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Ask Amy: A gentleman ponders gender salutations

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:24 GMT

Dear Amy: I have an etiquette question.Is it still acceptable to refer to men as “gentlemen” and women as “ladies?”I have read that some people may take offense to the use of those words.At baseball games that I attend, the team used to be introduced on the field by the announcer saying, “And now, ladies and gentlemen, here are your Pittsburgh Pirates!”Now, most announcers at the ballpark simply say, “And now, here are your Pittsburgh Pirates!”I would be interested to know your position on this.— Polite GentlemanDear Gentleman: I didn’t realize that I needed to have a “position” on this. (Nor is this really an etiquette question.) But let me take a swing at it.I am female, and although perhaps I can’t really claim to be a “lady,” I am not personally bothered at all by being politely referred to in this way.However, there are fellow human beings who do not identify along a binary gender line as either female or male, and one would assum...

Bridge: April 30, 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:24 GMT

“What did you do on board 16?” Unlucky Louie asked me.Some of us had repaired to the club lounge after a duplicate. Aspiring players can benefit from discussing the deals after a session, learning from their good and poor results and digesting the comments of experienced players.“North-South played at three diamonds, plus 110,” I replied. “I opened one heart as East, South doubled, my partner bid two hearts and North tried three diamonds, passed out. We couldn’t beat it. I might have made three hearts with good guessing.”“We played at three clubs,” Louie said. “I overcalled two clubs as South; I wanted better spade support to double. When West raised to two hearts, my partner competed with three clubs. He expected me to have a six-card suit for a two-level overcall.”Against three clubs, West led the deuce of hearts, and East won and returned a low heart. Louie ruffed and drew trumps, but then he had none left. When We...

Horoscopes April 30, 2023: Kirsten Dunst, look forward to what lies ahead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:24 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Dianna Agron, 37; Kirsten Dunst, 41; Kunal Nayyar, 42; Johnny Galecki, 48.Happy Birthday: Engage in the activities and pastimes that make you happy. Take charge of your life and change what is no longer working for you. By helping yourself, you’ll be setting an example for others. Trust and believe in yourself and your ability to initiate what needs to happen to feel good about yourself and look forward to what lies ahead. Your numbers are 5, 11, 23, 26, 33, 42, 49.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Anger isn’t becoming. Channel your energy into something meaningful. Take the initiative and make home improvements that will improve your living arrangements. Invest more time and money in yourself and what you have to offer. Make healthy living a priority. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Relax and enjoy friends and family. Someone you respect will offer a different perspective regarding something that interests you. Stick to a budget, and you’ll...

Word Game: April 30, 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:24 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — DELICIOUS (DELICIOUS: dih-LISH-us: Appealing to the sense of taste or smell; delightful.)Average mark 50 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 65 or more words in DELICIOUS?TODAY’S WORD — DELICIOUS deli dice diel disc disco docile does doilies dole dose douse duel dues dulse lice lido lied lieu locus lode lose loud louse lucid ludic lues iced ides idle idol isle clod close cloud clue code coed coil cold cole coleus could cued oiled oldie used scold scud side sidle silo sled slice slid slide sloe slue sluice sodic soil sold sole solid soul suedTo 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 “bake”...

I Really Think You Should Read Tucker Carlson’s Last Speech Before Fox Fired Him

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:24 GMT

Tucker Carlson gives a speech at the Heritage Foundation’s 50th anniversary gala in National Harbor, Md., on April 21, 2023.Photo: Leigh Vogel/The New York Times/ReduxSoon the quadrillion online takes on Tucker Carlson’s firing by Fox News will be forgotten. Someday, Carlson himself will fade from human memory. Eventually people will think about cable news as much as they today ponder semaphore.Yet I believe that one act of Carlson’s — his last pre-termination appearance, an April 21 speech at the Heritage Foundation’s 50th anniversary gala — will endure for millennia. It is a gargantuan achievement and will abide like a pyramid in the sand, an eternal monument to humanity’s infinite vanity, self-deception, and self-congratulation.I’ve found it difficult to choose snippets of Carlson’s words to quote. It’s like trying to explain the perfection of Michelangelo’s David to someone, but being only able to show them its fingers, nipples, and wrinkly foreskin. You need the whole experienc...

Napoli fans already celebrating in anticipation of title

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:24 GMT

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Napoli fans are already celebrating in anticipation of sealing the club’s first Italian league title since the days when Diego Maradona played for the club.Hours before Napoli’s match against Salernitana later Sunday, fans waved flags in Italy’s green, white and red colors that featured a “3” on them to signify what would be the team’s third Serie A championship after Maradona led the Partenopei to their first two titles in 1987 and 1990.Napoli needs to hope that second-place Lazio doesn’t win at Inter Milan in an earlier match and then it needs to beat Salernitana to clinch with six rounds to spare.Napoli entered the day with a 17-point advantage over Lazio.Napoli Mayor Gaetano Manfredi told The Associated Press in a recent interview that there will be “a big earthquake of joy” when Napoli seals the title.Napoli’s game against Salernitana at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was moved from Saturday to Sunday following requests from local authorities in or...

Larrazábal edges Helligkilde to win Korea Championship

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:24 GMT

INCHEON, South Korea (AP) — Pablo Larrazábal shot a tidy 5-under 67 in the final round of the Korea Championship to complete a two-shot victory over Marcus Helligkilde on Sunday.The Spaniard’s 12-under 276 at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea was good enough to secure his eighth European tour title after starting his last round one shot back.Larrazábal then closed to a five-way share of the lead at the turn on 9-under and pulled away with four birdies in the next five holes to open a three-shot lead that he never relinquished.“I love to compete, I love to fly out here, to see all these young guys hitting it miles and try to beat them,” said Larrazábal. “And that’s what makes me the happiest guy in the world.”Denmark’s Helligkilde finished his fourth round with a 68 to take second place, holding off a four-strong chasing pack that included home favourite Park Sanghyun.Scotland’s Scott Jamieson joined Park in third place along with Spaniard Jorge Campillo and Dutchma...

Hungry Maple Leafs finally get over hump, win playoff series

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:24 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs are eager to leave nearly two decades of playoff futility behind them.Seizing an opportunity to prove they’re no longer a team that falls short at the most important time of the year, the Leafs ended an 11-game losing streak in elimination games and beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in overtime Saturday night.The victory gave Toronto its first postseason series win since 2004 and sends the Maple Leafs into the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston or Florida.The Bruins and Panthers are tied 3-3 in their first-round series. Game 7 is Sunday in Boston.“It’s felt different all season,” coach Sheldon Keefe said. “It’s nice to sit up here and say it is different.”The Maple Leafs were 0 for 7 in playoff appearances from 2013 to 2022, including first-round exits each of the past six seasons.To get past Tampa Bay, Toronto won three times in overtime on the road and ended the Lightning’s run of three straight appearance...

Florida visits Boston in game 7 of the first round

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:24 GMT

Florida Panthers (42-32-8, fourth in the Atlantic Division) vs. Boston Bruins (65-12-5, first in the Atlantic Division)Boston; Sunday, 6:30 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NHL LINE: Bruins -239, Panthers +196; over/under is 6NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Series tied 3-3BOTTOM LINE: The Florida Panthers visit the Boston Bruins in game seven of the first round of the NHL Playoffs. The teams meet Friday for the 13th time this season. The Panthers won 7-5 in the previous meeting. Matthew Tkachuk led the Panthers with two goals.Boston has a 21-7-4 record in Atlantic Division games and a 65-12-5 record overall. The Bruins have given up 174 goals while scoring 301 for a +127 scoring differential.Florida has a 20-9-3 record in Atlantic Division games and a 42-32-8 record overall. The Panthers have a +16 scoring differential, with 288 total goals scored and 272 given up.TOP PERFORMERS: David Pastrnak has 61 goals and 51 assists for the Bruins. Jake DeBrusk has scored six goals and added two assists o...

Caleb Kilian looks for positives after getting roughed up in Chicago Cubs loss: ‘He’s not ready’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:24 GMT

Chicago Cubs right-hander Caleb Kilian tried to focus on the positives from his wayward spot start.His big-league season debut quickly unraveled Saturday in a 40-pitch first inning in which the Miami Marlins sent 11 batters to the plate. Five runs, four hits, two walks and two hit batters later, Kilian’s outing was already off track.The Cubs tried to chip away at the five-run deficit but ultimately fell short in a 7-6 loss. Kilian surrendered seven runs and 10 hits in 3⅓ innings.Asked what he took away from Kilian’s start, manager David Ross replied, “That he’s not ready — still got learning to do, still needs some seasoning.”Kilian, 25, became out of whack with his delivery, particularly his arm path. He felt too quick on the mound, causing his arm to lag and spray his pitches around the zone.The lack of control arm side in the first resulted in uncompetitive pitches against right-handed hitters. He fell behind in the count to seven of the ...