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DEAR ANNIE: She seeks more than co-managing marriage

DEAR ANNIE: I have been married to my husband for 18 years, and in many ways he is a good man. He works hard, pays the bills, shows up for our children and has never been cruel or unfaithful. From the outside, I am sure people think I have nothing to complain about. But inside our marriage, I feel painfully alone. My husband is emotionally and physically distant. He rarely holds my hand, hugs me without being asked, kisses me in the kitchen or says anything tender. We can sit on the same couch for an entire evening and feel like two people waiting at the same bus stop. If I try to talk ...

HINTS FROM HELOISE: Heloise asks: Has America grown dumb?

DEAR HELOISE: Yes, yes, yes! I was so pleased to see your note about the way that some people use the word “like”! For the past couple of years, I’ve had to listen to the way that some people consistently say “the L word” over and over, which is worse than nails on a chalkboard for me! Even worse yet, some well-known people -- including but not limited to actors, entertainers, talk show hosts, and more (whom we might expect to know better) -- are as guilty of using it as some 7-year-old. What’s happened? What’s with the “dumbing down” of Americans? — Sandy C., ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Red yeast rice can reduce LDL levels

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your response to a recent question regarding drugs to reduce cholesterol levels. In your response, you talked about the risks of taking niacin and its potential side effects. You commented that statin drugs remain the first-line treatment for reducing heart disease risk and for people who are at an increased risk. As a follow-up, my cardiologist recommended several months ago that I take something called red yeast rice. I’ve been taking this product for many months now, and it does seem to have reduced one of my cholesterol components. What do you think of red ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

Experience is a marvelous teacher, but one of the dangers in playing the game for a long time is that it may lead to occasional carelessness in commonplace situations. Take this case where South is in three notrump. Let’s say South ducks the opening club lead and wins the next club with the ...

Losing weight isn’t just about counting calories

BOSTON — When it comes to losing weight, it turns out the simple math of counting calories doesn’t always add up. Fad diets come and go, but the underlying message almost always follows a simple equation. If you consume fewer calories than you burn, the weight will melt away. In ...

Lineman offers practical advice against ticks

Q. I’ve spent years working on power lines in the woods of North Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia. I learned about powdered sulfur on my first day out. The old rascal who was with me purposely didn’t tell me about it to teach me a lesson, and I got eaten up by ticks and chiggers. You can find powdered sulfur in country drug stores or order it online. You can also order Sulfur8 Salve and Sulfur8 Shampoo. I use the salve in my ears, belly button and behind my neck. I use the shampoo as a final body wash after I return from the woods. I spray permethrin on my woods clothes and ...