There Is News At Every Corner
CONTRACT BRIDGE
A DOUBLE DISASTER
BYLINE: By Steve Becker
This deal occurred in a high-level team-of-four match. West’s three spade bid at the first table asked his partner to bid three notrump if he had a spade stopper.
East was more than happy to comply; he had much more than he needed for his three-notrump bid. When South next bid four hearts — which was corrected to four spades by North — East doubled.
Perhaps West should not have passed — many players would have bid five diamonds instead — but he did pass. West then led the king of diamonds followed by the ace, on which East discarded the ten of clubs and South the queen of clubs!
As a result of this play to the second trick, declarer made four spades doubled. He ruffed the next diamond, cashed the ace of hearts, ruffed a heart, ruffed a club, ruffed another heart, ruffed another club, then ruffed the fourth round of hearts with the dummy’s last trump.
Nine tricks had been played, and East’s last four cards were the Q-J-8-4 of trump, while South’s remaining cards were the A-K-10 of trump and ten of hearts. Declarer now led a club from dummy, ruffed by East with the jack and overruffed by South with the king. Declarer then played the ten of hearts, forcing East to ruff and return a trump from the Q-8 to South’s A-10, and the doubled game — worth 790 points — was home.
At the second table, West leapt to five diamonds over the one-spade opening. After two passes, South ventured five hearts — a dubious tactic, especially considering the vulnerability. North retreated to five spades, doubled by East, and South finished down three after he failed to discard the club queen on West’s diamond lead at trick two.
Plus 800 at this table, combined with the 790 scored by their teammates at the other table, gave the successful team a gain of 1,590 points on the deal.
NOW HERE'S A TIP
BYLINE: By JoAnn Derson
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* A garden manicure is what my mother calls it: When working with plants and dirt, rake your nails across a bar of soap. The soap prevents dirt particles from lodging under nails, and the soap washes away easily when you are finished. Happy gardening!
* If the string on your trimmer is always breaking or jamming, try this old trick: Give the coiled string a spray with vegetable oil before you thread it. It lubricates the line, making it less likely to pull and less likely to break.
* “If you have a spade with a long handle, you can transfer common measurements to the handle. Just lay a tape measure alongside the handle, and use a black marker to note common spacing, like feet and inches. Then, when you put in plants, you can check quickly whether they are spaced correctly. Very handy!” — P.E. in Arkansas
* Boiling potatoes? Plants love starch. Let your cooking water cool, then use it to water the plants in your garden.
* Here’s a recipe for a quickie bird feeder or bath: Flip over a nice-size flower pot, and place the pot’s tray on the top. Fill with seed or water. The birds will thank you — maybe even by eating some nuisance bugs along with the seed.
* “Garden tool storage doesn’t have to be hard. Fill a wide-mouth bucket with clean sand. Add a half quart of motor oil and stir. Then use the sand to clean and store your garden tools like shovels, rakes or hoes. The sand/oil mixture helps clean the metal surfaces, and the heaviness of the container lets you stick them in the sand without fear of everything falling down, like it would if you leaned them along a wall.” — E. in North Carolina
Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
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THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN
They gave Trump the center, and he took it
FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803
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THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN #12345_20250127
FOR RELEASE JANUARY 27, 2025
BYLINE: By Rich Lowry
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They gave Trump the center, and he took it
Donald Trump stood at the center of American politics — in both senses –when he was inaugurated in the U.S. Capitol on Monday afternoon.
Pretty much everything of import in national affairs will revolve around Trump for the foreseeable future, and he’s managed, in many respects, to occupy the political and cultural center.
Trump’s critics have long insisted that he be shunned and not “normalized.” Did someone tell Carrie Underwood, who performed “America the Beautiful” at the inauguration (spontaneously going a cappella when there was a snafu with the accompanying music)? Or the richest, most successful entrepreneurs in the country, who were on prominent display? Or, for the matter, did someone tell the Village People?
If someone had predicted that the group formed to appeal to gay disco fans in 1977 would, in the year of our lord 2025, be performing at a pre-inaugural rally for a Republican president-elect considered a troglodyte culture warrior by his enemies, he’d have been justifiably mocked and dismissed.
As it turns out, disco was never dead; it was just waiting for Trump to revive it (actually, disco-inspired music was already on the upswing before Trump came up with his trendy YMCA dance).
How did a Democratic Party that has long prided itself on its hipness and future-oriented attitude lose a coolness fight to Donald J. Trump?
Well, for one thing, the party’s primary voters renominated an octogenarian who couldn’t identify or align himself with a cultural trend if he were gently directed to it by a bevy of solicitous aides. He was then swapped out for his unimpressive vice president, who was the beneficiary of a manufactured campaign to make her fun and interesting that collapsed of its own weight by November.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had to sit awkwardly and listen in the Capitol as Trump excoriated their governing record. The harshness of his critique has led some observers to deride his inaugural address as American Carnage 2.0, a reference to the famous phrase from his first inaugural. If Trump was unsparing in his description of the status quo, though, he was soaring in his promises of “a thrilling new era of national success.”
He talked of bringing a “revolution of common sense,” positioning that wouldn’t be so easily available to him if the other side hadn’t ceded so much ground.
Trump’s urgency about securing the border wouldn’t have nearly the same political salience if Biden hadn’t been so heedless about a record-breaking influx of illegal immigrants.
Trump wouldn’t get to speak of defeating “record inflation” if there hadn’t been record inflation in the first place.
Trump’s decision to make it official government policy to only recognize two genders would be irrelevant if the Democrats hadn’t hitched themselves to gender insanity.
Trump’s call for ending the efforts to insinuate race and gender into all aspects of American life would be meaningless if DEI hadn’t become Democratic gospel.
The Democrats appeared to believe that it didn’t matter how out of touch and radical they’d become, so long as they were running against a Donald Trump who could be ruled out of bounds. But if the public concluded that Trump made more sense than his adversaries, a campaign to render him ipso facto unacceptable was going to fail.
This is not to say that Trump is an anodyne centrist. His zeal for tariffs and apparent determination to retake the Panama Canal are hardly consensus positions, and he didn’t mention his imminent Jan. 6 pardons in his address. No matter how much momentum Trump has now, controversies will pile up and events will take a hand. The current goodwill could prove quite transitory.
Still, it was Trump who was the focus of all the attention on Monday, Trump who is setting the agenda and Trump who can plausibly define himself as closer to the middle than his opponents — and they brought it on themselves.
Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review.
(c) 2025 by King Features Synd., Inc.
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Professional relationships grow stronger, but you still might need to ease some problems with someone in your personal life. One way could be to try to be less rigid in your views.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You might be too close to a perplexing personal situation to even attempt to make a rational decision about it right now. Stepping back could help you gain a wider perspective.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Being asked to choose between the positions of two friends is an unfair imposition on you. It’s best to reject the demand and insist that they try harder to work things out on their own.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A change of mind about a workplace decision might be called for, once you hear more arguments — pro and con. A personal event suddenly takes an unexpected (but pleasant!) turn.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Romance once again looms large for single Leos and Leonas, with Cupid favoring Taurus and Libra to inspire those warm and fuzzy Leonine feelings. Meanwhile, expect another workplace change.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A surprise gift with no strings attached could happily come just when you need it to avoid a delay in getting your project done. Expect education to dominate the week.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Someone close to you might ask for your support as they face a demanding personal challenge. Offer it, by all means, but be careful that you don’t neglect your own needs at this time.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) An unexpected development could put your relationship with a partner or spouse to an emotionally demanding test. But your determination to get to the truth should save the day!
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A recent agreement appears to be coming apart over the surfacing of unexpected complications. You might need to get expert advice on how to resolve the situation.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your keen business sense helps you get to the truth about a suspicious business deal. Expect to have many colleagues rally to support your efforts in this important matter.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Someone who once moved in and out of your life through the years might now want to come back in on a more permanent basis. Give yourself a lot of time to weigh your decision.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Showing frustration over a delayed workplace decision might get someone’s attention — but not necessarily make them move any sooner. The best advice would be to be patient and wait it out.
BORN THIS WEEK: You are drawn to excitement and thrilling adventures. You also enjoy fast tempo music — the more brass, the better.
HOLLYWOOD
HOLLYWOOD
BYLINE: By Tony Rizzo
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
PHOTO CAPTION: Director Luca Guadagnino (“Queer” and “After the Hunt”)
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HOLLYWOOD — Hollywood is still shocked by this year’s Oscars “In Memoriam” omissions. Excluding international star Alain Delon is inexcusable. He starred in “Purple Noon” (1960); “Rocco and His Brothers” (1960); and “The Leopard” (1963), co-starring Oscar winner Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale. Alain also starred in “The Yellow Rolls-Royce” (1964), with Oscar winners Shirley MacLaine, George C. Scott and Art Carney.
In 1965 in New York, I met Alain, who was enroute to Hollywood to make “Once a Thief,” with Ann-Margret and Oscar winners Van Heflin and Jack Palance. His 1970 classic “Borsalino,” with Jean-Paul Belmondo, was voted one of the Top 20 greatest gangster movies of all time. He passed away on Aug. 18, 2024, at 88 years old.
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Another omission was Mitzi Gaynor, who starred opposite Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O’Connor and Marilyn Monroe in “There’s No Business Like Show Business” (1954). She starred alongside Oscar winner Bing Crosby in “Anything Goes” (1956), as well as Oscar winner Frank Sinatra in “The Joker Is Wild” (1957). In 1957, Mitzi starred in “Les Girls,” opposite Gene Kelly, as well as the 1958 classic “South Pacific,” with Rossano Brazzi.
I was friends with Mitzi and her husband, Jack Bean, and they were like a newlyweds until the day he died. I sent a dozen roses to her dressing room once at her Riviera Hotel closing in Vegas. The next week, the editor of Photoplay Magazine (where I was a columnist at) told me that Mitzi was calling all over town for my address. Sure enough, I received a thank-you note the next day. Now, that’s class! She left us on Oct. 17, 2024, at 93 years old.
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When Olivia Hussey arrived at the Cinerama Dome for the premiere of “Romeo and Juliet” (1968), you’d have thought she and her Romeo, Leonard Whiting, were Princess Diana and Prince Charles. She also starred in “Lost Horizon,” with Oscar winners Peter Finch, Liv Ullmann, George Kennedy and John Gielgud. I was still in awe of her when I shot her wedding to Dean Martin’s son, Dino Jr., at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1971. They really looked like Romeo and Juliet! She left us on Dec. 27, 2024, and she, too, was omitted from the Oscar’s “In Memoriam.”
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Also ignored was James Darren, forever immortalized as Moondoggie in “Gidget” (1959), with Sandra Dee and Oscar winner Cliff Robertson. He made 20 other films and completed 66 episodes of “T.J. Hooker” (1982-85). He died on Sept. 2, 2024, at 88 years old.
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Tony Roberts, who completed 20 films, including “Play It Again, Sam” (1969), died on Feb. 7 at 85 years old. Linda Lavin, who completed 21 films and the sitcom “Alice,” died on Dec. 29, 2024, at 87 years old. Martin Mull died on June 27, 2024, at 80 years old and did 29 films, including “Clue” and “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.” He also earned an Emmy nomination for “Veep” in 2016. You’d think the Academy, of all organizations, would remember that it’s better to be looked over than overlooked!
FoodTrients Celebrates Summer with Tasty Recipes for Optimal Gut Healt
Gut health refers to the overall wellness of your digestive system, particularly the balance and function of the microorganisms that live in your gastrointestinal tract. Did you know that your digestive system is a whole plant/animal kingdom of its own? The GI tract is a complex system responsible for digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste from the body. It’s inhabited by trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, collectively known as the gut microbiota or gut microbiome. Chew on this: There are more microbes in your digestive system than there are cells in your body!
It’s estimated that 80 percent of your immune system is located in your gut. Probiotics, beneficial bacteria found in fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, and kefir, help the development of the mucus lining of your digestive tract, which plays a large role in a strong immune system. Prebiotics are the types of fiber that feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut. You can get these from high fiber foods such as asparagus, bananas, broccoli, and cabbage.
Maintaining a healthy balance of these microorganisms is crucial for various aspects of health, including digestion, immune function, metabolism, and even mood regulation. When the balance of these microorganisms is disrupted, it can lead to health problems, including digestive issues like bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation, as well as more serious conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and even certain autoimmune disorders.
Grace O is the founder and driving force behind FoodTrients, a non-profit organization dedicated to research and information on food as medicine that can help everyone age better and live healthier. Grace’s program of healthy living is created around food as medicine and the nine age-defying benefits she incorporates into her recipes — Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Beauty, Detox, Disease Prevention, Gut Health, Immune Boosters, Mind, and Strength.
Grace believes that a diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods like sauerkraut and kombucha can promote a healthy gut microbiota. Learning which foods can help keep you well and positively improve everything from your mood to how your body absorbs nutrients is a good first step. To learn more about good-for-your-gut foods, click here to read Grace O’s full article and to get more gut-healthy recipes.
The next step to a healthy gut is putting the right food into it. Following are two of Grace’s gut health recipes perfect for summer entertaining.
FoodTrients: Anti-inflammatory, Disease Prevention, Gut Heal
1¼ cups cooked (or canned, drained and rinsed) black beans
1 avocado, diced
1 orange bell pepper, diced
1 jalapeño pepper, minced
¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves
1 stalk spring garlic (or 2 green onions), chopped
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
Place the ingredients in a large bowl and stir until well combined.
Avocado Toast with Chickpeas and Miso Makes 4 pieces
About FoodTrients
Though this recipe isn’t in any of my cookbooks, I saw it online, thought it looked like a delicious gut-supporting breakfast or brunch item, and adapted it for the FoodTrients audience. It’s always good to have chickpeas on hand in your cupboard. They’re high in a soluble fiber called raffinose, which is broken down by beneficial gut bacteria to support a healthy lower GI tract. Miso is easily digested and highly nutritious, filled with B vitamins and protein. Avocado offers essential nutrients such as healthy fat, magnesium, zinc, and potassium to support digestion.
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Ingredients
15-16 oz. can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 Tbs. white miso paste
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 lemon, ½ juiced, ½ wedged to serve
1 large avocado
4 medium slices of cracked wheat sourdough bread, toasted
A sprinkle of sesame seeds
1 green onion, finely sliced on the diagonal
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Procedure
Put the chickpeas, miso, sesame oil, lemon juice, and some seasoning in a bowl. Use a potato masher to crush everything together until you have a rough paste.
Spoon the avocado into another bowl and mash with a fork until crushed, but still chunky. Fold the avocado with the chickpea-miso mixture, then spread on the toast. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and sliced spring onions. Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze over.
Option: a couple of sliced cherry tomatoes on top of each piece of toast provides a sweet counterpoint to the chickpea-miso-avocado topping.
Recipe and Photo may be reprinted with the following credit: Recipe and photo reprinted with permission from www.FoodTrients.com.
About FoodTrients
FoodTrients® is a philosophy and a resource dedicated to the foods and rejuvenating nutrients that help us fight the diseases of aging and promote longevity. All of the recipes combine modern scientific research and medicinal herbs and ingredients from cultures around the world. They’re loaded with flavor and superfoods, which promote wellness, increase energy and vitality, improve skin, and help people look and feel younger.
About Grace O
Over a span of 30 years, Grace O has built an impressive record of business achievement, community building, philanthropy, and community service in California. Guided by her spirit of entrepreneurship and building on a model of generosity learned from her family, Grace has spent a lifetime helping people heal through food and medicine. Grace launched FoodTrients.com in 2010 where she shares age-defying superfoods from around the world and creates delicious recipes with them. Grace is the author of three award-winning cookbooks—The Age GRACEfully Cookbook: The Power of FOODTRIENTS to Promote Health and Well-being for a Joyful and Sustainable Life; The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, and the multi-award-winning Anti-Aging Dishes from Around the World.
For more information and recipes visit www.FoodTrients.com.