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Bridge: Dec. 19, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:59 GMT

“Dickens didn’t have enough ghosts in `A Christmas Carol,’” my friend the English professor told me pedantically in the club lounge. “There should have been a ghost of Christmas future perfect subjunctive to show Scrooge what would have happened were he not to have changed his ways.”When you’re declarer, you get one chance, so consider before you play. Today’s North-South reached a shaky slam when both players bid too aggressively. South took the ace of clubs and led a trump to his jack. He went to the jack of diamonds, led a second trump to his queen and took the ace.FIFTH DIAMONDDeclarer next took the A-K of diamonds. With a 4-3 break, he could have pitched all of dummy’s hearts and ruffed a heart, losing one heart at the end. As it was, he had to ruff his fifth diamond and lost two hearts when West had the A-Q.Things will happen differently if declarer starts the diamonds before he takes the ace of trumps. He discards three hearts from dummy on the A-K-Q, then leads the kin...

Horoscopes Dec. 19, 2023: Jake Gyllenhaal, ask for guidance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:59 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Marla Sokoloff, 43; Jake Gyllenhaal, 43; Alyssa Milano, 51; Tyson Beckford, 53.Happy Birthday: Establish what you want to accomplish, and open a discussion with someone in the know who can help you navigate the process of reaching your destination. Ask for guidance, but be ready to achieve your objective by yourself. Put a plan in place and move forward quietly. The upcoming year will be one of surprises and unexpected change that offers benefits beyond your expectations. Your numbers are 4, 12, 18, 27, 31, 35, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your timing is critical. Look over your investments and adjust whatever needs updating. Get information firsthand to avoid being misled by faulty interpretation. Make changes that encourage better relationships with partners. Tidy up loose ends, and deal with matters that could infringe upon your plans. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Be ready to take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way. Traveling, expl...

Sale closed in Saratoga: $3.5 million for a two-bedroom home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:59 GMT

18470 Sobey Road – Google Street ViewA 1,770-square-foot house built in 1941 has changed hands. The property located in the 18400 block of Sobey Road in Saratoga was sold on Nov. 30, 2023. The $3,450,000 purchase price works out to $1,949 per square foot. This single-story home has two bedrooms and one bath. Inside, there is a fireplace. Additionally, the home features a one-car garage, offering a designated parking space and extra storage capacity. The property’s backyard is further enhanced by both a spa and a pool.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:On Marshall Lane, Saratoga, in November 2023, a home was sold for $15,100,000.In January 2023, a 3,788-square-foot home on Quito Road in Saratoga sold for $12,500,000, a price per square foot of $3,300. The home has 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.A 2,109-square-foot home on the 13900 block of Quito Oaks Way in Saratoga sold in July 2023, for $2,750,000, a price per square foot of $1,304. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bath...

Ask Amy: I feel awkward when my boss makes this odd comment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:59 GMT

Dear Amy: I have a work-related question.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: A boy reading Judy Blume, and other inspiring tales Advice | Ask Amy: I swear we will move without her if she can’t get her stuff packed in time Advice | Ask Amy: Could my mother really believe I owe it to her to have children? Advice | Ask Amy: I was surprised by my brother’s advice about my girlfriend. Was he right? Advice | Ask Amy: I’m uncomfortable about my husband’s DNA test request Every year my boss goes over my evaluation, and the evaluation is always positive. There is generally a small pay raise awarded to me at that time.I respond by saying thank you.But then my boss goes on to say, “I’ve refused my pay raise this year so you all can have raises.”This has happened at least twice in the past four years.I’m always at a loss for how to respond to that. It’s so awkward. Shoul...

After clinching playoff spot, AFC-leading Ravens to be tested in Christmas showdown at San Francisco

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:59 GMT

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)(AP/Terrance Williams) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)(AP/Terrance Williams) OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are playoff bound, and by the time this month is over, they should have a good sense of what the competition will be like in the postseason.The Ravens grinded out a 23-7 victory at Jacksonville on Sunday night to ...

Commanders Corner: Elimination Edition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:59 GMT

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) is threatened by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)(AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) is threatened by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)(AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez) We waited two weeks for this? Actually, during the bye week, instead of waiting to return to the field Dec. 17, many have had their eye on Jan. 7 and the final day of the regular season. Washington was tec...

Stock market today: World shares are mostly higher as Bank of Japan keeps its lax policy intact

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:59 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — World shares were mostly higher on Tuesday after a seven-week winning streak on Wall Street cooled. Germany’s DAX gained 0.4% to 16,710.29 and in London, the FTSE 100 was up 0.3% at 7,634.05. In Paris, the CAC 40 slipped 2 points to 7,567.01. The futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow industrials both gained less than 0.1%. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gained 1.4% to 33,219.39 after the Bank of Japan kept its ultra-lax monetary policy unchanged, as expected. The dollar rose against the yen, climbing to 144.59 yen from 142.79.The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney added 0.8% to 7,489.10, while South Korea’s Kospi edged 0.1% higher to 2,568.55. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined 1% to 16,469.32 and the Shanghai Composite index gained less than 0.1% to 2,932.39.Bangkok’s SET edged 0.1% higher, while Taiwan’s Taiex fell 0.4%. On Monday, the S&P 500 rose 0.5% and the Nasdaq composite picked up 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished es...

New Mexico hosts Keeler and UC Irvine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:59 GMT

UC Irvine Anteaters (7-4) at New Mexico Lobos (10-1)Albuquerque, New Mexico; Wednesday, 9 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: UC Irvine visits the New Mexico Lobos after Dean Keeler scored 22 points in UC Irvine’s 121-78 victory over the South Dakota Coyotes.The Lobos have gone 5-0 in home games. New Mexico is seventh in college basketball with 44.0 points in the paint led by Donovan Dent averaging 12.0.The Anteaters are 1-4 on the road. UC Irvine scores 80.5 points and has outscored opponents by 13.0 points per game.New Mexico’s average of 6.5 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.3 more made shots on average than the 6.2 per game UC Irvine gives up. UC Irvine averages 6.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 more makes per game than New Mexico gives up.TOP PERFORMERS: Nelly Junior Joseph is averaging 8.5 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Lobos. Jemarl Baker Jr. is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for New Mexico.Justin Hohn is averaging 13.6 points for ...

Oakland visits Dayton after Holmes’ 28-point performance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:59 GMT

Oakland Golden Grizzlies (6-6, 1-1 Horizon League) at Dayton Flyers (8-2)Dayton, Ohio; Wednesday, 7 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Dayton plays the Oakland Golden Grizzlies after Daron Holmes scored 28 points in Dayton’s 82-68 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats.The Flyers are 4-0 in home games. Dayton has a 2-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.The Golden Grizzlies are 3-3 on the road. Oakland ranks fourth in the Horizon League with 22.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Trey Townsend averaging 5.7.Dayton scores 72.4 points per game, 0.3 more points than the 72.1 Oakland gives up. Oakland has shot at a 44.4% rate from the field this season, 3.3 percentage points greater than the 41.1% shooting opponents of Dayton have averaged.TOP PERFORMERS: Koby Brea averages 3.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Flyers, scoring 11.8 points while shooting 51.7% from beyond the arc. Holmes is shooting 52.4% and averaging 17.5 points for Dayton.Townsend is shooting 44.5% and averaging 15.9...

No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners play the No. 11 North Carolina Tar Heels

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:59 GMT

North Carolina Tar Heels (7-3, 1-0 ACC) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (10-0)Charlotte, North Carolina; Wednesday, 9 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: The No. 11 North Carolina Tar Heels and the No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners meet at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.The Sooners have a 10-0 record against non-conference oppponents. Oklahoma is fourth in the Big 12 with 26.1 defensive rebounds per game led by John Hugley averaging 3.9.The Tar Heels have a 6-3 record in non-conference play. North Carolina ranks ninth in the ACC with 14.3 assists per game led by Elliot Cadeau averaging 4.0.Oklahoma averages 84.4 points, 9.4 more per game than the 75.0 North Carolina allows. North Carolina averages 23.6 more points per game (84.9) than Oklahoma allows to opponents (61.3).TOP PERFORMERS: Otega Oweh is scoring 14.9 points per game and averaging 4.0 rebounds for the Sooners. Javian McCollum is averaging 14.3 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 46.0% for Oklahoma.RJ Davis is averaging 21.6 points for the Ta...