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Dear Abby: The family letter is meant to be upbeat but I can’t bring myself to read it

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:01 GMT

DEAR ABBY: Is there any way to end the “holiday newsletter”?Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: Do I need to make a formal goodbye to an unwanted friend? Advice | Dear Abby: I took in her cat and it was a big mistake. How do I get out of this? Advice | Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my dinner guest’s unseemly request? Advice | Dear Abby: I suspect this girl is not really my fiance’s niece. Should I demand the truth? Advice | Dear Abby: I’m afraid she’ll get us kicked out of the restaurant. Any advice? Every Christmas, I get one from a particular family member, which invariably includes a list of their glowing accomplishments, expensive trips, etc., accompanied by lots of photos. Nobody else in our family sends these kinds of letters, and I don’t know how they feel about receiving it. Last December, I couldn’t even read it because it made me so depressed.My...

EU triples funding to Gaza after a week of mixed messages on Israel crisis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:01 GMT

The European Commission is tripling its humanitarian assistance to Gaza as the bloc comes under mounting pressure to present a coherent policy on the Israel-Gaza crisis. The EU’s executive arm will increase its humanitarian funding to Gaza from €25 million to €75 million. The announcement was made following a phone call Saturday between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who has been one of the leading international figures calling for restraint from Israel in response to the Hamas attack.Von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visited Israel on Friday to pay tribute to the victims of Hamas’ attack on Israel, which have claimed the lives of more than 1,300 people. But they have received some push-back for failing to publicly call for restraint by Israel as it launches an attack on Gaza. In contrast, EU foreign ministers earlier in the week stressed the need for restraint and called fo...

Biden speaks with Netanyahu, Abbas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:01 GMT

U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated U.S. efforts to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from escalating into a regional war and to safeguard civilians’ access to vital resources, according to readouts of separate calls with Israeli and Palestinian leaders Saturday.Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that all countries must “condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization that does not represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people,” while reiterating U.S. support for Israel.Biden’s call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was the first between the two since Hamas’ attack last week, while his conversation with Netanyahu was their fifth such call.“President Biden condemned Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel and reiterated that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination,” said the White House readout of the call with Abbas, adding that Biden offered Abbas and the Palestinian Authority his full support for humanitar...

MLB Notes: What we know about candidates for top Red Sox job

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:01 GMT

It’s no secret the Boston Red Sox have experienced a lot of front office turnover, and in the coming weeks the club will hire its fourth head of baseball operations this decade. The last three didn’t make it through four full seasons, and two departed not long after winning a World Series championship.One quick hook can be forgiven, or even two, but three is a trend, and seeing that instability it’d be natural for any prospective candidate to wonder how much rope they’d get. But asked if he’s concerned quality candidates might shy away, Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy said at the year-end press conference he believes the job is among the best in baseball and people will jump at the opportunity to run the historic club.“This is the Boston Red Sox. If you want to run a baseball organization, this is where you want to be, you want to be in Boston,” Kennedy said. “Why? Because it matters here more than anywhere else, so if you’re not up for ...

Packed Gaza hospitals warn that thousands could die as supplies run low and ground offensive looms

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:01 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people run desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the beseiged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas’ deadly attack last week.Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gaza’s border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighborhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks. That makes this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority of them civ...

The unseen sexuality of seniors: ‘It’s not over until it’s over’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:01 GMT

Now that the nation has met Gerry Turner, the septuagenarian stud and star of ABC’s The Golden Bachelor, the idea of older Americans hooking up is percolating in everyday discourse.You might not like thinking of grandma going out on the town, but some flames blaze on, constant as a pilot light.“Seeing older people on TV demonstrating interest in others, along with sexual desire, shows that we don’t change much as we age,” said Ilene Warner-Maron, a professor in the department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.“If you want to ride a bike and you still can, who says you’re too old? In life, there’s no such thing as a dirty old man or woman.”When younger people think of older people having sex, they often picture their parents, a difficult scenario to contemplate, Warner-Maron acknowledged.She added, “A person said to me, ‘Older people having sex is disgusting.’“I asked him, ‘At what age would you stop having sex?’‘Oh, never,’ he ...

Bridge: Oct. 15, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:01 GMT

Since the advent of contract bridge 98 years ago, various methods of hand evaluation have appeared. The 4-3-2-1 high-card count, put forth in 1915 in the days of auction bridge, was popularized by Charles Goren. It may not be the most accurate method, but it has the virtue of simplicity and has not been displaced.Good valuation will consider many factors: long suits and their quality, short suits, singleton honors, honors in combination and the presence of intermediate spot cards. Moreover, the “positional value” of an honor can change as the bidding unfolds.In today’s deal, North opened one club; his hand was too strong for 1NT with 18 good points and a pair of tens. When South bid one heart, North’s hand was not quite worth a raise to game — until West bid diamonds. Then North upgraded: His king of diamonds was a sure winner.No matter how accurate your bidding, you must still play the cards with care. Against four hearts, West leads the queen of diamo...

Word Game: Oct. 15, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:01 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — STRIDENT (STRIDENT: STRY-dent: Commanding attention in a loud or obtrusive voice.)Average mark 50 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 66 or more words in STRIDENT?TODAY’S WORD — STRIDENT send sent side sine sire siren site sitter snide snit stein stent stern stet stint stir stride tend tent tern test tide tied tier tinder tine tint tire titer trend trident tried tries trine trite rein rend rent resin rest ride rind rinse rise risen rite ides inert insert inset inter deist dent dentist diet dine diner dint dire dirt dries driest edit nerd nest niterTo 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...

Horoscopes Oct. 15, 2023: Dominic West, take the high road

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:01 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Dominic West, 54; Vanessa Marcil, 55; Emeril Lagasse, 64; Sarah Ferguson, 64.Happy Birthday: Emotions will surface due to situations you have left unfinished. You can ignore what needs to be done or embrace a new era and clear the way for what you want to achieve. Procrastination is the enemy, but your intellect is your saving grace. Take the high road and set your sights on the mission that will help you pursue the happiness you deserve. Your numbers are 5, 18, 21, 29, 32, 41, 46.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Question everything before making a move. Having things in order will put your mind at ease, allowing you more time to use your imagination to tweak your ideas and turn them into things that have your signature embedded in the outcome. Be true to yourself. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll gain momentum and the assistance you require to reach your full potential. You’ll thrive on change that sparks your imagination and encourages yo...

Ask Amy: If I were a mouse, I’d be applauding my husband. I am not a mouse.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:01 GMT

Dear Amy: I have a wonderful marriage of several decades with “Lance.”Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: She has some nerve to invite me to the gender reveal Advice | Ask Amy: Grandma’s diary told a scandalous story. Should I track down the family? Advice | Ask Amy: I just found out that a famous entertainer is my brother. Should I reach out? Advice | Ask Amy: I know my friend took a photo without my permission, but she won’t hand it over Advice | Ask Amy: Am I wrong to display photos where he is she? In many ways, Lance holds up his end of the roommate bargain that comes with long-term partnership. He cooks half the time, helps me in the garden (even though it’s my interest and not his), does his own laundry, etc.All that said, he’s a terrible slob in the kitchen, and in ways that cause problems.He chops fruit for his breakfast and leaves the peels and rinds on the juice-soa...