Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/451730
DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman GETFUZZY DarbyConley ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»TodayI received an email from my 28-year-old nephew, a young man I like very much. "Thomas" recently married his longtime boyfriend. I attended the wedding, gave a generous gift and received a lovely thank-you note. The email outlined Tom's par- ticipation in an excursion to two gay- unfriendly countries. Tom ex- plained why he felt this was impor- tant and said that more funding is needed so that the entire delegation can attend. He included a link to his individual fundrais- ing site for anyone who wished to contribute. Although I support gay rights, this trip seems like a bit of a junket. Even if it is not, I am surprised that he is making plans to take a trip that he can't afford on his own. He is a mar- ried man and I think he and his husband should be self-supporting. Do I have any respon- sibility (or right) to tell these people why I don't want to contribute? I don't want to seem either sarcastic or cheap. Should I ignore the requests? —Supportive DEAR SUPPORTIVE » Your nephew has likely sent this request to his entire circle of family and friends. There is no re- quirement to contribute. There is no crime in asking for something. Being asked does not create a contract between you; it doesn't require an affirmative response or an explanation about why you won't fund the request. It's fine not to contribute. DEAR AMY » Please update us on current customs, etiquette and hospitality. My husband and I have a younger friend, "Laura." She is a psychol- ogist in private practice and a yoga instructor on the weekends. When she had her 35th birthday at a local bar/ party room she told every- one to "order lots of food and drink." We had a can of Sprite and a small bag of potato chips and left early. The next day Laura asked why we left without paying for ou r refr esh- ments and share of the room rent. For her 37th birthday, she solicited donations to pay off her student loan. At her 39th birthday party, she had a "smile table" for guests to pay for her dental work. Now we are invited to her "wedding." She was married last year. They are having a reception with "light snacks" on their first anniversary. On the invitation they requested contributions for fertility testing and an IVF procedure. My husband and I like to help others. We have willingly given Laura thousands of dollars over the years. I'm a retired nurse and volunteer many hours caring for homeless people. Should we start saving for their eventual down payment on a house? — Bewildered in Seattle DEAR BEWILDERED » Laura wants others to finance her life. This is not an etiquette question — this is more about avoiding a fleecing. Crowdfunding requests create conflicts for family and friends 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 Aquarius(Jan.20-Feb.19) — Think about making a com- mitment or taking a partnership to the next level. You will be in the driver's seat if you are the first to negotiate. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — Trying to get ahead through guilt or emotional blackmail will not get you very far. Don't be discouraged. Make your mark. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Anger and hostility will not lead to success. Even if someone lets you down, you should stay centered and show tolerance and understanding. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Refuse to take part in anything that doesn't correspond with your own point of view. Stay in control and don't give in to pressure or ultimatums. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Trust in your abilities, knowl- edge and intuition. Acting just to please others will take its toll and lead to a no-win situation. Be consistent and follow your dreams. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You will be thrown off balance by an emotional encounter. Remain focused. Your produc- tivity will suffer if you dwell on personal matters while trying to accomplish your tasks. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — An attractive colleague will issue a tempting challenge. A new beginning looks promising. Put your best foot forward and improve your confidence as well as your appearance. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Someone will break a promise. Take your time while you decide how to handle this setback. Even if you feel let down, an immediate reaction is likely to backfire. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — You are on a roll. Share your ideas. By inviting interested col- leagues to contribute, you will be able to take full advantage of networking and collaborative opportunities. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Concentrate on whatever contributes to your happiness and joy. Complications are likely if you overextend yourself, so don't take on more than you can handle emotionally. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — You will accomplish what you want by gathering pertinent information and persuading others to join your endeavor. Steer clear of anyone offering a narrow-minded point of view. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You can catch your competi- tion off guard using an inventive and unexpected approach. Work unobtrusively until you have the finished product ready to be launched. Horoscope By Eugenia Last SATURDAY, JAN. 24 SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 5 B