THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017
FEATURES
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
A social media overload
Dear Annie: I love technology. feeling jealous constantly.
I embrace it and think that it adds
How should I handle this? —
value to my life and pushes the Digital Dependence
human race forward. However, I
Dear Digital Dependence:
am not totally sure that my con- More evidence surfaces each day
sumption of “social” media and of the negative impact our devices
constant use of my phone
are having on us. When
DEAR
is a good thing.
technology diminishes
I didn’t think of myself
our relationships with
ANNIE
loved ones and distracts
as overly addicted to my
us from the things that
phone until recently. I
truly matter, it’s no longer
saw a piece on “60 Min-
a tool; it’s a toxin.
utes” about how some
Fortunately,
there
consumer software com-
are a few tricks you can
panies actively try to get
try for cutting down on
users addicted to their
Lane
your Internet use with-
applications via psycho- Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
out moving to Walden
logical cues, such as noti-
and throwing your smart-
fications and likes. I then
read a piece in Fast Company phone in the pond. One is to fre-
about a freelancer who did a one- quently change the way apps are
month digital detox and saw his laid out on your phone’s screen.
productivity skyrocket. Finally, This prevents you from going on
that same week, I read a research autopilot and compulsively open-
piece from Harvard Business ing apps without even being con-
Review that essentially said that scious of it (a scary but common
the more time we spend on Face- phenomenon).
Another method is to keep your
book the more it bums us out.
I realized that social media may phone out of sight and out of mind
have been making me feel bad for large chunks of time. Similarly,
about myself. I don’t want to put try turning off all notifications so
unnecessary rules and limitations you’re not constantly being lured
on myself, but I also don’t want to into checking your accounts. If
live my life staring at a screen and you need to be on your computer
for work but don’t want to get dis-
tracted, try a program that blocks
social media sites for a set amount
of time, such as SelfControl.
And if you’re reading this on
your phone, put it down and go for
a walk.
Dear Annie: I have read many
letters to you from mothers-in-
law about relationship issues with
their daughters-in-law.
Just about every letter I have
read contains a laundry list of all
the faults these women have, and
I’d like to share some needed wis-
dom with the MILs.
Take a good hard look at your-
self, Mom, before you decide to
make your displeasure known and
alienate this woman whom your
son chose as a partner.
Ladies, if you want your son in
your life — along with any poten-
tial grandkids — wake up. Your
boy is a man now; he has made his
choice of a mate, and like it or not,
you need to make peace with that.
If you can get over yourself,
you just may have found a woman
who can keep you close to your
baby boy. — Daughter-in-Law
Who Is Now a Mother-in-Law
Dear DILWINAMIL: Words
of wisdom. In-laws, take note.
3C
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). In certain
situations it can be quite risky to say what
you think and share your beliefs. But you
have ideals you hold dear — things you’ll
stand for and fall for. Today you’re willing to
take that risk.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You don’t have
to invent your whole game. Borrow some of
it, too. Other people’s knowledge (especially
on the topics of courtship, communication
and business) will help you direct your rela-
tionships successfully.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Start where
you are. This is different (and a million times
more effective) than thinking from where you
are. Thinking is good, but you need to make
the start official with an action.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The last
thing you want to be is that person who just
doesn’t feel complete without having all of
the attention on them. If you have something
to say, you’ll say it. Otherwise, your mood is
pretty quiet all day.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You are the landlord
of your own head. Don’t let others rent space
there if they aren’t going to be good tenants.
In other words, your influences need to pay
up. If they don’t, kick them out of your head
and get better influences.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There will be no
understanding (nor will there be progress)
without the benefit of multiple perspectives.
The breakthrough will be induced by zoom-
ing way, way in then zooming way, way out.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Is the silence half
empty or half full? Probably it’s much more
than half full. In fact, the silence will overflow
with meaning and answers if you’re willing to
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
let it stretch out, unbroken, for a long while.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). St. Ambrose
said, “No one heals himself by wounding
another.” Of course, this was before organ
donation was a viable medical technology.
Today a small sacrifice will be made for the
healing of all involved.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Lan-
guage makes things happen quickly. Without
the right words, today’s task will be difficult to
pull off. But if you know the right thing to say
at the right time, it will be a snap.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Would you
rather be successful or popular? Unfortu-
nately, you’ll have to choose just one today,
because the road to success will take so
much focus there will be little time left for the
social swirl.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re far too
busy to grieve for what you don’t have. You
love and enjoy what you have. The more you
use and appreciate it, the better things get
for you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). On a spiritual
level, mistakes represent tuition paid. Just as
it is in school, a paid tuition is only the mini-
mum needed for entry. It’s up to the student
to learn the lesson.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (July 8).
Your friendly nature pays off in the way of
fortunate opportunities that occur because
you dared to break the ice with a stranger.
There’s also a treasure in the form of some-
one who acknowledges you often, under-
stands you usually and is a faithful compan-
ion. Financial highs come in September and
March. Taurus and Libra adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 9, 40, 33, 39 and 15.