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Ask Amy: Sociable children tax mom’s hosting talents

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:47 GMT

Dear Amy: I’m a mother of two children, ages 7 and 10.My kids enjoy playing with their friends outside of school, and I mostly don’t mind hosting playdates.We do way more than our share of hosting, however.One of my son’s best friends is frequently invited to our house, but rarely reciprocates.The mom even acknowledges that they “need to have him (my son) over,” but the invite never seems to arrive.This mom is busy (she has three kids) and rarely turns down our invitations, but rarely invites my son over.Short of inviting ourselves to their house, is there a way to politely ask them to play there more often?I get tired of having the same kids over and rarely getting invited back, but I don’t want my son to never get to play with his bestie, either.Should I just suck it up?— Tired of HostingDear Tired: Children, like adults, vary in terms of their friendship and companionship wants and needs.Related ArticlesAsk Amy | Ask Amy: Elderly mot...

Top Chinese envoy to visit Ukraine, Russia on 'peace' mission

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:47 GMT

A Chinese envoy, who is a top official in the country, will start a tour to Ukraine, Russia, and other European cities. Beijing claims that this trip is aimed at discussing a 'political solution' to the Ukraine Crisis.Li Hui will visit Poland, France and Germany during the multi-day tour, announced the Foreign Ministry on Friday, without giving a schedule.At a daily press briefing, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the foreign ministry said: "The visit... is a testimony to China's effort towards promoting peace discussions and fully demonstrates China’s firm commitment toward peace."His visit could coincide with the start of the long-anticipated counteroffensive launched by Ukraine in order to reclaim territory that was seized by Russia.According to two sources with knowledge of the situation, Li is expected to make his first stop in Ukraine on his journey.China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a question about the order in which Li will be visiting the various countrie...

The top 10 most expensive home sales in Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, reported the week of May 8

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:47 GMT

A house in San Ramon that sold for $2.9 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton in the past week.In total, 21 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.9 million, $771 per square foot.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of May 8 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $1.9 million, single-family home in the 300 block of La Tierra BuenaThe property in the 300 block of La Tierra Buena in Danville has new owners. The price was $1,850,000. The house was built in 1959 and has a living area of 3,263 square feet. The price per square foot is $567. The house features five bedrooms and four bathrooms.9. $1.9 million, single-family residence in the 7700 block of Oak Creek CourtThe sale of the single family residence in the 7700 block of Oak Creek Court in Pleasanton has been fina...

Bridge: May 17, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:47 GMT

Sometimes I think an additional call should be available in the auction: When a player doubles a contract for penalty, he should be able to re-examine hand, reconsider — and undouble.In today’s deal, East raised West’s one heart to two. When South bid two spades, West jumped to four hearts, and after two passes, South tried four spades. West’s double was ill-judged.South ruffed West’s second high heart with the king of trumps. He led his five to dummy’s seven and returned the three of clubs to his jack. West took the king and led another heart. South ruffed, went to the ace of trumps and let the ten of clubs ride.REMORSEWest was starting to have doubler’s remorse, but it was too late to undouble. South next led a diamond to his king and lost only one diamond. Making four, doubled. Well played.“I don’t know why I doubled,” West said, “but he needed the seven of trumps in dummy to make it.”Actually, South can succ...

Word Game: May 17, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:47 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — ULULATION (ULULATION: ul-yuh-LAY-shun: Loudly howling, wailing or lamenting.)Average mark 28 wordsTime limit 40 minutesCan you find 33 or more words in ULULATION? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — CASUALTY cast casual causal clay cult cyst actual alas atlas salt salty saucy scaly scat slat slaty slay stay lacy last lust lusty talc talusTo 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. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Inside the Pentagon’s New “Perception Management” Office to Counter Disinformation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:47 GMT

Not long after the 9/11 attacks, the Bush administration launched what it called the Office of Strategic Influence, which would seek to “counter the enemy’s perception management” in the so-called war on terror. But it quickly became clear that the office, operating under Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, would be managing those perceptions with its own disinformation.As the New York Times reported at the time, its work was to “provide news items, possibly including false ones, to foreign journalists in an effort to influence overseas opinion.” In the nascent Internet age, observers worried the propaganda could boomerang back on Americans.“The question is whether the Pentagon and military should undertake an official program that uses disinformation to shape perceptions abroad,” the Times reported in 2004. “But in a modern world wired by satellite television and the Internet, any misleading information and falsehoods could easily be repeated by American news outlets.”Now, two decad...

Target: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:47 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Target Corp. (TGT) on Wednesday reported fiscal first-quarter profit of $950 million.On a per-share basis, the Minneapolis-based company said it had profit of $2.05.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 16 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.74 per share.The retailer posted revenue of $25.32 billion in the period, which did not meet Street forecasts. Thirteen analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $25.34 billion.For the current quarter ending in July, Target expects its per-share earnings to range from $1.30 to $1.70.The company expects full-year earnings in the range of $7.75 to $8.75 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on TGT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/TGTSource

Agilysys: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:47 GMT

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (AP) — ALPHARETTA, Ga. (AP) — Agilysys Inc. (AGYS) on Tuesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter net income of $4.1 million.On a per-share basis, the Alpharetta, Georgia-based company said it had profit of 14 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 26 cents per share.The software provider for the lodging and leisure sectors posted revenue of $52.9 million in the period.For the year, the company reported profit of $14.6 million, or 49 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $198.1 million.Agilysys expects full-year revenue in the range of $230 million to $235 million.Agilysys shares have fallen nearly 2% since the beginning of the year. The stock has more than doubled in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AGYS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AGYSSource

Container Store: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:47 GMT

COPPELL, Texas (AP) — COPPELL, Texas (AP) — The Container Store Group Inc. (TCS) on Tuesday reported a loss of $189.3 million in its fiscal fourth quarter.The Coppell, Texas-based company said it had a loss of $3.85 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 18 cents per share.The storage products retailer posted revenue of $259.7 million in the period.For the year, the company reported a loss of $158.9 million, or $3.21 per share. Revenue was reported as $1.05 billion.For the current quarter ending in June, Container Store expects its results to range from a loss of 16 cents per share to a loss of 10 cents per share.The company said it expects revenue in the range of $200 million to $210 million for the fiscal first quarter.Container Store expects full-year earnings in the range of 21 cents to 31 cents per share, with revenue ranging from $885 million to $900 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using ...

ClearOne: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:47 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — ClearOne Inc. (CLRO) on Tuesday reported a loss of $832,000 in its first quarter.The Salt Lake City-based company said it had a loss of 3 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 9 cents per share.The provider of videoconferencing products posted revenue of $4.2 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CLRO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CLROSource