People have become far more sophisticated when making purchases these days. One of the first things they check is the reviews from other shoppers. How many are there, and how well did the product perform? Objective resources are also helpful. For example, Consumer Reports is a nonprofit ...

DEAR ANNIE: I work in a small office where everyone is friendly, but one co-worker has taken “friendly” to a new level. Over the past year, she’s begun confiding in me about deeply personal issues: her marriage troubles, financial stress, arguments she’s had the night before. At first, ...

DEAR HELOISE: For those who wear wigs, I always wear a thin cotton headband under the elastic perimeter of the wig. It absorbs most of the oil and perspiration, especially in warm weather. I rarely have to wash the wig, and when I do, I just wash the edges to avoid soaking the entire wig. In my ...

DEAR DR ROACH: We’re all amazed at the substantial advances in treating cancer in recent years. But are there certain cancers that science and medicine haven’t had much success with? — A.M.H. ANSWER: I’m afraid so. Many cancers remain difficult or almost impossible to cure, due to ...

1. One notrump. This hand meets all the requirements for an opening one-notrump bid: 15 to 17 high-card points, balanced distribution (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2) and stoppers in at least three suits. It is far better to open with one notrump than one heart. Perhaps the most important reason ...