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Alcoholics Can Never be Social Drinkers
DR. WALLACE: My father is definitely an alcoholic. He continues to work only because his boss is his best friend. I even heard the boss tell my dad that if he didn't cut down on his alcohol consumption, he might be forced to fire him.
The problem is …Read more.
Wearing a Seat Belt can Save a Life
DR. WALLACE: This letter is directed to teens who travel in a motor vehicle. Please buckle up, regardless of where you sit or how short the trip might be. Several weeks ago, I stopped at the scene of a violent automobile crash. Having medical …Read more.
Vibrating Belts do not Melt Body Fat
DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and have excess fat on my upper legs, commonly known among females as "saddle bags." I've tried every kind of exercise possible to eliminate this fat, but nothing has worked.
A friend told me that her mother got rid of …Read more.
Marijuana Use is Unhealthy and Unwise
DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and have been smoking marijuana for over five years. A close friend introduced me to "pot" and I am thankful that he did. I truly enjoy getting high on "weed." I only use marijuana when I am positive that …Read more.
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I Feel Lost Without TelevisionDR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and live with my parents and a younger sister. My parents are very strict and religious. My sister and I are being home-taught by our mother. I miss going to school with other kids, but I will admit that my sister and I learn a lot. My reason for writing is that we don't have a television in our house because my parents don't approve of the programs that are available. They sold our TV a year ago. I really feel lost without the opportunity to see certain programs. I also miss a lot of cultural and educational programs. What can I do to get my parents to buy another television? They could even supervise the programs I'd watch. I feel like our family is living in the Dark Ages. — Britney, Charlotte, N.C. BRITNEY: I can definitely understand your parents' position. Many television programs are junk, lacking a single redeeming quality. The violence or sexual innuendoes on the majority of programs make for unacceptable family viewing. Personally, I would not eliminate television entirely. It can be a great learning tool. Some programs are intelligently made and well worth seeing. My solution would be to monitor a teen's viewing habits rather than ban TV from the house entirely. Nevertheless, I cannot fault your parents for having a television-free home. There are far better forms of entertainment. WEARING A SEAT BELT IS A MUST DR. WALLACE: My boyfriend was ticketed in our town for driving without his seat belt fastened. I think he had to pay more in our town because that's what pays for the cop's salary. I'm sure if any unbelted adult driver was stopped in our town, he or she wouldn't even have been fined. This is just another case of teen harassment. — Tina, Columbia City, Ind. TINA: Every municipality sets its own rate for traffic violations. Your boyfriend was given a ticket because he broke the law, not because he was a teen. Seat belts, properly buckled, save lives. Wearing a seat belt could prevent him from smashing his head into the windshield, which could turn a minor fender bender into a major tragedy. Instead of worrying about nonexistent police harassment, encourage your boyfriend to buckle up! SHOULD I JOG OR SWIM? DR. WALLACE: I'm trying to burn the most calories possible when I exercise. My options are to either jog or swim. I'd rather jog, but I'll swim if necessary. — Emma, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. EMMA: Both jogging and swimming are excellent aerobic exercises. Jogging burns more calories because it produces more body heat than swimming does. Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM
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