Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/702825
DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman THEDUPLEX GlennMcCoy ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»Whenmy twin sons are invited to a friend's birthday party, I always purchase two gifts (one from each boy) worth $15 each. For my boys' last birth- day, their good friend came to the party and didn't bring a gift. Then, two months later, he showed up for a play date with an unwrapped video game disc that was in a generic, broken case. It was clearly purchased used. The boy said he had played it and thought my sons would like it. I was shocked that any parent would allow this "gift" to be given to a good friend! I called the parent to make sure she was aware that her child had given this gift. She stated she wasn't working right now. I let her know that I thought that, as a parent, she should be teaching children what is appro- priate (giving a new, un- broken item) and what is NOT appropriate (giving a used, broken item). She got irritated and told me she'd buy them something new when she got another job. This is a family that spends plenty on their own child. Obvi- ously, money is NOT the problem. I would never question how much some- one spends. A small, NEW $5 item would have been sufficient. No appropriate gift was ever given. The kids haven't played together for months. Now this boy's birthday is com- ing up and my children would like to go to his party. What do I do regard- ing their gift? I have talked to the boys about how inappropriate this family's choices were. I blame the parent, not the child, but I als o don't want to be an idiot and keep spending our hard-earned money for someone who has such opposing views of how things should be handled. —UpsetMom DEAR MOM » Your extreme concern over this and your continued focus on the gift issue is not what gift-giving is supposed to be about. This other child, who gave your sons some- thing he thought they would like, is demonstrat- ing solid values and at least a measure of respon- sibility and generosity toward his friends. Even if he was two months late and didn't spend money on this gift, it seems to have come from his heart. You should stop trash- ing this other set of par- ents to your sons, and you should instead encourage them to give thanks for any gift. Allow them to go to the party, and encour- age them to choose a modest gift. DEAR AMY » Respond- ing to the question from "Prefer to Pee in Private," about cellphone use in public restrooms, I agree with her that this is inap- propriate and intrusive. Also, I'm sure you are aware of how dirty bathrooms are. All I can think of is these people touching things in the stall, then touching their phones and putting those phones up to their face. Eeww! — Nancy, in MA DEAR NANCY » Yikes, yes! Mom teaches twin sons the wrong lesson on giving You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@tribpub.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 Cancer(June21-July22) — Don't worry about who is and who isn't in favor of your plans. Be proud of what you have achieved when you're finished. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Make time to deal with the con- cerns of children or older people. Conversations will help you find suitable solutions. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — If you express your plans regarding investments, you will be offered some interesting alternatives. An in-the-know person will help you do the leg- work required to investigate. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — What you do will far exceed ev- eryone's expectations, once you get started. Step up to the plate and get moving before someone labels you as a procrastinator. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Protect your health and physical well-being. Use your head and figure out each step of your plan before you move forward. A change at home will be to your benefit. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Network, discuss your plans and flirt with the possibil- ity of turning one of your ideas into something profitable. Ex- pect to face emotional interfer- ence from someone. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Problems will arise if someone tries to talk you into something that has too many risks. Don't let love tempt you to give in to emotional manipula- tion. Trust in your judgment. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You'll have trouble when it comes to frivolous spending. At the end of the day, you will be lacking funds and dissatis- fied with what you got for your money. Be frugal. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — Use your creative imagi- nation and you'll come up with a moneymaking plan. Put a little muscle behind your ideas and present what you have to offer. Aries (March 21-April 19) — You can make changes, but don't force them on those around you. Problems with a friend, children or a partner are likely to surface. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Learn from past mistakes. Make favorable changes to the way you live your life. Fix up your living space. A dedicated workspace will help you be more productive. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Finish what you start and take care of your responsibili- ties before someone complains. Stick to your budget and make sure your ideas are do- able before you present your plans. Horoscope By Eugenia Last TUESDAY, JULY 12 TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2016 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 3 B