Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
HELPFUL HINTS
DEAR READERS: Here is this week’s sound off, about newspaper pages:
“I absolutely detest the newspaper publishing a 3⁄4 page to wrap around the front page or other sections, including the comics. If the advertisers using this method understand the irritation, I think they might stop this practice. It is a total waste of the advertiser’s money. I automatically throw the 3⁄4 page into the recycle bin without even looking at who is advertising there.
Sometimes they use the 3/4 page in the comics section. Sadly, I just recycle the section without reading the comics. It is not worth fighting with that page or trying to hold it together.
— Nan in Texas DEAR READER: Advertising (in any form) helps keep the cost of the newspaper down. If it bothers you, just tear it off.
DEAR HELOISE: Could you please give me your definition of a “white elephant gift”?
— Patsy, via e-mail
DEAR READER: When most people say “white elephant,” they are talking about a fun or silly gift exchange. Each person brings a wrapped, unmarked gift of predetermined value. The gifts are placed in a pile. Each person then draws a number. The person who drew No. 1 goes first and unwraps a gift. The person with No. 2 can either unwrap a gift or take the gift that No. 1 unwrapped. And so on. This is where the game can get fun, and a little crazy.
There usually is a set price or a theme, or there are just “gag” gifts. If you have been invited to a gift exchange, ask the host for what the guidelines are.
DEAR HELOISE: After I purchase a garment, I pin a safety pin on the under-side of the maker’s tag or washing-instructions tag. My skirts all have a safety pin pinned along the inside of the hem. There’s nothing worse than being somewhere and in need of pin and not having one.
— Bea, via e-mail
DEAR HELOISE: When a person pulls on the paper of a toilet tissue roll, sometimes it just keeps coming, even though the person has enough. I have found that if I squeeze the roll before placing it on the holder, it is flattened, and that actually keeps it from continuously rolling out extra paper. This works great with small children.
— Anita in Ohio Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or e-mail