parade 12-16

18
HOPPIN’ MAD AT THE LIES HE’S BEEN TOLD? Johnny Rabe, 12, stars on Broadway as Ralphie in A Christmas Story, the Musical! Is every snowflake unique? Are poinsettias poisonous? And do you really lose most of your heat through your head? Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings reveals the truth behind all those things you tell your children. THE ISSUE EVERY K I D SHOULD READ (And Parents, Too) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2012 © PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Upload: the-southern-illinoisan

Post on 07-Mar-2016

221 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

DESCRIPTION

The issue every kid should read (and parents, too)

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Parade 12-16

HOPPIN’ MAD

AT THE LIES HE’S

BEEN TOLD? Johnny Rabe, 12, stars on Broadway as Ralphie in A Christmas Story, the Musical!

Is every snowfl ake unique? Are poinsettias poisonous? And do you really lose most of your heat through your head? Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings reveals the truth behind all those things you tell your children.

THE ISSUE

EVERY

KID SHOULD

READ (And Parents, Too)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2012

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 2: Parade 12-16

PH

OT

OS

, C

LO

CK

WIS

E F

RO

M T

OP

LE

FT

: J

IM S

PE

LL

MA

N/W

IRE

IMA

GE

; L

AU

RA

CA

VA

NA

UG

H/G

ET

TY

IM

AG

ES

; J

AM

ES

FIS

HE

R/W

AR

NE

R B

RO

S.;

GR

EG

G D

EG

UIR

E/W

IRE

IMA

GE

PARADEWalter Scott’s

P Michael Strahan

Q: Has Michael Strahan

settled into his role as

cohost on Live? —Susan

Helms, Blue Springs, Mo.

A: The former NFL defen-sive end, who started his run as Kelly Ripa’s permanent cohost on the morning talk show in September, says he

“feels more comfortable, but there’s defi nitely a lot of room for improvement.” As for predecessor Regis Philbin, Strahan says: “I haven’t had a chance to sit down with him, but I know he’s given me the stamp of approval. He built a great

Q: How can the stars of

the reality show Moon-

shiners participate in

illegal activity and not get

arrested? —Bo Ortiz, Okla.

A: The Discovery series (Wednesdays) about Appalachians who brew home made hooch has beensubject to debate. Last year, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued a statement that said in part, “If illegal activity was actually taking place, the Virginia ABC Bureau of Law Enforce ment would have taken action”— casting doubt on exactly what is being shown onscreen. Moonshiners exe cutive producer Dolores Gavin chooses her words care-fully when discussing the show, calling it “an authentic portrayal” of the process. But she also stresses that “our moonshiners have been trained by their fathers and grandfathers to be

Q: Is it true Ian McKellen

almost didn’t reprise his

role as Gandalf in The

Hobbit? —M. Greer, Las Vegas

A: After playing the wizard in the Lord of the Rings

trilogy, Ian McKellen, 73, didn’t exactly jump at the chance to don the gray beard and robe again in The Hobbit, now in theaters. “It was a big time commit-ment, and it would keep me from other work,” McKellen says. “But they divided [the shooting] up so that I could do a play, and I felt happy about that. The clincher was that I didn’t really want any-body else to play Gandalf. It’s been a big part of my life for more than 10 years.”

Q: What are the require-

ments for being a Rock-

ette? —Liz H., Dunbar, W.Va.

A: Each member of the troupe must be at least 18, between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-10½, and profi cient in ballet, tap, and jazz. They rehearse six hours a day, six days a week to prepare for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which is pay-ing tribute this season to the Rockettes’ 85 years of performing in New York City. The Big Apple became the high-kicking dancers’ home after a talent scout saw the troupe in St. Louis in 1925.

egf

P The Rockettes

F∏EEBIESUNDAY XX

ENTER FOR

YOUR CHANCE

TO WIN Kiss’s The

Casablanca Singles 1974–1982, a limited-

edition vinyl box set, at Parade.com/win

legacy; I could never replace him.” Strahan, 41, has also lent his star power to the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign (stjude.org), which raises funds for the children’s research hospital.

2 • DECEMBER 16, 2012

WALTER SCOTT ASKS …

DEMI LOVATOThe X Factor judge, 20, gears up for the season � nale of the Fox reality singing competition, Dec. 20.

You mentored the young adults

category this season. How

was that experience?

Fun and exciting, but

really stressful. I was

surprised at how

emotionally invested

I became. It hurts to

see them go, espe-

cially when I know

their potential.

Describe your

fellow judges in

a few words.

Britney Spears is sweet

and humble; L. A. Reid

is hilarious and smart;

and Simon Cowell is

annoying and old!

Did you feel intimi-

dated as the youngest

judge? Not at all. It’s an

honor to sit next to them

because they’re legends,

but I’m a southern girl with a big

mouth, and I speak my mind!

You’re working on your fourth

album. What can fans expect?

I’ve got a lot of songs written,

and it will be released next year.

I’ll be singing about some stuff

that I haven’t talked about before.

I just want to inspire people.

You’ve spoken candidly

about your past strug-

gles with eating disor-

ders and self-harm.

Do you see yourself

as a role model for

others dealing with

those problems?

Absolutely. I have no

secrets about what

I’ve been through.

The fact that people

still support me after

all the mistakes I’ve

made is incredible. I feel

like a role model because

I’ve spoken out about it,

and I’m just being real.

Send questions to [email protected] or P.O. Box 5001,

Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163-5001.

6, 2012

R SCOTT ASKS …S …

ctor judge, 20, gears up for rn � nale of the Fox reality ompetition, Dec. 20.

ored the young adults

his season. How

xperience?

xciting, but

ssful. I was

at how

ly invested

It hurts to

go, espe-

n I know

ntial.

your

ges in

ds.

pears is sweet

le; L. A. Reid

s and smart;

n Cowell is

and old!

el intimi-

he youngest

t at all. It’s an

it next to them

hey’re legends,

but I’m a southern girl with a bigbutbbb I’m a southern girl with a bi

mouth, and I speak my mind!

You’re working on your fourth

album. What can fans expect?

I’vI e got a lot of songs written,

and it will be released next year.

I’ll be singing about some stuff

that I haven’t talked abouttttttut before.

I just want to inspire people.

You’ve spoken candidly

about your past strug-

gles with eating disor-

ders and self-harm.

Do you see yourself

as a rroleo model for

others dealing with

those problems?

Absolutely. I have no

secrets about what

I’ve been through.

The fact that people

still support me after

all the mistakes I’ve

made is incredible. I feel

like a role model because

I’ve spoken out about it,

and I’m just being real.

Send questions to [email protected] or P.O. Box 5001, m

Grand Central Station,New York, N.Y. 10163-5001.

nimble and slip around the laws. These guys are some of the smartest people you’ll ever fi nd.”

P Ian McKellen

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 3: Parade 12-16

Dell recommends Windows.

Total Savings $200

$39999Market Value: $599.99

SKU: A5467662

Order by 12/20 and have it in time for the holidays.

Inspire delight.Give the gift they'll open every day.

OFFERS ONLY VALID 12/13 - 12/20/2012 6:59AM EST* PRICING/AVAILABILITY: O� ers subject to change, not combinable with all other o� ers. Taxes, shipping, handling and other fees apply. Valid for new U.S. online purchases through the Dell Home Electronics and Accessories site and for phone orders of electronics and

accessories purchased without a system only. Free shipping and handling o� er available in Continental (except Alaska) U.S. only. Availability of electronics and accessories varies and quantities may be limited. Dell reserves the right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors. MARKET VALUE: Market Value is an estimate based on industry data such as published and as-sold prices for the same or comparable products in a survey of major online and/or o� ine retailers. GRAPHICS AND SYSTEM MEMORY (SDRAM): GB means 1 billion bytes, MB means 1 million bytes and TB equals 1 trillion bytes; signifi cant system memory may be used to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors. EASY RETURNS: 30-days is calculated from invoice date. Excludes smartphones, related accessories and software if opened or downloaded. DELL’S RETURN POLICY: If you cancel your purchase for any reason within 21 days, we’ll refund your purchase price minus shipping and handling and applicable restocking charges. In-production orders are non-cancellable.Returns are subject to restocking fee; you are responsible for the cost of shipping your system back to us. In-production orders are non-cancellable.Returns are subject to restocking fee; see dell.com/return policy. HARD DRIVES: GB means 1 billion bytes and TB means 1 trillion bytes; actual capacity varies with pre-loaded material and operating environment and will be less. AMERICAS BEST STANDARD SUPPORT: Inspiron and XPS PC's include a minimum of 90 Days Premium Phone Support and 1 Year In-Home Service after Remote Diagnosis. IN-HOME SERVICE AFTER REMOTE DIAGNOSIS: Remote Diagnosis is determination by online/phone technician of cause of issue; may involve customer access to inside of system and multiple or extended sessions. If issue is covered by Limited Hardware Warranty [www.dell4me.com/termsandconditions] and not resolved remotely, technician and/or part will be dispatched, usually in 1 or 2 business days following completion of Remote Diagnosis. Dell sells the following In-Home Service: Dell In-Home Service provided by Dell Marketing L.P. and, through TWG Innovative Solutions, Inc. (TWGIS), In-Home Service that is provided by National Product Care Company dba Texas National Product Care Company, Inc. (in TX), Service Saver, Incorporated (in AZ, FL, OK, and WI), and National Product Care Company (in remainder of U.S.). Third parties may be used to deliver the in-home service. Availability varies. Other conditions apply. For complete details about In-Home Service, visit dell.com/servicecontracts.” TRADEMARK AND COPYRIGHT NOTICES: Intel, the Intel Logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core, and Core Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows, Xbox 360 are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

E-Value™ Code: DDPDTZ46

�����������Intel® Core™ i3 processor

���!�������

��������������� ��������� �

���������������������Best Standard Support�

Inspiron™ One 20Desktop re-invented, lose the tower with

this space saving design and easy setup.

$49999 Total Savings: $130

Market Value: $629.99

15.6"

Inspiron 15Stay in touch with friends and family with a HD webcam on our wallet-friendly 15" laptop

�����������Intel® Core™ i3 processor

���!�������

������� ������������������� �

���������������������Best Standard Support�

E-Value™ Code: FNPDJ35ZS

$39999 Total Savings: $169

�����������������

All the power of super zoom in a camera sized to go everywhere

Canon® PowerShot SX500 IS 16MP 30X Zoom Digital Camera

��� ��� ��������Optical Zoom and 24mm Wide

Angle lens with Optical image stabilizer reducing

camera shakes

�������� ����Assist helps you track and capture

subjects for sharp photography

�������� ���������in 720P HD resolution with

stereo sound

�������� ������the action - this camera delivers

an amazing 10fps speed in autofocus mode

����� ������that deserve more, Motion

Snapshot brings photos to life

���!�� ����richer experience, simultaneously

capture �������������������������������

SKU: A6338209

Total Savings: $80

$24999Market Value: $329.99

Give Inspiration. Get remarkable savings. Shop amazing deals at dell.com/itsnottoolate or 800-378-DELL

Free shippingTake advantage of free* ground shipping on PCs and electronics at dell.com.

No minimum purchase required.

Visit your local Dell ShowcaseExperience for yourself. Go to dell.com/store to find the Dell Showcase near you.

Easy returns*Send it back within 30

days of your invoice date

for a full refund, plus free

return shipping. We’ll even

waive the restocking fee.

All-In-One

Desktop

20"

Nikon® J1 White 10.1MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with Nikkor Lens

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 4: Parade 12-16

IT’S A WRAP

Help gadget fi ends rein in unruly wires

and cords with CableKeeps by

Nice; they also act as charging

stands so phones and players don’t

have to rest on the fl oor. ($16 each;

aplusrstore.com)

▼ SPY GAMES

Young secret agents need constant contact with home base, so give the kids

long-range Spy Gear walkie-talkies. When silence is called for, the Secret

Code key can be used to punch in messages. ($30 for a pair; target.com)

MAKE A NOTE

From Louisa May Alcott to Samuel Pepys, Kurt Cobain to Frida Kahlo, history has

been fi lled with avid journal keepers. Encourage your own diarist with Paperthinks bright recycled

leather journals. ($18; katespaperie.com)

CARRY ON!

Your ride-to-work friend will love this water-resistant bag; it clips to the bike frame and has compartments for laptop, notebook, and lunch. ($35; greatusefulstuff.com)

▼ HOLIDAY GRIND

Pack this handy Danny Seo grinder with fresh or dried herbs and help a friend get cranking on a homemade rub for the Christmas day bird. ($14; dannyseo.com, HomeGoods, Marshalls, and T.J. Maxx)

Gifts Forgot someone on your list? Looking for something unexpected to give an o� ce mate? Look no further: These fun ideas are all $35 or under. • BY WENDY MANWARREN GENERES

4 • DECEMBER 16, 2012

A WRAP

adget ein in

ires with

byact

s

Look anare al

THE HOLE STORY

Help your golfer sharpen up his short game: This laser

clips to his putter, measures the distance to the cup, and

tells him how well he’s aiming. ($25; rh.com)

Parade

From LouKurt Cob

been fi lled wyour own diar

leather jo

▼ PET PROJECT

Send tails wagging with a herringbone

squirrel from Martha Stewart’s line

of tasteful toys for Fido and Whiskers.

($10; petsmart.com)

Y GAMES

L AST-M INUTE

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 5: Parade 12-16

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 6: Parade 12-16

PH

OT

O C

RE

DIT

S W

ILL

GO

HE

RE

AS

SH

OW

N

6 • DECEMBER 16, 2012

“STAY AWAY

FROM THE

POINSETTIA!

THE LEAVES

ARE POISON-

OUS.”

The truth is, it’s probably safer to eat an entire po� ed poinse� ia than Grandma’s fruit-cake. Unlike other plants in its genus, the poinset-tia isn’t dangerously toxic. Poison control centers say you’d have to gorge on 600 leaves to get a meaningful dose of irritating compounds, and even then the symp-toms would be no worse than a bellyache. (Prob-ably not much di� erent from the belly ache you’d get by eating 600 leaves of anything.)

No swimming right after lunch! Sugar will make you hyper! How many of these parental proclamations are actually true? In his new book, Because I Said So, PARADE’s trivia columnist (and ex-Jeopardy! champ), Ken Jennings, separates fact from fi ction.

Cover and inside photographs by Peter Yang

I was sitting in my parents’ kitchen not long ago when my son Dylan came running around the corner with a Tootsie Pop clamped in his mouth.

“Whoa, slow down!” I said. “What if you tripped and fell on your face? The lollipop stick would get jammed right through the roof of your mouth.”

Dylan’s eyes got wide. “Could that really happen?”I had no idea.“Of course!” I told him. “Go sit down until you’re done.” I found my mom and asked her to back me up: “It’s true

about lollipop sticks and horrifi c puncture wounds, right?”“That’s what Grandma used to tell us,” she said. “I

think it also happens in a Chaim Potok novel.”I was horrifi ed. A fact I’d passed along to my trusting

child turned out to be thirdhand rumor confi rmed only by a novelist?*

That’s the dirty secret of parenting: It’s a big game of Telephone, stretching back through the centuries and delivering garbled, though well-intentioned, medieval bromides to the present. Possible misinformation like the lollipop story never gets corrected; it just goes into hiber-nation for a few decades and then jumps out to snare a new generation, like a 17-year cicada.

So I decided it was time to shine the cold, hard light of truth onto parental folklore. It would be too ambitious to attempt to stamp out all the lies we tell children. There are safety lies (“This car won’t run unless your seat belts are on”) and sympathy lies (“We sent your hamster to live on a farm”) and keep-your-kids-out-of-therapy lies (“We love you both exactly the same!”). But the accidental lies are easier to tackle. Here, I’ve collected 15 nagging Mom- and Dad-isms we all grew up with, and presented the scientific evidence—or lack thereof—behind them.

TRUTH...WHOLETHE

The Truth,

Jennings’s book is

available in stores

and online.

1

*A study from Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital found that most puncture wounds in the mouth healed by themselves—and less than 3 percent of those injuries were caused by lollipops. The hospital saw just one lollipop case every two years, on average. Apparently, enjoying one on the go isn’t so reckless after all.

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 7: Parade 12-16

PH

OT

O C

RE

DIT

S W

ILL

GO

HE

RE

AS

SH

OW

N

DECEMBER 16, 2012 • 7

“NO SWIMMING FOR AN HOUR AFTER LUNCH. YOU’LL CRAMP UP.”

Perhaps no piece of dubious

parental wisdom has ever

been followed so precisely. It

is true that when we eat, our

bodies divert blood to the

stomach to aid in digestion,

but, as you may have noticed,

that doesn’t immobilize your

arms and legs. In fact, long-

distance swimmers are rou-

tinely fed in the middle of

races to make sure they stay

nourished and hydrated.

The only dangerous lunch for

swimmers would be one that

included a martini or two. So

let’s get this straight, moms

and dads: Popsicles by the

pool: fi ne. Peach vodka Pop-

sicles: maybe less so.

“WHEN YOU START SHAVING, THE HAIR WILL GROW IN THICKER.”

To a 12-year-old

boy, it’s the best possible

news. To a tween girl, it’s a

cautionary tale. But in both

cases, the advice is pretty silly.

Hair follicles are located a

millimeter or two below the

surface of the skin; anything

that goes on up above has no

effect on the growth of hair.

Why has the myth persisted,

then? Most dermatologists

blame the texture difference

between unshaved and

shaved hair. Longer hairs

bend and fl ow better than

little stubbly ones. Hair also

tends to taper naturally, so

when it’s freshly shaved, the

blunter ends may make it feel

temporarily coarser.

OUR MODEL, Johnny Rabe, 12, hails from the

Chicago area and is mak-ing his Broadway debut

as Ralphie in A Christmas

Story, The Musical! (playing through Dec. 30). “It’s

cool to be playing such an iconic character,” Rabe

has said. “I mean, a lot of people know Ralphie. They know the gun, the glasses,

the cheesy smile, the daydreaming.”

3

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 8: Parade 12-16

8 • DECEMBER 16, 2012

ST

YL

ING

, B

AR

RY

DO

SS

; H

AIR

, J

EN

NA

BA

RR

IOS

; M

AK

EU

P,

MIC

HE

LL

E C

OU

RS

EY

; P

RO

PS

, L

ISA

ED

SA

LV

/BE

RN

ST

EIN

&A

ND

RIU

LL

I. C

OV

ER

LO

GO

: J

OE

ZE

FF

DE

SIG

N

“DON’T EAT

SNOW—

IT’LL MAKE

YOU SICK!”

Findings published

in Science in 2008 revealed that some snow� akes form around a “seed” of bacteria such as Pseudomonas syringae—which led to “Why snow might be killing your kid!” teasers in newscasts.But Pseudomonas syringae causes a fatal disease in beans and tomatoes, not peo-ple. And the human stomach is acidic enough to kill bacteria in snow. However, there are worse things in the air—such as sulfates, nitrates, even lead—and snow might contain any of them. Catching � akes on your tongue is no big deal, but any kid put-ting away buckets of the white stu� may want to ease up.

Council recommended “one milliliter of water for each calorie of food.” A 1,900- calorie diet would indeed work out to about 64 ounces of water a day. But everyone seems to have forgotten the next sentence: “Most of this quantity is contained in pre-pared foods.” That’s right, Mrs. Brown: Most of our water gets to us in non-water form. In fact, a National Institutes of Health doctor told the Los

Angeles Times that a healthy adult in a temperate climate could replace his body’s daily water loss with food alone!

So what’s the right amount to drink? Whatever your thirst demands. And it doesn’t have to be water: The Center for Nutrition found that even supposedly “diuretic” bever-ages (like coffee, tea, and soda) provide almost all the hydration that water does.

“IT’S TOO

DARK IN

HERE.

YOU’LL

HURT YOUR

EYES.”

Moms and dads love to

walk around turning on lights when kids are reading. But there’s no direct evidence linking reading in the dark to eye damage. When light is dim, it takes more effort for the eye to focus, and your eyes might get dry or achy or your vision might get blurry sooner. But a few minutes’ rest will clear that right up.

“YOU ARE A

SPECIAL LITTLE

SNOWFLAKE.”

While the child in question may well

be unique, the crystalline lattices that fall from the sky sure aren’t. This adage dates back to Wilson Bentley, a turn-of-the-century Vermont man who was so fascinated by snowfl akes that he spent his life perfecting a process to photograph them. In a series of journal articles, Bentley argued that no two fl akes were alike.

At a molecular level, of course, he was right. There are something like a sextil-lion molecules of water in one snowfl ake, and the arrangement of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes within them will never be dupli-cated. But at a more mean-ingful level—that of micro-

scopic inspection—Bentley was wrong. The simplest snowfl ake shapes are likely repeated all the time.

“YOU NEED

HYDROGEN

PEROXIDE

ON THAT.”

Okay, I’ll admit that hydrogen peroxide looks pretty cool when it foams like crazy. What you’re seeing is cells dying, and the sting you feel is a sign that tissue is being damaged. In fact, the CDC advises against putting hydrogen peroxide on your skin. It’s not even a particu-larly good antiseptic. An anti-biotic ointment like Neosporin is a better choice, but doctors say the fi rst thing to do is fl ush the wound with a close cousin of hydrogen peroxide: dihydrogen monoxide, which is excellent at preventing infection and scarring. You probably know it as water.

“TAKE OFF THE

BAND-AID TO

LET YOUR CUT

AIR OUT.”

“Airing out” is classic Dr. Mom advice. But it has been outdated since 1962, when a doctor named George Winter compared open-air to covered wound healing on young pigs. Skin cells regrew about twice as fast on the covered wounds, which stayed moist and didn't scab. You don’t need anything fancy to keep scrapes hydrated. Vaseline will do the trick.

6

“DRINK

EIGHT

8-OUNCE

GLASSES OF

WATER A

DAY.”

This was called the “8x8

rule” when I heard about it from my seventh grade home ec teacher, Mrs. Brown. Not milk; couldn’t be juice; had to be water. I pro-tested that since all beverages were mostly water, surely they would count? “No!”

In 2002, a kidney specialist named Heinz Valtin, M.D., concluded this rule was an accident. Back in the 1940s, the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research

“DON’T CROSS YOUR EYES—THEY’LL GET

STUCK LIKE THAT!”

People with accommodative esotropia can focus clearly on nearby objects only by slightly crossing one eye, a re� ex that leads to a cross-eyed condition. But it’s caused by a congenital lens defect, not by making funny faces. This cockeyed myth is yet another case of parents saying “That’s dangerous!” when what they really mean is “Why on earth are you doing that?”

9

8

7

5

WATCH FOR KEN JENNINGS’S

trivia column, Kennections, in future issues, or play now at Parade.com/ken

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 9: Parade 12-16

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 10: Parade 12-16

10 • DECEMBER 16, 2012

ILL

US

TR

AT

ION

: G

RA

FIL

U

“NO SODA! THE SUGAR MAKES YOU HYPER.”

“I can hear your heart racing from here,” observes Calvin’s pet tiger, Hobbes, as the comic strip menace dives into a second bowl of Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs. It’s the myth of the “sugar high”—the idea that candy, sodas, and sugary cereals cause kids to bounce off the walls like little SuperBalls. Dozens of recent studies, however, have soured doc-tors on the possible linkage. Sugar doesn’t really wind kids up, they now believe—it’s just that many of the occasions on which kids eat lots of sugar, like birthday parties and holidays, tend to be chaotic anyway.

Cutting down on sugar is great for kids’ teeth and weight, of course. It just won’t help them sit still on Grandma’s plastic-covered couch. Some research has even found that sugar may have a calming effect on younger kids.

“DON’T WAKE A SLEEP-WALKER.”

This is good

advice, but not for the reasons you might think. For centuries, we’ve been warned that waking a sleepwalker could lead to a heart attack, brain damage, or worse. In reality, a sleepwalker who wakes suddenly is likely to be dis-oriented and distressed by her unfamiliar surround-ings. That’s as serious as it gets. Nevertheless, doctors recommend gently leading the sleepwalker back to bed rather than disrupting her slumber and risking a pos-sible sock in the jaw.

“YOU’RE NOT FAT. YOU’RE JUST BIG-BONED.”

Skeletal weight obviously varies between people. A future archaeologist wouldn’t

have trouble telling, say, Shaquille O’Neal’s skeleton from Kristi Yamaguchi’s. But leaving height aside, the differences between the big-boned and small-boned are surprisingly, well, slim.

The medical rule of thumb is that having an unusually large or small frame can make a 10 per-cent difference in your healthy weight range. How to calculate whether your

genetic heritage entitles you to that extra 10 percent? If you’re okay with a ballpark estimate, wrap the thumb and middle fi nger of one hand around your opposite wrist. If they touch, more or less, your frame size is average. If they overlap, you’re an elfi n little waif. If they don’t meet, your bones are offi cially “husky” or “stocky” or whatever Mom’s favorite euphemism was.

But, again, the telltale wrist refers only to that 10 percent variance. The vast majority of overweight kids can blame their eating hab-its, not their skeletons.

“IF YOU PICK UP A BABY BIRD, ITS MOMMY WILL

REJECT IT.”

A baby bird with a whiff of human scent on it, the story goes, will be abandoned by its mother. But animal mothers are so protective of their off-spring that no stink would likely keep them from caring for their young. And most birds’ sense of smell is as weak as their maternal instinct is strong.

Baby birds without feath-ers are nestlings, and you should do your best to return them to their nest. But a young bird with feathers fl ap-ping around on the ground is a fl edgling learning to fl y. Its parents are probably nearby, watching over the little guy. You’ll likely do more harm than good if you swoop in to help out—but it won’t be due to your B.O.

From Because I Said So: The

Truth Behind the Myths, Tales,

and Warnings Every Genera-

tion Passes Down to Its Kids by Ken Jennings. Copyright © 2012 by Ken Jennings. Reprinted with permission by Scribner, a division of Simon & Schuster Inc.

12

11

15

“MOST OF YOUR BODY HEAT

ESCAPES THROUGH YOUR HEAD!”

This old saw comes from experi-ments done in the 1950s in which soldiers were sent into subzero temps wearing survival suits—and no hats. Shockingly, they

lost a lot of heat through their heads! As hypothermia expert Daniel Sessler, M.D., explained to the New York

Times, you’d get the same results if any body part were exposed. Our faces and necks are � ve times more sensi-tive to temperature, so those areas may feel particularly vulnerable. But you’d lose just as much heat or more if you put on a hat and le� , say, your le� leg bare.

77 73 65 61 59

79

41

37

55

23

19

35 5 3 1 17

Numbrix®

Complete 1 to 81 so the numbers follow a horizontal or

vertical path—no diagonals.

You wrote that you can’t gain more than the weight of the food you eat. But a pound has 3,500 calories, and a gram of pure fat has 9 calories. With 454 grams in a pound, this means that if you ate a pound of fat, you would consume 4,086 calo-ries. So you would gain more than a pound, correct?

—Ann B., Escondido, Calif.

A pound of human body fat has only about 3,500 calories because it also contains water, which adds to its weight but not its calories. Technically speak-ing, if you found a way to consume a pound of pure fat, you would gain more than a pound, counting the water. However, virtually no food on the market is 100 percent fat—even butter also has water. At roughly 80 percent fat, a pound of butter contains about 3,200 calories.

Ask MarilynBy Marilyn vos Savant

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 11: Parade 12-16

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 12: Parade 12-16

12 • DECEMBER 16, 2012

ILL

US

TR

AT

ION

S:

EL

WO

OD

H.

SM

ITH

HealthyStay

1You’re attending a

neighborhood pot-

luck party. Which hors

d’oeuvre staple is your

best bet?

(a) A handful of nuts

(b) Pigs in a blanket

(c) Cheese and crackers

Answer: (a). If your main

concern is glucose con-

trol, you need to watch out

for carbohydrates, which

can cause a big spike in

blood sugar. Nuts are

relatively low in carbs

and contain healthy fats

and protein. Cheese is

your second-best choice,

but skip the high-carb

accompaniments like

crackers or jam.

2You’re meeting

friends for holiday

cocktails. Which beverage

will least affect your blood

glucose level?

(a) Beer

(b) Wine

(c) A gin and tonic

Answer: (b). Though beer

and tonic water may not

taste particularly sweet,

both are high in carbo-

hydrates compared to dry

(non-sweet) wines. But

before you indulge, it’s

important to talk to your

doctor, since alcohol

and diabetes can be a

dangerous mix. Drinking

can camoufl age the symp-

toms of low blood sugar,

(b) After the party

(c) Both

Answer: (c). Yes, it’s a pain

to drag your glucometer to

a party, but it’s the only way

to tell whether your blood

glucose is in a safe range.

Try to test shortly before

eating and again two hours

afterward, says the Ameri-

can Diabetes Association. —Catherine Price

decrease your willpower to

make smart food choices,

and impair your liver’s

ability to regulate your

blood glucose level. So if

you do drink, know your

limit and stick to it.

3Your offi ce holiday

party is tonight. The

best time to test your

blood glucose is:

(a) Before the party

Have Yourself a Healthy

Li� le ChristmasFor the nearly 26 million Americans with

diabetes, making the right choices at the holiday

bu� et is a serious ma� er. As party season gets

under way, test your knowledge with our short quiz.

I recently read that superca� einated energy drinks may be

linked to several deaths. Should I be worried about how

much ca� eine I—or my kids—consume?

Most adults can tolerate 300 to 500

milligrams of ca� eine (a six-to-eight-ounce

cup of coffee can contain 95 to 200 milligrams). Consume more than 600 milligrams and you may experience

nausea, ji� eriness, or a rapid heartbeat;

extremely high intake can lead to a danger-

ous spike in blood pressure. Kids should

avoid signi� cant amounts of ca� eine, whether in sodas or

energy drinks. We aren’t sure of the

long-term e� ects of ca� eine on growing

bodies, plus it can interfere with sleep—

and most kids need more shut-eye, not

less. —Andrea N. Giancoli, R.D., spokesperson

for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

NUMBER OF

CALORIES

THE AVERAGE

AMERICAN

ADULT

CONSUMES

EACH DAY

FROM

ALCOHOLIC

BEVERAGES Source: National

Center for Health Statistics

NUMBER OF

ADDITIONAL

PRIMARY CARE

DOCTORS

THAT WILL BE

NEEDED IN

THE U.S. BY THE

YEAR 2025 Source: Annals

of Family Medicine

HOUSE CALL

10052,000

PARADE’S POP QUIZ

E

E

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 13: Parade 12-16

The Most Innovative Gift Just Got BetterNEW AirFit™ Adjustable Contour Pillow

This promotion is not valid with other discounts, offers or on previous purchases. Restrictions may apply. Prices subject to change without notice. Offer valid 11/27/12 at 12:00 AM ET – 12/24/12 11:59 PM ET. Picture may represent features and options available at additional cost. Not all bed models are displayed in all stores. Beds not available for in-store pickup. Additional shipping and delivery fees apply unless otherwise stated. *Excludes clearance items. Savings off full retail price. SLEEP NUMBER, SELECT COMFORT and the Double Arrow Design are registered trademarks of Select Comfort Corporation. © 2012 Select Comfort

Find Sleep Number®

exclusively at one of our 400 stores nationwide.Visit sleepnumber.com or call 1-800 SLEEP NUMBER (753-3768) for a Sleep Number® store near you.

20-50% Off*

selected pillows and bedding

Give from the Exclusive Sleep Number®

Bedding Collection.

See how the AirFit™ Pillow adjusts to you!

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 14: Parade 12-16

PH

OT

OS

: J

AM

ES

WO

JC

IK/T

RU

NK

AR

CH

IVE

TableAround the

1. PEPPERMINT WHITE

CHOCOLATE BARKMelt 12 oz chopped white

chocolate in microwave,

stirring often. Add 1 Tbsp

melted shortening and an

additional 4 oz chopped

white chocolate. Stir. Spread

on a parchment-lined bak-

ing sheet; top with coarsely

chopped peppermint

candies. When hardened,

break into pieces.

2. CHOCOLATE PEANUT

CRUNCHIES Melt 1 cup milk chocolate

chips. Stir in 2½ cups

dried chow mein noodles.

Drop from a tablespoon

onto an oiled baking sheet

and sprinkle with coarsely

chopped peanuts or almonds.

Let cool.

3. FUDGY TRUFFLESSimmer 1 cup cream and

¼ cup butter; stir until smooth.

Pour over 1 lb chopped

semisweet chocolate;

stir until chocolate is melted

and smooth. Add 1½ tsp

vanilla extract. Chill for 1 hour.

Roll into small balls. Coat

with crushed candy canes.

4. PEANUT CHOCOLATE BARKMelt 12 oz fi nely chopped

milk chocolate in micro-

wave, stirring occasionally. Add 1 Tbsp melted shorten-ing and 4 oz chopped semi-sweet chocolate . Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with ¹∕³ cup raisins and ²∕³ cup salted roasted peanuts. After chocolate hardens, break into pieces.

5. SPICY PUMPKIN

SEED BONBONSIn a heavy skillet, combine 1 cup sugar, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Cook over medium, con-stantly swirling pan, for 6 minutes or until dark gold. Remove from heat and add 1 Tbsp butter, ½ tsp cin-namon, and 1½ lb toasted, hulled pumpkin seeds. Form into rounds with a scoop; place on an oiled, parchment-lined baking sheet to set.

6. PEPPERMINT WHITE

CHOCOLATE FUDGELine a 9-by-13-inch pan with foil. In a saucepan, simmer ¼ cup softened butter, 4 cups mini marshmallows, 1 cup heavy cream, 2 cups sugar, and ¹/8 tsp salt. When smooth, stir in 3 cups white chocolate chips and 1 tsp pepper mint extract. Blend well. Spread in pan. Coat with colored sprinkles. Cool; cut into squares (if you like, cut squares in half to make triangles). As a variation, substitute vanilla for peppermint extract.

OBJECTS OF OUR

CONFECTION

Sweeten your holidays—and have fun with the kids—

by making your own candies (all ready in under an hour!)

More Candy, Please! FIND OUT HOW TO

MAKE YOUR OWN

BUCKEYES, TURTLES, AND

PEANUT BRITTLE AT

DASHRECIPES.COM/CANDY

Sweet Treat

2

1

3

4

65

14 • DECEMBER 16, 2012

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 15: Parade 12-16

PHILADELPHIA INDULGENCE Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake

Makes 16 servings:

28 LORNA DOONE ShortbreadCookies, � nely crushed (about 1¾ cups)

¾ cup plus 1 Tbsp. sugar, divided

¼ cup butter, melted

5 oz. BAKER’S White Chocolate, divided

3 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIACream Cheese, softened

2 tsp. vanilla, divided

3 eggs

1 tub (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA INDULGENCE Milk Chocolate

2 cups COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

1 cup fresh raspberries

like the holidayspheels

HEAT oven to 325°F.

Mix cookie crumbs,

1 Tbsp. sugar and butter;

press onto bottom of

9-inch springform pan.

Bake 10 min.

MELT 4 oz. white

chocolate as directed

on package. Beat plain

PHILADELPHIA Cream

Cheese, remaining sugar

and vanilla with mixer

until blended. Add

melted white chocolate;

mix well. Add eggs, 1 at

a time, mixing on low

speed after each just until

blended. Pour over crust.

BAKE 50 to 55 min. or

until center is almost set.

Run knife around rim

of pan to loosen cake;

cool before removing

rim. Refrigerate 4 hours.

Meanwhile, shave

remaining white

chocolate into curls.

SPOON PHILADELPHIA

INDULGENCE into

medium bowl; stir until

creamy. Add COOL

WHIP; whisk until

blended. Spread over

cheesecake. Garnish

with white chocolate

curls and raspberries.

© 2012 Kraft Foods

the moment

pheel

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 16: Parade 12-16

ILL

US

TR

AT

ION

: G

RA

FIL

U

Manner Up!Modern etique� e made easy

Q: Last year, my sister regi� ed a present from me to another family member. I didn’t know what to say, so I kept silent. What should I have done? —Kevin S.

A: You did exactly the right thing. In my opinion, regifting is totally fi ne. (It’s almost a holiday tradition in my house, right up there with the endless arguments about which political party is ruining the country.) Maybe your gift was the wrong size or color, or not to her taste. … So what? That doesn’t mean she didn’t appreciate it. I’ve often received gifts that weren’t quite right for me, but (a) I didn’t want to go through the hassle of returning the item, and (b) I realized it would be right for someone else. And hey, maybe she simply liked what you got her enough to get the same thing for another person. Regardless, the kind thing to do is ignore, ignore, ignore—and take note of the gifts you’ve given her that you know she truly cherishes. —Judith Newman

Send your questions toParade.com/mannerup

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 17: Parade 12-16

Every TV show you watch has a world of sound

within, but you may not be hearing it. � at’s

because most fl at-panel TVs have speakers that

simply can’t reproduce the depth and detail of all

that sound, so it remains trapped inside. To solve

that problem, we developed the Bose Solo TV

sound system. It reveals so much more of the

sound you’re meant to hear, watching TV can feel

like an entirely different experience.

No matter how many times you’ve watched your

favorite shows, you can hear details you never noticed

before. Subtle sound effects. � e crisp, clear vocal

that steals the spotlight in your favorite talent show.

Our fi rst one-piece solution for your TV.

Proprietary digital signal processing allows this

speaker to deliver more of the dialogue, music and

sound effects you’ve been missing – clearly and

naturally. So you won’t have to turn up the volume

to hear it all. And Bose speaker array technology

reproduces sound that’s wider than the screen, all

from a speaker that fi ts neatly under your TV.*

Hear it for yourself.

� e price of the Bose Solo TV

sound system is $399.95.

When you call, ask about

making 12 easy payments of

just $33.33, with no interest

charges from Bose.** Order

now to take advantage of our

special, limited-time Audition

offer that lets you try it in your

home for 90 days, risk-free.

And discover why Bose is the

most respected name in sound.

*� e Bose Solo TV sound system is designed for TVs with bases that are no wider than 20” and no deeper than 10.25.” Most TVs up to 32” and many 40”-42” TVs meet these requirements.

**Bose payment plan available on orders of $299-$1500 paid by major credit card. Separate fi nancing offers may be available for select products. See website for details. Down payment is 1/12 the product price plus applicable tax and shipping charges, charged when your order is shipped. � en, your credit card will be billed for 11 equal monthly installments beginning approximately one month from the date your order is shipped, with 0% APR and no interest charges from Bose. Credit card rules and interest may apply. U.S. residents only. Limit one active fi nancing program per customer. ©2012 Bose Corporation. Financing and Audition offers not to be combined with other offers or applied to previous purchases, and subject to change without notice. Offer valid 8/30/12-12/31/12. Risk-free refers to 90-day Audition only and requires product purchase. Delivery is subject to product availability.

To order or learn more: Bose.com/CJ293

1-800-474-2673, ext. CJ293

One speaker

with no separate

bass module needed.

One connection to your TV and

one plug to the wall.

� at’s it.

One simple solution

that fits neatly

under your TV.*

Bose® Solo TV sound system

One speaker. A new TV experience.

Hear the sound and make up your own mind. But please act soon – this offer ends December 31, 2012.

FREE shipping to your home.

Not delighted?FREE return

shipping.

to try it, with no

obligation.90DAYS

THE BOSE 90-DAY, RISK-FREE AUDITION.

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Page 18: Parade 12-16

Every TV show you watch has a world of sound

within, but you may not be hearing it. � at’s

because most fl at-panel TVs have speakers that

simply can’t reproduce the depth and detail of all

that sound, so it remains trapped inside. To solve

that problem, we developed the Bose Solo TV

sound system. It reveals so much more of the

sound you’re meant to hear, watching TV can feel

like an entirely different experience.

No matter how many times you’ve watched your

favorite shows, you can hear details you never noticed

before. Subtle sound effects. � e crisp, clear vocal

that steals the spotlight in your favorite talent show.

Our fi rst one-piece solution for your TV.

Proprietary digital signal processing allows this

speaker to deliver more of the dialogue, music and

sound effects you’ve been missing – clearly and

naturally. So you won’t have to turn up the volume

to hear it all. And Bose speaker array technology

reproduces sound that’s wider than the screen, all

from a speaker that fi ts neatly under your TV.*

Hear it for yourself.

� e price of the Bose Solo TV

sound system is $399.95.

When you call, ask about

making 12 easy payments of

just $33.33, with no interest

charges from Bose.** Order

now to take advantage of our

special, limited-time Audition

offer that lets you try it in your

home for 90 days, risk-free.

And discover why Bose is the

most respected name in sound.

*� e Bose Solo TV sound system is designed for TVs with bases that are no wider than 20” and no deeper than 10.25.” Most TVs up to 32” and many 40”-42” TVs meet these requirements.

**Bose payment plan available on orders of $299-$1500 paid by major credit card. Separate fi nancing offers may be available for select products. See website for details. Down payment is 1/12 the product price plus applicable tax and shipping charges, charged when your order is shipped. � en, your credit card will be billed for 11 equal monthly installments beginning approximately one month from the date your order is shipped, with 0% APR and no interest charges from Bose. Credit card rules and interest may apply. U.S. residents only. Limit one active fi nancing program per customer. ©2012 Bose Corporation. Financing and Audition offers not to be combined with other offers or applied to previous purchases, and subject to change without notice. Offer valid 8/30/12-12/31/12. Risk-free refers to 90-day Audition only and requires product purchase. Delivery is subject to product availability.

To order or learn more: Bose.com/CJ294

1-800-450-2073, ext. CJ294

One speaker

with no separate

bass module needed.

One connection to your TV and

one plug to the wall.

� at’s it.

One simple solution

that fits neatly

under your TV.*

Bose® Solo TV sound system

If you think watching TV is exciting,wait until you really hear it.

Hear the sound and make up your own mind. But please act soon – this offer ends December 31, 2012.

FREE shipping to your home.

Not delighted?FREE return

shipping.

to try it, with no

obligation.90DAYS

THE BOSE 90-DAY, RISK-FREE AUDITION.

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.