DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a bartender, and I have a colleague I work with about four times a week. He is a nice guy, and we generally get along well, but there are some aspects of his behavior and work ethic that are becoming increasingly difficult for me to handle.
• According to the Environmental Working Group, many spray sunscreens contain a cancer-causing chemical known as benzene.
As far as I’m concerned, they can’t put warning labels on social media websites soon enough. Indeed, I’d go a lot further. I’d consider banning smartphones altogether for children under 16.
In 1829, British chemist James Smithson died, leaving an endowment for “the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.”
DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister is the mother of 14 children. Her family is blended, with some of her children coming from foster care and others being her biological kids. I have growing concerns about her parenting approach.
Dear Doctors: You recently mentioned you steer your patients away from cow’s milk. I know some people think it’s bad for you, but could you please explain?
The ascendancy of Donald Trump signaled the end of an era for the Republican Party and, more broadly, for American politics. The eclipse of network television and the advent of streaming services stand as the end of an era for American home entertainment. But in recent days, another era has ended in another realm of American life and culture. There is no turning back from this one, no plausible argument about its significance.
DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend always seems to need to be the center of attention. Her behavior is starting to cause a strain on our friendship, and I’m not sure how to address it without hurting her feelings. She is 25 years old, but her actions remind me more of a teenager who craves constant validation. Whenever we go out in a group or even in more intimate settings, she finds ways to turn the conversation back to herself, often interrupting others or downplaying their experiences.
Last night, my husband, Peter, and I went to see the play “Come From Away.” I read about it last year, waited for the day tickets were available, and bought the very best cheap seats I could buy.
Donald Trump often brags to supporters that he has neutralized the abortion issue by insisting that the states are now in charge of policy, not the federal government. But he’s wrong, and he knows it.