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.
DEAR HELOISE: I work for a police department 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 bag or purse and run off.
-- Anonymous, via email
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 READER: Yes, go ahead and pour the juice over the chicken, if you'd like. 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 silk is gone.
-- Janet W., Idaho
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
ActiveStyle on 10/14/2019