Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, December 11, 2021

Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 11, 2021 

PILL SPLITTING: WHEN IT’S SAFE, AND WHEN IT ISN’T 

Dear Savvy Senior:
When is it safe, or not safe, to split pills? I have a cousin who cuts almost all her pills in half in order 
to save money, but I’m wondering if she’s going overboard. What can you tell me about this? Curious 
Cousin 

Dear Curious: 

Pill splitting – literally cutting them in half – has 
long been a popular way to save on medication 
costs, but your cousin, if she hasn’t already done 
so, needs to talk to her doctor or pharmacist because 
not all pills should be split. 

The reason pill splitting is such a money saver is 
because of the way drugs are manufactured and priced. A pill that’s twice as strong as another 
may not be twice the price. In fact, it’s usually about the same price. So, buying a double-strength 
dose and cutting it in half may allow you to get two months’ worth of medicine for the price of 
one. But is it safe? As long as your doctor agrees that splitting your pills is OK for you, you learn 
how to do it properly, and you split only pills that can be split, there’s really no danger. 


Ask Your Doctor 

If you’re interested in splitting your pills, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find out if any of the 
medicines you use can be safely split. It’s also important to find out whether splitting them will 
save you enough money to justify the hassle. 

The pills that are easiest to split are those with a score down the middle. However, not every 
pill that’s scored is meant to be split. Pills that are most commonly split are cholesterol lowering 
drugs, antidepressants and high blood pressure medicines. 

Use a Pill Splitter 

Having the right equipment is very important too. Don’t use a knife or scissors to cut your pills in 
half. This can cause you to split them unevenly resulting in two pieces with very different dosages, 
which can be dangerous. Purchase a proper pill cutter that has a cover and a V-shaped pill grip 
that holds the pill securely in place. You can find them at most pharmacies for $5 to $10. 

For convenience, you might be tempted to split the whole bottle of pills at once. But it’s best to do 
the splitting on the day you take the first half, and then take the other half on the second day or 
whenever you are scheduled to take your next dose. That will help keep the drugs from deteriorating 
due to exposure to heat, moisture, or air. It will also help ensure that any deviation in the 
size of one dose is compensated in the next. It’s also important to know that pills are only safely 
split in half, and never into smaller portions such as into thirds or quarters. 

Don’t Split These Drugs 

Some pills should never be split. Drugs that are time-released or long-lasting and tablets that 
contain a combination of drugs probably shouldn’t be split, because it’s difficult to ensure a proper 
amount of active ingredient in each half. Pills with a coating to protect your stomach, and pills 
that crumble easily or irritate your mouth shouldn’t be split either, along with chemotherapy 
drugs, anti-seizure medicines, birth control pills and capsules containing powders or gels. 

Again, your doctor or pharmacist will know which drugs can and cannot be split. If you’re taking 
a medicine that can be split, you’ll need to get a prescription from your doctor for twice the dosage 
you need. Then you can start splitting and saving, safely. 

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.
org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” 
book. 


FAMILY MATTERS

 By Marc Garlett 

THE BASICS ON NFTS: THE NEWEST 
CRYPTOVERSE CRAZE 

NFTs, or “non-fungible tokens,” are the latest sensation in the cryptocurrency 
universe. In the most basic terms, an NFT is a cryptographic token that exists on a 
blockchain and is used to establish proof of ownership of digital artwork, videos, GIFs, collectibles, 
and other digital assets. Clear as mud, right? 

NFTs have been generating a major buzz in the tech and art sectors for years now, but after Christie’s 
auction house sold a single NFT collage from the digital artist Beeple for a staggering $69.3 
million this March, NFTs have begun making mainstream headlines. 

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRYPTOCURRENCY AND NFTS? 

While NFTs and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are all part of the Cryptoverse, 
cryptocurrency is a “fungible” asset, meaning it can be traded or exchanged with another identical 
unit of the same value. For example, one Bitcoin is equal in value and can be exchanged for 
another Bitcoin, just like one dollar is always worth the same as another dollar. 

However, NFTs are “non-fungible,” meaning each NFT is totally unique and not mutually interchangeable. 
Given this, no two NFTs are ever the same, and they cannot be replicated. Think of it 
in terms of traditional artwork: anyone can buy a Mona Lisa print, but only one person can own 
the original artwork. 

HOW DO NFTS WORK? 

As with cryptocurrency, a record of who owns each NFT is stored on a blockchain ledger. The 
vast majority of NFTs reside on the Ethereum blockchain, though other blockchains like Bitcoin 
Cash and FLOW also support them. Whenever a new NFT transaction is verified, it’s added to 
the blockchain, where it cannot be changed, replicated, or forged. 

The code embedded in NFTs can include specific information about the asset and its creator. For 
example, an artist can sign their digital artwork by including their signature in the NFT’s meta-
data. The unique information related to an NFT is stored in what’s known as a smart contract, 
which is one of the most unique and powerful features underpinning NFT technology. 

A smart contract is a digital contract in which the terms of the agreement are set in code. A smart 
contract can be programmed to execute a specific action when a set of predefined conditions are 
fulfilled. For example, a smart contact can be programmed to make royalty payments to an NFT’s 
creator whenever their digital art is sold to a new owner. 

WHY DO NFTS HAVE VALUE? 

Traditional pieces of art like paintings are valuable precisely because they are one of a kind, yet 
digital art can be easily duplicated an infinite number of times. With NFTs, digital art and other 
assets can be tokenized, which creates a digital certificate of ownership that allows the buyer to 
own the original item. 

The value comes from both the scarcity and collectability of the asset, as well as its potential for 
future sale. NFTs work like any other speculative asset, in that you buy it and hope that the asset’s 
value increases over time, so you can sell it for a profit. 

Essentially, NFTs transform, or “tokenize,” digital art, videos, and other collectibles into one-of-akind, 
verifiable assets, which allows them to be easily bought, sold, or traded on the blockchain. 
NFTs are basically like any other collector's item, such as a painting or a vintage baseball trading 
card, but instead of buying a physical item, you're instead paying for a digital file and proof that 
you own the original copy. 

ARE NFTS A GOOD INVESTMENT? 

While many see NFTs as merely another passing fad and expect the NFT bubble to burst any 
day now, I don’t know what to think. Personally, I won’t be investing in NFTs anytime soon – my 
wealth building plan incorporates more conventional, less speculative endeavors. I am, however, 
fascinated by these new Cryptoverse technologies and will watch the coming financial asset revolution 
with interest 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …December Birthdays* 

Maria Decker, Nancy Dorn, Prudence Levine Pat Karamitros, Joan 
Hufnagel, Mary Alice Cervera, Carol Horejsi, Shirley Anhalt, Helen Reese, 
Levon Yapoujian, Toni Buckner, Lottie Bugl, Sheila Wohler, Nan Murphy, 
Eleanor Hensel, Sylvia Curl, Elizabeth Levie, Gayle Licher, Cindy Barran, 
and Melissa Stute, Prudence Levin, Sheila Woehler. * To add your name 
to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not 

required 

SENIOR ACTIVITIES IN SIERRA MADRE 
HOLIDAY LUNCHEON 

Please join the Sierra Madre Senior Community Commission in the Hart Park 
House Senior Center for the much anticipated Annual Holiday Luncheon. Meet our 
Senior Commissioners as they assist with serving lunch and provide some holiday 
cheer. Bring your festive spirit for a fun and lively game of bingo, your appetite for 
a boxed lunch (by Nano Cafe) and door prizes. Staff will begin taking reservations 
over the phone on December 2, 2021. Space is limited to 40 people so reserve your 
spot! Please call 626-355-5278 with your reservation and sandwich choice. Turkey, 
beef or tuna. 

THE HART PARK HOUSE SENIOR CENTER IS OPEN!!!!

 In house lunch dining service will not resume at this time. Access to the computer/
classroom is temporarily unavailable. All Classes and programs will maintain a distance 
of 6 ft between participants. All equipment used will be sanitized after each 
use before it is stored. Each participant is responsible for providing their own water, 
masks and additionally needed supplies for each class. Please call the Community 
Services Department at 355-7394 with any questions or concerns. 

DOMINOES TRAIN GAME 
Wednesday, 12/1, & 12/15 11:00 am— 12:30 pm Hart Park House The object of the 
game is for a player to play all the tiles from their hand onto one or more trains, 
emanating from a central hub or “station”. Call Lawren with questions that you may 
have. Led by volunteer Loni. 

PAINT PALS 
Tuesday, 12/7, and 12/21, 10:00 am—Hart Park House If you enjoy painting, sketching, 
water color, or making some other form of artistic creation please join our new 
program, PAINT PALS!!! Bring a project that you are working on to the HPH and 
enjoy some quality art time with other artists looking to paint with a new pal. 

TEA AND TALK SENIOR BOOK CLUB 
Wednesday, 12/7 & 12/21— 9:00 am Staff has launched a new book club series, Tea 
and Talk, which meets twice a month to discuss the fun, suspense, intrigue, love and 
so much more that each selection will have in store! 

FIBER FRIENDS 
Tuesday, 12/14 & Monday, 12/20 —10:00 am If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, embroidery, 
needlepoint, bunka, huck, tatting or cross stitch then we have a group for 
you! Bring your current project, a nonalcoholic beverage, then sit and chat with 
likeminded fiber friends. We meet in the Hart Park House 

CHAIR YOGA 
Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 am Please join us for some gentle stretching, 
yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxation with Paul. Classes are ongoing and 
held in the Memorial Park Covered Pavilion. 

HULA AND POLYNESIAN DANCE 
Every Friday, 10-10:45 am Bring a lei, your flower skirt or just your desire to dance! 
Hula in the Park is back and waiting for you to join in on all the fun! Memorial Park 
Pavilion. 

CITY HALL AND THE HART PARK HOUSE WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY, 
DECEMBER 23, 2021 - MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022 

OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

I LOVE MY IMPERFECTIONS 


Unlike most people, I love my 
imperfections; those imperfections 
of mine do not cause 

me much trouble. 

I know most people like to focus on their perfections 
so that they can impress other people. 
But what about people like me who have no 
perfections to boast about? If I had one perfection, 
I would spend all my time talking about 
that. And, that would become rather boring in 
no time. 

Some people are ashamed of their imperfections 
and try to hide them. They think for some 
reason their imperfections bring them down. 
Therefore, they do all they can to hide their imperfections 
from everybody, thinking that nobody 
will know anything about them. 

For the longest time, I tried to do that myself. 
Then there came the day when I realized that 
most people could see past my façade and see 
my imperfections. 

For every perfection somebody has, there are 
probably dozens of imperfections. However, as 
for me, I cannot think of any perfection that I 
might have, and therefore focusing on my imperfections 
is the most reasonable thing to do. 

Yes, there was a time when I did not believe I 
had any imperfections. That is the attitude of 
bachelors. Once I got married, I was introduced 
to many imperfections I never knew I had. I 
had no reason to think I had any. 

Before I was married, I thought I was the perfect 
person with marvelous talent and abilities. 
From my perspective today, I sure was fooled 
about those nonexistent perfections I thought 
I had. 

This is one of the significant advantages of getting 
married. When a person only thinks about 
the perfections they have in their life and does 
not know anything about any imperfections, 
they are headed for disaster. Therefore, I guess 
that is why I got married when I was young. 

I have a cousin it was good looking and faithfully 
works at it but she is focused on her perfections. 
For example, she is very serious about 
her appearance, especially her skin. All I have 
to do is, when I meet her, is say, “Is that a new 
wrinkle on your face that I see?” 

She will laugh, but I know she will soon disappear 
to try to work on that wrinkle in a few 
minutes. Her idea is that her face should be 
wrinkle-free. Well, I think to myself, how’s that 
working? 

She does not realize that wrinkles are a verification 
that you are making something out of your 
life and you are growing. Instead, she looks at it 
from a negative standpoint. 

As a young person, I believed I knew everything 
and was perfect in everything. I remember how 
boring that kind of a life was, not to mention 
arrogant. 

If all I have in my life is perfection, how in the 
world can I improve myself? 

When I am reminded of a certain imperfection 
that I have, it encourages me to get better. 
If perfect, I cannot get better, but I can if I am 
imperfect. So it took me a long time to understand 
that. 

Now that I look back on my life, I can appreciate 
all those areas of imperfection that I survived. If 
imperfection is so bad, why have I had so many 
and have survived? 

It was the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 
that helped me understand my imperfections. 
I am sure she is not done with her task, but so 
far, she has found out many imperfections, and 
I have been working on some of them. 

It is true what my father used to say, “Son, you 
can’t fix everything.” Knowing that gives me a 
great deal of relief from all of the imperfections 
that I have in my life. 

Although my wife has been very faithful in helping 
me identify the areas of imperfection in my 
life, I have learned something very special. As a 
wife, that seems to be her job to help improve 
her husband. But, as a husband, that aspect of 
life is completely and absolutely off-limits. 

You don’t believe me? Okay, husbands, go tell 
your wife what is wrong with her and how she 
can fix it. Don’t worry; I’ll say something nice at 
your funeral. 

Through the years, I have enjoyed my imperfections 
because I do not allow them to harass me 
or even to define me. If I fix everything that is 
wrong with me, what in the world would I do 
next? Start fixing my wife’s imperfections? 

I remember when my imperfections suddenly 
did not mean much to me. That was when little 
children began invading our home. Once they 
began arriving, everything about me in my perfections 
flew out the window. Now, and I am so 
thankful for it, everything is about those little 
children. Nobody is looking at me, but everybody 
is looking at my children. 

I think that is why God gives us children. It deflects 
the attention from us to those cute, perfect 
little pre-adults. God is so wise in what he 
does. 

In thinking about perfection, I cannot help but 
go to a Scripture verse that talks about it. “Be ye 
therefore perfect, even as your Father which is 
in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). 

My idea of perfection is on the human level but 
that does not meet God’s standards. My perfection 
has to be according to our “Father which 
is in heaven.” 

My imperfections are no challenge to God if I 
yield my heart completely to him. 

Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God 
Fellowship, Ocala, FL 34483 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 
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