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Trudy Rubin: As Russian missiles again rain down on Odesa, Putin sneers at the UN and NATO allies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:25 GMT

ODESA, Ukraine — In case anyone still has doubts that Vladimir Putin is a terrorist, consider what he did to this iconic port city over the past week.It was not enough that he pulled out of the U.N.-brokered deal by which Russia had partly lifted a blockade that stopped desperately needed Ukrainian grain from leaving Odesa’s port. The Kremlin is demanding a lifting of key banking sanctions as the price for renewing the deal.But to make sure Ukraine could not find a way to break the renewed Russian blockade, perhaps by having Turkey escort grain ships, Moscow has been firing missiles into Odesa’s port, its grain silos, and smaller Ukrainian grain ports on the Danube River — directly across the border from NATO member Romania.In a week, Putin’s military has destroyed tens of thousands of tons of grain that could have fed 270,000 people for a year, according to the World Food Program.That still wasn’t enough for Putin. So to slam home his message tha...

Skywatch: August features two supermoons, a great meteor shower, Saturn and more 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:25 GMT

We have a rare bird, or should I say birds, in the sky this month, two full moons, on Aug. 1 and Aug. 31, with the second full moon considered a Blue Moon by many folks.There is a little controversy about what a blue moon is and is not, but the modern definition is that it’s the second full moon in any given month. Since the period between two full moons is 29½ days, Blue Moons don’t happen that often, roughly every year and a half. What makes the two full moons special this month is that they’re both considered “supermoons” since they’re both physically closer to Earth than average. That makes them a little bigger and brighter in the heavens, although most experienced amateur astronomers are hesitant to describe them as truly “super” this month. If you want to call it a “supermoon,” though, that’s your business.(Mike Lynch)Another huge highlight for August stargazing is the annual Perseid meteor shower. It’s on...

Marijuana is legal in Minnesota Aug. 1, here’s what you need to know

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:25 GMT

In less than a decade, Minnesota has gone from complete prohibition of cannabis to being on the cusp of having three distinct markets — low-dose hemp, medical and adult-use.It is the latest example of how states are now embracing as medicine and a recreational intoxicant something that is still considered illicit by the federal government. By the end of this decade, cannabis in Minnesota is expected to be a more than $1.5 billion a year industry.There’s still a lot of work to do to make that a reality.On Tuesday, Aug. 1, Minnesota will become the 23rd state where cannabis possession and recreational use for residents 21 and older is legal under state law. Yet Minnesotans won’t be able to buy things like full-fledged cannabis flower or gummies for another year and a half because state officials need to create the oversight apparatus to issue licenses so dispensaries can open.Charlene Briner is helping to get the new state Office of Cannabis Management up and running while...

Husband-and-wife directors directed a movie about husband-and-wife directors who made a Fringe play about…

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:25 GMT

Megan Huber and Wyatt McDill’s pandemic-era comedy, “Hollywood Fringe,” centers on a pair of Minnesota-bred husband-and-wife directors making a roving, site-specific Fringe play about a pair of Minnesota-bred husband-and-wife directors. And true to life, the couple depicted in the play-within-a-movie try to earn their big break in the Los Angeles film scene while contemplating a return to Minneapolis.Like the characters McDill penned, Huber and McDill are also married, in their 40s and balancing life between the Twin Cities and L.A. And like the play in the film, “Hollywood Fringe” was mostly shot in their own apartment.Not all their work — which ranges from sci-fi to comedy — has been so self-referential. Their writing-direction-production company, Sleeper Cell Films, produced the thrillers “Three Day Weekend” and “Four Boxes,” and has a comedy, “The Fun-Raiser,” in post-production.Minnesota natives Wyatt...

Ask Amy: A fresh divorce brings on new questions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:25 GMT

Dear Amy: My husband’s brother and his wife announced about a year ago that they had irreconcilable differences; they divorced after a long and loveless marriage.To be honest we have no idea why they stayed together as long as they did.About a month later, my brother-in-law introduced us to his new girlfriend.I was initially very happy that he had found someone new who really seemed to fit into the family dynamic better than his ex.But then his new girlfriend reached out on Facebook. I accepted her friend request and was trying to get to know her by looking at her past posts.That’s when I realized that she and my brother-in-law had been in a relationship for at least five years.I haven’t mentioned this to anyone else in the family except for my husband.I was raised with a strong belief in the sanctity of marriage, and I unfortunately find their infidelity and lack of shame about it to be disturbing.I try not to let this knowledge get in my way of being friendly with them, but ...

Horoscopes July 30, 2023: Terry Crews, avoid excess in any way

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:25 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Simon Baker, 54; Terry Crews, 55; Lisa Kudrow, 60; Laurence Fishburne, 62.Happy Birthday: Diversification will be necessary, along with some fancy footwork, if you want to make a splash and come out on top. Focus on your end game and put your energy where it counts. Discipline will make the difference between success and failure, along with keeping what you propose to do simple and affordable. The trick is to avoid excess in any way, shape or form. Your numbers are 7, 12, 22, 26, 30, 33, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Consider your options carefully before moving. A change or offer won’t be as good as anticipated and may bring about unexpected costs. Stick to self-improvements that fit your budget and offer peace of mind. Love and romance are favored. 2 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pay attention to detail and offer insight and help to those in need. You will find yourself in an opportunity-filled position. A day trip, reunion or self-improvement ...

Bridge: July 30, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:25 GMT

“I knew I was in trouble when I saw my hand,” Cy the Cynic grumbled to me in the club lounge.In a duplicate game, Cy picked up today’s West hand — and beheld a harem of queens. But North-South bid expeditiously to 6NT, and Cy had to pick an opening lead.“You know how leading from a king is a nervous business,” Cy said. “Well, leading from a queen can be more taxing. I knew my partner had nothing. Whatever I led might give declarer a free finesse and an extra trick.”The situation proved to be even worse. Cy shrugged and led the deuce of diamonds from his longest suit. South, an expert declarer, won with the jack and wondered why Cy had chosen a dangerous lead from a queen against 6NT. There could be only one answer, so South cashed the king of clubs and let the nine ride.South then had 12 tricks — three diamonds, five clubs, two spades and two hearts — but he wasn’t done. Playing Cy for both major-suit queens, South to...

Word Game: July 30, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:25 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — GLORIFIES (GLORIFIES: GLOR-ih-fise: Gives glory, honor or high praise to.)Average mark 47 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 60 or more words in GLORIFIES?TODAY’S WORD — GLORIFIES girl girlie glories goes golf golfer gore gorse grief lief life liger loge logier lore lose loser ogle ogler ogre oiler oilier oriel rife rifle rile rise roil role rose iris isle file filer filose fire flier flies floe flog fogies foil fore forge fries froe frog egis ergo self serf serif silo sire slier sloe slog soil sole soreTo 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” and “baking” are admissible.4. Prope...

New Zealand out of Women’s World Cup following 0-0 draw with Switzerland; Swiss into knockouts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:25 GMT

DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand outshot Switzerland and even moved goalkeeper Victoria Esson into an attack position several times, but failed to break a 0-0 tie Sunday in the Women’s World Cup and became the first host nation to be eliminated in group play in tournament history. The Football Ferns are co-hosting the World Cup with Australia, which must win Monday against Canada to avoid its own early elimination.Switzerland advanced to the round of 16. The Swiss also played to a scoreless draw against Norway, but won the group with the draw against New Zealand, coupled with the Norwegians’ simultaneous 6-0 rout of the Philippines.New Zealand controlled the pace for long stretches of the match and had its chances to score, outshooting Switzerland 12-3. Jacqui Hand knocked a shot off the right post in the 24th minute. All 25,947 seats at Forsyth Barr Stadiums were filled — the only one of Dunedin’s six tournament matches to sell out. The raucous crowd stomped and cheere...

Palestinian factions meet in Egypt to try to reconcile as violence surges in the West Bank

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:25 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Palestinian factions were meeting Sunday in Egypt to discuss reconciliation efforts as violence in the occupied West Bank surged between Israel and Palestinian militants.The main groups, Hamas and Fatah, have been split since 2007. With repeated reconciliation attempts having failed, expectations for the one-day meeting are low. According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, the gathering in the Egyptian city of el-Alamein on the Mediterranean Sea will discuss “ways to restore national unity and end the division.”The meeting comes amid soaring violence in the West Bank, where Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah group are based and exert limited self-rule. Israel has been staging near-nightly raids in Palestinian areas of the territory in what it says is an attempt to stamp out militancy, especially in areas where Abbas’ security forces have less of a foothold.Those raids have led to some of the worst fighting in nearly two decades in t...