Opinion

Dear Annie

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Dear Annie: I started seeing someone recently. “Matthew” is a perfect gentleman in many respects, but he has one habit that I find very rude and jarring: He burps, frequently, and sometimes without even covering his mouth. We sit down to watch a movie together after dinner, and all I can focus on is his constant gurgles next to me on the couch. The relationship is still relatively new, and I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but this is a serious turnoff. What should I tell him? -- Excuse You Dear Excuse You: Don’t be too quick to judge: It might not be his fault. Frequent belching can be a sign of acid reflux, which might seem like a minor condition now; however, in the long term it can cause serious damage to the esophagus if left untreated. The next time he’s having these attacks of indigestion, suggest that he talk to his doctor about it, thus bringing his attention to the issue while also showing that you care -- a win-win.

Dear Annie

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Dear Annie: My 19-yearold daughter -- she’ll be 20 in July -- is a sophomore at Charleston College. She came home for spring break and informed my husband and me that she had found her soul mate at Charleston, and they plan to marry this summer. He’s 24 and a graduate student teaching English.

What Happened on That F Train Remains to Be Determined

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New Yorkers are divided on what happened on that F train when a former Marine, who was white, choked to death an unruly homeless man, who was Black. The comments sections of the New York papers reveal little division among the readers. Facts are still coming in, but based on what we know, most believe the passengers were within their rights to subdue him.

Today in History

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Today is the 130th day of 2023 and the 52nd day of spring. TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1837, after months of economic downturn, several New York banks refused to convert paper currency to gold or silver, setting off the Panic of 1837.

Dear Annie

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Dear Annie: My dad died of lung cancer a few years ago, and because of that, I abhor smoking in all its forms. The problem is I just discovered my boyfriend, who is a nurse, has been secretly vaping behind my back. I was shocked and upset not so much that he did it (which is bad enough) but that he went through great pains to hide it from me. Plus, he works in the medical field and should know better!