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Wednesday, January 25, 2012 – Daily News FEATURES Gal's galling gaming growing glaring Dear Annie: My wife is addicted to playing games on her smartphone. She lies in bed in the morning play- ing games before she gets ready for work. When she comes home, she is often on the phone when she walks through the door. When we sit down for sup- per (which I usually make), she plays games while we eat. At bedtime, she lies in bed with her smartphone, playing until she falls asleep. savvy, especially when it comes to saving money. They start and then decide it's a waste of time and end up spending everything they set aside. I'm the opposite. I have Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar If we go out, she plays games at the restaurant. Conversation always begins with, ''What?'' because she is so engrossed in her game. She hardly does anything around the house anymore and barely notices our son, let alone interacts with him. How do I break her of this habit? — Lost in Lexington, Ky. Dear Lost: These games can be highly addictive, and your wife must admit the extent of her involvement before she will be able to cut back. Have you addressed this directly with her? Have you told her how neglected you feel and how much your son misses his mother? Have you asked her to limit her game-playing to specific times? If she refuses to deal with this or change her behavior, the next step is counseling before your resentment creates a more serious problem. We hope she will listen to an unbiased third party. Dear Annie: I have two sisters. They never have been financially always saved for whatever I needed or wanted. My grandfather got me into the habit when I was 10, and I kept it up long after he passed away. Over the past 15 years, I managed to save quite a bit. But when my parents saw what I had, they demanded that I share it with my sisters. I absolutely refuse. This is my money. I earned it. I saved it. And I told them that. Since then, I've been receiving messages from my parents that ''families help each other out'' and ''families share.'' My parents have always given my sisters money whenever they needed it. When I was in high school, I would always give them money when they needed it. Now that the folks are retired, they say it's my job to help my sis- ters. I say it's not. Why should I give them my hard-earned income because they can't be frugal? I feel as though I am being pun- ished for being financially responsi- ble. My sisters haven't saved a dime toward their own retirements, so this is only going to get worse. What can I do? — Stuck in the Mid- dle Dear Stuck: You do not owe your sisters money simply because they have been irresponsible. What you can do, however, is teach them better fiscal behavior. Tell them you are absolutely under no circum- stances going to bail them out, so they need to start setting aside some funds for their future. Make an appointment for them to see a finan- cial counselor through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (nfcc.org) at 1-800-388-2227, and set up a budget. It's the biggest favor you can do for them. Dear Annie: I disagree with your response to ''Loveless in Spokane,'' the 72-year-old geezer who thinks women in his senior complex should bed down with him after they have dated a ''few times.'' These ladies, and it is obvious they are ladies, were born and raised in an era when good girls did not have sex with a man until after they were married. This old guy is a cad. — Senior Citizen Who Respects Women Dear Senior: Many readers pointed out that these women may not wish to have sex outside of mar- riage, a perfectly respectable posi- tion. If that's the case, however, they should tell him so he under- stands the ground rules and doesn't keep badgering them. Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Hunters, wildlife win with big game tags The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announces four random drawings for big game license tags in 2012. These drawings will raise funds needed for vital wildlife conservation programs. In 2011, DFG offered two random drawings - one for an open zone deer tag and one for an Owens Valley zone elk tag - which together generated more than $130,000 for conservation. DFG will bring back these tags this year and make two more tags available for random drawing - one northeastern California pronghorn antelope tag and one Kelso Peak/Old Dad Mountains desert bighorn sheep tag. Opportunities to win one of the four fund-raising tags are available to all interested hunters. Random tag drawing chances can now be purchased at DFG license sales offices and online, as well as at the upcoming International Sportsmen's Expositions in Sacramento and Long Beach. Each chance will cost $5.66 and there is no purchase limit. Purchase of random drawing chances does not require a valid license, but the successful applicants must show proof of a valid 2012-2013 California hunt- ing license to obtain the tag. The application deadline for all tags is June 2 with the drawings taking place within 10 business days of the deadline. "In our continued support of hunting and quest to increase hunting and fishing opportunities in Califor- nia, I'm pleased that our hunters can purchase multiple random drawing fund-raising tag chances for special hunt tags this year," said DFG Director Charlton H. Bonham. "I am particularly excited that this year we will include a once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn sheep tag as well as a coveted northeastern California prong- horn antelope tag. "California's big game conservation and hunting opportunities continue to demonstrate that world-class opportunities are available in this great state. Just this past season two hunters set pending Boone and Crock- et State and Pope and Young world records for desert bighorn sheep." As an added bonus, San Gorgonio Wilderness Out- fitters has offered to provide free guide services to the hunter who wins the Kelso Peak/Old Dad Mountains desert bighorn sheep tag. "This is a wonderful offer and commitment by the San Gorgonio folks and demonstrates the great support of one another within the hunting community," Bon- ham said. Hunters who are not selected as winners of one of the four random tag draws are still eligible to bid on any of the 13 fund-raising tags available through auction by DFG's conservation partners. Frequent- ly asked questions are answered on the DFG web- site at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/hunting/hunting- faqs.html. Second opinion can improve doc's advice DEAR DOC- TOR K: Do you recommend get- ting a second med- ical opinion? I don't want to offend my doctor or make her angry. But with big health decisions, I'd like the extra input. What is the best way to pro- ceed? Dr. K by Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D. DEAR READER: Most of us will face at least one important med- ical decision in our lives. It could involve whether to have surgery, or to undergo a diagnostic pro- cedure that contains risks. Maybe you just feel that you don't really under- stand how you should be thinking about your options, based on the dis- cussion with your doctor. When you are not sure of what to do, getting a second opinion before starting treatment is a good idea. A second opinion may simply confirm your first diagnosis or treatment recommendation. If it does, it doesn't mean it was a waste. If the two opinions agree, it can be reassuring about your diagnosis or treatment choice. In some cases, a second opinion can be helpful just because another doctor may explain things in a way that's more under- standable to you. Sometimes a second opinion actually can improve the advice you get. Things in medicine are not always clear-cut, even to the best doctors. For example, consider a biopsy for something like a possible cancer. Your symptoms might suggest cancer. That spot in your lung on an X-ray might look like cancer. But the proof of whether a person has cancer is to get a sam- ple of the tissue (a biopsy) that looks like cancer. Then experts look at the tissue under the micro- scope. You'd think that the biopsy would provide a definitive answer. Howev- er, even some- thing as seeming- ly straightforward as examining a biopsy can benefit from a second opinion. Research at Johns Hopkins found that second- opinion looks at tissue samples led to changed diag- noses in about 7 percent of the cases. Some went from benign to malignant, and some the other way around. Second opinions can also save money by steer- ing treatment away from expensive tests, medica- tions or procedures. Some insurance companies actu- ally encourage them, and some even require them in certain situations. Still, you should check with your health plan before getting a second opinion to see whether the visit and any additional costs will be covered. Asking your doctor, nurses, or family and friends for recommenda- tions is a good place to start. Many hospitals offer second-opinion services, too. There are also private companies that provide second opinions. But before choosing this route, do some homework to make sure it's a reputable business. Your doctor shouldn't be offended or mad if you get a second opinion. In fact, if your doctor is put out that you want a second opinion — one that could improve your health care — perhaps she's not the right doctor for you. A doctor giving a sec- ond opinion will want to see your records before offering an opinion. Call the office ahead of time to see what you should bring or have sent. And bring along a notebook so you can jot down notes. Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. Go to his website to send questions and get additional information: www.AskDoctorK.com. Do your federal taxes free with IRS Free File service IRS Free File, which has been making taxes a little less taxing for a decade, opens today, Jan. 17. More than 33 million returns have been filed through Free File since its debut. Everyone can use Free File, either the brand-name software offered by IRS' commercial partners or the online fillable forms. Indi- viduals or families with 2011 adjusted gross incomes of $57,000 or less can use Free File software. Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, has no income restrictions. "Free File can save you time and money. You can prepare and e-file your tax return at no charge. 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