By Jack Fertig

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY

David Sedaris turns 55 on Monday. The openly gay author first came to attention with his 1992 broadcast of his SantaLand Diaries on NPR. He’s written iconic bestsellers such as 1997’s Naked and 2000’s Me Talk Pretty One Day, but received major criticism for an article in The Guardian this past summer about exotic Chinese food and culture that was deemed insensitive.

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THIS WEEK

The sun conjoining Pluto in Capricorn heightens awareness of authority and bureaucratic structures that hem us in, as well as the revolutionary urge to smash them. Impulsive acts of rebellion are disastrous. Revolutions need careful planning.

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CAPRICORN  Dec 21-Jan 19
While your intuitions about money are on the mark it helps to double-check the facts. Avoid dithering and second-guessing yourself. Being rigorous is good; beating yourself up isn’t.

AQUARIUS  Jan 20-Feb 18
There is such a thing as being too nice when you can’t hide bitchy undertones. There are no secrets. Whatever you say will slip out. Talk about celebrities instead of gossiping.

PISCES  Feb 19-Mar 19
Your intuition and advice are worth more than you realize. If you listened to yourself, you’d be better off! Blurting out a secret proves to your advantage if it’s your secret and nobody else’s.

ARIES  Mar 20-Apr 19
Sudden outbursts reveal hidden depths and secret strengths. Open up to your insightful friends. Working too hard can upset the apple cart. Pace yourself to be effective with your colleagues.

TAURUS  Apr 20-May 20
Sassy, daring boldness is atypical for Taureans, but work whatever energy you have to get ahead. You reveal more of yourself than you had intended, but that should work in your favor, too.

GEMINI  May 21-Jun 20
Any simmering domestic problems are sure to boil over. To head off resentments, open up to your partner first about personal fears and anxieties and see how that feeds the other issues.

CANCER  Jun 21-Jul 22
Holidays put stress on relationships. This decade is especially tough for that, and the next few years will be worse. Talk about your shared commitment and learn from rough spots.

LEO  Jul 23-Aug 22
Being nice with people can be a challenge, but honing your teamwork skills makes it worthwhile. The real trick is to balance that with creative impulses that require your individual initiative.

VIRGO  Aug 23-Sep 22
Working at enjoyment misses the point. Working toward an accomplishment can slide into obsession. If something is supposed to be fun isn’t any more, step back and think about it.

LIBRA  Sep 23-Oct 22
When the going gets tough, the tough get creative. A spat shows serious problems unsuspected, but the solution is within reach. It’s not easy, but small sacrifices on both sides fix it.

SCORPIO  Oct 23-Nov 21
Your revolutionary ideas are on the right track, but discuss them with an expert who shares your ideals. If your partner feels neglected swallow your pride, apologize, and deal with it.

SAGITTARIUS  Nov 22-Dec 20
What would your perfect job look like? You will have the opportunity to improve your work situation. For now, nurture the ideal.

Jack Fertig can be reached at 415-864-8302 or Starjack.com

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition December 23, 2011.