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Ask Amy: The bride’s wedding plan violates my personal standards

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:56:58 GMT

Dear Amy: I am a Christian woman in my 60s. I have to go to a grandniece’s wedding, and they are having a cocktail hour at a bar next door.I don’t want to go to a bar.My husband thinks it’s OK to go there and have a soft drink. For me, no. I don’t want to be seen in a bar and do not think it’s right for me to even pretend I’m drinking alcohol or put on the illusion of doing so.I want to set a good example for others and maintain my own standards.This wedding is being held in a casino, which I don’t care to go to either, but I am obligated.Would it be acceptable to just stay at the casino between the end of the ceremony and beginning of the reception? Or go to my car?I believe I am being led to stay out of the bar.NondrinkerDear Nondrinker: People who order soft drinks at bars are not pretending to drink alcohol. They are simply enjoying a soft drink at a venue that also serves alcohol.However, you are not obligated to attend the cocktail hour before the reception. This cocktai...

Dear Abby: I’m leaving, and I don’t want to hear their phony farewells

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:56:58 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I’m a shareholder in a small firm. The other shareholders do not like me. It’s not due to performance or personality issues. It’s because they are a cliquey bunch and I don’t live in their city.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: This guy I just met has gotten very creepy online Advice | Dear Abby: My teen’s phone has deranged her life, but I’m not allowed to take it away Advice | Dear Abby: Am I out of line in asking my college daughter to be an RA? Advice | Dear Abby: My neighbor found out my income and is spreading lies about me Advice | Dear Abby: What if I don’t want to say grace? I will be retiring soon. The tradition is to have a retirement dinner complete with speeches. Any speeches from them would be phony. As for me, a speech about the positives of being with the firm would be very, very short.I would prefer not to have a retirement dinner. W...

Marta enters her sixth Women’s World Cup seeking scoring record, Brazil’s first championship

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:56:58 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Brazil starts the Women’s World Cup trying to remain undefeated in opening matches, and then take superstar Marta deep into her sixth and final tournament. It shouldn’t be difficult to move to 9-0 in opening matches for the Selecao, who start Group F play on Monday against tournament newcomer Panama in Adelaide, Australia. Brazil is one of seven teams to qualify for all nine Women’s World Cups, while Panama is one of eight teams playing in the tournament for the first time. Marta’s sixth World Cup will be her last, but she has a chance to make history as the first player — male or female — to score in six tournaments. She’s already the all-time leading scorer in the Women’s World Cup with 17 goals. But more important to Marta is winning the World Cup, something the women’s national team has never done. Brazil lost in the 2007 final to Germany, made it to the quarterfinals in 2011, but was eliminated in the round of 16 ...

Brewers and Braves meet in series rubber match

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:56:58 GMT

Atlanta Braves (63-34, first in the NL East) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (55-44, first in the NL Central)Milwaukee; Sunday, 2:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Bryce Elder (7-2, 3.31 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 84 strikeouts); Brewers: Julio Teheran (2-4, 4.01 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 35 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -171, Brewers +144; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: Both the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves are looking for a series win with a victory on Sunday.Milwaukee has gone 27-22 at home and 55-44 overall. The Brewers have gone 35-13 in games when they record at least eight hits.Atlanta has gone 31-15 on the road and 63-34 overall. Braves hitters are batting a collective .268, the top team batting average in the NL.The teams meet Sunday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Yelich has 23 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 54 RBI for the Brewers. Willy Adames is 9-for-40 with three doubles, three home runs and five RBI over the last 10 games.Rona...

Nationals host the Giants, look to continue home win streak

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:56:58 GMT

San Francisco Giants (54-45, third in the NL West) vs. Washington Nationals (40-58, fifth in the NL East)Washington; Sunday, 1:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Scott Alexander (6-0, 3.04 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 15 strikeouts); Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (5-7, 4.59 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 114 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Giants -116, Nationals -104; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals, on a four-game home winning streak, host the San Francisco Giants.Washington has a 17-32 record in home games and a 40-58 record overall. The Nationals have a 10-16 record in games decided by one run.San Francisco has a 54-45 record overall and a 28-23 record on the road. The Giants have gone 34-9 in games when they scored at least five runs.Sunday’s game is the sixth time these teams meet this season. The Nationals have a 4-1 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Luis Garcia has 12 doubles, four triples and five home runs for the Nationals. C.J. Abrams is 18-fo...

Diamondbacks take on the Reds looking to stop road slide

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:56:58 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (54-45, second in the NL West) vs. Cincinnati Reds (54-46, second in the NL Central)Cincinnati; Sunday, 1:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Jose Ruiz (3-1, 5.48 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 38 strikeouts); Reds: Luke Weaver (2-2, 7.22 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 64 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -110, Diamondbacks -109; over/under is 11 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks travel to the Cincinnati Reds looking to break a three-game road slide.Cincinnati has a 54-46 record overall and a 27-26 record in home games. The Reds are 42-10 in games when they scored at least five runs.Arizona is 28-21 on the road and 54-45 overall. Diamondbacks hitters are batting a collective .256, which ranks fifth in the NL.The matchup Sunday is the third time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Spencer Steer has 20 doubles, two triples and 14 home runs for the Reds. Matt McLain is 13-for-38 with two doubles and three home runs over the last 10 games.Christian Walker has...

Cubs bring 2-1 series advantage over Cardinals into game 4

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:56:58 GMT

St. Louis Cardinals (44-55, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Chicago Cubs (47-51, third in the NL Central)Chicago; Sunday, 2:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cardinals: Jordan Montgomery (6-7, 3.14 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 101 strikeouts); Cubs: Jameson Taillon (3-6, 6.05 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 67 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cardinals -144, Cubs +123; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs bring a 2-1 lead into the next game of the series against the St. Louis Cardinals.Chicago has a 47-51 record overall and a 26-26 record in home games. Cubs hitters have a collective .330 on-base percentage, the eighth-best percentage in MLB play.St. Louis has a 44-55 record overall and a 22-29 record in road games. The Cardinals have hit 135 total home runs to rank seventh in the majors.The teams match up Sunday for the ninth time this season. The season series is tied 4-4.TOP PERFORMERS: Nico Hoerner has 16 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 54 RBI for the Cubs. Cody Bellinger is 17-for-3...

Marlins enter matchup with the Rockies on losing streak

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:56:58 GMT

Colorado Rockies (39-59, fifth in the NL West) vs. Miami Marlins (53-47, third in the NL East)Miami; Sunday, 1:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Ty Blach (0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.95 WHIP, five strikeouts); Marlins: Jesus Luzardo (8-5, 3.34 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 131 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -259, Rockies +214; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins play the Colorado Rockies after losing eight straight games.Miami has a 30-20 record in home games and a 53-47 record overall. The Marlins have a 28-8 record in games when they did not allow a home run.Colorado is 16-33 on the road and 39-59 overall. Rockies hitters are batting a collective .250, which ranks ninth in the NL.The teams meet Sunday for the seventh time this season. The Rockies lead the season series 5-1.TOP PERFORMERS: Bryan De La Cruz has 21 doubles, 12 home runs and 54 RBI for the Marlins. Jesus Sanchez is 13-for-42 with three doubles and three home runs over the past 10 games.Elias Diaz has a .2...

Trump documents trial: The schedule is set. Here’s what to know

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:56:58 GMT

Ten months.That’s what Judge Aileen Cannon says is needed to get a trial underway in the historic criminal case charging former President Donald Trump with hoarding national security secrets at his Florida home and obstructing the federal investigation into his actions.It’s about five months more than prosecutors for special counsel Jack Smith proposed. But Cannon’s order Friday setting a trial date of May 20, 2024, is a speedier timeline than the one favored by Trump, who argued that he could not receive a fair trial until after the 2024 election. And it is an ambitious schedule for a case that presents a variety of novel legal issues and involves some documents alleged to be classified at the highest levels.In addition to the trial date itself, Cannon’s order scheduled a string of other key pretrial deadlines on matters that will shape the scope of the case — and may even determine whether the case reaches a jury at all.Based on high-profile trials involving the same kinds of clas...

Twitter to ditch bird logo, Musk says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:56:58 GMT

Twitter is set for a rebrand, if its owner Elon Musk is to be believed. “And soon we shall bid adieu to the Twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds,” Musk wrote in a tweet early Sunday.And soon we shall bid adieu to the twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 23, 2023pic.twitter.com/IwcbqMnQtA— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 23, 2023The change might come as soon as Monday. In a follow-up tweet, Musk said: “If a good enough X logo is posted tonight, we’ll make [it] go live worldwide tomorrow.”“It should have been done a long time ago,” Musk said in a Twitter Spaces audio chat, according to a Reuters report. The X probably refers to Twitter’s business name X Corp. Musk also posted a tweet of a flickering X. The rebrand is the latest change to Twitter by Musk since he acquired the company in October 2022 for $44 billion. Since taking over, Musk has made big changes to how Twitter works and has laid o...