-Free Oat Muffins
Makes about 18 muffins
Ingredients
2 cups oatmeal
¼ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
11/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons chia seeds
¼ cup yogurt
½ cup apple juice
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 egg white
4 tablespoons coconut oil
½ teaspoon vanilla bean powder
2 large green apples
2 ripe bananas
½ cup chopped walnuts
Preparation
In a food processor, grind the oats into a flour-like consistency. Add walnuts and grind. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground oats and walnuts, baking powder and baking soda. In a separate small bowl, lightly beat eggs and egg white. Mix in yogurt and apple juice. In a small pot, mix coconut oil, cinnamon, vanilla and honey over low heat until it becomes syrupy and combine with egg mixture. Add wet mixture to dry mixture, and slowly fold in apple and bananas. Heat the oven to 350°. Line a muffin pan with paper liners or lightly grease your muffin tins and fill 3/4 full. Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted in the center of the muffin and comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon before serving.
HUMOR ME
Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands-free speaker- function and begins to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen. Man: “Hello” Woman: “Honey, it’s me. Are you at the club” Man: “Yes.” Woman: “I’m at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat. It’s only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?” Man: “Sure, go ahead if you like it that much.” Woman: “I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2007 models. I saw one I really liked.” Man: “How much?” Woman: “$65,000.” Man: “OK, but for that price I want it with all the options.” Woman: “Great! Oh, and one more thing. The house we wanted last year is back on the market. They’re asking $950,000.” Man: “Well, then go ahead and give them an offer, but just offer $900,000.” Woman: “OK. I’ll see you later! I love you!” Man: “Bye, I love you, too.” The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are looking at him in astonishment. He then grins sheepishly and asks: “Anyone know whose phone this is?”
MILITARY SALUTE
General George S. Patton
Educated at West Point, George S. Patton (1885-1945) began his military career leading cavalry troops against Mexican forces and became the first officer assigned to the new U.S. Army Tank Corps during World War I. Promoted through the ranks over the next several decades, he reached the high point of his career during World War II, when he led the U.S. 7th Army in its invasion of Sicily and swept across northern France at the head of the 3rd Army in the summer of 1944. Late that same year, Patton’s forces played a key role in defeating the German counterattack in the Battle of the Bulge, after which he led them across the Rhine River and into Germany, capturing 10,000 miles of territory and liberating the country from the Nazi regime. Patton died in Germany in December 1945 of pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure following an automobile accident.
Although we do not charge for our services or for The Senior Times, we have had numerous requests for this publication to be mailed to individuals. Since we must cover our costs, we are now offering a VIP Membership package for $50 a year. This will include the monthly newsletter and a membership card mailed to the recipient. We will introduce other “perks” during the year. This is NOT required to be part of The Senior Network.
“SENIORFRIENDLY”_HALL OF FAME
If you know an individual, a business, a group, an organization, or a municipality that is “senior-friendly” you may nominate them for the “Senior-Friendly” Hall of Fame. Submit their name, contact information and why you think they should be considered. Send to:
THE SENIOR NETWORK
3650 Rogers Road,
Suite #323
Wake Forest, NC 27587
SENIOR OF THE MONTH
September 2024
PENELOPE ‘PENNY’ SMITH
Born in Portsmouth, England, Penny’s father was a boat builder who had served some time in the Royal Navy. Both of her grandfathers were seamen, one in the Royal Navy. The other in the Merchant Navy; but hardly anyone in her family had an interest in aviation. Penny was different and joined the Royal Air Force as a direct entrant, attending the officer cadet training unit at RAF Henlow in 1966. Penny left the Royal Air Force in 1975 and joined Hawker Siddeley Dynamics in California. She married an American in 1978 and was widowed in 1990. She remarried in 1996, became Penny Smith, and is involved with her husband in a Reformed Presbyterian ministry to the poor in a crime-ridden area of Atlanta, Georgia. She has one son and six grandchildren.
Our NonProfit of the Month
St. Jude is committed to leveraging its assets to accelerate progress and maximize impact for children in Memphis and around the globe with an acute focus on fundamental science, childhood cancer, pediatric catastrophic disease, global impact, and workforce and environment. St. Jude has, and will continue to, significantly influence the way the world understands and treats childhood cancer, sickle cell disease, neurological disorders, and infectious diseases.
The St. Jude environment facilitates interaction among laboratory scientists and clinical investigators, promoting the translation of new findings from the lab to the clinic and communicating clinical problems to laboratory scientists for further investigation. The 22 academic departments are home to more than 120 fundamental and translational research labs that bring the ‘bench to the bedside,’ ensuring that patients treated at St. Jude benefit fully from advances in understanding of pediatric catastrophic diseases and their treatment.
Remember When
Men and women took to bell-bottom pants in the 1960s and into the ’70s (the latter helped along by the fact it was the style of then-married couple Sonny and Cher). More often than not, they were made of denim, though there was plenty of other material out there as well — and all of them had the legs flare out from the bottom of the calf. The hems were slightly curved with an 18-inch circumference and were worn with Chelsea boots, clogs or Cuban-heeled shoes. Bell-bottoms have actually been around since the early 19th Century and, prior to a specific uniform being assigned, sailors in the U.S. Navy had their pants legs flared in the same way.
Although based in northern Wake County, North Carolina, we are receiving numerous requests from around the country and are now partnering with churches and other organizations in many states to fulfill needs of seniors.
Grandpa’s Sports Stories:
Baseball, like all sports, was heavily impacted by WWII. As of December 1, 1943, 347 major league players were serving in the armed forces. Attendance numbers also went down, a total loss of 1,160,119 in comparison to 1942.
Even with a loss of players and attendance, teams still played exceedingly well. The St. Louis Cardinals led the National League with a 105-49 record, finishing 18 games over second-place Cincinnati. This was the largest first-place lead since the 1906 Cubs won the league by a margin of 20 games. The New York Yankees won the American League pennant with a 98-56 record, finishing 6 games over second-place Washington.
By season’s end, Stan Musial led both Leagues in the batting category, with a batting average of .357, 108 runs, and 220 hits. Bill Nicholson of the Cubs led the National League in Home Runs and Runs Batted In, with 29 HRs and 128 RBIs.
Rudy York of Detroit led the American League in Home Runs and Runs Batted In, with 34 HRs and 118 RBIs.
When the Yankees and Cardinals met for the World Series, the Yankees nearly swept the Cardinals, winning 4 games to 1. This brought the Yankees World Series wins to a total of 10 titles, double that of any other team.
Answer to Brain Teaser:
40 socks. If he takes out 38 socks (adding the two biggest amounts, 21 and 17), although it is very unlikely, it is possible they could all be blue and red. To make 100 percent certain that he also has a pair of black socks he must take out a further two socks.
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