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Bridge: Sept. 21, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:15 GMT

Marty Bergen is a writer and teacher who recently entered the ACBL’s Hall of Fame. He is a champion player, semi-retired from competing now. He may be best known as an influential bidding theorist and the originator of “Bergen raises” and other innovative treatments. As today’s deal shows, he is no slouch as declarer.Bergen played at four hearts, and West led the king of diamonds. Bergen played low from dummy, won the next diamond and, looking a few tricks ahead, ruffed a diamond. He drew trumps and led a spade.LAST DIAMONDWest played low, and when dummy won, East signaled with the seven, suggesting a doubleton. Bergen then ruffed dummy’s last diamond and led another spade. West took the ace and was end-played: He had to take his ace of clubs, and Bergen had the rest.The deal arose in a team match, and at the other table, the declarer at four hearts neglected to ruff any diamonds in his hand. Then West retained some exit cards and could avoid the end pl...

Word Game: Sept. 21, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:15 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — ABUNDANCE (ABUNDANCE: uh-BUN-dense: An ample quantity.)Average mark 24 wordsTime limit 35 minutesCan you find 31 or more words in ABUNDANCE? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — REPINES rein repine resin rinse ripe ripen rise risen erne peen peer perse pier pine preen pries seen seep seer seine seiner sere sine sire siren sneer snip snipe sniper spier spin spine spire spreeTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at k...

Ask Amy: Their dogs have stolen my life, and I want it back

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:15 GMT

Dear Amy: I am 82 years old, in fairly good shape, independent, and retired from a nursing career.My children are adults. My son and one of my daughters each have a dog. I am the official dog-sitter, and it clouds my happiness.I don’t want to be selfish, but I want peace in the years I have left.I have been visiting one dog every day for the past six years while my daughter is at work. She is afraid the dog will be lonely!I have also visited my son’s dog very often. He and my daughter both travel a lot for leisure, and here I am, ready to watch the little critters.My question is: How do I stop the run-up sitting and get my life back?Please, help me!– Helpless in MontanaDear Helpless: Six years of daily visits? So the dog won’t be lonely?Sigh.I assume that at one point, many years ago, you agreed to this. Perhaps you even enjoyed your daily commitment for a while, or pretended that you did.You are 82. One of the privileges of age is the right to live your life the way you...

Harriette Cole: Is it a bad idea to hang out with this man so I can meet his friends?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:15 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: Since moving to a new city for work, I’ve had trouble meeting people. A former classmate who lives in the same area asked me out for dinner, and I went.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I abandoned my home, and now I’ve come back to a huge mess Advice | Harriette Cole: A random man was staring in my window, and I’m upset the police let him go Advice | Harriette Cole: Her dress made me upset, and it didn’t even stick to my wedding theme Advice | Harriette Cole: How do I keep my employee from leaving? Advice | Harriette Cole: It was a bad moment on Zoom. How can I smooth things over? It was clear to me that he was hoping for more than friendship, but I’m not romantically interested in him. Nevertheless, I’m considering spending more time with him to see if he’ll invite me to join his circle of friends. That way I’ll know people other th...

AIPAC Targets Black Democrats — While the Congressional Black Caucus Stays Silent

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:15 GMT

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the country’s most influential pro-Israel lobbying group, is recruiting candidates to challenge progressive members of the Congressional Black Caucus in primaries next year.The CBC has been silent on the AIPAC bid to challenge at least three of its members who are part of the so-called Squad, a loose group of progressive representatives. According to media reports and The Intercept’s investigation, the only incumbents AIPAC has targeted so far in this election cycle are CBC members.The CBC’s silence on the electoral challenges reflects the divide among Democrats on Israel — with progressives increasingly willing to buck Capitol Hill orthodoxies and speak up for Palestinian rights — and fundraising dynamics among caucus members. AIPAC has endorsed more than half of CBC members. The AIPAC-backed members of the caucus, some 31 lawmakers, have received a previously unreported total of at least $3.6 million from AIPAC since February 2022, acc...

Uninvited and Unaccountable: How CBP Policed George Floyd Protests

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:15 GMT

At the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, Customs and Border Protection encouraged officers to consider more lethal force when making arrests to protect themselves against the highly contagious virus, according to newly uncovered agency documents.“Frequently, the necessity to use force, especially less-lethal force, requires an officer or agent to be in direct proximity and in personal contact with individual(s),” reads an April 2020 CBP memo. “If an officer or agent reasonably believes a subject may be infected with COVID-19, the threat of transmitting the virus to resist or evade arrest should be considered when establishing the immanency of a threat and the resulting determination of objectively reasonable force.” The memo listed “electronic control weapons” (stun guns like Tasers) and “compressed air and munition launchers” (guns with rubber bullets) as tools that CBP officers could use from a safe distance.In the coming months, CBP officers would join the sprawling law en...

Demanda contra Starbucks alega que las bebidas de frutas refrescantes carecen de fruta real

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:15 GMT

Starbucks se enfrenta a una demanda por falta de fruta en sus populares bebidas refrescantes de frutas, anunció un juez federal de Nueva York.Según la demanda de agosto de 2022, los clientes Joan Kominis, de Nueva York, y Jason McAllister, de California, afirmaron que la cadena de café tenía “prácticas falsas y engañosas en la comercialización y venta de varios de sus productos refrescantes Starbucks, que se comercializan en tiendas físicas de la cadena como bebidas a base de frutas”.La demanda dice que las dos personas que la promueven se quejaron de que los refrescos Mango Dragonfruit, Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade, Pineapple Passionfruit, Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade, Strawberry Açai y Strawberry Açai Lemonade no contenían mango, maracuyá o Açai.La presentación también dice que los clientes “pagaron un precio superior en función de su confianza” en los nombres de las bebidas de Starbucks. Si hubieran sabido la verdad sobre lo que realmente contenían las b...

El premio mayor del Powerball aumenta a US$ 725 millones tras no salir ningún boleto ganador este miércoles

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:15 GMT

(CNN) — Los jugadores de Powerball tienen ahora la oportunidad de ganar un bote estimado de US$ 725 millones este fin de semana después de que el sorteo de este miércoles por la noche no arrojara ningún gran ganador.Los números de este miércoles fueron 16, 27, 59, 62 y 63 con una Powerball de 23.El bote de US$ 725 millones del sorteo del 23 de septiembre sería el tercer mayor premio de Powerball de este año, tras el bote de US$ 754,6 millones ganado en el estado de Washington en febrero y el colosal bote de US$ 1.080 millones ganado en California en julio. El bote de este sábado también sería el octavo mayor premio de la historia del juego, informó la lotería este miércoles.Un solo ganador para el Powerball, si no ganaste, te sugerimos otras formas de ayudar a tu situación financieraSi en el sorteo de este sábado hay un ganador del gran premio, esa persona podría optar por llevarse todo el bote en pagos escalonados a lo largo de 29 años, o quedarse con una suma global de unos ...

Grand Finale of Storms this Thursday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:15 GMT

It sure has been a wet and stormy stretch of weather this week with the daily deluge of rain during the afternoons and evenings. This soggy setup can be attributed to a stalled front draped across the Florida Peninsula that has been around the past few days but we are beginning to see some changes to this setup.This front will start to move to the south, shifting toward the Florida Straits tomorrow as an area of low pressure develops off the east coast while moving north. As that low continues to move north, the front will follow to the south, leading to lower rain chances for Friday and Saturday.Before we get there, South Florida will endure a final round (or two) of numerous rain and thunderstorms this afternoon. In the morning, scattered storms will be possible across the Florida Keys while the mainland enjoys a mix of sun and clouds. It’s not until the afternoon and evening when storms will be likely across the mainland, with storms developing earlier in the day around noo...

India halts visas for Canadians amid row over Sikh killing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:15 GMT

India suspended all visa services for Canadian citizens Thursday, the latest escalation in a diplomatic row that erupted after Canada accused the Indian government of being involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen.A notice posted on BLS International — an Indian visa provider — on Thursday warned that “Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice” starting September 21, citing “operational reasons.”Shortly after the visa service announcement, Canada’s high commission in India said it would reduce its staff presence in the country, after some diplomats received threats.India on Wednesday issued a travel advisory urging its citizens in or traveling to Canada to “exercise utmost caution,” amid “growing anti-India activities.”Earlier this week, tensions between the two countries blew up after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” of a “potential link” between agents from the Indian government and the killing of a Canadian...