THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017
FEATURES
All-consuming video game
Dear Annie: I gave my Worried Parent in New York
Dear Worried: Imaginative
5-year-old son a PlayStation
4 for Christmas. He has since play is important, healthy and
logged countless hours on his intellectually stimulating. (Just
new favorite game, “The Elder think how impressive it is that
Scrolls V: Skyrim.” I would at 5, your son learned a whole
have no problem with this, new language.) But it’s not so
wonderful when he
except he has played
DEAR
starts to imagine him-
the game so much that
self as the boss of you
he has mastered the
ANNIE
(with an army of drag-
made-up language and,
ons at his command, to
whenever I try to talk
wit). I would limit the
about his newfound
amount of time that he
obsession, pretends that
is allowed to play the
he can’t understand me
game, and I’d provide
and that he can speak
other outlets for his cre-
only the dragon lan-
Lane
ativity, such as arts and
guage. He keeps run- Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
crafts.
ning around the house
When his behavior
in a loincloth trying to
pickpocket his siblings and me. becomes too much, talk to him
When he is discovered, he swats and tell him to stop. Explain that
at us with whatever his sword is no one likes to be hit with any
that day. We’ve been paddled instrument or have her pock-
with spatulas, wooden spoons, ets picked. Be firm, as children
empty paper towel rolls and crave boundaries. Remember
more. The most recent time I that you are in charge, not him.
Dear Annie: I read the let-
tried to take the system away, he
ran into the woods and tried to ter from “Stuck in a Rut” and
wanted to offer another resource
call dragons out of the sky.
Annie, how do I remove to him. Though he identified
such unnatural and annoying himself as having “a mild form
tendencies from my son? It of autism called Asperger’s syn-
has gone beyond cute, and it is drome,” that mild form and his
now obnoxious. Any advice? — lack of work history may be
enough to qualify him for ser-
vices through his state voca-
tional rehabilitation program.
VR is a type of program that
helps people with diagnosed
disabilities gain employment.
These programs have a vari-
ety of services that they pro-
vide at no cost, and the counsel-
ors who work in the programs
are skilled at identifying and
alleviating the barriers certain
people have, whether it’s their
own impairment or a societal
bias. The counselors focus on
abilities and strengths and do
amazing work helping people
to achieve success in the pro-
fessional world. I would really
encourage “Stuck in a Rut” to
explore that option in order to
obtain employment that may be
more in line with his strengths
and abilities than his previous
work of busing tables. — Wish-
ing You Well
Dear Wishing: Thank you
for this excellent practical tip.
I’ve passed it along to “Stuck in
a Rut,” with the hope that it can
get the ball rolling for him.
People looking for more
information can check with
their state’s department of reha-
bilitation or comparable agency.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s uncomfortable
not being in control. Of course, it’s especially
hard to let go and trust when you have reason
to doubt the leader. Today it might even be
grounds for taking over the leadership position.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It’s not an exag-
geration to say that sometimes love matters to
you as much as life itself. Therefore, you can’t
really overthink it. It’s complex and mystical
and completely worthy of all the thought you
put into it.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Productivity
doesn’t always manifest in the same way. If you
can help another person behave better, kinder
and with more awareness of the big picture,
you’ve done more than your share.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Do not under-
estimate the power of nonconformity. It can, in
fact, change the world. As you customize your
lifestyle to suit yourself instead of the social
norms, new contours will emerge.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You want to override
bad memories by adding good ones. Bad
memories tend to have more impact (a func-
tion of biology), so it will take quite a few more
good ones to do the trick. It’s a worthy use of
your time and energy today.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Is love a serious
illness? You may wonder this, because you feel
physically terrible when your love suffers and
absolutely high when your beloved is joyful
and mutually enamored.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You don’t have to
reach out, communicate better or be proactive
in the least. You’ve done the work already. Now
the path before you is being cleared. Trust and
be ready to move forward.
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
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll enjoy mak-
ing predictions and then waiting to be proven
wrong or right. It doesn’t matter either way,
though, because this is about your creation,
really. Whatever really happens, you will be the
one who made it so.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The differ-
ence between romantic love and platonic love
can be a close call. Also, things can change
along the way — creating new mixes, different
chemistry and fresh experiences. Stay open to
possibility.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). In your quest
for truth, do not let yourself be diverted by
what you wish to believe or by what you wish
everyone believed. The only way to see what’s
really there is to do away with expectation.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Instead of con-
cerning yourself with what’s equitable. Though
it makes sense to think in terms of equitable
distribution of tasks, attention, money, etc.,
it just won’t happen. Create something that
works for both people.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re plenty
smart enough; it’s just that reason and logic
are not going to lead you through the situation.
Your instinct will get you there. All you have to
do is listen and follow.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (May 17). You will
create a contract for what you want to change
in your life this year, and you’ll find the inner
drive and resources (including the right peo-
ple) to help you make that happen. Distractions
part. Mostly, your desired result will be front
and center of your mind, which makes this one
of the most productive years to date. Cancer
and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 18, 9, 40, 13 and 20.