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Car Talk: When your catalytic converter becomes a spud and a dud

Dear Car Talk: My car has no energy. I have a 2011 Chevy Aveo, and the mechanic says it's because the engine is not getting enough air. He says I need a new catalytic converter. Is this correct? I thought they were for the exhaust not the air intake. -- Susan You're right, Susan. The ...

Hints From Heloise: Name tags help build relationships

Dear Heloise: Please encourage the staff at small businesses to wear a name tag. For example, I go to the dry cleaners about once a month and would like to greet a friendly person by their name, especially because she always knows my name due to my order. Knowing someone's name is a way to ...

Dear Annie: Waiting room worries

Dear Annie: The doctor I have been seeing for over 20 years has decided to discontinue her practice in the town I live in and move to another town. I can't get to that town, so I've asked friends to recommend their doctors. But I'm dreading having to set up an appointment with a completely ...

Hints From Heloise: New stovetop can turn itself off

Dear Heloise: I read the hint from your reader, Jim, about leaving stovetop knobs slightly off the vertical line to remind him to turn them off. If anyone's in the market for a new stovetop, may I recommend induction stovetops? Not only can you boil a cup of water in 60 seconds, but if you ...

Dear Annie: A season of distance, not goodbye

Dear Annie: I am an 86-year-old mother of three children, a grandmother of six and great-grandmother of eight. We have always had a great relationship with our children. Our youngest daughter, who has always been close to us, went through a stressful divorce. Her husband had an affair, and ...