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Bridge: Sept. 7, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

In a penny game, North was the dreaded Grapefruit, my club member who is as ornery as a bunkhouse cook and makes his partners miserable.At 3NT, dummy’s ace won the first diamond, and Grapefruit played the deuce. When dummy led a club next, Grapefruit contributed the deuce of spades.Declarer played the nine, letting West take his queen. West then resolutely led another diamond, South took four clubs, three diamonds and two spades, and Grapefruit boiled over like a pot of unwatched spaghetti.SWITCH“Partner,” he snarled, “were my deuces not low enough for you? Shift to the deuce of hearts.”“I can’t lead away from the ace,” West said indignantly. “Declarer might have the king.”Grapefruit told the kibitzers that if somebody gave West a penny for his thoughts, they should get change back.When West takes the queen of clubs, he can count nine tricks for declarer. Moreover, West should treat East’s deuces in diamonds and spade...

Ask Amy: Why this inappropriate question from people I barely know?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

Dear Amy: Often when I meet someone new, they’ll ask me if I have children. When I say no, they will then ask if I have pets.I’m always tempted to ask them why they think a dog or cat can replace a child, but since I know that would be rude, I keep my mouth shut.Do you have any suggestions for something I can say to them that would indicate their question is inappropriate, without sounding rude?– Childless, Petless, and HappyDear Childless: Like you, I do wonder about the great leap from raising children to raising animals, but, unlike you, I don’t necessarily think this is a rude query.The overall category here is: “Living Things: Sharing Space With.”It sounds as if these new people are trying to find some common ground as a way to try to get to know you.Approximately two-thirds of Americans do have pets in their homes, and so there is a likelihood that this question would lead to a conversation, instead of you thinking their interest or curiosity is inappropriate.One w...

Harriette Cole: Should I commit to working with this intense woman?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been spending time recently with a powerful woman in my field who has asked me to do some work with her in the fall. This is an incredible opportunity that may be very good for my brand. Being aligned with her will take my work to a much more visible, high-profile level.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: Someone is threatening me online, and I think I know who it is Advice | Harriette Cole: I was drinking with new friends, and I regret telling this story Advice | Harriette Cole: My hobby scares my girlfriend, but she doesn’t like to be left out Advice | Harriette Cole: Why shouldn’t I live with my friend’s ex? Advice | Harriette Cole: Was I rude to this woman I passed in the restaurant? The problem is that this woman is high-maintenance and intense. She has a short attention span and is often all over the place.How can I make it work for me to take her up on...

Prince George’s Co. police seek information on officer, woman caught on video going to back seat of cruiser

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

An internal investigation is already underway on a Maryland officer captured on video going into the back seat of a police cruiser with a woman.Now, Prince George’s County police want to talk to anyone who can shed light on the interactions between the woman and the suspended officer — later identified as Cpl. Francesco Marlett.The police department said it was aware of two videos showing interaction between Marlett and the woman.One video began circulating on TikTok on Tuesday and has been viewed more than 2 million times. When police became aware of the video that same day, the internal affairs department opened an investigation into Marlett, while police Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz suspended him.“I know the officer’s actions seen on these videos have sparked a range of emotions in the community and put a negative spotlight on this agency and the many hardworking women and men who wear our uniform,” Aziz said in a statement.“As part of it...

Japón lanza un satélite de rayos X y un módulo de aterrizaje lunar “Moon Sniper”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

(CNN) — Un satélite revolucionario que revelará objetos celestes bajo una nueva luz y el módulo de aterrizaje lunar “Moon Sniper” despegó este miércoles por la noche.El lanzamiento de la Agencia Espacial Japonesa, que fue reprogramado varias veces debido al mal tiempo, se produjo a bordo de un cohete H-IIA desde el Centro Espacial de Tanegashima a las 7:42 pm, hora de Miami, este miércoles, o a las 8:42 a.m., hora estándar de Japón, este jueves.El satélite XRISM y el módulo de aterrizaje lunar se lanzaron desde Japón el 7 de septiembre. (JAXA/YouTube)El evento se transmitió en vivo por el canal de YouTube de JAXA, ofreciendo transmisión tanto en inglés como en japonés.El satélite XRISM (pronunciado “crism”), también llamado Misión de Espectroscopía e Imágenes de Rayos X, es una misión conjunta entre JAXA y la NASA, junto con la participación de la Agencia Espacial Europea y la Agencia Espacial Canadiense.Suspenden el lanzamiento de un revolucionario satélite japonés y de su mó...

El asesino prófugo de Pensilvania usó la misma ruta de otro recluso fugado en mayo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

(CNN) — La búsqueda del asesino Danelo Cavalcante continuó este miércoles, quien escapó de una prisión de Pensilvania la semana pasada frustrando el alambre de púas recién instalado después de que otro recluso se escapara brevemente hace unos meses, dijeron las autoridades en una conferencia de prensa este miércoles.Cavalcante, de 34 años, que fue visto nuevamente en el área este martes por un residente, se fugó de la prisión del condado de Chester este jueves pasado “caminando como cangrejo” entre dos paredes, abriéndose camino a través de alambre de púas, corriendo a través de un techo, escalando otra cerca y pasando a través de más alambre de púas, dijo a los periodistas el director interino de la prisión del condado de Chester, Howard Holland.El video de vigilancia de la prisión muestra al recluso en el patio de ejercicios mirando a través de una ventana en una puerta y luego colocando sus manos en una pared y sus pies en otra. Sube por la abertura y desaparece de la vista...

Stock market today: World shares fall as China reports weaker global demand hit its trade in August

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

World shares slipped Thursday after China reported that its exports fell for a fourth straight month in August, adding to pressures on its slowing economy. Oil prices and U.S. futures also fell. Germany’s DAX lost 0.2% to 15,718.12. In London, the FTSE 100 edged 0.1% lower, to 7419.42. The CAC 40 in Paris gained 2 points to 7,196.75. The future for the S&P 500 was down 0.4% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.1%. China said its exports fell 8.8% in August from a year earlier, while imports were down 7.3%. The declines were smaller than the double-digit drops in July, however, and were better than most forecasts. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, which has yoyoed this week on news about possible policy changes for China’s troubled property sector, declined on selling of tech shares. It fell 1.3% to 18,202.07.The Shanghai Composite index lost 1.1% to 3,122.35, while Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 shed 0.8% to 32,991.08. In Seoul, the Kospi sank 0.6% to 2,548.26...

Classroom masking clarified: Montgomery Co. officials emphasize that requirements are limited

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

The medical officer for Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools, Dr. Patricia Kapunan, said in a letter to parents on Wednesday that “classroom outbreaks” of COVID-19 have been reported “in a few schools across the county.”Kapunan explained that when three or more students or staff members in a classroom test positive for COVID-19, that it’s considered an outbreak.The school system’s protocols this year call for masking in those classrooms when an outbreak occurs.“Students who cannot safely and consistently mask due to young age, a medical condition or developmental disability are not required to do so,” Kapunan wrote.During Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich’s weekly media briefing, Dr. Kisha Davis, the county’s health officer, said “I know everybody wants COVID to be gone and to not talk about it anymore, [but] COVID’s still here.”Davis, who said her office worked closely with Kapunan on the policies in place in the county school system, added, “It...

Great Weather in South Florida, Plus Tracking Lee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

South Florida we’ve been enjoying great weather with a pocket of less humid air. There is only a small chance of seeing a spotty shower at best with highs in the low 90’s. Some changes happen over the weekend with a front moving into the Eastern U.S., humidity/moisture levels rising. Rain chances will go up to 40-50%, so scattered showers return. However, there will still be plenty of dry time. Tracking LeeLee is the 4th hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season.It is forecast to pass North of the Northern Leeward Islands this weekend as a powerful hurricane. There is the possibility it will reach Cat 5 status on Sunday, but with storms this intense, the eyewall replacements cycles will have it fluctuating in strength.Right now, it’s still too soon to tell what land areas will be directly impacted by Lee, but for sure Bermuda and U.S. East Coasts, especially the Northeast and Atlantic Canada should be on guard.Have a wonderful day South Florida and make it a...

Rolling Stones announce new album ‘Hackney Diamond’ with release date, debut single ‘Angry’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:36 GMT

The Rolling Stones haven’t released an album of original songs since 2005, but the long dry spell is finally over. They’ve got a new album coming out next month. Today, fans got to check out the video for the latest single and we promise you — nobody was angry.Mick Jagger (in a music video): “Don’t get angry with me.” Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards got together with Jimmy Fallon in London Wednesday morning to livestream a big announcement. Mick Jagger: “We’re here yeah, but we’re here to present our new single, which is called Angry and the video of it.” The track sounds like Classic Stones with pounding drums, massive guitar chords, and Mick’s unmistakable vocals. Mick Jagger (in a music video): “We haven’t made love and I want to know why.” The song is just a taste of the gem that’s coming our way. Mick Jagger: “Angry is the first single from our new album called Hackney Di...