THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018
FEATURES
Getting rid of junk calls
Dear Annie: For the past few to be pretty ridiculous, but I’m not
months, my phone has just about sure what else to do. I also wonder
exploded with calls from telemar- whether any of your other readers
keters and scammers. I am at my have experience with this and/or
wits’ end! No, robot, I’m not past advice. — Don’t Like This Robot
due on my bank payments. I don’t Dance
want a free stay at your beach
Dear Don’t Like This Robot
resort in Panama. And I’m
Dance: It’s not just you.
DEAR
not going to send money to
In the first month of this
you to “protect” my iden-
year alone, Americans
ANNIE
tity. These people have
received 2.9 billion rob-
ocalls. Prerecorded sales
gotten so good that they’re
calls are illegal unless a
even manipulating num-
bers to look like ones of
company has your writ-
ten permission to contact
relatives, with up to four
you that way. The Federal
of the same digits. There
Communications Com-
are more implications than
Lane
mission receives more
my being annoyed every Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
than 300,000 complaints
time I step out of my office
about robocalls every
and answer only to hear a
scammer’s voice on the other end. month. Visit http://ftc.gov/com-
I feel my privacy is invaded, and plaint to add your voice to the deaf-
as a small-business owner, I have ening chorus. You can also contact
to answer every call, as it may be a your congressional representatives
client or vendor. One day, I put an about the problem, with the hope
unknown number straight to voice- that they pass better legislation
mail twice, and it turned out to to address this problem or bolster
be work-related. Needless to say, existing legislation so that it can be
I was embarrassed, and she was better enforced.
peeved.
But if you’d like a quicker
Is what these companies are fix, consider using an app such as
doing even legal? And is there any YouMail, RoboKiller or Truec-
technology available to help quiet aller, which help block robocalls
my phone lines? I find the notion to smartphones. Just be aware that
of paying for that kind of service these apps might also block robo-
calls that are actually legitimate,
such as appointment reminders.
Dear Annie: For years, my
husband has celebrated his birth-
day with cake and company. Many
times, I have taken my husband
and several family members and
friends out to a restaurant to have
a birthday party for him. However,
he never seems to plan anything for
my birthday. This past year, I had
major orthopedic surgery, and he
used that as an excuse for not plan-
ning anything again. No card, cake
or best wishes; of course, no apol-
ogy, either. I am tired of the one-
sided plans and would just like to
forget to do anything for his birth-
day coming up later this month.
I just don’t want to be that mis-
erable. I can’t seem to get him to
see how hurt my feelings are. I’m
looking for happier celebrations.
— Birthday Non-Celebrations
Dear Birthday Non-Celebra-
tions: Have you tried telling your
husband how you feel? Because
though you can drop all the hints
in the world, there’s no guaran-
tee he’ll pick them up. And you’ll
just grow even more frustrated. So
be direct. Let him know that it’s
important to you to commemorate
birthdays and that it means a lot to
you that he do something.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). New people are
opportunities. You may find yourself pretending
you’re someone different, which can be fun.
Who knows; maybe some of what you try
on will suit you well and become part of your
standard “wardrobe.”
worth and letting people know what it takes to
be part of your world.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Do you feel like
you’re being watched? You are. Someone is
sizing you up, in fact — observing how you
interact with your friends and the world in
general. They like what they see.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If you wait for
someone to tell you what to do, you’ll be lower
than you could be. This is great for concert
tickets with arena seating but not much else.
Take charge.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Today your
personal life will soar through clear and sunny
skies. It’s a fine time to acknowledge and thank
the crew that’s been keeping you on course.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Be strong and
flexible of mind. Think of all you can do with
a dollar, with an hour, with the position you
have. Don’t settle for the first idea that comes to
mind, because idea five or 12 or 322 could be
a better one.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Those who
grew up with nothing often see the accumu-
lation of items as wealth, whereas those who
grew up with an abundance of things often see
minimalism as freedom. Your own views on
materialism are changing.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Remind your
people that they need what you contribute.
There’s a cool way to do this. Maybe it’s best
accomplished by disappearing for a while. It’s
not a game. People will be better for what they
appreciate.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Misery loves
company, but he doesn’t match your outfit, so
leave him at home. Your company will embrace
you wholeheartedly. Upon your return home you’ll
find that misery, neglected, has taken leave.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). If you see the path
from here to there you can then work your way
along it. If you don’t see the path, you could
work just as hard, but who knows where you’ll
wind up. It doesn’t have to be a well-worn path,
just one that arrives.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It is far easier and
better to solve a problem that people already
know they have than to try to get people to
identify something in their normal, everyday life
as problematic.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Business people
aren’t the only ones who set prices. You set
prices all of the time without even realizing
it. For instance, you’re always projecting your
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
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Someone close
to you may be feeling like the side dish to your
main course. Maybe it’s true. Some dishes are
better as complements. Less is demanded of
them. Anyway, you’ll do what you can to make
everyone feel important.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (March 30). Get
serious about developing and employing your
talent. You’ll earn a stellar reputation, and you’ll
bank on it before this time next year. Focus on
documenting your work in April. The extra effort
you make to stand out in a good way will earn
you critical acclaim. You’ll spend many hours
building a very special relationship. Virgo and
Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8,
15, 29, 4 and 13.