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Cones of shame: Montreal officials vow to cut down ubiquitous construction cones

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:24 GMT

MONTREAL — Along a downtown Montreal street, in sight of city hall, orange-and-white-striped traffic cones stand in a row on the sidewalk. A few metres away, more cones mark off construction sites, while a solitary cone is perched atop a blue bollard separating the street from a bike lane.Montreal’s ubiquitous traffic cones have become an unofficial symbol of the city: miniature versions are sold as souvenirs and toys, residents dress up as cones for Halloween, and a local artist has transformed one into a comic book hero. But while some Montrealers have embraced the symbol, the city’s chamber of commerce says the cones — and the road closures that often, but not always, accompany them — are a source of frustration. The cones have become so common drivers no longer interpret them as a warning, Michel Leblanc, the president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, said in an interview Tuesday. “People are desensitized, drivers are desensitized, i...

Daily horoscope for April 26, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:24 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions after 7:30 p.m. EDT today (4:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Cancer into Leo.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, April 26, 2023:You are an efficient self-starter. You plan carefully because you like to be prepared. This is a year of new beginnings, adventures and major changes in your life. Keep your eyes open for new opportunities. Be prepared to take on a leadership role.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★An unexpected surprise will please you today. This might come from a family member, or it might be a pleasant change that affects your home or possibly your entire family. It will make you feel good. Whatever occurs might inspire you in some way. Tonight: Sympathetic discussions.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This is a feel-good day. This is why you’re happy to schmooze with others. It’s easy to be generous to people with your time, your advice and your wealth. You feel idealistic about a friend, whi...

Banks in crisis are not the cause of the world’s problems, but they are a symptom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:24 GMT

Another month, another bank in turmoil, writes Ilgar Nagiyev.Banking as an industry prospers - survives even - thanks to dependability; the sense of trust that they project so well. Swiss banks in particular have long mastered this; establishing themselves as time-tested institutions. This armour of trust, however, starts to look a little rusty when a Swiss bank collapses.Credit Suisse was the second largest bank in Switzerland, with in excess of five-hundred-and-seventy billion dollars in assets and three times as much under management. It was seen as too big, too old, too established to fail, yet it collapsed in the same week as the Tier One-rated Silicon Valley Bank. Collapses like this are a problem, but they are not the problem. The problem stems from growth or rather a lack of it. We are voraciously addicted to growth and when we can’t get it, we experience negative side effects.And growth is proving harder to find.After the fall of the Berlin wall, free market economics quick...

Miss Manners: Am I supposed to forgive a bully because of a cheap box of cookies?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:24 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: During COVID, my husband and I traveled to visit my sister out of state. We live a secluded lifestyle under normal circumstances, and even more so during COVID.We are fully vaccinated, we wear masks, we avoid unnecessary socializing and we travel by RV or car to avoid flying and public transportation.My sister’s daughter (my niece) and her family are/were just the opposite.One day during our stay, while I was sitting on the front porch, my niece and her family drove up. They asked if they were allowed inside and I suggested they ask my sister.My niece’s husband blew up and accused me of controlling my sister. He came up on the porch shouting and waving his arms in front of me. I will not deny that I responded verbally to his bullying, though no cursing was exchanged.Last Christmas, he and his wife uncharacteristically sent us an inexpensive box of cookies. I suspect the gift was his way of apologizing without admitting guilt.Now my family is pressing m...

Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my European daughter-in-law’s behavior?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:24 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I consider myself a modest woman in today’s world. I have a new granddaughter whom my daughter-in-law nurses anywhere, at any time, regardless of who she is around.I told my son she should cover herself in restaurants and other public places. I get embarrassed when she just pulls out a breast for anyone to see. She’s European, and I understand it is more common there, but not so much in America.Am I overreacting?LOOKING AWAY IN CALIFORNIADEAR LOOKING AWAY: I think so. Nursing mothers are no longer relegated to feeding their infants in bathrooms as they were years ago. However, because you are embarrassed at the sight of your daughter-in-law nursing, consider leaving the table until she is finished to preserve your modesty.DEAR ABBY: My wife and I were married 21 years ago. While we were together, she admitted to cheating with 10 different men.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My husband says he’ll burn the house down if I go through with my ...

Reportan amenaza de tormentas fuertes en todo el sur de EE.UU. este miércoles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:24 GMT

(CNN) — El Centro de Predicción de Tormentas (SPC) en Estados Unidos emitió un aumento del riesgo de tormentas fuertes, nivel 3 de 5, para el centro de Texas, incluyendo Dallas, Fort Worth y Waco.Las principales amenazas son granizo grande a muy grande, vientos dañinos y algunos tornados.Un riesgo leve de tormentas fuertes rodea el riesgo aumentado y se extiende a la parte más meridional de Oklahoma, la parte más noroccidental de Luisiana y la parte más suroccidental de Arkansas. Las ciudades en riesgo leve incluyen Shreveport en Luisiana y Abilene en Texas.Las principales amenazas son el granizo, los vientos dañinos y la posibilidad de tornados.¿Cómo se llamarán las tormentas tropicales y huracanes de 2023?Otro riesgo leve se ha emitido para el centro de Florida, incluyendo Miami y Orlando.Las principales amenazas son granizo de gran tamaño a muy grande y vientos dañinos.Un riesgo marginal de tormentas severas, nivel 1 de 5, se extiende desde el centro de Texas y Oklahoma has...

Fievel Goes Midwest: ‘An American Tail’ musical by ‘Band’s Visit’ creator makes world premiere in Minneapolis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:24 GMT

Hear our full chat on my podcast “Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley.” toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews 'An American Tail: The Musical' (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); His 2017 Broadway smash, “The Band’s Visit,” won a whopping 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.On Tuesday night, playwright Itamar Moses staged the world premiere of “An American Tail: The Musical” at Ch...

Giants host the Cardinals, look to continue home win streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:24 GMT

St. Louis Cardinals (9-15, fifth in the NL Central) vs. San Francisco Giants (10-13, fourth in the NL West)San Francisco; Wednesday, 9:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cardinals: Steven Matz (0-3, 6.55 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 24 strikeouts); Giants: Anthony DeSclafani (1-1, 2.63 ERA, .88 WHIP, 21 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Giants -113, Cardinals -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants, on a four-game home winning streak, host the St. Louis Cardinals.San Francisco has a 6-6 record at home and a 10-13 record overall. Giants pitchers have a collective 4.45 ERA, which ranks eighth in the NL.St. Louis has a 9-15 record overall and a 4-7 record on the road. Cardinals hitters have a collective .424 slugging percentage to rank sixth in the NL.The matchup Wednesday is the third meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Thairo Estrada has four home runs, five walks and seven RBI while hitting .310 for the Giants. Mike Yastrzemski is 14-for-41 with ...

Swedish space rocket crash lands in Norway, sparking Nordic spat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:24 GMT

A research rocket launched from Sweden’s recently opened Arctic Circle spaceport landed over the border in Norway this week — triggering a backlash from Oslo. Instead of coming down in Sweden as planned, the microgravity scientific rocket instead hit a mountainous region in Norway, some 40 kilometers west of the intended landing zone and 15 kilometers over the international border, according to the Swedish Space Corporation.The Norwegian government was displeased with its Nordic neighbor, arguing it should report such incidents more thoroughly.“The crash of a rocket like this is a very serious incident that can cause serious damage,” the Norwegian foreign ministry said. “When such a border violation occurs, it is crucial that those responsible immediately inform the relevant Norwegian authorities through the proper channels.”The SCC said it was working to retrieve the remains and that an investigation will be started to probe what caused the “non-nominal flight...

Erdoğan cancels public rallies after health scare

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:24 GMT

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is facing the toughest election of his 20-year rule, canceled planned campaign events Wednesday after falling ill during a live TV broadcast Tuesday night. “Today, I will be resting at home on the advice of our doctors,” Erdoğan tweeted, adding his condition was a “minor inconvenience due to (his) busy work.”The Turkish president, who was due to hold rallies in three different Turkish cities on Wednesday, will be replaced by his vice-president, Fuat Oktay.Erdoğan cut short a live interview Tuesday night after suffering from an upset stomach.Erdoğan was being interviewed on Turkish TV when the program was interrupted for about 20 minutes, after he suddenly felt ill off-camera, according to the BBC.He later came back to the screen, explaining he had suffered from a “serious stomach cold” and had considered canceling the interview — which started one-and-a-half hours late — after doing “intense campaign work” on Monda...