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Ask Amy: Why should I pay half the power bill when I’m just one person?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:45:12 GMT

Dear Amy: I live with my daughter and son-in-law in my own private quarters, which I paid for them to build.My area covers approximately one-third of the house. I try to give them their space and live independently in my unit, which is attached by a hallway to their two-story quarters.We are a loving family and I have a perfect son-in-law.I stated that I’d pay one-third of the utilities, which includes heat, air conditioning and garbage pickup.I’m retired and living on Social Security. They are full-time successful business people.My daughter thinks I should pay for half the utilities.Granted, I don’t suffer; I use the heat and air for my comfort. Old people don’t like to shiver all winter or sweat all summer.Is it equitable to split the costs 50/50 or should we pay according to our earning power?Cool CustomerDear Cool Customer: No, it doesn’t seem equitable to split the costs of these utilities 50/50. Nor does it seem equitable to pay for utilities based on your income.The obvious ...

Harriette Cole: My husband’s cute habits are wearing on my nerves

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:45:12 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: What used to be cute in my marriage is now driving me crazy.I can’t stand the habits that define my husband’s daily routine. Even the way he gets out of bed in the morning grates on my nerves. It continues from there.I know it’s not right, but I feel like my whole self is screaming at him to become invisible. I know how awful that sounds.I also believe he senses my disdain for him. I can’t even look at him with a smile these days. All I see and hear are the things that drive me nuts.We used to argue about real stuff that was happening that wasn’t cool. Now, for me at least, it has devolved to me losing it over the littlest things. How can I turn this around?He Gets on My NervesRelated ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I’m 26. When will I stop being a teenager? Advice | Harriette Cole: I accidentally sent a text to my boss, and I don’t know what to do Advice | Harriette Cole: Should I ...

Dulles Greenway bald eagles have a baby, with more on the way

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:45:12 GMT

This article was written by WTOP’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.The Dulles Greenway and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy are celebrating the birth of a baby bald eagle on the Dulles Greenway wetlands.Rosa and Martin, the adult female and male bald eagles that reside on the wetlands near Leesburg, laid three eggs in February. The first eaglet hatched Tuesday morning, and the second and third eaglets are predicted to hatch within the week. You can view a video of the first eaglet eating here.“We are elated to share the wonderful news that Rosa and Martin have welcomed their first eaglet into the nest this season,” said Dulles Greenway spokesperson Terry Hoffman in a news release. “We look forward to sharing these captivating moments with our eagle fans, as we await the arrival of eaglet number two and three in a few days. We encourage viewers to join the live-stream camera and speak with our eagle c...

Scholz says Germany wants to curb ‘irregular migration’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:45:12 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday that Germany will have to do a better job at clamping down on “irregular migration” and deporting those who don’t legally reside in the country.Scholz said that Germany, however, would continue to provide protection for Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s war.“Our responsibility in the face of this terrible war of aggression naturally also includes providing protection for Ukrainian citizens in the European Union,” Scholz said in a speech to parliament, adding that “all levels of government have been doing a great job for more than a year — especially the cities, counties and municipalities.”More than 1 million Ukrainians have found shelter in Germany since Russia invaded their country more than a year ago. In addition, more than 200,000 people from countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey have applied for asylum in 2022. Local communities have for months said they’re struggling to house the many newcomers to Germany a...

Birth, School, Work, delaying Death: The Godfathers’ Peter Coyne snuffs lifelong smoking addiction

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:45:12 GMT

(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "bb2327e2-bd92-447d-9454-7f5e8f4c264d"}).render("4488542ff372482e8f56b9713d971c42"); });Great moments in live rock ’n’ roll shows that have been burned into music fans’ minds can often become distorted over time, yet Peter Coyne, the singer of The Godfathers, recently confirmed one of my great 9:30 Club memories.It was March 1988, weeks after the British band released their “Birth, School, Work, Death” album. In my mind’s eye, I could picture The Godfathers storming on-stage at the old 9:30 Club, amid a cloud of still-legal-cigarette-smoke, and ripping into their first number.More Local NewsMore Entertainment News“As we went on stage, I’d be smoking a cigarette,” Coyne tells WTOP, 35 years after that show. &#...

Gianni Infantino re-elected FIFA president by acclaim

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:45:12 GMT

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — Gianni Infantino was re-elected FIFA president by acclaim on Thursday through 2027, after suggesting the financial results under his leadership would keep an industry CEO in the job for life. Infantino had no election opponent and won by acclaim instead of a formal vote by the congress of 211 member federations whose basic annual funding from FIFA has risen from $250,000 to $2 million since his first win in 2016. FIFA had $4 billion reserves after the World Cup in Qatar finished in December. It has conservatively forecast record revenue of at least $11 billion through the men’s 2026 World Cup being hosted in North America.“If a CEO tells the stakeholders that the products were multiplied by seven I believe that they would keep that CEO forever,” Infantino told FIFA members. “They would love for this story to keep on going.“But I am here for a four-year cycle only,” said Infantino, whose presidency can eventually run for 15 years through 2031.The Swiss lawyer wa...

Nootbaar says pepper-grinder sales are ‘up quite a bit’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:45:12 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Lars Nootbaar’s pepper-grinder gesture is catching on all across Japan, not just at the Tokyo Dome.You see people doing it on the trains, across the counter ordering a coffee and of course among the 40,000 fans who have packed the Tokyo Dome to watch Japan play in the World Baseball Classic.“The fans have leaned it to that. It’s been pretty cool,” Nootbaar said Thursday. “I heard the pepper grinders around the country, their sales have gone up quite a bit this past week.”Nootbaar should ask for a commission, or an endorsement. Behind Shohei Ohtani, he’s become Japan’s No. 2 attraction.“It’s been great,” said the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder, who grew up in California. “The fans have embraced me. The team has embraced me, which has been so great for me to be able to be myself and just go about my day normally with these guys. They’ve been fantastic. I didn’t really expect it to turn out this way.”Nootbaar said he’s ready ...

Analysis: Chalk rules in women’s March Madness bracket picks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:45:12 GMT

The women’s NCAA Tournament field is set and now the fun begins with 68 teams vying for the national championship and cutting down the nets in Dallas.There’s a new format to March Madness, with two regionals in Seattle and Greenville, South Carolina, instead of the usual four. Here’s a look at what could happen over the next few weeks. This guidance will be 100% accurate — until the first round tips off on Friday.CHALK RULESA No. 1 seed has won the national championship the past 10 tournaments and 14 of 15. The only time that didn’t happen was in 2011 when coach Gary Blair led Texas A&M to the title as a No. 2 seed. Since 2005, at least two of the No. 1s have made the Final Four every year except for 2016. This year’s overwhelming betting favorite is top-ranked and defending national champion South Carolina, the only undefeated team in the tourney.LACK OF MAJOR UPSETSThere is a feeling that parity continues to find its way into women’s basketball with 19 losses...

MARCH MADNESS ’23: An AP trivia quiz for the NCAA Tournament

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:45:12 GMT

How well do you know the NCAA Tournament? Try this AP trivia quiz about the history of March Madness:1. What is the name of the video highlight recap of each year’s NCAA Tournament?2. What is the highest number of games one team can play in a single NCAA Tournament?3. What team emerged from the first-ever First Four to reach the Final Four?4. Which coach has won the most NCAA Tournament games? Hint: He is retired.5. Eight schools have won more than two NCAA tournament titles. Which one has not? a.) Kansasb.) Villanovac.) North Carolina Stated.) Connecticut6. Who is the only three-time Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four?7. What was the first No. 16 seed to win in the NCAA Tournament? Who did they beat?8. What was the first No. 15 seed to win in the NCAA Tournament? Who did they beat?9. Who is the only coach to win the national championship at two schools?10. Who holds the NCAA career record for most points scored in the tournament?11. What program has made the most appearances...

Watch the moment Russian jet struck US drone over Black Sea

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:45:12 GMT

The Pentagon has released footage of a Russian fighter jet colliding with a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday.While making what the Pentagon said was a routine flight in international airspace, the uncrewed MQ-9 Reaper was intercepted by two Russian Su-27 fighter jets. The warplanes dumped jet fuel on the drone and flew in front of it before one of the jets struck the drone’s propeller.U.S. operators were forced to ditch the uncrewed aircraft in the Black Sea. The U.S. said the Russian pilots were “reckless” and “unprofessional.” Russian officials denied responsibility for the crash, shifting blame to the drone’s pilots.Despite the incident, the U.S. will continue conducting surveillance flights worldwide, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday.“Make no mistake, the United States will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows,” Austin said at the start of a virtual meeting of nations supporting Ukraine against Russia. “It i...