Moving the masses
DEAR READERS >> Today’s SOUND OFF is about mass transportation.
“Dear Heloise: This country needs more mass transit between cities. We build highways, but the congestion on our roads is becoming serious. Japan, for example, has a mass transit system, elevated above ground, that is not only energy-efficient, it can move a large volume of people at incredible speeds. There’s no stress or hassle over traffic jams, finding a place to park or exorbitant parking fees.
“With the increase in population over the coming years, we’ll need a mass transit system between all major cities, both above ground and below. The best time to look into this type of travel for our country is NOW.”
— Doug W. in Dallas DEAR READERS >> Here are some additional uses for clean kitty litter:
• Use clean litter as a deodorizer in the refrigerator.
• For stinky shoes, place a cup or two of clean cat litter in each leg of an old pair of pantyhose, tie a knot and leave it in the shoes overnight.
• Sprinkle it on oil spots in your garage.
• Keep a bag of cat litter in your trunk to sprinkle under tires in winter for added traction on icy surfaces.
OLD SCAM, NEW TRICK DEAR HELOISE >> I work for the police department in a major metropolitan city on the East Coast. Lately, we’ve been seeing an old scam return to the streets.
Someone will glue money or a cellphone (usually a broken one) onto the sidewalk, then wait for passers-by to try to pick up the item. While concentrating on getting the item of value off the sidewalk, a thief will pickpocket the person or pick up the person’s shopping bag or purse and run off.
— Anonymous, via email DEAR HELOISE >> I just read your column on how healthy pineapples are. Pineapples also, in times gone by, were used as a symbol of welcome. People would place a pineapple on their front gate or door as a sign of welcome. How wonderful that would be if it was still used as a welcoming gesture.
— Jennifer E. in North Carolina DEAR HELOISE >> Your recent recipe for Baked Hawaiian Chicken sounded delicious, but do you pour the leftover pineapple juice around the chicken, and do you cover the chicken with foil to bake?
— Margery T., via e-mail DEAR MARGERY T. >> Margery, yes, go ahead and pour the juice over the chicken, if you’d like, and no, there is no need to cover with foil. DEAR HELOISE >> There is an easy way to get rid of corn silk. Before cooking corn on the cob, grab a dampened paper towel and brush downward on the ear of corn. Repeat until all the corn silk is gone.
— Janet W., Idaho Falls, Idaho Write to Heloise at P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; Fax 210-HELOISE; or email Heloise@ Heloise.com