Other Life Columns
Your Place / Home Q & A
Q:I’m hoping you can give a brief explanation of the tankless water heater. I can’t seem to make my husband understand. Our water heater is on the opposite side of our house from the bathrooms and laundry room. Consequently, it takes running the water a long time before we get any warm/hot water. Isn’t the tankless heater something that allows you to tap into hot water on demand? (Updated: 11/22/09 7:25 AM )
Wines for the holiday table
We always look forward to Thanksgiving. Not only is it a time to share the time with family, but above all holidays it is the best time for culinary pleasures. (Updated: 11/22/09 7:25 AM )
Be yourself, and let sister find her way
Dear Carolyn: My younger sister, “Alexis,” is a college sophomore, and in the last year or so has gotten very into drinking with her friends (she is underage). It started because she is in a small town and said there was “nothing else to do on the weekends.” In the past when friends drank, she would tell them they were being stupid and irresponsible. She now thinks it is funny to see her friends acting drunk, and has told me about their exploits on occasion. (Updated: 11/22/09 7:25 AM )
Critic strikes a nerve
Recently, we reported here the unkind words of the LA Times reporter Elizabeth Snead about Nicole Kidman and Gwyneth Paltrow. She called them “two of the coldest and least sexy actresses ...” (Paltrow and Kidman are set to star together in a daring sex-change movie.) (Updated: 11/21/09 6:44 AM )
Giving thanks for tolerance
My annual Thanksgiving list: (Updated: 11/21/09 6:44 AM )
Car Talk
Dear Tom and Ray: Recently, we had our 2005 Toyota RAV4 taken in for its regularly scheduled maintenance, which included rotating the tires. Each tire has a locking lug nut, and when I picked up the car, my mechanic told me that one of the locking lug nuts “broke” when he tried to remove it, and that he had to then drill through the wheel stud and replace it. I was then charged more than $150 for the labor and parts. (Updated: 11/21/09 6:44 AM )
Duplicate Bridge: Nov. 21
All local bridge clubs will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 26, for Thanksgiving. The Bridge
Center of East Aurora will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 25. Delaware Wednesday will play as usual
Wednesday evening. (Updated: 11/20/09 2:35 AM )
Yes to pellet-burning stove
Dear Jim: I am tired of hauling wood indoors for my fireplace. I saw pellet and corn stoves at my home center store and they sell the pellets there. Are they convenient to use and do they produce much heatefficiently?— Ron H. (Updated: 11/20/09 6:49 AM )
‘Pirate’ is pretty profane
“Pirate Radio” (R, 1 hour, 55 minutes) (Updated: 11/19/09 7:08 AM )
About that plastic in food
It’s invisible, tasteless and odorless, and yet it is found in many of the foods and beverages that we consume. It is BPA, short for bisphenol A. (Updated: 11/19/09 7:08 AM )
Yule spectacle like no other
“George, a camel, stepped on the foot of a Rockette; six sheep came off the elevator as three kings bearing gifts got on. ... Human Christmas trees bumped into eight maids-a-milking at the water cooler and an elf came down with the flu!” (Updated: 11/18/09 7:29 AM )
Can onions cure the flu?
Q. There is a message circulating on the Web about putting an unpeeled onion in a room to attract flu viruses. Apparently, this is supposed to protect people from catching the flu. Is there any truth here? (Updated: 11/18/09 7:29 AM )
Carolyn Hax: Meddling mother gets a laugh
Dear Carolyn: My boyfriend’s mom sent him a book about tips for a successful marriage. Our first reaction was to have a good laugh about it; we’re not ready for marriage yet, and neither of us has talked with our parents about it. (Updated: 11/18/09 8:12 AM )
Don’t forget that apple a day
Fall is apple season, and there’s no better time to enjoy the rich tastes and textures of the fresh, ripe fruit. In addition to their tantalizing flavors, all varieties of apples offer health benefits that are hard to beat. (Updated: 11/17/09 6:48 AM )
People’s Pharmacy: Is lead in hair dye safe?
Q. I’ve been using a Grecian Formula for my graying hair for years. It has lead acetate in it. I checked the Food and Drug Administration Web site. They say they tested it and approved it. The lead has me a bit concerned. Any thoughts? (Updated: 11/17/09 7:41 AM )