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Bridge by Steve Becker

Suppose you had to make three tricks in a suit where dummy held J-x-x and you, as declarer, held A-K-9. There would be only two practical ways to handle this combination. One would be to cash the A-K, and if either opponent had the singleton or doubleton queen, you would be home free. The ...

Dear Annie / Marriage ledger: Should she move for new job?

DEAR ANNIE: I am middle-aged and lost my job during the pandemic when the company I had been with for years eliminated my position. Despite my experience and education, I have not been able to find anything permanent or full-time since. I feel like I am too old to be hired and too young to retire. My husband and I live in an economically repressed region with a limited job market, and he refuses to leave his job and relocate, despite offers and interest from other companies in more lucrative areas and my pleas over the years to leave this one-horse town. He is also not interested in ...

Make half-sour pickles with a refrigerator ferment

If you know deli lingo, you know that half-sour pickles are crunchy, bright-green pickles, not the duller green of more familiar long-soured pickles. Half sours have a distinct snap and much gentler flavor. This recipe from our cookbook "Cold Canning" is our first refrigerator ferment: ...

Cleaning up after a frightening storm

It is already 1 p.m. and I need to stay seated long enough to write this column. My list for today isn't getting done like I wanted to. Daughter Loretta and her children just left for home. She came over this morning and we ate breakfast, or rather brunch, together. First of all, I want to thank everyone for their birthday cards and gifts. It was greatly appreciated! How interesting to receive cards from over 20 states, Canada and Australia. Your words were all a great encouragement. Sometimes I feel like it's time-consuming to write every week but then when I hear your words of ...

DEAR ANNIE: Daughter-in-law distances herself after baby

DEAR ANNIE: I am heartbroken over my daughter-in-law’s sudden and painful change in behavior since the birth of our grandson a year ago. Before the baby was born, we had a warm relationship. For four years, she was sweet, kind and very much a part of our large extended family. She joined family trips, holidays and even our “happy birthday” text chains. We truly believed she felt invested in us. Since giving birth, however, she has almost completely cut off communication. She rarely answers texts or phone calls. We have offered to drop off meals, babysit so she can get her hair ...