THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2017
FEATURES
Speech impediment impedes work
Dear Annie: I’m almost advice on how not to be fast
19 years old, and I’ve had a to anger when asked about my
speech problem ever since I “accent.” Have any pointers to
could talk. When I was about help me get through my day? —
7, I started getting help to Speech Problems in Pennsylvania
Dear Speech: I’m printing
correct my speech, and I contin-
ued until I graduated high school. your letter because you offer an
invaluable perspective.
Around that time, I got a
DEAR
I will now think twice
part-time job. I worked
before asking some-
with a lot of customers,
ANNIE
one about an “accent,”
and a lot of times they
which might turn out to
would ask me whether
be an alienating and awk-
I came from out of the
ward question, as you’ve
country, because I sound
shown.
as if I have an “English
As for your getting
accent.”
through the day, focus
I’ve been asked so
Lane
on what you can con-
much that I’ve tried to Annie
Creators
Syndicate
Inc.
trol. You can’t control
take it as a compliment,
what customers say, but
but now that I have a
new job working with custom- you get to decide whether or
ers full time, it’s becoming more not it bothers you. For what it’s
of a problem. It gets annoying, worth, I’ve found that meditation
but with a customer service job, can work wonders to make all the
I cannot get angry with our cus- annoying, stressful parts of daily
tomers. I talked with my parents life a little less so.
Dear Annie: Your suggestion
about it, and they said that I just
have to try to not have it get to to scroll down and hit “unsub-
scribe” on unwanted emails
me.
The problem is that because I could result in your reader’s
am asked almost constantly, I’ve being hacked. My computer guru
become very self-conscious. I try tells me to first check the email
my best not to have my speech address of where it originated
problem, but it’s not something to make sure it is not spam (i.e.,
that I can fully control. I need from a malicious or fraudulent
sender, as opposed to a vendor
whose mailing list you’re actu-
ally on). Hitting “unsubscribe”
tells the sender there is someone
working that email address.
Any emails not wanted should
be blocked instead so they go into
the junk email folder. Any emails
wanted can be sorted by going to
the search box at the top and put-
ting in the name or subject. That
will reduce the list of emails to be
sorted through.
I am sure other readers have
more suggestions. — Full Inbox,
Too
Dear Full: Right you are.
Here’s another.
Dear Annie: Once “Inbox
Infinity,” who has 6,972
unread emails, clears out her
inbox and prevents future floods,
she should set up one account
for friends and family only and
a second account for commercial
transactions and shopping. The
second account would be dis-
posable, so if it got overwhelm-
ing or were spammed or hacked,
she could close it easily and start
a new one. We have done this for
years with great success. — Jean
in Florida
Dear Jean: That’s a useful tip.
Divide and conquer.
3C
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re not
here to show anyone you’re better; you’re
here to be better. The impression you
make matters a lot less to you than the
work you’re committed to.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your story
is more interesting than you think and
is packed with valuable information and
inspiration. How and when you share it will
be important. Don’t wing it. Work on it.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When the
conversation is over, let it be over. Don’t
replay it in your head. Anything you replay
will be distorted. You have a much better
effect when you don’t worry so much about
what exactly it is.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You will
fail many times before you will succeed.
You can’t get ready for the big leagues any
other way except through trial and as many
errors as it takes to learn the right way.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Love and life
lessons can be learned through difficulty
or ease. Both are valid methods of educa-
tion, though lessons of hardship tend to
be learned faster and deeper. Mankind is
wired this way.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Warren
Buffett famously stated, “Our investment
philosophy borders on lethargy.” Apply it to
your energetic investments today, because
there’s much drifting across the radar that’s
not worth trifling over.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Life isn’t a contest,
and that goes double for love. If someone
is trying to cast you as a competitor in what
could or should be a non-competitive are-
na, your best bet is to opt out of the game.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’re not
imagining it: The one who keeps paying
special attention to you is smitten. It’s likely
that you’re not sure how you feel about this
but the days to come will make it clearer.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). With your im-
mense powers of creativity you will create
scenarios in which you can shine. This
is especially effective on the social front;
friends love your brand of fun.
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Often
we assume that the people we admire are
somehow happier than us and they lead
glamorous, problem-free lives. Nope, not
true, not usually, anyway. In fact, maybe
you’re the lucky one.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Someone
shows up to take the heat off of you. You’ll
be glad that the attention is flowing away
from you, but this is not a reason for you to
pack up and go. Stay and contribute. You’ll
learn something.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Craft your
communication to present your ideas and
identity in the best light. Pushing “send”
takes a fraction of a second, but the con-
sequences can be lasting.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 4).
You will grow in strength, popularity and
vitality as you spend the bulk of your time
repeating successful actions hanging
around the people who make you thrive.
Your family grows in March. May brings
new avenues for learning and earning. July
is a second chance at an old path. Things
have changed. Cancer and Sagittarius
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 40,
7, 28 and 19.