Texarkana Gazette

Advice

Early exposure to cigarette smoke linked to hyperactivity In 2010, a 2-year-old Indonesian boy, Aldi Suganda, made headlines when a video showing him smoking went viral! The poor kid was reportedly so addicted to nicotine that he was smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day, and would throw tantrums and hit his head against the floor whenever his parents tried to get him to cut back. Although this is a more-than-extreme case, it clearly shows how harmful smoking can be to a kid's mental and physical health - and that's true even when the exposure is from strictly secondhand smoke. Published Jan. 21 2020 @ 11:45pm

A switch to red for safety Dear Heloise: This is a safety tip for the kitchen. Some kitchens have a set of electric switches that are usually on the side of the sink on the wall. One switch turns on the light above the sink, and the other switch turns on the garbage disposal. Published Jan. 21 2020 @ 10:53pm

Man with history of cheating caught visiting hook-up sites Dear Abby: I just found out my husband of 18 years has been going to "hook-up" websites. He says he was just looking at the pictures, but I don't believe him. I have caught him cheating twice in the past, so it's hard to trust him. Published Jan. 21 2020 @ 10:52pm

Family has trouble accepting parents' move to warmer clime Dear Abby: My husband and I relocated to a warmer climate a few years ago, putting us more than 1,000 miles away from my adult children. The kids all seem to think this trip was just for fun, and continue to ask me to "come home." Published Jan. 18 2020 @ 10:17pm

Is it OK to wave? Dear Heloise: Is there a universally accepted hand signal to say "thank you" to drivers who do you a kindness? When a driver slows down and allows me to merge into a lane of traffic, I am grateful. I wave my open hand high back and forth. Published Jan. 18 2020 @ 10:16pm

Prep an emergency kit for winter travel Last Christmas Day, as 3 feet of snow fell in the mountain passes, motorists were stranded for eight hours on Interstate 15 between Southern California and Las Vegas, with many having to pull off to the side of the road to sleep and conserve gas. That was minor compared with the 250 cars that were trapped for 24 hours by 4 feet of snow in Washington State's Snoqualmie Pass in February 2019. Although these may sound like extreme examples of travel catastrophes, there are myriad situations when heading out from home by car, you're cut off from healthy food and drink, but could have planned ahead and made the whole experience easier to handle. Published Jan. 18 2020 @ 10:14pm

Here's the most effective way to wash your hands This from the Department of Over-the-Top: In 2015, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., suggested that restaurants be allowed to "opt out" of certain regulations, such as employees washing their hands. "I don't have any problem with Starbucks if they choose to opt out of this policy [of employees washing hands] as long as they post a sign that says, 'We don't require our employees to wash their hands after leaving the restroom.'" Huh? Published Jan. 18 2020 @ 4:58am

Bouquet for girlfriend looks shabby Dear Abby: Is there a delicate way for me to tell my boyfriend not to use the same online floral delivery service again? The birthday bouquet he had delivered to me arrived with limp, wilted, torn petals and leaves and broken stems. It was one of those box-of-flowers deliveries. Published Jan. 18 2020 @ 4:54am

Separated boyfriend is in no hurry to file for divorce Dear Abby: I have been dating my boyfriend for almost a year. I love him, and we have an undeniable connection I have never had with anyone else. The problem is, he's separated but not yet divorced from his wife. Published Jan. 16 2020 @ 11:37pm

Attendant tells how to have a healthy flight Dear Heloise: As a flight attendant, I've learned how to "fly healthy," and here are a few hints to keep you safe while traveling: Published Jan. 16 2020 @ 11:33pm

Your cellphone is dialing up health problems Tech innovator Elon Musk launched Neuralink in 2017 to develop implantable electrodes that can directly link your brain to computers' vast knowledge base. This neural lace technology is supposed to make us one with the digital world, but if the way people are interfacing with their smartphones is any indication of how well humans handle such entanglements, this bot-human hybrid could cause a lot of unforced errors. Published Jan. 16 2020 @ 11:32pm

Man disabled as a teen haunted by parents' inaction Dear Abby: When I was a junior in high school, I sustained a neck injury (at school) that damaged my spinal cord. I recovered mostly from that, but I have residual weakness in my right side and severe neck pain. I was able to work until, at 57, I had to go on disability. Because of that, my financial situation is difficult, increasingly so now that my wife will be retiring. Published Jan. 15 2020 @ 11:50pm

These habits prevent dry skin in winter Dear Readers: Winter's dry air, low humidity and freezing temperatures can do a number on the skin. Do you adjust how you shower? You should. Frequent long, hot showers can dry out the skin, leaving it red, irritated and inflamed. Published Jan. 15 2020 @ 11:48pm

Study: Drinking filtered coffee may cut diabetes risk by 60% "Two Joes" is a fan book about two of The Three Stooges, Joe Besser and Joe DeRita, who stepped into the madcap act many years after it first debuted. Besser arrived in 1955 after the death of an original Stooge, and DeRita followed Besser 15 years later. Published Jan. 15 2020 @ 11:46pm

Let bio parents take the lead when planning Q: I remarried two years ago. I have been working quite well with my husband's ex-wife, but we just hit a roadblock over the holidays and would like your take on things. Last year the holidays were easier to navigate because my kids' schedule matched my husband's kids' schedule, but this year there were all sorts of changes that had to be made which made for some tense times. I suggested a three-way text — my husband's ex, my husband, and me-but his ex said absolutely not. She then texted my husband saying she wanted all negotiations to be "between you and I," which he forwarded to me. At their son's soccer game later that afternoon she was sweet as pie, which made me think it was all fake. It feels like we are going backwards. What's good ex-etiquette? by Dr. Jann Blackstone Published Jan. 15 2020 @ 11:44pm

Your someday dreams are in the making today This is for all the mothers and fathers who dream about Someday. by Lori Borgman Published Jan. 15 2020 @ 11:43pm

Man's explosive anger causes concern for easygoing fiancee Dear Abby: I'm engaged to a wonderful guy. He is very sweet, and I'm beyond thankful for him. I wouldn't trade him for the world. But he has a character flaw that's hard to ignore. When he gets frustrated, he screams out loud and takes a while to get himself together. Published Jan. 15 2020 @ 12:11am

Hunger a growing problem among elderly Dear Heloise: I read with interest the letter from a woman who commented on a previous writer's letter about two elders reduced to looking for free meals to eat after a funeral service. Published Jan. 15 2020 @ 12:10am

Put some more spice in your (longer) life Variety may be the spice of life, at least folks have been claiming that since William Cowper coined the phrase in his 1785 poem "The Task." But in 2019, science may have changed the saying by proving that spice itself is the heart of life. Published Jan. 15 2020 @ 12:07am

A healthy pet in the new year Dear Readers: Let's look at what we can do to keep our pets safe and healthy in 2020: Published Jan. 11 2020 @ 9:27pm

A different take on winning obesity battle Where to start? Your health? Your happiness? Your future? Your pocketbook? Published Jan. 11 2020 @ 9:26pm

Daughter wonders if mom's meddling changed her life Dear Abby: Parents frequently write to you asking for advice about their children, seemingly asking permission to butt in where they should not. Published Jan. 11 2020 @ 9:24pm

What really helps dry winter skin? | Dermatologists share their advice Your skin doesn't like winter. by The Philadelphia Inquirer Published Jan. 11 2020 @ 9:04pm