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Skywatch: Corvus the Crow ate crow

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:01:34 GMT

I’m retired now, but for 40 years I was a weather forecaster, and over time I ate crow at times so I can certainly relate to the classic story about the constellation of Corvus the Crow.Crows have been getting a terrible rap for eons, but they’re really one of the most intelligent birds around. In Greek and Roman mythology, crows were once the most respected birds. Back in the day they were exalted, highly intelligent, and had beautiful voices that allowed them to sing glorious songs that delighted all. They were blessed with bright white feathers with gold trim on their wings and tail. They served the gods and goddesses as reliable messengers on Mount Olympus with great distinction until Corvus the bungling crow messed it up for all crows.(Mike Lynch)The constellation Corvus the Crow is one of the 66 or so constellations we see throughout the year in our Minnesota and Wisconsin night skies, but even though it’s not one of the biggest or brightest, it’s very ...

Readers and writers: A unique look at a Fitzgerald favorite, and a veterinarian’s touching memoir

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:01:34 GMT

Today we look at a program based on one of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short stories, and a veterinarian’s memoir about overcoming adversity and loneliness.“Bernice Bobs Her Hair” is one of St. Paul native Fitzgerald’s most popular short stories. Who’s Bernice and why did she cut her hair?Danny Klecko, poet/baker and promoter of all things St. Paul, is going to tell you at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at Friedli Gallery, 943 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, with special guests Heather Friedli and Chef JD Fratzke. It’s the first of four free programs about Fitzgerald’s short stories in a new partnership between Klecko and Fitzgerald in St. Paul, an organization under the auspices of Friends of the St. Paul Public Library.In 1915 Fitzgerald sent his 14-year-old sister, Annabel, a 10-page letter about how to make herself more socially appealing, including advice on conversation poise, carriage, dancing, expression, dress, and personality. It began, i...

Ramsey County SNAP application backlog leaves thousands in limbo

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:01:34 GMT

After losing her job late last year, Alex Curry moved back into her parents’ St. Paul home with her three children.Having no other source of income, the single mother applied in early January for benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food aid to people in need.Weeks turned into months as Ramsey County processed her application, leaving Curry to increasingly rely on her parents for help feeding her kids.“Every day was just kind of a waiting game,” she said. “You have that worry, that stress and that anxiety. … I don’t want my parents to have to deal with a financial struggle because I can’t help them with groceries.”Last week, Curry received the SNAP debit card that will allow her to buy groceries for her family, nearly three months after she first applied for aid.“It just makes you kind of feel like, who can you depend on?” she said of the wait. “I don’t really have a lot of trust in the system at all.”Curr...

Letters: Awaiting resolution of charges against ex-president … before the election

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:01:34 GMT

Awaiting resolutionI may be naive, but I expect my government officials, including those who are running for election, to prioritize the needs of American citizens over their own. As an independent with no affiliation to a political party, I need to know if Mr. Trump is not guilty or guilty before I vote.As an American, I believe in the integrity of the American judicial system so I am anxiously awaiting resolution of the charges made against our ex-president regardless of the outcome. Any unnecessary delays, even if legal, by either the Manhattan District Attorney Bragg or by ex-president Trump will indicate the true priorities held by these public servants.Angela Strantz, Mahtomedi Very specificI would like to point out that Article VII, Section 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution states: ”The assembly shall have the power of impeaching all civil officers of this state for corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes and misdemeanors; but a majority of all the members elected shall c...

Ask Amy: Caregiving duties create sibling resentment

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:01:34 GMT

Dear Amy: My husband’s mother and sister recently moved to our city, and it’s been bumpy.I’m hoping you might weigh in on a disagreement that’s sprung up.My mother-in-law has some chronic health issues.His sister, “Jackie,” is single and is currently living with their mother.Jackie works from home and has a fairly flexible schedule.My husband and I have two toddlers. We both work long hours out of the house.My husband and Jackie have struggled to find a reasonable balance of care for their mother.She doesn’t need daily care, but she does have frequent doctors’ appointments and doesn’t like to drive.Jackie thinks that she and my husband should split the load 50/50.My husband feels this would be equal, but not equitable.He has a lot of responsibilities at home with our children, in addition to a much more demanding work schedule than Jackie’s.Related ArticlesAsk Amy | Ask Amy: Retired teachers not fans of loan forgiveness Ask Amy | Ask Amy: Online match beco...

Horoscopes April 9, 2023: Kristen Stewart, keep things simple

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:01:34 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Elle Fanning, 25; Kristen Stewart, 33; Leighton Meester, 37; Dennis Quaid, 69.Elle Fanning (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images) Happy Birthday: Let your entrepreneurial side take over. Be the pioneer that excites everyone with your rhetoric and see what unfolds. Opportunity knocks this year, but you must be willing to take advantage of what’s on the table. Surround yourself with people who are concerned about the same things you are and who want to band together and make a difference. Be direct, keep things simple and do your part. Your numbers are 9, 17, 21, 27, 32, 34, 40.ARIES (March 21-April 19): You have the drive to get things started, but don’t fall short because you can’t finish what you start. Ask someone you trust to pick up where you left off. It’s better to share the glory rather than let things fall apart. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t take on too much. Others may count on you, but you’ll fall ...

Word Game: April 9, 2023

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:01:34 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — BLUNDERBUSS (BLUNDERBUSS: BLUN-der-bus: A foolish or careless person.)Average mark 55 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 73 or more words in BLUNDERBUSS?TODAY’S WORD — BLUNDERBUSS bend bled blend bless blue bluer blues blunder blur blurb bred bulb bund bundle burble burden burl burn bused buss lend lens less lubber lube lues lune lure under undress undue unless unsure unused used user nerd ness nubble nude nurse dress drub dubber duel dues dulse dune duress rebus rend rubbed rubble rube ruble rude rued rule rundle rune ruse send sled slub snub subbed subdue suburb sued suer sunder surd sureTo 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 u...

Bridge: April 9, 2023

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:01:34 GMT

“Don’t listen to my cousin the Queen of Diamonds,” the Queen of Hearts said menacingly to Alice. “She says that losing a trick can be better than winning one. What nonsense.”At the game at the Mad Hatter’s, the Red Queens had bickered about who was greater.“I’m the most powerful card in Wonderland,” the Queen of Hearts insisted. “No ace or king dares capture me.”“Of course, your majesty,” Alice sighed.“Let’s have another deal and I’ll show you.”The Dormouse, East, dealt and opened four clubs, and after two passes, North, the Hatter, doubled. Alice took out to four hearts, passed out. West, the March Hare, led the ace of clubs, next the jack of diamonds.Alice won and cashed the A-K of trumps.“Off with her head!” the Queen of Hearts roared. “She let my card be captured.”Alice next led a spade to her queen, and West won and led another diamond to dummy. Alice th...

Elon Musk Wants to Cut Your Social Security Because He Doesn’t Understand Math

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:01:34 GMT

Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., departs court in San Francisco, California, on Jan. 24, 2023.Photo: Marlena Sloss/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesIf there’s one thing you can say for sure about Elon Musk, it’s that he has a huge number of opinions and loves to share them at high volume with the world. The problem here is that his opinions are often stunningly wrong.Generally, these stunningly wrong opinions are the conventional wisdom among the ultra-right and ultra-rich.In particular, like most of the ultra-right ultra-rich, Musk is desperately concerned that the U.S. is about to be overwhelmed by the costs of Social Security and Medicare.He’s previously tweeted — in response to the Christian evangelical humor site Babylon Bee — that “True national debt, including unfunded entitlements, is at least $60 trillion.” On the one hand, this is arguably true. On the other hand, you will understand it’s not a problem if you are familiar with 1) this subject and 2) b...

Germany: Hamburg fire smoke halts trains, generates warning

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:01:34 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Police warned people in Hamburg, Germany, to close their windows early Sunday after a large fire that engulfed several warehouses sent black, chemical-laden smoke drifting over the city.German news agency dpa said the fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. in the Rothenburgsort district, located in the eastern part of Germany’s second-largest city. The smoke drifted from there toward the city center, halting long-distance trains between Hamburg and Berlin and other cities. A public safety alert conveyed through a mobile phone app advised people in Hamburg to close windows, turn off ventilation and air conditioning, and to avoid the area. No injuries were reported.Public broadcaster NDR said the fire involved containers with hydrogen sulfide, a toxic and foul-smelling substance, forcing firefighters and police officers in the area to wear breathing apparatus.Source