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Glory Days & maturity FRESNO (MCT) — Gary Haas squeezes between a pair of ceiling- high book cases, arranged to create a small office area and a central location for his stamp collecting hobby. Haas' passion for col- lecting is evident. Most of the shelves are filled with volumes and volumes of stamps, categorized by date, country, color and subject matter. The collec- tion is so massive that Haas has no idea of the total. It's the accumulation of more than 40 years of col- lecting, which started when Haas received a stamp collecting starter set for Christmas when he was 8 years old. "In the 1970s, I got a stamp collecting merit badge through the Boy Scouts, where I learned some of the basics of stamp collecting," Haas, a Minneapolis native, says. "I started going to stamp shows about six times a year. It's a slow learning process." Over the years, Haas checked out stamp-collect- ing books from the library to do research on the mil- lions of different stamps that have been printed since the first ones were produced 172 years ago in Great Britain. philately, may seem like an old-fashioned hobby, but it remains popular with many Americans. Experts say it's popular because it appeals to a broad age range, is not affected by location or climate and can be as expensive or inex- pensive as you want. There has been a decline in the number of collectors. Stamp collect- ing was at its peak in the U.S. in the 1950s, when about 4 percent of all Americans had collections. Today, the American Phi- latelic Society estimates there are more than 5 mil- lion American stamp col- lectors. It remains the No. 1 hobby in the world, dri- ven by the rapid growth of collectors in China as the country's economy grows. Fresno stamp dealer Gary Deitz turned his 65- year-old hobby into a busi- ness. The walls of Gary Deitz Stamps/Supplies are covered with binders and boxes full of stamps metic- ulously organized so he can find one from Tonga as quickly as one from Ger- many. Stamp collecting, or lifestyles Stamp lover's passion for hobby thrives Injuries can leave you weak in the knees MINNEAPOLIS (MCT) — No golfer likes it when a shot lands in a sand trap, but Jeff Robinson used to get par- ticularly distraught when it happened. Having struggled with sore knees for two decades, just navigating the small descent into a bunker was excruciating. "I couldn't go downhill without pain," he said. "By the end of the round, my knees would be totally inflamed." The 63-year-old Minneapolis real estate agent still lands in the occasional sand trap, but it no longer bothers him — at least not on a physical level. After trying everything from arthroscopic surgery to cortisone shots to lubricant injec- tions, he finally opted to have both knees replaced, the left one in December 2007 and the right one three months later. His knee replacements "worked out so well that now I'm encouraging everyone who has problems to do it as soon as the problems start to impede their ability to do things nor- mally," he said. The knee is one of the body's most complex joints. It's also one of its most used joints. That combination increases the odds of something going wrong. The possibilities are extensive, from meniscal tears to ACL strains, from muscle contusions to bone fractures, from bursitis to arthritis. "It's basically three joints in one," said Dr. Richard Kyle, chair of orthopedic surgery at Hennepin County (Minn.) Medical Center. The knee has to flex, extend and rotate. "It's a complex joint with a complex ligament structure to support it." Knees get a lot of attention in the sports pages, where injuries have sidelined such stars as Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio. But it's not just pro athletes who battle knee problems. Recre- ational athletes are laid up by bum knees, too, an occurrence becoming more common as baby boomers continue to be physically active much later in life than previous generations. "It's become the No. 1 soft-tissue sports injury," Kyle said. "The sheer number of recreational athletes _ the week- end warriors — has a lot to do with that volume. The baby boomers are remaining incredibly active." Gender equality also is a factor, he said. It used to be just men who complained about the stereotypical "old sports injury." With the explosive growth in girls' athletics, that's no longer the case. "A generation ago, you didn't have girls playing hockey or girls playing rugby," Kyle said. "Now they're involved in all sports." MCT photo Gary Haas holds up a book of some of his stamps at his home in Fresno. million in 1993.) like Deitz's, or at conven- tions where they are often sold in box lots that include hundreds of stamps. He says stamps sold at estate sales or yard sales can be tricky investments and may not contain any valuable stamps. Deitz says the world- wide interest can be bene- ficial to local stamp collec- tors. He suggests people find someone in another country with the same interest and mail each other stamps. It's a quick and less expensive way to build a collection. The trick is being able to spot stamps that have some value. "Even though a stamp is old, it may not have a cata- logue value," Haas says. Most stamp collectors will focus on a different theme from country to color. Deitz buys stamps from 42 countries for his private collection. Deitz would like to see more people like Haas. "I got started collecting when there were no TVs or video games. Back then maybe 1 in 10 kids collect- ed stamps. Now it's maybe 1 in 1,000," Deitz says. "I think the economy also has had a lot to do with the drop in interest." Collectors often buy stamps through local stores Haas has limited him- self to conventions and dealers. When he makes a purchase, he carefully goes through any stamps he buys to find the ones he needs for his collection and then sells the remainder. Some of the stamps — those with birds, flowers and butterflies — are passed down to his daugh- ters. Haas has passed on his interest to them. Some people collect stamps for relaxation. Oth- ers like to search for a rare stamp worth big bucks. (The 1847 Post Office Mauritius stamps on an 1848 cover to Bordeaux, France, sold for almost $4 Because Haas, a substi- tute teacher, has always had an interest in history, he collects stamps of the world. His collection includes stamps from most countries — even some that only existed for a few years. the world is promoting themselves. Every state in the U.N. and every microstate is getting into the business. It's a revenue raiser for their country." The United States Postal service is no differ- ent. Its best-selling stamp was the 1993 Elvis Presley with 124 million sold, many by those who aren't serious collectors. Some people who face chronic problems grumble that knees are the weak link in the chain. Doctors disagree. "The knee is actually very strong," said Dr. Ed Laskowski, co- director of the Mayo Clinic's Sports Medicine Center. "It can handle most physical extremes. We're all playing sports at a higher level than we used to. We're bigger, faster and stronger. All things considered, it's a very strong and stable joint." But that strength and stability can disappear in a painful flash if we abuse it, a situation covering everything from tak- ing a nasty fall when skiing, to using improper form while running, to overuse issues, including the strain of obesity. The good news is that all of those things are preventable, at least to an extent. "Prevention is a huge, huge, huge part of what we do," While Haas has a stamp from almost every country, he doesn't own one from the Republic of Stellaland, a South African republic that existed from 1882 to 1883. Even with that specific of a theme, there's no way Haas can keep up with all the stamps released each year around the globe. "If you were to buy Stamps featuring actors, musicians and even comic book characters appeal to those who have an interest in pop culture. Haas does- n't collect those because very few stamps released since 1930 have much value. everything, from all the countries, released in one year, you would need $10,000," Haas says. "One country might produce 40 to 60 different stamps each year. Every post office in Social Security Q&A Q: What are the limits on what I can own to be eligible for Supplemental Security Income? 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Tysinger, Jr. M.D. Eye Physician & Surgeon Fellow American Academy of Ophthalmology We accept Medical, Medicare & most Insurances Office Hours: Tues-Wed-Thurs 8am-4:30pm Mon & Fri 1pm-4:30pm For Emergencies, After Hours, Week-ends, Call 530-567-5001 345 Hickory St. Red Bluff Tel: (530) 529-4733 Fax: (530) 529-1114 An increase in the use of email has not slowed production of new stamps. The biggest problem in recent years has been the introduction of self-adhe- sive stamps. Collectors in the past were able to use water to dissolve the glue that bound the stamp to the envelope. The process is far more complicated with the stamps that peel and stick. Saturday, May 19, 2012 – Daily News 7A Kyle said. You can even take steps to reduce falling. Balance and movement exercise like tai chi can help prevent falls, espe- cially as we age. Muscle fatigue and poor conditioning also can play a role in knee injuries. "I don't know how many times I've had skiers tell me that they were hurt on what was going to be their last run of the day," Laskowski said. "It's muscle fatigue. At the end of a weeklong ski vacation, the muscles surrounding the knee can tire, and this can increase your injury risk." Conditioning is a key element in knee health, doctors insist. "If you want to play a sport in which you have to jump, cut and pivot and change directions fast, that's fine," Laskowski said. "But first make sure the tissues (in your knees) are prepared for that." The hurdles don't deter Haas or Deitz. Their pas- sion for the hobby keeps them looking for the next elusive stamp for their ever-growing collections. He highlighted four areas of focus: flexibility, strength, aerobic condition and stability/balance. "You should prepare for the specific demands and movement patterns of the sport you're going to do," he said. Bad form is another knee killer, especially for distance runners. Sometimes the problem can be solved with orthotic inserts or different shoes. Sports medicine therapists also can analyze your gait and alignment and recommend specific exercises to help reduce the risk of overuse injuries. "Technique is one of the keys" to avoiding wear-and-tear injuries, Laskowksi said. "You want the mechanics of the movement to be as good as they can be." Another cause of overuse injuries is insufficient rest. Jog- ging 10 miles every day might impress the folks in your run- ning club, but if you could ask your knees, they'd probably have a different opinion.