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Lucas: Biden gives China plenty of room to flex

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:27:38 GMT

Here’s the deal.Joe Biden should promise not to invade Cuba if Xi Jinping promises not to invade Taiwan.Taiwan is a thriving democracy and an economic powerhouse of 24 million people. Cuba is a communist police state and an economic basket case of 11 million people, half of whom wish they lived in Florida.Taiwan, supported by the US, is 100 miles off the coast of mainland China. Cuba, now supported by China, is 100 miles off the coast of the US.But given the cool reception the Chinese Communist Party Leader provided for U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken — our appeasing Neville Chamberlain — in Beijing, XI most likely would turn down the deal.Blinken could not even get Xi to agree to resume military to military communications — a top US priority — that were cut off after the Chinese spy balloon gathering military intelligence was shot down after traversing the US for a week.President Biden, at a fundraiser Tuesday night, said Xi was embarrassed by recent tensions over the ...

Chicago White Sox drop series finale 6-3 to Texas Rangers, their 8th loss in 11 games

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:27:38 GMT

Michael Kopech didn’t allow a hit until there were two outs in the third inning.After the fourth inning, he was out of the game.A high pitch count factored in manager Pedro Grifol’s decision to make a pitching change for the fifth in the 6-3 loss to the Texas Rangers in front of 18,963 on Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.“He’s thrown a lot,” Grifol said. “He had to work hard in those four innings (throwing 86 pitches). I just decided it’s one of those games where I’m going to give him a break. Instead of running him up to 100-105 (pitches). He wanted to go back out. He was good. Strong. But it was one of those games I’m going to give him a break today. He’s got six days of rest. Regroup and get back after it.”Kopech allowed three runs on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks in his shortest outing of the season in terms of innings and pitches.“If we didn’t have a day off tomorrow and if we didn&...

Jennifer Lawrence makes comedy ‘No Hard Feelings’ worth seeing

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:27:38 GMT

Since critics raved about Jennifer Lawrence as the protective older sister in Debra Granik’s 2010 Ozark Mountain-set “Winter’s Bone,” it is has been gratifying following her arc. She was in an “X-Men” film a year later (and several others since) and then played Katniss Everdeen in those dreadful “Hunger Games” movies. But Lawrence also picked up an Academy Award for David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012) and was nominated for another one in Russell’s “American Hustle” (2013). She stumbled somewhat in the deeply flawed sci-fi effort “Passengers” (22016) opposite Chris Pratt and in Darren Aronofsky’s over-the-top “Mother!” (2017) (she and auteur Aronofsky were a couple for a hot minute). Since then, she has appeared in Adam McKay’s important, if not very good “Don’t Look Up” (2021) and Lila Neugebauer’s heartfelt, war-veterans drama “Causeway” (2022).Now, she plays hard luck Maddie Barker in Kiev-born director Gene Stupnitsk...

Celtics trade franchise cornerstone Marcus Smart in stunning move to salvage Kristaps Porzingis deal

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:27:38 GMT

The Celtics acquired Kristaps Porzingis after all.But Celtics fans will wake up on Thursday morning spitting out their coffee when they learn how it got done.A brief hitch in the talks threatened to collapse the Porzingis three-team trade that would have sent Malcolm Brogdon to the Clippers. Instead, the Celtics pivoted and Brad Stevens struck one of the most stunning trades in team history, reportedly sending franchise cornerstone Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies in a revamped three-team deal that sent shockwaves throughout the league and shook Boston’s core as the clock struck midnight.The Celtics got the man they coveted all along in Porzingis, the Wizards’ 7-foot-3 unicorn but it came at a higher price and different framework than they expected. Initially, the reported trade sent Brogdon to the Clippers and players and draft compensation to the Wizards. But that deal fell apart shortly after 10 p.m., reportedly because the Clippers raised concerns about Brogdon’s injury status afte...

Editorial: How did kids in Southie squalor slip into cracks?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:27:38 GMT

The four children taken into state custody after they were found a South Boston apartment with a dead man are unwilling members of an unenviable club: youngsters whose suffering was kept behind closed doors until discovery by first responders.A fire department report, obtained by the Herald, states that a Boston Fire Department crew was sent to Old Colony Avenue Saturday morning for a call that a man had gone into cardiac arrest and required medical attention. That address is the city-run Mary Ellen McCormack Housing complex.Firefighters found more than just a medical emergency: four children, 5 to 10 years old,  in “extremely unsanitary conditions”  in a back bedroom where an adult male was in the process of hiding them. The children were also in the presence of alcohol, drugs, and sex toys, according a city official.What if there hadn’t been a medical emergency requiring outside help? It doesn’t bear thinking about.This harkens to the infamous Turpin family case which ...

Summer makeup all about fresh, bright pops of color

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:27:38 GMT

It doesn’t seem like summer’s really in full swing yet – you need loads of sunny days for that. But even with rain in our forecast, we can still dive into the seasonal vibes.Wear shades even if it’s only a little sunny. Don wide-brimmed straw hats to the grocery store. And most of all, employ all of those gorgeous colors in your makeup arsenal. They’re straight from the gardens where you’d normally be lounging. That means bright orange lip glosses and light blue nail polishes reminiscent of forget-me-nots, and hot fuchsia lip oils.Don’t give up on summer – the clouds will pass. And when they do, you’ll be way ahead of the game with these bright hues.Kick things off with The Nail Artist Polish ($30 on emilieheathe.com) in a delicate powder blue shade called Riviera. Inspired by refreshing Mediterranean waters —the polish has a subtle silver shimmer with extra glimmer of light. The non-toxic formula is enhanced with all kinds of goodies to kee...

Lowry: Tim Scott squares off against Obama on race narrative

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:27:38 GMT

Barack Obama doesn’t want America validated, at least not by the wrong people.In taking a shot at Republicans Tim Scott and Nikki Haley, Obama told his former campaign manager, David Axelrod, in a podcast interview, “I think there’s a long history of African American or other minority candidates within the Republican Party who will validate America and say, ‘Everything’s great, and we can make it.'”And who would want that dangerous message spreading across the land?Citing America’s racial history, Obama said: “If somebody is not proposing, both acknowledging and proposing elements that say, ‘No, we can’t just ignore all that and pretend as if everything’s equal and fair. We actually have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.’ If they’re not doing that, then I think people are rightly skeptical.”Obama’s statement was a classic expression of the disdain that progressives feel for minority ...

Dear Abby: Unhappy husband wants life with younger GF

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:27:38 GMT

Dear Abby: I met my wife in college. We have been married for 40 years and have two adult sons. My wife had a brief affair early in our marriage, but we have long since moved on from that. However, increasingly over the last 15 years, my wife (career homemaker, her choice) has been aggressively making demands in exchange for anything she does for me — i.e., if I don’t buy her something, she won’t cook dinner, do laundry or have sex.I buy her things all the time, and I give her an allowance, roughly 70% of my take-home pay. Some of her demands I simply cannot afford, so I often cook, clean, etc., myself. As a result, we haven’t had sex in more than 10 years.Two years ago, I met a younger woman. She is also married, although separated. She still shares a home with her husband and their two children. We meet as often as we can and I find her delightful and easy to get along with. Lately, she has been saying she wants us to leave our situations and get married.My...

GOP’s Boebert wanted to impeach Biden, but House Speaker McCarthy had other plans

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:27:38 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A surprise effort by hard-right House Republicans to impeach President Joe Biden has been sidelined for now, but the ability of GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert to force the issue to a House vote demonstrates the ever-escalating challenge Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces in controlling his Republican majority.The impeachment resolution, which charges Biden with “high crimes and misdemeanors” over his handling of the U.S. border with Mexico, angered GOP colleagues who were caught off guard by the unscripted move. Even though it was not expected to pass Thursday, the vote would have been politically tough for GOP lawmakers and a potentially embarrassing spectacle for McCarthy, splitting his party.Instead, McCarthy negotiated a deal with Boebert, the Colorado Republican, to send the Biden impeachment resolution for review to the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees, fending off a vote for some time.“I think it’s best for everybody,” McCarthy told reporters late Wednesday. Bu...

Stock market today: Asian shares mixed after Fed chair inflation comments

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:27:38 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were trading mixed Thursday following a retreat on Wall Street after the Federal Reserve chair made comments that indicated inflation still isn’t under control. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 was flat at 33,575.63. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 1.6% to 7,196.10. South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.4% to 2,593.20. Trading was closed in Hong Kong and Shanghai for Dragon Boat Festival, a national holiday. Shares rose in India.The Chinese markets being closed brought a break from jitters about possible renewed tensions in the U.S.-China relationship after President Joe Biden referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a dictator. That pushed “back against the idea that the U.S.-China relationship could be warming with Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit,” said Yeap Jun Rong, market analyst at IG.Blinken was in Beijing recently where both sides agreed to “stabilize” badly deteriorated ties. But Blinken said China was not ready to resu...