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Lifestyles

Fish-sitting favor ends in dead pets and guilt

DEAR ANNIE: I am 22 and working at my first job out of college. My salary is low and just covers my rent, car payments and basic living expenses. I have no savings yet. Recently, my neighbor, whom I know only to wave at, asked me to feed her fish while she went out of town. I agreed, and she ...

Remembering the use-by date

DEAR HELOISE: When I buy a dozen eggs, I transfer them to an egg tray in my refrigerator once I get home. Before I throw away the cardboard carton that they came in, I cut out the “use by” date and put it with the eggs in the refrigerator. I never have to try to remember when I purchased ...

Protecting babies from whooping cough during pregnancy

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve read that there’s a big increase in whooping cough. I am pregnant and want to know the best way to protect my baby. Is it exclusive breastfeeding? Getting the vaccine? Making sure that visitors are vaccinated or wear masks? — D.G. ANSWER: Whooping cough is caused ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

Bidding is a vocal exercise in which partners exchange messages verbally about their respective holdings in an effort to arrive at the best contract. Defensive play, by contrast, is a silent exercise wherein the defenders try to portray their holdings to each other through the play of their ...

DEAR ANNIE: She’s feeling forgotten by one flaky friend

DEAR ANNIE: My best friend has become impossible to make plans with. She says yes to everything, then cancels at the last minute with a vague excuse. Sometimes she says she is “too tired,” other times she says work got crazy, and once she forgot completely until I texted from the restaurant ...