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4B – Daily News – Tuesday, March 8, 2011 FEATURES Problematic past plagues Dear Annie: More than 10 years ago, I was convicted of prostitution and shoplifting and went to jail. At that time, I was homeless, an alcoholic and had an undiagnosed mental illness. With the help of several com- munity agencies and my family (who never gave up on me), I was able to get sober, receive treatment and obtain housing. I have been working for sev- eral years at volunteer jobs in my church and for a local organization that helps the mentally ill. I would like to find a paying job, Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar but no one will hire me because of my criminal record. I asked for a pardon from the mayor, but was turned down, even though I presented him with many letters of recommendation from people who know me from church and other community organizations. Annie, I am not the same person I was 10 years ago. I have a lot to offer. I want to continue to contribute to the community, but I need an income. Right now, I depend on Social Securi- ty, odd jobs and my family. I am not involved in any behavior that would lead me back to the streets. What can I do to prove that I am trustworthy and would be a good employee? — Mid- west Dear Midwest: Unfortunately, many companies don’t look beyond the criminal record when hiring. Would one of the places where you do volunteer work hire you in a paid posi- tion, even part time? Don’t be afraid to ask, and explain why you need the job. Many states offer programs to help ex-offenders get back into the job mar- ket, and you can check online, at City Hall or through the governor’s office. Other places are the Safer Foundation (saferfoundation.org) at 571 W. Jack- son, Chicago, IL 60661; the National Hire Network (hirenetwork.org); the U.S. Dept. of Labor (www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/onesto p/onestopmap.cfm) at 1-877-US2- JOBS (1-877-872-5627) or servicelo- cator.org. Goodwill Industries has been known to help with job training and placement. Good luck to you. Dear Annie: I’m a 15-year-old sophomore in high school. I do volun- teer work for a local organization and must frequently be in contact with my supervisor via e-mail. I have always addressed her as ‘‘Mrs. Brown,’’ which I feel is appropriate and respect- ful. Yet she always signs her e-mails ‘‘Mary.’’ Since she never uses her last name, I’m beginning to feel awkward and overly formal by continuing to address her as Mrs. Brown. What should I do? — Trying to be Respectful in Vermont Dear Vermont: Normally, we would say it is more polite to wait until Mrs. Brown specifically tells you, ‘‘Please call me Mary.’’ However, by signing her e- mails to you with her first name, she is giving you tacit per- mission to address her this way. If you are comfortable doing so, go right ahead. Dear Annie: I have to take issue with your advice to ‘‘Twin Problems,’’ whose sister is a bully. I cannot believe you are letting the parents off the hook. Where is their responsibility in this issue, which you called extreme sib- ling rivalry? The bully should be being coached at home, and instead you are telling the innocent young lady to talk to her school counselor. In my view, her parents are doing a terrible job of parenting. Why don’t you tell them to do better? — G.T. Dear G.T.: They didn’t write to us. Readers often expect us to give advice to a third party who isn’t looking for help. ‘‘Twin Problems’’ has already talked to her parents. They did nothing. She needs an advocate, and her school counselor is the most logical choice. We hope she follows through. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Sheen fired from ‘Two and a Half Men’ LOS ANGELES (AP) — Charlie Sheen was fired Monday from ‘‘Two and a Half Men’’ by Warner Bros. Television following the actor’s bouts of wild party- ing, repeated hospitaliza- tions and a bitter media campaign against his studio bosses. The action was taken after ‘‘careful considera- tion’’ and is effective imme- diately, the studio said in a statement. No decision has been made on the show’s future without its star, Warn- er spokesman Paul McGuire said. Sheen, 45, who has used TV, radio and social media to create a big mega- phone for himself, was not silent for long. In a text to The Associated Press, he responded with the F-word and, ‘‘They lose,’’ followed by the word ‘‘Trolls.’’ Asked if he planned to sue, Sheen texted back, ‘‘Big.’’ As for his next move, Sheen texted, ‘‘A big one.’’ A call to his attorney, Marty Singer, seeking com- ment was not immediately returned Monday. CBS declined to comment. Respecting People. Impacting Business Call us. And get back to work. Call us any time for: • An extensive network of recruiting sources • Testing and training • Experienced recruiters • Full-time employees • HR expertise and support services • Temporary Workers • Evaluation hire • Carefully screened candidates • Dedicated service The firing capped a rare, raging public battle between a Hollywood star and those who employ him, with Sheen claiming the right to live as he pleased — includ- ing the acknowledged use of illegal drugs, although he’s said he is currently clean — as long as he showed up sober and ready to work. ‘‘Two and a Half Men,’’ which debuted in 2003, starred Sheen as womaniz- ing bachelor Charlie Harper, who creates an ad hoc fami- ly with his neurotic brother, the divorced Alan (Jon Cryer) and Alan’s son, Jake (Angus T. Jones). Warner and CBS had long faced a balancing act with Sheen as he underwent rehab and two ugly splits from wives No. 2 (Denise Richards) and No. 3 (Brooke Mueller Sheen). On one side was the way- ward star, on the other was TV’s most successful and highly lucrative sitcom, anchoring Monday for CBS and making hundreds of millions of dollars for Warn- er. Last month, Warner can- celed the remaining eight episodes of what was intended to be a 24-episode season of ‘‘Men,’’ citing Sheen’s public behavior and rants against executive pro- ducer Chuck Lorre. In a series of interviews, Herb Shop • VITAMINS • MINERALS • HERBS Open Tuesday-Friday 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. www.expresspros.com 530-527-0727 243 So. Main Street Suite #E, Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530) 528-2930 333 So. Main St. including with ABC’s ‘‘Good Morning America’’ and NBC’s ‘‘Today’’ show, Sheen boasted about his ‘‘epic’’ partying, said he’s fueled by ‘‘violent hatred’’ of his bosses and claimed to have kicked drugs at home in his ‘‘Sober Valley Lodge.’’ He glorified him- self as a ‘‘rock star from Mars’’ with ‘‘fire breathing fists’’ and ‘‘Adonis DNA’’ and talked about his home life with two women he nicknamed his ‘‘goddess- es.’’ The actor, who was among TV’s highest-paid at a reported $1.8 million per episode for ‘‘Men,’’ brashly said at one point that he would ask for $3 million if he signed a new contract for future seasons. There was public fascination with the gloves-off battle. When Sheen added Twitter to the arsenal, he gained 1 million followers in an unprecedent- edly brief 25 hours, leading Guinness World Records to establish a new category and crown him the champion. He now has well over 2 mil- lion followers. But Sheen’s professional conflict devolved into a cus- tody battle over his 23- month-old twin sons with estranged wife Mueller Sheen. She used his public remarks, as well as conduct she claimed was threatening and violent, to seek a court order removing the children M-F 6am-2pm * Now on Facebook from his home last week. While Sheen’s text to AP suggested his next major role could be that of plaintiff in a lawsuit, the immediate question for Warner and CBS was whether to keep the show alive by bringing in a new cast member to join Cryer and Jones — the one- and-a-half men left. Shows have replaced stars before and lived to fight for ratings another day. When Valerie Harper left ‘‘Valerie’’ after the 1986-87 season in a dis- pute with producers, the show was renamed ‘‘The Hogan Family,’’ Sandy Duncan was brought in to play a new character and the sitcom continued until 1991. Drew Carey, who starred in and co-created ‘‘The Drew Carey Show,’’ was asked about the possibility recently, before Sheen’s fir- ing. ‘‘All you have to do is bring in someone you can plug into a Charlie Sheen- like character and deliver those kinds of lines. There are 100 actors who could do it,’’ said Carey, host of ‘‘The Price Is Right.’’ Carey said he wasn’t dis- missing Sheen’s comedic talent and acknowledged that ratings might suffer if viewers are reluctant to accept a new actor in a new role. But the studio could save money by paying the substitute far less. 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GOTT: Please tell me about non-diabetic neuropathy of the feet. What causes it? Is there any cure? DEAR READER: The word neuropathy signifies nerve dam- age. People common- ly associate it with diabetes; however, a number of other pos- sible causes for the disorder include alcoholism, hypothyroidism, Charcot- Marie-Tooth syndrome, celiac disease, deficiency of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), kidney and/or liver dis- orders, Guillain-Barre syn- drome, varicella-zoster infection (shingles), hepati- tis C, HIV/AIDS, exposure to toxins, traumatic injury and more. Dr. Peter Gott cases. As symp- toms exacerbate, heavier prescrip- tion drugs might follow. When those fail to offer relief from pain, drugs such as codeine might be ordered. Some medications, such as lidocaine patches, antide- pressants and anti-seizure drugs, have shown promise when prescribed for nerve pain. Neuropathy can affect our nerves, muscles, joints and organs. When it occurs in the legs, it can cause a feeling of numbness in the feet, gait abnormalities, burning, aching, tingling and trouble walking. Our nervous systems involve the brain and spinal cord. All nerves in other parts of the body are referred to as our peripheral nervous system. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) typically begins in the longest nerves — the toes. It can affect nerves that control muscles, blood pressure, bladder function, heart rate and more. PN can ultimately lead to numbness of the feet or hands, a burning sensa- tion, muscle weakness, lack of coordination and a great deal more. Diagnosis should begin in your physician’s office and might include examina- tion and history as well as a check of your muscle strength, the ability to detect specific sensations and reflexes. Your physician may also choose to order laboratory testing to deter- mine whether your thyroid is functioning properly, if you have any vitamin defi- ciencies or malfunction of your liver and kidneys. A nerve-conduction study can measure the speed with which your nerves carry electrical signals. A CT or MRI might be ordered to determine whether you suf- fer from a herniated disc or other abnormalities. Finally, a nerve biopsy can be ordered. This test can reveal abnormalities; however, it will not always be clear what has damaged the nerves to cause the neuropa- thy. Treatment consists of treating any underlying dis- eases and over-the-counter pain relievers for mild On the home front, I rec- ommend you stop smoking if you currently do so, exer- cise regularly if your physi- cian approves, massage your feet to improve circu- lation, and avoid activity such as crossing your legs when sitting, a habit that can worsen the nerve dam- age. Readers who are inter- ested in learning more about this and other debili- tating pain issues can order my Health Report “Manag- ing Chronic Pain” by send- ing a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order made payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDr- GottMD.com. DEAR DR. GOTT: My mother is 79 and had a brother who died from com- plications of colon cancer. She is scheduled for another colonoscopy soon, and we wonder whether there is a point at which this uncom- fortable procedure will no longer be recommended. What are your thoughts on the benefits versus the risks, or is it an individual deci- sion based on the person’s health history? DEAR READER: To my knowledge, there is no set age at which colonoscopy is no longer recommended. Your moth- er’s medical history will tell the story. She should dis- cuss her concerns with her physician. It is also her right to discontinue the testing whenever she chooses regardless of a doctor’s advice. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com. LINDA M. FOURBY, LUTCF Authorized Independent Agent BlueShield of California Anthem® Bluecross • Individual • Small Group • Medicare Supplements • Part D Prescriptions (530) 529-2369 805 Walnut St., Red Bluff CA Lic.#0C05427 345 So. Main Street • Red Bluff • 527-4588 ALL LIFE STAGE DOG FOOD ✓ SALMON ANTIOXIDANT RICH IN OMEGA FATTY ACID COME TO US FOR ALL YOUR PET SUPPLIES! 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