QUESTION: I just bought a can of King Oscar sardines, and the sardines seemed to be much bigger than they usually are. Do they vary in size?

ANSWER: Yes. My sardine expert, Gordon Wright, of King Oscar’s Court, tells me that sardines can vary quite a bit in size. He writes, “Winter-caught brisling are generally larger than summer. Also, they can be a bit bigger or smaller depending on where they’re caught, in the fjords or out in the North Sea.” For some unexplained reason, I received many questions and comments on sardines. Perhaps that’s because it is not a major interest to any segment of the media.

2.

QUESTION: Who does your proofreading? From an avid reader, Lewis F. Unger, Jr., Reading.

ANSWER: Enclosed with that brief note are twelve of my columns and three of my “Ask Herb” question and answer sections. Each one marked with typographical errors. So first of all I have to thank Mr. Unger. Second, I have to be happy to see that someone actually cut out and saved twelve of my columns and three of my “Ask Herb” sections. And finally, I have to answer the question. I word process a column and then read it a few times. Of course, I use the spell check on my computer. Often, I have a few others read a draft copy for suggestions and corrections. Then I send it to the newspaper where one or more editors read it and correct it, if necessary. Despite all that and multiple proof reading, some errors are not caught. Maybe I should have Mr. Unger proof read my columns, but before I do that I’ll just try harder. I’m happy to report that I now have one master proofreader checking my columns before they go out. He is Louis Sheehan, and he will receive full blame for any typos that continue.

3.

QUESTION: Is diphtheria still a problem for adults?

ANSWER: A publication of the Bryn Mawr hospital, quoted a CDC report, says if you’re taking a trip, you should be aware that diphtheria is still a killer in some countries. So it advises, “To steer clear of this disease, be sure to get a tetanus-diphtheria booster shot every 10 years.”

4.

QUESTION: If you’re installing lighting fixtures in a ceiling, do you have to take any special precautions?

ANSWER: I just checked the installation instructions on one kind of ceiling fixture, and it says if there is ceiling vibration, certain extra steps should be taken to be the fixture is securely placed.

5.

QUESTION: Could there be a disaster in the U.S. of the same magnitude as the recent Asian Tsunami?

ANSWER: Absolutely. And one that some feel is almost inevitable is another flu pandemic. Remember that the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918 killed 50 million worldwide. Forbes Magazine recently published insurance industry estimates of possible catastrophes. It indicated a flu pandemic in the U.S. might kill 200,000 and infect 41 million. In addition, the 1918 flu pandemic hit healthy as well as immune compromised people with impact that was fatal. The flu pandemic was the highest reported toll of any possible catastrophe.

6.

QUESTION: I know you’re supposed to be wary of employment services that require advance fees. Are there other likely advance-fee scams?

ANSWER: I know of two others. If a finance company wants an advance fee to get you credit, that is a classic red flag flying. Another one is help in getting college aid requiring an advance fee. These three advance-fee schemes have been the subject of abuse over the years.

7.

QUESTION: Is that new law entitling everyone to periodic free credit reports in effect yet?

ANSWER: In a way it is. But the FTC, which administers the law, is rolling it in from west to east, so those in Pennsylvania aren’t eligible for free credit reports yet, but will soon be. There are two other exceptions. Some states, including New Jersey, have state laws entitling citizens to free credit reports, but Pennsylvania never passed such a law. Further, there are several situations when you are entitled to a free credit report. For example, if you have been turned down for a loan and if you act promptly, you are entitled to a free credit report.

8.

QUESTION: If you’ve scheduled a flight into the Tsunami-zone can you reschedule without paying a penalty?

ANSWER: Every airline has some special arrangements, with some offering not only rescheduling without penalty, but also refunds. So you have to check with the airline in question. You should also be aware that some of these special rules apply to areas to South Asia not even hit by the Tsunami, such as Singapore and most of India.

9.

QUESTION: Do credit unions require membership to utilize their banking-like operations?

ANSWER: Some don’t, and some permit relatives of members to utilize facilities.

10.

QUESTION: Can you deduct charitable contributions made in 2005 from your tax return for 2004?

ANSWER: There’s a special rule, but it applies only to contributions for the Tsunami relief effort. You can deduct such contributions made in 2005 on the return for either year, but the contribution has to be made by the end of January 2005. Be aware that most contributions to foreign organizations are not deductible. Finally, this will be advantageous only if you are itemizing deductions. For all the details see your tax adviser or call the IRS at 800-829-1040.

11.

QUESTION: Why aren’t there more discussions of no-fault auto insurance at state and federal level?

ANSWER: Our no-fault law could be improved in many ways, but the Pennsylvania legislature usually waits for some immense crisis to take action on that kind of legislation and even a crisis may not be enough. However, at the federal level, Senator John McCain is leading an effort to get Congress to enact a national no-fault law. There hasn’t been much in the media about this, but there is a lot of backstage maneuvering.

12.

QUESTION: How can you make area rugs safe? I’m afraid my elderly parent is going to trip on them.

ANSWER: You’re right to be concerned. Area rugs are one of the leading causes of falls among the elderly. There are a couple of possibilities. Get rid of them. The second is to use double adhesive to glue them down. But even when fastened, area rugs may create a slight upward step that may be a tripping hazard.

13.

QUESTION: I couldn’t find the site with the recommended blood pressure monitors. Could you let me know how to get there?

ANSWER: The easiest way to find the site is to go to www.dableducational.com and navigate from there to its listing of recommendations. You can also google dable educational trust and that will give you a link.

14.

QUESTION: Are antacids and calcium supplements interchangeable?

ANSWER: No. Some antacids are also good calcium supplements, such as Tums, perhaps the best known of the group. But some antacids have magnesium or aluminum compounds in them. They would not make sense as a calcium supplement. First, you would be getting ingredients you don’t need and probably would be paying more than necessary. Second, the extra-unneeded compounds could produce extra-unneeded side effects.

15.

QUESTION: Is life insurance paid to a beneficiary subject to estate recovery under the Medicaid law in Pennsylvania?

ANSWER: No. That according to Jeffrey A. Marshall, a certified elder law attorney practicing in Wilkes-Barre. He explains estate recovery as follows: “This law [of the federal government] requires Pennsylvania to attempt to ‘recover’ money spent by Medicaid (‘Medical Assistance’) from the probate estate of deceased individuals.”

16.

QUESTION: Why does a serving of dried prunes have more fiber than a serving of stewed prunes?

ANSWER: Because stewing adds water to the prunes, the water has no fiber. So in equal weights of the two, the stewed prunes will have less fiber. There’s another similar question about peanuts: what has more calories: a serving of peanuts or chocolate-covered peanuts? The answer, the peanuts. That’s because the peanuts, due to fat content, have more calories than chocolate. So when you add chocolate and subtract peanuts, you actually reduce calories.

17.

QUESTION: How can I get an authoritative determination of how much I should weigh?

ANSWER: Go to www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi. There you can determine your body mass index, which depends on weight and height. That is considered a better way to determine if you are overweight than by weight alone.

18.

QUESTION: You always criticize doctors for not telling patients to exercise, to lose weight, to stop smoking, etc. Can’t patients figure that out for themselves?

ANSWER: Studies show you’re more likely to pay attention and act on advice coming from a doctor than your self-directed advice. In addition, there may be some who need some persuading to convince them to diet or exercise.

Herb Denenberg is a former Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner, professor at the Wharton School, and Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and is a board member of the Center for Safe Medication Use. He is an adjunct professor of insurance and information science and technology at Cabrini College. You can write Herb at POB 7301,St. Davids, PA e-mail him at hdenenberg@aol.com or reach him at his two Web sites: thedenrep_archive.org or denenbergsdump.org