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Preseason NHL Power Rankings

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:37:12 GMT

Power rankings! Get your your power rankings!The 2023-24 NHL season opens on Tuesday and we make our annual list of Stanley Cup contenders, also-rans and everyone in between. The tweeners represent a large group, and that’s where you’ll find your Bruins. Hockey being hockey, anyone can break out of that third category. Here’s our first offering for this season:Carolina – With Dmitry Orlov in the fold, the Canes have a Stanley Cup-worthy defense corps. They caught a tough break when they lost Andrei Svechnikov after the trade deadline last year. The Canes are getting to the point of their program where you’re just to ask, if not now, when? There should be some desperation in Raleigh and it could work for the Canes if they channel it well.Colorado – The Avs know they’ve already lost Gabriel Landeskog for the season and, as tough as it will be to miss his skilled edge, they should be better equipped to handle it this year. After winning the Cup, the Avs su...

Get moving now to snag a seasonal job

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:37:12 GMT

Q. Is it too early to apply to seasonal jobs? I need to make more money so I’m targeting retail jobs. Also, I’m 52. Am I too old to fold shirts at the Gap?A. You’re not too old and although the adage goes, “You are not too late,” for your question about seasonal jobs, my response is, “You are not too early.”Companies are definitely hiring and some have already been hiring since late August, early September for the upcoming holidays.Once you’re hired, you need to be trained and that doesn’t always happen overnight. Go for it sooner rather than later! Don’t talk yourself out of it, you’re not too old, enjoy pursuing the new gigs and remember even for part-time gigs, you’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you — ask critical questions (especially about hours so you can avoid burnout if you’re also working a full-time job) and ask about discounts, too!Q. I feel like my skills are g...

Iliza Shlesinger makes TD Garden headliner debut

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:37:12 GMT

There will be lasers!But just a few. Other than a few minor arena-style flourishes, Iliza Shlesinger will thrill the TD Garden all on her own on Friday.“The question is always how do you make a bigger, better show without sacrificing the comedy,” Shlesinger told the Herald. “How do I make bigger, better stand up without an act break for fly girls or a juggler?”The answer of course is great jokes. And Shlesinger has a lot of those.The comedian’s first-ever headlining gig at the Garden comes after a slow and steady rise. In 2008, she became the youngest ever winner on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” From there it was Netflix special after Netflix special — 2022’s “Hot Forever” was her sixth special for the streaming channel. Add in two books, a podcast, a sketch show, a couple of feature films including one she wrote, and you total a massive career ready for sold-out arenas.Shlesinger’s rise has its roots in a mostly-remembered undergraduate degree at Emerson.“Now you can major in ...

TV Q&A: Where’s Hulu’s ‘Conversations with Friends?’

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:37:12 GMT

You have questions. I have some answers.Q: Where has “Conversations with Friends” on Hulu gone? Will it be back?A: The series ended after a single, 12-episode season. Hulu removed it along with many other shows, reportedly as a cost-cutting measure. While streamers have often removed and added shows from time to time, removals have been more noticeable at Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Max, Discovery+ and other streamers. CNBC.com noted earlier this year that “after the initial bloom of new platforms and subscriber growth, aided by pandemic lockdowns and a surge of fresh content, the digital streaming industry has cooled. And Wall Street has turned up the heat on media companies, now focusing on if and when streaming will be profitable versus if those providers are putting up big subscriber numbers. … Removing content from platforms is a way for streamers to avoid residual payments and licensing fees.”Q: When will “The Good Doctor” begin again?A: That, like so many things, depends on wh...

Fun-loving Khary would love to have a dog

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:37:12 GMT

Khary is described as fun-loving, smart, and curious. He is reserved when he first meets someone new but can warm up quickly. Khary has a great sense of humor and a smile with dimples that will melt your heart. Khary loves video games and his favorite video character is Sonic the Hedgehog. Khary also enjoys going for walks and has a passion for dogs. Family meals, especially Sunday dinners, are very special to him because they represent a close bond with his foster family.Khary is learning to do his laundry and is eager to learn more life skills. He also has an interest in video game design in the future. Khary receives support in school with social skills and communication. His teachers report that he’s doing extremely well in his classes.Khary easily talks about his feelings, wants and needs. He thrives in his foster home where he receives structure and positive attention. He does very well with the other foster children in his home who are around his age. Khary needs time w...

Aruban getaway a great laid-back, or lively Caribbean escape

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:37:12 GMT

As has become our tradition, my husband and I headed to someplace warm the day after Labor Day, this year choosing Aruba via a direct JetBlue flight.Many visitors, including myself, opt for the high-rise district. It’s fun there. The beaches are busy and bustling; the hotel names are familiar and trusted. The main beach in that area, Palm Beach, is sandy, wide and beautiful. But this time around I decided to go low.Aruba is a relatively small island; you can e-bike pretty easily from end to end. And the low-rise district, as locals call it, hit the spot. It’s quieter; the lesser known Druif Beach is wide enough to give you room all day, not to mention that gorgeous ocean. The hotels there don’t rise higher than three floors and seem to almost blend in with the flora.It’s pristine, peaceful but never boring. Low-rise was the way to go.We arrived at the Divi & Tamarijn resort (https://www.diviandtamarijnaruba.com/) and checked into our spacious room on the Divi side, where we coul...

Senior cat not so nimble anymore

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:37:12 GMT

Dear Dr. John,My cat is getting older, and I’ve noticed that she is not as nimble as she used to be. She is pushing 15 and she cannot jump up on the kitchen counter or other places like she used to. She is a bit overweight, and I suspect that she may have some arthritis. How would I know if she is in any kind of pain? I want her to be comfortable and content and if she were in any kind of discomfort, what could I give her for it? I’ve always been told that animals tolerate pain better than humans. Is that so? L.P.Dear L.P.,Several different pain scale assessments have been developed for cats in the past few years. But there are plenty of signs that one can look for to determine if a cat is painful in any way. These include decreased appetites, lethargy, being withdrawn or hiding, decreased movement, decreased interest in play, and being more vocal. One might see any of these signs or a combination of them, but they might also signify other problems or illnesses.Some of the pain asse...

Dear Abby: Adult child won’t chip in for health insurance

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:37:12 GMT

Dear Abby: When my husband and I married a year ago, I dropped my health insurance plan and joined his family plan, since he also provides coverage for his children, including one who is an adult. There was no additional cost to add me.However, months later, the insurance company raised the monthly premium for all employees. When my husband talked to his adult child about helping to pay their share of the premium, they avoided an answer, and the issue was dropped. My husband recently raised the subject again, and was met with the same avoidance and excuses about not working enough hours at their job. They are not a full-time college student, either.Shortly after the conversation ended, this adult child took to social media to rant about what a jerk their dad is for asking them to help pay, and then also posted several accusations that were untrue. This hurt my husband deeply, and his attempts to communicate are being ignored.My husband was never heavy-handed about it. He was hoping ...

Hamas fighters storm Israeli towns in surprise attack; Israel responds with deadly strikes on Gaza

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:37:12 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas militants broke out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and rampaged through nearby Israeli communities, killing at least 250 people and abducting others in an unprecedented surprise attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday. Israel responded with strikes in Gaza that killed 232 and signaled more as its prime minister said the country is at war and vowed to inflict an “unprecedented price.” In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the Gaza border. In some places they gunned down civilians and soldiers as Israel’s military scrambled to muster a response. Gun battles continued well after nightfall, and militants held hostages in standoffs in two towns. Militants occupied a police station in a third town, where Israeli forces struggled until Sunday morning to finally reclaim the building. An Israeli military spokesperson sa...

Boomer Sooner: Gabriel tosses late TD pass as No. 12 Oklahoma beats No. 3 Texas in Red River rivalry

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:37:12 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Dillon Gabriel knew he couldn’t take a sack as the pocket collapsed around him in the closing seconds of his Red River rivalry debut, the kind of big game he went to Oklahoma to play.Then he saw Nic Anderson in the back of the end zone. “The rest is history,” Gabriel said. Gabriel appeared to do a jump step and connected with Anderson for a 3-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left as 12th-ranked Oklahoma won a battle of unbeatens 34-30 over No. 3 Texas on Saturday in their last matchup at the State Fair of Texas as Big 12 members before moving to the Southeastern Conference.“Just proud of everyone coming together, controlling the chaos,” Gabriel said. “It’s something you dream of as a little kid.”With the SEC commissioner in attendance, but not the Big 12’s, the Sooners (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) and Longhorns played a classic that must have made Greg Sankey thrilled with his new acquisitions.Gabriel completed 23 of 38 passes for 285 yards and ran 14 times for 113 yards and a scor...