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FEATURES
Phone etiquette is missing
Dear Annie: It’s important to know that it will never end if it
have etiquette on the phone, no hasn’t by now.
matter to whom you are speak-
So to the families and friends
ing. When you take the time to call guilty of this: You know who you
someone but the person is preoccu- are. Please be considerate when you
pied, talks over you or doesn’t say are on the phone with someone.
“excuse me” when someone in the
What do you say, Annie? — No
room is speaking to him
More Calls for Me
DEAR
or her while you’re on the
Dear No More Calls:
phone, it’s only normal to
In a perfect world, every-
ANNIE
one would give undivided
want to end the call. This
attention in all phone calls.
has been happening to me
Unfortunately, that is
with several family mem-
bers for pretty much my
not the case, so we must
whole life. I have finally
be a little more forgiv-
ing when a family mem-
started speaking up about
ber or friend either talks
how much it bothers me,
Lane
over us or responds to an
only to be told, “Well, if Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
in-person request. You’ve
someone is talking to me,
already told your family
what do you want me to
do?” or “If I’m needed, what do you members how you feel. You could
want me to do?” I tell these people either stay angry with them, allow-
to say “excuse me” or that we should ing yourself to be stressed out and
talk another time. This happened to depressed about it, or accept them
me today, and I said, “I can’t do this as they are and continue to remind
them of your pet peeves, all the
anymore.” Then I hung up.
Another pet peeve of mine is while appreciating the fact that
talking to someone who parrots they are still picking up the phone
back the information. I have asked to speak to you instead of just tex-
my family members so many times ting or becoming incommunicado
to not do a play-by-play on the altogether.
Dear Annie: One thing “Char-
phone, but it hasn’t helped. It is a
huge hardship and can be com- lie,” who is frustrated by how dif-
pletely depressing and stressful to ficult it is to hear dialogue above
call. Because it’s family, you just background music, could do to help
differentiate the dialogue from the
music is turn on his closed caption-
ing. That way, he could even watch
TV with the sound completely
down and still enjoy the program
if someone is sleeping or he wants
quiet for another reason.
I have a nearly deaf sister and
grew up with closed captioning on
all the time. I grew to like it, so I
kept it on at my own house after
I married. My husband doesn’t
really care, but my daughters (both
fully hearing) prefer “the TV with
the words below.” They are both
(and have always been) excep-
tional readers for their age, and
I have come to believe that see-
ing the written words associated
with the spoken words as young
children helped this. I don’t know
that closed captioning had a direct
effect, but I highly suspect it.
And look at it this way: What
harm could it do? — Vancouver,
Wash.
Dear Vancouver: I’m a fan of
closed captioning myself. Though
not everyone likes having to read
along while watching, I’ve found
that in general, people adapt pretty
quickly. I never thought of the ben-
efit it might have for children’s lit-
eracy, but that’s a fascinating idea.
Thanks for writing.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2018
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). There are many
reasons you “should” be happy. But reasons
you “should” be happy are not reasons you are.
You cannot feel happiness by other people’s
standards. Accept your feelings; they are the
bottom line on the matter.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Any effort to
make yourself feel accepted, comfortable and
soothed internally, and generally happy, will
be well worth the effort. After all, how can you
radiate a beautiful aura while feeling dark on
the inside?
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll spend many
hours of highly focused attention on productive
and practical activities so that by evening it
may feel like you have very little psychic energy
to invest on your loved ones. Then love will
repower you.
your balance between the two so you can
stand your own ground.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Pretend you’re
an actor who can disengage yourself from
the role at will. Step outside of it for a moment
to figure out how best to play this. With a little
detachment, you’ll notice something about the
plot you didn’t before.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ll help
to assemble a group. Logistics and practical-
ities must be handled. Also consider, though
there may be room in the room for all of the
people, is there also room for their egos?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You can call
on your talent to win the hour, but it won’t win
the day. That can’t be won alone. Teamwork
is the way. You’ll use your social intelligence to
trust, empathize and make the fair move.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your water sign
nature will help you get comfortable with the
changes that come today. You’ll be the boat,
uniquely poised between two worlds, part in
the ocean and part above it, ready to ride it out.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Theories can
only live in their own fictional world and are
best either contained there or put into practice.
There’s a fine line between a theory that has
never been tested and a lie.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Every generation
thinks they are misunderstood by the genera-
tion before them and underappreciated by the
generation behind them. When feelings arise
on this topic, just know that they’re shared by
all ages.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). In the past, your
sensitivity and empathy were exploited, but
these are still among your most precious gifts
to the world. Don’t be afraid to use them, but do
use them with a bit more discernment.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). With so many peo-
ple around you who need you, you have to be
convinced to be selfish these days. Just don’t
forget that you’re a person, too, and you can’t
give what you don’t have. Replenish yourself.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Visible reality is
not the boss of you. But neither is the unseen
world. Both will try to entice you, order you
around, tell you what to want, how to feel. Get
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 (Aug. 21). This
year represents your reaching a new comfort
level within yourself, which comes across in a
pleasant, friendly manner. Some will say you’re
flirting with the world. As you appreciate what’s
special about you, others see it, too, and put
your talents to work. Financially and emotional-
ly, the next 12 months are fantastic. Sagittarius
and Taurus adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
9, 2, 10, 40 and 38.