Issuu

Dear Annie: I have two grown children, both married with kids. My youngest, “Carrie,” has a 14-year-old daughter who has been seeing a boy for a year. The other day, we were visiting Carrie, and my granddaughter and her boyfriend got very cozy at the dining room table while we were eating dinner. They started kissing and making out in front of the entire family. Carrie didn’t say a word. I think this is terrible. Carrie is not the easiest person to approach about it, however. If I say anything to her, I doubt she’ll respond well. Any suggestions? — Grandmother in Boston Dear Boston: Carrie may have reasons for ignoring such inappropriate behavior. Perhaps this teenage granddaughter already has plenty of issues with her mother, and Carrie has decided to ignore as much as she can. If you spend time alone

Annie’s Mailbox

Marcy Sugar and Kathy Mitchell anniesmailbox@comcast.net

with your granddaughter (and we recommend it), you can discuss these things directly and calmly with her. Otherwise, it would be a good idea to stay out of it. Dear Annie: My dentist performed a root canal on the wrong tooth. Because of his mistake, I had to go through two root canals and two crown preps. He didn’t charge me for the one he did in error, but I did get a bill for more than $2,000 for the other. I feel violated. Crowns do not last as long as natural teeth, so I’ve lost

PBS profiles Bill Clinton ‘‘American Experience” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings; concludes 7 p.m. Tuesday) celebrates Presidents Day with a two-night profile of Bill Clinton. Recent history is always tricky. For many, it will seem hardly possible that the 1990s have receded into “history” already. ‘‘American Experience” profiles tend toward psycho-biography, and this one has a field day with Clinton’s contradictory personality, his often brilliant public performance and his sloppy private life. This “Clinton” is so focused on the scandals of the era that viewers may be forgiven for thinking it may have been lying in a vault since 2000. It’s a media time warp. Speaking of media, the program never discusses the new and unique challenges of the 24-hour cable news media or the hostile and extremist talk-radio media that accompanied Clinton’s presidency. The Fox News Channel, created specifically to torment the president and his party, is never mentioned. Neither is Rush Limbaugh. Despite enduring brutal attacks, impeachment and hitherto unimagined private scrutiny and public humiliation, Clinton left office more popular and admired than ever. All but ignoring Clinton’s foes, this “Experience” overlooks the idea that they may have been key to Clinton’s survival and enduring popularity. There’s an old saying in politics, dating to the Cleveland administration and popular during FDR’s era: “We love you for the enemies you have made.” It goes a long way toward explaining people’s feelings about Bill Clinton.

Tonight’s other highlights

Auditions continue on “The Voice” (7 p.m., NBC).

An intricate ballet ruse on “House” (7 p.m., Fox).

A chemist emerges from the mists of time on “Alcatraz” (8 p.m., Fox).

“Jefferson’s Secret Bible” (7 p.m., Smithsonian) explores a founding father’s complex relationship with Christianity.

A corpse is discovered wearing ceremonial garb on “Hawaii Five-O” (9 p.m., CBS).

The search for DiMaggio continues on “Smash” (9 p.m., NBC).

War looms on “Castle” (9 p.m., ABC).

BIRTHDAYS Fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt is 88. Actor Sidney Poitier is 85. Racing Hall of Famer Bobby Unser is 78. Racing Hall of Famer Roger Penske is 75. Singersongwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie is 71. Actress Sandy Duncan is 66. Rock musician J. Geils is 66. Actor Peter Strauss is 65. Rock singermusician-producer Walter Becker (Steely Dan) is 62. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is 61. Newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst is 58. Basketball Hall-ofFamer Charles Barkley is 49. Actor French Stewart is 48. Model Cindy Crawford is 46. Actor Andrew Shue is 45. Singer Rihanna is 24.

a perfectly good piece of my anatomy. The dentist now says I eventually would have needed a root canal there anyway, but that’s not true. I have Xrays from another dentist that show nothing wrong with that tooth. I know I could sue him for malpractice, but I don’t want the stress of going to court. And the dentist told me if I sue and don’t prove my case, he would countersue with a defamation claim. Should I report him to the dental board? Should I inform my family, since I have recommended this dentist in the past? — A Lakes Region Dear Region: Telling your family is your choice. Mistakes can happen in any profession. However, this dentist should have apologized profusely instead of becoming defensive and threatening you with a countersuit. We recommend you call your state dental society

JACQUELINE BIGAR’S STARS

For Monday, Feb. 20: This year you will tend to walk to your own beat. Often you will feel left out, as others go down their own paths. Your self-confidence grows as a result of success. Others find you to be most appealing and gentle, yet also a bit odd. If you are single, you need to be more open to someone who will appreciate you. Be careful that this person is not emotionally unavailable. If you are attached, plan a special vacation together. The Stars Show the Kind of Day You’ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult. Aries (March 21-April 19) Your energy carries a project across the finish line. You might wonder what to do next. Follow your natural inclinations, and you will land just fine. Tonight: Zero in on what you want. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Take the lead when others are in a quandary. Your efforts are appreciated, and they can make a difference in the outcome. Tonight: Could be a late dinner. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Keep reaching out for a friend or loved one at a distance. You might have to push very hard to establish a trusting relationship. Tonight: Approach a situation differently. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Open up to a very different attitude and approach. This style is unique and points you toward a new path. Tonight: Go with another person’s suggestion. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Let others make the first move, both professionally and emotionally. Understand what motivates

about resolving this conflict. If that doesn’t help, you can consult an attorney and find out whether it’s worth pursuing a financial solution. Dear Annie: “Broken” said his ex-girlfriend dropped by, they had a couple of beers, and because he had taken a sleep aid earlier, he fell asleep and woke up having sex with her. You said he apparently didn’t make a conscious decision to cheat on his current girlfriend. I wish you had pointed out that what happened to him was rape. Any person who wakes up in that situation is a victim, regardless of gender. — Concerned Citizen Dear Concerned: If the ex had given him the sleeping pill, we would agree. But she was unaware of it. In fact, it’s possible “Broken” initiated the sexual contact. Nonetheless, you are right that men can also be the victims of rape.

jacquelinebigar.com

another person before you take a leap of faith. Tonight: As you like it. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Your focus can, and will, make all the difference in a personal issue. You could be overwhelmed by another person’s efforts. Tonight: Togetherness is the theme. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Deal directly with a child or loved one. You could be overwhelmed by everything that is happening. Step back and consider what would be the best way to proceed. Tonight: Enjoy a special person. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Listen to what another person is trying to share with you. He or she might be trying to nudge you out of your complacent attitude. Tonight: Heading home. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Communication with someone you absolutely love to hang out with tells you a lot about what you need to know. Tonight: Make time for a special friend. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You know how to build security on both emotional and financial levels. You see a difference between the two, and you know how to proceed. Tonight: Buy a treat on the way home. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You feel up to snuff and enjoy just being you. Listen to what another person is sharing. Tonight: Wherever you are going to be. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Allow yourself time alone to process an issue. You could try another approach or speak to a respected confidant. Tonight: Do for you.

phone feature

2/19

MONDAY,www.upuzzles.com FEBRUARY 20, 2012 9B

UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD

SHIRT OFF YOUR BACK By Mark Hooper

2/20

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 20, 2012

ACROSS 1 Financial adviser, for short 4 Go off course 7 False front 13 It might be fine 14 Gets an A 16 Semievergreen ornamental shrub 17 Sodom escapee 18 Kind of crime 20 Make impatient 22 It’s collected on a turnpike 23 Gabriel of “Miller’s Crossing” 24 Forensic science tool 25 Personal quirk 26 Abbr. on a toothpaste box 28 “Chill out!” 31 Argument 34 Like the north wind or Northern Lights 38 Body part susceptible to frostbite 39 Concealed advantage 42 In accordance with 43 Highly skilled people 44 Scallion relative 45 Esteem 47 Poetic work

12 “Fatha” Hines of jazz 15 “The Man” of St. Louis 19 “H” on a frat sweater 21 An egregious error 25 Report a playground infraction 27 “Humble” dwelling 28 Deep-voiced opera singer 29 Valentine word 30 “The ___ shall inherit ...” 31 Snack of Spain 32 Clinched, as a victory 33 Soured, as grapes 35 Signal for a fastball 36 Agent, for short 37 N.Y. time zone

49 St. Louis-toCleveland dir. 50 Square dance sweetie 53 Ennead minus one 57 “It ___ what you think!” 59 Planting season 61 Like some expenses 63 Shipping unit 64 Type of roast 65 First lady on Mt. Olympus 66 Was a consumer 67 Number on either side of a + 68 Christmas Eve drink 69 Center of center court DOWN 1 Moses sent him into Canaan to spy 2 Absentee ballot 3 Essence from rose petals 4 Yelled obnoxiously 5 Symptom for a dentist 6 Strange 7 Confront 8 Blood classification syst. 9 A Boston cager 10 Recipient 11 Classic phone feature

40 Skin fruit 41 Yet to be installed, as a politician 46 Speak hypnotically 48 Army identification 50 Large U.S. publisher? 51 Bridge or foot feature 52 Compare (to) 54 Business bigwig 55 Act the drama queen 56 Believe it either way 57 Raccoon River locale 58 Took legal action 59 Burned rubber 60 Fiddling Roman 62 Aquatic appendage

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

2/19

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

Unscramble these four Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

ARRUL

— The astrological forecast should be read for entertainment only.

INLOOT LYALVE

Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jumble

Grandma should have talk with teen

45 Esteem 47 Poetic work

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.

A: Saturday’s

(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: STOOD ADULT UNPACK BENIGN Answer: The offensive lineman didn’t want to remember the team’s loss, so he did this — BLOCKED IT OUT

BECKER ON BRIDGE