Here's another one of those "mixed bag" collections. Compare it to a cleaning-the-refrigerator casserole -- something not-too-old, a few things new and whatever it takes to fill the space.

Some things we read or heard or made up or copied ... but nothing too frivolous or foolish or intended for April Fool's Day.

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Many of the conditions that cause pain disproportionately affect people starting at about age 65. In some surveys, half of respondents ages 60 and older have said that they suffer from chronic pain. -- from The Harvard Health Letter.

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Hearing ability decreases with age. As men age, their hearing deteriorates slightly more than women's, and the hearing of white people deteriorates more than that of blacks or Hispanics. Adults are going deaf at earlier ages than in the past and more young people are affected.

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The cause of about one-third of cases of hearing loss is avoidable: routine exposure to very loud noise, says David M. Vernick, medical editor of Harvard Health Publications. Jackhammers, lawn mowers and airplanes are obvious sources, but other culprits are hair dryers, portable music players and other gadgets that have become part of everyday life.

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An announcement in a church bulletin for a National Prayer and Fasting Conference reminded that the cost for attending "includes meals."

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When Eve said she had nothing to wear, she really meant it.

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Since 1964, the YMCA has served Finney County in building a healthy spirit, mind and body for all -- regardless of faith, race, gender, age, income or ability. In 2007, the Y served 64,037 -- an average of 183 visits each day.

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From "Zits," a comic strip: "I just never expected punishment to be, like, punitive."

From "Hagar, the Horrible," another strip: "Where's Poppa?" "On his boat, I think. I told him to shape up or ship out."

From "Pickles," another strip: "I was listening on a sub-conscious level." "That's impossible." "It is not. I do it all the time when you are talking to me."

From "The Lockhorns," also a strip: Leroy asleep in his chair. "He's been diagnosed as passive passive."

From "Pearls Before Swine" -- "Head colds aren't fatal."

From "Dennis the Menace" -- "Let the eating begin. Attila the HUNgry has arrived."

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A word seen in the name of fewer and fewer newspapers is "daily." There's not enough advertising to justify publishing daily.

Times they are a-changing.

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The Crochet Angels of Hutchinson need donated yarn for the many projects they stitch up and give away throughout the year ... Also in Hutchinson:

Flat Iron Meats are going out of business, a Fondant and Gum Paste Cake Class will begin this month, and on Mondays, a "smoked meat plate lunch" is served by the Salvation Army. As many as 200 or more have become regular customers ... At Cheney Reservoir, a new restaurant will be open on weekdays beginning in April. It will be called "Muddy Waters." ... In Montezuma, both the boys and girls basketball teams won their Class 1A championship games.

ROMEOS from Lindsborg and Salina are Retired Old Motorcyclists Eating Out ... COPD is for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (this is not a joke) ... RbST is for recombinant bovine Somatotropin (a synthetic variety of a naturally occurring hormone in cattle).

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Bumper sticker: "You can't beat brief."

E-mail Dolores Hope at dandchope@juno.com.