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DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman GETFUZZY DarbyConley ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARREADERS»Your questions and dilemmas never take a holiday, but occasionally I must. This week's "best of" co lu mn s c o me f ro m d ee p within the Ask Amy vault. Like a soft-serve twisty cone, they are sometimes even more enjoyable as a second helping. DEAR AMY » I have a problem. My best friend cuts herself. I tried to tell myself it was not that bad, until I saw the hor- rible gashes on her arms. Now they're half-healed, but they are most definitely not caused by her cat, which is what she says they are caused by. It is obvious to me that she is in a state of de- pression, but I want her to stop hurting herself. Please help. —AfraidforFriend DEAR AFRAID » You're a good friend. Friends like you notice when things aren't right and don't always accept a pal's explanations when you know she needs help. Your instincts sound right on. "Cutting" is a dangerous form of self- injury and is often an outward symptom of de- pression and/or anxiety. People who cut say that injuring themselves sometimes feels like a relief, like a release valve. Sometimes they say it makes them feel more "alive." Unfortunately, cutting usually gets worse. The person injur- ing herself usually doesn't get better without help. Sometimes, medica- tion relieves some of the pressure to cut; a good counselor will provide care and understanding. Please let your friend know that you're aware of what she's doing and say you want to help her. Yo u sh ou l d sp ea k w i t h an adult you trust who could assist your friend in getting help. There is a lot of information on self-injury on the Web. If you check out kids health.org and do a search on "cutting," you'll find very informa- tive articles and ideas of how to further help your friend. (2004) DEAR AMY » I have a longtime friend who is driving me nuts. When she enters a room, within fi ve m in ut e s s he i s ta l ki ng about her two sons: how wonderful they are, what they did in the last year, about their in-laws. None of us has seen them in years, if ever. We are so bored to tears by her long disserta- tions; she never knows when to quit. She has become so obnoxious. What can we do? — Friends in Virginia DEAR VIRGINIA » You might make some head- way by speaking with her, alone, not with your other pals. Please keep in mind that boring people rarely change; that's the nature of being a bore. Your being tolerant and then skillfully changing the subject when you can't bear it anymore might be the best you can hope for. (2004) Friendship issues challenge readers to rise to the occasion You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@tribune.com and follow her on Twitter @askingamy. Amy Dickinson Ask Amy Sudoku Instructions:Theobjectistoplacethe numbers1to9intheemptysquaresso thateachrow,eachcolumnandeach 3x3boxcontainsthenumberonlyonce. AnswertoPreviousPuzzle CelebrityCipher ByLuisCampos Instructions:CelebrityCiphercryptogramsarecreatedfromquotationsbyfamouspeople, pastandpresent.Eachletterinthecipherstandsforanother. NEACrossword Leo(July23-Aug.22)— Get ready to enjoy interacting with others. Your charismatic personality will bring you lots of favorable attention. Indulge your romantic side. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — You will receive no sympathy if you are being difficult. A moody temperament will make it hard for others to relate to you. Keep your problems a secret. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Showcase your talents. You will move forward once others are aware of what you have to offer. Interact with people who can help you reach your objectives. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Consider the consequences of your actions and take the help someone is offering. There is only so much you can do. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Rein in your emotions today. You will regret it if you act in haste. Staying calm and focused will help you avoid making careless or costly mistakes. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Sooner or later, you will have to face the music and deal with a troubling situation head-on. Gather pertinent information in order to resolve matters swiftly. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Spend your time wisely. Keeping busy will bring you rewards. By volunteering for a worthy cause, you will improve your community and make some long-lasting friendships. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — This is not a choice time for a serious commitment. Do your research. Refrain from making important decisions until condi- tions are better and you are sure you can honor the position you take. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Love is in the stars. You are at your best when taking a leadership role. Someone with the potential to affect your plans will take an interest in your abilities. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Go over your financial records carefully. If you have misestimated your budget, make the necessary adjust- ments quickly to avoid penalties or blemishes on your reputation. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Resist the urge to stretch the truth. It may be difficult at first, but you need to set the record straight before you are faced with an embarrassing consequence. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Don't let your fears hold you back. You may suffer a small setback, but if you are persis- tent, you will succeed. Have faith in yourself. Horoscope By Eugenia Last THURSDAY, AUG. 7 THURSDAY,AUGUST7,2014 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 3 B