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Bridge: Nov. 24, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:44 GMT

Besides The Bridge World, which enjoys a sterling reputation, two other magazines have excellent content. The Bridge Bulletin, the monthly publication of the American Contract Bridge League, has great features, news and a host of instructional columns. (I have contributed since 1981.) It’s more than worth the annual dues. See acbl.org.The colorful Better Bridge magazine, published six times a year, has instruction and quizzes for advancing players. See baronbarclay.com.August Boehm, an expert who is also a noted concert pianist, offered today’s deal in The Bridge Bulletin. At four spades, suppose South takes the ace of hearts and leads a club to dummy to finesse in trumps.DOWN ONEWest wins, cashes a heart and leads a club, forcing out dummy’s last honor. When he takes the ace of diamonds, the defenders cash a club.Boehm notes that South should count losers. He can afford to lose a trump but not a club. South should lead the ace and a second trump, avoiding a finesse that may lose ti...

Ask Amy: I heard my teen bragging about her bad behavior. I’m furious; my husband thinks it’s cute.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:44 GMT

Dear Amy: My husband and I have a bright, high-functioning 16-year-old daughter.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: My boyfriend said his public insult was just a joke. Should I let it go? Advice | Ask Amy: This odd comment makes me wonder if my empty-nest parents are off the rails Advice | Ask Amy: Everyone was stunned when the other grandmother lashed out at me Advice | Ask Amy: We’re baffled by our sister’s behavior. Is a surprise visit in order? Advice | Ask Amy: After 25 years with my fiancé, I’m apparently not family yet I have been teaching her how to perform basic household chores (I do the same with our 12-year-old son) and some basic cooking and cleaning skills — partly to have some help at home, but mainly so that our kids will understand that everyone in the family pitches in and that it’s important to have some life skills.I am a stay-at-home parent and a busy volunteer...

The 10 most expensive homes reported sold in San Jose in the week of Nov. 13

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:44 GMT

A house that sold for $2.9 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in San Jose in the past week.In total, 10 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.8 million. The average price per square foot was $1,087.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Nov. 13 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $1.5 million, single-family home in the 5800 block of Pontius CourtThe 1,342 square-foot single-family house in the 5800 block of Pontius Court in San Jose has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in October and the total purchase price was $1,450,000, $1,080 per square foot. The house was built in 1971. The house features four bedrooms and two bathrooms.9. $1.5 million, single-family residence in the 400 block of South Genevieve LaneThe property in the 400 block of South Genevieve Lane in San Jose has new owner...

Study finds growing evidence of link between ultraprocessed food and cancer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:44 GMT

(CNN) — Eating a greater amount of ultraprocessed food was associated with a higher risk of developing cancers of the upper digestive tract, such as mouth, throat and esophageal cancer, according to a new study. In the United States, a 2019 study estimated some 71% of the food supply may be ultraprocessed.People who consumed 10% more ultraprocessed foods than others in the study had a 23% higher risk of head and neck cancer and a 24% higher risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that grows in the glands that line the insides of organs, researchers found.“This study adds to a growing pool of evidence suggesting a link between UPFs (ultraprocessed foods) and cancer risk,” said Dr. Helen Croker, assistant director of research and policy at World Cancer Research Fund International, which funded the study, in a statement.Much more research and data collection are needed to understand the link the new report found, said study coauthor Dr. Ingre Huybrechts, a nutritional epide...

Old Town Alexandria preps for big Small Business Saturday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:44 GMT

The turkey is done and now is the time to shop.However, you might want to skip out on Black Friday or Cyber Monday and instead spend during Small Business Saturday. This year, it is expected to be a busy Saturday to shop in Alexandria, Virginia.“Old Town Alexandria really comes alive during the holiday season,” said Rebecca Doser, director of communications at Visit Alexandria.Small Business Saturday is slowly becoming more popular than Black Friday. Shoppers spent nearly $18 billion last year, according to a survey by American Express, with a large portion of them understanding the impact it has on their local community.Fifty local shops in Alexandria are hoping to get in on that this holiday.“The holiday season is really the biggest time for some of our small businesses in Alexandria. It can really be a make-or-break time for some of these small businesses,” Doser said.Stores will open at 7:30 a.m. and stay open until 8:30 p.m.“It’s much better ...

DC to distribute free COVID-19 tests at local libraries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:44 GMT

D.C. Health announced Wednesday that it would again be giving away free COVID-19 rapid tests at local libraries throughout all eight wards, months after ending the pandemic-era testing program in February.The current testing distribution plan will allow for the distribution of tests at 22 D.C. public libraries during their hours of operation. Libraries offering free rapid tests include:Mount Pleasant Library located at 3160 16th Street NW in Ward 1In Ward 2, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library located at 901 G Street NW, Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Library located at 1630 Seventh Street NW and West End Neighborhood Library located at 2301 L Street NW.In Ward 3, Palisades Library located at 4901 V Street NW, Georgetown Library located at 3260 R Street NW, Tenley-Friendship Library located at 4450 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Cleveland Park Library located at 3310 Connecticut Avenue NW and Chevy Chase Library located at 5625 Connecticut Avenue NW.In Ward 4, Shepherd Park/Juanita E. Thorton Lib...

La policía arresta a 34 personas por los violentos enfrentamientos en Dublín tras el apuñalamiento de 5 personas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:44 GMT

(CNN) — La policía irlandesa detuvo a 34 personas implicadas en los violentos disturbios ocurridos el jueves en el centro de Dublín tras el apuñalamiento de dos adultos y tres niños pequeños que salían por la tarde de un colegio del centro norte de la ciudad.En una rueda de prensa celebrada el viernes, el comisario de Policía Drew Harris declaró que el cuerpo “no podía prever” que los apuñalamientos desencadenarían “tales desórdenes”.“Son escenas que no habíamos visto en décadas. Pero lo que está claro es que la gente se ha radicalizado a través de las redes sociales”, dijo.Un video difundido en redes sociales este jueves parecía mostrar a un grupo de hombres enfrentándose violentamente a los agentes en Dublín e incendiando un coche de policía. En las imágenes también puede verse a un hombre con un cartel en el que se lee “Irish Lives Matter” (Las vidas de los irlandeses importan). En el video se oye a algunos manifestantes corea...

¿Quién es Nicolás Posse, el futuro jefe de Gabinete del gobierno de Javier Milei?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:44 GMT

(CNN Español) — Las decisiones suelen definir a los líderes políticos. Y a sus entornos también. El presidente electo de Argentina, Javier Milei, viajaba rumbo a la Quinta presidencial de Olivos para la cumbre de la transición con el actual presidente, Alberto Fernández, pero antes de llegar decidió hacer una escala previa. Pasó a buscar a una persona de su máxima confianza, Nicolás Posse.“Un hombre de una inteligencia extraordinaria, hiperhonesto, con una capacidad de trabajo furiosa, y, sobre todo, es muy ordenado, y el jefe de Gabinete tiene que ser muy ordenado”. Así calificó Milei antes del balotaje a quien será uno de los funcionarios clave de su gobierno.La oficina del presidente electo le confirmó a CNN que Posse será el jefe de Gabinete de Ministros a partir del 10 de diciembre. Sin embargo, sus tareas no comenzarán esa fecha dado que es uno de los encargados del “armado de equipos” que arribará al poder, tal como describe una fuente que acompaña el día a día de...

Stock market today: World shares mostly lower in holiday-thin trading, with half-day for US markets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:44 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mixed Friday in Europe and Asia after U.S. markets were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Germany’s DAX was nearly unchanged, at 15,998.44, while the CAC 40 in Paris likewise was flat at 7,279.03. Britain’s FTSE 100 dropped 0.4% to 7,453.40. On Wall Street, the futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.1% ahead of Friday’s half-day trading session. On Wednesday, before the holiday, the S&P 500 rose 0.4% and the Dow rose 0.5%. The Nasdaq gained 0.5%. It’s been a quiet week for data releases, but Japan reported its consumer inflation rose for the first time in four months, with big gains in food prices and hotel rates as tourism has soared. The consumer price index rose 3.3% in October from a year earlier, up from 3% in September in a trend contrary to the Bank of Japan’s forecasts for price pressures to abate toward the year’s end. “Both the government and the BOJ will be concerned ...

South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius up for parole 10 years after killing his girlfriend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:44 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Oscar Pistorius could be granted parole on Friday after spending nearly 10 years in prison in South Africa for murder. The double-amputee Olympic runner was one of the world’s most admired athletes before he killed his girlfriend by shooting her multiple times through a toilet door at his home on Valentine’s Day 2013.Pistorius, who turned 37 this week, was sent to prison in late 2014. He has been given a second chance at parole in the space of eight months after he was wrongly ruled ineligible for early release at a first hearing in March. That was due to an error made by an appeals court over when the sentence officially started.Pistorius was initially convicted of culpable homicide — a charge comparable to manslaughter — for killing Reeva Steenkamp. That conviction was overturned and he was convicted of murder after an appeal by prosecutors. They also appealed against an initial sentence of six years for murder, and Pistorius was ultimate...