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Roger Barr’s annual holiday story: ‘Dream Christmas Gifts’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:15 GMT

St. Paul author Roger Barr continues a 25-year Christmas story tradition with “Dream Christmas Gifts.” Author Roger Barr (Courtesy of Brad Stauffer)The series began with “The Last Christmas,” which was published by the Villager newspaper in 1997, Barr says. With the exception of 1998, there had been a new Bartholomew story in the Villager every year until 2020, when the tradition moved to the Pioneer Press. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Matthew Bartholomew met his friends Handyman and Carter at the Hope Breakfast Bar for their weekly breakfast. Matt had picked the restaurant for its eclectic menu and optimistic name. Usually, the three men consumed the morning news along with their pancakes and omelets, plotting strategies to manage their daily lives amidst the social, political and economic chaos that gripped the country. But a month ago, Handyman had rebelled, declaring: “I’ve got chaos fatigue! I need a respite.” By unanimous consent, they’d banned current events as ta...

Ask Amy: Siblings ponder obligation to former stepmother

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:15 GMT

Dear Amy: Many years ago, my father married a woman 30 years his junior. “Sharon” is only two years older than I. She is younger than my older sisters.I was not in favor of the marriage, but Dad apparently was happy.Sharon has a brash personality, a grating voice, and is very self-centered.My siblings and I tolerated her for our father’s sake, and she was “Grandma Sharon” to our kids (they never had any children together).Our father died over a decade ago; a couple of years later, Sharon had a relationship with another older man — who has also since died.Sharon continues to maintain contact with our kids — who now have young children of their own.When Dad was alive, she hosted an annual holiday gathering, and even though he has passed, she continues to carry on the tradition.My older siblings and I believe that carrying on this tradition with our family members has run its course and we are not interested in participating.Our children, however, relish in the ...

Bridge: Dec. 23, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:15 GMT

My wife regards my attempts at wrapping Christmas gifts with a combination of bemusement and horror.“If you can’t wrap packages neatly,” she tells me, “can you at least make it look like they put up a good fight?”Against today’s 3NT, West led the six of hearts. When East put up the king, declarer could have taken the ace and hoped to find the ace of diamonds with West. Instead, South judged to play low. East returned the ten: jack, queen, nine. When West led a third heart, South won and led a diamond to dummy’s jack.MAKINGEast took the queen and led a spade, and South won with the ace and led a second diamond: ten, king, ace. Declarer won the next spade and claimed the rest, making 3NT.West didn’t put up much of a fight. Since he lacked a quick entry, to lead a third heart was futile. At Trick Three, West should shift to the queen of spades. When East gets in with the queen of diamonds, he will return a spade. Then South can take only eight tricks.DAILY QUESTIONYou hold: S 8 6 5 4 H...

Surgen nuevos detalles sobre las víctimas del tiroteo de Praga

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:15 GMT

(CNN) — República Checa observa este sábado una jornada de luto nacional tras el peor tiroteo de la historia del país en tiempos de paz, que ha dejado 14 muertos y decenas de heridos en la Universidad Carolina de Praga.Entre las víctimas había varios jóvenes estudiantes, un profesor muy querido y un respetado jefe de departamento. El gobierno ordenó que las banderas ondearan a media asta y dijo que se guardaría un minuto de silencio a mediodía en todo el país.Las campanas de todo el país repicarán por las víctimas del atentado, según el primer ministro checo, Petr Fiala.La nación centroeuropea de 10 millones de habitantes quedó conmocionada y horrorizada después de que un hombre armado abriera fuego en la Escuela de Artes de la universidad el jueves, en lo que debía ser el penúltimo día de clases antes de las vacaciones de Navidad.En total hubo 14 víctimas mortales: 13 fueron halladas muertas en el lugar de los hechos, descrito por varios policías veteranos como el sitio más h...

Man dead after late night shooting in Toronto’s east end

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:15 GMT

A man has died after succumbing to his injuries from a shooting in the Danforth Avenue and Woodbine Avenue area on Friday night.Police responded to reports of gunshots at approximately 11:40 p.m. and arrived on scene to find male in his 40’s had been shot.The victim was transported to hospital via emergency run with life-threatening injuries, and was later pronounced dead.There is currently no suspect description or direction of travel and an investigation is ongoing.Danforth Avenue remains closed from Cedarvale Avenue to Gledhill Avenue.

Strong earthquake in northwest China that killed at least 148 causes economic losses worth millions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:15 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — The strong earthquake that hit northwest China this week, and killed at least 148 people, has caused economic losses estimated to be worth tens of millions in the agricultural and fisheries industries, state media reported Saturday. Officials in Gansu conducted preliminary assessments that showed the province’s agricultural and fisheries industries have lost 532 million yuan (about $74.6 million), state broadcaster CCTV reported. Authorities were considering the best use of the relief fund, set up days before, for the agricultural sector to resume production as soon as possible, the report said.The magnitude 6.2 quake struck in a mountainous region Monday night between Gansu and Qinghai provinces and about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) southwest of Beijing, the Chinese capital. CCTV said that 117 were killed in Gansu and 31 others in neighboring Qinghai, while three people remained missing. Nearly 1,000 were injured and more than 14,000 homes were destroyed. CGTN...

1 dead, 1 injured from shooting in Vaughan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:15 GMT

One male has died and another has serious injuries from a shooting in Vaughan on Saturday morning. Police responded to a call in the Steeles Avenue West and Weston Road area at approximately 1:53 a.m. for reports of a shooting.Two males had been shot, one male was transported to hospital via emergency run and was pronounced deceased, and the second male was at the hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.There is no suspect information at this time and an investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Ukrainian watchmaker fixes Newfoundland clock tower that hasn’t told time in decades

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:15 GMT

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — In an improbable confluence of geopolitical strife, childhood wonder and salty air, a Ukrainian watchmaker has repaired a 118-year-old clock in eastern Newfoundland that hadn’t told time in decades.Liudmyla Pass, 68, had been in Newfoundland less than a month when she climbed the stairs to the long-silent clock tower in the coastal town of Carbonear on Tuesday, armed with her tools and five decades of expertise.About four hours later, she had the clock’s gears clicking and turning, said her daughter, Yulia Veretennyk. The metal was rusty and crusted over with salt from the ocean air, said Veretennyk, translating for her mother. Pass gave it a good scrub and then carefully reset the machinery.“I’m very proud, but I always was proud of my mom because I know she’s unique,” Veretennyk said. “I’m happy that she’s finally appreciated.”Pass landed with her husband at St. John’s International Airport ...

Rising prices, shrinking libraries: How streaming TV is shaking down in Canada

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:15 GMT

TORONTO — Streaming television forever changed how Canadians watch their favourite shows, offering a seemingly bottomless library of commercial-free programming for a dirt-cheap price.Now, the overlords of entertainment have come to collect their dues.Over the past year, subscription prices have risen at nearly every major TV streaming platform. Some companies have pushed up their monthly rates while others took a more covert approach by reworking their service packages with a price hike built in.Meanwhile, the introduction of ad-supported subscription tiers at Netflix, Crave, and Disney Plus gave consumers a way to keep their budgets in check — if they were willing to sit through commercial breaks.The world of TV is transforming again. It’s enough to frustrate any viewer who hoped the streaming revolution might lead to simplicity and cost savings, and not simply look more like their old cable bill every year.Independent technology analyst Carmi Levy says 2023 was when the shi...

Creeping price points: A look at the rising cost of Canada’s streaming TV services

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:15 GMT

Streaming TV isn’t getting any cheaper.After it was once heralded as the cost-effective alternative to cable, the price of Canada’s streaming services is inching higher every year.And the story was no different in 2023 when inflation, production costs and efforts to turn a profit led many of the biggest names in the business to rework their subscription packages and jack up their rates.Here’s a look at recent changes in the monthly price of the top streaming services:   NetflixWhat changed: The company behind “Stranger Things” and “The Night Agent” phased out its $9.99 “basic” plan for new subscribers, eliminating its cheapest option without ads and pushing some viewers to either pay more or sit through commercials.With commercials: $5.99 Without commercials: $16.49 Commercial-free 4K resolution: $20.99  Disney PlusWhat changed: In addition to a new ad-supported tier, the home of “Star Wars” and Marvel franchises split its existing 4K high-definition (HD) ad-free tier in...