THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018
FEATURES
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
Helping male assault victim
Dear Annie: About six months conversation without projecting
ago, a friend confided in me that he my own emotions — or emotions
had been sexually assaulted a year that I think should be expected —
prior by a blind date. After watch- on him. Annie, do you have any
ing an episode of “ER,” we were recommendations or resources for
talking about sexually transmit- helping men who’ve been sexu-
ted infections, and he mentioned ally assaulted or for their friends
and family members? —
needing to get tested,
DEAR
At a Loss
which brought up the rev-
elation of his assault. He
Dear At a Loss: I am
ANNIE
was very straightforward
so sorry your friend went
about telling me and said
through that. He’s not
that he had dealt with
alone. Approximately 1 in
everything already and
6 men have experienced
was ready to move past
sexual assault or abuse.
it. He’s also had relation-
The fact that he opened
ships and casually dated
up to you about his expe-
Lane
rience means that he sees
people since the assault, Annie
Creators
Syndicate
Inc.
your friendship as a safe
and he said things were
space in which he can be
completely fine.
I’ve tried to let him know that vulnerable. If you can continue
I’m here if he wants to talk, but providing that space, you’ll have
he brushes the concern aside and done a lot. Ambivalent and com-
starts a new topic each time it plex emotions will arise at times.
comes up. He’s even joked a few Know that it’s not necessary to
times about hoping it doesn’t hap- “resolve” those feelings; simply
pen again as he’s heading out the sitting with them and with him is
door for a date. I’m never sure how often the best thing you can do,
to reply to jokes like that. Awk- even when it feels uncomfortable.
ward chuckle? I doubt he needs
Sometimes survivors use
or wants any pitying glances. His humor as a way to cope with
demeanor is very different from trauma, which may be what he’s
that of my female friends who doing with those jokes. But you
have also been assaulted, and I don’t have to laugh at them. A
don’t know how to navigate the neutral reaction is fine.
For more tips on supporting
him, visit https://1in6.org; select
the “Get Information” tab and
then “For Family and Friends.”
You can also chat with a trained
advocate using the 1in6 website,
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Dear Annie: Summer is here,
and so are summer scams.
Recently, my mother-in-law
received a call from my daughter’s
“friend” telling her that her grand-
daughter had been driving and
caused a wreck resulting in seri-
ous injuries to a woman in another
car. She insisted that my daugh-
ter didn’t want to tell us about
the accident and asked for money
that she would pay back soon. She
even said she had a lawyer to rep-
resent her and gave a number.
My mother-in-law is a trusting
woman. Luckily, she felt she had
to talk to her son before she did
anything, and of course the fish
failed to swallow the hook.
Never provide information or
money to strangers, no matter how
convincing their script. — Now
Wiser
Dear Now Wiser: Thanks for
sharing your wisdom. Scams can
also be reported at https://www.
ftccomplaintassistant.gov. Stay
safe and savvy.
3C
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Put yourself out
there and you’ll get ratings both good and
bad (because trolls, unfortunately, are a fact
of modern life) but mostly good and definitely
worth the effort.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You won’t have
to worry about what to say. Egotistical people
are easy to talk to. They will go on and on
about themselves without prompting, never
more than one sentence away from the
turnaround.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Incurious people
have a way of making others feel boring
while fascinated people can make their com-
pany feel like the most interesting people in
the world. Whichever way it goes, don’t take
reactions personally.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Lingering emo-
tions could slow you down if you let them.
Be willing to feel and you won’t get stuck.
Release all resistance. Let the emotions flow
through you and they’ll work themselves out
without much effort on your part.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Fitting in
will be part of the deal, but there’s really no
need to pretend that you’re in the know when
you’re not. Saying “I don’t know” is perfectly
acceptable — maybe even preferred. Only
smug people know everything!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). To look
forward to the offerings of the day without
expecting or demanding any particular
outcome — that’s a recipe for happiness, and
a very achievable one.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Of course you
can’t believe everything you think, but there
is a recurring idea you’ve been having lately
that’s worth putting to the test. It will open up
a new area of study and work.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You won’t get
immediate proof that this course of action is
worth taking, but keep at it awhile in good
faith. You’ll be luckier as you continue along in
the belief that good things are coming.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). To expect yourself
to constantly generate good energy is asking
too much. You need renewal. When you run
out of power and you can’t shine your light,
go where the light is already shining.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Being attractive
will have pluses and minuses. You enjoy the
attention, but only when it comes at you in
a certain way. Even then, you can only take
so much before you need peace, quiet and
solitude.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It’s not enough
to hear that you are appreciated; you need to
see it and feel it from the intention, action and
the warmth of others. Settle for nothing less
than true respect.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re not one to
take risks just for the thrill of it. You’ll fully as-
sess the situation, decide on the best course
of action and take a chance, all the while
bearing the fear and uncertainty entailed.
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
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (July 7). Keep
an open mind, because if you stay flexible,
your plans will give way to something bigger.
A well-matched collaboration will yield results
within 10 weeks. The money flows easy in
October. Beautiful scenery and fun activities
close out 2018. Your social graces will cata-
pult you to leadership in 2019. Scorpio and
Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
43, 20, 14, 7 and 32.