European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 13, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stupid questions deserve our Best stupid answers miss m Ann iks Cindy Chambers columnist you be moved to Europe and now you re plagued with questions. Questions like Why do europeans Wear socks with sandals Why do All Spanish songs contain the word Corazon Why arc you stationed in Europe when the average 10-year-old living in new York poses a greater threat to America than the entire soviet army personally i have no idea. But i can make sufi up As Well As the next Guy. For instance q did somebody change the pronunciation of the word cafes on me i thought it was pronounced a May Fec Quot but now they re calling it  who s responsible for this a you can thank the Busy folks Down at the Bureau of confusing pronunciations a the very same people who brought you new ways to say a uranus Quot a Appalachia Quot and Quot Colin Powell. Q do you happen to have a recipe for Sachur torte the traditional austrian layer cake we had it in Vienna and it was delicious but it looked quite complicated. Is Sacher torte hard to make a actually the cake itself is not hard to make. The hard part is catching All those Little Sachers. Q what a the Deal on German holidays it seems like things Are closed for holidays about every three Days around Here. Are they totally random a not at All German holidays Are carefully scheduled to fall on Days when you really need to go to the Bank. Q my husband has been in Southwest Asia for six months. Why does he have to stay that Long a that s How Long it takes his mail to reach  we live in housing and there just Isnit much privacy. What should i say when neighbors ask me where in a going each time i pass by a Tell them you re going on a Tri state killing spree. Q this summer we vacationed at the Black sea where even the grandmothers ugh Wear bikinis my question Why do old ladies always have bruises All Over their thighs a that a where people have touched them with 10-fool poles. Q Afna a Friday cartoon lineup currently features a nne the Pooh and out of control. What s on tap for next season a in an unusual Cost cutting move the two shows Are being combined. The resulting extort is tentatively being called out of the Pix a. If you have a ridiculous question about Lite in Europe or life in general Send it to the stars and stripes unit 29480/cindy Chambers ask a stupid question Quot sunday Magazine Apo 09211-4211. Well print the Best stupid questions and their stupid answers in an upcoming  Judith Martin United feature Syndicate ear miss manners in a a teacher. A every year i love a new group of Stu i a dents and the number is growing. I want to buy them gifts for their graduations and weddings but teachers salaries will not permit a lot of generosity. A in a torn. Shall i try to buy for everyone there a no Way. Shall i Send to those who Send invitations then what will the others think 1 also have to confess that when 1 do Send a Gill 1 doubt that the students appreciate it As the gifts arc so insignificant. Gentle Reader never one to discourage generosity miss manners is nevertheless troubled with the idea that you should buy graduation presents for your own students. This is like expecting the obstetrician to give the parents a baby present. You have already provided the greatest gift which is education. Surely gratitude should run in the other direction. This principle would not apply however to weddings. Rather than giving graduation presents to All your students you can limit yourself to giving wedding presents to those for whom you most particularly care. The Best present a teacher can give a former student is a Book with a flattering inscription indicating Why that particular Book was chosen for that particular person. The Book can be quite inexpensive a secondhand or paperback. The valuable part is the inscription. Any student who would measure a present by its Cash value rather than its emotional Worth would not be worthy of your esteem. Dear miss manners about 10 years ago when my husband Jim was a Young single hippie who liked to Hitchhike around the country his father died and left him about $180,000. His Mother took him to court claiming that Jim was irresponsible and won the Money. His mom has spent a great Deal of that Money on Jim a much younger sister who just graduated from College. The sister is enjoying extras such As i new car a trip to Russia and an apartment for her and her Boyfriend. Despite this we spent a great Deal of Money attending Jim s maternal Grandfather s funeral. It was the first time i met the family. 1 had been banned from the family reunion because we were living in sin which seems to be of Lor Little its in addition Jim s sister borrowed $1,500 and Hasni to mentioned repayment. She never acknowledged our marriage or the birth of our daughter. 1 am a full time student and my husband works sporadically at carpentry. His sister is now planning an expensive wedding. The timing is awful for us and there is no Way we can Alt Ord to travel out of state for this event. Jim s Mother sent us a five Page photocopy of his Sisters bridal registry with a note congratulating me on my recent graduation. Jim wants to Send a Gilt of mismatched dishes from Goodwill. I am perplexed about what to do. Gentle Reader Don t Send the dishes. Miss manners is saying this not Only because she does no to want you to lower your behaviour to the level of Jim s mothers. She says it because the idea is not going to work. Rather than indulging in a gesture that would fail to insult them but would give them additional material with which to insult Jim he can satisfy his outrage in one of two polite ways. The first would be simply to Send his sister a Nice letter of congratulation ignoring the rude hint for gifts. Presents Are not obligatory As your Mother in Law seemed to recognize in the Case of your graduation especially when one declines the Honor of attending the event. The second Way would be to add that As a wedding present he is forgiving the loan he made to his sister. This would be not Only generous but free As miss manners suspects that she is not going to repay the loan  him s cmdr Chambers is a military family Mehm m . Germany Libra sept. 23-oct 22 All the right angles come together socially and financially. Temptations hard to say no to. Scorpio oct 23-nov. 21 enjoyment of outdoor recreation and aerobic exercise heightened. You can exude physical presence and  nov. 22-dec 20 invite friends Over you Haven t seen in a Long time. Entertain a myriad of ideas that need considerable explaining. Capricorn dec. 21-Jan. 19 appreciation for things of lasting value and investments based on understanding Are keys to buying. Reserve splurge for later. Aquarius Jan 20-feb. 18 you feel like doting on others. Watch scattering of energies and late night phone Call Pisces feb. 19-March 20 excellent Job Opportunity in works. Research dig up whatever is needed to Clinch Deal create future Bliss Aries March 21-april 19 you la seek final solution to current Domestic impasse dramatic Art form raises your eyebrows Taurus april 20-May 20 expect cooperation from Fellows and spend time helping slow witted associate comprehend you la have Luck shopping spending Money. Gemini May 21-june 20 Long Range planning and budget items come up for revision. You invade new emotional mental territory of another and enjoy the experience. Cancer june 21-july 22 Grant pardons returns favors and assume Overall posture of release from negativity. Create lighter destiny for self. Leo july 23-aug. 22 you create effusive Public display of affection. Tides Are going out As your magnetism spirals positively. Virgo aug. 23-sept 22 you have serious question that needs answering Providence will allow intuition that gives you answer today. Copley news service a sunday october 13, 1991