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Miss Manners: I want to talk about my problems, not listen to theirs

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:56:38 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’ve had a tough year, and am blessed with friends who keep in contact to make sure I’m OK.My problem is that I have a few friends who call or invite me out under the guise of giving me a chance to vent, but they end up doing the majority of the talking. They also make me feel worse because they share all that’s wrong in their lives, compounding what is going on in mine.I tried having a conversation with one friend to explain she was making me feel worse than I did before she called, but she didn’t get it. I’ve started blocking some of these people for my mental health.Is there a pragmatic way of handling these Chatty Cathys and Debbie Downers without ceasing all contact with them?GENTLE READER: You expect your friends to let you monopolize the conversation by reciting your problems, but do not want to have to listen to theirs? You will forgive Miss Manners if she does not get your explanation either.Related ArticlesAdvice | ...

Dear Abby: Our new neighbor is trouble, and my girlfriend thinks he’s great

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:56:38 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My girlfriend, “Jana,” and I have been together for 18 years. We live in a small community.About a year ago, a young single guy moved in next door. Jana and “Aiden” took an immediate liking to each other. She’s 64, and he’s 35.Aiden is on permanent disability, has never had a job and is heavily into drugs. He does odd things like walking down the middle of the street draped in blue lights. The police have been called on him so many times he was almost kicked out of the neighborhood.He and Jana used to be together all the time — calling, texting and talking in person. They don’t meet so often now because we’ve had so many arguments about it. I was jealous in the beginning. Now I just don’t like her hanging out with him.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: The man I was cheating with won’t apologize for cheating on me Advice | Dear Abby: Is it wrong to get married when I’m hung...

F1 drivers de Vries, Tsunoda affected by Italy flooding as grand prix canceled

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:56:38 GMT

IMOLA, Italy (AP) — Formula One drivers Nyck de Vries and Yuki Tsunoda have shared stories of struggling to get out of the deadly flooding in northern Italy after this week’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was canceled.Floods which have killed at least eight people and caused more than 10,000 to be evacuated from their homes forced the race to be called off on Wednesday. The track is next to a swollen river. F1 said it wanted to avoid further burdening emergency services.De Vries and Tsunoda drive for AlphaTauri, which is based in Faenza, a city close to the Imola track and which has been flooded.Dutch driver de Vries said he was trying to reach the Faenza factory on Tuesday night ahead of marketing events scheduled for Wednesday but the roads were cut off.“Faenza is already flooded and I am unable to get to my hotel. Returning to the highway is no option either. Stuck in a little village with one fully booked hotel,” he posted on Instagram on Thursday, recounting his experience wi...

Acusan a un hombre en Minnesota por el presunto robo de las zapatillas que lució Judy Garland en la película “El mago de Oz”

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:56:38 GMT

(CNN) — Casi 20 años después del robo en el Museo Judy Garland de Grand Rapids, Minnesota, de un par de zapatillas de color rojo rubí que la actriz Judy Garland utilizó como Dorothy en la película de 1939 “El mago de Oz”, las autoridades acusaron a un hombre en relación con el robo.Un jurado investigador federal acusó este martes a Terry Jon Martin de un delito de robo de obras de arte importantes por el presunto hurto de “un objeto del patrimonio cultural del cuidado, custodia o control de un museo”, según documentos judiciales presentados ante el Tribunal de Distrito de Minnesota. Las zapatillas estaban valoradas entonces en al menos US$ 100.000, según los documentos judiciales.CNN se puso en contacto con Martin para obtener sus comentarios. Por el momento no está claro si tiene abogado.Encuentran los zapatos rojos de Dorothy de “El Mago de Oz” 13 años después de ser robados (2018)En agosto de 2005, según las autoridades, un ladrón entró e...

‘Largest underwater scanning project in history’ gives never-before-seen view of Titanic

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:56:38 GMT

(CNN) — The mysterious 1912 sinking of the luxury passenger liner, the Titanic, has long served as a source of fascination for many.Historians now believe that a new underwater scanning project may provide answers to some of the unanswered questions regarding the tragedy that killed more than 1,500 people.A team of scientists have used deep sea mapping to create “an exact ‘Digital Twin’ of the Titanic wreck for the first time,” according to a press release Wednesday from deep sea investigators Magellan and filmmakers Atlantic Productions.By carrying out the “largest underwater scanning project in history,” scientists have managed to “reveal details of the tragedy and uncover fascinating information about what really happened to the crew and passengers on that fateful night” of April 14, 1912, the press release said.Scans of the wreck were carried out in the summer of 2022 by a specialist ship stationed 700 km (435 miles) off the coast of Canada, according to the release. Tight proto...

Galtier snubbed by peers despite PSG closing in on 11th French league title

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:56:38 GMT

PARIS (AP) — With Paris Saint-Germain close to clinching an 11th French league title, coach Christophe Galtier might have been expected to collect some laurels.Instead, he is not sure he’ll be in charge next season, and even his peers are snubbing him.Galtier was omitted this week from a coach-of-the-season shortlist that includes second-place Lens coach Franck Haise, Marseille’s Igor Tudor, Clermont’s Pascal Gastien, Lille’s Paulo Fonseca and Toulouse’s Philippe Montanier.Every coach in the top division was asked to nominate colleagues, and Galtier did not secure enough votes. The same happened to predecessor Mauricio Pochettino, who led PSG to its record-equaling 10th league title last season but did not make the cut and was later fired.Given the high expectations created by the armada of stars playing for PSG, winning a French league title is clearly not enough to make a season a successful one.Even if the challenges posed by Lens and Marseille this season have been c...

Dodgers visit the Cardinals to begin 4-game series

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:56:38 GMT

Los Angeles Dodgers (28-16, first in the NL West) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (18-26, fifth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Thursday, 7:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: Julio Urias (5-3, 3.61 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 52 strikeouts); Cardinals: Adam Wainwright (0-0, 7.20 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, seven strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -152, Cardinals +130; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals open a four-game series at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.St. Louis has gone 8-14 in home games and 18-26 overall. The Cardinals have the sixth-best team batting average in MLB play at .262.Los Angeles is 28-16 overall and 11-9 in road games. The Dodgers have the fourth-best team slugging percentage in the majors at .448.The teams square off Thursday for the fourth time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Nolan Arenado has four doubles, a triple and eight home runs for the Cardinals. Paul Goldschmidt is 13-for-41 with two doubles and three home runs over the last 10...

Marlins host the Nationals on home winning streak

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:56:38 GMT

Washington Nationals (18-25, fifth in the NL East) vs. Miami Marlins (22-21, second in the NL East)Miami; Thursday, 1:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Trevor Williams (1-1, 4.23 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 27 strikeouts); Marlins: Eury Perez (0-0, 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, seven strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -152, Nationals +129; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins, on a three-game home winning streak, host the Washington Nationals.Miami has a 22-21 record overall and a 13-11 record in home games. The Marlins are 14-1 in games decided by one run.Washington has a 10-11 record on the road and an 18-25 record overall. The Nationals have gone 9-18 in games when they have given up at least one home run.Thursday’s game is the third time these teams match up this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Luis Arraez has nine doubles, a triple and a home run for the Marlins. Bryan De La Cruz is 15-for-39 with four doubles and a home run over the last 10 games.Jeimer Candelario h...

Boris said Macron was ‘Putin’s lickspittle’ and a ‘c**t,’ ex-aide claims

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:56:38 GMT

LONDON — A furious Boris Johnson once privately described Emmanuel Macron as “Putin’s lickspittle” and promised to “punch his lights out,” a key aide to the former U.K. prime minister claimed.Detailing his experience of Johnson’s chaotic premiership in a new podcast, former Downing Street director of communications Guto Harri said Johnson launched into a tirade about Macron in the months following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine — and after the French president criticized the U.K.’s response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis.“At our morning meeting, I think with a small gang of us, he just launched into a violent attack on Emmanuel Macron,” Harri said. “Basically, saying ‘He’s a four-letter word that begins with C, he’s a weirdo, he’s Putin’s lickspittle.’”According to Harri, Johnson apparently then referenced a desire to damage Macron — and deployed an anti-French slur while he was at it.Johnson, Harri sa...

How Ukraine could become the next South Korea

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:56:38 GMT

U.S. officials are planning for the growing possibility that the Russia-Ukraine war will turn into a frozen conflict that lasts many years — perhaps decades — and joins the ranks of similar lengthy face-offs in the Korean peninsula, South Asia and beyond.The options discussed within the Biden administration for a long-term “freeze” include where to set potential lines that Ukraine and Russia would agree not to cross, but which would not have to be official borders. The discussions — while provisional — have taken place across various U.S. agencies and in the White House.It’s a scenario that may prove the most realistic long-term outcome given that neither Kyiv nor Moscow appear inclined to ever admit defeat. It’s also becoming increasingly likely amid the growing sense within the administration that an upcoming Ukrainian counteroffensive won’t deal a mortal blow to Russia.A frozen conflict — in which fighting pauses but neither side is declared the victor nor do they agree that the ...