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Bridge: Oct. 30, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

A club player showed me today’s deal; he hadn’t liked his partner’s three-heart opening.“That 7-2-2-2 pattern is the worst for a preempt,” he said. “We could have lost 800 points at three hearts doubled, but instead the preempt just goaded North-South into a slam.”At six clubs, South won the first diamond with the king and led a high trump.“I won and figured declarer had only two diamonds,” East told me. “He hadn’t won the first diamond with the ace to preserve a finesse against my queen. So I shifted to a heart. He won and ran his trumps. At the end, I couldn’t guard both my jack of spades and queen of diamonds. Making six.”SIX CLUBS“If West never bids,” East went on, “I doubt that North-South will get to six clubs. They had only 28 high-card points.”West’s bid was debatable, but East beats six clubs with a diamond return at Trick Three. Dummy’s ten wins, but South can&...

Police fatally shoot woman who they said had BB gun at California bus stop

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

Anaheim police said they fatally shot a 20-year-old woman at a bus stop as she held what turned out to be a BB gun or pellet gun on Sunday morning, Oct. 29.Anaheim police in a late-night news release on Facebook identified the woman as Abigail Lopez of Anaheim.The shooting occurred around 9 a.m. on Anaheim Boulevard, South of Ball Road, said Sgt. Jon McClintock. Officers were responding to a report of a person armed with a rifle, the release said.Police could be heard yelling at Lopez to “Put it down; you’re going to get shot” as she stood in front of the bus bench next to a Burger King in blurry footage obtained by freelance news video firm OC Hawk. Lopez appeared to still be holding something in her hands when gunfire rang out. Lopez then fell back onto the bench, the video showed.Lopez was taken to a hospital, where she died, police said.A BB gun or pellet gun that resembled a short-barrel assault weapon was located at the scene, police said. No officers were reported injured.A p...

Ask Amy: Yes, I drink too much, but I don’t need to apologize to anyone

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

Dear Amy: I am a man in my early 70s, and I drink too much.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: My wife’s family is horrible to me, and she pretends it’s not happening Advice | Ask Amy: My husband has very definite views about our child’s schooling. Is he correct? Advice | Ask Amy: Should I just let the new boyfriend be a surprise at our holiday dinner? Advice | Ask Amy: I want the money my husband lent our friend. How do I get it? Advice | Ask Amy: I’m insulted that he ‘fixed’ my photo with Photoshop I started when I was 16 and have continued my entire life. Five or six cocktails (80 proof) each evening is the norm for me.I haven’t looked into Alcoholics Anonymous for the following reason: I don’t have anyone to apologize to.Everything you hear about AA involves atoning for all the people you have hurt, but alcohol hasn’t caused problems for me.I’...

Four-bedroom home sells in San Ramon for $1.8 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

131 San Miguel Place – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 100 block of San Miguel Place in San Ramon has a new owner. The 2,148-square-foot property, built in 1976, was sold on Oct. 10, 2023. The $1,790,000 purchase price works out to $833 per square foot. This two-story home offers a capacious living environment with its four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The home’s exterior showcases roofing materials crafted from wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, a fireplace enhances the ambiance of the living area. The property is equipped with forced air heating and central A/C. Additionally, the house includes an attached two-car garage. The property’s backyard additionally features a pool.These nearby houses have also recently been purchased:In August 2023, a 1,452-square-foot home on La Paz Avenue in San Ramon sold for $1,500,000, a price per square foot of $1,033. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Renada Place, San Ramon, in May 2023, a 2,209-square-foot home wa...

Harriette Cole: I’m jealous of my friend’s magic pixie dust

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a junior in college, and I’m struggling with feelings of jealousy toward my friend. It seems like everything comes so easily to her, and it’s hard for me not to compare our paths.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: Is he just using this as an excuse not to marry me? Advice | Harriette Cole: How can I change my dad’s mind about San Francisco? Advice | Harriette Cole: My co-worker’s habit annoys everyone, including our clients Advice | Harriette Cole: Should I tell this man why I won’t get serious about him? Advice | Harriette Cole: I’ve been extremely on edge, and I need a quiet solution Recently, my friend received a $10,000 scholarship for a study abroad program in Japan and landed an internship at one of the top investment banking firms in the United States. She applied to only one internship and only one scholarship, and things fell into pl...

HSBC: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

LONDON (AP) — LONDON (AP) — HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBC) on Monday reported net income of $5.62 billion in its third quarter.The bank, based in London, said it had earnings of $1.45 per share.The bank posted revenue of $34.11 billion in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $16.16 billion, beating Street forecasts._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HSBC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HSBCSource

Jueza restablece la orden de silencio sobre Trump en el caso federal de interferencia electoral

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

(CNN) — La jueza que supervisa el caso penal federal de interferencia electoral de Donald Trump restableció la orden mordaza que dictó contra el expresidente a principios de este mes.La jueza de distrito Tanya Chutkan también denegó la petición de Trump de suspender a largo plazo la orden —que prohíbe al expresidente dirigirse públicamente al personal del tribunal, a posibles testigos o al equipo del abogado especial— mientras se resuelve su apelación.El fallo de Chutkan apareció en una breve entrada de expediente este domingo por la noche. Los detalles de su fallo aún no estaban disponibles.Chutkan emitió la orden a principios de este mes después de que los fiscales plantearan preocupaciones de que el expresidente podría intimidar a los testigos o alentar el daño contra los fiscales a través de sus comentarios públicos. Trump apeló rápidamente, y Chutkan congeló temporalmente la orden el 20 de octubre mientras el equipo del fiscal especial Jack Smith y los abogados de Trump l...

Afghanistan wins the toss, sends Sri Lanka in to bat at Cricket World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

PUNE, India (AP) — Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss Monday and sent Sri Lanka in to bat first in a Cricket World Cup game between two teams even on competition points.Both teams have registered surprising wins in this tournament — each beating defending champion England — and started the match at Pune in contention for the playoffs.Sri Lanka was fifth in the standings with four points but a better run rate than Afghanistan, which also had four points but was in seventh spot.Sri Lanka revived its hopes with back-to-back wins over out-of-sorts England and the Netherlands to overcome a poor start to its tournament.Afghanistan shocked England by 69 runs at New Delhi in one of the greatest World Cup upsets and followed that with an eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Chennai.Sri Lanka has made two changes from its win over England, with opener Dimuth Karunaratne replacing Kusal Perera.The 1996 champions also had an injury substitution approved. Pace bowler Lahiru Kumar...

DC-born rapper DJ Kool joins WTOP to celebrate ‘Let Me Clear My Throat’ finally being certified platinum

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

In 1996, DJ Kool’s live club recording of “Let Me Clear My Throat” became an iconic rap anthem.This month, the D.C. native was notified that his tune was finally certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, an achievement that is long overdue.“Who would have thunk that DJ Kool would’ve ever been on WTOP? I grew up listening to WTOP, so this is big for me!” Kool said. “I got a phone call from a friend of mine in Philadelphia, shoutout to Big Al. He was like, ‘Kool, you know your record just went platinum.’ I was like, ‘Man, get out of here! What are you talking about? Where did you see that?’ He was like, ‘Go to the RIAA website,’ so I did that and it was right there. You definitely get a plaque and a bunch of other things come along with it like getting able to do interviews on WTOP!”Born in the District in 1958, John W. Bowman Jr. grew up attending St. Peter School, John Tyle...

Messi va en búsqueda de su octavo Balón de Oro para engrandecer su extraordinario legado

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

(CNN Español) — La superestrella del fútbol mundial, Lionel Messi, regresa a la ciudad luz donde sus destacados logros personales y con la selección Argentina lo apuntalan una vez más como uno de los principales candidatos a llevarse el Premio Balón de Oro que, de producirse, el reinado del rosarino seguirá iluminando el universo del fútbol.La imponente celebración, que entrega la prestigiosa revista France Football, se llevará a cabo este lunes en el Théâtre du Châtelet de París, cuya gala comenzará a partir de las 2 p.m. de Miami, y significa la edición número 67 de la máxima distinción que otorga el ecosistema del fútbol.De confirmarse este presagio, sustentado en que el actual jugador de Inter de Miami, fue la máxima figura en el Mundial de Qatar 2022, será el Balón de Oro número 8 en su laureada carrera como acaso el futbolista más importante en la historia de este deporte.Además de Lionel Messi, aparecen entre los aspirantes al preciado galardón el goleador noruego del M...