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PADDY AND THE PIG
Famous mascots, logos and characters from books and songs are being tossed aside in this modern, more politically correct world. The Aunt Jemima of today doesn't resemble the original. Chief Wahoo of the Cleveland Indians baseball team made his last appearance at the end of the 2018 season. But has it gone too far? It has been suggested that the Fighting Irish Leprechaun, mascot of the University of Notre Dame sports teams, be dropped as not politically correct. Though derived from Irish folklore, some think he is a negative stereotype that is insulting to those of Irish background. As always, there are two sides to the argument, and so far, those who like their leprechaun are winning.
This leprechaun probably was inspired by "Paddy and the Pig," a caricature used by British political cartoonists since the 1840s to represent Ireland and the Irish people. Paddy was the ignorant peasant; the pig was the backward agricultural nation. Paddy wore breeches, a patched coat and a strange hat. Most of the political arguments were about Irish Home Rule, a hot topic in Victorian England politics. The comic Paddy was re-created as a toy. A version made by Lehmann, a German toy manufacturer, depicts Paddy trying to ride an uncooperative pig that moves back and forth while Paddy holds on for dear life. It sold at a Bertoia auction in New Jersey for $1,320 Q: Is there an easy way to date an unused postcard? I know the amount of the postage stamp has often changed and there are lists of the prices and dates. But when were photographs rather than color pictures used? When was it called a "postal card"? A: Postcard collectors know and have listed the table of postage and postcard changes online, and they are in our book "Kovels' Know Your Collectibles." A postal card is an early card called "pioneer" with no picture used from 1893 to 1898. A government printed card had printed postage, a privately-printed card required a stamp and a divided-back card was used from 1907 to 1914. Photochrome cards were used after 1939. Collectors call them photographs, although many are lithographs with a shiny finish. Real photo cards were used since 1900. If you want to sound like an expert, refer to them as RPPC. Used cards can be dated by the amount of the postage stamp; the postmark; a two-digit postal code, used after 1943; and a five-digit ZIP code, used after 1963. |
Paddy and the Pig is a caricature found in political cartoons during Victorian times. A toy based on the caricature sold recently for $1,320.
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For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com |
(c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
NEW OPTION TO TREAT ENLARGED PROSTATE
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 66-year old male, who is healthy with a very active life, both physical and sexual. Like many men my age, I have an enlarged prostate that my doctor monitors during annual visits. It doesn't impair my life, with the small exception of being annoying (waking up nightly to a weak or slow urinating stream), and it doesn't bother me too much during the day, except once in a while when I have to urinate a little more than usual. Every now and then I'll try an over-the-counter prostate supplement, but they never work. I will NOT go for a surgery because it's not really necessary.
I just read about a new revolutionary treatment option called a prostatic lift device, which is supposed to "lift and remove the prostate tissue out of the way so it no longer blocks the urethra (the passageway that the urine flows through)." It says, "Tiny implants are placed to hold the tissue in place, like tiebacks on a window curtain, leaving an unobstructed pathway for urine to flow normally again." They go on to say that treatment typically takes under an hour, preserves sexual function, doesn't require cutting, heating or removal of tissue. Compared with other BPH surgeries, this system is supposed to have a strong safety profile with minimal side effects. Have you ever heard of this? Do you think it's safe? It sounds great. However, the thought of tiny implants being placed inside of me and staying there scares me. -- V.A.
ANSWER: The prostatic urethral lift procedure is yet another option for men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate. The procedure does involve the placement of small implants. The procedure is said to be easy to perform (easy for a urologist, that is), and improves quality of life and measures of urinary flow.
In a study of 206 men, none developed sexual troubles after the procedure. It has significant benefits over traditional surgery: Recovery is faster and has less risk of sexual side effects, but traditional surgery improved urinary flow and complete bladder drainage more than the urethral lift procedure. Also, 14% of men who had the lift procedure needed the traditional surgery within five years. The implants seem to be safe and do not affect the ability to do surgery if necessary.
I wouldn't recommend this procedure nor a surgical procedure -- or even an alternative procedure like laser, microwave, plasma vaporization or water vapor ablation -- without a trial of prescription medication first. Most men do very well with an alpha blocker like tamsulosin (Flomax), a dihydrotestosterone blocker like dutasteride (Avodart), or a combination of the two. I'm not sure you have tried that.
***
DEAR DR. ROACH: Simple question: Why can't I hear well when I am having a big yawn? Is this normal? -- J.C.A.
ANSWER: This is normal; in fact, it's a universal finding with a yawn that hearing decreases (but doesn't go away entirely). This is because the Eustachian tube closes, and there is a pressure difference inside versus the outside of the eardrum, reducing the ability of the ear to transmit sound.
Interestingly, after a big yawn, hearing may be improved; when the Eustachian tube reopens after the jaw position changes, it can equalize the pressure and improve sound transmission.
I just read about a new revolutionary treatment option called a prostatic lift device, which is supposed to "lift and remove the prostate tissue out of the way so it no longer blocks the urethra (the passageway that the urine flows through)." It says, "Tiny implants are placed to hold the tissue in place, like tiebacks on a window curtain, leaving an unobstructed pathway for urine to flow normally again." They go on to say that treatment typically takes under an hour, preserves sexual function, doesn't require cutting, heating or removal of tissue. Compared with other BPH surgeries, this system is supposed to have a strong safety profile with minimal side effects. Have you ever heard of this? Do you think it's safe? It sounds great. However, the thought of tiny implants being placed inside of me and staying there scares me. -- V.A.
ANSWER: The prostatic urethral lift procedure is yet another option for men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate. The procedure does involve the placement of small implants. The procedure is said to be easy to perform (easy for a urologist, that is), and improves quality of life and measures of urinary flow.
In a study of 206 men, none developed sexual troubles after the procedure. It has significant benefits over traditional surgery: Recovery is faster and has less risk of sexual side effects, but traditional surgery improved urinary flow and complete bladder drainage more than the urethral lift procedure. Also, 14% of men who had the lift procedure needed the traditional surgery within five years. The implants seem to be safe and do not affect the ability to do surgery if necessary.
I wouldn't recommend this procedure nor a surgical procedure -- or even an alternative procedure like laser, microwave, plasma vaporization or water vapor ablation -- without a trial of prescription medication first. Most men do very well with an alpha blocker like tamsulosin (Flomax), a dihydrotestosterone blocker like dutasteride (Avodart), or a combination of the two. I'm not sure you have tried that.
***
DEAR DR. ROACH: Simple question: Why can't I hear well when I am having a big yawn? Is this normal? -- J.C.A.
ANSWER: This is normal; in fact, it's a universal finding with a yawn that hearing decreases (but doesn't go away entirely). This is because the Eustachian tube closes, and there is a pressure difference inside versus the outside of the eardrum, reducing the ability of the ear to transmit sound.
Interestingly, after a big yawn, hearing may be improved; when the Eustachian tube reopens after the jaw position changes, it can equalize the pressure and improve sound transmission.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.
(c) 2020 North America Synd., Inc.
All Rights Reserved
(c) 2020 North America Synd., Inc.
All Rights Reserved