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Ask Amy: Anxious host wants to politely stop

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

Dear Amy: How can I politely say no when friends are passing through town or vacationing here and ask if they can spend a couple of nights with us?I have never said no to anyone and have always been gracious to anyone staying in our home, but I find I really don’t enjoy it.I have extreme stress and anxiety days before they arrive, and also while they are here.My husband doesn’t understand my tirades over this. He welcomes anyone who wants to stay with us.I just don’t like people here with us 24 hours a day. I like my privacy at night to rest and read or watch television, and the last thing I want is to see faces at the breakfast table when I get up in the morning.I know this issue will be coming up soon again as one recent guest has already said he plans to be back in town early next year.Houseguests unsettle me, my lack of privacy is the issue, although I make sure they would never guess how I feel.I am tired of pretending it is fine that they are staying with us.How can I suggest ...

For Palestinians Who Just Left Gaza, Witnessing the War From Afar Evokes Helplessness and Grief

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

A 3 a.m. call startled Walaa AlAbssi awake. It was nearly a week into Israel’s retaliatory bombing of the occupied Gaza Strip. Just two months earlier, AlAbssi, 26, had left Gaza for the first time to attend graduate school in Dublin. When she picked up her phone and saw her sister’s name, her heart fell. A call at this hour could only mean tragedy.“Everyone was screaming,” AlAbssi said. “‘May God never let you live my terror,’ she told me, ‘Pray for us, pray for us.’” The call disconnected. Panicked and crying, AlAbssi redialed her sister over and over until, on the 10th try, she got through. An Israeli airstrike had just hit the house neighboring their family in Gaza City, her sister said, and a piece of shrapnel entered her younger brother’s wrist.“All the windows were broken, and the doors flew in their faces,” AlAbssi said. “My brother was bleeding, everyone was screaming and did not know anything, and the world was dust.” The phone disconnected again, and AlAbssi was alon...

Creator of GoFundMe for family who lost home in Arlington explosion just wanted to help

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

Jami and Lance Smith, their two kids and family dog are alive and healthy after an explosion leveled their home earlier this week in Arlington, Virginia. Now, they’re heading into the holidays without a home.“Many of us were just wondering: ‘How are we going to be able to help?'” said longtime family friend Derek Cole, who set up a GoFundMe for the Smiths.“There are things that have been passed along through the family, there are personal mementos that can never be replaced,” he said.Cole met the Smiths when they went to college together in the 90s.Now, the real estate agent wants to do what he can by raising money to help his friends who lost everything.“People were so very quick to help and ask what they could do to help and offer kind words and encouragement and support in so many different ways,” said Cole, who was unsure about how much to ask for when setting up the fundraiser.“I received offers for Christmas trees and homes...

CosMc’s: por qué McDonald’s quiere su propia cadena de café

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

(CNN) — McDonald’s anunció el miércoles que está poniendo a prueba un nuevo concepto de cafetería llamado CosMc’s, que venderá sobre todo bebidas con cafeína altamente personalizables con algo de comida. El primer CosMc’s ya está abierto en Illinois, y está prevista la apertura de nueve más en Texas en los próximos meses.Para muchos, la noticia ha suscitado probablemente una gran pregunta: ¿Por qué? ¿Por qué una cadena que básicamente es sinónimo de hamburguesas de repente está interesada en vender bebidas azucaradas de café? ¿Y por qué no añadir esas opciones al menú de los locales de McDonald’s existentes, en lugar de lanzar una marca totalmente nueva?Y, quizá lo más apremiante, ¿por qué llamarla CosMc’s?Hay algunas buenas razones para que McDonald’s adopte este enfoque.Las bebidas son un mercado lucrativo, y especialmente las bebidas de café personalizables, como las que dan fama a Starbucks.(Crédito: Eric Cox/Reuters)“No hay catego...

Creían que era una planta, pero resultó ser una tortuga: así es “Turtwig”, la antigua especie hallada en Colombia y bautizada en honor a Pokémon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

(CNN) — Antiguos fósiles vegetales que desconcertaban a los científicos han resultado no ser plantas después de todo, según revela una nueva investigación.En su lugar, estas pequeñas formas redondeadas eran caparazones de tortugas bebé que vivieron en la época de los dinosaurios. Los científicos han bautizado a esta especie de tortuga como “Turtwig”, en honor a un personaje de Pokémon que es mitad tortuga y mitad planta.Según los autores del estudio, es la primera vez que se encuentran caparazones de tortugas bebé en el noroeste de Sudamérica.Los resultados de su investigación se publicaron el jueves en la revista Palaeontologia Electronica.“En el universo Pokémon, uno se encuentra con el concepto de combinar dos o más elementos, como animales, máquinas, plantas, etc.”, dijo el autor principal Héctor Palma-Castro, estudiante de posgrado de Paleobotánica en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, en un comunicado.“Así, cuando se tiene un fósil inicial...

Adekokoya leads Kennesaw State against South Carolina Upstate after 22-point game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

Kennesaw State Owls (6-3) at South Carolina Upstate Spartans (4-5)Spartanburg, South Carolina; Saturday, 7 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Owls -2; over/under is 158BOTTOM LINE: Kennesaw State visits the South Carolina Upstate Spartans after Quincy Adekokoya scored 22 points in Kennesaw State’s 79-76 overtime victory over the UNC Asheville Bulldogs.The Spartans are 2-0 on their home court. South Carolina Upstate is the leader in the Big South with 14.7 fast break points.The Owls are 0-3 on the road. Kennesaw State ranks second in the ASUN with 44.6 rebounds per game led by Demond Robinson averaging 8.9.South Carolina Upstate averages 8.9 made 3-pointers per game, 2.1 more made shots than the 6.8 per game Kennesaw State gives up. Kennesaw State has shot at a 42.7% clip from the field this season, 1.1 percentage points fewer than the 43.8% shooting opponents of South Carolina Upstate have averaged.TOP PERFORMERS: Trae Broadnax is shooting 46.9% and averaging 12.7 points for the...

Oregon takes on UTEP after overtime win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

UTEP Miners (6-3) at Oregon Ducks (5-2)Eugene, Oregon; Saturday, 9 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Ducks -13; over/under is 145BOTTOM LINE: Oregon hosts the UTEP Miners after the Ducks took down the Michigan Wolverines 86-83 in overtime.The Ducks are 3-0 on their home court. Oregon ranks fifth in the Pac-12 with 9.7 offensive rebounds per game led by N’Faly Dante averaging 6.0.The Miners are 0-1 on the road. UTEP is fifth in the CUSA with 24.3 defensive rebounds per game led by Kevin Kalu averaging 4.1.Oregon averages 8.3 made 3-pointers per game, 2.3 more made shots than the 6.0 per game UTEP allows. UTEP scores 7.2 more points per game (81.9) than Oregon allows (74.7).TOP PERFORMERS: Jermaine Couisnard is scoring 12.6 points per game and averaging 4.1 rebounds for the Ducks. Brennan Rigsby is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers for Oregon.Tae Hardy is shooting 40.0% from beyond the arc with 2.0 made 3-pointers per game for the Miners, while averaging 14.8 points, 3.7 assists and...

No. 19 Oklahoma squares off against Arkansas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

Arkansas Razorbacks (6-3) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (8-0)Tulsa, Oklahoma; Saturday, 4 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sooners -4; over/under is 147BOTTOM LINE: The Arkansas Razorbacks and the No. 19 Oklahoma Sooners play at BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.The Sooners have an 8-0 record against non-conference oppponents. Oklahoma has a 1-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.The Razorbacks have a 6-3 record in non-conference games. Arkansas has a 1-0 record in one-possession games.Oklahoma makes 50.9% of its shots from the field this season, which is 9.3 percentage points higher than Arkansas has allowed to its opponents (41.6%). Arkansas has shot at a 47.3% clip from the field this season, 9.2 percentage points higher than the 38.1% shooting opponents of Oklahoma have averaged.TOP PERFORMERS: Otega Oweh is shooting 67.6% and averaging 15.4 points for the Sooners. Javian McCollum is averaging 14.3 points for Oklahoma.Tramon Mark is averaging 17 points for the Razorbacks. Khalif B...

Cleveland State faces Kent State on 4-game road slide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

Cleveland State Vikings (6-4, 1-1 Horizon League) at Kent State Golden Flashes (6-3)Kent, Ohio; Saturday, 2 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Golden Flashes -11.5; over/under is 147.5BOTTOM LINE: Cleveland State visits Kent State looking to break its four-game road slide.The Golden Flashes are 3-2 on their home court. Kent State scores 84.4 points while outscoring opponents by 12.4 points per game.The Vikings are 0-4 on the road. Cleveland State ranks eighth in the Horizon League with 11.6 assists per game led by Tristan Enaruna averaging 2.9.Kent State averages 84.4 points, 16.5 more per game than the 67.9 Cleveland State gives up. Cleveland State has shot at a 43.4% clip from the field this season, 0.6 percentage points above the 42.8% shooting opponents of Kent State have averaged.TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Sullinger averages 2.3 made 3-pointers per game for the Golden Flashes, scoring 15.6 points while shooting 39.6% from beyond the arc. Chris Payton is shooting 52.6% and averaging 1...

John Kerry warns against carbon capture’s ‘great facade’ as a climate cure-all

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Some countries at the COP28 climate talks are lying about the potential for capturing the greenhouse gases fossil fuels emit, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said.Kerry was speaking at an event on Friday evening on the sidelines of the U.N. COP28 climate talks in Dubai, where the nations of the world are wrangling over the draft of a pledge to end fossil fuel use.The deal has been forcefully opposed by fossil fuel-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia. Negotiators from Riyadh argue carbon pollution can be largely captured and buried using scrubbing technology that Kerry said remains largely unproven at the needed scale.“There are people here who want to just continue business as usual. And the great facade is: ‘Oh no, we’ll be able to capture everything,’” said Kerry, his voice hoarse from a chest cold. “No scientist tells me we can capture it all. Can’t do it. Can we capture some? Yes, and by the way, I’m for it.”Kerry said it was...