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Bridge: Aug. 16, 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:54 GMT

“Are they really `bad’ habits if you enjoy indulging in them?” — graffiti.Declarer couldn’t have enjoyed the result in today’s deal. North-South bid easily to slam, stopping at the six level when North could show only one ace in response to South’s 4NT Blackwood inquiry. West led the nine of clubs, and South won in dummy and promptly led a trump. East took his ace and even more promptly returned a club, and West ruffed for down one.South grumbled about his misfortune, but a lot of players have the habits (all bad) of (1) playing too fast; (2) drawing trumps too soon and (3) failing to anticipate trouble.CONCERNSince only a club ruff can defeat the slam, and since West’s lead red-flags that possibility, South should lead a spade to his ace at Trick Two, then take the ace of diamonds and ruff his low diamond in dummy.South next takes the king of spades to discard his last low club. Having eliminated the danger of the club ruff, he can sa...

Horoscopes Aug. 16, 2023: Angela Bassett, distance yourself from chaos

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:54 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Cameron Monaghan, 30; Steve Carell, 61; Angela Bassett, 65; Madonna, 65.Happy Birthday: Expect to face ups and downs this year. Refuse to let temptation win or your dreams slip away. Shake off negativity, and don’t let the changes or decisions others make alter your plans. Be true to yourself and dedicated to your beliefs, and don’t skip a beat when deciding what’s best for you. Take the journey that leads to personal growth, and distance yourself from chaos. Your numbers are 8, 19, 23, 27, 31, 38, 43.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Pay attention to how you present yourself to the world. Go the extra mile and dress for success. Socialize, interact with people heading in a direction that interests you and expand your knowledge and circle to suit your needs. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take a breather, give yourself time to think and map out your plans. Preparation will make the difference when it comes to reaching your goal. Look at wha...

Corea del Norte dice que tiene al soldado estadounidense Travis King. ¿Qué pasará ahora?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:54 GMT

(CNN) — La primera confirmación pública de Corea del Norte de que un soldado estadounidense ingresó a su territorio en julio provocó un llamado de su familia para que lo traten con humanidad, ya que aún quedan dudas sobre por qué ingresó a uno de los países más hostiles de la Tierra en un momento de mayores tensiones en la península.Funcionarios estadounidenses dicen que el soldado estadounidense Travis King “deliberadamente y sin autorización” cruzó a Corea del Norte el 18 de julio, mientras realizaba un recorrido civil por el Área de Seguridad Conjunta (JSA), una pequeña colección de edificios dentro de la zona desmilitarizada (DMZ) de 240 kilómetros de largo que ha separado a Corea del Norte y Corea del Sur desde el final de la Guerra de Corea en 1953.No hay una barrera física dentro de la JSA, y un funcionario estadounidense dijo que después de cruzar la línea de demarcación que delimita la frontera, King intentó ingresar a una instalación de Corea del Norte, p...

Crown Crafts: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:54 GMT

GONZALES, La. (AP) — GONZALES, La. (AP) — Crown Crafts Inc. (CRWS) on Wednesday reported net income of $366,000 in its fiscal first quarter.On a per-share basis, the Gonzales, Louisiana-based company said it had profit of 4 cents.The maker of children’s products posted revenue of $17.1 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CRWS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CRWSSource

Duke thrived in Mike Elko’s debut season. A tough schedule will be a Year 2 obstacle

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:54 GMT

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Mike Elko had a fast start in reviving Duke’s teetering program. The challenge in Year 2 is building on success while facing a schedule that will make it difficult to show gains in the Atlantic Coast Conference.The Blue Devils (9-4, 5-3 ACC) nearly matched their win total (10) of the last three seasons under David Cutcliffe, whose program had faded after a lengthy run of success. Elko led the Blue Devils to their best win total in eight years while its four losses were by a combined 16 points.There’s reason for optimism with eight offensive and defensive starters back, including rising quarterback Riley Leonard. But a schedule featuring ninth-ranked league favorite Clemson and No. 8 Florida State in a new division-less ACC along with No. 13 Notre Dame will test that.“Everything this offseason has just been about elevation, and we didn’t come in to have one good season,” Elko said. “We didn’t come in to have one positive moment and then kind of let it ...

Georgia Tech’s Brent Key aims high following encouraging 4-4 introduction

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:54 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Tech’s string of four consecutive losing seasons may have made Brent Key’s 4-4 record after taking over for Geoff Collins last season look promising to some observers.Key wasn’t impressed. The former Georgia Tech lineman and offensive assistant who took over as interim coach before landing the full-time job wants to make it clear he’s aiming higher than .500. Key, entering his first full season as the Yellow Jackets’ coach, wants Georgia Tech to be bowl-eligible for the first time since 2018.Georgia Tech’s encouraging finish under Key included road wins over two Top 25 teams, Pittsburgh and North Carolina.“I was extremely proud of those guys for some of the things they overcame, the way they worked,” Key said. “But there’s not … one guy on our team that tells you that 4-4 is acceptable. Let’s be real. We finished 4-4. That’s .500. That doesn’t get you anything in this game nowadays. It really doesn’t.”Georgia Tech, 1-3...

Wake Forest hopes a new QB and restocked lineup keep Demon Deacons rolling along

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:54 GMT

Much of Wake Forest’s recent identity had been tied to Sam Hartman leading a passing attack so prolific that it carried the Demon Deacons to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game and top-10 national rankings.Now it’s Mitch Griffis’ turn to lead the offense for a team facing the latest test of its ability to develop talent and restock the depth chart with players ready to contribute.The Demon Deacons (8-5, 3-5 ACC in 2022) return five offensive starters and four on defense with numerous losses, none more glaring than Hartman’s transfer to Notre Dame. Yet under Dave Clawson, Wake Forest has been a consistent winner, including 19 the past two seasons.“We have guys that maybe haven’t played a lot,” the 10th-year coach said, “but they’ve been in our program for three, four, five years, and now they’re having their opportunity to play. ”That’s why Clawson has confidence despite losing a talent like two-time 1,000-yard receiver A.T....

Coach Dino Babers and Syracuse had holes to fill on the roster and the staff to get ready for season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:54 GMT

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Syracuse is carrying plenty of momentum into the 2023 season. Some of it, unfortunately, is heading in the wrong direction for head coach Dino Babers.Entering his eighth season, Babers has been challenged to fill several key holes on both his roster and staff following a year in which the Orange turned an encouraging and unexpected 6-0 start into a 7-6 finish, ending with a loss to Minnesota in the Pinstripe Bowl.While the bowl berth and winning record were the Atlantic Coast Conference program’s first since 2018, and the Orange climbed as high as No. 14 in the rankings, their second-half flop is what stands out, with injuries and a stiffer schedule playing contributing factors.The ups then downs led to athletic director John Wildhack having to answer what’s become a familiar offseason question regarding the long-term status of Babers, who is believed to be signed through 2024.“If we have success in 2023 and beyond, I hope coach Babers is here for a long time,”...

NC State won with defense last year. Now the Wolfpack’s new offense will take center stage

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:54 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State relied on defense to get through a season in which its offense started four quarterbacks due to injuries. Both units look different for Dave Doeren’s 11th season.Last year’s Wolfpack (8-5, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) reached eight wins for the fifth time in six years. The defense was one of the nation’s top units while the offense was inconsistent even before injuries hammered the most important position — notably by sidelining preseason ACC player of the year Devin Leary.Lessons linger for how this year’s team can succeed.“The team changes a lot when you lose a quarterback, another quarterback, another quarterback,” Doeren said. “So the fact that our complementary football played into it — the defense was No. 1 in the league in scoring defense, the special teams were No. 1 in the league, our offense did not turn the football over and kept us in games — that’s how we won.”Picked fourth in the ACC, N.C. State ...

No. 9 Clemson hopes changes at quarterback, coordinator lead the Tigers back to the CFP

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:54 GMT

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney hopes changes at quarterback and offensive coordinator lead his ninth-ranked Tigers back to the College Football Playoff. It looked like the program’s run of success — six straight Atlantic Coast Conference titles, two national titles from 2015 to 2020 —- had fizzled out when they missed the league championship game in 2021. But the Tigers rebounded last season for their seventh ACC crown in eight years, although they missed out on college football’s final four for a second straight season. Now, with sophomore Cade Klubnick entering his first full season as starter and offensive innovator Garrett Riley leading the attack, Swinney believes Clemson can return to the playoff. “Maybe we can get back there this year and be able to say we went seven out of the last nine years,” Swinney said. “That would be a pretty cool accomplishment.”It took a couple of uncomfortable decisions by Swinney to put the Tigers back in championship p...