Hispanic voters resemble other migrants

Martinez is the new Martinelli. That's another way of making a critical political point: Hispanic voters increasingly resemble other immigrant groups, like Italians.

Son’s girlfriend stays in bed during visits

DEAR HARRIETTE: My son lives in a different state, and I do not get to see him very often. Usually about once a year, he will bring his girlfriend of five years to our house and spend a week with us. Unfortunately, every time they come over, his girlfriend becomes sick and will have to stay in bed for the majority of the trip. She says that she is not used to the weather in our state. I don't believe that she is really sick. I think that she is anxious about being around us and would prefer to stay in bed and be away from us. My son has warned me about her anxiety on multiple occasions. Is it wrong if I request that he not bring her this year? – Just Stay Home

DO JUST ONE THING

● Whatever type of blinds you invest in for your windows – bamboo, wooden, cellular, roman or roller style – they can help to improve energy efficiency in your home. If you live in a cool climate, blinds should be left open in the winter when it's sunny to help bring heat inside the home. But at night, they should be closed and snug in the window frame to prevent cold air from seeping in and to help reduce heat loss. Some blinds are more efficient than others, but any style is better than none.

Trump’s political will

No American presidents of our time – perhaps no American presidents ever, with the possible exceptions of George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt -- have affected the environment of their successors as dramatically as Donald J. Trump has shaped the political world of Joe Biden.

Parasitic tapeworms cause unusual neurological symptoms

Dear Doctors: There was a story in the news recently about a man who had a tapeworm living in his brain. Our two teenage boys also saw it and are now obsessed. They're grossed out and fascinated, and they are asking lots of questions. An explanation would be welcome.

Girlfriend’s lunch delivery embarrasses employee

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm embarrassed by my girlfriend insisting on bringing my lunch to me at work. I know that she means well, but it's really not necessary, and my co-workers tease me about it. Would it be rude if I asked her to stop? – Embarrassing Girlfriend

Husband either ignores or fights with spouse

DEAR HARRIETTE: I feel like I shoulder all the responsibility in my family. I am married, and my husband works and comes home every day – but that's about it. He rarely helps with homework, housework or anything else. Honestly, we don't spend much time together. We will be in the house for hours at a time, but he will be in one room and I will be in another. We basically coexist rather than having a friendship or close relationship. The most interaction we have is when one or both of us drink; then we argue. This is not the life I thought I would have after being married for a long time. I don't want to accept that this is the best I can expect of my marriage. I have tried in the past to get him to be more engaged, but he just shrugs it off. How can I get him to want to spend time with me? If he won't, should I think about getting a divorce? – At Wit's End

Stringing Christmas lights

I walk around my neighborhood later in the evening these days, mostly so I can see the lights.

Media histrionics vs. reality

Only last week, we learned that one Donald J. Trump was, in effect, the Typhoid Mary of the COVID-19 epidemic during the 2020 campaign. What's more, unlike the original, an Irish-born cook who unknowingly infected whole families in early 20th-century New York, Trump tested positive for COVID but didn't bother to warn any of the scores of individuals he came into close contact with before himself being hospitalized.

Ketosis, ketoacidosis sound similar, but not the same thing

Dear Doctors: I mentioned to a friend that I'm starting a low-carb diet that puts your body into ketosis. She said not to because ketosis is one of the dangerous complications that can happen to people with diabetes. Is that right? If so, how can low-carb diets ever be safe?

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