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The Kovels – Collecting and antiques

“Famille verte” is a term collectors use for a popular style of Chinese porcelain. If you speak French (the term was coined by French collector Albert Jacquemart in the 1860s), you know it means “green family.” It refers to a type of porcelain decorated with multicolor enamel, called wucai, or “five-color” in Chinese, where green is the dominant color. In Chinese, it is usually called Kangxi wucai because it was developed during the reign of the Kangxi emperor of the Qing dynasty, who ruled from 1661 to 1722. It experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 19th century, ...

Dear Annie

Dear Annie: Three years ago, my older brother received a $60,000 settlement, and I believe it changed his perspective on family and our relationship. One day, he offered to loan me $5,000 to either repair my car or put a deposit on a new one. He told me to wait two days, and then he would call me to meet him at the bank. Up until that point, my brother had always been a man of his word with me. We had a close relationship, and I never had a reason to doubt him. However, at that time, he was going through personal struggles at home with his wife and was in therapy, so perhaps his mental ...

The People’s Pharmacy

Q. I really enjoyed your radio show about home remedies. I’d like to add my voice to those who enjoy and tout the benefits of chicken soup. But I want to mention a very special kind — the chicken noodle soup that you can get in Chinese restaurants and carry-outs. The broth is excellent, and the chicken bits and long noodles are a delight. A bowl or two of this soup seems to mellow the symptoms of colds and flu and produce a sense of well-being. I really came to appreciate the soup when I caught COVID-19 early in September. It was one of the few things that I could taste. Adding a ...

To Your Good Health

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with advanced osteoporosis years ago. I started taking vitamin K2 because I read that it helps move calcium from the blood into the bones. Fast forward to last year, my doctor had me do a scan to check for arterial plaque because my total cholesterol went over 300 mmol/L. I had declined her recommendation to take prescription medications for it. My calcium score from the scan came back at 0%. My question is, could the vitamin K2 be responsible for my clear arteries, and if so, why don’t doctors recommend K2 first rather than jumping to statin scripts? ...

The Kovels – Antiques and collecting

Promotional toys have been a popular form of advertising for a long time. Bandy was an advertising mascot created for General Electric in the 1920s. General Electric had many other advertising toys, including the Hotpoint doll and a circus set. Bandy promoted their radios; his name comes from the “big band” jazz music that was popular at the time, even if his colorful uniform and tall hat, which undoubtedly helped catch customers’ attention, might be a better fit for leading a marching band. This example, complete with his baton, sold for $504 at Donley Auction services. Bandy ...

Dear Annie

Dear Annie: I was out having lunch with a friend I’ve known for many years. We met when our children were babies; they are grown adults now. We have only been meeting up once a week for lunch since April 2024, as we both have more time now that I have retired and she works part time. The thing is, I’m feeling quite overwhelmed at the moment. I got a new puppy in October 2024. I also have been suffering anxiety, exhaustion and feeling stressed, so I’m not really in a positive frame of mind. I was trying to tell this friend how I was feeling but felt like each time I said ...