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Skywatch: The ‘Z’ stars are a mouthful

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:42:56 GMT

On early evenings in June, just after twilight, look for a moderately bright star in the low southeast sky a little above the horizon. It has a decidedly ruddy hue to it. That’s Antares, the brightest star of the summer constellation Scorpius the Scorpion. It’s one of the few constellations that really looks like what it’s supposed to be. In the early evening, you can only see the three near vertically orientated, moderately bright stars in a nearly straight line just above Antares that outlines the scorpion’s head. Antares marks the heart of the beast. To see the tail and stinger of the celestial scorpion, you have to wait until well after 11 p.m. By then, all of Scorpius will be high enough above the southern horizon.(Mike Lynch)Just to the upper right of the three stars that make up Scorpius’s head is the faint constellation Libra the Scales. Unlike Scorpius, it looks nothing like what it’s supposed to be. It allegedly outlines the classic Roman scales of justice. Libra is ...

Ask Amy: The trouble with Mother’s (and Father’s) Day

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:42:56 GMT

Dear Amy: I’ve come to increasingly view Mother’s Day with sadness.Another of these days has come and gone, and my husband staunchly believes that he need not even do so much as say, “Happy Mother’s Day” to me.He also doesn’t remind our kids to acknowledge me, so for many years they have said nothing to me.It’s not that he forgets. We typically devote the day to visiting our own mothers. But when it comes to me, when I have asked him about his lack of acknowledgment, he shrugs and says, “You’re not my mother.”Our friends have pointed out, “She’s the mother of your children!” but he just brushes that off.I’m not after candy or flowers, but just hearing some words from him like, “Thanks for being such a great mom to our kids” would send my heart soaring. But it never happens.Even his mother usually sends me a card and gift, so she doesn’t subscribe to his philosophy.Am I being self-ce...

Horoscopes June 4, 2023: Angelina Jolie, anger won’t solve your differences

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:42:56 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Bar Refaeli, 38; Russell Brand, 48; Angelina Jolie, 48; Noah Wyle, 52.Russell Brand (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) Happy Birthday: Keep an open mind, search for the best solution and make your voice heard. Question anyone who is pushy or talks down to you, and you’ll dodge interference and mistakes. Anger won’t solve your differences with others, but doing your own thing will bring peace of mind and benefits. Take the path that serves you well and helps you achieve your goals. Your numbers are 4, 13, 23, 29, 31, 39, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take nothing for granted. Opportunity begins with you. Consider what you have to offer and what your time is worth, and forge ahead with fresh ideas and confidence that you can pitch what you have to offer and get what you deserve. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put everything in order. Reduce clutter, manage your time and share with the people you care about most. A positive change at ...

Word Game: June 4, 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:42:56 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — NOCTURNAL (NOCTURNAL: nok-TUR-nal: Of, relating to or occurring in the night.)Average mark 45 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 60 or more words in NOCTURNAL?TODAY’S WORD — NOCTURNAL noun octal ocular oral orca outran cannot canon cant canto canton cantor carol cart carton clan clot clout coal coat cola colt conn contra coral corn count court cult curl curt taco talc talon tarn taro tonal torn toucan tour tuna turn ulna ultra unto rant roan rout runt acorn actor alto annul anon aunt auto loan loran lout lunarTo 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....

Bridge: June 4, 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:42:56 GMT

Players tend to view big hands through rose-colored glasses: with a pair that comes with magnifying lenses. Players visualize a triumph — bidding and making a slam — if their partner just has a useful card or two.But partners are unreliable, rarely having what you need them to; all too often, they will have nothing. It takes discipline to say no to the possibility of slam when a voice in your head urges you to take a flyer.Today’s South picked up a mammoth hand — 29 points — and bid as if he had more. All of North’s bids were forced; North promised nothing, but South launched into six hearts anyway.West led the jack of diamonds, and South won, drew trumps, cashed the ace of clubs and overtook his queen in dummy. He won a spade finesse with his queen, but East still got two spade tricks.“It was my partner’s fault,” South sighed. “If he’d held the king of spades instead of the king of clubs, I’d have been a heavy ...

Striker Karim Benzema will not return to Real Madrid next season

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:42:56 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Karim Benzema will not stay with Real Madrid next season, the club said Sunday.Real Madrid said it reached an agreement with the French striker to “to bring his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at our club to a close.”Madrid said Benzema “has represented the values” of Madrid and “has earned the right to decide his future.”The announcement comes amid reports that Benzema will play in Saudi Arabia.“Real Madrid would like to show our gratitude and affection to a player who is already one of our greatest legends,” the club said. “Fans all over the world alike have enjoyed his magical and unique football, which has made him one of the great icons of our club and one of the great legends of world football.”The 35-year-old Benzema had been with Madrid since 2009, playing 14 seasons with the club. He helped Madrid win 25 titles, a record for any player with the Spanish powerhouse.Among his titles were five Champions Leagues, five Club World Cups and four Spa...

Golden Knights’ Shea Theodore finds rhythm at right time to start Stanley Cup Final

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:42:56 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Without a goal all playoffs, Shea Theodore found the net just when the Vegas Golden Knights needed it.With Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final tied at 1 midway through the second period, Theodore took a pass at one side of the blue line, skated to the other side, circled back to dangle Florida Panthers forward Anthony Duclair and move into the slot before firing a wrist shot past Sergei Bobrovsky.It was vintage Theodore. And it came at a critical juncture.Theodore’s goal ignited the crowd and, more importantly, his team. He also had an assist in Vegas’ series-opening 5-2 victory Saturday night, which was something of a show of redemption for the 27-year-old defenseman.“He’s one of our best players,” Vegas teammate Jonathan Marchessault said. “You need 20 guys every night to win at that time of the year and tonight was a good team effort and Shea took over today. He’s one of those guys that stepped up tonight and definitely happy to see him on the board.”Theo...

Thousands protest ‘culture of violence’ in Serbia

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:42:56 GMT

Thousands of demonstrators took to Belgrade’s streets on Saturday in the fifth protest against what they claim to be escalating violence spurred on by the country’s ruling party.The movement called “Serbia against violence” was triggered after two mass shootings last month. They are the biggest since demonstrators toppled strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.Protesters expressed anger at the ruling party over a culture of violence they say is spurred by government-controlled media outlets. The demonstrators are asking for the government to revoke the broadcasting licenses of channels promoting violent content, and for a ban on newspapers that attack political dissidents. They are also seeking the resignations of the interior minister and the head of the intelligence services.“I’m here for all of us, especially my children. So they don’t need to protest, but work and live in their country like they should,” 33-year-old mathematician Bojana Popovic told AFP during the rall...

Three sand cat kittens born at North Carolina Zoo

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:42:56 GMT

(CNN) — Animal lovers can now witness three times the cuteness at the North Carolina Zoo.Three sand cat kittens were born on May 11 to first-time mother Sahara, 3, and father, Cosmo, 9, according to the North Carolina Zoo.The weeks-old kittens, who were tiny enough to fit in a person’s palm at birth, are starting to explore their home at the zoo’s Desert Habitat, according to zoo officials.The public will soon get a chance to weigh in on what their names should be in a poll, the zoo said, adding details would be shared on its social media pages and website.The kittens mark the North Carolina Zoo’s third animal birth in less than two weeks. A baby male giraffe calf was born on May 20 and a baby male chimpanzee was born the following day.Cosmo and Sahara were paired through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Sand Cat Species Survival Plan, “which aims to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population of sand cats to increase their numbers,” the North Carolina Zoo ...

MBTA to conduct evacuation drill at Braintree, will simulate train striking vehicle

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:42:56 GMT

The MBTA will conduct an emergency evacuation drill in Braintree Sunday morning from 10 a.m. to noon.The exercise will simulate a train making contact with a vehicle and derailing on the track next to the main rail.The MBTA says businesses in the area should expect increased activity.