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Hints from Heloise: Keep wig in pristine condition

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 opinion, they never look quite the same after a major washing. I also have multiple wigs that I rotate, which minimizes the need for washing! I read your column in the Arizona Daily Star. — Wigged Out, in Arizona DEAR HELOISE: Regarding the reader who wrote in regarding how nonsensical ...

To Your Good Health: Very hard to treat some cancers

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 a combination of factors. One is that certain cancers usually don’t cause symptoms until they’re large in size and likely to have spread. Another is that there are no curative chemotherapy or radiation options. Some cancers also spread very early; breast cancers can be metastatic (spread to ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

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 ...

Finding a way to wind down from dream job

DEAR ANNIE: I was really excited when I landed my dream job a few months ago. It has great pay and a title that can really take me places. But now, just a few months in, I’m pulling my hair out. We’re in our “busy season,” which means lots of late nights and working weekends. Every time I finish one assignment, two more pop up. My problem isn’t the hours — I know busy season will end — it’s that I cannot sleep. For the past week, I’ve been lucky to get three or four hours a night. When my head hits the pillow, despite being exhausted, I start replaying every ...

Reviving stale chips

DEAR HELOISE: Stale chips used to end up in the trash at my house far too often. Now I bring them back to life with a quick oven trick that really works: Spread the chips in a single layer on a baking sheet so that they heat evenly. Slide the pan into an oven set to 300 F for about 5 minutes. The gentle heat removes extra moisture and restores the crisp texture. Keep a close eye on them since chips can go from perfect to overdone pretty fast. After tossing out one too many half-eaten bags, I started using this method regularly. Let the chips cool for a minute or two before serving. ...