Up & Coming Weekly

JAN. 27 - FEB. 2, 2010 UCW 23 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM ADVICE GODDESS Easier Unsaid Than Done I went out with this guy once; then he went away for three weeks, and we e-mailed and phoned constantly. Last night, he took me to dinner, and it was weird and awkward. Should I text him to say "that felt really weird"? — Honest Nothing takes the weird and awkward out of dating like sending a guy a typed statement about how weird and awkward you found your date. He's sure to be inspired to look to the future with you, a la "Are you free Friday around 8? How about you go out with some other guy?" As for your stilted evening, maybe he's seeing somebody else and feeling guilty; maybe it was hard reconciling the phone you and the in-person you; maybe his tighty-whities were riding up. If he calls again, you might steer your next date to someplace there's bigger action than the two of you — a hike, an arcade, an intellectual amusement park (aka a museum). If he doesn't call, you could text him — as if by accident — with one of those form messages that came with your phone. "In a meeting"? Confusing, yes, but a better way to say "call me!" than "Had a really crappy time. Looking forward to many more crappy times in the future." Leave Will Keep Us Together Thanks to your column, I'm a recovering wimp, now asking women out. So, any pointers for first dates? Dinner or drinks? Things to avoid doing or saying? — Girlfriend-Seeking For best results, sell yourself like soap. When Procter & Gamble wants you to try a new laundry detergent, they mail you a little packet of the stuff; they don't throw a two-gallon jug over your fence and kill your dog. Likewise, the point of the first date is seeing if it makes sense to go on a second date, not letting a girl know how ashamed you were when you wet the bed at sleepaway camp. Too much emotional intimacy right away can feel creepy in retrospect. Or, you run the risk of getting attached first, then finding out how wrong a girl is for you later. To avoid going into overtime, overspend, and overshare, make the first date cheap, local, and short. Meet for a drink, for maybe an hour and a half. Have something you have to rush off to afterward. Even if it's just a conference call at your place. With your hamster listening in on the extension. Amy Alkon WEEKLY HOROSCOPE THIS WEEK in the STARS www.Astrology-101.com ARIES - March 21 thru April 20 New friendships, romance and benefi ts from creative abilities are all under friendlier skies. Take advantage of what your ruling planet (Mars) brings this week. TAURUS - April 21 thru May 21 Your ruling planet (Venus) supports a new cycle of opportunity as it moves thru your Career sector. Review your full potential and eliminate things that may be holding you back. GEMINI - May 22 thru June 21. New ways of benefi ting your fi nancial security are likely as stars focus on your Investment sector. It's a time when professionals should be consulted. CANCER - June 22 thru July 23 Something ventured, something gained. Moon in Money sector may signify an enterprising period ahead. A new approach is needed in times of change LEO - July 24 thru August 23 A good time for creativity and stepping up social activity, Your star (SUN) is in its proper place for eligible Leo's seeking new romantic relationships. VIRGO - August 24 thru Sept 23 Mercury, your ruling planet highlights your Job sector. Many may be saying goodbye to hard times as the planets work in your behalf. LIBRA - Sept 24 thru Oct 23 Time out to think of yourself! This is a great week for stepping up social activity and for expressing the romantic and creative side of your nature. Enjoy! SCORPIO - Oct 24 thru Nov 22 Placing yourself in the proper places could bring excitement for romantic eligibles. Have confi dence in your creative ability. Don't accept negative advice from others. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23 thru Dec 21 Pay attention to Domestic matters. Home is where your focus should be now. For entrepreneurs, a home enterprise could be like money in the bank. CAPRICORN - Dec 22 thru Jan 20 . Take advantage of the opportunities your ruling planet (Saturn) may bring with good aspects to your Money sector. Blend old ideas with the new for a winning combination. AQUARIUS - Jan 21 thru Feb 19 Favorable planetary aspects pave the way for new meaningful relationships including partnerships. Times of change bring im- proved conditions. Expect a nice surprise. PISCES - Feb 20 thru March 2F0 Be open to new ideas, new people and new places. Good aspects to your ruling planet (Neptune) brings new opportunities in the months ahead. Develop your talents. NEWS OF THE WEIRD by CHUCK SHEPPARD Big-time traffi ckers who smuggle illegal immigrants into the U.S. from Mexico rely on GPS devices to evade the Border Patrol, but starting in June, border-jumpers who travel on their own can have protection, too. Three University of California, San Diego faculty members have designed inexpensive cell phones with special software to locate water, churches and medical facilities in the treacherous Southwest desert (while avoiding law enforcement) and will give the devices to Mexican charities. The phones, which will also feature "welcome to the U.S." poetry, are expected to save the lives of many of the hundreds who die each year on their dangerous journeys, but illegal-immigration protesters are demanding that the academics be arrested for assisting in crimes. [USA Today-AP, 12-29-09] The Continuing Crisis A man identified in China's Chongqing Evening News in November as Mr. Zhang, 32, admitted he is competitive with his wife and "never wants to lose an argument," but inevitably his contentiousness leaves him with "bruises and scars all over" because Mrs. Zhang is a kung fu master. After negotiations led by Mrs. Zhang's parents, she agreed by contract to limit any beatings to no more than once a week, with a parent-administered penalty for exceeding that. [Daily Telegraph (London), 12-2-09] The Kirklees (West Yorkshire, England) Environmental Health department cited farmer Ronald Norcliffe, 65, in 2008 for inadequate lighting in his barn, which inspectors said failed to meet the "psychological needs" of his one cow and her calf. In his formal appeal, heard in October 2009, Norcliffe noted (unsuccessfully) that he has had a clean record as a farmer for 30 years and that in fact, he still lives fi ne without electricity in his own house. After his defeat, Norcliffe's lawyer sighed. "I still have no idea how much lighting is appropriate for a cow." [Daily Telegraph, 10-14-09] In December, a court in Istanbul, Turkey, found 39 people guilty of trying to overthrow the government after a trial that lasted, on and off, for 28 years. More than 1,000 defendants had been rounded up after challenging a 1980 military coup. The original trial lasted 10 years, but the case languished in an appeals court for 13 years while judges awaited 100 folders of evidence that had somehow gone missing. The 39 were given life sentences, but were immediately released based on time already served. The European Union has urged that Turkey upgrade its judicial system as a pre-condition for membership. 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