Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2018)
6A FEATURES TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE Fallout from layoff Dear Annie: I am writing you do, and with the toy industry being in hopes of getting, well, a lit- replaced with computer games, tle shred of hope. I come from a well, that’s strike two. Annie, my lower-middle-class family that father has worked since before he has always been short on money, could drive. He knows machines, high on stress and full of love but he doesn’t have a high school despite that. Growing up, I always diploma. One day he’s upset about admired the fact that my reaching 60 and fearing DEAR parents served a healthy, heart failure, and the next comforting meal every he’s told he has to start ANNIE night, despite having mul- over. It’s just devastating. tiple jobs, and waited until He loves providing for they thought we were his family and has been asleep before they tear- so proud to do so. Now fully whispered about he is a deflated shell of a the mortgage. I recently person who doesn’t know graduated from college, what to do, and I have no Lane and my parents didn’t Annie idea what to tell him — Creators Syndicate Inc. want me to stress finan- or what to do that might cially and drown in debt help. Do you have any the same way my mother did, so advice for a girl who just wants I moved back home to pay off my the best for her dad? — Still Dad- loans, with the understanding that dy’s Little Girl Dear Still Daddy’s Little I would establish my professional career and pull my own weight. Girl: The love and emotional sup- And, I’ve got to admit, it’s nice to port you offer your dad is price- feel like a kid back at Mom and less. He might not feel like open- ing up and being vulnerable to Dad’s again. But recently, a bomb dropped: you, but know that just your being My dad got laid off. He worked there no doubt offers comfort. all day, every day, and my mom There are some practical steps has had two jobs since the reces- you could take to help, too. sion hit just to keep us afloat. The First, you mentioned you’re reality is that machines can do living at home with the under- what people were once hired to standing that you’ll pull your own THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018 By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. weight. If you haven’t been paying rent so far, I’d encourage you to start chipping in what you can. Try to work out a budget that allows you to do so while also repaying your student loans. Next, research with your dad the employee rights in your state to be sure he is, at the very least, get- ting everything the law requires. For example, some states mandate that laid-off employees receive their last paycheck immediately and that it include payment for all accrued vacation time. And in some instances, if an employee has been receiving benefits through his employer, he is entitled to continue doing so for 18 months. Accord- ing to legal resource guide Nolo, a federal law called the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act “gives employees (and their dependents) the right to continue their health insurance coverage for a period of time after losing their jobs.” Nolo does note that employ- ees are responsible for paying the full premium cost, but at the group rate the former employer negoti- ated. Visit the Employment and Training Administration’s website (https://www.doleta.gov) to find Rapid Response resources for laid- off workers in your state. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Humans are fallible creatures with a strong capacity to learn and grow. It’s why you don’t even mind when someone criticizes you today. It’s a chance to improve and maybe even solve something you’ve been struggling with. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The wise Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius suggested that it is not the external things that pain us, but our judgment of them, which is within our power to wipe out. To alleviate stress, you’ll change your mind about something today. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Some people throw stones; other people build with them. Figure out whom you’re dealing with and what they can and can’t be trusted with. What hangs in the balance here may be your heart. CANCER (June 22-July 22). When people act out of love, it brings them together. When they act out of fear, it drives them apart. This is why no one can be forced, intimidated or manipulat- ed into loyalty, affection or love. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Ask any pilot: Course correction is more or less a constant in the air. To avoid the storms, air traffic and more, pilots and autopilots are constantly making adjustments to the flight plan. Today’s course will require this of you. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). So much about the interactions of the day won’t be personal. Stay a bit detached to better see how things work. Bot- tom line: The person you want to pay attention to you will need some extra reason to do so. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). As for the rules of the game, it’s not what they are that matter — rather, it’s that all of the players agree on what they are. To know this for sure, you may have to break it down point by point. 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). The cosmic suggestion is to throw kindness like confetti — which is to say, directly up, so it can rain down wherever. If you aim kindness, or con- fetti, too forcefully or directly, injury can occur. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Take a look around you to determine whether your surroundings are supporting you in the direction you want to grow. Location isn’t ev- erything, but right now it’s much, much more important than you might have guessed. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’d like to be sure you’re on the same page as those under your charge. But if you give them too much of the plan up front, they’ll either be in- timidated by the task, or they’ll second-guess you. Keep it on a need-to-know basis. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). People will do illogical things to regain power. They will act irrationally to preserve a sense of self or the continuity of their personal story. If you want them to be predictable and manage- able, pose no threat whatsoever. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Small problems, if not corrected, can become big problems. Good news: It won’t take you very long at all to rectify the seemingly little and inconsequential issues (that actually have great potential for consequence). TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (April 18). There’s something new to want out of this year. It may seem overly simplistic, but it’s re- ally the way it will go: You’ll believe in yourself, and you’ll make it happen. You’ll change your morning ritual in May, and this will change everything. Friends and family will contribute differently than they did before. A gamble pays off in November. Libra and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 10, 2, 22, 8 and 43.