A Summer of Climate Disasters

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 03:41
Climate change has made extreme weather increasingly normal.
Categories: Local News

The five Bay Area cities that set all-time heat records on Sept. 6

San Jose Mercury - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 03:39

Five Bay Area cities broke or tied their all-time high temperature records on Tuesday — including Livermore, which had just broken its 72-year-old record on Monday.

Three other locations set records for the date, the National Weather Service said.

On Monday, Gilroy and Santa Rosa had set records for September — and they broke those on Tuesday.

The all-time records:

Livermore, 116. Tied the record it set Monday.

Santa Rosa, 115. Previous all-time record 113 (1913). Previous September record 112 (Sept. 5, 2022).

Napa, 114. Previous all-time record 113 (1961). Previous September record 111 (2020).

Redwood City, 110. Tied all-time record (1972) and broke September record of 108 (2017).

San Jose, 109. Previous all-time and September record 108 (2017).

The records for Sept. 6:

Gilroy, 113. Previously 112 for the date (2020) and for September (tie: Sept. 6, 2020, and Sept. 5, 2022).

San Jose airport, 109. Previously 105 (2020).

Half Moon Bay, 81. Previously 80 (2004).

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Categories: Local News

Horoscopes Sept. 7, 2022: Evan Rachel Wood, trust your instincts

San Jose Mercury - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 03:00

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Evan Rachel Wood, 35; Shannon Elizabeth, 49; Toby Jones, 56; Michael Emerson, 68.

Happy Birthday: Idle time is the enemy. A tight schedule jam-packed with deadlines will keep you moving forward and excited about life, love and your overall well-being. Trust your instincts and know when to sprint and when to sit back and regenerate. Your ability to read situations clearly will encourage you to help others. Mix business with pleasure, and you’ll surpass expectations. Your numbers are 2, 14, 20, 26, 31, 33, 46.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your hard work will pay off, and what you gain in the process will motivate you to keep moving forward. The confidence you earn and the backing of influential people will lead to better days ahead. Progress and rewards are heading your way. 4 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Indecisiveness will be your downfall. Put time and effort into fact-finding and assessing situations. Decisions will factor into how much respect you receive from others. Don’t let your emotions interfere with doing what’s right and best for you. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’ve got momentum; don’t look back or slow down. Keep your eye on the target, and you’ll reach your destination on time and with a healthy attitude. Don’t be shy; recognize your strengths and accept credit where credit is due. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Handle domestic and financial matters carefully. Be practical and ready to say no to anyone looking for a handout. Offer suggestions and physical assistance, but don’t pay for someone else’s mistake. Protect your home, family and position. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Put more emphasis on finding the truth and taking care of anything that may stand between you and whatever you want to pursue. Listen to what’s being said and offered, and mastermind a way to use this information to your advantage. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Have a plan in place. High energy coupled with intuition and getting along well with others will get you where you want to go. Don’t let anger or frustration stand between you and your dreams. Face situations head-on and play to win. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Speak passionately and pursue your goals. Share with someone you look up to, and the input you receive will enrich your vision. Don’t let disappointment set in if someone decides to head in a different direction. Do what’s best for you. 5 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Do what you must, then move on to something more pleasurable. Rewarding yourself will give you the boost you need to trust and believe in yourself and what you want to pursue. A partnership will provide you with the leverage to explore possibilities. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take on a cause and do your best to make a difference. Consider what’s possible, and apply your skills to meet the demands you encounter. Enthusiasm and high energy will help you set the pace and standard for others to follow. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t give up. If you are a good listener, you will gain insight into what’s possible. Play with the facts and figures, and you’ll find a workable solution. Live within your means, and promise only what you can deliver. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put your energy into something that will make you feel good about who you are and how you live. Fixing up your surroundings will give you a boost, but don’t let it result in debt. Monitor your spending and search for bargains. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Sort through your thoughts and feelings before you share them with others. It’s essential to understand what’s possible before you make promises. Personal improvements require patience and planning. Leave nothing to chance or in someone else’s hands. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are high-energy, persistent and thoughtful. You are engaging and friendly.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters

Categories: Local News

Word Game: Sept. 7, 2022

San Jose Mercury - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 03:00

TODAY’S WORD — SCARIFIES (SCARIFIES: SKER-ih-fize: Makes scratches or small cuts in.)

Average mark 30 words

Time limit 40 minutes

Can you find 38 or more words in SCARIFIES? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — ENLIST nest lenis lens lent lest lien line lint list listen lite inlet inset isle islet sent silent silt sine site slit snit stein stile tile tine tinsel

To 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 kzsaxe@gmail.com.

Categories: Local News

Bridge: Sept. 7, 2022

San Jose Mercury - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 03:00

I once wrote a column with a math puzzle: Imagine a 3000-mile metal strip, flat on the ground. Insert one inch of metal so that the strip arches like a rainbow. At the midpoint, how high would it rise?

I gave an answer of about 800 feet. But some readers said I had not accounted for the earth’s curvature. A couple said I must belong to the Flat Earth Society.

I am more sure of South’s correct play at today’s four hearts. (North might have bid two hearts but was reluctant to offer a psychologically encouraging raise with a poor hand.)

UNABLE

South took the ace of diamonds and led a trump: three, queen, king. He ruffed the next diamond and, unable to reach dummy, led a trump from his hand. East took the ten and ace, and West got a spade later.

South’s play was wrong. If trumps break 2-2, his play is moot. But if East has three, South should play low from his hand on the first trump. He loses if West has a singleton ten but gains if West has a singleton king or ace.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q 10 5 4 H K D 10 9 8 3 2 C 7 6 4. Neither side vulnerable. The dealer, at your left, opens one heart. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your opponent’s three hearts is preemptive; with a good hand, he could have redoubled. With Q1084,2,109832,K64, you might barely justify a bid of three spades, but the king of hearts in your actual hand is probably worthless for offense. Pass.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S 9 8 6 3

H 9 5 2

D A J 4

C J 10 8

WEST

S Q 10 5 4

H K

D 10 9 8 3 2

C 7 6 4

EAST

S J 7

H A 10 3

D K Q 7 6

C 9 5 3 2

SOUTH

S A K 2

H Q J 8 7 6 4

D 5

C A K Q

South West North East
1 H Pass 1 NT Pass
4 H All Pass
Opening lead — D 10

©2022 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Categories: Local News

A Nuclear Power Plant on Ukraine’s Front Lines

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 03:00
Fighting at the Zaporizhzhia facility has become a critical flash point in the war, setting off a race to prevent disaster.
Categories: Local News

Blackpool Shows Challenges for New U.K. Leader Liz Truss

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:34
Blackpool contains one of the most deprived areas to turn to the Conservatives in Britain’s last general election. But with costs rising, there are already signs of cracks in that support.
Categories: Local News

Ask Amy: I’m so angry at being subjected to her condescending tone

San Jose Mercury - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:30

Dear Amy: I am soon to be 75. I am physically and mentally healthy.

This week I spent a grueling 90 minutes with my dental hygienist.

It was grueling because she spoke to me using patronizing and condescending tone and language. I interpret this as ageism and elderspeak.

I felt demeaned, belittled and angry.

She has been my hygienist for years and she is excellent. She may not even realize what she is doing.

I wanted to say something, but part of me says that this is small potatoes on the plate of life. But I dread seeing her again.

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As an RN, I am also a health care professional. How we speak to those in our care is important. We need to communicate in a respectful manner.

Your advice?

No Plaque

Dear No Plaque: It is nearly impossible to respond verbally when you’re having your teeth cleaned. And I agree about small potatoes on the plate of life.

However, you have already expressed feeling dread about your next appointment.

This is having an impact on your health care.

You should contact the office manager and/or owner of the practice.

Give your hygienist all the praise she deserves, and then accurately state your experience at your most recent appointment.

The dental practice should retrain all staff about how to communicate effectively with patients.

Dear Amy: My spouse, “D,” and I have been happily married (second marriages) for 25 years. We have adult children and grandchildren and are a very happy family.

D is a paper hoarder. It accumulates in big piles because D is unable to make decisions.

D’s small office is a labyrinth of paper piles that fall over and slither across the floor. The bookshelves are packed.

Because the office is basically unusable, the dining room table becomes a substitute desk.

Our basement is full of moldy boxes mostly full of paper stuff. Under beds and an unused bedroom are likewise filling up.

I keep ahead of the paper elsewhere in the house, putting it in D’s office to keep the other rooms clear. I intercept the mail so I can throw away the junk immediately.

Bringing this up elicits a lot of anger or passive resistance.

We have hired organizers, but my experience is that the current piles get thinned and filed (slowly and over days), but there is no concurrent retraining, and the piles just grow again.

D experiences a lot of frustration when needed stuff can’t be found, and often important documents or mail disappear into the piles, with bills not being paid, etc.

I need advice on how to help with this and to protect myself and our house from the paper avalanche. I worry about fire and bugs but more about D’s happiness.

Buried

Dear Buried: Any “decluttering” will only provide a temporary respite — but the positive news is that D is somewhat cooperative, although you can see the anxiety brought on by both the problem and its consequences.

Hoarding disorder is a serious and persistent disorder that has been linked to anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

You and D should switch all of your accounts to have online access, in order to have your bill paying, utilities, banking and retirement accounts accessible to both of you at all times — and paperless. This will decrease the amount of paper coming into the house, and should keep both of you on track with bill paying, greatly reducing frustration.

You should not shame or blame D, but recognize hoarding as a serious challenge. Some hoarders respond to a “harm reduction” strategy, versus a focus on simply getting rid of things: “I’m worried about fire. Can we work together to reduce the paper by one-third to reduce the risk to our house?”

Two helpful resources for family members of hoarders: Hoarding.iocdf.org, and the book “Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding, and Compulsive Acquiring,” by two clinicians who deal with this family challenge: Michael A. Tompkins and Tamara L. Hartl (2009, New Harbinger).

Dear Amy: As a psychologist for the past 40 years, I would like to compliment you on your excellent response to “Wondering,” who had been abused by her sister as a child.

Your list of the benefits of therapy were very comprehensive.

I would add only one more: If she is triggered in the present by anything that causes intrusive thoughts, memories or images of the past abuse, there are cognitive-behavioral strategies to eliminate or reduce these.

Alan Sirota, Ph.D

Dear Alan: Thank you for your input.

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You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.

Categories: Local News

Mike Preston: A healthy J.K. Dobbins would heal the Ravens’ running game | COMMENTARY

San Jose Mercury - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:24

In three preseason games, the Ravens didn’t produce a dominant runner. That does not bode well for an offense that is centered around the running game, and it only adds to the intrigue of J.K. Dobbins’ return to the starting lineup.

The problem? Nobody knows exactly when he will return. Coach John Harbaugh has kept a veil of secrecy around Dobbins’ knee injury and recovery from a torn ACL over the last year. Still, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t start Sunday in the season opener against the New York Jets.

The Ravens’ rushing attack needs a lift. It hasn’t been its usual self since 2020, and in the preseason — without Dobbins — Baltimore ran for 226 yards on 71 carries, or 3.18 yards per carry. That’s not good enough.

Dobbins’ return is only rivaled by the comeback of Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, which would give much-needed stability to the offensive line. Stanley, who is recovering from multiple ankle surgeries after his initial injury in November 2020, returned to full-team workouts Monday.

“It just depends on how he’s doing,” Harbaugh said of Stanley on Monday before giving an overall assessment of recovering injured players after a three-day layoff from practice. “A lot of it has to do with how he’s feeling and if he’s ready to go. If he feels strong, if he’s moving and feels like he can be successful, and if we see what we need to see. Same thing with J.K., [cornerback] Marcus [Peters] or any of those guys.”

One thing that’s certain: It will be hard for the Ravens to win without either one.

“J.K. has looked better every day, he looks good,” Harbaugh said after practice last Wednesday. “His quickness is kind of back.”

Kind of? That raises alarm bells. Years ago, knee injuries basically took two years to heal, but recent advances in surgery, technology and rehabilitation have closed the window to one.

However, some players heal faster than others, and we’re not privy to the extent of Dobbins’ injury. Until he plays a game, there is still a certain degree of uncertainty that he can be back to his old self and handle the wear-and-tear of an NFL season.

Games are brutal for all NFL players, but especially running backs because of the consistent body blows and the hard cuts they make to get past defenders.

That’s why the Ravens have been so patient with Dobbins. They can’t afford to have their 2020 second-round draft pick out of the lineup for another season. Last year, when Dobbins and backup Gus Edwards (knee) suffered season-ending injuries before Week 1, the Ravens brought in veterans Devonta Freeman (133 carries for 576 yards) and Latavius Murray (119 carries for 501 yards). They were serviceable replacements, but they couldn’t deliver big plays.

As insurance, the Ravens have added veterans Mike Davis and Kenyan Drake this season, but Dobbins has a combination of speed and power they simply don’t possess. He isn’t a home run hitter, but he can produce an occasional big gain. There is a suddenness to his game that provides the Ravens with another outside threat alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson.

In an offense that is centered around running the ball, Jackson and Dobbins are the bread and butter.

As a rookie in 2020, Dobbins rushed for 805 yards on 134 carries and scored nine touchdowns. He was expected to become one of the top running backs in the league last season once he improved as a receiver out of the backfield.

But the injury in the preseason finale against Washington delayed that rise to stardom. Now, Dobbins appears ready to make the leap. During training camp, Dobbins was clearly agitated by being held out of practices, but he performed well in drills.

If he gets on the field against the Jets, that will be a major step in his return. Another will be having three or four strong games in a row. If he can develop as a pass catcher, he will be a better player than he was before the knee injury.

But there are a lot of ifs, which makes Dobbins so intriguing. If he plays as well as he did as a rookie, Dobbins will have healed both himself and the Ravens’ running game.

()

Categories: Local News

An 11-Year-Old Geneva Schoolgirl Is Making a Name for Herself in Watches

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:10
A Geneva schoolgirl has spent the last year charming the industry with her online opinions about timepieces.
Categories: Local News

Finding Peace on a River Float in Texas

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:00
From the center of an inner tube drifting down the slow-moving Guadalupe, in Texas, life looks good.
Categories: Local News

5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Alice Coltrane

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:00
We asked writers, critics and musicians including Meshell Ndegeocello and Angel Bat Dawid to tell us what moves them in Coltrane’s spiritual jazz.
Categories: Local News

Sir Tom Stoppard Returns to New York With ‘Leopoldstadt’

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:00
After years of living “as if without history,” the playwright belatedly reckons with his Jewish roots, and his guilt, in “Leopoldstadt,” his most autobiographical play.
Categories: Local News

Democrats Fret as Stacey Abrams Struggles in Georgia Governor’s Race

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:00
She has been trailing her Republican rival, Gov. Brian Kemp, alarming Democrats who have celebrated her as the master strategist behind the state’s Democratic shift.
Categories: Local News

At Head Start, Masks Remain On, Despite CDC Guidelines

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:00
Some of the nation’s poorest pre-K students are the last still under mask mandates, affecting enrollment.
Categories: Local News

Harriette Cole: When his shoes come off, I can’t stand it

San Jose Mercury - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:00

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently started dating a man who is very sweet and thoughtful. He takes me out to nice places and always brings me home.

He often comes in and sits down to watch TV or something before heading home. He is sweet and kind. When we are sitting on the couch, he often takes off his shoes, and that’s when the problem starts.

His feet stink. For real. It looks like his socks are clean, so it’s not a cleanliness issue — at least to my knowledge. But when those socks come off, I nearly gag.

He has been single for a long time. I wonder how well he tends to himself.

Again, he seems clean, but who can tell? Should I say something? I really can’t stand the smell.

Smelly Feet

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DEAR SMELLY FEET: You could be right. As sweet as this man is, he may not be aware of his hygiene deficiency.

This is not a reason to distance yourself from him. Your speaking up may bring you closer.

Yes, you should talk to him. Tell him you have noticed that when he takes off his shoes, his feet smell. Ask him how he takes care of his feet. Treat him to a couples pedicure if you like that kind of thing. After that, see if the smell goes away.

Yes, it will be awkward at first when you bring it up. But you have to address it and hopefully get him to pay closer attention.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mother-in-law has dementia, and she recently suffered a massive stroke. She is not doing well. We have hired around-the-clock care for her and are even paying my husband’s sister to lend an extra hand.

As my mother-in-law’s condition worsens, my sister-in-law and the nurse we hired have had to take on more responsibility.

Understandably, we had to up the nurse’s pay in order to keep her. My sister-in-law found out about this and is now demanding higher pay as well.

I can’t understand why she feels entitled to a raise for taking care of her own dying mother.

She is not my mother, but I am paying out of pocket to make sure she is receiving the best end-of-life care that she can get. Are we wrong for refusing to pay her more?

Selfish Sister-in-Law

DEAR SELFISH SISTER-IN-LAW: Tensions fly high during times like this. Do your best not to lash out at your sister-in-law — even though it may seem as if she is not looking at the big picture.

If possible, it would be good for your husband, her brother, to speak to her. If not, it will be your job.

What she needs to understand is that now is the time for everyone to do their part. For whatever reason, she has enough spare time right now to care for her mother. That is the way that she can be present and support her in her last days. Of course it is hard, but that is what her station in life calls for right now.

You and your husband have the monetary resources to allow you to pay for professional support for this period. That can be exorbitantly expensive. If that nurse were not there, it is unlikely that your sister-in-law would be able to properly care for your mother. Remind her of these things.

Point out that you all love her mom, and everyone is serving a different role. Her contribution is time. Yours and your husband’s is financial — and hopefully some time, too. Refresh her memory that you are already giving her money for her time, but resources are limited.

Ask her to understand where everyone is and to stay the course. Thank her profusely for her support of her mother.

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Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Categories: Local News

Trump Special Master Ruling Lifts Profile of Judge Aileen Cannon

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:00
Judge Aileen M. Cannon has issued the first highly scrutinized ruling of her short judicial career, involving the person who put her on the bench: former President Donald J. Trump.
Categories: Local News

How Russian Natural Gas Exports to Europe Have Changed Since the War

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:00
The fuel that once flowed freely has been abruptly reduced, sending prices soaring and forcing European governments to struggle for solutions.
Categories: Local News

Is the Democratic Midterm Surge Overrated? Why Republicans Can Still Win the House and Senate.

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:00
The Dobbs ruling and falling gas prices may have shifted the narrative. But the G.O.P.’s chances in the midterms still look good.
Categories: Local News

How Michigan Resisted Far Right Extremism

N.Y. Times - Wed, 09/07/2022 - 02:00
Michigan may hold lessons for residents of other states looking to withstand the tide of authoritarianism and violence.
Categories: Local News

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