DEAR ANNIE: I’m writing because I can’t tell if I’m being too sensitive or if I’m finally seeing something I’ve been ignoring for years. I’m 46, married, and we have three kids (two teens and one in college). On paper, our life is good. We’re busy, we’re stable, we show up for ...

NEW YORK — U.S. flu infections surged over the holidays, and health officials are calling it a severe season that is likely to get worse. New government data posted Monday — for flu activity through the week of Christmas — showed that by some measures this season is already surpassing ...

DEAR HELOISE: People spend their hard-earned money on outdoor flags only to have the hems fray in a short time from weather. If you turn the hem over and restitch on a sewing machine, the edges will not become ragged from the elements. I especially like to see the American flag flying fray-free ...

Q. My dad is a good man. He is also an alcoholic. He has been in recovery for seven years. Today, he admitted to my family that he has been getting drunk on Listerine! A. Good people can sometimes become addicted to alcohol. We have heard from more than 100 readers about the dangers of ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: My friend has cryptogenic cirrhosis. She says that the doctors don’t know what causes it. Where could this have come from, and what does this mean for her? — A.T.G. ANSWER: “Cryptogenic” is from the Greek roots “krytpo-” (meaning hidden) and -genic (for ...

The outcome of most contracts depends largely on how the defender’s cards are distributed. This refers not only to how the suits are divided, but also to the location of the missing high cards. Nevertheless, a thoughtful declarer can sometimes overcome a bad lie of the cards by allowing for ...