6A
FEATURES
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
Not yet ready to quit smoking
Dear Annie: My girlfriend (of a smoking today, you can undo a good
year) and I are both in our mid-20s deal of that damage. According to a
and are both smokers. In fact, that’s 2013 study by Dr. Prabhat Jha, direc-
how we met — on the smoking patio tor of the Centre for Global Health
of a bar, both out there alone because Research at St. Michael’s Hospi-
none of the friends we were there with tal, “quitting smoking before age
smoked. We’ve both always talked 40, and preferably well before 40,
gives back almost all of
tentatively about quitting,
DEAR
the decade of lost life from
but in a vague way. So I was
continued smoking.” That
surprised when last week
ANNIE
doesn’t mean you should
my girlfriend announced
keep lighting up through
she was quitting cold turkey.
your 39th year, however. Jha
She asked whether I wanted
adds: “Former smokers still
to quit at the same time so
have a greater risk of dying
we could offer each other
sooner than people who
moral support. I’m happy to
never smoked. But the risk is
offer moral support, but I’m
Lane
small compared to the huge
not quite ready to quit. Do I Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
risk for those who continue
have an obligation to her to
to smoke.”
quit? Is it wrong for me to
As for e-cigarettes, the Ameri-
smoke around her now? I’ve been
thinking about purchasing an e-ciga- can Lung Association writes: “We
rette and just doing that around her, don’t presently know what is in
because this seems like a healthier e-cigarettes. However, in initial lab
alternative. — Guilty Smoker
tests conducted in 2009 the FDA
Dear Guilty Smoker: No, you found detectable levels of toxic can-
don’t have an obligation to your girl- cer-causing chemicals, including an
friend to quit smoking. You have an ingredient used in anti-freeze, in two
obligation to yourself. Every ciga- leading brands of e-cigarettes and 18
rette you smoke cuts your life expec- various cartridges. … A 2014 study
tancy by approximately 10 minutes, found that aerosol from e-cigarettes
and the life of a smoker is, on aver- … contains … formaldehyde.” In
age, 10 years shorter than that of other words, e-cigarettes contain can-
someone who has never smoked. cer-causing chemicals and addictive
The great news is that if you quit nicotine. Why substitute one crummy
habit with another?
Now, I know that my harangu-
ing is not great motivation. But look
at the long list of benefits of quitting
smoking and try to find something
that does motivate you. For more
information, visit http://www.lung.
org/stop-smoking.
Dear Annie: I can definitely sym-
pathize with “Unsure in Texas,” who
wrote to you about getting invita-
tions to graduations, birthday par-
ties and weddings from people she
doesn’t know well. My husband and
I received an invitation to an open
house from our financial adviser.
Not only do we not know him per-
sonally but also we were referred
to him when our financial adviser
retired approximately two years ago.
My husband brought up an interest-
ing question: Do you think he would
still provide us with good advice if
we were not to attend and provide a
gift for his daughter? My thought was
that it was very tacky to send us the
invitation. — Stuck in a Predicament
in Indiana
Dear Stuck in a Predicament:
I highly doubt your financial adviser
would start giving you worse advice
because you didn’t attend his open
house. If he made business that per-
sonal, he wouldn’t be in business for
long.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The more fun you
have, the more effective you’ll be with the seri-
ous work of the day. The improvisational spirit
of play will be entwined with the mysterious
magic of intuition.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You can begin
again, now and now and now. Any day — any
time of day — is a valid starting point for doing
the thing you want to do and being who you
want to be.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The way you mir-
ror people will be flattering because you have
your “flattering” lens on: It’s a mindset that helps
you see positive qualities in others. You’ll see
them how they want to be seen and beyond.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It will take
you a few minutes to warm up to new situations
today, and that only proves that you’re humble
enough to realize that strangers are never
kings; however, they may be made to feel that
way by gracious hosts.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Socializing has
its challenges, and maybe that’s what makes
it fun for you today. You’ll overcome social
obstacles, earn trust and create rapport with
someone who doesn’t open up easily.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Because you
don’t walk around thinking about creating a
legacy that will live beyond you, you’re totally
unaware of how your mood, behavior and
actions are making a difference in the lives of
others.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Hone the ability to
manage expectations. If you can paint an
enticing but accurate picture of what’s to come,
this will help everyone to maximize what’s there
and avoid being disappointed by what isn’t.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Know your
audience. Read the room. These are show
business tropes that will apply in every area
of life today. Getting it right in your own head
is satisfying, but it’s nothing compared with
winning “the room.”
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s an effort to
challenge yourself, but it’s a delight to intrigue
yourself. What if you looked at the goal with
more curiosity? There’s a magic mix of
determination and curiosity that could lift your
attitude about this.
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). Most people
are not conscious of what it takes to move be-
tween states of mood and mind, but the more
aware you are of this, the better. People get
comfortable in their own ways and processes.
Whatever yours is, it’s OK.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Keep moving.
If you hang out in any environment for too long
today, you’ll get bored and your thoughts will be
vulnerable to looping — not always a terrible
thing, but it depends on the thought.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The cosmic
nudges don’t come from out of the blue. They
happen mid-pursuit — when you have some
information but not all the information you
need. To get another clue or develop a hunch
you’ll have to investigate a little further.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (June 22).
Arrange your life around what delights you.
That may seem like a stretch — something you
might have been able to manage when you
were younger but not now that your responsi-
bilities have changed. And yet, there really is a
way to make your own happiness more central
to your being. You will find it this year! Libra and
Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 30,
3, 33, 28 and 45.